Chapter 189 Compensation

Liu Zhixia and Gangzi didn't get back until very late.

She went straight to Secretary Qi's office as soon as she got back.

The atmosphere in the office was heavy.

"In order to seek leniency, He Shijie not only confessed to the poisoning, but also revealed a batch of supplies he had hidden in the town." Secretary Qi took a sip of tea and looked at Liu Zhixia. "These supplies are mostly in-demand items, such as cloth, radios, and watches. Originally, we planned to confiscate them, but considering the serious losses suffered by your brigade this time, especially your family, the commune has decided to give you a special approval."

Liu Zhixia understood immediately; this was a form of compensation.

"The commune allows your brigade to purchase these supplies at a low price to make up for the losses. Of course, you have to pay, but the price is absolutely fair."

When the news reached the village, the entire brigade was in an uproar.

These days, even having money doesn't guarantee you can buy good things, let alone get them at a low price!

Liu Zhixia led Aunt Zhou and several key villagers to the town's warehouse.

As soon as the door opened, the dazzling array of goods was overwhelming.

The villagers headed straight for the conspicuous radios and watches.

Liu Zhixia, however, walked calmly toward a pile of miscellaneous items in the corner.

There were several inconspicuous burlap sacks piled up there, which looked like they were for storing grains.

"What are these?" Liu Zhixia asked the militiaman guarding the sacks.

"Oh, that looks like mountain produce that He Shijie collected from out of town. He said it was medicinal herbs, but it looks like hay to me. It's worthless. If you want it, just give him some money and take it."

Liu Zhixia opened the bag, her pupils contracting slightly.

Mixed in here are the very same batch of top-quality Dendrobium that He Shijie snatched from Gangzi!

There were even a few ginseng plants of even better quality!

He Shijie, that ignorant fellow, actually threw them away like ordinary hay!

"Okay, I'll take these." Liu Zhixia suppressed her elation and bought these priceless treasures for a pittance.

In addition, she also picked out some practical fabrics and daily necessities to distribute to her family and the victims' families.

Back in the village, Liu Zhixia quietly stored the "hay" in her spatial storage and only distributed ordinary supplies.

Even so, the villagers were extremely grateful.

"The Liu family are such kind people! Not only do they help us make money, but they also think of us when they have good things!"

Gangzi watched Liu Zhixia's actions from the side, feeling envious but also convinced.

"Girl, you have amazing taste! From now on, I'll follow you wholeheartedly, and I'll do whatever you tell me to do!"

Liu Zhixia smiled and said, "Don't worry, you'll definitely get your share of the benefits. Once this storm passes, you can open a pharmacy in the city, and I'll supply you with the medicines."

Gangzi's eyes lit up, as if he could see a glittering future.

With the Lu family's complete downfall and He Shijie's arrest, the dark clouds hanging over the village finally dissipated.

The Liu family's pickled vegetable business experienced a boom.

With He Shijie's arrest, their outstanding performance actually made their pickled vegetables famous, and orders exploded.

The original family workshops are no longer sufficient.

Liu Zhixia decided to strike while the iron was hot and formalize the pickled vegetable factory.

"Brother, from now on you'll be the factory manager. You're good at everything, from production management to personnel management."

"Old Fourth and Xu Zhiqing, you are in charge of technology and quality inspection. Every jar of pickled vegetables must pass through your eyes before leaving the factory."

Liu Xiangyang was still somewhat hesitant: "This... is it really that big? Can I handle it?"

"You can do it!" Liu Zhixia's eyes were firm. "Now everyone in the village respects you. Only when you establish this factory can our Liu family truly stand firm."

Under Liu Zhixia's leadership, the pickled vegetable factory underwent a shareholding reform. Villagers invested in the factory based on work points and skills, and received dividends at the end of the year.

The whole village rejoiced when the news came out.

This isn't working for someone else; this is working for yourself!

Everyone was full of energy and wished they could live in the factory.

At the end of the year, the dividend distribution meeting was held as scheduled.

The Liu family compound was filled with tables piled high with stacks of brand-new banknotes.

With a ruddy complexion, Liu Shouren shouted through a megaphone, "This year, our Liu family's pickled vegetable factory's net profit is... 30,000 yuan!"

The whole place erupted in chaos.

Thirty thousand yuan! That was an astronomical figure at the time!

The villagers lined up to receive their money, their faces beaming with joy. Some families with large members received several hundred yuan at once, equivalent to ten years' worth of income!

Only Xiao Yang sat some distance away, watching this moment with envy.

If he hadn't listened to his mother, he wouldn't have lost his legs.

He was already hardworking, so he might even become a minor leader in the pickle factory.

He touched his numb leg, and his eyes involuntarily reddened.

No matter how much he regrets it, he will not hate the Liu family.

Because the Liu family spent money to pull him back from the brink of death.

He wiped away tears of regret and limped back to his home, where he lived alone, leaning on his cane.

After the dividend distribution was completed, Liu Zhixia called her family together.

"Father, Mother, this is your retirement money."

She took out a thick savings book and placed it in front of the two elderly people.

Zhang Xiuying opened the money and her hand trembled: "So much?! Daughter, I can't take this money, you take it to the army..."

"Mother! Please keep this!" Liu Zhixia pressed her mother's hand. "Shen Yi and I receive allowances, so we don't lack money. Keep this money for yourself. If there's an emergency at home, or if you want to help your older brothers, it's up to you."

Seeing their sensible daughter, the two elderly people were moved to tears.

"Good child... truly a good child of your parents..."

At this moment, Liu Xuejun stood up abruptly, his face flushed red to the roots of his ears.

"Father, Mother... I want to propose to Xu Zhiqing."

Zhang Xiuying slapped her thigh and laughed, "Silly boy! Your mother has been waiting for you to say that!"

Liu Zhixia also laughed and teased, "Fourth brother, have you bought the proposal gifts? Have you thought about what to say? Don't stutter and make Xu Zhiqing laugh at you!"

With encouragement and advice from his family, Liu Xuejun changed into a new set of clothes and mustered up the courage to go to the educated youth settlement.

Although he didn't offer flowers or a diamond ring, he won Xu Zhihong's heart with a love poem he wrote and a pair of silver bracelets passed down in the Liu family.

Xu Zhihong blushed and was about to agree when a child delivering a letter ran over.

“Xu Zhiqing, your family sent you a letter.”

Xu Zhihong's previously happy expression seemed to have been doused with cold water, and she immediately calmed down.

She took the letter, opened it quickly, and glanced at its contents. Her face drained of all color.

She looked up at Liu Xuejun in despair, her voice trembling with tears: "Liu Laosi, I... I can't marry you."

Liu Xuejun's previously happy smile immediately froze: "Why?"

“Actually, after everything that has happened between us, I understand your feelings, so I wrote a letter back to my family to let them know. They wrote back to me, saying that they had arranged another marriage for me and wanted me to quit my teaching job and go back home.”