Watching Gong Tao flee in panic, Cai Meina always felt something was wrong, but no matter how she pressured Gong Ruini, her daughter claimed she didn't know.
After trying various methods, Cai Meina finally learned that her daughter knew about the family's need for a house.
Cai Meina was dumbfounded; the father and daughter's panicked look was actually because they would have a new house to live in, and she couldn't help but admire them.
"Ni Zi, are we going to the mountains or the village?" Cai Meina initially planned to take Gong Ruini to the village, but upon reconsideration, she thought it might be better to look around the mountains.
Rather than dealing with village people, Cai Meina preferred going to the mountains, where they could forage for food and avoid potential issues with local interactions.
On the way there, Cai Meina decided not to interact too much with the villagers until she understood their temperament.
Even once familiar with them, Cai Meina didn't plan to develop deep connections, not out of disdain, but because, compared to the village's generational ties, it was better for her as an outsider to stay quiet.
"To the mountains," Gong Ruini also wanted to explore the mountains and understand the surrounding situation better.
The mother and daughter locked their house door in unison and headed to the mountains. There was no need to lock the yard gate, as the area's security was reportedly good.
Breathing the fresh, unpolluted air and looking at the blue sky with white clouds, Gong Ruini felt comfortable, "Mom, let's plant fruit trees in the yard later."
It's now September 1973, and they would certainly leave the Northeast in four or five years at most, so Gong Ruini didn't want to live in discomfort.
"Okay." Planting fruit trees was a good idea; the children could eat fruit in the future.
"Mom, we can raise more chickens then, so we'll have eggs to eat." Actually, Gong Ruini meant she wanted to eat chicken.
"Alright, but not too many, or we won't have enough grain." Cai Meina recalled Zhao Gang mentioning that every household here raised more chickens than allowed, since it was far from the commune and the villagers were quite united.
Even if no one came to cut off the 'tail of capitalism,' Cai Meina didn't plan to raise more chickens due to limited grain.
Oh, do chickens need rice for feed? Gong Ruini remembered a book describing a time-traveling woman in ancient times who used worm cultivation as chicken feed to prosper.
Feeding worms to chickens? Cai Meina wasn't sure about this, but the thought of those wriggling creatures made her feel nauseated.
"That's too dirty." Cai Meina wouldn't directly express fear in front of her daughter and chose more refined words.
Again treating her as a child, clearly it's mom who should be more afraid. However, being a considerate little 'cotton padded jacket,' she wouldn't outright point out an adult's errors, "Hmm, hmm, but as long as the chickens like it, Ni Zi thinks it could be worth a try."
"Raise chickens to lay eggs, hatch chicks, and lay more eggs, then we can sell the eggs to make money." Perhaps living in the countryside didn't require much money, but they wouldn't stay in the countryside forever; to ensure future happiness, they should save up.
To city dwellers, the idea that rural people had no money was absurd. With hard work, they could still earn money, and although it might be difficult to become citizens in the city, they could sell things to the supply and marketing cooperative; the money might not be much, but it was safe.
Making money? How does this child know about money? Cai Meina was stunned. It's not that her son is dumb, but her son, who was a few years older than Ni Zi, might not understand money, while Ni Zi did.
Oh no, she's overdone it a bit. Gong Ruini was also dumbfounded, worrying she was still treating all children as shrewd and savvy when today's kids just played and ate carefree, emphasizing her own cleverness.
"Grandma always talked about money, saying if you don't work, you don't get paid, and they don't want to support our family." Gong Ruini recalled words muttered by Gong Ruwen.
Although Gong Ruini didn't hear it directly, Gong Ruwen wasn't one to lie. He was chatty but without a track record of lying.
It's normal for the in-laws to say this, Cai Meina thought. Couples earning money to support the Gong Family was expected; if not, they'd be a burden and kicked out swiftly.
What baffled Cai Meina was speaking this way in front of the son; what did it mean?
It's so cold. Gong Ruini instantly felt the temperature drop around her, as if a northwest wind was blowing.
Trying to endure, Gong Ruini wasn't really a child, especially with her mother in a bad mood, but it was indeed very cold, "Mom, I'm cold."
The daughter's complaint brought Cai Meina back from her grievances towards her in-laws, "Cold? Let's go back inside."
This morning, Cai Meina learned how to burn the kang from Zhao Gang. Though her skills weren't great, she managed to heat it up, though not for long.
Back inside? They had only just come out, "No, I want to pick mushrooms."
"I want to gather ginseng." Ginseng, now truly wild, if preserved well, could fetch a lot of money when sold.
As for processing this ginseng, Gong Ruini found it easy, as Zhan Jing had ancestors who practiced traditional medicine; how skilled she was, Gong Ruini didn't know, but processing herbs was certainly within her ability, and Gong Ruini felt that was enough.
Gathering ginseng? Cai Meina knew ginseng was produced in the Northeast, but was it really so easy to gather? She never heard of the Zhao Family finding ginseng, but even if they did, they wouldn't speak of such a valuable thing for drawing attention.
"Gathering ginseng is no simple task." Aunt Zhan slowly approached carrying a small basket, without bluntly refuting Gong Ruini's slightly naive words.
"Hello Aunt Zhan." Gong Ruini looked behind Aunt Zhan, wondering why she didn't see her family; could it be her brother found something good on the mountain and forgot to return?
The little girl kept looking back, eager to see Gong Ruwen, "They're still gathering grapes on the mountain."
"Gathering grapes?" Could there still be grapes at this time? Gong Ruini was amazed; this was the Northeast, could grapes here ripen so late?
Aunt Zhan patted Gong Ruini's head, and Cai Meina had already taken the basket Aunt Zhan carried, "Are there still grapes now?"
The items weren't heavy, but Aunt Zhan, already in advanced pregnancy, found it exhausting, "They're wild grapes, not very sweet, but can be used for wine."
Making wine? Grapes into wine? But doesn't that require sugar? In times when everything needed a coupon, how could sugar be bought in bulk, let alone used for wine, which seemed too extravagant.
"Soon there will be fresh honey to enjoy." Aunt Zhan casually revealed a hint of a secret, but wouldn't go into details.
Honey? Wow, wild honey to eat? Indeed, honey in wine tastes better than white sugar, but the quantity needed wouldn't be small.
It seems the Northeast truly is a treasure trove.