The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 38 - Receiving Someone_1
Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Receiving Someone_1
Chapter 38 -38 Receiving Someone_1
Words alone are not necessarily effective; they must be put down on paper, substantiated with proof.
Village Chief Qi laughed and said, “Then, Director Chen, could you please issue me a document?
So that when people from other villages get envious, and given that I’ve brought back so many of the old, weak, sick, and disabled today, I can explain it to the villagers.”
As long as these people could be settled, Director Chen was more than willing.
The world was in turmoil now, but their remote Taoyuan County was still relatively peaceful.
Not everyone among these people was guilty of heinous crimes; none had committed murder, none had set fires.
They’d ended up in their current predicament due to criticism over certain issues.
If they followed him to Qijia Village, they could at least live peacefully for a while.
In fact, most of the staff, seeing all this in their eyes, understood in their hearts.
However, in order not to bring trouble upon themselves, they allowed the fire to keep burning on these people.
These people were already miserable; there was no need to torment them further.
It would also make their own work easier.
“All right, I’ll go and prepare the certification for you,” said Director Chen.
After all, there were such regulations from above, so it wouldn’t be a violation of discipline.
Village Chief Qi was overjoyed and said, “Thank you very much, Director Chen.”
Soon, Village Chief Qi carried the proof issued by Director Chen, along with the list of labor reform personnel and their certifications.
“All is good now.
The commune is far from your Qijia Village, so you should head back early before it gets dark and the road becomes difficult to navigate,” Director Chen hoped to send these people off quickly.
His work for the day was completed, and he could relax for a moment.
Village Chief Qi, who had received compensation, was happy and said with a smile, “All right, I’ll arrange for us to leave now.
I see that two people can’t even stand up.
Luckily I brought the ox cart, otherwise I wouldn’t know how to get them home.”
“Don’t worry, in a few days we’ll deliver cereal to you all together,” said Director Chen.
Ah, it’s all troublesome.
The cereals are also coming out of the finances of Taoyuan County which are already meager, and now even more so.
Fortunately, the schools are now closed, which has reduced some expenses.
However, as an educated person, Director Chen felt relieved to save on finances by closing schools.
At the same time, he was guilty and sighed—without education, with schools closed, would all the children in the nation become ignorant?
When his generation grew old, how would the country be managed?
These obvious issues were not mentioned by anyone, but that didn’t mean they were unaware of them.
Many knew that this situation wouldn’t last long, but how much time would be needed to return to normalcy was something they didn’t know.
With Director Chen’s assurance, Village Chief Qi was at ease.
Just then, seeing Qi Ergou approaching, he said, “Er Gou, bring the ox cart over here and help these few people onto it.”
“Alright!” Qi Ergou always listened to Village Chief Qi while outside; he would do whatever Village Chief Qi asked of him.
As the ox cart approached, Qi Ergou lifted the two who were sprawled on the ground onto the cart.
They smelled as if they hadn’t bathed in a long time.
But Qi Ergou, coming from a poor family, didn’t mind it.
Qi Xiaoyan, Girl Tian, you two should get on too.
It’s a long way; how can you two young ladies walk all the way back!” said Village Chief Qi.
As for those who could stand, they could walk on their own—he couldn’t allow his precious daughters to become exhausted.
Qi Xiaoyan looked at those with a defeated look among the labor reformers and felt very sorry for them.
Shaking her head, she said, “Never mind, Dad.
Let them ride in the ox cart.
I’ll walk back.”
Village Chief Qi frowned.
This girl, why didn’t she know how to enjoy the comfortable things in life?
Niu Dajun walked up from one side, his head held high and chest puffed out, and said, “Uncle Qi, I am Niu Dajun, a subordinate of Comrade Qi.
I have just retired from the military and am now working at the post and telecommunication office.
I am on my way to Qijia Village, and riding a bike, I can give a lift to Xiao Yan and Tiantian.”
Village Chief Qi recognized Niu Dajun only then, patted him on the shoulder, and chuckled, “So it’s you, lad!
Since you’re heading to Qijia Village, then please take these two girls with you.” If it had been anyone else, Village Chief Qi wouldn’t have been reassured, but with Niu Dajun, he felt very comfortable.
After all, he was his son’s good brother, trustworthy.
The oxcart was big enough, that, including Village Chief Qi, a total of eight people managed to squeeze in, just.
The reformed laborers, hearing they wouldn’t have to walk dozens of miles, felt grateful towards Village Chief Qi.
When compared to others, distinctions arose.
The people before them all had to follow behind the cart on foot, never allowed to ride on the oxcart.
Qi Ergou drove the oxcart out of the county town, trundling on the winding mountain road.
Niu Dajun was already riding his bicycle, with He Tiantian on the back, and Qi Xiaoyan had gone ahead.
Village Chief Qi sat on the oxcart, and as they passed a brook, he said, “Er Gou, when we reach a spot up ahead with water, let’s cool off before moving on.”
“Got it!” Er Gou responded, urging the ox a few dozen meters further, to stop under a stand of trees.
The seven dispirited people, seeing the brook, brightened up, as they hadn’t touched a drop of water since the day before and were extremely thirsty.
“Fellow elders, I am the village chief of Qijia Village.
I am a simple man, not good with words, but some among you are older than my parents, and seeing you in poor spirits makes me uneasy.
There’s water here, so drink some first.
I also have steamed buns here; eat some to fill your stomachs,” pleaded Village Chief Qi earnestly.
Ah, to be good to the end—in such hot weather, not drinking water could lead to heatstroke, and not eating could cause one to faint from hunger, not to mention these frail elders.
“You are a good man,” said one of the sturdier old men as he got off the oxcart and went straight to the edge of the brook.
He washed his face, his arms, cupped water in his hands, and gulped it down until he was satisfied.
Then he picked a lotus leaf, filled it with water, and brought it over to his elderly wife to drink.
Village Chief Qi gave a wry smile; he wasn’t sure if he was a good man, but he couldn’t bear to see the elders suffering like this.
The others followed suit, and took advantage of the small woods nearby to relieve themselves.
Village Chief Qi wasn’t worried about these people running away.
After joining the village, they could have enough food to stay alive.
If they fled now, they would truly be committing a crime.
Once caught, they might even lose their lives.
Each of these people was old, weak, sick, or disabled, lacking identification, and could only live as hermits in the deep mountains and forests.
With such harsh conditions in the mountains, they would not survive.
When they returned, Village Chief Qi handed out a steamed bun to each person, something he had surreptitiously asked Qi Ergou to buy.
Since his son had asked him not to make things difficult for these people, Village Chief Qi, with a disposition to do good to the end, did his best to treat them well.
Seeing the steamed buns, the people all swallowed hard but dared not take them.
“Elders, please eat,” urged Village Chief Qi.
“If you are in good health, it saves me trouble too.
Our village is remote, but the local customs are decent.
As long as you cooperate with my work, I won’t make things hard for you.”
The old man who had earlier praised Village Chief Qi as a good person, surnamed Bai, with a resolute look and a bitter tone, said, “Village Chief Qi, you are a straightforward man, and we old folks are grateful to you.
Whatever you say, we will do.
As long as…
as long as you provide us with food to eat, letting us stay alive is enough.”
