Chapter 46
Zhao Weiguo lingered in front of the counter. Postal workers were sorting packages and letters for dispatch. Seeing him pacing back and forth, one of them turned and asked, "Are you picking up a package or mailing a letter?"
He caught a glimpse of Qiu Zeming riding away on his bike from the corner of his eye. He quickly walked to the phone and said, "I'm calling."
The call was successfully transferred, and his buddy Peng Zhen's voice came from the microphone: "Weiguo?"
Zhao Weiguo glanced at the busy post office staff over there and whispered, "What's going on?"
Peng Zhen chuckled teasingly from the phone, "Hey, that comrade is quite pretty. You're not just venting your anger because you were rejected in your pursuit, are you?"
A bright little face flashed through Zhao Weiguo's mind, and he muttered, "What's the point of having a pretty face? She's like a hedgehog, we can't afford to serve her. Tell me, how's it going?"
"Not so good. I'm in the city on business. My boss investigated me and didn't even criticize me. And today I was in the mood to take the two kids to the park. And besides, she almost found out..."
Zhao Weiguo was speechless: "She doesn't even know you, what the hell did you find?"
The person on the other end of the line lit a cigarette, took a drag, and laughed, "I'm guilty, okay? She suddenly turned around and looked around, which scared me. I was worried she'd be arrested as a whore again, so I quickly left."
He added, "That's enough. It's quite a long trip from Fengchang District, and I have to go to work tomorrow."
Zhao Weiguo said unhappily, "You weren't fooled by her face, were you? I'm telling you, this person is not very good."
Peng Zhen grew impatient and said, "What else do you want? They have legitimate reasons and can't be deported. Okay, just make things a little more difficult for them."
"She has breaks from work, and her hours are long. Why doesn't she travel back and forth instead of staying in the city? She's just looking for an excuse to stay home, which is definitely against the rules." Zhao Weiguo glanced at the busy staff at the counter and lowered his voice, "Add another ten kilograms of fine grain. Make an anonymous call to the neighborhood committee to put pressure on them, threatening to report them to their superiors for inaction if they don't persuade her to return. Of course, you don't have to actually report them."
"I'll also call her parents at the factory, and we'll work together."
Peng Zhen agreed because of the additional ten kilograms of fine grain.
Zhao Weiguo hung up the phone and said to the busy staff over there: "I'll call again."
After saying that, he dialed again.
At the Second Spinning Mill, Shao Kangwei, who was reading a newspaper, picked up the phone: "Hello, Qiyang Second Spinning Mill, who is this?"
Zhao Weiguo said in a serious tone, "Hello, I'm reporting that the family of a factory employee who went to the countryside has been stranded in the city for a long time. The family member's name is Zhou Jiani. Please investigate and persuade them to return in time to avoid any negative impact."
Shao Kangwei glanced out the window and saw Zhou Jiani disappearing around the corner. He said calmly, "This is indeed a serious incident. Wait a moment while I record it."
He asked casually, "What's your name, comrade? What's your company? Could you also tell me the name of the person you're reporting on, and their parents' information..."
"An anonymous report." Zhao Weiguo's eyes lit up with excitement as he heard this was a good opportunity. He lowered his voice and said, "The educated youth's name is Zhou Jiani. I don't know her parents' names, but I know they are employees of your factory."
"Alright, may I ask how you knew this Comrade Zhou... was stranded in the city? We need detailed information to investigate."
Zhao Weiguo was a little impatient when asked, and blurted out: "I went to the countryside with her, how could I not know whether she came back or not?"
Shao Kangwei: "What's your last name?"
"No need to bother... I'm anonymous!"
After hanging up the phone, Zhao Weiguo thought to himself that it was a close call, he almost got exposed.
I felt a little sad when paying the phone bill, but when I thought about making Zhou Jiani unhappy, it was worth it.
Let her brag, selling vegetables is a big deal? Selling two baskets is a big deal? If she were sent back to the city, he would be able to do the same. Why is she the only one who can go back to the city and stay there for so long?
It would be best if the news of her being reported could be passed back to the brigade, so that old man Zhang Baosheng would be worried about the bad influence. Next time he has to go on a business trip to the provincial capital, he can avoid Zhou Jiani and let these people take turns.
