NOVPUB
Chapter 674: Chapter 664: Big Sister Li Calls
From mid-December, the greenhouses on the farm began to produce vegetables in succession.
Having agreements with several units to deliver vegetables before New Year’s Day, all the employees on the farm sprang into action.
The first to be harvested were the cucumbers, for which Shen Yunfang had specially prepared square, long-sided frames. After picking the cucumbers, they were laid out in rows going in one direction.
Once a basket was full, a little water was sprayed on top to keep them moist, then they were covered with a sheet of oil paper, and after putting the basket lid on, it was tied up and placed at the entrance of the greenhouse to start filling the next one. These would stay fresh for three to four days for sure if preserved this way.
Gradually, all the vegetables in every greenhouse were ready to harvest. Zhang Chunwang then started organizing teams to weigh and load the produce onto vehicles, and then they delivered the vegetables to various units. Regarding unpaid debts, there were basically none because if there were any delays, the kickbacks would be gone too.
A few days before New Year’s Day, the sea fish arrived from the south. With no other choice, Shen Yunfang had to stop the farm’s own transportation temporarily and send trucks to bring the sea fish back in batches.
It was unrealistic to rely solely on the farm’s few men for loading, so Shen Yunfang paid for external labor to load the trucks. Her own people didn’t have to lift a finger, only to watch out that no one stole the fish.
Working tirelessly day and night for two days, all the fish were transported back to the farm. Then Zhang Chunwang began organizing people again, to categorize, weigh, and then pack the fish. This was Shen Yunfang’s directive – the catch could only fetch a good price with proper packaging. Even if it was originally street vendor goods, they had to be placed in a fancy box to sell at a boutique price.
Three trucks with insulated compartments were specifically assigned to transport the vegetables, and that one truck with a regular bed was responsible for the sea fish.
After following the process for a few days, once Shen Yunfang saw that Zhang Chunwang was fully capable, she let go of the reins. She told him to sort it out himself while she sat back and waited to collect the money.
In late January, before Shen Yunfang had spent two days at home, Li Hongjun came home from work and told her his eldest sister had called.
Of course, nobody back home knew that they had installed a phone yet, so calls were still made to Li Hongjun’s place.
"Oh, your big sister called? Is there an emergency?" Shen Yunfang was quite surprised. She had a good relationship with this sister-in-law, and since last year, the sister-in-law’s children would write to her every month, sharing family news, venting, or expressing their desire to visit and so on.
Shen Yunfang always read these letters very carefully and together with the children would respond to the three siblings. They maintained very good communication.
Originally, Shuanzi was supposed to come over in the summer, but big sister Li said that their second uncle’s family had just moved in, and everything was still a mess. Their coming would only cause trouble, so they put the idea on hold. During the winter vacation, Shen Yunfang had just received a letter from Shuanzi again saying he planned to come and was trying to convince his mother. Unexpectedly, Li’s eldest sister’s call came through.
"Yes, she asked if we had time to go back for the holidays, and if we do, to make a trip there," Li Hongjun said, lying on the bed.
Shen Yunfang sat beside him and saw his eyebrows furrow. She reached out and began to massage his temples. She knew Li Hongjun was not having an easy time at the military area. Being so young yet climbing so high, many couldn’t bear to see his success. Especially once they found out he had no significant connections, they shamelessly attempted to trip him up.
Li Hongjun wasn’t made of clay, though. Despite the hostile environment, in half a year, he had managed to secure his position in the military region and even cultivate his own loyalists. This was a case of self-made success.
"Did she mention what it’s about?" Shen Yunfang asked softly.
Li Hongjun was silent for a while, and Shen Yunfang understood – it must be trouble either with his father or his eldest brother.
"My father isn’t comfortable living with my eldest brother and has gone to stay with my eldest sister," Li Hongjun finally said.
"Hmm," Shen Yunfang thought there was more to it than that. If it were just this, Li Xianglian wouldn’t have asked them to go back. Li Xianglian was a very filial daughter. Despite how Qiu Shuping had treated her and her children, Li Xianglian still couldn’t abandon her father. If the old man truly had no one to care for him, she would have taken him in without a second thought. Of course, things had changed now. Where previously she had been obedient, now she would just visit and leave, no longer cozying up as before.
"Li Xianghe had been eating at home with my dad before, and it was always my older sister who cooked, so she quit. Now that my dad has gone to my older sister’s place, Li Xianghe followed him there."
It seemed that the youngest sister was the main reason they were going back.
"Didn’t your sister get married? How come she’s still stuck at home?" Shen Yunfang remembered that she had been married for several years already.
"Hmm." Li Hongjun also didn’t know what was going on.
"So what are you planning to do, are you going back or not?" Shen Yunfang asked without stopping her hands.
"Wife, I want to go back, is that okay?" Li Hongjun grasped his wife’s hand firmly and then looked at her with very sincere eyes.
Shen Yunfang glanced at him and pulled her hand back, "Do you have vacation time?" She seemed to remember that the bosses were always very busy during the New Year.
"I do. You know how it is with me here, I’m not given much importance, just killing time, and nobody cares about me. I’m sure I can get the leave approved if I ask for it," Li Hongjun said with a face full of ingratiating smiles.
"Yeah, right." Who would believe that?
"Wife, tell me, are we going back or not?" Li Hongjun moved his big head closer, "I’ll listen to you."
"Really listen to me?" Shen Yunfang raised an eyebrow and asked him.
"Of course, if I don’t listen to my wife, whose should I listen to?" Li Hongjun replied resoundingly, "But wife, think about it, we haven’t been back for years, and our son and daughter haven’t ever been back to their hometown. It would be so embarrassing to mention that to others in the future."
"It’s fine, there are plenty of kids who haven’t been to their hometown, ours aren’t the only ones," Shen Yunfang said coolly as she lay on the bed.
Li Hongjun immediately started massaging his wife with large hands, "That’s different. Our kids are so good; we can’t let them have this blemish." Now, the roles were reversed.
"Besides, my old dad is getting on in years, and suddenly he’s spending New Year’s alone. I’m also afraid he can’t take it. If we go with the kids to liven things up, it might also help ease his emotions."
"Hmm hmm, a little lower," Shen Yunfang said comfortably, closing her eyes, "I’m just afraid that once we’re there, if my dad sees me, he will be so angry he can’t contain it. If he looks at me like I’m worth nothing, I can’t stand it."
"No way, he absolutely can’t; my dad’s not that kind of person."
"What do you mean he can’t? Anything is possible with your family."
"See, you’re being biased. Even though my family has some awful people, not all of them are. There must be one or two good ones, right?"
"Of course, aren’t you one of the good ones? Otherwise, why would I have chosen you?" Shen Yunfang said casually.
"Ha, my wife really understands me. But let’s still go back for a visit. I guarantee my dad will definitely welcome you. If he shows you a long face, I’ll immediately take you and leave, okay?"
