Chapter 13: Daily Sales of Five Thousand for Spirit Spring Vegetables

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On the day the training ended, Su Yao entered the village carrying her canvas bag. From afar, she saw three children squatting beneath the old locust tree at the village entrance. Lu Shihan was the first to jump up, her red cotton jacket like a small flame as she ran toward her: “Mother!” Lu Xingchen and Lu Yuxuan also came running, their small hands clutching at her coat hem. Su Yao set down her bag and went to each of them, gently patting their heads. The children had all grown taller, their faces rosier and healthier.

“Mother brought new blueprints.” She opened the canvas bag and pulled out the improved sowing machine design. “With this, our village’s fields can be planted using a much easier device.”

Widow Wang came back from the field with a basket slung over her arm. Seeing her, she called out, “Finally, you’re back! The cucumbers just started to set fruit, but they’re only half the size they usually are.”

Su Yao followed her toward the vegetable patch. The cucumber vines covered the trellis, but the little cucumbers were thin and the leaves bore yellow spots. “The eggplants aren’t growing well either,” Widow Wang sighed, “There’s been too much rain this year; I’m afraid the yield will drop.”

Su Yao squatted down and touched the soil with her fingertips. Suddenly, she thought of the spiritual spring water from the system. Last time, it had saved Lu Xingchen when she had a fever—maybe watering the vegetables with it would help.

“Auntie, I have a method to try,” she said, standing up. “Tell the villagers not to water the crops for now; I’ll prepare some ‘nutrient solution.’”

Back at home, Su Yao locked the door and took the spiritual spring water from the system, mixing it in proportion into a large bucket. Watching the clear water shimmer faintly, her heart pounded uncertainly—not knowing if it would work.

The next morning, she carried the bucket to the vegetable patch. The villagers gathered around, and Er Zhuzi squatted on the ridge smoking, sneering, “Just a few days of city learning and you’re already messing things up? If this water worked, I’d have eaten the soil in the field.”

Su Yao ignored him and ladled the water around the cucumber roots. As the water seeped into the soil, the drooping leaves trembled slightly, as if stretching open.

“Oh! It’s moving!” a villager exclaimed.

Su Yao quickened her pace, and Widow Wang also picked up a ladle to help. “If this really works, it’d be great. We’re counting on these vegetables to earn money for oil and salt this year.”

They watered continuously for three days. The changes in the vegetable patch astonished everyone. The cucumbers grew as thick as little arms, their flower ends prickly; the eggplants gleamed a deep purple and bent their branches; the tomatoes hung from the branches like small lanterns, red and enticing.

Er Zhuzi squatted in the dirt, his hand touching a fist-sized tomato, his face flushed red, speechless.

Su Yao picked a cucumber, wiped her sleeve, and bit into it. The sweet juice burst in her mouth, even more refreshing than the vegetables in the city. Lu Shihan also held a half-eaten cucumber, juice dripping down her face.

The villagers all praised the taste. Secretary Li came by, rubbing his hands as he looked at the abundant vegetables. “Comrade Su, this ‘nutrient solution’ is amazing! We have to sell these quickly!”

“I’ll contact the county town,” Su Yao said, having already planned. “I met a restaurant buyer during training; I’ll ask him.”

Lu Zhanye was standing on the field ridge, watching the vegetables with a look of approval. “Need some help?”

“Can you find a tricycle?” Su Yao looked up at him. “To deliver goods to the county town.”

“I’ll bring one this afternoon,” he said, turning away with steady steps.

That afternoon, a slightly used tricycle stopped at Su Yao’s doorstep. Lu Zhanye was checking the chain, and when she came out, he pointed at the vehicle. “The commune retired it, but it’s fixed and ready to use.”

The cargo bed was lined with canvas and welded with small rails. Lu Shihan climbed aboard, spreading her arms wide. “It’s like a little boat!”

Su Yao’s heart warmed. She brought out freshly steamed sweet potatoes. “Try this, homegrown.”

Lu Zhanye took a bite and nodded. “Sweet.”

“Thanks for delivering the tricycle,” Su Yao said softly. “I’ll pay you back later.”

“No need,” he said, looking at her. “Just work hard.”

