Chapter 142 Happy Event
After the busy farming season ends, the village's big trees are once again filled with women knitting sweaters and chatting.
Liu Zhixia was with Zhang Xiuying and Da Bao.
Aunt Zhou has been extremely busy lately, but today she finally had some free time, so she came over with her yarn basket.
"Hey, Sister Zhou! You've been so busy lately, is it because Xiao Kai's good news is coming soon?" a sharp-eyed villager joked.
Zhang Xiuying laughed along, "Look at that radiant face, it must be good news!"
Aunt Zhou covered her mouth and chuckled, "There is good news, but it has nothing to do with my son, it's mine!"
These words immediately caused an uproar among those around them.
"Ha! An old tree blossoming?"
Xu Zhihong, always the most gossipy, immediately leaned over and asked, "Who is it? Do we know each other?"
Aunt Zhou blushed and laughed, scolding, "Go away! Don't talk nonsense! The happy event I'm talking about is your career!"
Zhang Xiuying scolded, "Stop hiding it. We've been busy making pickled vegetables these past few days, and you've been running to the next brigade every day. I thought you'd taken a fancy to some old man next door."
Aunt Zhou lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "I went to the next brigade to ask their brigade leader for a recommendation."
Liu Zhixia asked in confusion, "Aren't you already the women's director? What else can you do if you get promoted?"
Aunt Zhou winked at her and smiled meaningfully.
A thought suddenly struck Liu Zhixia, and she widened her eyes in surprise: "Really?"
Aunt Zhou flashed a bright white smile: "Of course it's true! Our brigade is in a mess right now, and someone really needs to step up and clean things up. The Party Secretary has already given his approval, and the brigade leader next door also put in a good word for me. Xiuying, speaking of which, I have to thank your family for giving us a push."
Holding her baby, Zhang Xiuying exclaimed, "If this really works out, it will be a wonderful thing."
Those around were completely confused, scratching their heads in frustration: "What's going on? Why are you speaking in riddles? Explain yourself!"
Just as Aunt Zhou was about to speak, several people wearing red armbands walked over with serious expressions.
Everyone quickly put down what they were doing and went to greet them.
"Comrade, what happened?" Aunt Zhou asked first.
The woman in the red armband glanced at her and nodded slightly: "Of course, I'm here to announce the good news!"
After saying that, each person took out a piece of red paper and stuck it on the brigade's bulletin board with a "snap".
At this moment, Lu Jianping arrived with a beaming smile: "Comrades, what happy occasion is there in our brigade?"
The man in the red armband glanced at him, his tone laced with sarcasm: "Comrade Lu Jianping?"
"Hey! That's me!"
Lu Jianping straightened his collar, smugly saying, "Could it be that I'm being rewarded for what happened at the state-owned factory? Oh, it's all part of what I should do! As the brigade leader, leading the commune members to work hard and get rich is my inescapable responsibility!"
The woman in the red armband curled her lips into a mocking smile: "Is your daughter-in-law a capitalist's daughter?"
Lu Jianping's smile froze instantly.
Before he could defend himself, the man in the red armband continued coldly, "Abuse of power to suppress commune members, fabrication of facts to slander the masses, extortion and bribery—we remember every single one of these things. The higher-ups have decided to remove you from your post and take you back for investigation. Come with us!"
Lu Jianping's face turned deathly pale instantly, as if struck by lightning.
"How could this be... I'm the one who made the greatest contribution!"
"A hero? Where were you when the child was kidnapped? Last time the wildfire was fought by the people who risked their lives to put it out, and you were hiding in the back trying to steal the credit? If you have any complaints, save them for explaining to the leaders!"
Lu Jianping's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground like a rag doll. Two comrades lifted him up on either side and dragged him away like a dead dog.
A villager nearby was dumbfounded: "The brigade leader has been arrested, who's in charge of our brigade now?"
At this moment, Xu Zhihong, after reading the red notice on the bulletin board, excitedly shouted, "Aunt Zhou! You're the new brigade leader!"
One stone stirs up a thousand waves, and everyone rushes to it.
"Really?"
"Aunt Zhou as the brigade leader? This is the first time!"
"However, Aunt Zhou is fair in her dealings and is indeed a good candidate!"
...
Aunt Zhou smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and said heartily, "I was narrow-minded before, thinking that women should just stay behind and make silent sacrifices. But last time Da Bao was kidnapped, it was Xia who risked her life to go to the Shen family to investigate, and it was Shen's eldest daughter-in-law who risked her life to drug him and save the child. It proves that we women can hold up half the sky just as well! That's why I applied to take on this responsibility!"
Xu Zhihong asked excitedly, "Then who will be the women's director?"
Aunt Zhou looked at Zhang Xiuying and smiled, "I recommended Xiuying to my superiors. Although it hasn't been approved yet, if anyone has a suitable candidate, feel free to suggest one!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiuying's face flushed red: "What? You old woman, why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
Aunt Zhou scratched her head sheepishly: "I was just about to tell you this when I was interrupted!"
Liu Zhixia patted Zhang Xiuying on the shoulder and encouraged her, "Mom, I also think you can do it! This job is perfect for you!"
Those around her nodded in agreement, and Zhang Xiuying, steeling herself, declared, "Okay! If everyone trusts me, I will definitely do this job well!"
As everyone was busy offering their congratulations, Xu Zhihong suddenly pulled Liu Zhixia to the other side of the bulletin board: "Sister Xia, look at this!"
Liu Zhixia looked closely and saw that the name "Liu Xiangyang" was written in large characters, followed by "Production Team Leader".
She turned around in surprise: "Mom! Big brother got elected! He's the squad leader!"
The crowd erupted in excitement; the Liu family was experiencing double joy! Everyone offered their congratulations to Zhang Xiuying once again.
Not far away, Lu Huaiyuan stared coldly at all of this, and Liu Zhixia's smile was like needles pricking his eyes.
Lu Xiaohui appeared behind him at some point and said in a low voice, "Are you satisfied now? Dad lost his job because of that capitalist girl you married, and he'll be investigated later. Who knows, he might have to throw up everything he's ever eaten. Now the Liu family is riding high, and without our captain, our Lu family is nothing."
After saying that, she snorted coldly, put on a fawning smile, and turned to squeeze into the celebrating crowd.
Lu Huaiyuan clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth and muttering to himself, "What's a squad leader! I don't even care! Once I'm in the police station, all of you will be begging me on your knees!"
After saying that, he subconsciously looked in the direction of his home and saw Gu Mansheng running hurriedly towards the village entrance, carrying a bulging bundle on her back.
Is this... them getting wind of something and planning to run away?!
Lu Huaiyuan's mind went blank for a second. He chased after her like a madman, grabbed Gu Mansheng's arm, and said in a sinister tone, "Where are you going?"
Gu Mansheng was so startled by this sudden action that she almost dropped her backpack. She turned around and met Lu Huaiyuan's bloodshot eyes. Feeling guilty, she stammered, "I...I went to the city to find my uncle! My father was arrested, and I have to go and plead for him to get him out!"
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