Father's Land Mother's River

Chapter 156 Scaling Up
In mid-August, the weather forecast said that there would be continuous moderate rain, so Liu Xiaonan prepared sandbags in advance.

After a day of moderate rain, it suddenly turned to heavy rain in the evening, and even the scale of torrential rain in some periods of time.Mountain water poured into the reservoir and leaked from the dam of the reservoir with a bang.

At this time, the sea is at high tide, and the entire bay is full of water.The water levels in both ponds continued to rise at a frighteningly rapid pace.

In the rising water level, the crabs also became frightened and huddled together, crawling around the edge of the pond embankment.If the pond's dam is opened, the crabs will not hesitate to follow the current and rush into the sea.

Everyone came to the pond and used sandbags to reinforce and heighten the embankment of the pond in the rain.Meng Xiangxiang handed over the two children to Sha Liu, put on raincoats and rain boots and went to the embankment of the pond to participate in the rescue.

The rain is sometimes urgent and sometimes slow, sometimes big and sometimes small, washing the embankment of the pond and washing people's nerves.Everyone ran back and forth with tools in the mud, shouted loudly in the rain, encouraged and comforted each other.

Two fluorescent lamps erected on the embankment of the pond swayed in the wind and rain, emitting dim light in the dense rain.

After strengthening the embankment of the pond, everyone returned to the houses at the foot of the mountain to rest.Meng Xiangxiang and his two sister-in-laws cooked ginger soup to keep everyone warm and drive away the humidity.

After drinking ginger soup, drinking a little wine, and eating dry food, everyone lay down and took a nap on the kang with all their clothes on, ready to go out to rescue at any time.

Liu Xiaonan lay down for a while but couldn't sleep anymore, got up and put on a raincoat, and went to the pond embankment to inspect with a flashlight.Meng Xiangxiang also followed to the embankment.

Others can rest, they cannot have any slack.

When building the pond, Liu Xiaonan forgot to build a drainage gate, and the experts also ignored this point, which caused today's passive and tense situation.

Fortunately, the tide began to ebb in the bay, the heavy rain stopped and stopped, the water level in the pond stopped rising, and the dam was safe and sound, without any leakage.

Liu Xiaonan hugged Meng Xiangxiang tightly to her chest, and stood in the mud on the pond embankment. The rainwater from the rain hat flowed on Meng Xiangxiang's rain hat, and gathered in one place to flow to their feet.

Liu Xiaonan felt Meng Xiangxiang's body trembling slightly, and he said: "As early as [-], I also experienced a dangerous situation that had not yet happened. At that time, I wanted to raise fish in the pond in front of my house. I gave up because of my father’s stop. It was also in this season that typhoon No. [-] swept across the land of southern Liaoning. Fortunately, I didn’t raise fish, otherwise I would lose everything. If I really raised fish that year, I don’t know if I would be devastated.”

Meng Xiangxiang said: "If you successfully escaped a disaster, you will definitely be saved today."

"You are my lucky little angel. Since I married you, everything in the family is peaceful and everything goes smoothly. It seems that the fate of my parents is not unacceptable."

"Are you going to fall in love with me again?"

"Do we still need to be in love?"

In the dark rainy night, they leaned close to each other.

After dawn, the rain stopped and the weather gradually turned sunny.The black clouds were scattered by the wind into pieces one by one, slowly drifting southward.

The water level in the pond slowly dropped, and the crabs in the pond climbed to the edge of the embankment to bask in the sun, and Longwangtang returned to its former calm.

Before the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, the river crabs are full of ointment and yellow, and they are all in the second or third weight, and they are officially put on the market.

Before the National Day, most of the river crabs had been sold, and Liu Xiaonan had already recovered all the investment.He first repaid the credit union's annual repayment amount and stopped the sale of river crabs.

According to his observation last winter, Longwangtang was not frozen in winter, which did not affect the growth of river crabs.He wanted to do an experiment and save the remaining river crabs for sale before the Spring Festival.

Liu Xiaonan called Gu Yu who had been transferred to the Bureau of Light Industry: "Sister, I succeeded. Tell me your home address, and I'll send you crabs. You can eat as much as you want."

Gu Yu said on the phone: "I don't like eating river crabs anymore, and I know exactly what you want to do. I hope you can still maintain a pure heart, and you are still my stupid brother."

"Shame! I feel like I owe you so much."

"Doing your business well is the best reward for me. There is someone who keeps you locked up more than me. He hopes that you can become a successful young entrepreneur, not just a writer."

"Please tell me that I will live up to this high expectation. If one day he retires and wants to put aside all the mundane affairs of the world, when he is free, please come to me to cultivate himself. I will treat him as an ordinary little girl. The old man will treat it."

"You don't hate him anymore?"

"Of course I will bear the grudge. I want to talk to him face to face. Why does he look down on me as a writer?"

