Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

Chapter 698: Chapter 697: Steadfast Confidence

”Good girl! An Ping and I were discussing this matter last night and thought that maybe we should get rid of half of our land. Just keeping half would be enough,” An Shuchao said.

”That would greatly reduce our income,” An Hao said.

”Yes. That’s for certain. Although our income would be much less, at the very least, we wouldn’t have to worry about severe drought. If a bad drought really hit us for a year, just like Qin Jian said, we would lose everything.”

”No! Don’t get rid of half our land,” An Hao said emphatically, ”There will not be any severe droughts in the future.”

”How can you be so sure?” An Ping asked.

An Hao had considered this when she had the family start growing greenhouse vegetables. In this region, apart from the occasional mild drought every few years, for the most part, the climate had been favorable.

So, growing vegetables here was still very suitable.

If rainfall weren’t abundant in this place, An Hao would have definitely not considered growing vegetables.

”Geography, climate! Didn’t you study geography?” In fact, An Hao wasn’t particularly good at geography. Besides, geography generalizes the climate of a region. Who could accurately predict the weather in a small area?

But could she really say to An Ping, ”Just listen to me, I’ve lived a whole life longer than you, I’ve seen with my own eyes that this is a place with plentiful rainfall”?

”Is geography really that reliable?” Having only learned to read and without much education, An Shuchao doubted his daughter’s words as well.

”Yes,” An Hao thought for a moment and said, ”Dad, if you don’t believe me, think about it. Since I was born, has there ever been a severe drought in our village? What’s the rainfall like every year?”

An Shuchao reflected a bit and said, ”Indeed, it’s just this year that hasn’t been great.”

”That’s right. Dad, we can’t grow less vegetables! Look at how our market is gradually establishing itself! What if we have less produce? You know it’s not easy to establish a market! I want to make our market stronger and bigger.” They had the advantage of starting early, but in a few years, when everyone starts doing business, the big cake of the market would definitely be carved up.

It was important to establish a firm foothold now, so that later they could become the dominant force, and then everything would be negotiable.

”Well... okay. We’ll continue growing vegetables after the spring,” An Shuchao decided.

”That’s the right decision,” An Hao’s heart, which had been in suspense, relaxed. Although the general trend was positive, they still had to be ready for emergencies. ”Dad, An Ping, if you’re worried about a water shortage, we can contract a few village wells for irrigation. This year, people didn’t let us fetch water because, first, they were jealous, and second, they genuinely feared a water shortage. How about we take the initiative this year?”

”I’m afraid it won’t be easy,” An Shuchao sighed, ”Everyone knows that our family grows vegetables, and I’m afraid someone will try to sabotage us.”

”What’s there to fear? We’re taking the legitimate route. Why would they prevent us from contracting the wells?”

”Sister, you’re right. How about this, while there are still people at the village branch today, why don’t we seal the deal?” An Ping was ready for action.

”All right,” An Hao agreed.

The siblings, concerned that someone might try to obstruct them, simply decided to bring Qin Jian along for added support.

The three of them left their home and headed straight to the village committee. However, just as they passed under the village entrance’s stage, they saw an army jeep driving up.

Qin Jian squinted at the vehicle—it belonged to Ning Yibin, his father. What were they doing here at this time? Could something have happened?