But since the old buddy had spoken so, it was clear that it was not an ordinary matter.
“Ah Qing said he wants to collect some good-quality rice seeds for important use.
He was wondering if anyone in the village had any good seeds; he wants to buy some.
As I recall, this year’s rice from your household was about the best in the village.
Do you have any rice seeds left?”
“Of course, I’ve saved some, quite a bit actually. Several families in the village have arranged to get rice seeds from me.
My in-laws said they wanted some seeds, so I kept two bags.”
Old Wang beamed with pride upon hearing Grandpa Zhang praise his family’s rice.
But soon enough, he looked puzzled, “But, what does Ah Qing need the rice seeds for? Surely he doesn’t plan on farming?”
“I don’t know either, but Ah Qing is someone who undertakes big things. If he needs rice seeds, it must be for a good reason.
It’s rare for him to ask; we definitely can’t hold him back.”
“Of course, it’s not every day that Ah Qing asks for our help; how could we refuse? I’ll have Ah Qiu take the two bags of rice seeds from our house over there.”
Ah Qiu was Old Wang’s youngest son, the same young man who had greeted Grandpa Zhang earlier.
“You’ll bring it all over? Won’t you keep some for yourself, and how will you explain it to your in-laws?”
Grandpa Zhang’s eyes widened.
“Compared with Ah Qing’s matter, this is nothing; at most, I’ll save more of the eating rice and just plant lower-quality seeds next year.
As for my in-laws, it’ll be fine once I speak to them.”
Old Wang said nonchalantly.
As for the others in the village, he believed if they knew the seeds were for Ah Qing, they wouldn’t have any objections.
“Alright, as long as you’re aware. Have Ah Qiu take the stuff over to my place; I still need to visit some other people in the village, and then we’ll take everything up the mountain together.”
In the time that followed, Grandpa Zhang visited every household in the village that had grown rice this year.
Upon hearing that Lu Qing needed rice seeds, everyone immediately brought out their best seeds without hesitating and gathered them at Grandpa Zhang’s house,
then prepared to take them as a group to Half Mountain Small Courtyard.
“Old Zhang, Old Zhang!”
Just as Grandpa Zhang and the others were preparing to go up the mountain, an old man about their age came rushing in hastily.
“Are you going to bring the rice seeds up the mountain?”
“Yes, why, Old Lin, are you going too? I recall your family didn’t grow rice this year?”
Grandpa Zhang asked, puzzled.
“My family didn’t grow rice, but we grew wheat last year. Could you ask Ah Qing if he needs wheat seeds?”
“Wheat seeds?” Grandpa Zhang hesitated, “Ah Qing didn’t mention this; he only spoke of rice seeds.”
“How would you know if you don’t ask? What if Ah Qing also wants wheat seeds?” Old Man Lin said earnestly.
Someone who saw his eagerness couldn’t help but tease, “Old Lin, you’re usually so stingy; you’d pluck feathers from a rooster walking by.
“Why are you so generous now, rushing to give away your wheat seeds?”
“What are you talking about, what are you saying, Old Chen, as stingy as I am, could I be stingier than you?
You say I’d pluck a rooster’s feathers; I’d say you wouldn’t even spare the chicken droppings!
Don’t think others don’t know, the last time your field lacked fertility, someone saw you sneakily stealing chicken manure from the neighbor to use as fertilizer!”
Old Lin got worked up upon hearing this, jumping to his feet and cursing at the old man who had made fun of him.
“Besides, could Ah Qing’s matter be just any ordinary issue?
If it were up to you old ghost, I wouldn’t want to give a single grain.
But Ah Qing is someone destined for great things; if he asks for grain seeds, there must be significant use.
Even if I had to empty out my house, I would be glad to do it!”
Elder Chen, publicly called out by Old Lin, couldn’t save his face and was about to retort when Grandpa Zhang coughed.
“Enough, enough, you’re all adults yet quarreling; you don’t want the kids to laugh at you.
Old Lin, I don’t know whether Ah Qing needs wheat seeds or not. Why don’t you come with us later and ask him in person?”
“Right, I’ll go myself and ask Ah Qing. I always feel that if he needs grain seeds, he probably needs wheat seeds too.” Old Man Lin declared immediately.
After this interlude, the group finally set off.
Each family brought their own rice seeds up to the Half Mountain Small Courtyard.
Many, fearing they wouldn’t have enough, also carried two bags of rice grain with them.
During the ascend, someone quietly said to the elder surnamed Chen, “Old Chen, why provoke Old Lin, knowing full well he has a sharp tongue? Isn’t this just asking for trouble?”
“Hmph, am I afraid of him?” the elder surnamed Chen replied stubbornly.