Zhao Youcai felt utterly exhausted.

There's so much to do every day, one thing after another. Can't we at least give him some time to rest and go to the farm to harvest some vegetables?

After the main figures left, the villagers looked in the direction the group had gone and then remembered why they had gone out that day.

They hurriedly followed Zhao Youcai and the others towards the brigade office, as if they were afraid of being a big loss if they were a step too late.

The younger members of Zhao Youcai's family all knew that he had gotten the breeding farm business.

Before leaving, Zhao Youcai instructed them to mind their own business and not to follow him around to join in the fun.

Otherwise, these cunning old foxes, unable to curry favor with him, would turn around and scheme against him.

In the past, if there had been such a chance to make a big splash, they would have gone without food or drink, and shamelessly squeezed in.

But now they all expect their father to slip some benefits through his fingers, so the first thing they have to do is not to anger their father or leave a bad impression on him.

Didn't you see how Dad treats his younger brother?

Even a pampered college student who asks for the stars but gets nothing in return can be ruthlessly kicked out of the house by his father like trash. If they still can't read the room, their lives will just stay like this forever.

As human beings, who doesn't want to live a good life?

...

Almost every household had come out to help in the open space in front of the Zhaojiagou brigade office.

Soon, some observant people noticed that Zhao Youcai's son and daughter-in-law were all absent, and their brows furrowed tightly.

Discussions quickly arose from the crowd.

"It seems that today's matter is quite significant."

"Auntie Pang, what do you mean by that?"

The woman called "Fat Auntie" perked up instantly when someone started talking to her.

"Everyone in the whole Zhao Family Village knows that Zhao Youcai's kids love to join in the fun, right? But today, for such a prestigious event, not a single one of their kids came. Isn't that strange?"

Only then did someone take a serious look around and realize that what Aunt Fat said was true.

Some people noticed even earlier than Aunt Fatty, but they didn't shout about it. After all, they hadn't forgotten Aunt Trumpet's experience of buying cloth.

Seeing so many people discussing Zhao Youcai's family affairs, they weren't afraid of being discovered and resented by Zhao Youcai, so they all joined in the discussion.

"The Zhao family has so many ways to make money, they won't miss one or two more. Besides, who doesn't know what you're up to? Aren't you just trying to take advantage of this situation and suck up to others so you can get more benefits?"

The people whose thoughts were exposed were not all the type to remain calm. They felt embarrassed to have their little schemes exposed in public and instantly became unhappy.

"What are you saying? I don't believe you're not just after some extra benefit. If you're really so calm and don't care about such petty gains, then don't come here from home."

When the brigade leader and the village officials went door-to-door to notify everyone, they didn't give a strict order that everyone had to come.

They brought their families along, even infants who couldn't walk yet, either on their backs or in their arms. They were definitely planning to divide the spoils among themselves.

Those with small families are already fed up with this; they've never seen anyone so shameless.

No one expected such an unexpected incident; on such a joyous day, some people actually started fighting in the crowd.

The brigade leader was relieved that everyone here was a villager from Zhaojiagou.

If there's even one outsider present, this would be incredibly embarrassing.

He just couldn't understand. They were notified to come here to give them benefits, so how could they have ended up in such a sorry state?

Whatever personal grudges you have, can't you wait until you've finished talking here before going back to find a secluded place to settle things? Is it really so honorable to wrestle in front of the whole village?

And what are those crazy women's men doing? Standing there arm in arm watching the fight, is that even appropriate?

The wife is already fighting, but the husband acts like nothing's wrong and even tries to find an opportunity to drink together.

The captain picked up the distorted megaphone, and his first words weren't the usual authoritative "Quiet," but rather—

"Anyone who gets into another fight can take their whole family back home right now. Don't get involved in what's happening today!"

The women were fighting so fiercely they were practically twisted into a pretzel. But when the captain yelled, they separated with incredible speed, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

The captain was amazed at how quickly these old women could change their tune; no wonder people say that women and petty people are the hardest to deal with.

In other words, Zhao Youcai didn't know what the captain was thinking, otherwise he would have dragged him along to explain the true meaning of the sentence to him, which was completely different from what the captain thought.

The villagers watched the brigade leader standing on the high platform quietly, craning their necks and waiting with bright eyes for him to announce the good news.

The atmosphere in Zhaojiagou is somewhat different from that of other villages.

In other villages, people like to gather in the open space in front of the production team office when something big or small happens. In Zhao Jia Gou, only when something big happens or when meat, eggs, rice, and oil are distributed during festivals like the New Year do so many people gather.

Public criticism and denunciation are things that are never done in Zhaojiagou. The whole village will only be gathered to watch if someone from the town comes to handle the matter.

After all, everyone felt that since they lived in the same village, even if they weren't relatives, they were all good friends, and if one family was unlucky, it was the people of Zhaojiagou who would suffer.

Zhao Youcai was also very fortunate that the original owner's village was Zhao Family Village. Otherwise, given the original owner's character, Zhao Youcai's family would have been reported and denounced long ago.

The captain secretly patted himself on the back.

If it weren't for my excellent leadership and my great attitude towards the villagers, how could I have seen the whole village soar to new heights thanks to Zhao Youcai?

So what if we don't get the title of advanced collective?

Sunjia Village is recognized as an advanced collective every year, so how can their lives be better than Zhaojiagou's?

As long as Zhao Youcai remains the pillar of strength in Zhao Family Village, the village will surely surpass other villages in every aspect. Those village leaders who openly or secretly belittled them during meetings will only be able to look up in envy and feel sour with envy.

Even if Zhao Jiagou doesn't want the honor of being an advanced collective at all, the higher-ups will be unhappy. They'll force it on them, and they won't be able to refuse.

From now on, no family in Zhao Jia Gou will be destitute, and his title as the brigade leader will be so well-known that even the town mayor will have to speak to him with a smile.

"I called you here today for two reasons. First, to give a personal commendation to Comrade Zhao Youcai."

The villagers had no objections, since they were all wearing new clothes made from cheap fabrics purchased from Zhao Youcai's house.

They couldn't stand the captain's deliberate suspense and started urging him on.

"What about two? What does two mean?"