Chapter 451 - 449: Trouble at the Pig Farm
The next morning, just as Li Xiangyang and Lin Lan arrived at the department store with Little Douzi, He Li said to Li Xiangyang, "Xiangyang, my dad sent a message. He says you need to get to the pig farm right away."
"Okay!" Li Xiangyang set Little Douzi down and said to Lin Lan, "I shouldn’t have accepted their rent increase last time. The market is tough right now, and that farm is so far from the East Market. If it comes to it, we’ll just terminate the lease and move the pigs to our farm here at the central brigade."
Lin Lan nodded. "It is inconvenient over there. If worse comes to worst, just give it back." After a moment’s thought, she added, "A mighty dragon can’t crush a local snake. Whatever you do, don’t get into it with them just for the sake of pride."
Li Xiangyang smiled. "Don’t worry. I’m not going to fight with them."
The Red Star Brigade’s pig farm was quite a distance from the East Market, a three or four-hour bike ride. Li Xiangyang took two breaks along the way and didn’t arrive until noon at the farm, which was nestled in a mountain hollow within the Red Star Brigade.
Ever since the old brigade captain stepped down last year, the old hand who used to help with the pigs had quit to go help his son at his own farm. Li Xiangyang had then sent Old He and his son to come here.
He stood outside the rammed-earth wall surrounding the property, propping up his bicycle. He glanced at the collapsed fence of the vegetable patch near the gate before heading into the yard.
The dog, Wangcai, saw him and started barking affectionately.
Hearing the dog, Old He came out. As soon as he saw Li Xiangyang, he pointed angrily at the wrecked fence. "Xiangyang! That good-for-nothing from the Qian family came with his gang of layabouts to stir up trouble again. The Brigade Captain tried to mediate, but they accused him of taking a bribe from us to lease this land to us on the cheap."
Li Xiangyang frowned. "What did the Captain say?"
’I think I heard someone mention that the new Captain, Yang, is the Qian family’s son-in-law. There’s no way he can’t handle this!’
"The Captain said he’s washing his hands of it, then just turned and left," Old He said, glancing at Li Xiangyang. "Qian Shucai gave us until the end of next month to clear out, or else he’ll teach us a lesson. He also said that if Captain Qian dares to protect us again, they’ll report him to the commune for corruption."
Li Xiangyang looked at Old He. "When Qian Shucai accused the Captain of taking our money, the Captain didn’t just walk out?"
"The Captain called it slander and said he was washing his hands of the whole affair for good, then he left." At this, Old He looked at Li Xiangyang. "Are you saying they’re putting on an act? We just agreed to a rent increase. This is just some worthless patch of mountain. What are they after?"
Li Xiangyang smiled faintly. "It’s simple. They see the markets have opened up, and they want to take our farm to raise and sell pigs themselves. I was already thinking this place is too far from the East Market and a pain to get to. I was planning to give it back anyway. This way, it saves me the breath. I might even be able to get some compensation for our losses out of it!"
He did a quick calculation in his head. ’Over twenty piglets, more than thirty half-grown pigs, and twenty almost ready for market. I’ll go back and have someone expand the farm at the central brigade. It’ll be perfect for moving them over at the end of the month.’
Old He frowned. "You mean, give it back to them? What about all the pigs?"
Li Xiangyang said nonchalantly, "We’ll give it back and move everything to the central brigade’s farm. It’s closer to the East Market and easier to manage anyway."
Old He nodded. "Alright. I just finished making food. You should eat here before you go." He then glanced at him sheepishly. "Me and Erhan just made some cowpea porridge and red-mouthed taro. Hope you don’t mind simple food."
Li Xiangyang smiled. "Red-mouthed taro with cowpea porridge sounds delicious."
The two of them walked towards the kitchen.
The tall and sturdy He Erhan was by the stove, picking up pieces of taro. Seeing Li Xiangyang, he said indignantly, "Xiangyang, that scoundrel Qian Shucai came to cause trouble again! I wanted to throw him out, but my dad wouldn’t let me."
