Chapter 35: Sudden Awakening
There was a lot of work to do in spring farming, so all the manpower that could be mobilized in the village was put into the land. Even the reformers who usually collected cow dung, cleaned toilets, and fermented manure joined in, but they could only get half the work points for the same effort.
Fang Yuan and An Zhiqiu were fighting side by side, so naturally he also saw the four big characters on the banner. On the left side it said "Wuqi Commune in 1972", and on the right side it said "Hetang Village Branch"!
He raised his eyebrows and looked from head to toe at the village party secretary, who was so happy that his teeth were showing, with a half-smile.
This gaze was so solid that Cui Chengjun couldn't help but get goose bumps. Thinking about Fang Yuan's identity, he frowned and said, "What's that look? It seems that the job assigned to you is too easy. You have a bad attitude and you don't repent. You don't recognize where you are wrong!"
An Zhiqiu refused to give in. "Secretary Cui, Comrade Fang's expression is the same as ours. I'm curious about how you got this banner."
Cui Chengjun's face flashed with embarrassment, but he still smiled and said, "Ah, you are talking about this. The commune awarded our village a silk banner. I went to the commune for a meeting and just happened to pick it up.
An Zhiqing, bring your sister to the village committee later."
"The banner must have a source, right? When has our village ever made selfless contributions?" The one who spoke was a tall and strong man. "It can't be," he paused, and everyone pricked up their ears and focused.
"Could it be that there is news about the first aid booklet written by the educated youth Xiao An? That's not right. The silk banner should be awarded to the educated youth Xiao An. At the very least, it should be awarded to the entire collective of Hetang Village. How did it become the village party committee?"
"Yes, Secretary Cui, you should quickly explain it to everyone. There is no precedent of our village cadres taking credit for the villagers' achievements, and you can't let this go." The other man was also tall and looked about five or six points similar to the previous one.
Others followed suit, and Secretary Cui gestured repeatedly, "Listen to me, everyone, this banner is indeed what the village party committee deserves. I know that the educated youth Xiao An saved Fang Lixi, but she was just a blind cat that caught a dead mouse. The hospital said that Fang Lixi's death was called what? It means that she would be alive even without any help. How could you save her by pressing a few times and blowing a few times?
As a result of the torture you guys did, several of the baby's ribs were broken. It was such a pity!
I also read the first aid booklet submitted by the educated youth Xiao An. It contains simple folk remedies for heat stroke, wild bee stings, burns, etc. If you can write, you can also publish a booklet.
But the village chief has passed the message to the commune, so I, as the village party secretary, should not take responsibility? Fortunately, Tianhao knows a lot and has not rested for a year, looking for experts and famous doctors everywhere to complete the booklet, covering all aspects, which has won unanimous praise from the commune leaders.
This banner naturally belongs to the village party committee. Of course, Xiao An, the educated youth, has good intentions to serve the people. But she is young and utilitarian after all. She just wrote something casually and handed it in. Doesn't she think that we should treat dirt and rocks as gold nuggets in our poor and remote areas? "
An Zhiqiu was so angry that veins on his forehead were throbbing. He stepped forward and was about to punch, but was stopped by Fang Yuan.
"Zhi Qiu, now you are just taking advantage of the moment and beating up the crowd to vent your anger. But you will also go from being right to being wrong and end up being blackmailed." Fang Yuan said in a low voice.
"So, I have to endure it? Didn't you see the way Cui Chengjun looked at me? It was a provocation, clearly saying, I'm just bullying you outsiders, I'm just stealing your credit, what can you do to me? Fuck you!" An Zhiqiu's chest was filled with anger and he could only say some unoriginal swear words.
This morning he kept talking to Fang Yuan about how it was thanks to the kindness of the village head's family that his sister was allowed to help out in the canteen, otherwise his sister would have been too tired from the spring ploughing. When the receipt from the commune came down, he would have to use some connections on his sister's behalf, if she could help out in the commune, even if it was just a temporary job.
This way, my sister wouldn’t have to work in the fields under the scorching sun after the busy farming season and the canteen closed.
As a result, the credit went to the village party secretary and his son?
"You are just holding back now," Fang Yuan looked at Cui Chengjun with a cold gaze, "You just arrived and don't know much about the things in the commune. Wuqi Commune is not big, but the relationships are complicated. The deputy director is Secretary Cui's brother-in-law. Do you think you can get a satisfactory answer if you rashly question him?"
"What should we do? We just got here and they treated us like a weakling. Who knows how we'll be bullied in the future! So, even if we get hurt, I have to let them know that we, the An family brothers and sisters, are not easy to bully!" An Zhiqiu was not an impulsive person, but when it came to his sister, he lost some of his composure.
"Let's take it step by step. First, let's get a booklet and see what changes they have made. Only then will we know what to do next." Fang Yuan patted An Zhiqiu on the shoulder: "Don't worry, I will make sure that little An Zhiqiu has a good job before the cafeteria closes."
An Zhiqiu took a few deep breaths, and watched the village party secretary riding his bicycle in a snake-like shape, and his heart calmed down a little. He turned his head to look at Fang Yuan, "Brother Yuan, you..."
Fang Yuan pulled the corners of his lips, his eyes dark as he said, "Well, I went hunting in the mountains a few days ago and knocked my head, and my mind suddenly became clear. People should live happily and without regrets. Otherwise, no matter how much you have or how high your position is, you will never be happy."
"That's right, people should live in the present," An Zhiqiu nodded.
"You go back first, I'll find the book." Fang Yuan stretched out his hand, took the tools in An Zhiqiu's hand, and went to the warehouse to return them together.
When An Zhiqiu entered the yard, he heard Liu Yiyue chattering to his sister about what was happening at the entrance of the village.
"Hey, Xiao An, the village party secretary's words make sense, and everyone has nodded in agreement. If your method of saving people is useful, why is it so slow to take effect? We can only say that the person is not dead.
Comrade Cui Tianhao is a capable person in the surrounding area. He spared no effort to find experts and famous doctors to fill the hole you made. Don't worry about the banner. You are lucky if you are not punished!"
An Zhixia listened quietly and nodded, "So this method is not in the first aid manual? The methods I wrote are also well-known folk remedies?"
"How should I know this?"
"If you don't know, just shut up, or I'll think you've accepted favors from others and come here to threaten and appease me."
An Zhiqiu heard this and pushed the door open. "Okay, I was wondering why you were so close to the village party secretary. So you wanted to submit your name?"
Liu Yiyue waved her hands repeatedly, "What nonsense are you talking about? I am just telling you a few words from the bottom of my heart. Of course, this may not be true. You are crying from hunger. I will go to cook..."
(End of this chapter)
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