Chapter 40: Let's talk

Since her brother got a job in the commune, Aunt Cui has been praised wherever she goes, and she has never been so embarrassed. She trembled all over, "An Zhixia, let me go! Is this Hetang Village a place for you to run wild?"

An Zhixia pulled her face and said, "I think this is where your Cui family is running wild! Don't tell me any evidence, and don't tell me what efforts Cui Tianhao has made.

The promotion hasn't officially started yet, but I can recite it to you by heart here.

Otherwise, should I go to the town or county to carry the responsibility? I am a young educated youth who has always been determined to devote myself to the construction and development of the countryside. I really don’t care about this little credit. But I can’t just watch a bunch of people with bad intentions take advantage of the situation to climb up and continue to harm more people.

What I have given you is already the most simplified and comprehensive. Aren't you afraid of delaying the rescue after you add to it?"

"Xiao An, educated youth, let's talk it out. The commune leaders are fair and just. How could they make personnel changes just because of a small booklet? The commune awarded the flag to the village committee, not to our Lao Cui." Aunt Cui's cheek was pinched, and her words were a little vague, but she quickly adjusted her state. "The village committee is in charge of things other than labor in the village. My Lao Cui also asked you and your sister to go to the village committee for a talk, but you didn't go. Of course, what we said to you was to warn you. We were afraid that you were young and inexperienced, and went to the commune to seek some benefits for a little credit. Wouldn't that be a disgrace to our entire Hetang Village?"

"Oh," An Zhixia laughed angrily, "If Secretary Cui didn't get any benefits, would he ride his bike into a snake shape? Your mouth is smiling to your ears, who are you trying to fool?

Aren't you just afraid that I will expose your family to the higher-ups and wipe out your Cui family and your mother's family?"

"The leaders at the top are not incapable of distinguishing right from wrong and will let you do whatever you want!" Aunt Cui is truly the protagonist's mother. She didn't even shed tears when facing the coffin.

"Okay then," An Zhixia dragged her out, "It's still early, let's go to the town first, chat with the leader, and then take a bus to the provincial capital. If for no other reason, I just want to promote the first aid manual along the way."

Aunt Cui looked fat, but she had no strength at all. No matter how hard she pulled back, she was still dragged towards the cafeteria door.

The people around him stood far away and only shouted: "Xiao An, the educated youth, calm down."

"It won't be good for you if Xiao An's educated youth incident gets out of hand..."

Not long after leaving the cafeteria, Cui Chengjun came with a gloomy face and a large group of people from the Cui family, holding farm tools and rushing over aggressively.

The village chief's family also followed closely with a large group of close relatives and educated youth.

"Xiao An Zhiqing, let your aunt go."

As Cui Chengjun was speaking, a group of Cui's relatives gathered around him.

An Zhiqiu and Fang Yuan stepped forward and protected An Zhixia tightly behind them. "What's going on? Do the Cui family want to be local tyrants and commit crimes openly?"

"Who is the one who committed the crime?" Cui Chengjun was so angry that veins on his forehead were throbbing. "You are educated youths. You should be reasonable in everything. How can you just do something when you don't like it? Haven't you learned to respect the elderly and love the young? Do you really think that our village is peaceful and we can let you do whatever you want?"

"I didn't do anything wrong. I just scratched your wife's face twice. Who knew she would have an allergy and her face became swollen like a pig's head? Not to mention that it really matches your Cui family's reputation for being thick-skinned. So I'm taking her to the provincial capital to have someone take a look at her face."

"You're talking nonsense. You beat my mother's face until it was swollen, and kicked me to the ground. Everyone saw it!" Cui Xiaomei immediately ran to Cui Chengjun and his group, holding her stomach, and became arrogant.

Some women who were close to the Cui family also testified.

"You are all in the same group. This is not the first or second time you have framed someone," Fang Hongye hummed as she stepped forward. "You have all taken credit for other people's work. Is there anything else you cannot say?"

"Little girl from the Fang family, you have nothing to do here."

"Cui Chengjun, our Fang family got involved in this matter. I was the one who handed the first aid booklet to you, but you took advantage of it and scolded An Zhiqiu before you even entered the village. People with guilty consciences will be full of momentum." The village chief said seriously, "Although you are the village party secretary, you don't have the final say in Hetang Village. The commune is not run by your family. If someone in the village is wronged, there will definitely be people in the town and the provincial capital who are willing to listen to the An brothers and sisters."

"Do you really want to stand up for these two newly arrived educated youth?" Cui Chengjun asked after taking a deep breath.

"Yes, we can't let down the hearts of these children who are so enthusiastic about supporting the village construction."

Nie Yichang, Hang Xianglei, Yang Jiong, including Qin Dapeng, Shan Teng, Fei Zheng, and even Zheng Lizhi and his wife were forced to stand in front of An Zhixia and express their opinions.

"Let's go to the village committee and sit down to talk," Cui Chengjun thought for a moment and said, "Xiao An, the educated youth, you release him first."

An Zhixia raised her eyebrows, let go of her hands, and patted them: "Okay, I'll see how sincere you are. If your sincerity is not enough, then I'll have to go to Comrade Cui Tianhao's factory."

Second Aunt Cui put her clothes in order, suppressed her anger and walked into the Cui family. Hearing this, she gritted her teeth and said, "Xiao An, the educated youth, you'd better think before you do anything, don't steal a chicken and lose the rice. Don't you care about your reputation?"

"Oh, can reputation be used as food and drink? I've been taken advantage of by others. If I don't stand up, I might be cheated and left with nothing left."

At this moment, all the villagers were coming to the canteen after work. Cui Chengjun did not dare to delay and led people to the village committee nearby.

Fang Yuan, the educated youth, and the village chief and his son entered the house.

Cui Chengjun also left behind some able-bodied men from the Cui family, and the two groups stood on each side.

"Let's not talk about this matter for now. Zheng Lizhi, are you educated youth sure you want to form a united front with the An brothers and sisters? You should know that gathering a crowd to cause trouble is a bad thing. If it causes any bad influence, your files will be marked with a new entry, and your hope of returning to the city will be even slimmer." Cui Chengjun poured himself a glass of water, glanced at the group of educated youth, and said lightly.

No one in the room spoke, and everyone was watching their attitude.

Liu Yiyue twisted the flesh on Zheng Lizhi's waist and said, "I told you that dinner is about to start, why did you come to join in the fun? With the village chief and the party secretary here, they will definitely give the An brothers and sisters an explanation."

As she spoke, she smiled sheepishly at the crowd and said, "Children can't stand being hungry. Let's eat first. Our Hetang Village is a good place. This matter will definitely be resolved satisfactorily." She took Zheng Lizhi's hand and turned away.

Qin Dapeng, Shan Teng and Fei Zheng also showed signs of struggle on their faces.

"Comrades, it's great that you can accompany us here. Thank you. The food in the cafeteria cannot wait for anyone." An Zhiqiu nodded to them in thanks.

"Okay, if you need anything, just ask," Qin Dapeng and Shan Teng patted his shoulders and walked out. Fei Zheng, on the other hand, only told Qin Dapeng and the other two to help her get food, and gritted her teeth and didn't leave.

(End of this chapter)