At the brigade leader’s home, Ma Jiuxiang was also nagging, "Wenchang, that Chu Zhiqing really is capable; she actually saved the Gong Family’s most promising third daughter-in-law. The matter of the house seems even more hopeless now. What are we going to do?"
Xu Wenchang, of course, had heard about the afternoon’s events. "What’s your hurry? So what if the Gong Family is protecting her?"
Seeing him still leisurely smoking, Ma Jiuxiang suddenly became furious. "You know how much Xingwang values the Wu Family’s girl. Without a house, this marriage will just keep getting postponed. How can I not be anxious?"
Xu Wenchang let out several rings of smoke. "Alright, I have a handle on this. Don’t worry, it won’t delay our son’s marriage."
Ma Jiuxiang leaned in and asked softly, "Dear, have you thought of something?"
A sneer flashed across Xu Wenchang’s face. "We’ve been back for several days, and that Chu Zhiqing still hasn’t come to pay respects. Here on our turf in Songling Village, dealing with someone is just a matter of a word from us."
Hearing this, Ma Jiuxiang gave her husband a big thumbs up. "You’re right, dear. That Chu Zhiqing is clueless; she doesn’t even understand who’s really in charge in the village."
Xu Wenchang agreed, "Exactly. I arranged for her to substitute at the village clinic, and I can just as easily assign her to something else. Since she’s so unobservant, she won’t get what she wants."
Then, as if struck by a thought, he added, "Alright, you don’t need to concern yourself with this anymore. Rest assured, it won’t delay Xingwang’s need for the house." Read complete version only at Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
After speaking, he got up and walked outside.
「At the brigade office」
The accountant Lu Dahai stopped his abacus. "This is good for our village. If necessary, let’s hold a village-wide meeting tomorrow and hear everyone’s opinions."
The Branch Secretary Yang Gengtian massaged his temples. "I just fear that once everyone hears they have to pay, they’ll start making a fuss again."
Lu Dahai put down the pen in his hand. "Brigade Leader, I think your suggestion for the village to cover this expense is unrealistic. We hardly have any money in our accounts. How would we cover the shortfall? Not to mention, we’re only getting this opportunity because of the Agricultural Reclamation Group. If we can’t pay enough, the power bureau definitely won’t extend us credit."
As they were talking, they saw Xu Wenchang walk in. "You’re all here?"
When Lu Dahai saw Xu Wenchang arrive, an enigmatic look flashed in his eyes. "We’re discussing the matter of getting electricity."
Xu Wenchang pulled out a chair and sat down. "I’m here for that very matter too."
The accountant, knowing what Xu Wenchang was about to say, spoke first, "The current funds in the village account can’t cover the connection fees for each household. Brigade Leader, I’m afraid the plan you’re proposing won’t work."
Both he and the Branch Secretary were well aware of Xu Wenchang’s underlying scheme.
Because of issues with the leadership in the neighboring Xiahe Village, the commune mandated that all villages hold new elections for village officials after the autumn harvest. Naturally, Xu Wenchang wanted everyone to remember his good deed.
However, the village’s funds were already allocated. The plan was to buy a few more mules for the village later on, to make the autumn harvest easier for everyone.
Hearing this, Xu Wenchang was quite displeased. "One must be adaptable. If we miss this opportunity for electricity, who knows how long we’ll have to wait for the next one? You all need to consider this carefully."
The Branch Secretary detected the threat in his words and was shocked by his shamelessness. "This isn’t a matter of being flexible or not; it’s a matter of fairness. The government is responsible for the main line, but the connection costs from the main line to individual households are to be borne by the commune members themselves. Never mind that our village accounts have very little money and simply can’t afford it. Even if we had the money, every household is a different distance from the main line, and each home has a different number of rooms. How could you guarantee that none of the commune members would complain when the time comes?"