The next morning, Su Yao packed two baskets of cucumbers and tomatoes, then rode the tricycle to the county town. Lu Xingchen and Lu Yuxuan sat in the cargo bed helping carry the baskets, while Lu Shihan held a small abacus, saying she’d help her mother keep accounts.

At the county restaurant, the purchasing manager, Master Zhang, brightened when he saw the vegetables. “These are really good! How much per jin?”

“Cucumbers one point five mao, tomatoes two mao, eggplants one point two.” Su Yao quoted prices five fen higher than usual. Master Zhang, impressed by the quality, agreed immediately. “Deliver two hundred jin daily before seven in the morning.”

After leaving the restaurant, she went to the supply and marketing cooperative. The director tasted a tomato and immediately decided, “I’ll take the rest! Send three hundred jin daily from now on, cash on delivery.”

That first day, after selling all the vegetables, Su Yao counted the money—eighty-seven yuan! The three children leaned on the table, eyes wide as they stared at the colorful bills and coins.

“Mother, how much candy can we buy?” Lu Shihan counted on her fingers.

“A big bag,” Su Yao smiled, already planning to buy new clothes for the children and some bonuses for the villagers.

Back in the village, she handed the money to the team accountant, Old Li, who counted it over and over with his reading glasses, hands trembling. “This... one day’s earnings equal half a month’s income!”

“This is just the start,” Su Yao showed him the ledger. “We’ll deliver five hundred jin daily from now on, and after costs, distribute the remainder according to work points.”

“Really distribute?” a villager doubted. “Before, the vegetable money all went to the team, at best we got extra grain.”

“It’ll be different now,” Su Yao looked at everyone. “We’ll set up a vegetable cooperative, distribute according to labor, the more you work, the more you earn!”

Applause broke out in the yard. Er Zhuzi was the first to raise his hand. “I’ll water the fields every day! I promise to take good care of the vegetables!”

Widow Wang smiled too. “I’ll share out some tailoring work and help here as well!”

From then on, life in the village felt like a celebration. Before dawn, villagers picked vegetables; men carried loads and loaded carts; women sorted and packed. Su Yao rode the tricycle every day to deliver vegetables to the county town. The cargo bed always held the three children: Lu Xingchen kept accounts, Lu Yuxuan carried vegetables, and Lu Shihan fiddled with her abacus, looking quite professional.

One day, after delivering vegetables, Master Zhang stopped her. “The county guesthouse heard your vegetables are good and wants to order two hundred jin. Price is negotiable.”

Su Yao was just about to reply when someone called her name. Turning around, she saw Lin Mei riding her bicycle, with cloth bags in the basket.

“Su Yao! I’ve been looking for you!” Lin Mei wiped her sweat. “Professor Zhang said your vegetables are exceptional and asked me to collect samples to study their nutritional content.”

Su Yao’s heart skipped a beat, fearing the secret of the spiritual spring water would be exposed. She quickly said, “They’re just grown with ordinary farmyard manure, nothing special.”

“Impossible,” Lin Mei’s eyes shone. “Professor Zhang tasted your tomatoes and said the vitamin content is twice the normal amount! You must have a secret!”

Su Yao vaguely replied, “Maybe it’s the soil; our village land is particularly fertile.”

Lin Mei didn’t press further and packed some vegetables before leaving. Watching her back, Su Yao felt uneasy, unsure if anything would be discovered.

Back in the village, Old Li came looking for her with the ledger. “Comrade Su, today’s count is one hundred thirty-five yuan! At this rate, you’re making over five thousand a day!”

“Five thousand?” Su Yao was startled; she hadn’t calculated the total.

“That’s right!” Old Li flipped through the ledger excitedly. “More than the team’s annual dividend!”

The villagers flocked to the team office, some saying Su Yao deserved more shares, others suggesting buying a water pump. The discussion was lively.

Su Yao looked at their excited faces, feeling warm inside. “We’ll save the money first, buy stationery and new clothes for the children, then buy more farming tools, and distribute the rest by work points.”

“I have no objections!” Widow Wang was the first to agree. “Without Comrade Su, none of this would have happened!”

Just then, Lu Zhanye walked in, holding a piece of paper. “The county agricultural machinery factory looked over your sowing machine design. They said it can be mass-produced and want you to discuss the details.”

Su Yao took the blueprints, both surprised and delighted. Her design could really be put to use!

