C4 The Space in the Gourd

Wang Chenggang was just over fifty years old. His appearance might not turn heads, but in Three-river Village, he was the undisputed ruler. He had the final say in all village matters; nothing could be done without his approval.

When Zhao Lei explained his situation, a sly gleam flickered in Wang Chenggang's small eyes. Feigning concern, he said, "You were the top scorer in the college entrance exams once, weren't you? Why suddenly drop out and return to the village to farm? It's such a waste!"

Zhao Lei, keeping the secret of the Purple Gold Gourd to himself, responded calmly, "I've given it some thought. Even after graduating from college, I'd still be working for someone else. It might be better to start farming in the village now. If I do well, it could be just as good as working in a big city."

"You can't think like that," Wang Chenggang countered, shaking his head. "A city like Shen City has far more opportunities. Besides, with the village's limited land and growing population, it won't be easy to get a share of the land now."

Zhao Lei had anticipated this response. Without a hint of emotion, he placed an envelope on the table and said, "Village Chief, I'm serious about making a difference in rural entrepreneurship. Please, consider it supporting a young person's venture and lend me a hand."

Wang Chenggang expertly picked up the envelope, feeling its contents with a pinch. He could tell it held roughly two thousand yuan. Silently nodding in approval, he swept the envelope into his drawer with practiced ease, a clear sign this wasn't his first time.

Noticing Zhao Lei's compliance, Wang Chenggang's demeanor softened as he gave a slight nod. "The village should certainly back young entrepreneurs. However, the land your grandfather used to farm has already been allocated to someone else. It might be difficult to reclaim it."

Zhao Lei cut to the chase, "I just need some land; the specific plot doesn't matter. Village Chief, please handle it as you see fit."

Pleased, Wang Chenggang grinned and said, "That makes things easier. There's just over two acres next to your house. I'll take care of it—it's yours now."

Zhao Lei furrowed his brow and said, "That plot of land is extremely barren. When there's a lack of rain, we even have to carry water from the river to irrigate it. Isn't that a bit too much to deal with?"

Wang Chenggang responded with a forced smile, "Zhao, the village has its own struggles. Many young people don't even have half an acre to their name. Let's not be too choosy, alright?"

Seeing Wang Chenggang's grin, Zhao Lei had a sudden inspiration. "What if you also give me a few acres of the mountain land behind my house? What do you think about that?"

Three-river Village is nestled among the mountains and rivers, and just a short distance from Zhao Lei's home was a hillside. Overgrown with bushes and weeds, these slopes were deemed worthless for farming and were always considered wasteland by the villagers.

Wang Chenggang shared this view, so he readily agreed, saying, "Okay, I'll give you an additional three acres of mountain land. That should suffice, right?"

Having achieved his aim, Zhao Lei quickly expressed his gratitude to Wang Chenggang, then went to the village secretary to register. With a total of just over five acres, the land had found a new steward.

Now, with land and the Purple Gold Gourd in his possession, Zhao Lei was brimming with hope for the future.

On his way home, Zhao Lei ran into Zhou Jun, who gave him a curious look and remarked, "You seem pretty pleased with yourself. Did you come across some good luck? Find a wallet or hit the jackpot with a lottery ticket?"

Zhao Lei chuckled and replied, "I've decided to drop out of school. I just spoke with Wang Chenggang and secured some land. I'm planning to head back to the village and start my own business!"

Zhou Jun reacted with astonishment, "Just look at the young people in the village these days. How many are willing to toil in the fields for their sustenance? Even my stubborn old man bought a vehicle for me to get into the transport business. And here you are, a university student, planning to go back to farming? You can't be serious."

Zhao Lei confidently asserted, "Why would I gamble with my future? Rest assured, I've got this!"

Seeing Zhao Lei's unwavering confidence, Zhou Jun didn't press further. Instead, he asked with genuine interest, "Which plot did Wang Chenggang allocate to you? The same one your grandfather used to work?"

"No, it's the two-plus acres next to my place, and the three acres of mountain land behind the house."

"I knew it; Wang Chenggang would pull something like this, giving you two lousy pieces of land!" Zhou Jun exclaimed in anger. "You're probably unaware, but the prime land that belonged to your grandfather? Wang Chenggang handed it over to his own brother! You traded three acres of prime land for these two sorry plots. You've been seriously shortchanged!"