Zhao Weiguo left the post office in a cheerful mood, pushed the bicycle that everyone at the educated youth point had bought together, and hurried to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some snacks. He then returned to the team humming a tune all the way.
As soon as I got back to the village, I went to find Liu Ailing.
Ai Ling had a miserable life. A few days ago, she cried and told him about her childhood environment. With parents like that, it was obvious that her parents would blame her for any conflict with Zhou Jiani.
Poor girl, as beautiful as a flower, has to endure all this.
Her parents don't love her, and her friends are so narrow-minded that they would yell at the whole village for the smallest thing without considering Ailing's future situation in the village at all.
When Zhou Jiani was mentioned at that time, Zhao Weiguo was filled with indignation. She was happily staying in the city to celebrate the festival, but they were in this remote place and couldn't even eat mooncakes.
You Qi Ai Ling said with a longing look on her face, "I envy Jiani so much. Her family loves her so much. She must be so happy to be back with her parents this time." She smiled bitterly and said, "I'm sorry for causing you trouble. If it weren't for me, you and Jiani wouldn't have any conflicts. After all, she can bring you some things when she goes back."
Zhao Weiguo sneered, "I care?" Then he said righteously, "Don't always take the responsibility on yourself in the future. I just don't like her. It has nothing to do with you."
Zhou Jiani is happy? How can that be? He won't let her be happy.
He went back with a smile on his face, found Liu Ailing, stuffed the snack into her hand, and said with a grin, "I bought this for you, eat it!"
Liu Ailing handed it back to him with a stern look. "Comrade Zhao Weiguo, if you keep doing this I'll be angry. This isn't the way to spend money." She lowered her voice and said, "These things are just for the taste buds. They're not practical. If you use the money you'd spend on snacks, you can buy two full meals of fine grains from the villagers. At the very least, you could buy some meat to fill your stomach."
Without waiting for Zhao Weiguo to speak, she continued, "Forget it, forget it. Besides, I'm afraid you'll find it annoying. But if you're too lazy to do it, or don't have the patience to haggle with your fellow villagers, I'll help you collect it."
Zhao Weiguo was so touched that he immediately took out two yuan and handed it over, saying with a smile: "Comrade Ai Ling, I, Zhao Weiguo, still say the same thing. You are the most enthusiastic and kind comrade I have ever met. Take this snack as a reward for your hard work."
He smiled mysteriously and said, "By the way, just wait and see Zhou Jiani come back in disgrace."
After saying this, he raised his chin proudly and prepared to ride his bike back to the educated youth point.
At this time, the loudspeaker sounded, and Zhang Baosheng's voice came from the loudspeaker: "Team leaders, hurry up and go to the village committee for a meeting; team leaders, hurry up and go to the village committee for a meeting..."
Zhao Weiguo suddenly turned his head to look at Liu Ailing, his face showing ecstasy. No way, no way? As expected, you have to use both ends. This speed is too fast!
Liu Ailing looked confused and asked, "What's wrong? Weiguo, what did you do? What happened to Jiani?"
"Don't worry about it. Don't get involved in this matter. I'm going to the village committee to see what's going on."
The two biggest things in the village these days are the broken baskets and the greenhouse that has not yet been built.
He heard that the baskets would be shipped soon, and the greenhouse would take two days to deal with. He couldn't think of any other important matter that required calling all the team leaders to a meeting at the village committee.
It’s possible that the news of Zhou Jiani being reported has been reported back.
This remote little place is just not good enough. They have never seen the world and think that such a trivial matter is worthy of a meeting.
Zhao Weiguo stomped his legs hard, pedaled hard, and headed to the village committee without a care in the world, despite the bumpy ride. He wanted to get firsthand information so he could come back and tell Comrade Liu Ailing and cheer the poor girl up.
Meanwhile, within minutes of Zhou Jiani's entrance, Yu Huifang returned, sullenly saying, "He's at it again, Nini. Shao Kangwei said you left and right away someone called to report you. They said it was the educated youth who went to the countryside with you."
Zhou Jiani was shocked: "It really is Liu Ailing?"
"No, it's a man."
Yu Huifang also subconsciously thought it was Liu Ailing at the time, but Shao Kangwei said it was a man.
