Chapter 431

Seeing her own scheme fail, Jia Zhangshi originally still wanted to shamelessly cause a scene, but after hearing Director Wang's words, she instantly extinguished the thought of making trouble.

Some things, you can raise a fuss over.

Some things, you simply cannot raise a fuss over.

Not hearing that Director Wang had already issued a stern warning, if you really angered Director Wang, the Jia Family would definitely be the first to be dealt with.

The county magistrate is no match for the local overseer.

Jia Zhangshi isn't stupid either; if she clashed with the Jiēdào over this, she'd surely gain nothing, and besides, the Jia Family is in the wrong on this matter itself.

Spend money to hire someone to go to the countryside in Bangeng's place.

And the person hired is a simpleton whose intellect isn't up to the task.

If anyone looked into it closely, the result would be two plus one, plain and simple.

She looked at Director Wang, her face full of dejection, yet her tone softened as well.

"Director Wang, this old woman thinks that since it's just one person going, whether it's our Bangeng or the simpleton going doesn't matter; what matters is that someone goes, isn't that different? If you don't say anything and we don't say anything, who would know about this? Our Bangeng can't endure that hardship!"

"Who said it's the same?" Director Wang, hearing Jia Zhangshi's tone, instantly knew she was a legal ignoramus, unaware of the gravity, just stubbornly pressing on; fearing she might really stir up trouble, he spelled out the consequences: "Bangeng bears the Jia surname, the simpleton the Zhang surname—how could they be one family? I've laid down my words: this just happened, there's still room to fix it. If the simpleton goes to the countryside in Bangeng's place, once it's investigated and confirmed, Bangeng's future work and marriage will all be affected."

Jia Zhangshi's face changed.

That serious?

Director Wang added: "I've laid down my words—Bangeng must go to Dongbei this year; by the time he arrives, I've already entered his name; you'd better hurry and pack your things; day after tomorrow morning at 8, assemble at the Jiēdào; if you still dare to play tricks, letting someone replace Bangeng for the countryside assignment, I'll directly bring people to seize you—not send Bangeng to the countryside, I'll directly send him to jail; you, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, will also have to join him; you're rebelling, even the higher‑ups' policies you dare to mess with at will."

Having said that.

He pulled out a slip of paper from his trouser pocket and slapped it onto the table.

On it, besides the handwriting,

there was also a big red seal.

This is the Jiēdào's notice for residents to sign up for countryside duty, split into top and bottom halves, with the Jiēdào's big red public seal stamped in the middle; when issuing it to residents, following the middle perforation, the notice is divided into two: the top half kept as a stub, the bottom half handed to the person going to the countryside.

With this notice,

Bangeng's countryside assignment became set in stone, not allowing anyone to change it.

This was a solution Director Wang had thought of before arriving: first register Bangeng for the countryside, then inform Jia Zhangshi; it's a case of mending the pen after losing the sheep, so if superiors come to investigate, he can explain it away, at least clearing his own responsibility.

Looking at the notice that decided Bangeng's fate, Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu didn't know what to say; after expending great effort, they also gave the simpleton several large white flour steamed buns.

In the end, they accomplished nothing.

They wasted several buns for nothing.

Director Wang looked at the dazed Jia Family mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law and kindly reminded them of a few things.

"I tell you, this matter admits of no changes; it must be carried out. Dongbei is cold; you now have only one day to help Bangeng prepare his things—don't count on mailing them, because even if you mail them, whether they'll reach Bangeng's hands is another story."

Bangeng must go; this is a result no one can change.

As for the simpleton substituting for Bangeng, fortunately the simpleton hadn't signed up, and Director Wang urgently filled in Bangeng's name, so the matter remains within controllable limits.

Director Wang also let it go.

After giving the Jia Family mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law a few reminders, he set down the envelope in his hand and stepped out of the Jia Family home.

After Director Wang left the room, Jia Zhangshi finally came to her senses—this was a huge matter, and for a moment her mind was in a tangle, not knowing what to do.

Qin Huairu also felt a deep sense of loss for a while.

The mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law eased up a bit.

Only then did they recall Director Wang's reminders.

Dongbei is cold.

We need to prepare things for Bangeng.

Money and grain coupons both needed to be prepared; Jia Zhangshi opened the envelope Director Wang had just left behind, saw inside twenty yuan and a train ticket to Dongbei, and also found five catties of Dongbei grain coupons in the envelope.

For food and drink during this period, the issue must be settled on the road; without grain coupons you can't buy food, and you certainly can't let those going to the countryside starve on the way to their destination.

So they thoughtfully prepared five catties of local grain coupons, which would solve the eating problem on the road; once they reached the destination, they could earn their own meals through their own effort.

Because these past few days, the Jia Family mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law have been wholeheartedly expecting to reap the benefits of the simpleton taking Bangeng's place in the countryside, they haven't made much preparation for the countryside assignment; moreover, the destination is the faraway Dongbei, and to have everything ready in a single day is truly no easy task.

Because these past few days, the Jia Family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have been wholeheartedly waiting to reap the benefits of the two simpletons sending Bangeng to the countryside, they haven't really prepared the things needed for going to the countryside, and yet the place they are going to is the faraway Dongbei; to have all these things ready within a day is truly not an easy task.

The Jia Family mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law split up to act.

One went to the Hou Yuan to find Liu Guangfu, the other went to the front yard to find Yan Jiekuang.

Their idea was the same.

They asked Liu Guangfu and Yan Jiekuang to help look after Bangeng.

Let Liu Guangfu and Yan Jiekuang help look after Bangeng.

Qin Huairu, putting on her usual act, portrayed a pitiful mother and spoke kindly to Yan Fugui: "San Daye, our Bangeng also has to go to the countryside this time; I know Jiekuang is a warm‑hearted kid who grew up with Bangeng, and I have no other motive—I just hope that when he's farming, he can help Aunt Qin look after Bangeng."

Qin Huairu, with her usual acting skills, portrayed a pitiful mother image, and speaking kindly to Yan Fugui said: "San Daye, our Bangeng also needs to go to the countryside this time; I know Jiekuang is a warm-hearted kid, grew up with Bangeng, no other meaning, just hoping that when Jiekuang is farming, he can help Qin Aunt look after Bangeng."

Yan Jiekuang hadn't expected Qin Huairu to come to his door with such a request.

For a moment he was somewhat stunned.

Going by their birth dates,

Bangeng is several months older than Yan Jiekuang.

A younger child looking after an older child.

It must be said.

Qin Huairu's face is also thick enough.

"Bangeng can't do anything; he'll surely not adapt once he's there—then you'll have to help him more, consider it a request from Aunt Qin."

"Bangeng can't do anything; he'll surely not adapt when he goes there. At that time, please help Bangeng a bit more—consider it a request from Qin Aunt."

Yan Fugui's son.

An innate calculating gene.

An idea immediately formed in his mind.

"We're both first-timers going to the countryside; why should I look after Bangeng?"

Qin Huairu also understood what Yan Jiekuang meant, took twenty dollars from her pocket, and handed it to him.

Also, considering the place was too far.

He simply resorted to the trick that a generous reward would surely attract a brave man.

Under normal circumstances.

At most, it would be only five dollars.

For the sake of the money, Yan Jiekuang reluctantly agreed to Qin Huairu's request.

Seeing Yan Jiekuang agree to look after Bangeng, Qin Huairu returned home full of hope, but then worry welled up again.

What about Bangeng's winter clothes? What should we do?