Chapter 10: All Are Inferior Goods (Seeking Bookmarks)

  "Let's get started..."

  "What's needed?"

  “……”

  Everyone shouted out loud, Zhang Baosheng said: "Son, your old man has also been a carpenter for decades."

  Zhang Lei looked at him and asked: "Dad, what do you want to say?"

  "It's okay, what I mean is that I'm very experienced and when they're doing it, I can guide them from the side," said Zhang Baosheng.

  Zhang Lei: "......"

  After about an hour, Zhang Lei had assigned all the tasks. The tobacco house couldn't be too big, occupying only about two square meters of land, and not much material was needed. Seeing that there was still time, several young men immediately started working in the courtyard, digging mud and mixing it with water. Zhang Baosheng led a few carpenters to take money from Zhang Lei to buy wood. Zhang Lei and his brother Zhang Chen seemed idle for a while. After half an hour, Zhang Lei said: "I'll go out to buy some food, you stay at home and boil some water for them to drink when they finish work. Let's have the neighbors stay in tonight and eat dinner at home."

  The tobacco house was built quickly, without the need for a foundation or to be very solid. All that was needed was to dig a hole at the bottom for the furnace and then pile up bricks and mud on top. With many hands available, by nightfall, one tobacco house had been built according to the design on the blueprint, with only a door left to add, as well as some wooden items, which would be taken care of by the carpenters.

  Just then, a horse cart slowly came from afar and arrived at the gate. Zhang Lei jumped off the cart and instructed two helpers to unload everything from the cart, paid them and sent them away. Only then did he say to everyone: "Fellow villagers, you've worked hard, although this kiln can bring benefits to many people, but the reason is my personal selfishness. Once again, thank you for your help, you've been busy for so long, take a rest, let's have dinner at my humble abode today before leaving."

  "Look, people with ink in their bellies speak differently. Hehe, Little Lei is being polite, this isn't just your family's business, it's a big deal for our whole village. If it succeeds, we'll all get rich thanks to you, haha." Everyone gathered around the water pool beside the vegetable field, washing off the mud on their bodies, and burst out laughing after hearing Zhang Lei's words.

  Zhang Lei bought two large barrels of good wine, several dozen kilograms of sauce beef, several roasted chickens, half a head of fat pork, and several dozen kilograms of rice. With the abundance of vegetables from their own garden, Zhang Luo prepared two tables of dishes that were more than enough.

  "Heavens... such a great dish! Zhang Lei, you little scamp, you've been missing for several months, didn't you go out to make a fortune?"

  "Aren't you talking nonsense with your eyes wide open? Look at what he's wearing, silk and satin, not much worse than that Mr. Xie, must have made a fortune. Hey, Little Lei, why don't you take a look at Uncle's conditions and go out to make some big money too?"

  "Haha, you're talking nonsense in broad daylight. You've got no ink in your belly, spending your whole life dealing with mud and dirt. What's the point of taking you out? We can't get rich, but I do believe you'll cause trouble for Little Lei."

  ……

  "Everyone, please quiet down," Zhang Lei said, clearing his throat. "These past few months I've been away learning from a master, and he's taught me many practical things, like this smokehouse you see before you now. I didn't expect to use it so soon after returning, but I suppose that's just good fortune. As for getting rich, don't worry about it, everyone. We're all family here, and if I get the chance, I won't keep it to myself. Just follow me closely, and we'll all get rich together - we'll all wear silk and satin."

  "Well said, it should be like this, we are all from the same village, and we should help each other. It's really a blessing from heaven that our village has finally produced someone as capable as you."

  Zhang Lei called Zhang Chen over to help move things, and said with a smile: "We're all family, who else would we help? Just now everyone worked together to build the smokehouse, now it's time to work together to make a delicious dinner. Brother, go borrow a few tables from someone's house, our table...". He waved his hand and the Eight Immortals' table creaked, "should be replaced."

  "Alright. The Zhang's next door have some, I'll go get a few." Zhang Chen replied readily.

  "Go to my house and move those few tables over here too."

  Zhang Lei put down what was in his hand and said: "Then the three of us will go move things, anyway I won't cook, it's up to you guys."

  Six eight-immortal tables, the entire courtyard's empty space was packed to the brim. Several women and daughters-in-law worked together in the kitchen, and in less than half an hour, they had prepared a sumptuous feast. Zhang Lei opened the good wine he had bought, and the aroma of the wine immediately wafted out, making several old drunkards itch with desire.

  "Come, come, come! This is the aged daughter red wine that I specially bought. Today, everyone has helped me so much, and I'm extremely grateful. Let me first toast a cup to everyone." Zhang Lei weaved through the crowd, helping everyone fill their cups, and said loudly.

  "Haha, Nuer Hongwa, my big nephew, look at you, bringing such a great meal for us country folks, mud-legged people. After eating this meal, I reckon we won't know the taste of meat for three months again. By then, we'll surely get lovesick!" Chen Lao Chui's face was in a state of bliss, with his wrinkles seeming to unfold.

