Chapter 2902

The household was filled with requests for her to greet everyone.

Fine, she would greet them. After all, little children tire easily. Once she had gone around and greeted everyone, she fell asleep.

Of course, the Yan family was thrilled that night. Their little darling could speak now.

"Old Five, you are so lucky to have a little darling. How about sending her to my place after the New Year? I have plenty of food there." Yan Tielong, a supply and marketing clerk, tried to poach her.

"I think coming to my place would be nice too," Third Brother Yan Tiebao said hesitantly.

"Get lost," Yan Tieniu said, seeing the others looking like they wanted to speak. "She is my daughter. I will raise her. If you want a daughter, have one yourselves."

"The problem is, we only have boys. No little darlings. How about we swap?" Yan Tielong said.

"Keep dreaming," Yan Tieniu snorted.

Then, worried, she turned to Wang Suyan. "Wife, take Guai Guai back to rest early. She is tired."

"Haha." Seeing Yan Tieniu so nervous, everyone laughed.

Wang Suyan looked at Yan Tieniu speechlessly. Whenever it came to her daughter, Yan Tieniu always overthought things.

Yan Zhong sighed helplessly. "Suyan, Guai Guai is still small. You take her, Miaozi, Caotou, and Yangtian to rest. Leave the night watch to Aniu."

"Yes, yes, Fifth Sister-in-law, hurry back, or Old Five will eat someone," the eldest sister-in-law laughed.

Wang Suyan smiled shyly, then held Yan Xiwan and left first.

Yan Tieniu smiled all night, seeming not tired at all.

The Yan brothers teased Yan Tieniu but also envied him, for they had no daughters.

Yan Zhong took advantage of everyone’s happiness to say he was going for a walk.

In truth, he went to visit Old Zhang, bringing some wine and dishes.

The two brothers drank a cup together.

"Life in Yan Village is quite good, at least peaceful," Old Zhang said.

"I hope next year remains peaceful too," Yan Zhong sighed.

"What’s wrong?" Old Zhang sensed something else in Yan Zhong’s words.

Yan Zhong said, "A few days ago, I went to buy New Year goods and heard that many nearby villages have been assigned educated youths to go to the countryside."

"Sending educated youths to help with production is a good thing," Old Zhang said.

"In theory, yes. But these youths cannot do farm work. That is one thing. Honestly, no one is born knowing how to farm. If they could work honestly, it would be fine."

Yan Zhong added with helplessness, "But to return to the city, some do shameless things. Among the youths, there are good ones, but also many bad ones."

Old Zhang understood what Yan Zhong did not say.

Yan Village had always been peaceful and stable because they did not compete with outsiders. To be blunt, they did their surface work very well.

They completed tasks assigned from above, never striving for first place, nor falling to last. They stayed in the upper middle, so no one complained.

This was a way to protect oneself.

"You must get used to this situation," Old Zhang said. "I have calculated that the chaotic times will last at least ten years. If you have the ability, bring more old folks like me here to take refuge."

No one knew that Old Zhang was actually a master of the Mystic Arts.

Fortunately, no one knew, or his fate would be uncertain.

"Find a way to bring old folks to our village?" Yan Zhong heard the hidden meaning.

Old Zhang said, "I saw your granddaughter from afar. She is definitely not of this world. With her here, this place will be peaceful and safe, for no one dares to oppose Heaven."

"My granddaughter has such a big background?" Yan Zhong still believed in Old Zhang’s Mystic Arts.

"Of course. I once tried to use the Tui Bei Tu to calculate her origin, but I injured myself and got no result. The only conclusion is that with her, any danger becomes no danger. So…"

Old Zhang looked at Yan Zhong, patted his shoulder, and drank another small cup of wine. "Raise this child well. Your Yan family’s blessings are yet to come. With this child, blessings will cover three generations above and three below."

"So, from my mother’s generation to my son’s is three generations, and my grandchildren’s next three generations?" Yan Zhong asked.

