Chapter 127: Twists and Turns

The election was proceeding in full swing, and Zhu Shizhen was busy running around with full confidence. The township people's congress met less than once a year. There were twenty-six representatives in the whole township, including three county representatives. The quota for township representatives was widely distributed, with all fronts having them. The basic components were village heads of each village, women's directors, as well as the township middle school principal and some township cadres.

Zhu Shizhen also held the position of Chairman of the Township People's Congress Presidium, so the election matters were naturally arranged by him.

Guo Wei convened a Party committee meeting, requiring all cadres to earnestly do a good job in this election and treat the voting related to the future of Suxi Township with caution. At the meeting, he proposed that this election must be legal and reasonable, and no one should destroy or interfere with the election for any reason. At the same time, he arranged for Old Zhao from the township finance office to take out a sum of money to buy souvenirs.

Old Zhao nodded and agreed with a bitter face. The funds lying on the township government's account were like a snake watching him, ready to bite him at any time. The money Liu Quan spent on Township Head Hao's medical treatment still left a big hole. Although the county had a conclusion on this account, he still couldn't smooth it out on the books.

The donations called for by the county for each township hadn't been moved a single cent. The money for road construction and installing power lines and building substations was supported by the county. When the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, more than 100,000 yuan was spent. Old Zhao had reminded Guo Wei at the time, but Guo Wei didn't care at all and said, "Spend it, it's fine, money will come soon."

Old Zhao was still hesitating, but Guo Wei lost his temper, saying that he was the one in charge of Suxi Township and didn't need to ask anyone for permission to spend money. Old Zhao didn't dare to argue, so he had to let Guo Wei withdraw money at will. The more he spent, the more terrified Old Zhao became. His eyelids jumped every day, and in the middle of the night, he always dreamed of people from the Procuratorate coming to take him away. He would wake up in a daze, sit on the bed and smoke, and burn the quilt into a thousand holes in a daze.

Once the Secretary spoke, Zhu Shizhen's enthusiasm became even greater. He took a list of souvenirs to Old Zhao to ask for money. When Old Zhao saw that there was no Guo Wei's signature on it, he refused to give the money. Zhu Shizhen got angry, pointed at Old Zhao's nose and cursed, "Old Zhao, don't look down on people. It's true that Secretary Guo didn't sign, but I'm still a township head, don't I even have this little power?"

Old Zhao smiled flatteringly, pointed to the list and said, "Township Head Zhu, don't blame me. The township regulation is that Secretary Guo has the final say. I don't dare to make decisions on such a large sum of money."

Zhu Shizhen stared at Old Zhao hatefully, unable to speak for a long time. He took the list and stomped out. Seeing me, he spread his hands and said, "Old Zhao, that bastard, after the election is over, let's see how I deal with him."

I comforted him, "Township Head Zhu, don't be angry. Old Zhao has no choice. He is a man who acts according to principles. Otherwise, how could he have sat in the position of township finance office director for decades?"

"If you sit for too long, you will get sores on your butt. That bastard's butt must have sores, it's time to move him." Zhu Shizhen was still indignant, "I'm a township head, and it's a matter that Secretary Guo spoke about, yet he refuses to give money to buy souvenirs, and it's not spending his own money. What right does he have to refuse?"

I wanted to laugh in my heart. If you were a confirmed township head, Old Zhao wouldn't dare to refuse directly to your face, even if he had the guts of a heaven. Things in officialdom are one level pressing another.

I smiled and said, "Township Head Zhu, for such a small matter, you just need to call someone from the office to handle it, why do you have to run it yourself?"

Zhu Shizhen also laughed, helplessly, "I just wanted to handle things steadily."

I gave him a thumbs up and said, "Township Head Zhu doing things personally is indeed a model for us to learn from. If everyone had such a sense of responsibility in their work, I wouldn't worry about Suxi Township not changing."

Zhu Shizhen was already used to my flattery. He patted my shoulder generously and said, "Little Chen, after the election is over, the township is preparing to put more burden on you. You should be mentally prepared."

As if he had already won the township head position! Zhu Shizhen's statement made me angry. The voting hadn't even started, and the winner wasn't decided yet. You really think I'm just focused on doing business to make money!

I pretended to be grateful and said, "I'll need Township Head Zhu to care more about me in the future."

"Don't worry, Little Chen." Zhu Shizhen laughed heartily, "My eye for people has never been wrong. You are a down-to-earth person with ideas and ability, a person who can do big things."

I smiled modestly, "Township Head Zhu, you are exaggerating. I am just a person who doesn't seek progress."

After chatting for a while, Zhu Shizhen said he was going to find Guo Wei to sign, so as not to delay things, and said goodbye. I quickly told him, "Secretary Guo went to the county, just left."

Zhu Shizhen looked at me suspiciously. I shook my head and said, "I don't know what it is, anyway, he left in a hurry. I greeted him but he didn't hear."

