Chapter 12

Over the next few days, Oliver and Ava stayed home harvesting wheat instead of going to town. Knowing their son was running a legitimate business set their minds at ease. It even boosted their energy to work. After harvesting, threshing, and bagging the wheat, Oliver wheeled it to the grain station at the village entrance. Other villagers were already queued to sell their grain. Marcus, wearing a red armband, was temporarily in charge of keeping order. Seeing Oliver, he grabbed a handful of wheat and sneered. He said, "Oliver, this wheat's no good. The kernels are too small, and they're all dry and shriveled. It's poor quality." "What nonsense! There's nothing wrong with my wheat!" Oliver said unhappily, "Marcus, stop making trouble for no reason!" Oliver had found his backbone after recent events and his son's new success. Besides, he knew his wheat was not worse than anyone else's. Marcus was clearly stirring up trouble. "Fine, don't say I didn't warn you." Marcus walked away with hands clasped behind his back. By afternoon, it was finally Oliver's turn. The grain buyer grabbed a handful of wheat. Standing at the side, Marcus coughed meaningfully. The buyer glanced at him and dropped the wheat back. He said, "The quality is too poor. Take it away." Oliver panicked. Opening the sack, he said, "Look carefully! What's wrong with it? How's it different from anyone else's?" The buyer snapped impatiently, "I said it's no good, and that's final. What's all the shouting for? Next!" As Oliver tried to protest, Marcus chimed in with false sympathy, "Oliver, I warned you, but you wouldn't listen. See what happens? You've wasted half a day in line." Oliver might be honest, but he wasn't stupid. He knew someone was doing this on purpose. He jabbed a finger at Marcus and demanded, "Marcus Kain, you're pulling this gutless crap! If you want revenge, say it straight! Why these dirty tricks? If you've got the balls—" "Now, hold on, that's not fair. Your wheat's poor quality, and how's that my fault? Be reasonable." Marcus feigned surprise and said, "Everyone says you're an honest man, Oliver. When did you learn to be so underhanded?" The villager behind him in line glanced at Oliver's wheat, and he immediately got the picture. He pulled him aside, whispering, "Oliver, did you offend Marcus? "His family has got a big contract and is really tight with the grain supply department. If you've crossed him, you better apologize quickly. We're all neighbors here. He'll forgive you." "Apologize to him? For what? He pulls this dirty trick, and I should apologize? Where's the sense in that?" Furious, Oliver pointed at Marcus. "Stop throwing your weight around! If you tell the grain buyer not to collect my wheat today, I'm reporting you all to the department!" That got the buyer angry. He said icily, "Report me? Go ahead if you're not too chicken! You're just some small-time farmer with a few acres of wheat field, yet you're trying to act like some big shot. Keep it up, see if we ever take grain from your family again!" Marcus piled on, "Exactly, Oliver. You're threatening others after you messed things up. What, does everyone have to do what you say? Get out of here. No means no. Report wherever you want!" Marcus' smugness made Oliver shake with rage. But his honest nature held him back. His courage of holding a knife yesterday came from his son, and today that fire was gone. Besides, the villagers queueing behind him were getting impatient. They didn't care about this feud; they had waited all day and wanted to move things along. With no choice, Oliver furiously wheeled his wheat back home. Watching him leave, Marcus offered the buyer a cigarette, then left the whole pack on the table. He smirked and said, "He knows nothing about his place. Did you think you can take me on? I'll leave your family starving! Thanks, Thomas." The grain buyer, Thomas Shelman, chuckled. He tapped his cigarette before bringing it to his lips and said, "No big deal. There's no way we'd take his grain after he had crossed you. Let him starve; it serves him right!" Marcus roared with laughter. All of his earlier humiliation from a few days ago was completely forgotten. When Ava saw Oliver wheeling the wheat back home, she was shocked. She became panicked and worried after hearing how Marcus had interfered to block their grain sale. In those days, farmers could only sell their grain through official channels like the grain supply department. No private merchant would bother with small family farms unless they were a major contractor. It would be too much hassle for too little profit. If the grain supply department wouldn't buy it, they would have to eat their wheat themselves. But that was clearly way too much wheat for their family. More importantly, losing this income from half a year's work meant no money for next year's seeds and fertilizer. When Josh came home with his cart, he found his parents slumping in the courtyard and sighing. He asked what happened. Oliver didn't want to tell him at first. But knowing he could not hide it, he explained everything. "It's not such a big deal. Worst case scenario, I'll swallow my pride and apologize to Marcus." "I'll go with you." Ava had decided to go too. It would be humiliating, but it was still better than wasting half a year's work. Josh stopped them both and asked, "What's to apologize for? If they won't buy it, we'll use it ourselves." "Use it ourselves? That'd take till kingdom come!" Oliver put on a bitter smile. Just then, someone knocked on their gate. Marcus's voice came through. "Oliver, open up! I have good news!" Josh opened the door. Marcus saw him and chuckled. He said, "Oh, Josh's home too. Hey Oliver, are you still angry? Come on, it's not that big a deal. "I talked to the grain supply department. Though your wheat's poor quality, they'll take it all at three cents per pound. See? We're all neighbors here, of course I'd help out." Oliver nearly coughed up blood in rage. "Three cents per pound? That's daylight robbery! Everyone else gets 13 cents, so why should we take three cents?" "Well, the quality of your wheat is poor, isn't it?" Marcus put on a hurt expression and said, "I really pushed hard for you, but they wouldn't budge. They won't give a few cents more. "If they don't buy it, your wheat's only good for pig feed. Think carefully, Oliver. Miss this chance, and you're out of options." Oliver felt dizzy with anger. Three cents would barely cover next year's seeds, let alone fertilizer. But not selling the wheat would be an even bigger loss. He hesitated for a moment. He almost regretted that he hadn't stopped Josh from confronting Marcus a few days ago. That was when Josh spoke up, "Marcus, you might be older than me. But the way you do business makes you seem even more immature than I do.