Chapter 69: Big Procurement

Changshui Village

Village Chief Li Dasheng led a group of people to warmly welcome Cao Cao Weiguo at the entrance of the village.

The village chief of Shimen Village, Chu Mingyuan, was also in the welcoming team. He was the "matchmaker" between Cao Cao Weiguo and Changshui Village.

"Welcome Director Cao to our Changshui Village for procurement!"

Li Dasheng saw Cao Cao Weiguo riding a bicycle over and waved his hand to greet him from afar.

He welcomed Cao Cao Weiguo so warmly not because of Cao Cao Weiguo's position.

This village chief was in his forties, born with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, and was a retired veteran who had participated in the Peninsula War.

According to his veteran qualifications, let alone a deputy director, he wouldn't even look at a factory director.

The reason he was so enthusiastic about Cao Cao Weiguo was entirely because Cao Cao Weiguo could bring benefits to their village.

When Chu Mingyuan reported Cao Cao Weiguo's "procurement price" to him, Li Dasheng regarded Cao Cao Weiguo as a "God of Wealth."

"Hello, Village Chief Li!"

The enthusiasm of Changshui Village caught Cao Cao Weiguo off guard, and he even felt a little nervous.

Li Dasheng said with a smile, "Director Cao, please come in, we have already prepared a welcoming banquet for you."

Cao Cao Weiguo said hurriedly, "Village Chief Li, this won't do. I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot attend this welcoming banquet. This will be a mistake."

Li Dasheng said, "Director Cao, don't be nervous, it's just a home-cooked meal, it doesn't matter."

Cao Cao Weiguo said sternly, "Village Chief Li, I came here for work. If you insist on doing this, in order not to make a mistake, I can only say goodbye."

Chu Mingyuan pushed Li Dasheng and criticized him angrily:

"Get out of the way, I told you long ago that Director Cao has an upright style and doesn't like those twists and turns. You have to be meddlesome just to show off."

Li Dasheng blushed and smiled awkwardly, "I just wanted to treat Director Cao, I didn't think so much."

Chu Mingyuan pleaded with Cao Cao Weiguo, "Director Cao, this Li Dasheng is a reckless man, don't be like him."

Cao Cao Weiguo said, "New era, new atmosphere, bureaucratic style must be resolutely put an end to."

Li Dasheng said hurriedly, "Director Cao's criticism is correct, I will definitely correct it seriously."

Chu Mingyuan said, "Director Cao, Li Dasheng will seriously reform, do you think we can continue the work?"

Li Dasheng said anxiously: "Director Cao, I am the one who made the mistake, you can punish me however you want, but please don't leave."

If it was because of his mistake that the interests of the villagers were damaged,

then what face would he have to face the fellow villagers?

Cao Cao Weiguo said, "Knowing mistakes and correcting them is a good comrade. This procurement work will proceed as normal."

Li Dasheng said happily, "Thank you, Director Cao. The villagers have already put the things in the brigade, I will take you to see them now."

Cao Cao Weiguo said with a smile, "Then I'll trouble Village Chief Li!"

"No trouble, no trouble!"

Li Dasheng greeted Cao Cao Weiguo into the village with relief, and a group of village cadres breathed a sigh of relief.

If they had driven away the "God of Wealth," wouldn't they be scolded to death by the fellow villagers?

Arriving at the brigade in the village, the courtyard was already full of baskets and sacks.

Cao Cao Weiguo checked one by one and said with satisfaction, "These are all good things with qualified quality. Village Chief, arrange for weighing. I want all of these."

The price was naturally the highest procurement price, and Li Dasheng and the fellow villagers were overjoyed.

Check! Weigh! Record! Bag!

Under the leadership of several cadres, people were busy in full swing.

"Let me in!"

"Why are you stopping me! Why don't you accept my things!"

Suddenly, there was a noise at the entrance of the brigade, and the sound was very loud.

A young man was carrying a sack and wanted to come in, but two militiamen blocked him forcefully.

Cao Cao Weiguo looked at the sound and asked suspiciously, "Village Chief Li, what is the situation?"

Li Dasheng said angrily, "That guy is a bedbug in the village, he always likes to make trouble, I'll go deal with him."

After saying that, Li Dasheng walked to the gate angrily: "Wu Wu Lingyun, what are you making trouble for! Are you asking for a beating!"