Zhu Shizhen stopped his steps, turned his head and said, "I'm afraid there are some new instructions from the county."

I said, "The county has been very concerned about our Suxi Township these years, and the policies are better than one another. So it's not strange to have some new instructions. Perhaps, when Secretary Guo comes back, he will bring us another great piece of good news."

Zhu Shizhen said worriedly, "Maybe it's not all good news."

I still giggled and said, "As long as no one dies, it's all good news."

"The word 'die' obviously touched him. Zhu Shizhen leaned over and said, "The female reporter hasn't looked for you during this time, right?"

I shook my head and said, "Township Head Zhu, don't take some things to heart. No matter how big the matter is, you were only an acting township head at the time."

He was relieved and said, "I'm not taking it to heart, it's just that matter, it was destined by Heaven, what can I do? Those reporters, hiding in the city every day, don't know the hardships of our grassroots cadres."

I agreed repeatedly, echoing him, "Actually, grassroots cadres are the cornerstone of social stability. Without the dedication of grassroots cadres, the eating, drinking, and pooping of the common people would be enough to make the big leaders drink a pot."

We both laughed and laughed, and to outsiders, we were such a close pair of comrades-in-arms. Although the election was a matter of life and death, on the surface, we were still harmonious, at least no gaps could be seen between us.

Liu Hongyan came from afar. Seeing me and Zhu Shizhen laughing and laughing, she frowned and wanted to turn away in disgust. I stopped her and said, "Party Committee Member Liu, busy!"

She smiled unnaturally and said, "No matter how busy I am, I'm not as busy as you leaders."

Zhu Shizhen knew that he didn't get along with Liu Hongyan, so he found an excuse to leave.

I looked at the depressed Liu Hongyan. Her face was pale without a trace of blood, and her small waist looked even smaller in her oversized clothes. Her chest had recovered the uprightness of a woman.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Going to my room to find something."

I remembered that she hadn't lived in the dormitory for a long time. Since she came out of the hospital, she rarely came to work. Hao Qiang had rarely appeared during this time, but his police station had two young policemen assigned after the New Year, who drove a sidecar around every day.

"I'll accompany you," I said, and led the way without saying a word.

Liu Hongyan looked around and whispered, "Aren't you afraid Teacher Xue will be jealous?"

I laughed, "Jealous of what? I haven't sold myself to her yet."

We went to her dormitory one after another. Liu Hongyan took out a stack of documents from the cabinet and said, "I'm going to change my profession."

I looked at her in surprise. She smiled lightly and said, "I'm going to the police station to be a household registration policeman. It's already been approved."

My heart paused. Liu Hongyan was the township government women's director. No matter what, she was a cadre with a rank. What did it mean to go to the police station to be a household registration policeman?

I deliberately teased, "Are you preparing to open a husband-and-wife shop?"

She gave a bitter smile and said nothing. She sat down on the edge of the bed, bowing her head to look at her toes. This woman, who had once been infinitely youthful, now appeared composed and serene. A sense of inviolability emanated from her, extinguishing the impulse for ambiguity I had felt.

"Your participation in the election this time is also a sign that you are going to stand out," she looked up and smiled lightly, "It's really hard for you, Chen Feng, a famous university student and a city person, staying in our poor Suxi Township for over four years. You really make people admire." A layer of red floated on her face, instantly turning her pale face into colorful clouds, and the pitifulness of a small woman suddenly became vivid.

I said helplessly, "I have no choice."

Liu Hongyan smiled beautifully and said, "It's not that you have no choice, but that you have ambitions." She bit her lip and thought for a while, as if she had made up her mind, "Chen Feng, if it weren't for my father, the person sitting in front of you today wouldn't be Liu Hongyan, but your wife."

I was moved and inexplicable.

"My father saw it long ago, saying that you are not a man who can be tied down. So, my father firmly opposed us being together." She suddenly giggled, stood up and said, "I want to see how capable your Teacher Xue is. Can she tie down the heart of a man like you?"

I finally understood, and I sighed in my heart.

I held her shoulders with both hands and said word by word, "Hongyan, you've been wronged."

She smiled miserably and said, "Chen Feng, everything is fate, none of us should complain. It's destined by fate, half of which is not up to people."

I held her tightly in my arms. She leaned against me quietly. For a long time, she raised her face, tears streaming down her face, and said resentfully, "Chen Feng, you are a good man, I know."

I wiped the tears from her face, patted her back gently and said, "Little sister, there are too many unsatisfactory things in life. Perhaps a temporary loss will bring permanent peace."

She suddenly broke free from my arms, stared into my eyes and said, "Chen Feng, I will never have children in my life."

I looked at her blankly. She turned and smiled, "It's a pity I don't have Sister Jinling's courage."

I immediately understood the meaning of her words, and my heart rolled, almost softening. ===== CHAPTER 128 =====