The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 39 - Seeking Out Qi Shuli_1
Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Seeking Out Qi Shuli_1
Chapter 39 -39 Seeking Out Qi Shuli_1
The reason he spoke on the road was that he didn’t want other people from the village to know his thoughts after they returned.
However, Qi Ergou was an exception, and so was Zhao Dajiao, who was Village Chief Qi’s maternal cousin; the two families were close and always stood by each other.
But it was different with others—although there were no major conflicts on usual days, the villagers were not completely united.
Things are chaotic now, so it’s best to be cautious and not give anyone the chance to stab you in the back.
Village Chief Qi opened his yellowed notebook and said softly, “According to the document conveyed, meetings will be held every half month and self-criticisms must be written every week.”
Upon hearing about meetings, several people couldn’t stop shivering; they were scared of being tormented!
Seeing this, Village Chief Qi said, “We’re all honest folks and it won’t be like it is in the cities.
During the meetings, I’ll instruct people to be careful.
Just play along, look like you’re in great pain, or faint halfway through if you have to!
Then they won’t continue the meetings…”
Old Man Bai brightened up when he heard this; these people were lucky to have such a good man as Village Chief Qi.
If it was just for show, then they wouldn’t have to suffer too much.
Physical suffering was secondary; it was the psychological humiliation that made life unbearable!
“Thank you, Village Chief Qi,” Old Man Bai said, “you’re giving us old folks a way to live!”
Village Chief Qi smiled and said, “However, ugly words first: if any of you reports to the higher-ups, then for my own protection…”
Professor Gu, who was standing by, also felt the goodwill from Village Chief Qi.
Although Village Chief Qi didn’t finish his sentence, everyone understood the implied meaning of his words.
Professor Gu promptly assured, “No, no, we won’t.
We all came here from Nan City and a couple of us know each other.
We’re not bad people; we haven’t committed any serious crimes.
My spouse and I are professors at Southern University.
It’s only because my spouse studied abroad when she was young that she has been criticized.
I defended my wife, and so I was criticized too.
Others were either landlords before or had said inappropriate things in the past, but none of us are bad people!”
After hearing this, Village Chief Qi looked at their files and, trusting his gut, felt that Professor Gu was telling the truth.
“Yes, we’re not bad people…
we won’t cause trouble,” the others quickly said, hoping to live a peaceful life in the village.
They could handle hardship and toil—it was nothing.
Seeing this, Village Chief Qi nodded and said, “In that case, let’s lay it all out.
As long as you are honest in the village, I, as the village chief, will not make things difficult for you.”
“We’ll definitely be honest and won’t cause you trouble…” the people repeated their assurances.
They weren’t here to enjoy themselves; as long as the meeting demands weren’t too excessive, they were willing to work.
The previous meetings had tortured their bodies and spirits.
Having had water to drink and food to eat, and with Village Chief Qi’s words, the seven people felt slightly relieved.
Those with energy chatted with each other; those without simply dozed off, leaning to the side.
Niu Dajun, carrying He Tiantian, and Qi Xiaoyan had arrived in Qijia Village ahead of the others.
“Come to the village with me,” Niu Dajun said as he placed his bicycle in Qi Xiaoyan’s house, the green wraps on either side of its rear seat containing letters and newspapers.
“Should we wait for my dad to come over?” Qi Xiaoyan knew that Qi Shuli was behind all this and was worried that if they went over, Qi Shuli would deny everything.
After thinking it over, Niu Dajun deliberated for a moment and said, “You go with me first.
If Accountant Qi refuses to acknowledge us, we’ll ask your dad for help.”
Niu Dajun’s approach was more tactful.
“Xiao Yan, just do as Brother Dajun says,” He Tiantian suggested, “Perhaps Village Chief Qi simply forgot…”
Niu Dajun, a burly man, was not short on wits.
If he had confronted Village Chief Qi and Qi Shuli directly, it would have put him at odds with Qi Shuli.
Even if he found the letters, he would have offended Qi Shuli.
Having become an accountant, Qi Shuli held some prestige in the village.
He might not be able to do much against Village Chief Qi, but for He Tiantian, a young girl from out of town, to offend the local villagers rashly was not a wise decision.
Seeing that He Tiantian understood his intent, Niu Dajun was relieved of the need to explain further and took her and Qi Xiaoyan to the village.
Upon arriving, they found the door locked, so under Qi Xiaoyan’s lead, Niu Dajun went to Qi Shuli’s home.
It was nearly six o’clock now, and not being the busy farming season, work had finished for the day.
Qi Xiaoyan knocked on the door and called out, “Second Uncle, Second Uncle, are you home?”
A tall and thin woman came to open the door.
Seeing He Tiantian, her face broke into a wide smile, “Oh, it’s Xiao Yan.
What brings you here?” As for the new arrival and the other man she didn’t recognize, she didn’t give them a second glance.
“Second Aunt, this is Comrade Niu the postal worker, he’s here to see Second Uncle on some business,” Qi Xiaoyan politely said, without having seen Qi Shuli, she didn’t want to say too much to prevent the story from getting twisted as it was passed around.
That was the down side of rural folks; too many of them enjoyed gossiping.
Only then did Second Aunt Qi turn her attention to Niu Dajun.
A postal worker, oh my, that was a proper state employee, and the lad was also tall and sturdy, not bad at all.
“Second Aunt, Second Aunt, is Second Uncle really at home?
Comrade Niu has business with him,” Qi Xiaoyan said, as Second Aunt Qi’s eyes were too blatantly appraising, previously indifferent and now suddenly attentive upon learning he was an official worker.
“Your Second Uncle is home, he is at home,” Second Aunt Qi said, “Come inside, take a seat.
Daya, Erya, hurry up and pour some water for Comrade Niu.”
Second Aunt Qi walked ahead, calling out to her daughters inside the house.
The expression and tone of Second Aunt Qi made He Tiantian roll her eyes in the back.
Showing contempt for people was a bit too obvious, wasn’t it?
He Tiantian knew Qi Daya and Qi Erya; these two girls were quite the characters in Qijia Village.
Qi Daya, with the full name Qi Fenfen, was seventeen years old and in the process of matchmaking.
Qi Erya, full name Qi Zhenzhen, was sixteen.
The events of her past life flashed through her mind, sometimes humorous, sometimes pitiable.
It just goes to show what kind of parents raise what kind of children, but that was a story for another time.
Qi Fenfen at first didn’t want to come out when her mother called her, but upon seeing Niu Dajun in his olive-green uniform, she quickly shed her impatience and eagerly poured water, saying, “Xiao Yan, please bring your guest inside to sit.”
Qi Shuli also came out from the west room of the house, wearing a white tank top and boxer shorts, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan in one hand and holding a dry tobacco pipe in the other.
Upon seeing Niu Dajun and He Tiantian beside him, he realized he couldn’t hide the two letters any longer.
Qi Xiaoyan was Village Chief Qi’s daughter.
He had underestimated He Tiantian if she could enlist Qi Xiaoyan’s help.
His nephew, Qi Jianguo, had his eye on this girl who was very smart and hard to handle.
But it didn’t matter anymore; as long as it was within the boundaries of Qijia Village, he would always find an opportunity.
