Chapter 74: Secretary Qi Comes to Ask for Benefits

When Qi Baoguo came to the door, Lu Feng thought it was about the Ox Cart, so he stepped forward to explain.

"Secretary Qi, the Ox Cart will be delivered later this evening; don't worry, there are Railway Police Comrades escorting it, the ox won't have any trouble."

The Big Team's only working ox does all the spring plowing and tilling; even if the members go hungry, they cannot let this ox starve.

Fearing that a long walk would further tire his younger brother, yesterday Lu Feng gave Qi Baoguo half a jin of tobacco leaves and begged for a long time before finally pulling the Ox Cart away from the Big Team.

As a result, he abandoned the Ox Cart halfway, fearing that Qi Baoguo's proactive visit this time was to bring accusations.

Who would have thought Qi Baoguo didn't take it seriously: "It's nothing, it's nothing. Just now Li Juzhang of the Railway Bureau told me that Railway Bureau Comrades will bring it back. How could I not be at ease? I'm not here to ask you for the Ox Cart."

Lu Feng let out a sigh of relief, and at the same time a question arose in his mind: what did Qi Baoguo come for?

Qi Baoguo first gave a quick glance, and soon among the crowd identified who was the one from Capital City.

Lu Cheng, dressed in a blue Cotton‑padded Jacket with no patches at all, and with a tall, upright stature, his spirit and vigor were clearly different from those pale, gaunt members.

Finally his gaze fell on a pile of Capital City specialties on the table, and he couldn't help but inhale; those items, even a Big Team Secretary had never tasted.

Who would have thought Yan Lao Han was so fortunate.

A few years ago, when Lu Zhiqing married into Yan Lao Han's family, the people in the Big Team looked down on him, thinking that as an Educated Youth he was only enduring hardship and came to marry in just to eat free meals.

Until today, when Lu Cheng came to visit relatives, the members finally understood that, after all, the family wasn't unable to eat, but didn't want to add a burden to the household.

At the doorway there were still many onlooking members chattering, and Qi Baoguo drove them all away.

"Go home, go home, what are you all looking at here? They're not monkeys; pointing and poking like that is just nonsense."

After everyone dispersed, Qi Baoguo forced a laugh and said: "Yan Lao Han, you have guests at home and didn't even give a heads‑up; it makes our Big Team look negligent, doesn't it?"

Yan Lao Han also forced a laugh: "Our own relatives, we shouldn't be so distant; we don't want to startle Secretary Qi."

His two married elder daughters' sons‑in‑law usually come, and they've never seen Qi Baoguo step in and say a word; this is only the brother of the third son‑in‑law.

To put it bluntly, it still depends on who comes, but today Lu Cheng really gave Yan Lao Han's family face; it felt like the wrinkles on his face all unfolded.

"What you said is wrong; anyone who comes to our Big Team is a guest," Qi Baoguo made small talk, pulled out a smoking pipe but didn't light it, instead staring at the Daqianmen cigarettes on the table.

"Yan Lao Han, you've become prosperous; you're already smoking premium cigarettes with filters. I advise you not to smoke, otherwise you'll spoil your mouth and later won't be able to smoke our local tobacco pipe. Of course, I'm certainly different."

The meaning was already clear: just give it to me.

Qi Baoguo's character was of course clear to Yan Lao Han; this man had a belly full of bad ideas, and although he could tell, he didn't press the matter.

This was Lu Cheng's filial offering to the old man; if he were to pass it on to someone else, what would that look like?

"Secretary Qi, we peasants really aren't used to this roll‑your‑own cigarette; you take mine, the tobacco leaves we just harvested this year," Yan Lao Han handed over the tobacco pouch, letting Qi Baoguo pick at will.

Being choked by Yan Lao Han, Qi Baoguo immediately shook his head.

"Ah, you Yan Lao Han really are hopeless; I was even thinking of, in a couple of years, giving your Lu Zhiqing a team leader position."

