Chapter 125: Running for Township Head (4)

The *City Daily* published a special report on the front page titled "A Road Carrying Hope," by reporter Chen Meng. After Huang Weiwei got the newspaper, she was the first to call me, saying that Chen Meng publishing this special report on the front page was completely beyond her expectations.

The news special mainly wrote about how Suxi Township overcame difficulties and worked together to build this road to prosperity, praising the cadres and masses of Suxi Township, and also lashing out at the ugly phenomena in the process of road construction. The focus of the special report was the story of the martyr Zhao Deliang. She attributed Zhao Deliang's death to the government's lack of supervision, vaguely revealing the intention to hold the responsible persons accountable.

Once the newspaper was out, information from all sides followed. First was the County Committee Propaganda Department, asking if the township government had reviewed and agreed to it. Upon learning that none of us knew about it, the County Committee Propaganda Department dropped the phone and cursed, "Damn it, raising one up and beating a group down."

Then Guo Wei talked to me, asking if I had authorized Chen Meng to write the report. I knew Guo Wei's meaning. Chen Meng didn't mention Guo Wei at all in the report, and didn't even mention the current state of the government. Regarding Guo Wei's grand plan to move the site, Chen Meng was stingy with her words. He had expressed his intentions several times, but now he had wasted his efforts and was naturally very annoyed. He threw the newspaper on the desk with a face full of displeasure and said, "A reporter's pen and a prostitute's crotch are both meaningless."

I wanted to laugh. A report caused reactions from all sides, which was also beyond my expectations. Fortunately, I had firmly disagreed with putting my name in it at the time. Although I was unwilling at the time, now that I thought about it, I felt I had foresight.

Guo Wei's questioning hadn't ended yet when Zhu Shizhen ran over to find me with the newspaper.

"Little Brother Chen, you've killed me." As soon as he saw me, he poured out his grievances: "You were the one who received the reporter, right? You didn't even look at what was written."

I said in surprise, "Township Head Zhu, I don't understand what you mean."

"I don't have any meaning!" Zhu Shizhen almost threw the newspaper at my face and said, "Who with eyes can't see the meaning inside?"

I said with an innocent face, "I really didn't see any meaning. Besides, she is a Party newspaper reporter; can I censor her article?"

"It's over!" Zhu Shizhen sighed, "Little Brother Chen, we've worked together for several years. I, your old brother, can say I've treated you well. But this article has left me with no way out."

He habitually squatted down, his butt almost touching the ground.

"Secretary Guan called and wants to hold people accountable." He patted his forehead, stood up dejectedly, and said, "I'm an old man anyway; losing my head is just a bowl-sized scar. If we're going to die, let's die together."

He said it decisively, unswervingly, and righteously. I was terrified, panicked, and shocked.

"I'm serious!" he emphasized, "If we're going to die, let the snake and the frog die together."

The smile on my face stiffened. Zhu Shizhen was a man who could do what he said. The people he meant to die together obviously didn't include me. I wasn't qualified to die with him.

In the evening, I went to Pan Xiaoqin's supermarket and told her about this. Pan Xiaoqin clapped her hands and breathed a sigh of relief, "Fine, this reporter friend of yours has done you a big favor."

I didn't understand. Pan Xiaoqin analyzed, "Even if Township Head Zhu doesn't resign voluntarily, can he escape responsibility for the death at Laoyingzui? The resumption of road construction was all manipulated by him."

I said, "Zhao Deliang's death has already been rated as a martyr, which is a final conclusion. Can it be overturned?"

"Do you know how many unknown things are behind this?" Pan Xiaoqin said shrewdly, "What is the reason for Secretary Liu being investigated by the Discipline Inspection Commission? Why did the project that had stopped suddenly resume?"

She sighed and pointed to the shelves full of cigarettes and alcohol, "Originally, I wanted to pave the way for Township Head Zhu. If he sent one carton of cigarettes, we would send two. Also, Brother Shurong has run to several villages for your election as township head, finding some representatives with good relationships, all wanting to vote for you in the election."

"Besides, Yue Bai told me that their Laoyingzui Village will definitely vote for you, and she will also find some representatives to help you vote." She looked at me with a smile and said, "Great Township Head Chen, so many of us are helping you, let's see how you repay us in the future."

Hearing her say this, I felt much more comfortable. The shadow of being a foil that I had originally thought of vanished instantly. I patted my chest and said, "If I get elected, how can I repay you? How about I offer myself?"

