C8

After Maicao had washed up, she went back to her room. Seeing the two brothers, Qingyu and Qinglin, who were already asleep on the bed opposite her, she couldn't help but sigh secretly.

After all, a child was still a child. It was not the time to be sad yet, but to be sleepy was already enough. Even if the sky were to collapse, it would not be able to disturb their sleep.

But for her, it was destined that she wouldn't sleep tonight.

Maicao blew out the oil lamp, gently closed the curtain, and crept onto the bed.

Lili lay on the bed, but she could not fall asleep with her eyes open.

She was worried. How could she collect the tuition fees of these two brothers?

Maicao even started to blame the heavens in her heart. Since she was allowed to come here, at least give her a survival prop, just like in novels, with a portable space or golden finger, she didn't have to worry about it anymore. That way, not only would Qingyu and Qinglin be happy to go to school, she could also lead everyone to a small business.

The more Maicao thought about it, the more excited she became. However, she quickly poured cold water on herself because the truth was, she had nothing!

Maicao felt that she was going to go crazy from the torture. She wanted to go back! She wanted to go back, but how could she go back?

If she jumped into the water, she might be able to jump into the water and leave; if she was in a car accident, she might be able to go back after creating another car accident.

But she had been here for almost a week, and had slept a lot, and still hadn't gone back.

Maicao was so worried that she could only pull at her own hair. Was she going to force him to go crazy? And then, God pity her, she might just let him go.

But how shameful was it for her to be driven mad? She, Maicao, had never been so weak in her entire life.

No, she wasn't the kind of person who would lower her head to fate. As long as she thought about it carefully, there would always be a way. She didn't believe that a strong person like her would be defeated by a small 4 yuan!

Maicao spent the entire night indulging in wild thoughts. When dawn arrived, she finally fell asleep. She had only just narrowed her eyes for a moment when she heard the sounds of Qingyu and Qinglin getting out of bed.

The two of them studied diligently and got out of bed early every day. Afterwards, they would study in the eastern woods. Maicao felt that they should not miss their studies just because of this.

When Qingyu and Qinglin went to the woods to study, Maicao struggled out of bed even though she was very sleepy. After washing up, she started cooking.

Although Maicao was still not proficient at lighting fires, it was fortunate that she didn't have to make the kitchen full of smoke. This greatly boosted her confidence. She felt that there were no difficulties in this world that she couldn't overcome.

Maicao cooked some porridge and also baked a few mixed bread. She picked two cucumbers in the yard and mixed them with the porridge to make up for the breakfast.

Maicao had finished cooking breakfast, and the two brothers, Qingyu and Qinglin, also came back from school. Maicao asked Qingyu to send some food over to Third Grandmother, who was next door.

After everyone had breakfast and cleaned up a bit, Qingyu and Qinglin also went to school. However, the two of them were not as calm in school this time. They stood by the door, looking at Maicao.

Maicao knew what they were worried about, so she walked over and patted both of their shoulders. "Don't worry, as long as Second Sister is here, I will definitely not let you leave. When you go to school, tell teacher that I will definitely pay the tuition fee within two days."

Qingyu and Qinglin happily went out to school after receiving such a positive answer from Maicao.

The moment Qingyu and Qinglin left, Maicao immediately collapsed onto the bench. She had indeed spoken big words, but how could she turn them into reality?

Maicao stood up and walked around the house. She looked around, and after rummaging around for a long time, she realized that other than a few sacks of food, there was nothing valuable in the house.

Food? Maicao stopped in front of the bags of grains. If she sold these grains, wouldn't she be able to raise the tuition fees?

However, if the food was sold, what would the three of them eat in the future?

Then he would sell some of it, and get as many as he could before thinking of others.

Firstly, she didn't know anything about this, so she didn't know who she could sell it to, and at what price it was suitable for her. Secondly, it was 1980, and although it had been two years since the reform and opening of the village, this remote little mountain village should not have been blown away by the spring breeze.

Maicao had seen it on TV. This crime of speculating was pretty serious.

Maicao was really shocked when she thought of this. No way, she had to find someone reliable to help her with this matter.

Even if he wasn't willing to help her sell the food, he could still advise her.

However, who would be able to depend on someone in such a unfamiliar place? Maicao was truly troubled.

Suddenly, a person appeared in her mind: Village Head!

Maicao had heard Dai and Qinglin talk about how the village head of Han Family Village was called Han Sanpao, and although his name sounded scary and scary, he was actually a good person. It was he who had saved Han Maicao from jumping into the river.

Maicao decided to ask the Village Head for help.

Maicao did as she was told. As soon as this thought appeared in her mind, she immediately went out to look for the Village Head.

Fortunately, the Village Head's house was on the roadside where Qingyu and Qinglin had gone to school. Maicao did not spend much effort to find the Village Head's house, as Qingyu had pointed out to her.

"Is Uncle Sanpao home?" Maicao was afraid that the Village Head's house would also have a dog, so she didn't dare rashly enter the yard. She stood outside the gate and shouted towards the inside.

"Yes, yes, come in." A middle-aged woman's voice came from the courtyard.

Maicao got the answer and thought that the Village Head's house had no dog, so she pushed open the unlocked door and walked in.

The courtyard of the Village Chief's house was not that big. There was a small square yard, a hall, two houses in the west, and many vegetables planted in the east for the season.

