What you say isn't necessarily effective; you must put it in writing and provide evidence.
Secretary Qi laughed and said, "Then Secretary Chen, please give me a note, so that people from other villages won't be jealous. Also, I'll be able to explain to the villagers that I brought so many elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people back today."
Director Chen would be more than happy to have these people settled.
The world is in chaos now, but even a remote place like Taoyuan County is doing relatively well. Not all of these people are truly wicked; they haven't killed anyone or committed arson. They've just been criticized and persecuted for some reasons, and now that they're in this situation, they can at least have a couple of peaceful days if they go to Qijia Village.
In reality, most officials see this and understand it, but to avoid getting themselves into trouble, they can only let the fire continue to burn these people. These people are already suffering enough; there's no need to keep tormenting them. Giving them a way out is just to make their own work easier.
"Alright, I'll get you a certificate," Director Chen said. Anyway, there were such regulations from above, so it wasn't considered a violation of discipline.
Secretary Qi was overjoyed and said, "Thank you very much, Director Chen."
A short while later, Secretary Qi arrived with the certificate issued by Director Chen, as well as the list and certificates of those to be received in labor reform.
"Alright, the commune is far from your Qijia Village, so you should go back early before it gets dark and the roads become difficult to travel." Director Chen hoped to get these people off as soon as possible, as he would then have finished his work for the day and could relax for a while.
Secretary Qi was pleased to receive the compensation and said with a smile, "Alright, I'll arrange for people to leave right now. I see there are two people who can't even stand up. Luckily, I brought the oxcart over, otherwise I wouldn't know how to get them away."
"Don't worry, the grain will be delivered to you in a few days," Director Chen said. Sigh, it's all a headache. This grain comes from Taoyuan County's budget, which is already meager, and now it's even less. Fortunately, the school is closed, reducing some expenses.
However, as a scholar himself, Director Chen felt both relieved that the closure of schools would reduce government spending and uneasy. He sighed, wondering if all the children in the country would become blind if no one went to school and classes were suspended. He also wondered how the country would be managed when his generation grew old.
These obvious problems go unspoken, but that doesn't mean they don't understand them.
Many people know that this situation won't last long, but they don't know how long it will take to return to normal.
With Director Chen's assurance, Secretary Qi felt relieved. Just then, he saw Qi Ergou coming over and said, "Ergou, drive that oxcart over there and lift these people onto it."
"Yes!" Qi Ergou always listened to Secretary Qi when he was outside. He would do whatever Secretary Qi asked him to do.
The oxcart arrived, and Qi Ergou and the two men who had been lying on the ground were lifted onto it. These men hadn't bathed in a long time, and they reeked. However, Qi Ergou, who came from a poor family, didn't show any disgust.
"Xiao Yan, Tian Yatou, you two go up too. It's such a long way, how can you two young girls walk back!" Secretary Qi said. As for those who could stand, let them walk on their own. He couldn't let his precious daughter get tired.
Qi Xiaoyan looked at the listless labor reformers and felt very sorry for them. She shook her head and said, "Never mind, Dad, let them ride in the oxcart. I'll walk back."
Secretary Qi frowned. Why doesn't this girl know how to enjoy life?
Niu Dajun walked up from the side, head held high, and said, "Uncle Qi, I am Niu Dajun. I was a soldier under Company Commander Qi. I just retired from the military and now work at the post office. If I need to go to Qijia Village, I can take Xiaoyan and Tiantian with me on my bicycle."
Secretary Qi then recognized Niu Dajun, patted him on the shoulder, and chuckled, "Oh, it's you! Since you're going to Qi Family Village, help me take care of these two girls." Secretary Qi wouldn't trust anyone else, but he trusted Niu Dajun completely.
This is my son's good friend; he's trustworthy.
The oxcart was big enough that, including Secretary Qi, eight people could barely fit.
Those in labor camps were very grateful to Secretary Qi when they heard they wouldn't have to walk dozens of miles. Comparisons reveal their differences. Previously, people had to walk behind the carts and weren't even allowed to get on the oxcarts.
Qi Ergou drove the oxcart away from the county town, traveling along the winding mountain road.
Niu Dajun rode his bicycle, already carrying He Tiantian, while Qi Xiaoyan had left earlier.
Secretary Qi sat on the oxcart and, as they passed a stream, said, "Er Gou, let's go to a spot with water up ahead and cool off before we continue."
"Alright!" Qi Ergou replied, then hurried forward for several dozen meters before stopping under a grove of trees.
The seven listless men's eyes lit up when they saw the stream; they hadn't had a drop of water since yesterday and were extremely thirsty.
"Seven elderly gentlemen, I am the village secretary of Qijia Village. I am a rough man and not good at speaking, but some of you are older than my parents and not in good health, which makes me feel uneasy. Here is some water, please have some. I also have some steamed buns, please have something to tide you over." Secretary Qi said sincerely. Ah, to be a good person to the end, in this hot weather, not drinking water will cause heatstroke, and not eating will cause fainting from hunger, let alone for such frail elderly people.
"You're a good man." An old man, still quite healthy, got off the oxcart and went straight to the stream. He washed his face and arms, scooped up some water with both hands, and drank his fill. Then he picked a lotus leaf, filled it with some water, and brought it to the oxcart for his wife to drink.
Secretary Qi smiled bitterly. He didn't know if he was a good person or not, but he just couldn't bear to see these old people suffer like this.
The others did the same, and took the opportunity to relieve themselves in the grove.
Secretary Qi wasn't worried about these people escaping. Staying with them meant they could still eat their fill and survive in the village. Escaping now would be a real crime; if caught, they'd probably lose their lives. These people were all elderly, weak, sick, or disabled, without identification, forced to live like wild men in the deep mountains. Even with such harsh conditions in the mountains, they still wouldn't survive.
Upon returning, Secretary Qi gave each person a steamed bun, which he had secretly asked Qi Ergou to buy. Since his son had instructed him not to make things difficult for these people, Secretary Qi, with the intention of doing a good deed to the end, did his best.
Those people swallowed hard when they saw the steamed buns, but dared not take them.
"Gentlemen, please eat quickly," Secretary Qi said. "It's easier for me if you're healthier. Our village is quite remote, but the people are generally well-behaved. As long as you cooperate with my work, I won't make things difficult for you."
The old man who had just praised Secretary Qi as a good person, surnamed Bai, had a resolute look in his eyes and said bitterly, "Secretary Qi is a straightforward man, and we old folks are grateful to you. Tell us what to do, and we'll do as you say. As long as... as long as we have some food to eat and can survive, that's enough."
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