novelslam Chapter 5 Partnership
Chapter 5 Partnership
Lan Xiuying looked at her confident brother-in-law, exchanged a glance with Zhang Dequan, stood aside sullenly, and wiped away her tears.
"Sister-in-law, you should watch your mouth, lest you fall into a ditch one day and not even know why," Zhang Beichuan retorted, then changed his expression and looked at the two of them with a smile.
"I've been away for so many years, and it wouldn't be right for me to have a falling out with you two as soon as I get home. It would make us a laughing stock. How about this, you two see if it works out?"
Zhang Dezhong looked at his youngest brother, whose attitude had suddenly changed, and for a moment he had no idea what he was up to.
Tell me about it.
"It's really not easy for my eldest brother and sister-in-law to come up with 150 yuan all at once. How about this: starting tomorrow, you can give me 1 cent, the day after tomorrow 2 cents, the day after that 4 cents, and so on, for 20 days. As for the 50 yuan that you owe my third brother, I'll make it up for you!"
Seeing the incredulous looks in their eyes, Zhang Beichuan glanced back at his equally incredulous grandparents and added with a smile.
"Don't worry, eldest brother and sister-in-law, third brother and sister-in-law have no objections."
Not only did Zhang Dezhong start counting on his fingers, but the villagers watching also joined in.
The first day was 1 cent, the second day was 2 cents, the third day was 4 cents, the fourth day was 8 cents, and the fifth day was 1.6 cents. The total for the five days was only one-third.
20 days, how much does that cost?
Zhang Beichuan looked at Zhang Dezhong and the other man with a smile. It seemed like 1 or 2 cents a day was not much, but if you really calculated it, it would amount to about a thousand yuan in 20 days!
As for the fifty dollars from grandparents, why did he pay for it?
He just didn't want to involve his grandparents in this matter. Anyway, he and Zhang Dezhong weren't really brothers, so he could justify going to their house to collect the debt later.
"How was it, brother and sister-in-law? I've been quite considerate of your hardships, haven't I?"
Wang Guifen counted on her fingers for a long time. Although she didn't understand why her suddenly appearing brother-in-law had changed his tune, she smiled when she thought about how easily the matter was resolved and how someone even helped pay for it.
"Okay, you said it!"
Zhang Beichuan grinned at her, revealing his gleaming white teeth, then looked at his elder brother, "Brother, what about you?"
Zhang Dezhong, who also had little formal education, was confused by the calculations and nodded.
"no problem."
But then he suddenly remembered that if he paid the money later, and the third and youngest brothers made a fuss about it, he wouldn't have time to play with them.
"I have a request!"
"Big brother, what is it?"
"Since none of us have any objections, and we have villagers as witnesses, let's have the Party Secretary draw up a written agreement for us, so that no one can go back on their word later!"
Zhang Beichuan slapped his thigh, realizing he'd been so caught up in having fun tricking them that he'd almost forgotten about something so important!
"Oh dear, it's true that you were right to remind me! We really need to have a written agreement!"
While Shi Tiezhu was helping to draw up the agreement, Lan Xiuying and Zhang Dequan came over.
"Xiao Chuan, you...you're just letting them get away with this!"
"Third brother, third sister-in-law, don't worry, there's no such thing as a free lunch! I promise I'll get you justice in 20 days!"
The two looked at Zhang Beichuan, whose face had darkened, and racked their brains but still couldn't figure out why.
Before long, Shi Tiezhu brought the written agreement. He couldn't understand why Zhang Beichuan, who seemed so shrewd, was so foolish.
"Now that the three of you have signed the agreement, you can't cause trouble over this anymore."
Zhang Beichuan saw that Zhang Dezhong and the other man were both beaming with joy, and his face was almost the same.
"No, no, a real man's word is his bond, brother, you agree, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Anyone who goes back on their word in front of so many villagers will be struck by lightning!"
Zhang Beichuan smiled, glanced at the contents of the three documents, and after confirming that they were correct, signed his name and pressed his fingerprint.
Zhang Dequan and Lan Xiuying, who were standing to the side, were reluctant to sign. What they wanted was not the fifty yuan, but justice!
Even if they should be the ones to collect the fifty dollars, it shouldn't be the youngest one who has to pay!
"Xiao Chuan, how about...?"
"Third Brother, sign quickly, listen to me!" Zhang Beichuan urged Zhang Dezhong, who had already signed and pressed his fingerprint.
Left with no other choice, Zhang Dequan reluctantly signed the agreement, though he felt very uncomfortable about it.
"Alright, it's settled then. Youngest brother, come to the house to collect the money in twenty days. The land I've been cultivating will be returned to you after this season's rice harvest."
As Zhang Dezhong spoke, he folded the document and put it in his pocket, afraid that Zhang Beichuan would change his mind.