Zhou Jiani narrowed her eyes, she had a rough idea who it was.
Knowing who it was, he felt relieved and said with a smile, "Then there's no need to worry."
"He's jumping up and down to report you, biting you like a dog and refusing to let go. Aren't you anxious?"
Jiang Xinfeng came over and asked, "Do you know who it is?"
Zhou Jiani raised her eyebrows and chuckled: "I know, a grasshopper after autumn."
Let him jump around first.
At this time, the village committee and team leaders of the Qianjin Brigade had gathered. Zhang Baosheng said, "After work, go to each household and inform them that Comrade Zhou Jiani has helped the members with their welfare. We have negotiated with the recipients of several hundred kilograms of vegetables. Anyone willing to exchange them for money should send them to the village committee tomorrow night and load them onto the truck. We still say that we must pick them fresh to ensure freshness and quality. We can't embarrass Comrade Xiao Zhou or embarrass him."
The team leaders held a brief meeting, left immediately, and hurried back to inform the members of their team.
Autumn is the peak season for vegetables. In previous years, the vegetables that could not be eaten would either rot, be fed to pigs, or be eaten as meals every other day, and the faces of those who ate them would turn green.
This year is good. Even if I only earn a few cents, it is better than feeding pigs.
After all, there are plenty of wild vegetables to feed pigs in this season, so the pigs can eat them without having to use vegetables grown in the fields.
Zhao Weiguo came over and sat astride the bicycle with his feet touching the ground. He stared blankly at the team leader who hurried in, and hurried out after a moment, and everyone dispersed.
"Is it over?" Zhao Weiguo sighed regretfully. It seemed that it was not related to Zhou Jiani. There would probably be news tomorrow. He rode his bike slowly and listlessly back to the educated youth point.
In the village committee, after the meeting, Zhang Baosheng prepared to go to the weaving workshop that had been set up in the village in recent days to check it out. The delivery was imminent, so he went to do the final check.
Before he could even take a step forward, Zhai Xiangqiang and Li Jingdang from the commune came in one after another.
Zhang Baosheng had been in frequent contact with the commune director recently, and he was less nervous than he had been that day. Just as he was about to grin, he heard Zhai Xiangqiang say seriously, "Comrade Zhou Jiani has been reported in the provincial capital!"
For a moment, Zhang Baosheng felt like the sky was falling. He trembled and said, "Why did someone report me for no reason? Which bastard... cough, which villain did such a heartless thing?"
Their forward brigade had undergone earth-shaking changes thanks to Comrade Zhou Jiani. There was a bustling atmosphere everywhere, and the smiles on the members' faces were even more joyful than when they were rushing to harvest.
Everyone walked with energy, and even the young men in the village who had not yet found a partner had matchmakers coming to their door one after another these days.
Yes, the news that the Qianjin Brigade's woven baskets had entered the provincial capital had spread.
The young wives in the village all return to their parents' home with pride.
Now, this crucial first batch of goods has not been shipped yet, and the formal contract with the department store has not been finalized, but Comrade Xiao Zhou has someone report him?
"How is Comrade Xiao Zhou doing now? Is he okay? Why was he reported?"
Zhai Xiangqiang waved his hand quickly and said, "Don't worry. Someone reported that Comrade Xiao Zhou had been staying in the provincial capital for too long. Local leaders investigated the situation and realized it was a misunderstanding. I reported this to my superiors and asked someone to contact Comrade Xiao Zhou's local street office to explain the situation. Seeing how seriously we took it, they said they would visit Comrade Xiao Zhou again to comfort him."
"But just before we arrived, the provincial capital called back and seriously stated that this could be considered a malicious report," Zhai Xiangqiang said solemnly. "They filed another report, and even after the subdistrict office explained the situation, they persisted, claiming that if Xiao Zhou wasn't persuaded to return, they would report the subdistrict office to their superiors for inaction."
Zhai Xiangqiang took a deep breath and said, "I suspect they're not targeting Comrade Xiao Zhou, but rather want to sabotage this cooperation."
Zhang Baosheng was sweating with anxiety. Who the hell was this bastard? He was trying to make trouble for the whole village!
What should I do?
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