Chapter 875

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Wang Changgen and Li Xiulan both supported Wang Erhai becoming a Temporary Village Cadre, but Wang Erhai himself was still hesitating.

At this moment Wang Changgen spoke again:

"If you become a village cadre, even going on blind dates will be more presentable. If you do masonry work, and someone asks your occupation, it might be hopeless. But as a village cadre, it's different — you're an official, big or small."

Li Xiulan chimed in agreement:

"Right, right, right, just like a kindergarten teacher — that counts as a teacher too! Erhai, if you become a village cadre, it really will help with blind dates!"

Wang Erhai was speechless, completely unexpected that his parents' hope for him to become a village cadre stemmed neither from life planning for him nor from consideration of immediate benefits, but purely because when going on blind dates he could have a respectable, proper occupation to show.

But he didn't blame his parents; he had long known exactly what his parents' level of understanding was like after a lifetime.

Expecting them to give some practically useful advice or opinions was simply harder than climbing to heaven.

So Wang Erhai decided to go ask his Third Brother instead.

Third Brother had a high education level, broad experience, and strong ability — he would definitely be able to give substantive advice.

So that very evening, Wang Erhai dialed Wang Xiaohua's phone.

"Second Brother, what's up?"

Wang Xiaohua's voice came from the other end of the phone.

When he answered this call, he had just come out of the library and was on his way back to the dormitory.

"Actually it's nothing, just wanted to ask you a question."

"What question?"

"What do you think about me becoming a village cadre in Shanggou Village?"

Wang Erhai asked this question, and Wang Xiaohua was stunned, clearly somewhat surprised.

"Second Brother, are you planning to return to the village to develop?"

Wang Xiaohua didn't answer immediately.

Instead he countered with a question of his own.

Wang Erhai laughed and answered honestly:

"Right now I'm in the village doing masonry with Uncle Hongwei and them. I also participated in the renovation of our family's new building. Zhang Zhongtian got cancer, and the Town leaders want to select a Temporary Village Cadre to replace him handling village affairs."

Wang Xiaohua asked again:

"How come you suddenly thought of going back to the village to do masonry?"

Wang Erhai said:

"Didn't the County Town branch company close? I thought I'd return to my rural hometown to settle down and reflect on all the mistakes I've made in the past. Back in the village with nothing to do, I went to do masonry to pass the time."

"I see..."

Wang Xiaohua nodded, then analyzed: "Meaning you actually don't plan to develop in the countryside long-term, right?"

Wang Erhai nodded:

"Indeed I haven't considered long-term development. Thinking of going back to start a new venture after some time."

Wang Xiaohua asked again:

"Do you have any entrepreneurial plans? Something specific."

Wang Erhai gave a dry laugh:

"Not yet. Just have the idea, that's all."

Wang Xiaohua nodded, then said:

"Second Brother, if you had a concrete and clear entrepreneurial plan, I'd definitely advise against you becoming a village cadre. Truth is, being a village cadre is no less difficult than entrepreneurship, especially now when most people in the countryside are middle-aged or elderly. Communicating with them requires enormous patience, and not everyone has that kind of patience."

Wang Erhai nodded in agreement:

"Indeed, communicating with the elderly is too hard. Never mind communicating with outsiders' elderly — even communicating with our own parents is very hard. This is probably what they call the generation gap."

At this point Wang Xiaohua shifted gears:

"However, right now you only have the idea of entrepreneurship, no concrete plan. If you rush into entrepreneurship, the probability of success is likely low. You can't expect Big Brother to bail you out and plug the holes every time a problem arises in your career, can you?"

Wang Erhai nodded again, deeply agreeing.

Wang Xiaohua continued:

"So I suggest you still take this village cadre position. Treat it as a kind of training. Don't look down on village cadres. Though a village cadre is a petty official — a sesame-and-mung-bean minor post — it really tests ability. This experience will definitely help your future entrepreneurship."

Wang Erhai nodded repeatedly, but also had worries:

"But Zhang Zhongtian obviously wants his son Zhang Zhiqiang to replace his position. If I snatch his son's position, will he hold it against me?"

Wang Xiaohua laughed:

"What are you afraid of? A village cadre isn't a hereditary iron-clad post. As long as the Town Government leaders recommend you, even if Zhang Zhongtian harbors resentment in his heart, he won't dare vent it. Besides, he has cancer — he can barely save himself. How could he manage that much?"

Wang Erhai nodded:

"That's true."

After Wang Xiaohua's persuasion, Wang Erhai finally made up his mind:

"Alright then, I'll go do this Temporary Village Cadre job! Treat it as a training experience!"

Wang Erhai had just hung up Wang Xiaohua's phone.

At this moment, Zhang Zhongtian arrived.

He held a red paper box in his hand. Though his body was very weak, he was still smiling cheerfully.

Wang Erhai, seeing Zhang Zhongtian visit at night, couldn't help but be stunned:

"Secretary Zhang, why have you come at this hour?"

Wang Zhanggen and Li Xiulan, seeing Zhang Zhongtian approach, also wore faces full of surprise.

"Secretary Zhang, your health is poor; you should be resting properly at home." Li Xiulan advised thus.

Wang Zhanggen hurriedly took out a cigarette and handed it over, greeting him:

"Secretary Zhang, coming over so late at night, we've already finished our meal, there's nothing good to entertain you with, please forgive us."

Zhang Zhongtian smiled politely:

"It's fine, it's fine, I just came to sit for a bit..."

It was very obvious he had not come just to sit for a bit, simple as that.

He was just reaching out to take the cigarette Wang Zhanggen handed over, when Li Xiulan hurriedly struck Wang Zhanggen's cigarette-holding hand, scolding:

"Why are you giving Secretary Zhang a cigarette? With his current physical condition, can he smoke?"

Wang Zhanggen only then reacted, hurriedly took the cigarette back, and then said to Zhang Zhongtian:

"Secretary Zhang, truly sorry, I nearly forgot you were ill!"

Zhang Zhongtian could only smile embarrassedly and bitterly.

He wished more than anything that everyone would forget he was ill.

Everyone treating him as a patient — isn't that reminding him every moment that he has lung cancer?

Some illnesses, if you don't pay attention to them, perhaps you can still live just fine.

But the more you pay attention, the faster the condition may worsen.

This is the catalytic effect of psychological suggestion.

At this moment, Wang Erhai brought over a cup of brewed tea:

"Secretary Zhang, please drink tea!"

Zhang Zhongtian received the tea, then hurriedly handed over the gift he had brought:

"Erhai, this gift, you accept it!"

Wang Erhai glanced into the box and discovered a bottle of Moutai Liquor, a carton of cigarettes, and a stack of RMB.

"Secretary Zhang, this won't do, this won't do..."

Wang Erhai immediately wore a face full of shock.

He completely hadn't expected Zhang Zhongtian would give such a precious gift to him.

"It's fine, you take it, don't stand on ceremony with me."

Zhang Zhongtian hurriedly stuffed the gift into Wang Erhai's hands, and also said:

"There are no outsiders here, so I won't say any roundabout words. Erhai, I came to find you tonight because there's a matter I want to ask of you."

Wang Erhai asked:

"What matter?"

Zhang Zhongtian then said:

"I know that on Town Mayor Zhong's side, you should have been chosen as Shanggou Village's Temporary Village Cadre. I just want to ask, can you voluntarily give up this quota?"