"Sure, sure." Zhang Beichuan, seeing everyone staring at him like he was a fool, suppressed the urge to burst out laughing. "By the way, brother, I heard my account is still with you?"
"Yes, what's wrong?" Zhang Dezhong turned around and asked.
"I need my household registration booklet to apply for an ID card," Zhang Beichuan said with a smile. "Could you please make the trip for me, brother?"
Having completely resolved the major problem, Zhang Dezhong was in a very good mood and readily agreed.
"Okay, you wait here, I'll have my youngest son bring it to you."
A short while later, after receiving his household registration booklet, Zhang Beichuan said goodbye to the Party Secretary and then turned around and pulled his grandparents and the others outside.
"Third brother, third sister-in-law, I haven't farmed for so many years and I don't know how anymore. If my eldest brother is going to return the land to me, I'll trouble you to continue farming it. You can keep the harvest for yourselves."
"How can that be!" Zhang Dequan refused. "Since you don't farm, we'll farm your land, but we have to give you some grain every year, otherwise what will you eat?"
"Third Brother, don't worry, I definitely won't go hungry. I still have business to do, so don't refuse, it's settled then."
Looking at the sullen young old lady, Zhang Beichuan added, "Sister-in-law, the money I'm short will be sent to you as soon as I get my ID card and contact my friends in the provincial capital."
"Xiao Chuan, what are you saying? How could your sister-in-law take your money? If anyone should pay, it should be the eldest son's family, not you. We can't accept this money."
"Yes, yes, how could we let you pay?" Zhang Dequan paused, "Since you're letting us farm your land, then don't give us fifty yuan. Consider it rent from us. In addition, we'll give you three hundred catties of grain every year."
Three hundred catties of grain was a considerable amount in 1986. It was roughly equivalent to eight liang of grain per day, enough for an adult's daily food and drink needs.
As if remembering something, Lan Xiuying suddenly asked.
"Xiao Chuan, if you don't want a house, where will you live in the future?"
Zhang Beichuan knew that his grandparents were just trying to save face, and that they definitely wouldn't accept money if he forced them to.
We need to find a place to stay here. Since our family is renovating their house this year, we might as well take this opportunity to partner up, so they won't have to work so hard.
As for food, he was prepared to continue living off his grandparents, so it didn't matter whether they collected it or not.
"Um... Sister-in-law, could you let me rest for a while?"
"We don't mind as long as you don't mind our thatched hut, but what will you do afterward?"
Zhang Beichuan looked at the old man's furrowed brows and made a suggestion.
"Third Brother, I heard you're building a house. How about I contribute some more money, and we can build it together as a joint venture?"
"partnership?"
"Yes," Zhang Beichuan said excitedly, "Anyway, I'll have to fix it when I come back. Since fixing one is the same as fixing two, let's fix them all at once."
Lan Xiuying thought for a moment and asked curiously.
"How big do you want it to be?"
"It doesn't need to be too big, just a place to stay is fine, I'm not home much anyway."
It was just one more room, and with her brother-in-law also giving her family land to cultivate, which would result in a significant increase in grain production each year, so Lan Xiuying readily agreed.
"Just a room, no need to pay, you can come back and help out whenever you have time."
Zhang Beichuan knew the old lady's personality all too well. She didn't care about money; it was just helping out, so he had to help her properly!
Just buy the building materials directly, and they won't be able to do anything about it if they don't want them later!
"Okay, I'll do as my sister-in-law says!"
Zhang Dequan smiled when he saw that he had agreed.
"It's getting late, let's go to my place for lunch. It's been a long time since we got back, have your sister-in-law stew the cured pig's head, and we brothers can have a good meal!"
Zhang Beichuan's desire to go wasn't simply because he craved cured pig's head, but because he wanted to see his mother from his childhood.
But considering that he had already wasted so much time here, he still had to try his own methods to help his grandparents as soon as possible.
"Well, Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law, how about we call it a day? I need to go to the county to get my ID card sorted out first, otherwise I won't be able to get anyone to send me money."
Zhang Dequan thought about it and realized it made sense; it would be the same if he came back in the evening. He turned to look at his wife.
"Yingzi, Xiaochuan needs to go to the county office on business, and he can't go without money. Why don't you give him five yuan?"
"No problem." Lan Xiuying took out five yuan from her pocket without saying a word. "Xiao Chuan, don't think it's too little. Take it first, and tell your sister-in-law if it's not enough."
Zhang Beichuan looked at the money she handed him. Five yuan didn't sound like much, but it still carried considerable weight in the rural area in 1986. In the end, he accepted it.
"Thank you, sister-in-law, I will pay you back. I'll head to the county now, you all go back."
"No need to repay, we're all family." Lan Xiuying said with a smile, feeling an inexplicable closeness to her brother-in-law. "Okay, drive carefully."