Although the courtyard and the house were a bit better arranged than Han Maicao's, it wasn't much better.

A middle-aged woman was squatting in the garden, pulling grass. She stood up when she heard the sound and was surprised to see Maicao. "I thought it was Third Girl."

This middle-aged woman had a round face. She looked smart and she seemed very friendly. Sunn Miaomiao actually liked her, so she must be Han Sanpao's daughter-in-law.

Maicao remembered that Qingyu had told her that Han Sanpao's daughter-in-law was called Chen Fengni, the most soft-hearted person in the family. She had helped her family quite a bit in the past.

"Third Aunt, I have something to talk to Uncle Sanpao about. I want to ask him for a favor."

"He's in the room. Third Girl, you go in." After Chen Fengni finished her sentence, she shouted into the room, "Sanpao, Third Girl has something to talk to you about!"

Just as Chen Fengni finished speaking, a middle-aged man walked out from the room. He was tall, had a square face, and two thick eyebrows. He looked quite dignified.

Maicao suddenly remembered that these two had gone to visit her before. However, she had just arrived and was still in a dazed state. She had not remembered any of the people who had come, but now that they had met today, she did recall them again.

"Uncle Sanpao." Maicao shouted in a magnanimous manner.

Han Sanpao was surprised by Maicao's reaction, but he didn't say much. He went back into the house and moved two stools to the shade of a tree in the yard. He called out to Maicao, "Take a seat, Maicao."

Maicao didn't stand on ceremony. She sat down and was about to open her mouth to say something when she saw Chen Fengni walking over with a plate of chestnuts in her hand. "Third Girl, have some chestnuts."

Maicao quickly stood up to receive the plate. "Thank you, Third Aunt."

"What's there to thank me for?" Chen Fengni was stunned again. After a long while, she finally responded with a smile. In the end, she said with some emotion, "Look at this. It's good to be energetic and generous. Third Girl, don't do anything stupid in the future."

"Third Aunt, it's enough to do something stupid once in a lifetime."

"That's right, Third Girl, didn't you have something to talk to your Third Uncle about?" After saying that, Chen Fengni went back to work in the vegetable patch.

"Maicao, why are you looking for me?"

Maicao sat down again. Seeing that there was nowhere to put the plate, she put it on her lap, "Uncle Sanpao, I came here this time to ask for your help."

"Say me what I need to help you with."

"I want to sell the family food."

Han Sanpao was surprised by Maicao's words, "Why are you selling the grains like that?"

"Pay the tuition fees of Qingyu and Qinglin, the tuition fees are still owed this semester. If you don't pay them, the school won't let them go to school."

"Your family doesn't have much food. If you sell it, what will you eat in the future?"

"Sell a portion first and pay the tuition fees of the two before thinking again. We can slowly think of a way to eat later. "I originally wanted to sell it myself, but I don't know if the country will let me sell it myself, nor do I know where to sell it. That's why I came to trouble you, Uncle Sanpao, to help me think of a way."

"I can sell it. Maicao, if you really want to sell it, I'll help you drag it back to town later."

"Thank you, Uncle Sanpao. Uncle Sanpao, I don't know how much this food can sell for, but when you have time, I will have to trouble Uncle Sanpao to come to my house and see how many grains you have to sell in order to collect their tuition fees."

Han Sanpao didn't say anything. He just turned his head to look at Chen Fengni, who had stopped picking the grass and stood to the side, listening to them talk.

Chen Fengni glared at him. "Look at what I'm doing. You can do whatever you want. Do you think I'd stop you from doing something like that?"

Hearing Chen Fengni's words, Han Sanpao stood up and went into the room without saying anything else.

Maicao looked at Han Sanpao, who had returned to the room, and then turned around to look at Chen Fengni. She didn't know what kind of riddle the couple was playing.

While Maicao was confused, Han Sanpao had already walked out of the room. He held two one-dollar bills in his hands, walked to Maicao, and handed them to her.

"Maicao, you should know your uncle's family situation. No matter how much more you have, your uncle won't be able to take it out. Don't think that the two dollars are too little for you. Take it out and use it urgently."

Maicao was a little stunned, "Uncle Sanpao, I'm not here to ask for money. I just want to ask for your help to sell the grains."

"Third Girl, your Third Uncle and I know that you didn't come to ask for money, but your family only has that little bit of food. If you sell it, you can't go ask for food from now on, right?" You can take the two dollars first and sell them for a little bit of food. With just a bit of money, it'll be enough for Qingyu and Qinglin's tuition fees. "

Maicao felt like shedding tears. Not only were there people as harsh as Second Aunt and her elder sister-in-law, there were also the village chief and his wife, good people like them.

Maicao pressed the two bills and sniffed: "Uncle Sanpao, Third Aunt, how about this, I'll lend you the two dollars. When I have some free money, I'll definitely return it to you."

"If you say it's a loan, then so be it."

"Uncle Sanpao, Third Aunt, then can I trouble you to find me brushes and paper. I will write a IOU for you."

"Hey, you're just a country bumpkin, why are you still asking for a IOU? Third Uncle Third Aunt trusts you."

Maicao knew that although they had said that they had lent her the two dollars, they must not have wanted her to pay them back. They knew Han Maicao's family better than anyone else.