Secretary Wen watched Xu Kuo leave, then turned to Wang Wenchang and said, "Wenchang, you should go back too. There's a lot of work waiting for you at the newspaper."
Wang Wenchang nodded, turned and left, leaving Secretary Wen and Shi Jixing behind.
“Jixing,” Secretary Wen said earnestly, “I know you’re upset, but Comrade Xu Kuo is truly capable. You should try to avoid getting angry with him and learn more from his strengths.”
Shi Jixing lowered his head and replied, "Yes, Secretary Wen, I understand." But inside, he was seething with resentment, gritting his teeth: Xu Kuo, you just wait, this isn't over! I, Shi Jixing, have been in the county committee for so many years, do you think you, a mere peasant, can suppress me? I'll find a chance to make you suffer a great defeat!
On the other side, Niu Erbao rushed home, only to be stunned as soon as he entered the door.
The table was laden with steaming hot food: steamed buns, scrambled eggs, and even a plate of braised pork! This was something I would never have dared to dream of under normal circumstances.
"Mom, where...where did this come from?" Niu Erbao's eyes widened, his face full of confusion. How could he not know the situation at home? Forget meat, they were almost out of even their coarse grains!
Zhang Guifang proudly raised her head, her eyebrows dancing with excitement: "Where did you get them? Didn't you get them from your good teacher Xu Kuo! He gave you plenty of grain coupons and meat coupons! Erbao, you'd better be more careful in the future, and don't keep hanging around with Xu Kuo. That guy is very cunning!"
"If it weren't for Mother's cleverness in getting some grain and meat coupons back, and instead using the abandoned farmland, I don't know if several members of our family would have starved to death."
Upon hearing this, Niu Erbao flew into a rage: "Mother! How could you do this? Brother Xu has been so good to our family, how could you do such a thing? Return the things right now!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifang immediately became displeased. Hands on her hips, she raised her voice eight octaves: "Go back? You silly boy, you won't take advantage of a free lunch? Are you out of your mind? I'm only doing this for your own good! What kind of future can you possibly have learning farming from Xu Kuo? You might as well sever ties with him as soon as possible!"
"I don't think he has any skills at all. Not only has he not taught you anything, but he's also started tricking you into raising fish."
"Mom, why don't you understand? Brother Xu is genuinely good to me, he's not a bad person!" Niu Erbao stamped his feet anxiously, but he was tongue-tied and couldn't win against Zhang Guifang.
Thinking back to how Xu Kuo had dealt with Wang Lai for him, a trace of gratitude still lingered in his heart.
"Pah! Sincere? If he really cared about you, would he only give you this little bit? Let me tell you, Erbao, you can't judge a book by its cover, don't be fooled by him!" Zhang Guifang became more and more agitated as she spoke, her spittle almost spraying onto Niu Erbao's face.
"If you ask me, the most important thing is for you to cut ties with him and go back to farming."
Niu Erbao was trembling with anger. He knew he couldn't reason with Zhang Guifang, so he turned and ran out of the house. He was going to apologize to Xu Kuo; he had to give Xu Kuo an explanation for this!
Zhang Guifang, furious, yelled from behind, "You brat! You've forgotten your mother now that you have a master! Come back here! I'll break your legs!"
Niu Erbao ran all the way to Xu Kuo's house and happened to see Xu Kuo and Jiang Xiuying having dinner.
"Niu Erbao is here? Come in and have something to eat," Xu Kuo greeted him warmly.
Niu Erbao walked in somewhat awkwardly, and when he saw the sumptuous dishes on the table, he was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth.
White rice, stir-fried vegetables, and a huge bowl of fish! This... this is too extravagant! These days, it's good enough to just fill your stomach, yet Brother Xu's family is eating so well! It's even better than the meal they just had at home.
Xu Kuo saw through Niu Erbao's thoughts and knew that he had come because of Zhang Guifang's matter, so he got straight to the point: "Erbao, your mother came to see me and asked for grain coupons and meat coupons."
Upon hearing this, Niu Erbao's face flushed red instantly. He lowered his head and whispered in a voice barely audible, "Master, I'm sorry, I... I apologize to you on behalf of my mother. Please don't be angry."
"I'll find a way to return those food and meat coupons to you."
Xu Kuo smiled and said gently, "I only gave her grain and meat coupons after I made some conditions. From now on, you'll raise fish with me, and we'll split the profits 20/80. I'll take 80%, and you'll take 20%. What do you think of this?"
Niu Erbao was stunned for a moment. He didn't refute it, but just kept apologizing: "Master, don't listen to my mother's nonsense. I... I didn't think that way. I'm really sorry."
Xu Kuo waved his hand, interrupting Niu Erbao: "Erbao, I don't blame you. How about we split it 50/50?"
Niu Erbao suddenly raised his head, his face filled with disbelief: "Master, this...this won't do! My mother..."
“Erbao, listen to me,” Xu Kuo said firmly. “We agreed on a 50/50 split. I, Xu Kuo, keep my word and won’t change my mind just because of your mother. But you can’t tell your mother about this. Let’s just say it’s still a 20/80 split, okay?”
Niu Erbao felt a surge of emotion; he knew Xu Kuo was looking out for him. He nodded vigorously, "Brother Xu, I'll listen to you! I promise I won't tell my mother! Thank you, Brother Xu!"
Just then, a villager rushed in, holding a letter in his hand: "Xu Kuo, your letter! It's from the county!"
Xu Kuo took the letter, opened it, and was immediately overjoyed. The letter said that he had arranged five stalls in the vegetable market, and they could start operating tomorrow!
"Great!" Xu Kuo said excitedly to Niu Erbao, "Erbao, go back and get ready, we'll go to the county town's vegetable market tomorrow!"
No sooner had Niu Erbao left than a series of loud knocks began at Xu Kuo's house, making everyone uneasy.
"Who is it?" Jiang Xiuying was a little scared and subconsciously moved closer to Xu Kuo.
Xu Kuo frowned and got up to open the door. As soon as the latch was pulled off, he saw Tan Wang's arrogant face, holding a letter in his hand, followed by several shady-looking thugs. It was clear that he was not there for any good.
Xu Kuo's mind went blank; this guy was probably here to cause trouble again.
“Xu Kuo, I remember you seem to know a bit, do you want to help me with the accounts?” Tan Wang’s lips curled up as he waved the letter in his hand in front of Xu Kuo. “Look closely, I have a stall in the vegetable market now! I’m about to become rich.”
Xu Kuo's eyes narrowed. He knew, of course, that Tan Wang was deliberately showing off. He didn't deign to even glance at such a clown. "No need, I don't care. Get lost if you have nothing else to do, don't get in my way!"
Tan Wang was speechless and turned ashen-faced by Xu Kuo's words. He was used to being domineering and arrogant, and when had he ever been confronted like this?
"Xu Kuo, you son of a bitch, don't push your luck! I'm here today to give you a chance to work for me! My stall is doing great business, and you're good at math, so you can manage the accounts for me!" Tan Wang's words seemed to be giving Xu Kuo a chance, but in reality, they were full of condescension and contempt.
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