The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 148: Connections, Obstructions_1

Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Connections, Obstructions_1

This can work!

Village Chief Qi mulled over the idea in his mind and, adhering to the philosophy of "more friends, more paths," he said amicably, "Station Chief Guo thinks highly of our village. In the future, whenever there are good products in the village, we will naturally bring them to the purchasing station for sale."

"Good, good! If it’s the same as this time, I’ll add two more cents per pound for each type of meat," Station Chief Guo said with a chuckle. The demand for meat increases over the New Year, and these days, as long as it’s meat, it’s easy to sell."

"Then thank you, Station Chief Guo," Secretary Qi expressed his gratitude. A hundred pounds could sell for two more dollars.

Station Chief Guo personally saw Secretary Qi and the others out the door, very much hoping that Village Chief Qi would visit many more times.

Village Chief Qi was delighted in his heart. After seeing his daughter, he remembered that she had gone to the hospital for a checkup and was anxious to ask, "What did the doctor say?"

Qi Xiaoyan was also very happy. In the future, she would be able to walk and run like a normal person without any worries.

"Dad, my illness is cured. The doctor says I’m even better than an ordinary person," Qi Xiaoyan excitedly said. "I don’t need to take medicine anymore and am a completely healthy person."

"Good, good!" Village Chief Qi was very excited. "Are you hungry? Let’s go eat."

Even though he was curious, it wasn’t appropriate to ask in detail in front of so many people. It was better to ask at home later. Above all, his daughter’s health was the most important thing.

Everyone knew that Qi Xiaoyan’s health had been poor, and now that they heard she was better, they were happy for Village Chief Qi as well.

Having made several hundred dollars today, everyone was even more cheerful. At lunch, each person had a big bowl of beef noodle soup.

After eating the steaming bowl of noodles and feeling warm, everyone went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things before hurrying back home. They wanted to share the good news with the villagers and encouraged them to set more traps so they could catch more prey and earn more money.

Village Chief Qi went to the office while Qi Ergou took the rabbits he had hidden earlier to the office cafeteria. At the same time, he handed in the self-criticism letter from the demobilized personnel and the proof of merit. This was something Village Chief Qi had written overnight as a plea for merits for Zuo Li and Xiang Rong.

The content of the document, verified by the villagers, wasn’t legally binding but held moral sway and could serve as a reference for the unit’s decision.

Director Chen and Director Zheng took a keen interest in the materials submitted by Village Chief Qi. It was a classic "bad-to-good" transformation! If the situation is true, they could be recognized for their merits. Upon seeing the receipts provided by Secretary Qi, after a brief discussion, everyone agreed to award Zuo Li and Xiang Rong twenty percent of the distribution rights.

This was to encourage the other demobilized personnel to continue reforming their ideologies, raise their consciousness, and participate in the people’s massive production.

Secretary Qi, feeling reassured, only then left the office.

"Uncle, all these things should’ve gone to Comrade Zuo and Comrade Xiang, why the fuss?" Li Ergou scratched his head, puzzled. After all, when they caught prey themselves, they distributed it the same way, and everyone in the village knew it.

Secretary Qi glanced at Qi Ergou and said, "Ah, not everyone in the village is as sincere as you, kid. Seventy-five dollars is not a small amount. Some people are greedy and unwilling to share. Moreover, I’m not one to take advantage of others; naturally, I’m willing to share. Some people oppose me; if I’m willing, they naturally are unwilling and might even accuse me of favoring those demobilized folks. After the last busy farming season and now this incident, by requesting merits for them first, then distributing these goods, no one else will have anything to say about it."

Er Gou listened and said with a sad look, "Uncle, you are so good, always looking out for the village. If it weren’t for you during the autumn harvest, our village would have wasted a lot of grain. You’re fair and capable, yet some just look to cause trouble. It doesn’t matter; there’s always a small group up to no good. Why can’t they just enjoy the good days instead of this!"

"Foolish child, where there are people, there is conflict. Don’t think that just because we come from the same ancestor, we don’t fight over so-called interests, sometimes even violently," Village Chief Qi said. "In Qijia Village, our branch and Qi Shuli’s branch have never really gotten along. Our branch has always had the upper hand, which they’ve never accepted, always waiting for a chance to turn the tables."

Qi Ergou seemed to understand but was still slightly confused. It was as if he had had a revelation, and he asked, "Uncle, were the people who reported you and those demobilized individuals from that group?"

Qi Jianguo was Qi Shuli’s nephew. Since Qi Shuli had no sons, he had always treated Qi Jianguo as his own. Secretary Qi didn’t believe for a second that Qi Shuli was unaware of the things Qi Jianguo had done. That day, they had gone to the commune, and Qi Shuli’s family and Qi Jianguo’s family went straight to visit relatives, leaving only Qi Jianguo’s grandmother at home.

Village Chief Qi nodded, "Nine times out of ten, that’s the case. You’re a straightforward kid, just know these things and don’t talk about them outside for now."

The village had maintained such a balance for a long time. He didn’t want to offend Qi Shuli’s people because of a few demobilized men. Behind Qi Shuli, there wasn’t just Qi Jianguo’s family; there were other members of their branch as well, including Qi Jianguo’s relatives in the county town.

To rock the boat could upset the balance. Without certainty, Village Chief Qi wasn’t prepared to take down Qi Shuli and Qi Jianguo and their clan at once. It was a troublesome situation, better to wait for his son to come home for the New Year and then discuss it with him.

"Got it, uncle," Qi Ergou noted and resolved to always support Village Chief Qi, regardless of who opposed him.

Upon returning to the village, Village Chief Qi went directly to the village committee to have Qi Shuqiang record the earnings.

Qi Shuli, seeing that seventy-five dollars were to be given to the demobilized Zuo Li and Xiang Rong, was very reluctant. Those people merely needed to avoid starvation; why should they get so much money?

"Village Chief Qi, this doesn’t seem right, does it?" Qi Shuli said with a beaming smile. "They were demobilized to our village; it’s enough for them to work obediently. Only if they work can the success of their transformation be reflected. These prey and money are the proof of their successful transformation. Since Qijia Village provided such a vast environment for transformation, the money from selling these things should belong to the entire village."

Qi Shuqiang, the leader of the first team, caught Qi Shuli’s cue and immediately understood. He continued, "Secretary Qi, the unit didn’t say this money should go to those demobilized people!"

Accountant Qi picked up his enamel mug, warmed his hands on it, then opened the lid and drank a few sips. He was dissatisfied inside, but his face showed no sign of it, and he laughed, "Accountant Qi, all the prey was caught by them. The commune has a rule stating that private individuals can keep twenty percent of their personal catches, and the remaining eighty percent goes to public funds. Those demobilized folks, everyone in Qijia Village has seen what they’ve been like from the start to finish. If we do this, how can we encourage the demobilized personnel to be more active?"