"Who wants you." She giggled, "You're just a stinky man now. With Sister Xue Bing covering you, who would dare to have crooked thoughts?"

I pretended to be helpless and said, "What else can I use to repay you?"

Pan Xiaoqin looked at my pitiful appearance and laughed, "I don't care about others, I just need you to remember me in your heart."

I patted my chest again and said, "I'll definitely remember."

Her eyes turned red, and she said softly, "For a lifetime, oh."

I answered decisively, "Of course, for a lifetime."

Seeing that Pan Xiaoqin was about to become even more sentimental, I quickly changed the subject, "Xiaoqin, I have something I want to discuss with you."

She smiled lightly and said, "What is there to discuss with me? If you have something to say, just say it, and I'll do it."

I said, "Business at the small restaurant isn't very good now, and Village Head Pan is idle with nothing to do. I think, don't we still have four oil presses? I want to build the oil mill first and let Village Head Pan manage it. What's your opinion?"

Pan Xiaoqin pondered for a moment and said, "It's the time of the election now. If you open an oil mill, aren't you afraid of causing trouble?"

"There won't be any trouble, right?"

"Who knows!" She handed me a pack of cigarettes and said, "The oil mill has to be opened, that's for sure. Otherwise, such good machines would be wasted. But not now. My idea is to wait until the election is over before opening it."

"No, if we open it, we open it now. Let others think I'm still focused on doing business. We'll also set off a smoke bomb!"

She thought about it, clapped her hands, and gave me a thumbs up, saying, "Hmm, you're starting to look like an official." She praised me, making me feel a bit smug.

"I'll go call Brother Shurong over." She turned around and went to the back room to find Pan Shurong.

Pan Shurong's whole family was now in Xiaoqin's supermarket. I entrusted his child to be arranged in primary school, dismissed a small girl, his wife helped in the supermarket, and his main job was to cook when guests came. When there were no guests, he helped out in the supermarket. When he needed to stock up, he took Sun Demao's car to the county alone.

Hearing that an oil mill was to be built, Pan Shurong was so excited his face turned red. He rubbed his hands and said repeatedly, "I'm afraid I won't do it well, I'm afraid I won't do it well."

I comforted him, "Don't worry, it's a very simple thing. You've been a village head, are you still afraid you can't be a good boss of an oil mill?"

He smiled modestly and said, "Anyone can be a village head, but not everyone can be a factory manager."

I smiled and said, "It's the same. As a village head, you manage the eating, drinking, and pooping of a whole village; as a factory manager, you manage the eating, drinking, and pooping of a whole factory."

Pan Shurong was still nervous, saying, "Being a village head doesn't involve making money, but being a factory manager means worrying about efficiency."

I stood up and patted his shoulder, "Village Head Pan, the oil mill will definitely make money when it opens. You just focus on pressing your oil; don't worry about the efficiency part, someone will naturally manage that."

Pan Xiaoqin said with a smile on the side, "That's true. Xi Meizhu is still running a company in the city. Brother Shurong, you are only responsible for production, and the management will be handled by Meizhu and the others."

Pan Shurong felt relieved and asked me when it would open. I said, "The sooner the better. Just say it's run by me; tell everyone that."

He seemed to suddenly understand something and said to me, "When the oil mill opens, I say those people don't have to pay, is that okay?"

I looked at him suspiciously. Pan Xiaoqin pushed me and said, "Is Shurong talking about those representatives?"

Pan Shurong nodded, looking at me, waiting for my stance.

I said indifferently, "You are the factory manager of the oil mill, so of course you have the final say."

Pan Shurong beamed and said firmly, "I must run the oil mill well. Let them also know that I, Old Pan, am not a man who talks nonsense."

The shrewdness of country folk!

I am also a country person now. Having dealt with them for over four years, I know what kind of shit they will poop as soon as they lift their butts. Pan Shurong must have made promises to the representatives. Country people are realistic and never aim for things that don't exist. There is an old saying: "Better to get it late than not at all, but better to get it now than get it late." It means that instead of thinking about illusory and impractical things, it's better to get something tangible.

I saw through Pan Shurong's thoughts at a glance. His idea actually coincided with mine. The oil mill has just opened, so it must have business to do. For the villagers who have been accustomed to primitive oil pressing for hundreds of years, the new oil pressing method may not be accepted. Only by letting some people try it will others follow suit.

And these representatives of Pan Shurong are the first batch of business the oil mill needs. ===== CHAPTER 126 =====