“I’ll go to the county town tomorrow,” she looked up at Lu Zhanye. “Thank you for helping deliver the drawings.”

“It’s my duty,” he glanced at the money on the table. “The cooperative is doing well.”

“It’s everyone’s effort,” Su Yao felt a bit shy. “Come to my place for dinner tonight and try the freshly picked eggplants.”

Lu Zhanye paused, then nodded. “Sure.”

That evening, Su Yao slaughtered one of her own chickens, stir-fried tomato and eggs, and stewed eggplant. The three children sat around the table, their eyes sparkling in anticipation.

When Lu Zhanye arrived, he brought a bottle of white liquor and a pack of fruit candies. Lu Shihan grabbed the candy, peeled one and popped it in her mouth, mumbling, “Thank you, Uncle.”

At the table, Lu Zhanye didn’t say much but ate all the dishes Su Yao served. Suddenly, Lu Xingchen asked, “Uncle, do you know people at the machinery factory? Can my mother’s design be made?”

“Sure,” Lu Zhanye looked at him. “Your mother is very talented.”

Su Yao felt as if struck, her cheeks flushing.

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After dinner, Lu Zhanye insisted on helping clean the dishes, and Su Yao couldn’t stop him. Watching his tall figure busy in the small kitchen, she felt a complicated mix of emotions.

“I’ll drive you to the county town tomorrow,” he said, wiping his hands.

“No need, I can ride the tricycle.”

“The design is important, I’ll go with you,” he said firmly.

The next morning, Lu Zhanye’s jeep was parked outside. Su Yao put the blueprints in her bag and was about to get in when the three children came along.

“Mother, we want to go too,” Lu Xingchen tugged her coat.

“Be good, I’ll be back after the meeting,” Su Yao crouched and comforted them.

“Bring them along,” Lu Zhanye opened the back door. “They can have a walk in the county park.”

At the agricultural machinery factory, the director personally received them and praised the design. “This sowing machine suits mountainous areas, with low cost and high efficiency! We’ll arrange production immediately, fifty units in the first batch!”

After signing the contract, Su Yao felt a huge weight lift off her chest. As she stepped out of the office building, she saw Lu Zhanye with the three children admiring the tractors in the courtyard. Lu Shihan sat in the driver’s seat, grinning from ear to ear.

“Mother! Uncle said this can carry lots of vegetables!”

Su Yao approached, and Lu Zhanye pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead. “Finished the talks?”

“Yes.” Su Yao’s heart beat a little faster as she took the handkerchief.

“Let’s go to the park,” he started the car. “The kids have been nagging for a while.”

The park was crowded. The three children chased butterflies on the grass while Su Yao and Lu Zhanye sat on a bench watching them. Neither spoke, but both felt at ease.

“The vegetable sales are great. We could start a canning factory,” Lu Zhanye suddenly said. “We can preserve the surplus as canned goods to sell in winter.”

Su Yao’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?”

“I know people at the food factory and can help you make connections.”

“Really? Thank you so much!” Su Yao eagerly grabbed his arm, then quickly let go. “Sorry to trouble you again.”

Lu Zhanye smiled faintly at her flushed cheeks. “No trouble at all.”

On the way back, the children fell asleep in the back seat, their rosy faces peaceful. Su Yao looked at them, heart full of hope. From the initial fear of going to the countryside to now having her own business and people to care for, life in the seventies was looking brighter and more promising.

Back in the village, the villagers gathered around to ask questions. Hearing that the sowing machine would be produced, everyone was excited.

“Planting will be much easier!”

“Comrade Su is truly our village’s lucky star!”

Su Yao smiled. “This is the result of everyone’s hard work. We’ll hold a cooperative meeting tonight to discuss the canning factory.”

As the sun set, the sunlight bathed the vegetable patch, dew droplets shining on the leaves. Su Yao stood on the ridge, watching the busy villagers and laughing children, feeling warmth fill her heart.

The road ahead was still long, but as long as everyone worked together, life would be like the vegetables in the field—flourishing and fruitful.

That night, Su Yao lay in bed, looking at her sleeping children and then at the contract on the table, a smile on her lips as she drifted off. In her dream, she and the children sat atop a tractor, hauling a cart full of vegetables along a country road, their songs and laughter ringing out along the way.

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