The sunlight outside gradually slanted.
Zhang Xifeng sat in the central room. Her mind was a mess, and it was filled with the words that the child had said.
Finally, she gritted her teeth and made a decision. "Qiqi, let's call your second Uncle Chen tonight and go to the old village chief house again!"
At this hour, everyone was still busy in the field. When they returned at night, she would go to their door and discuss it with them.
What Qiqi said about going to the city to sell things, looking for wholesale markets, and so on sounded like a dream to her.
She didn't dare to believe it at first.
However, the thought of selling the things planted in the field and making some money grew stronger after hearing the child's words.
At the very least, she should give it a try.
If it didn't work, then she would accept her fate.
But what if she succeeded? That would be equivalent to helping the entire village!
All these years, the people in the village had long been bent by life. The worst was just like that, so they had to fight for it!
It was seven in the evening.
The sky had just turned dark, and the farmers had already had dinner and were preparing to wash up and go to bed.
A low-watt light bulb gave off a faint glow in the old village chief's house.
Zhang Xifeng, Chen Jianhe, and the old village chief sat around a small folding stool. All of them had serious expressions.
The old village chief held the cigarette in his hand and wanted to light it several times, but when he saw the little child sitting obediently beside him, he suppressed his addiction.
"The people of our village have been rooted in Taoxi village all their lives, and the county is the furthest place they've ever been to. No one has been to the city, and we're unfamiliar with the people and the place. How can we find a way?" With so much on his mind, the old village chief couldn't light the cigarette, so he just bit the cigarette to satisfy his craving.
He was 70 years old this year and had been the village chief for nearly 40 years. He had been busy with the affairs of the village as if they were his own business.
Because the crops in the field were not harvested all year round, the rice they harvested, in the end, was barely enough for their family to eat.
In order to add more income, the villagers worked on dry land and mountainous areas, planting watermelons, sweet potatoes, corn, fruits, and so on, hoping to sell them for some money.
Now that he saw that the prices of the fruits in the village were being wantonly lowered, and everyone's faces were bitter, he was also anxious.
He would naturally be happy if he could find a way out for the villagers.
But the old village chief didn't dare to think about going to the city.
Chen Jianhe clenched his jaw and said in a deep voice, "Uncle, will it work? Let's try it once. The worst case scenario is that the item will be sold to Xicun village."
After a pause, he continued, "you've seen the attitude of the village chief and his nephew today. They're certain that we can only sell to them. Last year, they lowered the price by 30%, and this year, they lowered the price by 50%. If we continue to take this step back, they will lower the price next year and gnaw at our bones and blood!"
Luo Yuqiong, silent all this time, also said, "we're all farmers, but we work in the fields for a year and can't even provide food for our family. How am I worse than others? We put in more effort than others in planting crops! If anything could be sold at a good price, it wouldn't be so difficult for every family, and the young people in the village wouldn't be forced to leave their homes to work far away."
Qiqi suddenly understood. No wonder she had seen most of the elderly and children in the village these two days. Young people were rare.
At that moment, the little boy who was snuggling up to Luo Yuqiong suddenly said, " Grandpa, grandma, if the things we grow can be sold for money, will my parents come back when we have money? "
This was the old village head's grandson, Li Hua.
The eight-year-old boy's eyes were bright, full of desire and hope that no one dared to look at directly.
Luo Yuqiong was silent and did not respond. She turned her head, and her eyes secretly reddened.
In order to earn money for their child's education, the husband and wife also went out to work. They only came back once every two years and stayed for two to three days.
The last time Li Hua saw his parents was during the Chinese New Year two years ago.
Many other families in the village were in the same situation as them.
But what could they do?
They were too poor.
"Go, take a trip to the city!" The old village head finally knocked his cigarette on the ground and made up his mind. "As for the wholesale market, we all are capable of talking. We can always find the place if we ask people!"
Qiqi sat at the side the whole time, obediently listening to the adults 'discussion.
After the old village chief finished speaking, the little egg-man's voice rang in her mind. "Little brat, you follow."
Qiqi raised her hand almost immediately. "Grandpa village chief, I, I can lead the way!"
The four adults and a little boy looked at Qiqi in unison.
Qiqi was so nervous that she straightened her back. "There's a big wholesale market in the West of Hui city. It's two stops away from the West City Station by bus no. 5! I, I can lead the way."
"And I'm small in size, so I don't have to spend money on tickets."
Towards the end, the child's voice was as soft as a mosquito's, and her two little hands were clasped together.
A moment later, Chen Jianhe, who had always been dark and serious, smiled.
He said in a clear voice, "okay, Qiqi will lead the way for Grandpa village chief and second uncle tomorrow!'
"Jianhe", Zhang Xifeng hesitated, "Qiqi was still young. Could she run around with them?"
"Aunt, don't worry. I'll bring a basket tomorrow and carry Qiqi. She won't be tired."
With his guarantee and the little girl's eagerness to go, Zhang Xifeng sighed. In the end, she could only suppress her worry and nod.
The adults discussed the matter of entering the city tomorrow. They decided not to tell the villagers about finding a way to enter the city for the time being, in case they failed and made them happy for nothing.
It was almost ten o'clock when they all left.
The next day.
Chen Jianhe came to pick her up early in the morning when the sky had just turned gray.
Zhang Xifeng was worried and reluctant to let such a small child follow her into the city. She wished she could follow.
However, the round-trip fare to the city was a sum of money. In addition, she was a petite old woman. Not only would she not be of any help, but she would also be a burden.
"Qiqi, remember to follow your second uncle closely. It's dangerous outside, especially in the city. Some bad people will abduct children."
Zhang Xifeng tidied up the child's clothes and tied up her hair. She walked the child to the door and kept nagging, "if you lose him, you can take the bus back to the station. Granny has sewn a pocket in your shirt. There's money in it for emergency use. This is Taoxi village, Mulu town. Just go to the entrance of the town police station. Granny will be waiting for you there."
Chen Jianhe didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
With him watching over her, she couldn't lose her child no matter what.
However, the little child listened seriously and answered thoughtfully, "don't worry, Granny. Qiqi is very good at recognizing the direction! If I really get lost, I can still walk back. I can find the way!"
Chen Jianhe sighed. He really wouldn't lose her.
"Jianhe, you must keep an eye on Qiqi. Carry her wherever there are many people in the city."
"Aunt, I promise. I will always keep Qiqi even if I leave myself in the city."
Qiqi looked at the black-faced uncle's helpless expression and turned her head to snicker, causing second Uncle Chen to punch her slightly as a joke.