"Then it's none of my business. Well, someone knocked on the door. If you have anything to do, call me later."

On National Day, Liu Xiaonan drove home to bring her parents to Longwangtang.The name is to let his parents visit his farm, but in fact he wants his parents to like this place, and finally agrees to his arrangement to stay here.

Liu Zhixin and Sha Wanli got along very well, the two chatted from vegetable shed to fruit tree planting, chatting endlessly.

Sha Wanli took Liu Zhixin to the Tushan Mountain, visited the big cherry forest, and introduced in detail the growth characteristics, fruit setting period, and foreseeable economic benefits of the big cherry.Liu Zhixin nodded frequently, and began to secretly plan to introduce Da Cherry to Liuzi Street.

Liu Zhixin only lived in Longwangtang for two days before going back. Although his son's farm is good, the family's farm work cannot be delayed.

The father and father stood on the cliff talking alone, and Liu Xiaonan first proposed to let his parents move here, and the father and father jointly operated the farm.

Liu Zhixin said: "You have your business, and I have my way of life. You have Shawanli here, and you know more about fruit tree planting than I do, so I am useless to you. I know you want me and your mother to enjoy a happy life. , Actually, you don’t understand. At the age of your mother and I, there should be something to do, so that you can be interested in living. It’s not our family’s tradition to eat, be lazy, and enjoy life.”

Liu Xiaonan said: "I am mainly worried about my mother's health, and the ten-year deadline is getting closer."

Liu Zhixin said: "I think your mother is fine, she can eat and sleep, and she is very optimistic. This matter is settled, your mother and I will not come to live with you, this is not our home. You have Go home and have a look if you have time, don’t force yourself if you don’t have time. It’s not easy for you to run such a big stall, you have to take care of everything, and your mother and I won’t make trouble for you.”

"It's not my home either. I only have a 30-year contract and I'm just a temporary user."

"I have something to tell you. Someone in the village asked me to ask you if you need manpower here. They want to come to work with you. How should I answer them?"

Liu Xiaonan looked at her father and said, "There is no shortage of manpower for the time being. Even if there is a shortage of manpower, I don't want to use people from the village, lest they gossip behind our backs and have a bad influence on our family."

Liu Zhixin nodded and said: "That's fine, I'll go back and tell them that you don't lack manpower here."

"I just want the fourth brother to come here alone. The fourth brother is in his forties. If possible, I want to help him settle down here."

"I see enough. His parents depend on the fourth child to take care of him, and his brothers and sisters also rely on the fourth child to raise horses and give them farmland. Even if the fourth child wants to come, his brothers and sisters will not agree. Let me ask for you, it's okay, No, don’t force it.”

A few days after Liu Zhixin returned to Liuzi Street, he called Liu Xiaonan and told him that his fourth brother would not be able to come.

Liu Zhixin asked the fourth brother alone, and the fourth brother happily agreed that he was willing to work with Liu Xiaonan.

The fourth brother went home to discuss with his parents and brothers, but none of them agreed. Isn't this acting like a cow to others?The fourth brother was angry, so he wouldn't go if he wasn't allowed to go, why would he speak ill of Xiaonan?

Liu Xiaonan could only put this matter aside.

The weather is getting cooler, and the sweet potatoes on the earth hills are also harvested, and they are transported back for storage.Liu Xiaonan's focus is still on the remaining river crabs in the pond. The crabs are growing slowly, but they are still being fed regularly. He expects to sell them at a good price before the Spring Festival.

There is also a large reed pond on the opposite side of the tidal ditch. Liu Xiaonan hired bulldozers to build that reed pond into a pond for raising river crabs, and at the same time repaired three ponds with drainage gates.Next year he will expand the scale of farming and work hard.

On this day, Sha Wanli discussed with Liu Xiaonan: "There are two distant brothers in my hometown. They are divers in the navy and have just been discharged from the army. They don't want to go back to their hometown to herd sheep and live the days I used to be accompanied by wind and sand. I'm here to help find jobs. Both of them have learned a little bit in the army, and they both have a sense of loyalty, do you think you want to use them?"

To deal with some ruffians and thieves, you really need someone to stand up for you.Liu Xiaonan said: "The person recommended by the elder brother must not be wrong, so call them here. In the sea area ahead, the number of sea cucumbers is increasing, and some people will make crooked ideas because they want to get something for nothing. Around evening, there are often unidentified people outside the island. The black boats are wandering around there. I plan to install headlights on the small island, buy a motor boat, and let your two brothers take care of the sea area at night, and do whatever work is available during the day. As for the wages, it is the same as that of the eldest brother , what do you think, big brother?"

Sha Wanli said: "That's my plan too. I didn't mention the salary. I told his brothers that I will never find such a benevolent boss. If you want to work, you have to work hard. If you don't see that you have this year A little profit, I am really embarrassed to say this, and arrange people with you."

