Chapter 72 He Didn't Become the Militia Company Commander
Zhang Cuihua thought for a few seconds and agreed: "Then one piece it is. I'm only doing this for your grandmother's sake."
Grandma Ji snorted, "Don't think I'm being nice to you, I can't take it." Although she was gentle by nature, she couldn't stand the way Zhang Cuihua had treated Tang Wan.
Zhang Cuihua: "..."
Wang Yuqing quickly took out a dollar from the house and handed it to Zhang Cuihua.
Zhang Cuihua took a dollar, examined it carefully, and put it in her pocket. She laughed and said, "It's just a small matter. Why make such a big deal out of it? I'm a pitiful person too. My son sacrificed himself for the country at a young age, and my family is struggling to make ends meet... I have a daughter-in-law, but her family is well-off and she's unwilling to help me out."
Wang Yuqing ignored her, and she coughed awkwardly a few times before pushing her bicycle home.
He glared at Tang Wan fiercely as he left.
Tang Wan wiped away her tears and looked at Wang Yuqing with an apologetic yet grateful gaze.
Wang Yuqing smiled and said, "It's alright, you should go to the brigade meeting quickly."
Tang Wan nodded, wiped away her tears, composed herself, and ran towards the brigade headquarters.
Grandma Ji sighed, "Alas, Tang Wan is a pitiful child. Her whole life is ruined. She can't even get married and is destined to be a widow. To make matters worse, she has to deal with an unreasonable pair of in-laws. It's such a miserable life."
Wang Yuqing also sighed, but what could she do? It was Tang Wan's own choice; she couldn't very well go and try to persuade her otherwise.
Unless she comes to her own senses, no amount of persuasion from others will work.
About two hours later, Wang Yuqing saw the commune members returning home one after another, but she didn't see Ji Xuening and the three children.
Grandma Ji said happily, "The fourth son must have become the militia company commander. He's staying behind to arrange things. Didn't they say they were going to recruit soldiers? He probably won't be back until very late."
Wang Yuqing nodded.
As she was humming a song while admiring the starry sky at the door, her three children came home.
Ji Meimei kept crying, Ji Xiaoming wiped away tears with red eyes, and Ji Daming lowered his head, looking very lonely.
Wang Yuqing asked, "What happened? Did you get into a fight again? Whose gang are they? Do you need me to help?"
Ji Meimei and Ji Xiaoming cried without saying a word.
Wang Yuqing asked Ji Daming, "Daming, what do you say?"
Ji Daming raised his head, pursed his lips, and after a long while, he finally spoke: "Mom, Dad wasn't selected as the militia company commander."
Although Wang Yuqing was surprised, she had expected it. But Grandma Ji behind her didn't believe it: "How could that be? Four years ago, we recommended him to be the militia company commander. Besides, the fourth brother is the most suitable to be the militia company commander. He is honest, capable, strong, and quick-witted. Our family has been poor peasants for three generations. We have a good class background. There's no reason why we can't do it?"
Grandma Ji suddenly said, "Did our family offend the brigade director? Should I go and apologize to him or something?"
Wang Yuqing said, "Grandma, it won't make a difference if you go."
She asked Ji Daming, "Who was elected as the militia company commander?"
Ji Xiaoming rushed to answer, angrily saying, "It's Liu Huo, it's him, he became the militia company commander."
After hearing this, Grandma Ji sighed: "I had forgotten about him. He was also a demobilized soldier, and his family was poor peasants. But four years ago, the position of militia company commander belonged to the fourth brother."
Wang Yuqing had only met Liu Huo twice. Even though she didn't know he would sleep with Wang Yuyan, she still disliked him. She thought he was a greasy, sleazy, lecherous, and promiscuous person.
Although he has a good reputation in the brigade, it is only among the women and girls; many men would definitely reject him.
Adding to the damage to his reputation from the grain incident, he definitely can't win the election against Ji Xuening. Besides, as Grandma Ji said, the position of militia company commander was Ji Xuening's four years ago.
As for what happened to He Ruhua that day, everyone with eyes could see that it was He Ruhua's fault and had nothing to do with Ji Xuening. Even if the brigade director didn't like Ji Xuening, he couldn't just say it out loud.
Ji Xiaoming added, "The bachelor is the platoon leader of our production team's militia platoon. Even he was elected, but my dad wasn't. My dad wasn't even elected as a regular militia member."
Wang Yuqing frowned. "Is this really necessary?"
Grandma Ji cried anxiously, "Oh dear, what should we do? It means we've offended the director, and he's taking it to heart. This old woman has to make this trip."
After saying that, she leaned on her cane and prepared to leave.
Wang Yuqing blocked her way: "Grandma, it's so late, how can you go? You stay at home, I'll go, I'll go ask."
Grandma Ji touched her hand: "You mustn't get into any conflicts with anyone, ask them properly first."
Wang Yuqing nodded.
She asked the three children, "Where is your dad?"
Ji Daming whispered, "The director also told... I'll have my dad take responsibility from now on..."
Wang Yuqing, impatient as ever: "What are you responsible for? Tell me quickly."
Ji Daming's eyes reddened even more: "He made my dad take charge of the tile kiln on the back mountain, and then lead people to fire tiles."
Upon hearing this, Grandma Ji's lips trembled: "Wa...wa kiln..."
Wang Yuqing knew that Ji Xuening's parents died in a cave-in at the back of the mountain, and that was also the year Ji Xuening, who was only five years old, fell seriously ill.
He Guangliang actually assigned him to the brick kiln; wasn't that rubbing salt into someone's wounds? He was a cadre, yet he harbored selfish motives and wanted revenge.
She then asked, "And what about your dad?"
Ji Daming said, "Dad went to the brick kiln on the back mountain. He said he went to check on the situation and will start digging the kiln again tomorrow."
Wang Yuqing then asked, "Didn't your dad refuse at the time?"
Ji Daming thought for a moment and said, "He didn't refuse. He didn't say anything. He just told me when he left that it didn't matter what kind of work I did."
Wang Yuqing told them to go to bed early, and then went to the brigade headquarters by herself, only to find that the old secretary on duty was left there.
The old Party Secretary was patrolling the night with a flashlight.
When he saw Wang Yuqing running over, he guessed what Wang Yuqing wanted to ask and said, "Are you here to ask why Ji Laosi wasn't selected as the militia company commander?"
Wang Yuqing nodded: "Yes, I heard that this position was his four years ago. Even if we don't mention that, he is the most suitable person to be the militia company commander in every way."
The old Party Secretary turned and walked toward his office, saying, "He was good, and he was good enough to be a soldier. It's a pity he was wiped out. But he's more than qualified to be a militia company commander. He's definitely better than Liu Huo."
Wang Yuqing followed him into the office: "If that's the case, then why didn't he get the position? Could it be that I offended the director?"
The old Party Secretary sat at his desk and took a sip of tea: "That's right. Who in our brigade doesn't know that you offended the director? He wouldn't dare to act recklessly. There are more than ten cadres in the brigade headquarters. He can't make all the decisions by himself. Besides, this matter has to be reported to the commune."
Wang Yuqing looked at the old Party Secretary with a puzzled expression.
The old Party Secretary glanced at Wang Yuqing several times, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
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