C3 The Way of Making Firewood

It had been a while since they'd had any meat, so Little Milk Bun devoured half of the wild chicken. Tang Jin offered the remaining half to Xia Churan.

Despite his insistence, Xia Churan wouldn't touch it, insisting on saving it for Little Milk Bun's next meal. Unable to convince her otherwise, Tang Jin reluctantly let the matter drop.

After the meal, she voluntarily washed the dishes before settling down to sleep.

Tang Jin and Xia Churan did not share a bed. Xia Churan, a proud village youth, carried an innate sense of dignity.

She ended up marrying Tang Jin because, five years prior, as her time in Yongkang Village was coming to a close, she overindulged in alcohol at a farewell banquet. In her inebriated state, she became intimate with Tang Jin, which resulted in a pregnancy.

Unwilling to terminate the pregnancy, she faced the pressure of being disowned by her family and chose to stay.

But over the years, Tang Jin's treatment of her fluctuated between abuse and scorn. Her heart harbored nothing but fear and disappointment.

Since that one incident, they maintained only the titles of husband and wife, without any of the associated intimacy.

Reflecting on the past, Tang Jin sighed softly.

Yet, all of that seemed inconsequential now. Having been given a second chance at life, he was determined to treat them well and prove to Churan that he had changed.

She would surely come to accept him!

Outside, the moonlight shone brightly, mingling with the laughter of the people.

The relentless crackle of firecrackers heralded the arrival of another new year.

The following morning, Tang Jin rose early.

He warmed up the leftover chicken soup from the night before and set it in the pot before grabbing his axe and heading out.

Since his rebirth, he had been contemplating ways to earn money.

His wife and daughter had endured many hardships with him, and improving their current living conditions was now his primary focus.

Standing at the village entrance, he observed several early risers already returning with bundles of firewood from the mountain.

On this first day of the New Year, it was customary to bring in fresh firewood.

Firewood symbolized prosperity; bringing new firewood into the home on New Year's Day was believed to ensure a year filled with wealth.

Right, he could chop firewood and take it to sell in the county!

While firewood wasn't anything special in the village, it was quite a rarity in the city. Plus, it carried a positive connotation, so selling it today would surely fetch a handsome price!

With his eyes sparkling, Tang Jin made his way towards the mountain behind the village.

During the New Year celebrations, the villagers were all busy hosting guests, leaving few to gather firewood. Tang Jin quickly amassed a substantial bundle.

Hefting it, he estimated it to be at least 120 kilograms.

Yongkang Village was a good ten kilometers from the county.

Even in his prime, carrying over a hundred kilograms of firewood was quite the challenge for Tang Jin.

Standing there, he eyed the pile of firewood and pondered for a moment.

Soon, inspiration struck.

He chose two relatively smooth logs for the base and placed the rest of the firewood on top, securing everything with rope.

His makeshift firewood cart was complete. It wasn't as efficient as a real cart, but it was certainly easier than carrying it on his shoulders!

Equipped and ready, Tang Jin set off, pulling the large bundle of firewood behind him.

It took him a little over two hours to cover the ten-plus kilometers.

Luckily, he had started early and reached the county just as people were heading out to buy groceries.

He chose a spot in front of a paper factory workers' dormitory to set up his stall.

This location was strategic for two reasons: the residents were workers with disposable income, and they were of an age that tended to appreciate the traditional significance of his product.

Tang Jin laid down the firewood and took out the red string he had brought from home, tying the bundles neatly.

Having previously made his fortune through street vending, he had a knack for this work. He meticulously tied twelve bundles, each weighing ten kilograms, with the wood neatly trimmed and wrapped in red string, making for an attractive display.

As he sat down, having just finished setting up, a woman returning from her grocery shopping paused to take a look at his stall.

The older woman sported a trendy afro and was clad in a bright red leather jacket. She eyed the firewood stacked before Tang Jin with a look of curiosity.

"Hey there, young man, your firewood is so neatly bundled. Are you selling it?"

"Yes, big sister, it's the New Year, and time for fresh firewood. Today's the first day of the year—why not buy a bundle? Take some new firewood home, and you're sure to make a fortune this year!"

Tang Jin had honed his sales pitch to perfection in his past life. The woman seemed intrigued at his pitch.

"You have quite the way with words, young man. How much for a bundle of your firewood?"

"Big sister, it's two yuan for a bundle, each weighing ten catties," Tang Jin responded with a grin.

"Two yuan? That seems a bit steep, doesn't it? I just bought pork at the market, and fatty cuts were only one yuan and eighty!"

The woman's brow furrowed slightly.

"But big sister, it's apples and oranges. Pork is for eating, while firewood brings good fortune and keeps the home warm. It's so handy. You look like you're brimming with good luck, big sister. Spending those two yuan today, who knows how many hundreds you'll rake in this year!"

Tang Jin had a knack for making a sale, and his flattery left the woman beaming.

She pulled out her wallet, smiling from ear to ear.

"Alright, alright, I'll take your good word for it. I'll have a bundle of that firewood!"

She handed over two yuan to Tang Jin, who carefully selected the largest and most attractive bundle for her.

"There you go, big sister. I wish you a prosperous and joyful New Year!"

With another flurry of well-wishes, the woman left with a smile so wide she could hardly contain it. Before leaving, she gave Tang Jin an approving nod.

"You've got a real knack for business. I'm going to tell all my neighbors to come buy from you!"

Not long after she departed, a group of ladies gathered around, led by none other than the woman who had just made her purchase.

"That's the one! I just bought this beautiful firewood from this young man. I tried it out when I got home, and let me tell you, it burns wonderfully!"

"Really? I'll take a bundle!"

"Me too, I want a bundle!"

While some parts of the city had begun to use coal, it was too pricey for most, so the majority still relied on firewood.

Tang Jin's greetings were a blessing, and who wouldn't be pleased to hear such warm wishes on New Year's Day? Besides, the firewood he sold was top-notch and plentiful.

Before long, all one hundred and twenty kilograms were sold out!

The last bundle was purchased by a grandmother in her seventies, clutching vegetables in one hand and trembling as she walked. The ten-kilogram load of firewood was quite a burden for her.

With all the firewood sold, Tang Jin had nothing left to do. He hoisted the bundle onto his shoulder and offered his other hand to steady the grandmother.

"Grandma, where do you live? Let me help you carry this up."

"How could I impose on you, young man?"

The grandmother was exceedingly courteous, but Tang Jin just smiled and dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand.

"Don't worry about it, it's no trouble at all!"

He then escorted her toward the staff building.

Her home was on the first floor, a mere few dozen meters away, and they arrived in no time.

Tang Jin set the firewood down where the grandmother indicated and then noticed several worn tires piled up at the stairwell, covered in dust—likely gathered by the elderly woman to sell as scrap.

Reflecting on the effort it took to haul his own load of firewood earlier that day, an idea suddenly struck him.

He looked up at the grandmother and inquired,

"Grandma, do you still need these tires, or could I buy them from you?"

The grandmother beamed with a generous smile.

"Take them if you want; they're not worth much anyway!"

Despite her generosity, Tang Jin insisted on giving her a dollar before he picked up the tires and departed.