Liu Xiaonan said: "My eldest brother is the hero who helped me start my business. I don't want to say too many polite words. In the future, just say what you want or ask for."

A few days later, Sha Wanli brought the two strong young men to Liu Xiaonan.One is called Shashan and the other is called Shashi. They are both wearing retired navy camouflage uniforms and are full of energy.

After shaking hands, Liu Xiaonan said to Shashan Shashi: "I don't have a boss working here. I am not a few years older than you. From now on, everyone will be called a brother. Brother Sha has told you about the food, accommodation and specific job wages." , I will stop rambling. What I want to say is that if you want to settle down in the local area in the future, I will help you wherever I can. "

Shashan Shashi said: "We have all seen the movies you wrote, and we didn't expect to be so young. We follow you, no matter what."

Liu Xiaonan drove a pick-up truck and took the brothers Shashan and Shashi to the island with their luggage.A stone house on the island has been tidied up, with two single beds, a TV set, and a complete set of daily necessities.

After placing the luggage, Liu Xiaonan took the two brothers outside, pointed to the opposite hill and said, "The surrounding area of ​​the island and the range within a straight line distance to the opposite hill are all our breeding farms. You are usually here at night Stay here, to prevent someone from stealing, and withdraw when it gets cold. I will equip you with a motorcycle, so it is convenient to come to the island to inspect and go out to do business. Do you two have any questions or requests?"

Shashan Shashi said: "It is thoughtful enough, we have no problem."

A few days later, Liu Xiaonan went out with sand and rocks and bought a Xingfu 125 motorcycle and a motorboat, which docked in the lee of the island.The two brothers went back to the old army on a motorcycle, and got two black-backed pups to raise.

On New Year's Day in [-], Liu Xiaonan sold some of the river crabs, and the price doubled, resulting in considerable benefits.

Sha Wanli suggested to Liu Xiaonan that it will not be easy for everyone this year, buy a pig and kill it, so that everyone can have a decent holiday together.

This is a good idea, Liu Xiaonan did what he said, and asked Sha Wanli to drive his pickup truck, take his two brothers out, and bought a fat pig weighing more than 300 catties.

Sha Wanli slaughtered the pigs himself, boiled the meat, stuffed the blood sausage and stewed the slaughtered pigs, and the farm was steaming.Meng Xiangxiang also came with his two children. Everyone gathered together like a family to drink and eat meat, lamenting the difficulty of this year and welcoming the new year together.

Before the Spring Festival, Liu Xiaonan sold all the remaining river crabs, and the start-up capital after the spring is quite sufficient.

After clearing the bottom of the pond, he sent his brother-in-law and sister-in-law and Shashan Shashi brothers to the pier and train station respectively, and handed over the farm to Sha Wanli and his wife to take care of.He drove back to Liuzi Street by himself, reunited with Meng Xiangxiang and his children, and stayed with his parents for the new year.

On the night of returning home, the fourth brother was the first to ask Liu Xiaonan to write Spring Festival couplets.

Liu Xiaonan told the fourth brother that he had recruited two demobilized soldiers, and he wrestled with them using the tricks that the fourth brother taught him, and he was no match for them at all.Even if the fourth brother goes out in person, he may not be able to take advantage of it.

The fourth brother looked a little lonely: "Xiaonan, I know you are doing it for my own good, but I really can't get away."

Liu Xiaonan comforted the fourth brother: "It doesn't matter, you are my fourth brother wherever you are."

On the night of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Liu Qishun's daughter-in-law suddenly came to the door alone and asked Liu Xiaonan if he still needed staff.Complaining that Liu Qishun only knows how to farm and can't make money, and there are two sick old people lying in the house, so he can't live without finding a way to make a living.

Considering that Liu Qishun and himself are friends of the same age who grew up together in the same courtyard after all, and there is also the relationship with Liu Erya, Liu Qishun is not alone.Liu Xiaonan said to Liu Qishun's wife, "I have to go back on the fourth day of junior high school, so please let Qishun go with me."

Liu Qishun's daughter-in-law said: "If he doesn't go, he thinks it's shameful to work under you. I'll go with you, and you can find me some work. I don't think it's shameful. I'm too poor to be poor. Is it shameful?"

Liu Xiaonan glanced at his father who had been silent all this time, and said to Liu Qishun's wife, "I can't take you away alone. Doesn't this separate you from Qishun? You go home and discuss with Qishun, and you are going to go with your husband and wife." Come together, I have a place to live there."

After Liu Qishun's wife left, Liu Zhixin was very satisfied with the way his son was handled.

Until he left Liuzi Street and returned to Bincheng on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Liu Qishun's wife never came to see Liu Xiaonan again, nor did Liu Xiaonan take the initiative to ask.

A month later, Liu Xiaonan received a call from his father, saying that Liu Qishun's wife had divorced Liu Qishun.That woman left her daughter with Liu Qishun, who disappeared somewhere.

(End of this chapter)