Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart
Chapter 364 - 363: Four Old Men, One Show

Chapter 364: Chapter 363: Four Old Men, One Show

Parents let their children drop out of school to make money by gluing matchboxes.

Would this phenomenon happen? Yes, it definitely would.

Is this thinking wrong? Yes and no.

For the vast majority of farmers at present, what’s the use of reading books? Even if it’s the children in the cities, even if they go to high school, wouldn’t they end up farming in the countryside? So isn’t it just sparing many years of detour for their children to start farming directly?

Moreover, there’s a job right in front of them that doesn’t require brainstorming or physical effort. If they are willing to work for a month, they can earn more than ten yuan. A factory apprentice in the city makes about ten yuan a month, and the total annual income of a rural family can be at most a little over one hundred yuan.

Compared to this, studying, which requires a lot of effort but offers no clear prospects, seems less valuable.

Talking about the future, ideals, and dedication with someone who only wants to fill their stomach is simply ridiculous.

But there are things that someone needs to say, and someone needs to be the "bad guy."

In the commune office, Wong Xiao frowned while listening to Lin Nianhe’s words.

Wong Xiao was not a designated leader of the commune. Ten years ago, he was the mayor of Lan County. Back then, Lan County had few people and was poor, he became mayor through the villagers’ votes. He led the villagers to reclaim land and grow grains, spearheaded efforts to pinch pennies from wherever possible and stubbornly established a textile factory. Although he hadn’t studied much, he was down-to-earth and worked hard, earning the strong support of the villagers.

Later, the mayor’s role transitioned to commune leadership.

He was a good leader in production. He keenly noticed the tiny opportunity of building a branch for the match factory. He made comprehensive plans, predicting that by next spring planting season, the match factory work could be distributed to every production team. He even set the ratio standard for part-time and full-time labor, virtually eliminating the possibility of part-time work leading to a lack of people for farming.

He aimed to manage both well and strongly.

By then, the commune would advance further, and the members’ lives would also improve.

However, he neglected the issue of children’s education. Or rather, in the face of production, studying seemed less important.

He felt that focusing on production was more important.

Wong Xiao cleared his throat and chuckled, "Well, Xiao Lin, you sit down first, don’t tire yourself. Let’s sit down and slowly discuss this matter..."

Lin Nianhe looked at his slightly evasive gaze, did not sit down, and spoke slowly and non-threateningly, "Leader, I’m just proposing this possibility. I don’t quite understand the specific pros and cons. Maybe it’s better to invite Uncle Feng to discuss this with you?"

Wong Xiao: "...!"

Uncle Feng? Feng Yuanshan?

Wong Xiao felt his scalp tingle just thinking about Feng Yuanshan.

That guy was the only college graduate among those old fogeys, and he studied Literature. Yet he lacks even a trace of the demeanor of a scholar; whenever he’s short of money, he’d barge into his office yelling and cursing loudly enough for the whole street to hear. Or he’d just bring a little stool and sit at his door, blocking it so no one from outside can enter or exit. It’s impossible to get physical with him—ninety percent of the people in the commune were once his students, Feng Yuanshan. With just a stern look, a line of people would stand against the wall in attention.

Was Wong Xiaokou just reputational? Asking him for money was like cutting flesh from his body.

But—

If he talks reason, he acts unreasonable; if he acts unreasonable, he brings up the law; if he talks about the law, he mentions human feelings; if he talks about human feelings, he’s back to reasoning!

Half of Wong Xiaokou’s gray hair was probably thanks to Feng Yuanshan.

Upon hearing Lin Nianhe mention Feng Yuanshan, Wong Xiao felt a headache coming.

He grimaced and said, "Xiao Lin, this is a matter of production. Old Feng is so busy, let’s not drag him into this."

Lin Nianhe: "This is clearly a matter of education. Uncle Feng cares about every student in Lan County and surely won’t mind the trouble."

Wong Xiao covered his forehead, turned his head to Li Dahe, and winked at him.

The meaning in that look was too obvious – Take charge! This is your team’s little ancestor, you better take charge!

Li Dahe clacked his tobacco pipe, casually took a pinch of tobacco leaves from the small cloth bag, and handed it to He Aimin: "Old He, want to try? I just cut this tobacco."

Take charge? Does he dare to?

Without even thinking, he knew, if today he dared to say a word siding with Wong Xiaokou, this little rascal would dare to go to Wang Hong to tattle and say that he also supports letting children drop out of school to make matchboxes!

With Wang Hong’s fierceness, wouldn’t she snap his pipe easily?

He Aimin glanced at Li Dahe, quickly understood his intention, and cooperatively took the tobacco, casually saying, "Still, Brother, your craftsmanship is superb, look how well these tobaccos are cut... each one is distinct."

Wong Xiao watched the two of them, feeling like the whole world had betrayed him.

Wong Xiaokou’s eyes welled up with tears, looking at Lin Nianhe, he said: "Xiao Lin, come, sit down first, we have things to discuss."

The leader had spoken to this extent; Lin Nianhe wasn’t an unreasonable person, he responded with a sound and sat opposite him, then stared intently at him, as if to say, "You better give me a satisfactory explanation today or I’ll pluck your hair to match the commune leader’s."

Wong Xiao felt a chill on his scalp from being stared at, and with an awkward cough, he said: "Look, we think this way about the matter. The villagers let their children stay home to work, isn’t it because they are poor? Isn’t it the same if they go to school after earning some money? When the household is less burdened, the children can study without worries, right?"

Lin Nianhe directly asked: "How much money counts as having money? A thousand? Five thousand? Or ten thousand?"

Wong Xiao: "..."

"When there was no job available, by scrimping and saving, they could still afford to send children to school; how come now that there’s a way to make money, they should let the children drop out of school? Do you think this logic is reasonable?"

"..."

"If you don’t want to discuss with Uncle Feng, that’s fine, you’re the leader, I respect your thoughts." Lin Nianhe’s lips slightly curled, his smile somewhat chilling, "But since this job was arranged by me, I also need to make my bottom line clear – first, the part-time work cannot delay the farm work; second, this matter cannot cause any child to drop out of school; moreover, all working families’ school-aged children must attend school."

Wong Xiao furrowed his brows, racking his brains to interject.

But before he could speak, Lin Nianhe continued: "These two points are my bottom line. If there is any lapse in either... I can make contact for this job, but I can also mess it up. Doing good is not easy, but to do bad things is very simple."

Hearing this, Wong Xiao suddenly stood up: "That can’t happen! That just can’t!"

Lin Nianhe calmly stood up, still smiling, "If you don’t want the second factory in Lan County to end prematurely, then you better think of a solution and draft a plan soon. I have to go to class, I will leave first."

After Lin Nianhe spoke, he breezily waved his hand and walked away.

Wong Xiao stared at her departing figure, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word. He turned his head to Li Dahe, pointing in the direction Lin Nianhe had left, and incredulously asked: "Is this what you’ve indulged her into? She’s really not treating the leaders like cadres!"

Li Dahe glanced at him: "Stop it, I never pampered her, it was you who spoiled her by treating her like a princess."

He Aimin watched entranced, not averse to escalating things: "Yep, I can testify, Brother Old Li scolds her three times a day."

Wong Xiao’s hands started to tremble: "Then why is she so confrontational with me?"

Li Dahe: "You asked for it."

He Aimin: "You brought it on yourself."

Wong Xiaokou was so enraged he started jumping: "And you still say you didn’t spoil her! She speaks just like the two of you! No, no... Even if she has merits, I can’t let a little girl manipulate me. I must educate her, let her deeply realize what she should really be doing! I need to make her review and reflect!"