That remark struck Yan Lao Han's weak spot; his son‑in‑law was certainly not like the rumors in the Big Team that said he feared hard work and wanted free meals, which is why he married into Yan Lao Han's family.

It was entirely because his own daughter respected an educated man; Lu Feng was honest and kind, and this genuine reciprocity led the two children to be united in marriage.

This also fit Yan Lao Han's wishes; he was worried that he only had three daughters, the first two already married, and if the youngest also married, he would truly become a solitary old man.

Having a son‑in‑law who moves in is not bad; the key is that after Lu Feng moved into the house from the Youth Commune, he was extremely diligent, and the more he saw him, the more he liked him.

He also knew Lu Feng had knowledge and ability; being an ordinary member was a waste of talent, and he had always wanted to make his son‑in‑law a team leader.

Unfortunately, each time Qi Baoguo rejected it, citing Lu Feng as an outsider.

Now hearing that Qi Baoguo finally relented, Yan Lao Han was instantly excited.

If these cigarettes could be exchanged for a team leader, that would still be worthwhile; at least the son‑in‑law wouldn't have to do hard labor anymore.

Everyone in the Big Team knew that Qi Baoguo loved to take advantage; even giving him one or two boxes of cigarettes probably wouldn't satisfy his appetite.

If you give, you must give it all.

He had no choice but to glance at Lu Cheng; after all, this was bought by Lu Cheng, so he had to ask his opinion.

Pulling Lu Cheng aside, Yan Lao Han whispered: "Lu Cheng, as you saw, Secretary Qi came this time just to reap some benefits. That's just his nature; he's the Big Team Secretary, and we simple folk can't do anything."

The elder thought: if he wants these cigarettes, just give them to him, then later tally the cost, and when the grain is sold next year, he'll find a way to repay you.

Normally these cigarettes, without a cigarette voucher, can't even be bought.

In order for his son‑in‑law to become a team leader, he had to ask Lu Cheng, and he also believed that Lu Cheng was especially kind to his elder brother and wouldn't be stingy with these cigarettes.

But he was truly mistaken; Lu Cheng simply didn't want to give.

A mere production team leader, Lu Cheng really didn't care about it, and Qi Baoguo had even said they'd arrange it in a couple of years.

This remark was like a fart; in two years, the daylilies will have gone cold.

"Elder, I understand your feelings; you treat my elder brother as if he were your own son. Here, I, on behalf of my parents, thank you for your care."

"However, you just said that Secretary Qi is purely after benefits; if you give him a few packs of cigarettes today to become a team leader, tomorrow others could give a few bottles of wine and push my brother's team leader aside."

Those words left Yan Lao Han speechless.

Who would have thought that the seemingly youthful Lu Cheng could see human nature so clearly.

Seeing Yan Lao Han silent, Lu Cheng patted his hand: "Elder, these cigarettes are my filial respect to you, thank you and your family for caring for my elder brother; keep them for yourself."

"As for my elder brother, I know he is very capable; a single team leader is truly not enough for him to showcase his abilities."

Yan Lao Han, after all, was in the same Big Team as Qi Baoguo, and fearing offense, some things were inconvenient to state outright, but Lu Cheng had no intention of ignoring Qi Baoguo.

Lu Cheng also recalled that in his brother's previous letter, this Secretary Qi was nothing at all; the year the Educated Youth returned to the city, he used his slight authority to block people's household registrations, causing trouble for two female Educated Youth.

And he had also been falsifying the accounts of the Big Team's enterprises; only after a few years of reforms was this discovered, reported, and the Commune investigated.

Later my brother had the chance and was recommended to become village head.

Lu Cheng casually opened a pack of special‑supply cigarettes, then walked over, and Qi Baoguo instinctively reached out to take them.

Who would have thought Lu Cheng only took out a cigarette, put it in his own mouth, and said, "Secretary Qi, can I have a light!"