The young man carrying the sack said angrily, "I'm not making trouble! I just want to sell the dried sweet potatoes I saved up, why won't you let me sell them!"

The militiaman said disdainfully, "Why, just because your family is a Five-Category!"

In the early days of liberation, there were only four categories of elements in the country: landlords, rich peasants, counter-revolutionaries, and bad elements, who were listed as objects of the proletarian dictatorship as class enemies.

After the struggle in 1957, "rightists," a new category of people with reactionary thoughts, were also included in the ranks of class enemies.

Since then, they have usually been collectively referred to as: "Five-Category Elements" or "Five-Category."

The accountant explained to Cao Cao Weiguo: "That young man is named Wu Wu Lingyun, his grandfather was a big landlord, his father was an old soldier, and he is still..."

Cao Cao Weiguo walked to the door: "Village Chief Li, let him in, everyone is a fellow villager, there is no need to make it so serious."

Li Dasheng said, "Director Cao, this guy is not a good thing, his grandfather has problems, he doesn't learn well either, he likes to be lazy and slippery on weekdays..."

"This person steals chickens and dogs on weekdays, who knows if these things were stolen by him!"

"Director Cao, this person is a child of the Five-Category, he has bad blood in his bones!"

"Drive him away quickly! I get annoyed looking at him!"

Li Dasheng criticized the young man, and the nearby villagers echoed one after another.

The look in their eyes toward the young man was full of contempt and disgust.

Cao Cao Weiguo said to the young man who was full of humiliation: "Can I see your things? If the quality is no problem, I will accept them."

The young man looked at Cao Cao Weiguo in surprise and handed the sack to Cao Cao Weiguo nervously.

Cao Cao Weiguo checked the dried sweet potatoes and handed them to Li Dasheng:

"Village Chief Li, the quality of these dried sweet potatoes is good, leave them and weigh them together."

"Everyone is a fellow villager, let's be understanding if we can."

"We must learn from the great man, be broad-minded, and be tolerant of others."

"Only in this way can more compatriots serve the people together and contribute to the prosperity and strength of the motherland!"

These words made Li Dasheng's face change, and the nearby villagers also calmed down.

Chu Mingyuan said, "Director Cao is right, we must learn from the great man, unite all forces that can be united at home and abroad, and strive for the construction of a great socialist China."

Li Dasheng stared at Wu Wu Lingyun vigilantly: "Director Cao has advanced thoughts and is willing to give you a chance, I hope you will correct yourself with an open mind, work hard in the future, and don't let me catch you making mistakes."

Wu Wu Lingyun clenched his fists and didn't speak, but his heart was full of mixed feelings.

A village cadre finished weighing: "Thirteen pounds exactly."

Cao Cao Weiguo said, "Accountant Li, record it well, don't miss this comrade's money."

The accountant said seriously, "Director Cao, please rest assured, I remember every transaction clearly."

Wu Wu Lingyun looked at Cao Cao Weiguo gratefully: "Thank you, Director Cao."

Cao Cao Weiguo said, "No need to thank me, this is my job. I do my job, and I never mix personal feelings."

Chu Mingyuan praised, "Director Cao's thoughts are advanced, and he is diligent and responsible in his work. No wonder he can become a leader at such a young age. We all have to learn from you."

Because the villagers had already sent the things to the brigade, this saved a lot of time.

After all the things were weighed and recorded, Cao Cao Weiguo settled the money on the spot.

This made the villagers full of joy, and the stone in their hearts fell to the ground.

The real benefits made the villagers full of good feelings for Cao Cao Weiguo.

Li Dasheng was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth, and kept thanking Cao Cao Weiguo.

Although he was still a bit repulsed by Cao Cao Weiguo's "serious" manner, the village really received real benefits.

Cao Cao Weiguo didn't stay for dinner in the end, and followed along to transport the things to the "warehouse" of Shimen Village.

Li Dasheng drove the donkey cart himself and arranged for two militiamen to escort it.

Changshui Village and Shimen Village are adjacent, and it takes twenty minutes to walk.

Soon a cart of dried goods was put into the warehouse, stacked neatly.

Because a large amount of public property was stored in the warehouse, Chu Mingyuan arranged for two militiamen to guard it day and night.