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He Tiantian chuckled and said, "Secretary Qi got promoted because the higher-ups saw that he genuinely works for the people."
Secretary Qi has led Qijia Village to a better life, and he is a rare and valuable village cadre.
"Yes, Dazhu isn't going. He says he's too old and doesn't want to deal with all that nonsense. He just wants to lead Qijia Village well and make our villagers' lives better," Grandma Qi said proudly. "Now that there's a school, some people are doing small businesses near the school. There's a small market behind the school, so people can buy and sell things nearby. It has definitely increased their income and greatly improved their living standards. It's much more convenient than before."
One morning, He Tiantian overheard Grandma Qi talking about Qi Family Village.
Aunt Liu came over with Qi Danu, both carrying things they had just bought.
Qi Daniu is now a student at Huai City Normal School. She's even prettier than before and knows how to dress herself up.
"Sister Tian, I really miss you!" Qi Daniu said. At school, Sister Tian often sent her food and pretty clothes. Many of her classmates envied her for having such a sister.
Because of Sister Tiantian's care, the other classmates did not dare to look down on her.
“I miss you too. How’s it going to university?” He Tiantian asked, really liking Qi Daniu’s simple and kind nature.
“Great, I’ll listen to you and study hard so I can get a scholarship every semester,” Qi Daniu said. “I have two more years until graduation, and then I’ll come to Qijia Village Elementary School to be a teacher.”
"Don't you want to stay in Huai City, or even the county town? You know, if you want, you can achieve that," He Tiantian asked. Young girls like her all wanted to go to the county town.
Upon hearing this, Qi Daniu shook her head and said, "I won't go. I'll come to Qi Family Primary School. This is our village school. I want to come here and properly educate the children of Qi Family Village, just like you taught me back then."
Grandma Qi San patted Qi Daniu's head and said, "It's rare to find a child with such a pure heart! I'm just afraid your mother will be unhappy and wants you to marry into the city."
“What’s so great about the city? I think it’s not as good as our Qijia Village,” Qi Daniu said. “When I get married, I’ll find someone who’s willing to come to Qijia Village with me to teach. Then my mom won’t say anything more.”
"Haha, that works too." He Tiantian praised, "No matter what you do, I'll support you. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me. I live far away, you can contact your Sister Xiaoyan."
"Yes, yes, I remember." Qi Danu nodded repeatedly, smiling.
Grandma Wang and Grandma Qi San helped look after the children, while He Tiantian and Qi Daniu helped prepare lunch.
Cooking is no easy task when it's hot.
Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Sweetie, you should go out now. Daniu and I will cook. You're a guest this time, so we can't let you work too hard."
“Yes, Sister Tian, you should go out quickly,” Qi Daniu chimed in. “Otherwise, you’ll be covered in grease and smoke, and the kids will dislike you.”
Seeing the two of them like this, He Tiantian had no choice but to leave.
Grandma Qi chuckled and said, "Hehe, you don't need to bother. Let Aunt Liu do it. She's a very honest person. If you do it, she'll feel bad."
"Oh," He Tiantian said with a smile, "Then I'll just eat what's ready."
The room was previously occupied by Qi Zhengmin, who has now returned to the United States for some business.
However, Qi Zhengmin would be coming back later, so He Tiantian stayed in the guest room, the same room that He Jingyu and Wang Shuping used to live in. It was quite large and had two beds, just enough for the family of four.
Aunt Liu is usually very diligent; she often airs out her quilts, and her bedroom is very clean.
The house is surrounded by tall trees, which block out the sunlight, making it cool even at the hottest time of the day.
After dinner, Aunt Liu and Qi Danu went home.
Qi Xiaoyan and Niu Dajun took the child back to their parents' home.
After the child fell asleep, He Tiantian and Huo Yingjie took gifts and went to Secretary Qi's house.
Secretary Qi was very pleased and warmly welcomed the couple.
Liang Hongyu, Qi Xiaoyan, and He Tiantian were chatting in the side room, while Old Man Qi, Secretary Qi, Huo Yingjie, and Niu Dajun were chatting in the main room.
"Yingjie, I really want to thank you and your father this time. If you hadn't told me the truth before the New Year, I wouldn't have dared to distribute the land to individual households," said Secretary Qi. Last year, he withstood the pressure and accepted the task assigned by the county committee.
Huo Yingjie smiled and said, "Uncle Qi, you don't need to be so polite. This is the general trend, it's inevitable, and you are genuinely doing things for the people. We're all fellow villagers, it's nothing."
"We also have to thank you and your father, as well as Tian Tian's father. Our Qi Family Village's peach orchard is famous far and wide," Secretary Qi said. Every year, thanks to the peach orchard, each household can receive a considerable amount of money, and they live a very good life.
“Hehe, we’ve made so many relatives and friends in Qijia Village, it’s all been worth it,” Huo Yingjie said. “My father-in-law often mentions you in his letters, and I still have one of his letters here.”
Huo Yingjie presented his father-in-law's letter to Secretary Qi.
Secretary Qi was excited. He quickly tore open the envelope, read the letter, and said, "Great, great! Although we can't meet often, we are still very good friends. I hope he can get used to life abroad."
“My father-in-law often says the same thing,” Huo Yingjie said. “Now that transportation is inconvenient, we’ll invite you to travel abroad when it’s more convenient.”
“Okay, we’re not as secretive about foreign countries as we used to be,” Secretary Qi said. “The cannery we’re building in our village will be operational by autumn. We’ll have plenty of workers in our village then, and we’ll get dividends at the end of the year. My only fear is that things will turn out like before, and we’ll be seen as cutting off the tail of capitalism.”
"Hehe, no way," Huo Yingjie said. "This is a village-run factory, it's collectively owned. No matter what, you won't have any trouble."
Secretary Qi was slightly relieved upon hearing this and smiled, "That's good. From now on, we can work with peace of mind."
"You can work with confidence and boldness. Qijia Village will continue to be at the forefront of Taoyuan County," Huo Yingjie said. "By the way, I heard someone offered you a job at the county committee. Why didn't you go?"
Upon hearing this, Secretary Qi shook his head and chuckled, saying, "I'm too old to bother with all this. The back-and-forth travel is too exhausting. I just want to live a peaceful life on my little plot of land in Qijia Village. As for those messy affairs, I don't want to get involved."
His in-law, Niu Peng, had tried to persuade him, but Secretary Qi simply wouldn't agree.
Being an official is good, but if he goes to the county party committee, then the village party secretary position in Qijia Village will fall into the hands of Qi Shuli.
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