Chapter 32

Actually, I have no experience in starting a business. I am not a businessman; one only needs to know that I went to Beijing with Wu Qian to sell cultural relics to realize how pure a person I am.

In the early nineties, I rolled up my bedding and got kicked out of school. I originally thought I was a pearl, but after falling into the dust of society, I discovered I was nothing at all.

I was among the last batch of university students eligible for state assignment, but I didn't get one after graduation. At the time, this was a very shameful thing.

After walking countless night roads, my father finally squeezed me into an agricultural public institution as a lowly handyman that no one looked up to.

I was very loyal to this hard-won job. Even though I was a handyman, I had the stamp of a state organ on me, so in front of outsiders, I always kept my back straight.

Fate always likes to play jokes on people! Overnight, I received the task of going to the countryside for social education. Although I seriously felt this was no less than exile, compared to being cooped up in a dead-end office without seeing the light of day, I still thanked heaven in my heart for its favor.

Most of my classmates were living high on the hog; they were proudly working as engineers of the human soul, and the vast majority had become key members. Counting those in my class who were muddling along in offices like me, there were fewer than three.

In their eyes, those of us muddling along in offices were all future political stars with bright prospects. Who would know that I was someone with a status almost identical to a temporary worker?

When a person is on a roll, even a pile of shit will turn into gold.

This opportunity that everyone dreams of was perfectly embodied in me.

First, I am a dignified cadre; I am the secretary of the Suxi Township Government Office. Next, my unintentional actions achieved my current other identity: I am the sole legal representative of the company established by Suxi Township.

I became a businessman, so I had to get involved with the stench of money, and the stench of money can make a person's soul become ugly and unbearable.

As the saying goes, it is noble for a person to have self-knowledge! I happen to know the meaning of this phrase well. In Chunshan County, I am a person without any political foundation, so wanting to advance is harder than ascending to heaven!

Watching the few members of the township Party Committee gorging themselves, I thought, eat, eat—only if you eat will I be able to eat with more peace of mind.

Leftovers are not prepared for me; they are prepared for those who are unprepared and those who do not seek progress.

I contacted Guo Wei, Huang Qishan, and Huang Weiwei several times; the three of them have now reached a state of perfection in their cultivation and just joke around with me. Only Huang Weiwei revealed one piece of information: Chunshan County will be selecting a County Youth League Committee Secretary from among the social education cadres during the year-end reshuffle. I remember Huang Weiwei even asked if I was interested, and if I was, she might be able to help me.

I believe Huang Weiwei's words are completely true. She won't stay in Chunshan County; her father, the Organization Department Minister, has long since paved a bright road for her future.

The few members of the township Party Committee firmly believe that spending their own money is justified. During their few days in Hengyue City, they ordered me around because they thought they were spending their own money.

But the fact is that every cent they spent was my own; not a single cent went through the company's accounts. Nothing in this world happens without a reason. I can let them spend my money happily because I naturally have what I am seeking.

Meizhu, this ice-snow-smart girl, had already guessed my thoughts, so the few words she said in a measured tone elevated my behavior to a certain height. The Party Committee members had nothing more to say and began to narrowly enjoy the illusion of urban material civilization.

When they were full and satisfied, they finally proposed going to a foot massage parlor to experience life.

Their suggestion hit the nail on the head for me.

Foot massage started to become popular in the city. Young, pretty girls hold feet pulled out of different shoes that emit strange odors and caress them with their delicate hands.

We were lined up in the private room getting foot massages, and some people were actually humming out loud. I sat to one side, letting the youngest and prettiest little girl wash mine; I had seen this little girl a few times but never had the chance to let her serve me. Today, the opportunity was just right, and it was meant to be my good fortune.

Having pretty girls give massages is like being in a blurry paradise.

I lay on the bed, squinting my eyes and saying, "Secretary Liu, what do you think our company should do next?"

He said, "I came here this time for this very matter. The township running a company isn't just about solving the farmers' problems; we should give the township cadres and teachers some kind of gesture, right? A couple of days ago, Teacher Xue Bing from the township middle school—oh, the female teacher who sat with us last time we drank—she came to find me, saying she wanted to build a sports field for the children and needed the township to help solve the funding. Do you have any ideas?"

I also let the young lady go down; we sat cross-legged, one person to a bed.

I said, "For education matters, isn't there an Education Bureau?"

Liu Quan sighed and said, "This matter, it was brought up a few years ago, and a report was submitted to the Education Bureau, but there was no follow-up."

"Did you agree this time?"

"What could I agree with? The township has no money!" Liu Han threw me a Baisha cigarette. I took it, lit it, and took a puff.

"Our township government auditorium hasn't been used for a long time, right?" I asked a question irrelevant to the topic, making Liu Quan alert.

"It's not used all year round now, so it's long been abandoned. However, the middle school's opening ceremony is still held there every year."

"If you give the auditorium to our company, we are willing to help them build a basketball court!" I said, deliberately making it sound understated.

"What do you want the auditorium for?" Liu Quan didn't understand my meaning at all.

I reported, "Secretary, I took a look at Suxi's tea oil pressing method; it basically remains in the state of an ancient rural workshop. Although it's original, the oil yield is still very low." I explained the method I prepared for renovating the oil pressing process.

Liu Quan was very interested. After hearing me out, he rolled off the bed and said, "This is also a way. For the specific matters, I will call Teacher Xue Bing to come find you!"

I smiled and said, "Alright!"

After the massage, everyone returned to the hotel. The Party Committee members didn't speak the whole way, seemingly still savoring the gentleness from just now. Someone sighed softly and said, "In this society now, it's good to have money."

I smiled noncommittally and said, "Leaders, the company requests that you come to the city to inspect work every month. Please consider it."

Everyone remained silent. For such a big matter, with Liu Quan's attitude, the others didn't dare to make decisions on their own.

Liu Quan didn't give a direct answer to my suggestion, just smoking and deep in thought.

I couldn't say anything more, so I politely arranged for them to rest.

Only when they were all about to sleep did I go out, stand on the street, and call Meizhu: "Let's go have some tea!"