Chapter 23

Two days later, the village committee held a meeting.
The village head said: Longdu government, together with Xinyun, was holding a “Shenshan Agricultural Credit Cup” event. Providing farmers with the most advanced technical training in the country.
The event had two venues. One for lion‑head geese. One for meat sheep.
But spots were limited. Only “leading enterprises + quality farmers” model. Best of the best.
“Training location is in Shenzhen. Instructors are all Agricultural Academy elites. Will provide technical support in excellent feed formulas, scientific management, quality breeding stock, etc. My suggestion: if you can go, definitely go.”
Second Uncle asked: “Transport and accommodation covered?”
“Covered. Just show up.” The village head said.
Guangyou Gong asked: “How many spots for our village?”
The village head said: “Two spots each for lion‑head geese and meat sheep individual farmers. Four total. Want to go, fill out the forms. Must submit today. Above will review and select.”
Yang Bufan knew this opportunity was rare. If she could go, would pay to go.
But. Five families in the village raised sheep. Two didn’t come today. Left: her family, Second Uncle’s, Guangyou Gong’s. Those two families’ conditions were much better than hers. All enclosed farming.
She probably wouldn’t be selected.
Yang Bufan filled out the forms carefully and in detail. In the 【Farming Prospects and Philosophy】 section, wrote in all her research from agricultural sites.
Guangyou Gong saw her writing so seriously. Though he was sure he’d be selected, still didn’t want to fall behind. Waved Xiao Liu over. Had him write it. Had to be as impressive as possible.
Two more days passed. Training list finalized. Selected: Yang Bufan’s family and Second Uncle’s family.
Yang Bufan was very happy. Washing the sheep pen became more energetic.
After finishing the pen hygiene, came out, changed out of boots, was about to shower, saw Guangyou Gong pacing into her small yard.
Still the old‑man shirt. Still indigo cloth around his waist. He seemed to have dressed like this twenty years ago. But his expression felt unfamiliar.
“Top university student, how did you do this?” Guangyou Gong asked.
Yang Bufan was about to invite him in for tea. But this shout came down. Tone harsh. Her expression changed.
“What do you mean?” Yang Bufan frowned.
Yang Guangyou scolded loudly: “You cheated? Had them cross out my name, write yours. Last time I said a couple things, you backstabbed me. How did that ‘Putonghua speaker’ in your family teach you? So young, how do you do things like this? No respect for elders. Crooked beam, crooked frame.”
He’d lost that argument with the outsider before. Already had a bellyful of fire. Now she’d taken his training spot. Even angrier.
Seeing Yang Bufan, a little girl, actually dared talk back, immediately furious. Intentionally wanted to suppress and teach her. Show her what benevolence, filial piety meant.
Yang Bufan retorted: “I didn’t. Guangyou Gong, if you have questions about the training spots, you can ask the village head, or call the organizers. Not vent at me here. Otherwise you’ll look like a sore loser. Why discriminate against my dad? What’s wrong with Putonghua? 1.4 billion people speak Putonghua. You look down on all of them?”
Yang Guangyou’s lean body leaned back, then forward. Bent at the waist. Head toward ground. Viciously “ptui,” shot out phlegm.
“Who knows what benefits you gave them! Anyone with eyes knows your farming conditions are worse than mine everywhere. If it’s best of the best, why pick the worse one? If this isn’t fishy, what is?”
“Today you must give this spot back to me. Go tell the village head yourself. Otherwise, I’ll invite the clan head to the ancestral hall. Before the ancestors, judge right and wrong! Then, don’t blame Guangyou Gong for not saving face.”
In that moment, Yang Bufan understood.
This old thing, using age as authority, was pure extortion.
The so‑called inviting the clan head to the ancestral hall was pure favoritism. Because this kind of mediation, judgment, didn’t just go by reason. Still the old way: “hierarchy determines right and wrong.” Who’s older, who has more seniority, who’s right.
The state had long abolished this with customs reform. Now he still used it to pressure people. Yang Bufan got angrier the more she thought. But the angrier, the calmer.
Yang Bufan ignored him. Found the electronic form she’d filled that day. Called the Longdu government hotline.
After a “beep,” the call connected. Yang Bufan asked concisely about the event’s selection method. Asked why Yang Guangyou wasn’t selected.
When the other person answered, Yang Bufan put it on speaker.
That person said: “Yang Guangyou’s conditions were relatively suitable. But considering two issues, we finally passed. One, his family had been ordered to rectify multiple times for environmental problems. Two, the information he filled had multiple discrepancies with reality. We also evaluate participants’ integrity…”
Before the call ended, Yang Guangyou was furious, ashamed, angry. Viciously “ptui”‑ed.
“Your mother’s bullshit! You definitely colluded. Who knows who you called…”
Yang Bufan also shouted like him: “You wrote false information yourself. Environmental problems, ordered to rectify. You want to blame others? Guangyou Gong, the older you get, the uglier you act, unreasonable, throwing tantrums, disrespectful, shameless?”
“You you! Rebellion! You’re insulting an elder. I’m at least a relative within five degrees. I held you when you were little. Fed you, gave you drinks…”
As Yang Guangyou talked, Yang Bufan felt helpless again.
Yes. He really loved her when she was little. She, Feizai, Xizi often ate at his place. Times were poor. He even bought them taro‑flavor Five Goats ice cream, olive ice.
Going to school, running late. He used the pig‑hauling truck, specially detoured, drove them to school. Even though he had to get to the morning market early, late meant no good spot.
But, this was separate. Could we at least be reasonable?
Just as grandparent and grandchild were deadlocked, someone else came into the small yard.
The person had chicken‑skin, crane hair. Weather this hot, still wore long sleeves. Walked slower than normal. Looked older than Guangyou Gong. Carried a bulging plastic bag.