As Zhou Jun's frustration grew, he abruptly halted and declared, "This won't do. We need to confront him; we can't let you suffer this injustice!"

Zhao Lei held Zhou Jun back, advising, "Let it go. You know exactly what kind of man Wang Chenggang is. Stir up trouble for him today, and he'll retaliate against your dad tomorrow. Believe me."

Zhou Jun, not easily appeased, protested, "So you're just going to let that old scoundrel get away with it?"

Zhao Lei, nonchalant, shrugged. "What you don't realize is those two plots of land might look worthless to others, but to me, they hold great potential. With proper management, they'll yield far more than the land we used to have. Just you watch!"

Seeing Zhao Lei's assurance, Zhou Jun felt more at ease. He gave a reassuring nod and said, "Alright, I'll look forward to hearing your success story. And remember, if there's anything you need help with, just say the word."

Zhao Lei had already planned out the use for the two plots of land. The field next to his house would be perfect for growing seasonal vegetables, while the hill behind could be turned into an orchard for fruit trees, with space to raise chickens and boost his income. With the Purple Gold Gourd in his possession, whatever he grew was bound to be a hit, so he wasn't concerned about finding buyers.

However, Zhao Lei's immediate challenge was financial; he had spent his last dime bribing Wang Chenggang. Without a quick source of income, he'd struggle not just to kickstart his business but even to put food on the table. But Zhao Lei wasn't fazed. The bountiful fruit trees in his yard were his financial lifeline.

Still, to get the dates to market, he needed transportation. So, upon returning home, Zhao Lei gathered some dates and went to borrow a tricycle from Hu Qiang and his wife, Wang Fang.

This down-to-earth couple had always been fond of Zhao Lei. Back when he was in college, he frequently helped look after their frail, elderly grandfather, which solidified the strong bond between the two families.

Upon learning of Zhao Lei's intentions, Hu Qiang responded promptly, "No problem at all. The bike's in the yard; you can just take it when you're ready."

Wang Fang expressed her concern to Zhao Lei, "Selling jujubes won't bring in much money, and you'll have to cycle all the way to town. Is it really worth the effort?"

Zhao Lei passed the bag of jujubes to Wang Fang, reassuring her, "Once you try my jujubes, you won't be worried."

Skeptically, Wang Fang opened the bag, but her skepticism quickly turned to delight. "Wow, these jujubes really do look fantastic. They're not only big and round, but the shine on them... it's just like my jade bracelet. They're so appealing!"

Hu Qiang remarked, "You women always judge by appearances. But the real test of these jujubes will be in the tasting."

Wang Fang retorted with a frown, "What do you know? Eating is about enjoying the full spectrum of looks, scent, and flavor. It's the same with fruit..."

Not in the mood for a verbal sparring match, Hu Qiang grabbed a jujube and bit into it, only to be left speechless.

Wang Fang, startled, quickly asked in a concerned tone, "Honey, what's the matter? Did it get stuck in your throat?"

Finally regaining his composure, Hu Qiang exclaimed with a slap to his thigh, "This jujube is incredibly tasty. I've never in my life had a jujube this delicious!"

Wang Fang grumbled, "You scared me over a jujube? Really?" Despite her grumbling, she too sampled one and her reaction was even more dramatic than Hu Qiang's. Her eyes went wide with astonishment, and it took her a moment to find her words. "Lei, these jujubes are exceptional. Old Hu was right; I've never tasted anything like them!"

Beaming with pride, Hu Qiang boasted, "See, I told you. These jujubes are delicious. They're sure to fetch a good price!"

Wang Fang shot her husband a sideways glance and said, "Do you really think I need to point it out? Little Lei is a top student at the university. If he weren't confident, would he even consider selling jujubes?"

"Alright, alright, I can't win with you. Let's just enjoy the jujubes!" Hu Qiang said, shaking his head in resignation and biting into another jujube.

Having eased Hu Qiang and his wife's concerns, Zhao Lei headed home with his tricycle. He worked in the yard until the evening darkness settled in, finally resting after having harvested over three hundred pounds of jujubes.

The next morning, bright and early, Zhao Lei set off with his tricycle loaded with jujubes.