Like many older generation people, the Old Secretary always holds the belief of "suffer yourself first," and for themselves, they are always reluctant to spend even a penny.
They always say, "I’m not like you youngsters, I don’t need to eat such good food."
They seem to have forgotten that when they were kids, they didn’t get to eat anything good either.
"Old Secretary, there’s only one pot at home, let’s not bother making two meals. Besides, if you come with us but don’t eat properly, how will we have the face to say we’re here to help the villagers in the future?"
"Yes, Old Secretary, yesterday we ate quite a lot at your house, now you’re here with us but won’t eat a thing, is it to imply that if we run out of food, we shouldn’t go to your house?"
Lin Nianhe and Wang Shumei kept pressing until the Old Secretary’s refusal was swallowed back down, making him pick up the chopsticks.
Wen Lan made noodles for everyone, with poached eggs, greens, and spicy oil.
After walking for so long, only now having lunch, everyone was so hungry they couldn’t lift their heads while eating.
Once full, a few took a break and then directly headed to the commune to find the well-digging team.
"Oh my, Old Bi, you’re here again."
The people here are familiar with the Old Secretary because every time he comes to the commune, he always wanders in here.
A young official, looking about in his twenties, glanced at the Old Secretary without a bit of respect for the elder, but instead with some mockery: "Did you save enough money this time?"
The Old Secretary twitched his mouth, turned around and looked at Lin Nianhe.
Lin Nianhe smiled at him and said, "Old Secretary, we don’t understand these things, you negotiate, and we’ll pay whatever the final cost is."
She’s not afraid of being ripped off—these are all clearly priced, there’s no such possibility.
With Lin Nianhe’s affirmative reply, the Old Secretary said to the young official, "We must dig this time. Not just our Red Flag Team, but all teams without wells in the commune must dig."
While speaking, his eyes involuntarily reddened.
He always thought he’d never see a well in the team during his lifetime!
The young official was stunned for a moment, then his expression suddenly changed: "Old Bi, you’ve struck it rich."
He looked at the Old Secretary sinisterly, like staring at prey.
At this time, it wasn’t a pleasant blessing or admiration.
The Old Secretary waved his hands repeatedly: "Don’t speak nonsense, how can a farmer like me be rich, it’s these young comrades who want to help us make a well..."
The young official looked over at Lin Nianhe and the others.
To be precise, he was only looking at the three girls, completely ignoring Su Yuncheng and Sie Yufei.
The three girls like cleanliness, changed clothes before coming. Although none wore skirts or little leather shoes, their clothes were better cut than those in the Cooperative Society, and looked more fitting.
"Eh?" He blatantly and greedily eyed the girls, "Where are you young ladies from?"
The Old Secretary reacted sharply, charged forward, blocking Lin Nianhe and the three, glaring and shouting, "Liu Danian! Stop peeking, these are comrades from Beijing!"
"Get lost," Liu Danian casually pushed the Old Secretary aside, combed his slicked-back hair, whistled at Lin Nianhe, "Young lady, do you know how much it costs to make a well? You look quite young, where’d the money come from? Might it be shady dealings?"
Su Yuncheng’s gaze turned cold, stepped forward intending to restrain Liu Danian.
However, Lin Nianhe stopped him.
Her lips slightly curled, looking at Liu Danian, she said, "Oh? Do you want to lock us up?"
"That might be necessary. If you can’t explain clearly, we’ll have to lock you up for a proper investigation," Liu Danian swaggered arrogantly, "Why don’t you come with me to the back, and we can slowly..."
Such words practically guaranteed he’d get beaten.
Lin Nianhe silently put down her hand, stopped trying, couldn’t stop it.
Su Yuncheng stepped forward, while Liu Danian hadn’t seen his face clearly, his neck was grabbed, followed by a punch to his nose.
Liu Danian only felt countless stars twinkle before his eyes, his nose turned sour, and blood gushed out.
Su Yuncheng frowned, stepped back half a step, avoiding the splattered nose blood.
Liu Danian clutched his nose, still cursing: "Are you all blind! Arrest them! Damn it, don’t mention three thousand, if you don’t hand over those five thousand yuan, I’ll make sure you never dig a well in your life!"
Lin Nianhe’s gaze slightly darkened, suddenly asked, "How much does it cost to dig a well?"
Liu Danian, face full of blood, even curled a snarl at the corner of his mouth: "It costs whatever I say!"
Lin Nianhe: "Got it, beat him."
She finished speaking, grabbed a glass water cup from the table, and directly threw it at Liu Danian’s head.
"Tricking farmers’ money, shameless?" Sie Yufei roared in anger, swung up a stool, and charged.
He might have been suppressing his anger for too long lately, finally having a rightful opportunity to fight, how could he miss it?
Beside him, Wen Lan was silent but fierce, hammering everyone who charged at her to arrest her.
Feng Wei wasn’t around, no one delayed Sister Lan’s performance; she was more than happy.
Su Yuncheng didn’t lay hands on the others, he...he focused solely on bashing Liu Danian.
With zero combat ability, Sister Shumei silently stood by the Old Secretary, trying to minimize her presence.
Wang Shumei was also bewildered.
Forget Su Yuncheng and Wen Lan, but those two who just moments ago looked dead tired, barely able to lift their legs?
How come the moment there’s a fight, they’re so proactive?
Sister Shumei didn’t understand but was greatly shocked.
The Old Secretary was equally bewildered, waving his hands, trying to separate them.
He couldn’t figure it out either, how could they just fight like that? What kind of people are these youngsters?
Don’t they understand the principle that strong dragons don’t suppress snakes in their domain?
If you want to handle things at the commune, don’t you have to listen to whatever they say?
The chaos in the room didn’t last long.
This was just an office, with only seven or eight officials present, faced against overwhelming odds, what’s the point of a small numerical advantage?
"What’s going on here?"
"What’s everyone doing!"
"Are you attempting a rebellion!"
A fat guy squeezed in from outside, sweating profusely, looking like walking these few steps nearly exhausted him.
Seeing the havoc in the office and Liu Danian lying on the ground screaming, his fat face trembled, and he directly rushed over: "Son? Are you alright, son?"
Liu Danian wailed like he’d lost his father, opened his mouth to speak, yet spat out two bloody teeth.