Yang Bufan called: “Qingyu Granny.”
Qingyu Granny was Guangyou Gong’s wife. Though she had no education, only spoke dialect, had bound feet in the old era, Yang Bufan saw her like a savior. Because she was humble, honest, reasonable. Mainly, she was reasonable.
“Yangzi, don’t take Guangyou Gong seriously. I apologize for him. We’ll go back now. Don’t tell your parents, okay?”
Saying that, Qingyu Granny handed Yang Bufan the bulging plastic bag. A big bag of shrimp and preserved radish.
Yang Bufan hurriedly thanked her. Told Qingyu Granny everything from start to finish. Qingyu Granny didn’t interrupt. Finally comforted her. Told her not to take it to heart.
Before they finished talking, Yang Guangyou had already left. Cursed internally: *traitor.*
This wasn’t over.
—
Though she’d fought with Yang Guangyou, Yang Bufan still boarded the high‑speed rail to Shenzhen for training on time.
Lao Zhang came to the station early to pick her up. Said afraid it was too late, unsafe. Asked her not to refuse. The two chatted pleasantly. At the hotel, Yang Bufan rested early.
The next day, 8:30. “Shenshan Agricultural Credit Cup” opening ceremony. Jiang Qishen sat among several government leaders. The youngest.
Yang Bufan sat far away, watched him. Thought: *He really belongs in this kind of place.* What he said was very practical. Not a word wasted. Over two hundred people listened seriously.
When he finished, applause rang out. Jiang Qishen stood, thanked them. Just one glance. Saw Yang Bufan sitting straight, clapping hard.
Didn’t look very smart.
Today she was different. Clean enough to feel a bit unfamiliar. After clapping, she lowered her head, spun a pen. Looked like she’d found some feeling again.
Jiang Qishen remembered when Yang Bufan was chasing him.
Still in college. Forgot what big class. She sat diagonally behind him. Didn’t pay attention. Kept secretly watching him. Jiang Qishen’s mean streak activated. Turned. Caught her.
She was playing with a pen refill. Nervous, accidentally sucked the tip into her mouth. Ink overflowed. She was like a dazed squid spitting ink.
Didn’t know why, but he’d always remembered that scene.
Jiang Qishen almost laughed. But got serious. Seemed to think of something else. Got angry.
After the opening ceremony, class started. The expert instructors not only prepared slides, but demonstrated and explained the latest scientific achievements.
Yang Bufan saw that impressive breeding ram standing in a glass cart, showing off its excellent body lines. Though she’d prepared mentally, still couldn’t help marveling.
Her family’s Chen Yong was already considered a purebred, strong, good breeding ram. But this sheep, not only had thick bones, developed muscles, athletic build, but longer body, bigger head. Every aspect several levels better.
All farmers at the scene whispered about this sheep. Very tempted.
The expert smiled: “We’ve bred rams like this. But you need corresponding husbandry techniques…”
The following classes were very valuable. Overturned many of Yang Bufan’s assumptions. Many techniques for modifying pens, testing feed, mixing formulas were very different from her usual methods.
She not only took notes, but recorded the technical explanations.
Yang Bufan’s neighbor was a young woman. Face still childish. But had a four‑ or five‑year‑old child with her. The child sat quietly on Mom’s lap, watched muted cartoons.
Seeing Yang Bufan look over, the girl apologized: “Sorry. No one to watch the child. Had to bring them.”
Yang Bufan smiled. Said it was fine.
At 6 p.m., class ended. Everyone hungry, filed to the dining hall.
Yang Bufan left the conference room. Saw Jiang Qishen talking with several people. A tall girl smiled at him. The two looked quite compatible.
Jiang Qishen turned. Met Yang Bufan’s eyes. Lao Zhang greeted her first.
Yang Bufan went over. Greeted them. Jiang Qishen ignored her. Talked to the girl as if no one else was there. Yang Bufan recognized the girl as Yun Siyu. The two nodded to each other.
Lao Zhang said: “Xiao Yang, come eat together?”
Yang Bufan said okay. Yun Siyu regretfully shook her head: “I’m on a diet. You eat.”
“CEO Jiang, I’ll send the proposal later. Let’s find time to go over details.” Yun Siyu said.
Jiang Qishen nodded.
After saying goodbye to Yun Siyu, the three walked out.
This hotel was huge. Theme was water world. Had a 20‑meter tank. Underwater had an undersea world setup. Offered freediving courses and OW courses.
A man in a wetsuit targeted Yang Bufan. Handed her a flyer. Said: “Pretty lady, interested in freediving? Free.”
Yang Bufan’s feet stuck to the ground. Eyes lit up. Said: Really? Great!
She turned toward the dive shop. The wetsuit guy turned to Jiang Qishen. Said: “Boss, 488 yuan total.”
Lao Zhang applauded like a seal internally. *Sales champion!*
Jiang Qishen went in, paid. Yang Bufan had already gone to change. Just now, happy about the deal, had forgotten those two. Probably they’d left.
She bought a white swimsuit, changed. Happily followed the coach to warm up. Got in the water.
The coach learned she’d passed AIDA two‑star. Praised her. Led her in the water, reviewed two or three sets of mermaid techniques. Helped adjust rhythm, correct movements.
Also took a set of underwater photos for her.
Back then, she’d gotten freediving certification to go to an island with Jiang Qishen, take couple photos. Never happened.
Now she came to play herself. Discovered: water flowing on your body, fish swimming past—everything was good. Back then, she’d put her eyes on someone else. That’s why she couldn’t see the most down‑to‑earth beauty.
The coach was good at emotional support. Kept encouraging her to relax.
Jiang Qishen stood outside, through the glass. Watched her in a bikini, playing in the water with an unknown man.
Spending his money.