Li Xiangyang said, "You should listen to your father. What if you threw him out, and he got hurt? He’d just use that as an excuse to leech off you."
He Erhan thought about it. "Yeah, you’re right. I won’t throw him out."
"Hah!" Old He let out a laughing sigh. "You tell him once, and it sinks in. I talked until my mouth was dry, and he was still determined to throw Qian Shucai out."
He Erhan shot him a dissatisfied look. "But I didn’t!"
"I’m not wasting my breath on you!" Old He grumbled, fishing some pickled chili peppers, cowpeas, and ginger out of a jar. He said to Li Xiangyang, "The two of us are too lazy to cook, so all we have are pickles."
"Pickles are the perfect thing to have with porridge," Li Xiangyang said, helping carry the boiled taro to the table. The three of them sat down and began to eat.
The cowpea porridge had already cooled down. The pickled peppers were sour and spicy, while the pickled ginger was sour, spicy, salty, and crisp. They went perfectly with the porridge.
He finished a bowl of porridge, then picked up a piece of the red-mouthed taro, peeled it, and dipped it in a little pea paste. The soft, starchy texture was surprisingly good.
"This red-mouthed taro is pretty tasty. Is it the stuff we planted by the pigpen?"
Old He chuckled. "That’s right. We had a huge crop this year; I’ve even been digging some up to feed the pigs. This afternoon, we’ll start digging up the potatoes, sweet potatoes, and the rest of the taro. We’ll clean the whole patch out. Not leaving a single root for those sons of turtles."
Li Xiangyang nodded. "Cut down all the ramie too. Dig up the roots and we can take them back to sell to the pharmacy."
Old He said with some regret, "It’s a shame about the paper mulberry trees. Most of the ones we planted survived."
"That’s simple enough," Li Xiangyang said. "Before we go, we’ll have them dug up, wrap the roots in damp grass, and transplant them at the other farm."
He Erhan finished the porridge in his bowl and looked at the two of them, confused. "We’re leaving?"
Li Xiangyang smiled. "That’s right, we’re leaving. We’re moving back to the pig farm at the central brigade."
He Erhan nodded happily. "Good! He Li’s cooking is way better."
Just then, a dog started barking furiously outside. Old He shot to his feet. "That must be that bastard Qian Shucai again. I knew I should have let Wangcai off his chain."
The words were barely out of his mouth when a dark, stocky man appeared at the kitchen door with three others. They crowded the entrance, smirking at the people inside. "Well, well! If it isn’t Boss Li!"
Li Xiangyang slowly and deliberately finished his piece of taro, then turned to look calmly at the stocky man. "Qian Shucai. Is there something you need?"
Qian Shucai sneered, "Boss Li, what’s the point of playing dumb?"
"That’s right. You’re already here, so quit playing dumb," one of his followers said smugly. "Hurry up and clear out. The farm is ours at the end of September."
Old He said angrily, "You’re being completely unreasonable! There are dozens of pigs on the farm. Where are we supposed to find a new farm in just one month?"
Qian Shucai grinned at Li Xiangyang. "Everyone knows Boss Li has a massive operation. For you, a few dozen pigs are nothing!"
"You..." Old He was about to say more, but Li Xiangyang stopped him with a raised hand. He looked at Qian Shucai. "Are you here on behalf of the Red Star Brigade?"
Qian Shucai: "That’s right. The brigade has agreed to lease this place to us."
Li Xiangyang said in a slow, deliberate voice, "Since you’re representing the Red Star Brigade, you should be aware that we still have three and a half years left on our lease. Pay us the required compensation, and I’ll leave immediately."
Qian Shucai and his men exchanged a glance, then said belligerently, "The contract is not our problem. Take it up with the Brigade Captain yourself!"
Li Xiangyang said dismissively, "Since you don’t have the ability to compensate our losses, then we’ll just follow the contract. When the time is up, I’ll hand it right over."