Volume One, Chapter 18: If Fortune Smiles, Let Us Not Forget Each Other! Returning to the Village!

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Tang Xionghua had originally planned to return to the village overnight and collect all the fish catches from the three groups in their village. Then, early the next morning, he intended to follow the previous schedule and take them to Chuzhou.

Unexpectedly, just as he walked from the station to the building downstairs at home, a familiar voice called out to him.

“Old Tang!”

Not only that, but a childish, soft voice was also calling for Tang Yichen.

“Brother, bro—”

“Oh, Old Fu!”

Tang Xionghua smiled warmly and greeted this former colleague of his.

Yichen couldn’t immediately recall who it was. But looking at the little girl around his age, only five or six years old, memories long buried began to awaken slowly.

Could this possibly be Fu Yating?

The beautiful Fu Yating, who grew up with him in the staff dormitory of the town middle school and had been his elementary school classmate for five years?

However, now Fu Yating’s face was chubby and silly, with a runny nose hanging from her tip. There was no sign of the goddess she would become.

Tang Yichen put on a disdainful, aloof expression, unwilling to interact with this little brat.

Though they were childhood playmates, after Yichen went to the big city of Modu, their lives hardly intersected.

He only heard later that Fu Yating got into a prestigious university and married into a wealthy family in the city, and that was the end of it.

“Teacher Tang, have you heard that the principal’s brother-in-law pushed you out? Is that true?”

Fu Shouchun, Tang Xionghua’s fellow Chinese language teacher, who had worked with him for years, asked with genuine concern.

He had wanted to check on Tang Xionghua for some time but couldn’t find him these past few days and thought maybe Tang had already moved away.

“Yes, it’s confirmed. We probably won’t be working together anymore. You don’t have to call me ‘Teacher Tang’ either,” Tang Xionghua said with a slight hint of disappointment, though no longer heartbroken or despondent.

“How can this be! It’s so unfair! I’ll go to the education bureau and vent on your behalf,” Fu Shouchun declared angrily, showing his influence and sympathy.

“No worries, Old Fu, thanks for caring! Not being a teacher isn’t so bad,” Tang Xionghua replied casually.

“To be honest, teachers in our town don’t make that much money. I studied English, and now with the country opening up, I think it’s a good opportunity to venture out and maybe achieve something,” Tang Xionghua added with a tone of nonchalance.

To Fu Shouchun, this sounded like self-comfort.

These days, few people dared to give up a stable job to explore the outside world.

“Ah, Old Tang, it’s good you think that way,” Fu Shouchun sighed and asked, “Have you decided where to go? When will you leave?”

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Tang Xionghua’s dismissal and leaving Tianshui Town were expected, though it bruised his pride. But Fu Shouchun’s concern was sincere.

“I plan to first check out Chuzhou, the provincial capital. Maybe later I’ll visit Modu city. Big cities have more opportunities,” Tang Xionghua answered with a smile.

“Good! The sky's the limit. Old Tang, you’re capable—I believe you’ll soar one day and come back in glory to spite that bastard principal!”

“Haha, then I’ll take your blessing, Old Fu.”

“Really, I believe you’ll succeed! If you do, don’t forget to lend me a hand. Let’s not forget each other when we’re rich and famous, haha!”

Seeing Tang Xionghua in good spirits, Fu Shouchun joked cheerfully.

Little did he know, in just a few days of Tang’s disappearance, he had already earned more than their combined annual salaries.

Maybe that joke would soon become reality.

“Well, Old Fu, I’m heading back to the countryside. Let’s have a meal together sometime.”

“All right, it’s getting dark. The village roads aren’t easy, and you still have Yichen to carry. Be careful on the way.”

Tang Yichen waved to Fu Shouchun with a smile. “Goodbye, uncle.”

“Brother, bro—”

Only little Fu Yating was reluctant to let go, tugging on Yichen’s sleeve.

This was troublesome.

Tang Yichen didn’t have this habit. He found little kids annoying, even if they grew up to be goddesses.

Tang Xionghua didn’t invite Fu Shouchun inside because he was in a hurry to get to the countryside.

Throughout their conversation, Tang Xionghua never mentioned a word about the small fish and shrimp drying business.

This caution pleased Tang Yichen.

For now, it was better to keep this venture secret as long as possible—even from close friends.

If one person found out, word might spread quickly, and soon everyone would know.

Tianshui Town was small; such a unique business would inevitably attract competition.

Prices for supplies would rise, and flooding Chuzhou with large quantities would push prices down.

Until the goal of making 100,000 yuan was reached, secrecy was essential.

Before night fully fell, Tang Xionghua rode his old motorcycle back to the village.

Though late, he still had much to do.

He planned to expand the scope of his purchases and grow bigger!

If news of his dismissal reached Tang Yichen’s grandfather’s ears...

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Tang Xionghua was ready to lay it all out.

Because earning over 2,900 yuan in just three days was his greatest confidence.

Losing the iron rice bowl was humiliating?

Not at all!

“Hey! Xionghua’s back!”

“Teacher Tang, you’ve found a way to prosper in the county, but don’t just take care of your own group! We’re all from the same village, bring us along too!”

...

The moon had risen, and the countryside was not very dark.

Many households sat in front of their doors fanning themselves, greeting Tang Xionghua enthusiastically.

In this era, communication was limited, and entertainment scarce.

But it was common for villagers to gather, chat, and play cards.

Any village event, even a couple’s quarrel, would quickly spread through the whole village.

Especially the fact that Grandpa Tang Jiaxiang had rallied villagers in their group to fish and catch shrimp aggressively in the river, with Tang Xionghua selling to the county feed factory.

This had long become a hot topic.

Not just talk—the real draw was the money.

It was rare for anyone not to be envious of making several to a dozen yuan per day just by fishing in the river.

Luckily, Grandpa Tang anticipated this.

He repeatedly emphasized only buying from villagers in their group.

If anyone from the group brought goods from outside groups or other villages, they would no longer be accepted.

This kept the seven-group villagers where Grandpa Tang was from from acting on selfish impulses, even if they couldn’t keep their mouths shut.

Tang Xionghua refusing to buy would be a huge loss!

Grandpa Tang also worried that if they bought too much and the county feed factory rejected it, it would all fall back on them.

Soon, word spread that Tang Xionghua had returned.

Villagers eagerly flocked to Grandpa Tang’s small courtyard.

Everyone wanted to know if this business could still work, and if the whole village could benefit...