Chapter 127: The Dawn of Prosperity

The next day, mid-morning.

Tang Banxia finally got up and freshened up at a leisurely pace.

Do not misunderstand; it was not from over-exertion, but from over-excitement. The shimmering gold had caused Tang Banxia, a common woman, to toss and turn all night in a state of exhilaration.

How should one put it? There is nothing more joyful than striking it rich overnight.

It is no wonder so many people are tempted by crime; money comes quickly, and one big score can sustain you for three years.

Since transmigrating here, Tang Banxia had been a barefoot doctor, worked odd jobs, managed to get on the state payroll, and held a position at the commune hospital, yet she had only earned a little over eight hundred yuan in a year.

Finding such a treasure in one go really tested her character.

Last night, two little people in her mind had been fighting.

The one in black said, "Song Yu is already a 'lucky koi'—nothing will happen to her. Besides, you are just putting waste to good use. If you don't take it, someone else will. Is there any difference between them getting it and you getting it?"

The one in white said, "You’re right!"

Tang Banxia: QAQ!!

She really wasn't a good person at all!!

Feeling spiritually drained, she got up, ate breakfast, and went to the infirmary. Just as she reached the door, she was startled. "Auntie, why aren't you going inside? Isn't it cold out here?"

Old Mrs. Song also looked haggard. She looked at Tang Banxia with probing eyes. "Educated Youth Tang, you?"

"...You didn't sleep well last night either?"

At this question, Tang Banxia stifled a yawn, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. "Yes, Auntie. Let's go inside and talk."

Liu Hongfen was already inside, working hard, memorizing acupoints on a wooden dummy.

You have to admit the girl was quick-witted; she had come up with the idea for this wooden dummy herself. She had carved a life-sized figure and painted the acupoints on it. Reciting them this way made them clear at a glance and helped deepen her memory. It was essentially a medical student’s anatomical model.

The girl was so focused that when she heard the door open, she glanced up, saw it was Tang Banxia, and immediately dived back into her studies.

Tang Banxia entered the room and made a cup of brown sugar ginger tea for Old Mrs. Song. "Auntie, have a hot drink to warm yourself up."

Old Mrs. Song held the wooden cup, her head bowed, her expression unreadable. After a long while, she looked up. "Educated Youth Tang, Carp Treasure..."

"I understand!" Tang Banxia knew the reason for Old Mrs. Song's visit the moment she saw her today. No one was a fool. "Auntie, please rest assured. I am not a gossipy person, and I have no interest in prying into other people’s secrets."

"For the time being, I quite like the little girl Song Yu. If something comes up, I don't mind shielding her."

"Between people, there is a concept of fate. Whether you believe it or not, I have never plotted anything against her. Everything I want and everything I think about, I will obtain with my own two hands."

This was the decision Tang Banxia had reached after tossing and turning all night.

Admittedly, finding treasures was wonderful, but she had always believed that you should only take on what you can handle.

She considered herself an ordinary person, and she was satisfied enough with occasionally sharing in the luck of the "lucky koi" heroine.

Wasn't there a saying that human fortune is fated? If you suffer in the first half of your life, the second half is bound to be sweet.

If you sail through the first half of your life without a care, the second half will surely be miserable and desolate.

Although it was just a folk saying, Tang Banxia always felt there was truth to it.

After all, she was not heaven's favorite daughter; she was just a cannon-fodder passerby. The lucky heroine might not run out of fortune, but she was different.

Old Mrs. Song had not expected Tang Banxia to be so direct, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

She looked at Tang Banxia, then at the fully focused Liu Hongfen, and asked softly, "Educated Youth Tang, are you telling the truth?"

"Of course!" Tang Banxia nodded as if it were a matter of course.

She wasn't a saint, but she wasn't a villain either.

Unexpectedly, Old Mrs. Song shook her head. "I was asking, is it true that you will protect Carp Treasure?"

This Educated Youth was a capable person. In her long life, the old woman had seen people as brilliant and talented as her.

She knew that such people must have pride in their hearts and would certainly not deceive an old woman like her.

Taking a step back, given the backers behind Tang Banxia, if she wanted to harm Carp Treasure, why wait until now, and why explain it so earnestly?

Tang Banxia: Meow?

What pride? She really didn't have any!!

