Chapter 49: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 49: Shanggou Village 49

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

"Village Secretary, I want to talk to you about something..."

Niu Chunsheng came to the Village Committee Office and found Liang Yuanchao.

"Chunsheng, what's the matter?"

Liang Yuanchao's attitude toward Niu Chunsheng was still very good, after all, Niu Chunsheng was the Women's Director sent down from the town, and she had also opened a convenience store at the village entrance.

"I heard Sister-in-law Xiulan say that those ten-plus mu of land at Shanbei, she reclaimed it less than a year ago, only planted cassava once, and now you've taken the land back. Isn't that too unkind? After all, she put in hard work reclaiming it; no matter what, you should let her plant for a few more years..."

Niu Chunsheng used a very polite tone and tactfully put forward his opinion.

Liang Yuanchao, however, said:

"I gave her three hundred yuan for reclamation expenses, which is treating her fairly, and she personally signed the Relocation Agreement."

Niu Chunsheng then said:

"But Sister-in-law Xiulan says you deceived her. You originally said every household would get their land back, but actually that land belongs to the Village Collective."

Liang Yuanchao felt guilty in his heart and smiled bitterly:

"If I didn't say that, how could she possibly agree to return it? Chunsheng, I know you care about Li Xiulan. You two used to run a store together, and I also know that deceiving Li Xiulan was wrong. But isn't this something I had no choice but to do? You're not unaware of the Village Committee's financial situation—it's been running a deficit for a long time. If I don't create some revenue, many things in the village can't be maintained."

Niu Chunsheng was somewhat speechless:

"I know the Village Committee is in financial difficulty, but you can't bully Sister-in-law Xiulan like that. She still has three sons to raise. She was already dirt poor. Village Secretary, doing this is really unkind."

Liang Yuanchao shamelessly persisted:

"Even if it's unkind, there's no choice. Otherwise, think of a way to help me solve the Village Committee's financial problem."

Niu Chunsheng fell silent and said nothing.

The Village Committee's financial problem—no matter how much money, it was hard to fill that hole. How could he possibly solve it?

Liang Yuanchao said again at this time:

"Isn't your convenience store making a lot of money? Next year the rent might increase a bit. As the Women's Director of Shanggou Village, you should also make some contributions to Shanggou Village."

Niu Chunsheng was even more speechless:

"Village Secretary, we're talking about Sister-in-law Xiulan's matter. How did it get to my convenience store?"

Liang Yuanchao turned his back to smoke:

"Don't meddle in this matter. It's already a done deal. That piece of land at Shanbei has been contracted to Liu Datian, and the contract is signed. You can't possibly have the Village Committee breach the contract, can you?"

Although Niu Chunsheng argued his case, in the end he still could not change the settled situation.

The Village Committee had already signed a contracting contract with Liu Datian. It was indeed impossible to give that piece of land back to Li Xiulan.

Just the penalty for breach of contract alone was not something the Village Committee could afford.

In the end, Niu Chunsheng could only leave with his head bowed and spirits low.

He was very worried about Li Xiulan's future, fearing that without those ten mu of land she wouldn't be able to live. After all, raising three children was not easy.

But actually, Niu Chunsheng's worry was completely unnecessary.

Li Xiulan could take back the mulberry field she had previously given to others and raise silkworms again. Although raising silkworms was harder than planting cassava, it hadn't reached the point where she couldn't make a living. Besides, Li Xiulan still had her husband Wang Zhanggen. Actually, Niu Chunsheng had no need to meddle at all. But the hidden affection in his heart for Li Xiulan made him unable to bear seeing her suffer, and he always wanted to lend Li Xiulan a hand.

He returned to the Village Entrance Convenience Store, looking thoughtful and absent-minded.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Xiaofang saw he was in a bad state and came over to ask with concern.

"Nothing..." Niu Chunsheng had never told Lin Xiaofang about the special relationship between him and Li Xiulan. He had always told Lin Xiaofang that Li Xiulan was just his good friend, and Lin Xiaofang had never suspected anything. After all, Li Xiulan was nearly ten years older than Niu Chunsheng and was already married with three children.

"Xiao Fang, how about we open a store in town..."

Niu Chunsheng suddenly made such a suggestion to Lin Xiaofang.

"When I asked you to open a store in town before, weren't you unwilling?"

Lin Xiaofang was stunned. She felt Niu Chunsheng was acting strange today.

"I was unwilling before because there was no one to take over this convenience store..." Niu Chunsheng told Lin Xiaofang his plan: "We open a store in town, make the business bigger and stronger. As for this convenience store in Shanggou Village, transfer it to Sister-in-law Xiulan to run. What do you think?"

Lin Xiaofang had actually been bored staying in Shanggou Village for a long time. This little village in the Mountain Pass had no entertainment activities at all. If it weren't because she loved Niu Chunsheng, she wouldn't have come here to help watch the store.

"But, aren't you the Women's Director of Shanggou Village? If you're not in the village, what about this job?"

Lin Xiaofang thought of Niu Chunsheng everywhere and was very considerate and thoughtful.

Niu Chunsheng said:

"I'll have the town leaders transfer me back to town. If I can't be transferred back, I'll just quit. Anyway, it's just a Liaison Officer position, earning only a few dozen yuan a month, and there's no official establishment."

Lin Xiaofang hugged Niu Chunsheng with a smile:

"I support whatever decision you make. Then let's go open a store in town!"

After getting Lin Xiaofang's support, Niu Chunsheng was very happy. He went to find Li Xiulan again that same day.

"Sister-in-law Xiulan, that cassava field at Shanbei probably can't be gotten back. The Village Committee has already contracted that piece of land out. But don't be sad. Xiao Fang and I plan to open a store in town. We want to transfer the convenience store at the village entrance to you to run. In the future, you can run the convenience store while taking care of the children. This is much easier than planting cassava and raising silkworms."

Li Xiulan's face was full of surprise:

"How could I bear to take it? You two are running the store well. Why transfer it to me?"

Niu Chunsheng, however, laughed brightly:

"What's there to bear? Doing business outside now earns more than running a store in the village. Xiao Fang also feels guarding this store in the village is boring. We're both still young. Let's go out and give it a try now. Maybe we can strike it rich!"

Hearing this, Li Xiulan couldn't help but feel moved.

She knew Niu Chunsheng decided to transfer the store to her because he wanted to help her.

"Chunsheng, you're truly a good person……"

Li Xiulan's eyes were already brimming with tears; she stepped forward, wanting very much to embrace Niu Chunsheng and thank him for the help he provided, but the moment she thought of the fact that Niu Chunsheng now already had a partner, she ultimately still restrained the impulse in her inner heart.

Niu Chunsheng smiled simply:

"Sister-in-law Xiulan, what relationship do we have? Don't say polite words to me…… The convenience store at the village entrance pays one thousand yuan in rent to the village committee every year; this year's I've already paid in advance, you're also clear on this. You make up this year's rent to me, settle the stocked goods at the restocking price, and this shop counts as transferred to you. I won't collect a transfer fee from you. Future restocking and rent payments will all be handled by you yourself…… Turning back, I'll organize a restocking list for you — where to restock each item, what the restocking price is, I'll write it all down for you, so you won't be deceived when you go to restock."

Niu Chunsheng very thoughtfully arranged every single matter for Li Xiulan……