After waiting for a few days, there was no news of anyone’s chickens being buried by the staff of the epidemic prevention station.
Even when some families really had sick chickens, the epidemic prevention personnel didn’t come knocking like they did at Huang Dashun’s chicken farm to cull and bury the birds.
Only then did they learn that the epidemic prevention station targeted only chicken farms, disregarding the poultry of the smallholders.
It was only after the epidemic prevention station culled and buried the chickens at Huang Dashun’s farm and carried out a thorough disinfection that Lin Chuxia discussed with Su Wensong the issue of seeking compensation from Huang Dashun’s farm.
It wasn’t that Lin Chuxia wanted to kick someone while they were down; the two families had a supply contract in place.
And at the start of the spring, Lin Chuxia had repeatedly had Houzi remind the various chicken farms to vaccinate their chickens.
This wasn’t really their obligation, it was just a kind act, a reminder because of their partnership.
Even with these reminders, Huang Dashun still did not vaccinate his chickens.
If Lin Chuxia didn’t have her own chicken farm, and that of Qin Family Village, and if Huang Dashun had cut off the supply suddenly, they would have had trouble finding a new source of chicken in time for their smoked chicken orders, which would have cost Xiyang Food Factory.
Su Wensong calculated the amount to be compensated according to the terms of the contract and then sent Qin Wu and Qin Jianjun to negotiate with Huang Dashun.
As Lin Chuxia expected, Huang Dashun was uncooperative, and furthermore, the next day, his wife and mother-in-law made a scene at the entrance of Xiyang Food Factory, crying and accusing Xiyang Food of bullying them and not leaving them a way to live.
Qin Wu still managed fairly well, having seen more of the world, but Qin Jianjun got somewhat panicked upon seeing this, especially since they were about to negotiate with Huang Dashun again when they were blocked at the entrance, with Huang Dashun’s wife pointing at them and cursing.
Lin Chuxia heard the news before she left her house and immediately set off for Xiyang Food Factory.
On the way, she happened to run into Qian Chuncao who was also going to see what was happening.
Seeing Lin Chuxia, and unclear about the situation, Qian Chuncao asked anxiously, “Did Jianjun cause trouble for you?”
She had been doing laundry at home when someone told her that Qin Jianjun had gotten into a fight with two women at Xiyang Food.
Lin Chuxia, already aware of the incident, reassured her sister-in-law, “Sister-in-law, no worries, it’s not Jianjun’s fault, he’s been working well at my place. It’s just that these past couple of days the factory assigned him and Xiao Wu with some tasks.”
She then explained the situation with Huang Family Nutritional Chicken Farm to Qian Chuncao.
The people of Qin Family Village had already known about the avian flu outbreak and that Huang Family Nutritional Chicken Farm had been making unreasonable trouble at the food factory and got chased away by the villagers; Qian Chuncao was no exception and regretted not being there at the time.
Now understanding the situation, she was full of fighting spirit.
“Sister-in-law, don’t worry, they think they can take advantage of us? No way, I’ll help you drive her away.”
Lin Chuxia smiled, “It’s not that serious. Initially, the food factory wanted to be civil before resorting to force. If Huang Dashun intends to default, we’ll have to see if the courts will allow it. However, I really didn’t expect today’s incident, and Jianjun got involved because of it. I was originally hoping he could learn and grow a bit more by working alongside Xiao Wu.”
“What’s this about getting dragged into it?”
Qian Chuncao had long known that her son was highly valued at the factory, not stuck on the production line but running errands, something that made her proud and that her son was very enthusiastic about.
“For a young man like him, you have to let him go through some hardships. That way he’ll learn and grow when confronted with future issues.”
“Sister-in-law, you’ve got a point,” Lin Chuxia gave her a thumbs-up, and Qian Chuncao’s face was brimming with pride.
Her husband had said the same to her, and she agreed with it wholeheartedly.
Ma Suyun stepped out of her house and saw two people, walking side by side, growing distant. Irritated, she spat forcefully.
“Why are you still home, Qin Wen’s wife? Everyone else has gone to the food factory to see what’s happening, aren’t you curious?”
Upon hearing there was some excitement at the food factory, Ma Suyun’s eyes lit up.
Ever since her fallout with Qian Chuncao and the others, she hadn’t been back to the bun shop, much less kept up with the happenings at the food factory.
Although she was very intrigued, she still asked with feigned indifference, “What’s going on? What could possibly be happening at the food factory that’s worth attention?”
“Ah, it’s that chicken farm issue, again. I heard that the boss’s wife and mother from Huang Family Nutritional Chicken Farm have kicked up a fuss at the food factory. They’re claiming Xiyang Food Factory is bullying the common folk, leaving them no way out…”
That person had also heard it from someone else and was keen to see for herself what was actually happening.
Ma Suyun appeared troubled upon hearing this and heaved a deep sigh, her feelings mixed.
“What’s the matter Suyun, do you know something?”
Ma Suyun was one of the Qin Family.
Encouraged to speak by the question, Ma Suyun opened up helplessly, “Ah, it’s just that I worry about my sister-in-law’s temperament. To tell you the truth, I foresaw this day coming. But since we’re all one family, I can’t really say much. To be honest, my sister-in-law has always been a bit haughty and now with her running both the bun shop and food factory, we in the family always have to tiptoe around her moods…”
Before Ma Suyun could finish, the person took several steps back, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
After sizing Ma Suyun up and down, the person looked at her with a bit of disdain, “Suyun, I thought of you as a friend, but you can’t do this to me. Who in Qin Family Village doesn’t know who Mr. Lin is? To prevent any losses to the village, the chicken farm slaughtered their chickens ahead of schedule. Moreover, my brother works at the food factory. In the future, don’t talk to me about such things; I don’t want to hear it. I’ve got to go now.”
Without waiting for Ma Suyun to respond, the person dashed off towards the food factory as if fleeing.
Ma Suyun’s face turned red, then pale, and then she spat fiercely once more.
“Pah, what rubbish, such a snob.”
Elsewhere, Lin Chuxia and Qian Chuncao were still a distance from the entrance of Xiyang Food Factory when they saw a crowd gathered and heard a woman’s sobbing and cursing.
“You heartless capitalists, you’re simply cutting off people’s livelihoods! Our family lost over two thousand chickens because of you, and now you’re asking us to compensate? If it weren’t for you, why would our chickens have been buried? We haven’t even asked you to compensate us, yet here you are, bullying honest people?”
“Just look at you, all human on the outside but heartless beasts within. Such a young age, and yet you fail to learn decency, instead siding with these capitalists. I’m telling you, we don’t have money, but we’ve got lives to give. If you really want to make amends, then take my old lady’s life!”
“It’s unbelievable, what kind of heartless parents raised a child like you, unable to tell right from wrong, joining these capitalists in oppressing honest people. If it weren’t for you, our chicken farm would still be in business. You owe us for the chicken farm…”
Qian Chuncao, peering through the crowd, saw an old woman, spittle flying, pointing fingers and accusing her own son.
A son brought up well, she had taught her children never to talk back to their elders. Now, he was so suffocated he was turning beet-red, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.
Fury surged within her.
“You damned hag, who are you calling heartless and cruel?”