"Exactly. Seven generations in total will benefit." Old Zhang looked at Yan Zhong. "Not to mention, I remember you had rheumatism. Did it bother you this year?"

"No," Yan Zhong was stunned. Thinking back, it was true.

His rheumatism was old, having plagued him for nearly thirty years, yet it had vanished instantly.

"Not only that. Anyone with kind intentions toward your granddaughter will receive blessings. Your granddaughter’s existence is that of a lucky star," Old Zhang answered seriously.

Yan Zhong had experienced many storms, but hearing Old Zhang’s words, he sucked in a breath, showing how shocking the news was.

"So, you can operate this yourself. Just say you are bringing people for re-education. As for the educated youths, they are national talents, so support the state by sending them to other villages. You can take in the re-education elements other villages reject."

Old Zhang sighed deeply. "I am also fighting for a path for old folks like us."

"In that case, I will try," Yan Zhong thought. It was indeed a good method. If operated well, it would make Yan Village even less noticeable, drawing no attention.

Of course, Yan Zhong would not decide alone. He returned home and discussed it with his sons.

Generally, Third Brother, though slower to react, was very honest. So if something needed doing, he would do it well. If old folks came, Third Brother might secretly care for them.

With Third Brother’s honest appearance, no one would suspect they were protecting those elders.

So Third Brother naturally attended this discussion.

After listening, Yan Tielong said, "Father, since Uncle Zhang said so, let’s try to bring as many sent-down elders as possible to our village. Honestly, I think it is better to re-educate so-called 'bad' elements than to teach those educated youths."

Second Brother Yan Tiehu said, "If so, after the New Year, I will inquire while driving. I will decide based on the situation."

"I will also watch for such news at the factory," Fourth Brother said.

"Fine. Then the arrangement here is left to me and Third Brother. Right, Third Brother?" Yan Tieniu said.

Yan Tieying smiled. "No problem. I will regularly read various good books to them, ensuring they are well re-educated."

Reading books was clearly a cover for others to care for these people.

Everyone knew this and smiled at each other.

Seeing no objections, Yan Zhong decided immediately. "Good. It is decided. Everyone do their part when the time comes."

The sons understood the meaning.

After the New Year, things became busy again. The Yan family seemed scattered, but only on the surface. Secretly, the Yan family became tighter.

Such days passed, and they unknowingly entered 1964. By then, Yan Xiwan was three years old.

"Guai Guai, Mother is going to dig water chestnuts today. Do you want to go?" Wang Suyan knew her daughter loved going outside, so she asked.

Sure enough, Yan Xiwan nodded immediately upon hearing she could go out. The spiritual energy in this era was still abundant. Although she could cultivate at home, outside, the spiritual energy was even richer.

"I will go," Yan Xiwan nodded seriously, her small face full of excitement.

Yan Xiwan loved the outside world. She had discovered she could understand the joys and sorrows of plants by touching them.

Yan Xiwan liked this feeling. Moreover, by understanding them, she could urge them to grow.

For these years, Yan Village had bumper harvests every year. However, everyone knew the outside situation was not good. These years had seen heavy disasters, so they only handed over one or two extra percent of the grain, keeping most for themselves.

Most people in Yan Village may not have attended school, but they knew the basics. To survive, food and clothing were essential. One could not starve oneself to help others.

So, they preferred to be seen as not advanced rather than let others know their village had bumper harvests every year.

However, to avoid discovery, Yan Village still handed over a bit more grain each year.

So, the originally low-key Yan Village was actually seen as a good village by some. At least they did not delay grain deliveries.

For the authorities, in these years of drought, any village delivering grain on time was advanced. Even if most of the grain was coarse, it was still grain, better than nothing.

Yan Village’s bumper harvests these years were because Yan Tieniu, guided by his daughter, found a rich underground water source.

Later, villagers helped channel water into the fields, preventing crop failure.

Even so, they planted half coarse grains and half rice and wheat. There was no choice. Planting only rice and wheat might attract big trouble.

Most of what they handed over was coarse grain, with some rice and wheat mixed in, giving the impression that they were just scraping by.