Chapter 177

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Having Wang Changgen contract the New Rural Construction project for Shanggou Village would indeed leave no one with objections; although Wang Changgen is stubborn and doesn't understand human relations, when it comes to doing engineering work, he is extremely principled and has a bottom line.

Back when he helped Zhang Zhongtian build a new building, because he miscalculated and undercounted the labor costs, quoting too low a price, he still didn't go back on his word, and in the end he gritted his teeth and built the house for Zhang Zhongtian according to the quoted price.

However, Wang Changgen hesitated a bit.

To tell the truth, New Rural Construction is a good thing, but it also easily invites trouble and controversy.

If it's built well, then naturally there's nothing to say.

If it's built poorly, and the villagers have complaints, then inevitably people will gossip and criticize.

And Wang Changgen cares deeply about his reputation; for things that would bring a bad reputation, he would rather not do them.

"Secretary Zhang, how about you let me consider for a few days? I can't make a decision all at once."

In the end, Wang Changgen said exactly that.

Zhang Zhongtian said:

"Fine, no problem. You take your time considering. Just give us an answer in three days."

Old Village Doctor Zhong Jianguo spoke up at this moment:

"Changgen, what's there to consider? Everyone trusts you, that's why they recommended you to take on this project. If you do it well, you'll not only earn money but also earn a reputation. Why would you still need to consider such a good thing?"

Liang Yuanchao chimed in:

"Right, right. You just take this project. Otherwise someone else might take it and possibly take kickbacks. We trust your character; you definitely wouldn't take kickbacks."

As Liang Yuanchao spoke, he glanced at Zhang Zhongtian from time to time.

This made Zhang Zhongtian very unhappy inside, but he couldn't say anything.

With so many people sitting here now, he couldn't afford to break face with Liang Yuanchao; otherwise the one losing face would still be him, the Village Committee Secretary.

Liang Yuanchao is now just an idle person without any official position; he won't bother haggling over so much with him!

"If it's done well, you can indeed earn a reputation, but what if it's done poorly?"

Wang Changgen posed a soul-searching question.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and for a time no one had anything to say.

Wang Changgen spoke again:

"There are too many uncertainties in many things. For example, road hardening — what if some villagers don't agree to harden the roads in front of and behind their own houses? How should that be handled? For example, installing tap water — where does the water come from? How should the pipes be routed? How should the money be collected from each household! All of these take effort and time!"

Wang Changgen isn't stupid; on the contrary, after the baptism of years, his guard is very strong inside now.

He doesn't have much book learning, but he understands a principle.

That is: good things generally don't actively fall onto us poor commoners' heads. If one day they really do actively fall onto our heads, then it's absolutely not a good thing — there's definitely a trap inside.

Seeing Wang Changgen's attitude, Zhang Zhongtian hurriedly stepped out to smooth things over:

"Alright, alright. Everyone, don't pressure Changgen anymore. Just as I said a moment ago, give Changgen three days to consider. If after three days Changgen clearly states he won't take this project, we'll find someone else to contract it!"

Everyone felt Zhang Zhongtian's words made some sense.

So they didn't say anything more.

Everyone finished the last cup of tea at Wang Changgen's home, then began leaving one after another, each returning to their own home.

After all the guests had left, Li Xiulan came to clear the teacups from the table and casually asked Wang Changgen:

"You really aren't taking this project? I think this is doing a good thing for our Shanggou Village!"

Wang Changgen smoked, his expression serious as he pondered for a long while, only then replying:

"I didn't say I'm not taking it. Isn't this me considering right now?"

"What other concerns do you have?" Li Xiulan asked.

Wang Changgen said:

"First, I'm afraid I won't make money. Erhai and Xiao Hua are both in high school, expenses aren't small. If Erhai really gets into university next year, that'll need even more money. For our own Shanggou Village's project, I'd be embarrassed to quote too high a price — after all, they're all family. But if I quote too low, there's no profit."

Although Wang Changgen didn't believe in his heart that Wang Erhai had the ability to get into university, what if he really did? This sum of money he had to keep in reserve. Even if Wang Erhai didn't use it, in a couple of years Wang Xiaohua would definitely need it.

"Second, doing it well could leave a good reputation, but if done poorly it would leave a stench for ten thousand years. This matter is clearly thankless — too many things to handle and communicate. Better to go help someone build a building; that's peace of mind. Helping someone build a building, you only need to communicate well with the owner and it's done."

Li Xiulan felt Wang Changgen's words had some merit.

So she said:

"Then it's up to you. If you don't want to take it, don't take it. Anyway, plenty of people come looking for us to build buildings now. We don't worry about having no projects to do."

Li Xiulan's words were actually also a reason. Now the two of them, husband and wife, don't worry about lacking projects, so naturally they pick and choose, selecting ones that are worry-free, easy to do, and profitable.

Like the village's New Rural Construction — a big pile of trivial matters needing communication — it really isn't their optimal choice.

As for why Wang Changgen was still hesitating, there was actually only one reason: he cares about his reputation. This is a chance for him to make a name for himself in the village.

If all the New Rural Construction projects were contracted by him, then when Shanggou Village is built beautifully, wouldn't the whole village remember his goodness for a lifetime?

That night, Wang Changgen couldn't sleep.

Tossing and turning, repeatedly thinking and weighing this matter.

The next morning, while he and Li Xiulan were eating breakfast, he suddenly said:

"I think we should still take this project. Even if we don't make money, we should still help the village do something. As for Erhai and Xiao Hua's tuition, we've actually saved quite a bit these years, right?"

Li Xiulan looked at Wang Changgen slightly stunned. She had thought Wang Changgen would refuse this project — after all, yesterday he listed all kinds of downsides to taking it.

Unexpectedly, after a night's consideration, he ultimately still chose to take on this project.

"This was your own decision. I'm not stopping you. Just don't blame me if you don't make money when the time comes."

Li Xiulan said as much.

That morning past nine o'clock, Wang Zhanggen personally made a trip to the Village Committee Office.

He went to tell Zhang Zhongtian that he had decided to take on the New Rural Construction project.

But before taking on this project, the accounts had to be settled clearly—how much money the Town Government could allocate, how much the road hardening budget was, how much the tap water budget was, how much the Cultural Room budget was, how much the manual labor budget was, every single account had to be settled clearly and distinctly.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhongtian's face immediately lit up with joy, and he said:

"Rest assured, the budget will definitely be fully provided! The country is now prosperous and strong, not lacking this bit of money; as long as it is reported upward, it will generally be approved!"

Then he said again:

"Tonight I will gather all the villagers at the Village Committee Office, hold a meeting together, explain this matter clearly, and then discuss the budget together, so that work can begin!"