After Wang Zixiang and Wang Zichao gained favor, their family's life became much better. Wang's mother no longer had to do housework and could stay at home to take care of her grandsons and cook.
The villagers were incredibly envious, and Wang Zixiang and Ye Yunyi would help them whenever they could. Actually, there wasn't much work to do in winter; after clearing the land, they started planting peas and later-season wheat. Although everyone was busy, those who worked with Ye Yunyi and her team weren't whipped and could occasionally take a break. Wang Zixiang transferred the older workers to their group.
Those grandparents, uncles, and aunts were extremely grateful.
Shi Zhancai came here alone. He usually had two loyal lackeys by his side, but gradually, those two lackeys began to outwardly comply while inwardly disobeying him, and even slowly distanced themselves from him. This made Shi Zhancai, who had always been high and mighty, feel very uncomfortable.
Especially after seeing Wang Zixiang replace him in such a short time, he was even more resentful, cursing Wang Zixiang's ancestors for 18 generations in his heart, but he had to put on a smiling face when he saw him. Sometimes, when he was drunk, he would ask, "Old Wang, how come you are so capable? I have never treated you badly before, it is not fair of you to treat me like this."
Wang Zixiang's eyes were icy, but he said, "Brother, you're being too polite. We're all doing this for Brother Hu, serving the higher-ups. Why be so formal? But I really do want to thank you, otherwise I wouldn't be where I am today."
Shi Zhan returned to his room, feeling unwell from drinking too much, when suddenly a man walked in—it was the dog he had his eye on earlier.
Gouzi was a native of Wangjia Village. He hadn't received much education growing up and had started working outside at a very young age. Being so young, he relied on swindling and cheating to make a living. After the zombie virus outbreak, he returned home.
The villagers disliked him because he would deceive anyone, as long as he could. He would deceive his parents, relatives, neighbors, brothers, women, bosses, the elderly, and children. He would deceive anyone, even the most obnoxious, as long as there was profit to be made.
When Wang Zixiang was being foolish, he was also deceived by him. Before that, he could no longer join Brother Hu's team and could only do hard and tiring work like those villagers.
Seeing Shi Zhancai's disappointment, he thought it was an opportunity. So when Shi Zhancai was all alone, he seized the chance to get close to him.
Having navigated the complexities of society for so long, he possesses the ability to judge character. His reputation is poor; Wang Zixiang, having been deceived by him, naturally wouldn't accept him. Even if Shi Zhancai looks down on him, since he has no one else to rely on, he has no choice but to depend on himself.
"Brother Shi, are you feeling unwell? Have some water." Gouzi poured a glass of water and handed it to Shi Zhancai's lips, slowly feeding him the water.
Shi Zhancai drank some water and felt a bit better. Leaning against the pillow that Gouzi had propped up for him, he asked, "Gouzi, what are you doing here?"
"Brother Shi, I overheard your conversation with Wang Zixiang. He's really gone too far, what an ungrateful bastard! How could he treat you like this? Ever since he arrived, all he does is fawn over you, like he's drugged Brother Hu. You did so well before, and what has he done besides making Brother Hu happy and seeking benefits for his own family? He's not even as good as one of your toes," Gouzi said, his voice slightly indignant.
"Heh." Shi Zhancai sneered, but Gouzi's words struck a chord with him. He looked down on Wang Zixiang, a complete idiot, brainless, lacking courage, and soft-hearted, even worse than his wife. So in this situation, he was even more convinced that Wu Bohu was also an idiot. These street thugs, guys who came out of prison, were all all brawn and no brains.
"Hey, Brother Shi, you're so amazing, why do you need to serve someone else as your boss? Wouldn't it be better if you were the boss yourself?" Gouzi looked at him with bright eyes.
Gouzi had his own ideas. If Shi Zhancai became the boss, wouldn't he be the second-in-command? Wouldn't he get whatever Shi Zhancai said, live a life of luxury, be waited on hand and foot every day, and not have to do any work? How wonderful!
Let those who look down on him open their eyes and teach them to look down on others.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Upon hearing this, Shi Zhancai reflexively retorted. Even if he had such thoughts, he shouldn't have said them out loud. Countless times, he felt that Wu Bohu was not a leader at all. He only bullied others, spoke vulgarly, and had terrible taste. It was shameful for him to be subordinate to him.
"This isn't nonsense. That's what I really think, and that's what everyone thinks too. He's cruel and vicious, only knowing how to bully people. As long as you agree, we'll definitely stand by your side." Gouzi could tell that Shi Zhancai wasn't really angry, which is why he dared to speak so boldly.
"Oh? You guys?" Shi Zhancai asked in return.
"Yeah, you don't know, me, Xiaoshanzi, Xiaoqiangzi, and a lot of other people think you're more suitable," Gouzi replied. However, Xiaoshanzi and Xiaoqiangzi are just as reckless as him, and they share his thoughts, so it's not exactly a lie.
"Alright, you can go back now. I need to rest." Shi Zhancai didn't say anything; he was being cautious.
"Okay, Brother Shi, you get some rest. I'll come see you tomorrow. We're always ready."
After Gouzi left, Shi Zhancai remained silent for a long time. Fueled by alcohol, he thought, "So what if they rebel? What's the big deal?"
After that, Shi Zhan became increasingly approachable. He forbade everyone from arbitrarily beating or scolding them, and even suggested leaving get off work at 6 p.m. every day so that everyone could go home earlier. This was a good policy, and Wang Zixiang chimed in, while Wu Bohu agreed.
However, Gouzi and others exaggerated this benefit, claiming it was something Shi Zhancai had worked incredibly hard to obtain, which won them a lot of goodwill.
Even the people supervising their work were happy, because they could leave work two hours early so they could gamble, drink, and find women.
Oh, women, well, there are still a few young single women in the village, and some women who were originally morally questionable, who also gave themselves to them in order to gain some benefits and convenience.
Ye Yunyi and Wang Zixiang knew everything Shi Zhancai did, because after having a drink with Wang Zichao, Gouzi (Shi Zhancai's nickname) decided that Wang Zichao was his assistant. He also liked to boast, so he told Shi Zhancai everything.
“Let’s help him.” Ye Yunyi said with ill intent, “His abilities are too weak. It’s been several days and he’s only managed to subdue this rabble.”
“We were so stupid before, being tricked by such a scumbag and unable to get away. Xiao Ran, you pretend to surrender and help him turn some of Wu Bohu’s men against him. Be careful to maintain a delicate balance. I want them to fight.”
"Let's fight! Let's fight!" My little nephew Junjun suddenly shouted.
It made everyone burst into laughter.
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