The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 53 - Find the Mole Part 1
Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Find the Mole Part 1
Chapter 53 -53: Find the Mole Part 1
Qi Shuli just isn’t up to the mark!
Village Chief Qi glanced at Qi Shuli and asked, “If it wasn’t someone from the village, then who could it be?
Zhou Sihai told me to my face it was someone from our village—does he have any reason to lie and deceive us?”
“Ahem!
Ahem!” Qi Shuli cleared his throat twice, “Those people were after all sent down for labor re-education.
Maybe someone higher up is looking for trouble, or perhaps…
perhaps it’s those city youths…”
Qi Shuli had long harbored resentment towards those haughty city kids, and now that an opportunity to tarnish their reputation had arisen, he naturally wasn’t going to pass it up.
Since it was just a suspicion and didn’t require any evidence, technically, he wasn’t spouting nonsense.
Zhao Dajiao looked up at Qi Shuli, then lowered her head again, curling her lips, thinking what a rascal he was, probably eyeing some young girl again.
Those city kids weren’t old and were quite good-looking.
He’d never had a chance before, but now with the slightest opportunity, he was showing his true colors, a shameless old lecher through and through.
Moreover, those city kids and the personnel sent down here really had no interaction, far less any conflict, so why would they report anything?
The leader of the first team, Qi Shuqiang, said, “Second Brother Shuli has a point.
It’s unlikely that someone from our village would do such a thing.”
The leader of the second team, Qi Shuming, looked at Qi Shuli and Qi Shuqiang, took a deep draw from his dry pipe, and said, “We haven’t caught anyone in the act yet, so we can’t be sure who it was.
Although those city kids are a bit delicate, they’re not blind; they probably wouldn’t do such a thing.”
Qi Shuli smiled awkwardly and said, “It’s just us talking here; I never stated for certain that it was the city kids.”
“Exactly, just talking.
If those city kids couldn’t have possibly reported anything, then even less likely would it be someone from our own village, our own flesh and blood,” said the leader of the first team, Qi Shuqiang, closer to Qi Shuli and speaking in his defense.
Village Chief Qi knew that the first and second team leaders liked to compete with each other, but he hadn’t expected them to quarrel over this matter as well.
Ah, they’re all so thoughtless, not realizing the severity of the situation, still fighting among themselves!
“Since nobody can point out who it is, then go back and think it over some more,” Village Chief Qi said, unwilling to watch them squabble, he dismissed them.
Better for them to go back and look for clues than to quarrel here.
“Indeed, this matter can’t be investigated thoroughly in a short while, so let’s investigate it slowly, properly.
We cannot wrong a good person, nor can we let a bad person off the hook,” announced Qi Shuli with an air of righteousness, “Village Chief Qi, you must be exhausted today; we won’t bother you any longer.
Rest well; you’ll need your strength to uncover the mole.”
“Yes, indeed,” Qi Shuqiang echoed once more, like a parrot to Qi Shuli’s statements.
The leader of the second team, Qi Shuming, said, “Village Chief Qi, this matter is suspicious.
With so many eyes and ears in the village, it’s unlikely that any useful information will come from within.
If possible, Village Chief Qi, you should seek help from above, find out who made the report, and teach them a lesson.
Let them know the severity of disrupting the whole village because of one person.”
All-day re-education sessions impact productivity; one has to wonder, who fears peace and brings disaster upon Qijia Village?
To be honest, since Village Chief Qi became the village secretary, the village has been peaceful, and other villages dare not cause trouble. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
He takes care of the villagers, obtaining benefits for them from the commune; he’s done well enough.
But some people can only see the short-term gains without considering the long-term effects.
When they realize they’re not getting as much as before, they’ll start to regret it.
Zhao Dajiao noticed everyone was speaking up, and since she made the trip, she couldn’t remain silent.
After some thought, she said, “Village Chief Qi, actually, this matter isn’t difficult to investigate.
Firstly, Zhou Sihai said that someone wrote a letter to report us.
This alone significantly narrows down the suspects, as not many people in our village can read and write—barely twenty or thirty.
Add in the young people from the city, it’s less than forty.
Moreover, since a letter was sent, it had to be delivered to the commune, so further investigation into who visited the county recently will narrow down the list even more.
With so few people left, it’s much easier to investigate.”
People turned to look at the Women’s Federation Director Zhao Dajiao, thinking she was quite impressive.
If she were a man, Village Chief Qi would willingly let her take over his position.
Narrowing the scope is certainly better than searching for a needle in a haystack.
“Alright, let’s do that.
The three of you go investigate which literate person has been to the county recently,” Village Chief Qi also felt this approach was reliable.
He thought once the busy farming season ended, he would ask the county commune.
“Let’s prepare ourselves for both possibilities; it is the busy farming season now, and we must hurry to harvest the corn and rice—that is of utmost importance.”
Village Chief Qi gave his orders, recognizing that nothing was more important than food.
Without food, life itself was in jeopardy; re-education and other political campaigns become irrelevant then!
The attendees all agreed and after discussing and delegating tasks, they took their leave.
After the village cadres had left, Liang Hongyu finally came out of the inner room.
It wasn’t proper for her to be present with so many people around, let alone interject.
Now that only the couple was left, she began to speak slowly, “Da Jiao’s method is good, I should also find someone to help inquire.
Dazhu, since we don’t have any grudges with the people in our village, this reporting incident likely means someone has their eyes on your position as village secretary.
I didn’t feel it was appropriate to say so when the cadres were here.”
Village Chief Qi sneered, knocking the ash out of his copper smoking pipe, “The village isn’t as peaceful as we thought.
I was negligent before and can’t afford to be so any longer.
No matter what happens outside, as long as we keep those assigned working staff busy, that’s the soundest strategy.”
“True, those who are physically able should do heavier work; those who are not, lighter work, but keeping them occupied will leave no room for those who want to start a movement,” Liang Hongyu added, “Old Man Bai’s son specifically asked us to take good care of him.
It seems some people in the village have noticed we treat Old Bai differently.
From now on, we can’t openly help him anymore; we need to find a way for someone else to do it indirectly.”
“Ah, such chaos!” Village Chief Qi sighed, then his eyes lit up, remembering today’s hero, “There we go, Girl Tian is clever; today would have been my downfall without her.
When you have time tomorrow, see Tiantian and tell her to discreetly take care of Old Bai.
She works at the livestock team, which might make it easier.”
Liang Hongyu nodded, “That’s a good idea.
The girl is sharp; leaving it to her eases our minds.
When there’s a recruitment drive or a chance to go to university, we should keep her in mind.”
“Naturally,” Village Chief Qi said, “I never shortchange anyone, it’s just that the world has been too tumultuous recently, leaving us without any quotas.
Fortunately, there’s enough food in the village, and since Tiantian is young, once things settle down and she turns eighteen, it won’t be too late to make arrangements.”
Liang Hongyu was satisfied with her husband’s plan, “Alright, I’ll talk to Tiantian tomorrow.
She’s shrewd and will surely complete the task.”
He Tiantian was very smart, knowing what benefits her, and as long as they hinted at the promised rewards, she would surely help.
