Chapter 286: Abandoned Babies

Geng Qiaoju was stunned for a moment. "Don't you know? Many rural areas have designated places for abandoned babies. Some villages have baby abandonment roads, some have baby abandonment hills, and our village has a baby abandonment tower. Almost all of the abandoned babies are girls."

When Luo Jiu heard this, he felt a chill in his heart, and even his voice trembled with anger. "The anti-abandonment law was promulgated two months ago. Abandonment is equivalent to murder. Parents are guilty of capital crimes, and participating in abandonment is also a capital crime. Is there anyone who dares to do this?"

Geng Qiaoju sighed helplessly, "In the countryside, the law is out of reach. Here we have a strong ancestral temple concept and the idea of ​​favoring boys over girls is deeply rooted. Even if there is a law against abandoned babies, there is no way to stop those people.

The county magistrate doesn't care about anything else but making money.

I am just a small village chief, and my words are not as effective as those of the clan leader."

Luo Jiu gritted his teeth in anger, "What about the Farmers' Association? The Farmers' Association doesn't care?"

About ten years ago, Comrade Quan Sheng launched a vigorous peasant movement. During this period, the power of the peasant association was very great.

The Farmers’ Association was composed of women and the poor who were the most oppressed in the old society. Poor and lower-middle peasants, and even rich peasants were not allowed to join the Farmers’ Association.

The goal of the farmers' association was to fight against local tyrants and evil gentry, and at the same time to attack the patriarchal system and change the old ideas and bad habits in the countryside. Even gambling and opium smoking were handled by the farmers' association, so how could they not care about abandoned babies?

Geng Qiaoju's eyes dimmed, "I have also heard of the glorious deeds of many local farmers' associations, but our Yi County has made mistakes step by step, and every work we do lags behind the rest of the country.

Take the matter of the Farmers’ Association for example. It’s being done with great fanfare in the neighboring provinces, but here we’re just going through the motions.

The people in our village farmers' association are all at least rich farmers, all men, so why would they care about abandoned babies? Even if a hundred baby girls died, it wouldn't affect their livelihood, so why would they care? "

"Good! Good!" Luo Jiu sneered, "Yi County really opened my eyes."

Feng Qi asked hurriedly: "What should we do? How can we manage a place like this?"

Without waiting for Luo Jiu to speak, Geng Qiaoju said, "You can't control them, but don't worry, I'll take care of them. This year or next year, I may not be able to do anything about them. But what about the year after next?

I will spend ten, twenty years, or even my entire life to change this feudal and backward place, change the fate of the women here, and change the fate of the poor here.

When those feudal old guys who cling to old ideas are dead, won't I be able to do anything to them?

You don't have to be afraid or anxious, just get the evidence and go."

"No, we are not afraid, and we will not leave." Luo Jiu said firmly: "The matter of Yi County will not be resolved in one day. We will stay here and fight these corrupt officials to the end."

After a while, the carriage stopped at the entrance of Gengjia Village.

The four of them got out of the car with Geng Qiaoju, carrying their belongings, and walked toward the village committee.

Walking on the dirt road, passing through the village.

People gathered in groups of three or four on the roadside, stretching their necks to look at Geng Qiaoju and her group of uninvited guests in an impolite manner.

Geng Qiaoju said, "Let's just walk quickly and ignore them."

Before he finished speaking, an old man called out in a hoarse voice, "Geng's little girl."

Geng Qiaoju couldn't help but stop and look at the white-bearded old man in a long gown in the yard, and greeted him in a muffled voice, "Fifth Uncle."

Geng Laowu laughed and said, "I almost forgot, I should call you village chief now. Your fifth uncle is old and can't remember.

By the way, I heard that you went to the county to beg for money again?"

Geng Qiaoju said unhappily, "Uncle Wu, I did go to the county. But I didn't go to beg for money. I'm not a beggar. I went to get the education money that the country gave to our village."

Geng Laowu stroked his beard and said, "That's about right. You're asking for money anyway. Seeing you look so dejected, I know you won't get it.

I have told you long ago that you are not capable of doing the job of village chief, so why not submit a resignation and nominate my Chang Yi to do it, but you refused to listen.

Look at yourself. You have no prestige in the village. You can't even get anything done in the county. Aren't you just occupying the toilet without doing anything?"

Geng Qiaoju gritted her teeth and said nothing, but the four others couldn't bear to listen any longer.

Zhong Jialing said, "That's enough. You are an elder, but you are here to mock your own family. What kind of ability is that?"

Cheng Yaoyao said, "I think you are only capable of making sarcastic remarks. You are pretending to be very smart here. What school did you graduate from? Why don't you get a job? I think you are illiterate. You can't read or understand the truth. You are old but still alive. You are taking advantage of your age and seniority."

Geng Laowu was so angry that his eyes widened. "I am talking to the Geng family here. What right do you outsiders have to interrupt? As an elder, what's wrong with me teaching the younger generation a few words? I am also blaming her for her incompetence on behalf of the whole village. Who made her fail to get things done?"

Luo Jiu glared at him, "Who said she can't get things done? She accomplished something big today."

Luo Jiu held up a few twenty-dollar bills and said, "See? This is the county's grant."

Geng Laowu rubbed his eyes in disbelief, "Did County Magistrate Ma give this to you?"

"This is a gift from the state. Who is County Magistrate Ma? How dare he embezzle the state's special allocation?" Luo Jiu waved the money in front of him. "Village Chief Geng questioned County Magistrate Ma in public with the laws and regulations, so County Magistrate Ma immediately handed over the money with both hands.

We students admire Village Chief Geng for doing practical things for the people, so we come here to study with her.

Old man, what qualifications do you have to represent the entire village?

At your age, why don't you just lie down at home? Why do you come out and say nonsense and make people dislike you?

Let me tell you a piece of good advice. The more you do, the easier it is to die. Be careful not to breathe in but out. If you can't breathe out, you will pass out and won't see tomorrow's sunrise."

"You..." Geng Laowu's face turned red with anger, and he pointed at Luo Jiu and the others with trembling fingers, "Qiao Ju, you just let them scold me?"

Geng Qiaoju glanced at him calmly, "Uncle, you just said that I have no ability, how can I control their mouths? Besides, I think what they said is right."

"Geng Qiaoju!" Geng Laowu stamped his feet in anger, "I'm going to find your parents!"

"Whatever." Geng Qiaoju stretched out her hand and led the way. The four of them looked at Geng Laowu who jumped up in anger, smiled smugly, and walked forward quickly.

After a while, the five people reached the west end of the village and were about to leave.

Everyone stopped by the three dilapidated mud houses to rest. Feng Qi looked around and said, "We are almost out of the village, why can't we see the village office yet? Where do you usually work?"

Geng Qiaoju picked up the wooden sign that had fallen on the ground and stood at the door. On it, she saw the words "Gengjia Village Committee" written in chalk.

The four of them stared blankly at the dilapidated house that was swaying in the wind and rain, and took a deep breath.

Geng Qiaoju took out the key and opened the door. Feng Qi stretched out a finger and easily lifted the moldy wooden window. "Is there any need to lock this room?"