Chapter 1011

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

The new house fire ceremony proceeded as scheduled, and fortunately no mishaps occurred.

The only flaw was that fewer people came than Wang Zhanggen had anticipated.

Thirty-five tables were set for noon, but only twenty-eight were filled, not even reaching thirty.

However, this is normal; when counting heads, you overestimate rather than underestimate.

Wang Zhanggen had included many people who work away from home in the count.

But nowadays is different from when he used to go work away.

In the past when he went to work away, many people would quit their factory jobs a month in advance to return home for the New Year.

Now young people working away generally only return on the twenty-ninth or even the thirtieth of the twelfth lunar month.

Some simply don't return at all.

Traditional family values are gradually disintegrating with the development of the times.

The New Year has lost its flavor, and the Mid-Autumn Festival has become even more optional.

Although fewer people came than anticipated, Li Xiulan was still very happy.

Because her three sons had all returned.

For her, that was the most important thing.

As for whether others come to eat the banquet, that is their business.

Wang Zhanggen, however, felt he couldn't save face.

After finishing the noon meal, he couldn't help but nag Li Xiulan:

"I didn't expect so many people to not give me, Wang Zhanggen, face; in the future when they come to me for favors, don't expect me to lift a finger to help!"

Li Xiulan was at a loss whether to cry or laugh at this:

"People working away can't make it back, isn't that perfectly normal? They never said they'd definitely come."

Wang Zhanggen merely gave a cold hmph:

"Hmph, I say it's just not giving me face! Later I'll tell Erhai not to help them with their affairs!"

"Petty and narrow-minded!" Li Xiulan retorted coldly: "You'd better not go stirring up trouble for Erhai; being a village cadre isn't easy, he hasn't even been confirmed in the post yet! He could be dismissed at any time!"

Wang Zhanggen smoked, his face gloomy.

Yet he had to admit Li Xiulan's words had some reason.

"Look at it more openly; fewer people came, so we can save money on several tables of food, what's there to be unhappy about?"

Li Xiulan thus persuaded Wang Zhanggen's narrow heart.

This was also the truth; according to the customs here in Shanggou Village, hosting a banquet is purely a money-losing business.

Because people who come to eat the banquet, generally each family only gives one red envelope, and a red envelope is only fifty or a hundred yuan; those giving two hundred or more basically don't exist.

Everyone comes to attend your banquet just to give you face.

The customs here are not like the North; wanting to amass wealth through banquets is impossible.

Wang Zhanggen could say nothing more, only smoke gloomily.

Li Xiulan spoke again:

"You go tell the flowing water banquet chef not to set so many tables for the evening; I reckon the evening meal will have even fewer people than noon, many people who ate lunch won't come again for dinner."

Wang Zhanggen was even more at a loss for words.

And at this time, on the other side.

Wang Erhai took advantage of this banquet to privately find the bald-headed man, pulling him to a corner to talk.

"Uncle Baldy, I have something to tell you."

The bald-headed man smiled broadly:

"What is it, Erhai?"

Wang Erhai said:

"Your family had best stop playing the Mark Six lottery; I've recently received word that a crackdown is about to start from above; illegally operating a gambling den and gathering crowds to gamble is a major crime, starting at ten years; you'd better be careful."

The bald-headed man was stunned, his face full of surprise:

"For real or fake?"

Wang Erhai chuckled:

"If you don't believe me, you can treat it as if I never said it, but if something happens then, don't blame me for not warning you."

In fact Wang Erhai was just bluffing him; there was absolutely no signal of a crackdown from above.

The reason Wang Erhai did this was to make the villagers quiet down for a period, stop playing the Mark Six lottery, and then wait until after spring begins next year to mobilize them to come help him do farm work.

As long as they have work to do, and moreover have no place to buy the Mark Six lottery, over time they should be able to kick this bad habit.

The bald-headed man half-believed, half-doubted, and asked:

"What specific time will the crackdown start from above?"

Wang Erhai, however, said:

"That I'm not clear on; maybe half a month later, maybe a month later, or maybe half a year later; this kind of confidential matter, a small fry like me can't find out, I can only know the general idea."

Wang Erhai added:

"Your gambling den doesn't earn that much money; staking it against a ten-year prison sentence, that's just not worth it."

However, the bald man said:

"How come I can't earn much money? I've already bought two houses in the County Town!"

Wang Erhai, hearing this, was immediately surprised in his heart.

Unexpectedly, a small Village Casino could actually earn money like this!

At the same time, his determination to rectify the Village Casino gambling atmosphere also became even greater.

Now him saying these things to the bald man counts as courtesy before force.

After all, he's from the Neighboring Village; bow your head and you don't see him, look up and you do. It's not good to make things too stiff right away.

If the bald man still continues to do evil.

Then he can only go report him anonymously.

Anyway, the Liucun thing absolutely cannot harm Shanggou Village's villagers again.

Even more cannot harm his Wang Erhai's birth father!

"Hehe, then you've earned about enough too, stop now."

Wang Erhai laughed dryly and persuaded the bald man.

The bald man then said:

"Then in two days I'll close the Gambling Den, only open Liucun."

Wang Erhai was choked by his words, completely didn't expect the bald man to have this kind of brain circuit.

"What you most shouldn't play is Liucun!"

Wang Erhai hurriedly warned:

"Know why?"

"Why?" The bald man didn't understand.

"Because what the higher-ups are cracking down on is precisely Township Liucun. How can you be so insatiably greedy? You've earned enough, don't play anymore!"

The bald man sighed:

"Like this, ah. Then I'll see what time, stop Liucun then……"

Although the bald man was unwilling in his heart, in the end he still compromised.

He didn't want to go into Prison and squat for ten or eight years.

After all, he's already over fifty years old.

If he goes in and squats for ten or eight years, he might even die in Prison!

Wang Erhai heard the bald man's reply, only then revealed a satisfied expression.

This was an idea he thought for a long time before thinking out.

Looks like this idea still has a bit of effect.

At least counts as temporarily bluffing the bald man.

"Starting tomorrow you stop both the Gambling Den and Liucun, this kind of matter, better early than late."

Wang Erhai continued to persuade.

However, the bald man said:

"This won't do. Right now it's almost Spring Festival. Many people will come to my place to play a couple hands. Let's talk after Spring Festival!"

Wang Erhai was speechless.

This bald man is truly insatiably greedy.

But have to admit, his words have a bit of principle.

During Spring Festival is precisely when the gambling atmosphere in the township is at its peak.

Countless people who went out to work return, all can't help but find a place to play a few hands.

Some Dou Niu, some San Gong, some Zha Jin Hua.

Liucun is also a by-the-way play thing.

Wang Erhai also can't push the bald man too hard, so he made a concession compromise:

"Then okay. After you pass Spring Festival, you must stop the Gambling Den. Cannot gather crowds to gamble, also cannot open Liucun. Latest before Yuanxiao Festival Festival Festival opens, must have this matter handled!"

The bald man nodded in response:

"Okay, okay. Before Yuanxiao Festival Festival Festival, I'll definitely close the Gambling Den!"