However, she paused and replied once more, "Of course!"

Setting aside the fact that the little girl Song Yu was quite likable, she had already benefited quite a bit from being near her, so protecting her a little was only right.

Having received the answer she wanted, Old Mrs. Song sighed in relief and gave Tang Banxia a smile. "Educated Youth Tang, I have no more concerns."

Tang Banxia nodded.

The two tacitly stopped mentioning Song Yu and chatted about other things.

Meanwhile.

Song Weimin had announced the village's plan to build a school and a pig farm.

There was no need for elaboration; everyone knew how happy the villagers were.

Good news!! Wonderful news!!

Some were happy about the pig farm, others about the school.

Regardless, these two projects were great for the village and directly related to the villagers' interests.

Because of these two initiatives, Brigade Leader Song Weimin's position had become secure, and his influence in the village had grown.

Just as the whole village was rejoicing, Song Qing looked sullen. No!

She remembered that in her past life, this never happened. In her past life, the most sensational event at this time was her older cousin becoming a factory worker.

How could things be different in this life?

Tracing the root cause, it was Tang Banxia's general knowledge manual. Realizing this, Song Qing’s entire demeanor turned malicious.

It was Tang Banxia again!!

Her face was dark and gloomy as she glared at the entrance of the infirmary, wishing she could tear the person inside to shreds with her gaze.

When she saw her grandmother—that old wretch—being sent out by Tang Banxia with smiles and laughter, the malice in her eyes grew even more intense.

Xu Sheng, who had been observing her, moved two steps forward without a sound, blocking Song Qing's line of sight.

This young girl had malice toward Professor Tang; he would have to report this to his superiors.

This was just a minor interlude; no one noticed it except for Xu Sheng.

Now, everyone was passionately debating whether to build the school or the pig farm first.

Some said the school, others said the pig farm.

The two sides argued endlessly, neither willing to yield.

Finally, Song Weimin made the final decision: "We will do the earthworks first. Once we have enough earth moved, we will start construction on both the pig farm and the school at the same time."

It happened to be the slack season, so there was no shortage of labor. Besides, neither the school nor the pig farm needed to be very large; they could expand later if necessary.

With the priority set, the next step was choosing the sites.

The pig farm's location was easy; it would be at the foot of the mountain, next to the cow shed. There weren't many households nearby, and the people in the cow shed could lend a hand. This way, the pig farm would save on labor costs. Song Weimin's little calculator was clicking away.

The more difficult choice was the location for the school.

It needed to be in a quiet place so as not to disturb the children's studies, yet it required enough open space around it for future expansion. It also had to be far from the foot of the mountain in case wild animals came down and hurt the children.

They considered several locations but weren't satisfied with any. Finally, after discussion, they settled on the spot next to the large locust tree at the entrance of the village.

There was a large stretch of vacant land there that had always been empty and unused. In the summer, the villagers loved to sit there and chat; using it to build a school now was perfect.

Moreover, Song Weimin thought that if children from other villages came to study later, this location would be convenient.

With the site chosen, Guyue Village became busy.

The men in every household went out to dig earth, mix mud, and lay foundations, while the women went up the mountain to stockpile firewood, dig wild vegetables, pick wild fruits, make pickled cabbage, and salt vegetables. There was no rest as they prepared for winter.

Everyone in Guyue Village was full of energy. At the same time, the news that their village was building a pig farm and a school spread like wildfire.

Among the thirty-some villages in the Changshan Commune, this was a unique feat.

Ever since Guyue Village was named an "Advanced Village," the marital prospects of the village's unmarried young men and women had soared.

Now that word of the pig farm and school had gotten out, the status of Guyue Village skyrocketed. Within just two days, no fewer than ten matchmakers had entered the village.

They all had one goal: to arrange marriages—either for girls to marry into the village or for the village's own girls to marry out.

In just a few days, Guyue Village showed signs of prosperity.

This made the surrounding villages jealous, especially Muzi Village, which had a history of conflict with them. The Muzi Brigade Leader was so angry his nose was crooked, but he could only grumble at home.

The rise of Guyue Village was unstoppable. Who knew, there might come a day when he would have to beg them for help. He wasn't stupid; he wouldn't go out of his way to offend them, especially now that Guyue Village was the apple of the commune's eye. He was in no position to compete with them...