C21 His Mouth Opened

Lee Deyong nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I'll head over to the radio right now and tell everyone to rush and harvest the wheat overnight!"

Tang Jin gave a nod of approval.

"Sounds good!"

Lee Deyong made his way to the team's headquarters and broadcasted Tang Jin's prediction.

"Comrade Tang Jin heard it yesterday—the cricket was calling from the rooftop, and today, he spotted the fish poking their heads out. The old saying goes, 'When the cricket calls from the roof, the farmer will wade through water.' Everyone, let's hurry and bring in the wheat tonight!"

A few months ago, had Lee Deyong made such a claim, no one would have taken him seriously. But in recent days, everyone had seen tangible improvements in Tang Jin's judgment.

Tang Jin had seemingly turned over a new leaf, and as a result, people were inclined to trust what he said.

However, Tang Fugui was the exception, clinging stubbornly to his skepticism.

He sat at his doorstep, puffing away at his pipe, gazing at the bright stars above.

"Hmph, isn't this amusing? This greenhorn thinks he knows something just because he's made a little money speculating these past few days. He's clueless! Let those who want to harvest do so; I'm going to get some good sleep!"

The villagers worked through the night to harvest all the wheat.

Concerned about impending rain, they moved the bundled wheat into the woodshed.

Only after completing this task did they finally rest.

When Tang Fugui stepped outside, he encountered several people returning from the fields.

"Hey, Zhang, you actually took that kid's advice seriously! He's still wet behind the ears; what does he know? Just look at the sky—it's still clear! Hahaha!"

Zhang Laosi, upon hearing Tang Fugui's remarks, simply chuckled.

"Well, Tang Jin really isn't the most reliable. I won't be so quick to believe him next time!"

Tang Fugui strutted about like a victorious rooster, chest puffed out with pride.

"A whole bunch of people got duped by that kid!"

But just as Tang Fugui was basking in his own smugness, the once clear sky suddenly became streaked with clouds. The sky darkened as the clouds thickened.

Seeing the gathering storm clouds, Tang Fugui's smugness quickly faded, replaced by a sinking feeling in his chest. Any trace of his earlier excitement had vanished.

He hastily cut the wheat with a frenzied pace.

Suddenly, a thunderclap burst from the sky.

This was quickly followed by a cool breeze, and in the next instant, a torrential downpour ensued.

Tang Fugui was in the field, harvesting wheat, and the heavy rain was so intense that it obscured his vision.

In his frustration, Tang Fugui burst into tears.

"Oh, you cruel heavens, you cruel heavens, always siding with that young whippersnapper. Do you even care if I live or die?"

Tang Fugui, not anticipating rain, had left the cut wheat on the ground. Now, drenched by the downpour, it seemed unlikely that the crops would be salvageable.

Wheat, once wet, can quickly germinate and grow. Within a few days, it could sprout, which is why wheat is particularly vulnerable to rain.

Upon returning home, Zhang Laosi witnessed the heavy rain and felt a surge of joy, bursting into laughter.

Yu Cuihua, seeing Zhang Laosi's reaction, muttered under her breath.

"Have you lost your mind? It's just rain, after all."

Zhang Laosi recounted the day's events to Yu Cuihua in detail.

Yu Cuihua couldn't help but chuckle.

"Tang Fugui really is like Wang Caifeng, always speaking ill and acting poorly. Now, it seems like karma has caught up with him!"

Zhang Laosi nodded in agreement.

"Jin has truly changed. If it weren't for Jin, we would have been in a real bind. If our crops were ruined by the rain, we'd have no food for the coming year!"

Before long, the entire village was silently expressing their gratitude towards Tang Jin.

...

Xia Churan gazed at the pouring rain outside with mixed emotions.

"Who would have thought it would actually rain? You really have a way with words!"

Tang Jin grinned mischievously.

"Heh, don't you know who I am? I've got a golden tongue; of course, my words carry weight!"

Xia Churan gave Tang Jin a playful glare.

"Talking about being fat has got you winded, huh?"

Tang Jin laughed heartily.

"Once the rain stops, the mushrooms should start popping up. We'll head up the mountain after the rain to gather them. Then, I'll treat you to a delicious meal of chicken stewed with mushrooms!"

Little Milk Bun, hearing Tang Jin's plan, toddled over to his side.

"I'm craving chicken stewed with mushrooms!"

"Alright, coming right up!"

The rain was swift in both its arrival and departure, lasting only about an hour. Yet, in that brief time, the wheat in Tang Fugui's home was completely drenched. Once the rain stopped, Tang Jin tidied up and headed into the mountains with a bamboo basket on his back. The recent showers had coaxed a bounty of mushrooms to sprout. He spent the afternoon foraging and gathered a substantial amount.

Upon returning, Tang Jin visited Master Wang at the edge of the village and purchased a hefty rooster weighing about three kilograms. The village roosters, raised free-range, boasted firm and flavorful meat with a delightful chew and exceptional taste. Initially, Tang Jin offered to pay, but Master Wang adamantly refused, claiming that the information Tang Jin had shared was as good as saving his family's lives. Nonetheless, Tang Jin insisted and managed to give Master Wang two yuan, leaving him beaming with joy.

Later on, Master Wang would sing Tang Jin's praises throughout the village, commending his thoughtfulness, but that was a story for another day.

Back at home, Tang Jin skillfully slaughtered the chicken and drained the blood before plucking the feathers. He started with the larger feathers, then scalded the bird with boiling water to facilitate the removal of the finer down. Following that, he extracted the organs. The chickens raised in the countryside had a layer of fat beneath their skin, making their stewed broth exceptionally rich.

After nearly two hours of preparation, a large pot of chicken stew with mushrooms was ready to be served. Tang Jin ladled the stew into two bowls. "Take this to Yuh Hua; she's in her postpartum confinement and could use the extra nourishment," he instructed Xia Churan, who nodded in agreement.

He then took a bowl and headed to Master Wang's house. The old man was overjoyed at the sight of the stew, grinning from ear to ear. "You, my boy, have given me a rare treat. I hardly ever indulge in chicken, but thanks to you, I'm enjoying this feast!"

Tang Jin chuckled. "Don't mention it. If you ever have a craving, just let me know! Whenever you come by, I'll be happy to stew a chicken for you!"

Master Wang laughed heartily.

"My dear, you've truly changed, and you've certainly lived up to Churan's expectations!"