Wang Hongzhao pointed at Zhang Cheng and the others, while Su Hao looked distressed: "They're different from you guys."
"How is it different?" a man from Wang Village couldn't help but retort. "They go to work, but we don't?"
"Officer, are you trying to discriminate?"
Before Su Hao could explain, Zhangjia Village was in an uproar.
Zhang Jucai had the loudest voice: "Old Guo, what are you talking about! We're just here to eat at the police station, what's wrong with you?"
"The people from Wang Village are shameless. They come all the way to the county and think they can sleep in the police station? Do they think they're some big shot?"
"The police officers at the station are so busy, why should they arrange accommodation for you? Weren't you quite capable of collecting Polygonatum and Panax notoginseng a while ago? If you have money, why don't you stay in a guesthouse?"
An aunt from Zhangjia Village, known for her quick wit and outspokenness:
"They're staying in a guesthouse, my foot! Er Gouzi already said he'd booked all the decent guesthouses for us!"
People from Wang Village also retorted, "Zhang Jucai, our coming to the police station is none of your business!"
The more the two sides argued, the angrier they became.
Zhangjia Village has a large population, so the insults they hurled were even harsher. One old woman was stomping her feet, spitting everywhere.
Pointing at the other side, they'd immediately start cursing the other person's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Liu Zhongren felt a chill run down his spine and quickly stepped forward to separate the crowd; if the cursing continued, a fight was inevitable.
Zhang Cheng also spoke up at the opportune moment:
"Uncles and aunts, you must be hungry after walking for so long. The canteen has prepared noodles, or they'll get soggy."
The old village chief, leaning on his cane, slammed his fist down: "Folks, when you're out in the world, don't embarrass Er Gouzi! Come on, let's go eat some noodles!"
"Yes, let's go eat some hot noodles and make them drool!"
"You guys from Wang Village, just you wait and see, hahaha!"
Led by Zhang Cheng, more than a hundred people from Zhangjia Village, heads held high and chests puffed out like victorious roosters, surged toward the canteen.
The villagers of Wangcun had ashen faces, their carrying poles creaking in their grip. If they weren't afraid of being at the police station, they would have dared to fight even if they were outnumbered.
The police station canteen is quite large, but with more than a hundred people crammed in, it suddenly felt incredibly crowded.
Zhang Cheng bought the noodles out of his own pocket, and he also paid for the cook and helpers; they only borrowed the police station's space.
Because of the favors they received regarding the major case on October 12th, the police station was naturally happy to help.
Besides noodles, there were also large chunks of boiled pork, weighing over 30 jin (approximately 15 kg), with an irresistible aroma.
While the villagers of Zhangjia Village were enjoying their meal, Su Hao led about fifty people from Wang Village into the canteen.
Su Hao was also at a loss; with so many people, he simply had nowhere to put them.
I was thinking of letting the people from Zhangjia Village finish eating, tidy up a bit, and let them spend the night there. We couldn't just leave them out in the cold wind all the time.
As soon as the people from Wang Village entered, the villagers from Zhangjia Village ate even more heartily, the sounds of slurping noodles rising and falling, deliberately tempting others.
The aroma of the boiled pork was even more irresistible.
Wang Tong stared longingly at Li Xiaotao, who was eating with grease on his face not far away. His Adam's apple bobbed as he cursed inwardly.
Why do they get to live such a lavish lifestyle?
Hmph! Once we sell our herbs, I'll eat boiled pork every day, right in front of you all!
He stood on tiptoe and looked around, trying to find Wang Jian to discuss whether or not to go to the supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow, but he couldn't find him. "Where's Jianzi? Has anyone seen Jianzi?"
Where did Jianzi go?
"The State of Wei has also disappeared!"
"Damn it, Jianzi and Weiguo, could they be lost?"
"How could someone so old get lost!"
"Where are they?"
"Go find the police!"
Su Hao rushed over upon hearing the news, and was immediately overwhelmed to learn that two people had gone missing from Wang Village.
"Don't worry, folks, as long as they're in the county seat, we guarantee we'll find them!"
Su Hao patted his chest and made a promise, then rushed to the office.
More than half an hour later, the people of Zhangjia Village had eaten and drunk their fill.
They glanced sideways at the Wangcun villagers huddled in the southeast corner of the canteen, their faces full of mockery.
When you're full, you tend to get bored easily.
Zhang Cheng quickly called out to everyone, "Uncles and aunts, after you've eaten, go to the guesthouse to rest. We have things to do tomorrow!"
He led a large group of people away from the police station.
Zhao Daming arrived at the canteen just in time. Looking at the fifty or so people from Wang Village, he rubbed his temples with a headache.
Liu Zhongren had already explained the general situation to him.
Zhao Daming asked a few more questions himself, and felt that this matter was likely to encounter more twists and turns.
The municipal party committee was so considerate of Zhang Cheng, even asking him to stop selling herbal gift boxes, but these people...
They collected tens of thousands of kilograms of medicinal herbs and wanted to sell them to the supply and marketing cooperative at a low price.
These villagers are oversimplifying the problem.
Meanwhile, Zhang Cheng arranged for the 157 people to stay in two guesthouses. Since there weren't enough beds, two people shared each one.
Uncle Mancang and the others have also been discharged from the hospital and moved into the guesthouse together.
After settling everything in, Zhang Cheng went to the public bathhouse for a relaxing bath.
Zhangjia Village.
Almost all the young and middle-aged people aged 18 to 50 had gone to the county town, leaving the village empty and unusually quiet.
A large house.
Old Zhang squatted on the doorstep, puffing on his pipe one puff after another. Smoke swirled around him, and he squinted, whether from the smoke or from deep thought, it was hard to tell.
His mother came out of the house and gently kicked his waist: "Honey, it's still cold, what are you doing sitting here?"
"It's nothing." Old Zhang stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and dusted off his backside.
"With Er Ya's belly... do you really think she can have a natural birth?"
"Honey, isn't this how our ancestors have always had children? Don't listen to that ingrate's nonsense."
My mother gets angry whenever she mentions Zhang Cheng. "Now everyone in the village is completely bewitched by that ingrate. They'll regret it sooner or later!"
Before the words were finished, Er Ya's terrified scream suddenly came from inside the room: "Anzi! Anzi... I think my water broke!"
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