  Zhang Lei's face turned red, farmers are the most lovable group of people in the world. Although they always think about taking advantage of you a bit, it's like they're joking with you, a friendly gesture. If you show them some small kindness and make their lives slightly better, they'll treat you like a Bodhisattva. They don't ask for much, just the most basic living needs.

  "Uncle Hammer, you mustn't say that, it's like a death sentence for my nephew. Village affairs are my affair, and I've seen many things outside recently. Being rich myself doesn't count as being rich, my goal is to make the whole village prosperous, this is my goal, this is what I owe to the land where I was born and raised. From now on, I want every household to drink Daughter Red and Champion Red." Zhang Lei said proudly.

  "Well said, I'll toast to your courage and loyalty. Here's three big bowls for us!" Chen Lao Chui changed to a large bowl, poured himself half a bowl, nodded at Zhang Lei, and gulped it down in one go.

  "You old wine ghost, I think you're just looking for an excuse to drink more!" Immediately, someone stood up and retorted, holding a wine cup towards Zhang Lei: "Come on, come on, this good wine I'm not willing to gulp down like that guy. Here, let me toast you first, hoping your method will work, then it would be like saving our entire village."

  Zhang Lei hastily drank the wine in his cup and said, "This is for sure. As the saying goes, one chopstick is easy to break, but many people rowing together can move a big boat. As long as we work together with one heart, there's nothing we can't accomplish."

  They ate for almost an hour, and everyone only had a hearty meal and drink once a year. Today, Zhang Lei was well-prepared with wine and meat, and the stored tobacco might also become a treasure that brings wealth to everyone. Everyone's mood improved, and the sound of drinking and playing fist games filled the air, lively until the early lights came on, if not lit, the dishes on the table couldn't be seen clearly, only then did everyone reluctantly disperse.

  "It's been a long time since I've had such a good drink." Zhang Lei sighed in his heart, although the girl's red wine was not high in degree, compared to the later generations' white wine banquet, it was nothing, but after drinking a few kilograms, he also felt a little drunk.

  "You kid, how old are you and when have you ever drunk like this? Aren't you afraid of drinking yourself to death?" Zhang Baosheng's face was also red and his neck thick from drinking, but seeing Zhang Lei in such a state, he couldn't help but scold him.

  Zhang Chen packed up while explaining to Zhang Lei, "Dad, don't mention it, you also drank a lot of wine, didn't you? Today is not an ordinary day. Once tomorrow arrives, our family's roasted tobacco can start being processed and sold for money. Isn't that something to be happy about? I think brother will be fine after resting for one night."

  Zhang Lei smiled and said: "I'm fine, brother. Give me a bucket of hot water, I'll take a hot bath, and start curing tobacco tomorrow."

  The next day, he slept until the sun was high in the sky before waking up, his head still throbbing with pain. Zhang Lei rubbed his temples and smiled wryly: "It seems that although the wine's degree is not high, its aftereffect is quite sufficient."

  After washing up, he saw several steamed buns on the table and heard voices coming from the courtyard. Zhang Lei walked over in confusion and saw Zhang Chen holding a worn-out copy of "The Classic of Filial Piety" and reciting it.

  "The body and skin are received from parents, and one dare not harm them. This is the beginning of filial piety. Establishing oneself and walking in the right path, making a name for oneself in later generations, to make parents illustrious, this is the end of filial piety. As for filial piety, it begins with serving one's parents, continues with serving one's lord, and ends with establishing oneself. The 'Da Ya' says: 'Do not forget your ancestors, and cultivate their virtues...'"

  "Brother, you're up." Zhang Chen said, noticing Zhang Lei coming over and closing his book.

  Zhang Lei nodded and said, "Since you are so eager to learn, I am also very pleased. After this matter is settled, I will go out for a walk and let you enter the county school to continue your studies."

  Zhang Chen's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, then suddenly dimmed again, and he calmly said: "Forget it, brother. The situation at home is not unknown, studying costs a lot of money, I know you have the ability, but I think, I can stay behind to help you with some things, that's good too. Father is also getting old, I don't want him to work too hard."

  After hearing this, Zhang Lei retorted: "It's not like that, reading is a big deal. Among all things, only reading is of high quality. My father and I are just ordinary people, but you're an educated person, which is a remarkable thing. I was lucky to have studied in a private school for two years, which is already satisfying enough. However, your aspirations shouldn't stop here. You should take it one step at a time, from the county to the province to the capital city. Water needs to flow to be living water and useful. It's okay if we suffer a bit at home, but if you become a useful person, our faces will also shine with pride."

  Zhang Chen lowered his head and didn't speak, Zhang Lei patted him on the shoulder and said: "Go ahead, go study, making money is my specialty, you don't have to worry about this at all."

  Outside came the sound of noisy voices, someone shouted: "Big nephew, today we all came over, what to do, you instruct..."