Chapter 204
“Mm.” Mu Shi’an nodded again.
“Why do you keep saying ‘mm’? Are you even listening to me?” Song Nianchu finally sensed that something was off and stared intently at Mu Shi’an.
“Hmm?” Mu Shi’an came back to himself slightly, a trace of bewilderment in his eyes.
Song Nianchu: “…”
“What were you thinking about just now? Did you not hear a single word I said?” Song Nianchu was getting a little angry.
“No, I was listening. You said that everyone else in Qinghe County is planning to buy net-making machines from us.” Mu Shi’an was clever enough to multitask.
Although he had not been completely focused just now, he had heard every word Song Nianchu said.
“You really were listening?” Song Nianchu frowned slightly.
“You know I don’t have much of a talent for these things. Didn’t we agree on our division of labor long ago? You handle things outside, and I’ll take care of things at home.” Mu Shi’an’s voice softened.
“I know. I just wanted to share the good news with you. The more people who buy net-making machines from us, the more rent we’ll be able to collect later. Maybe it won’t be long before we become ten-thousand-yuan households.” Song Nianchu’s eyes sparkled.
“What do you want to do after we become a ten-thousand-yuan household?” Mu Shi’an asked, following her line of thought.
“Obviously, I’ll go on a shopping spree. First, I’ll buy a bicycle, then a television. Once we earn a little more, I’ll buy us a Western-style house and a car.” The moment Song Nianchu started talking about it, she was filled with energy.
Their current house was perfectly livable, but who wouldn’t want a better life?
Mu Shi’an laughed when he heard this. “You’ll definitely make it happen.”
“I think so too.” Song Nianchu smiled until the corners of her eyes curved. Then she looked at Mu Shi’an again. “Oh, right. There’s one more important thing I forgot to tell you. Since Qinghe County is so large, it would be inconvenient for everyone to come here individually to buy the machines. So the factory director of the fishing-gear factory will purchase them from us on everyone’s behalf. Naturally, we’ll give him a slightly lower price.”
“That’s no problem,” Mu Shi’an said calmly.
“I think so too. After all, he was the one who brought us this business. It’s only fair to give him a little discount.”
“Mm.”
“All right, that’s everything I wanted to say. Tell the people at the carpentry workshop when you get the chance. I’ll go talk to Uncle Zhengui about this first,” Song Nianchu said.
“Okay.”
“…”
Song Nianchu left again like a gust of wind. Mu Shi’an watched her retreating figure, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
He hadn’t managed to kiss her just now. He would have to get off work a little earlier this afternoon and go home ahead of her.
“…”
Song Nianchu told Wu Zhenggui about the matter, and he was naturally overjoyed.
He immediately began planning to build the new carpentry workshop larger. With so many orders, a place that was too small would not have enough room for all the materials.
Song Nianchu left these matters entirely to Wu Zhenggui.
“…”
The canning workshop was being expanded, and working inside had become noisy. Dust even drifted in from the construction. There was no choice but for everyone to move back to the village office for the time being.
Mu Haoxuan and the others also had to move their base back to the courtyard of Song Nianchu’s home.
Time flew. The canning workshop had been under construction for nearly half a month, and the foundation for the entire expansion had already been laid. The next step was to build the walls.
Xiang Tianyi had hired only professional workers. The people from Qinghe Fishing Village could merely lend a hand, but professionals were undeniably efficient.
In just over twenty days, the first floor of the canning factory had been completed.
Its total area was now four or five times larger than before. Along with the open ground surrounding it, the entire complex already looked much larger than the county’s fishing-gear factory.
Song Nianchu could already imagine how magnificent the canning factory would be once it was fully completed.
By then, Qinghe Fishing Village would probably become famous throughout the entire county.
Just as Song Nianchu was eagerly anticipating the factory’s completion, Wu Zhenggui suddenly brought her some terrible news.
“Chu, something terrible has happened!” Wu Zhenggui came running over in a panic.
He nearly tripped over a stone and fell along the way, but fortunately, Song Nianchu reacted quickly and caught him.
“Uncle Zhengui, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry?” Song Nianchu frowned.
“The neighboring county…” Wu Zhenggui was panting heavily. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he continued, “The old dam in the neighboring county… collapsed. A lot of people died!”
“What did you say?” Song Nianchu’s tone immediately turned urgent.
“That old dam had been in disrepair for years. An assessment determined that it could no longer be used, which was why they were building a new dam. Who could have known that before the new dam was finished, the old one would suddenly collapse? The workers were all at the new dam’s construction site. When the old dam gave way, the floodwater burst through and swept away a great many people.” Just talking about it made Wu Zhenggui’s scalp prickle.
Their brigade and village had sent a full three hundred people there.
“Don’t panic. With an accident this serious, the authorities will certainly organize rescue efforts immediately,” Song Nianchu said, trying to reassure him.
“I know. But it’s such a huge disaster, and there are so many missing people. I’m afraid they won’t be able to handle it all. Besides, so many people from our village went there, and now no one knows whether they’re dead or alive.” By the end, Wu Zhenggui’s voice had grown choked with emotion.
“Listen. Convene a brigade meeting right now and gather some young, able-bodied men. I’ll lead them to the neighboring county to provide assistance,” Song Nianchu said after thinking it over.
“You’ll lead them? Absolutely not! The situation over there is still extremely dangerous. You stay here in the village while I take people there!” Wu Zhenggui refused outright.
“You’re the brigade leader. You need to stay here and keep things under control. The families of the workers must be frantic, and you’ll need to comfort them. Besides, I’m stronger than you. I’ll be more useful over there,” Song Nianchu said.
Wu Zhenggui was about to say something else, but Song Nianchu cut him off again.
“Uncle Zhengui, this is an emergency. Go convene the meeting. Every second we waste means greater danger for the villagers.”
“All right.” In the end, Wu Zhenggui nodded and turned to call the brigade meeting.
News of the dam collapse in the neighboring county had already spread. The families of those who had gone to work on the dam were frantic with worry, and nearly everyone in the village square had cried until their eyes were red.
Knowing that time was of the essence, Wu Zhenggui did not waste time with unnecessary words. He simply told everyone that they were organizing a rescue team to go there, and that participation would be voluntary. Song Nianchu would lead the team.
“I’ll go!”
As soon as Wu Zhenggui finished speaking, someone raised his hand.
A few others gradually raised their hands as well.
Compared with the number of people who had volunteered to help build the dam earlier, the turnout was pitifully small.
But Song Nianchu understood. This time, they would be heading into grave danger.