Chapter 129: Learning, Driven to Desperation
Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Learning, Driven to Desperation
Zhou Jianmin’s words were logical and well-reasoned, winning him the support of many local officials.
"Yes, those are the facts, and they prove your methods are wrong," Zhou Jianmin said. "We must find another way."
Being told he was wrong to his face by his old rival, Secretary Wang was naturally displeased. He retorted, "I’m not wrong, and Zhao Liqiang is even less likely to be wrong. It’s all of you who are wrong..."
After speaking, Secretary Wang stood up and left in a huff. He was going to report the situation to Zhao Liqiang.
Zhou Jianmin shot Zhou Jian Country a look, signaling for his younger brother to see Miao Dahai and Hua Yusen out. Their report had been submitted, so there was nothing left for them to do. The rest was up to the power players above.
There was no point in the village staff staying in the county seat; they might as well go back and wait for news.
Once outside, Zhou Jian Country reassured Miao Dahai, saying, "Miao Dahai, after you submit the report, go back to Nianqiao Village immediately. Arrange the production tasks for the village, especially the content from the higher-ups."
Miao Dahai was stunned for a moment, then replied, "We used those same words during our literacy campaign last year. Now, even the illiterate old ladies in the village can recite a few lines."
"Ah?" Zhou Jian Country was surprised, then he smiled. "That’s wonderful. As for Wang Dadan and Li Siming in your village, keep them locked up. Don’t let them out until the work team arrives, so they don’t undermine everyone’s morale and ruin our important plans."
"Understood." Miao Dahai nodded. If he wanted to live a peaceful life, he had to handle this properly.
On the road, Wu Dazhu drove the ox-cart, with Hua Yusen and Miao Dahai sitting on it.
"Mr. Hua, it seems we must speed up the process," Miao Dahai said with a sigh. "Fortunately, we have last year’s foundation, so it won’t be as difficult this year. You literate young people, we’ll have to ask you to put in a lot of effort."
"It’s what we should do," Hua Yusen said with a light laugh. "Even though we came from elsewhere, we’re still a part of Nianqiao Village. We also hope to see Nianqiao Village get better and better."
Along the way, Miao Dahai and Hua Yusen discussed how to help everyone learn better and how to complete the production tasks. They both benefited greatly from the conversation.
Upon arriving in the village, Miao Dahai had Wu Dazhu urgently notify the villagers to gather for a meeting.
Although everyone was a bit confused, they saw Miao Dahai’s grave expression and, remembering the many people who had starved to death in Wang Family Village, no one dared to object.
Thus began a new routine: working during the day and studying at night.
Yang Guanghui and Hua Yusen were in charge of the men’s studies. It didn’t matter if they were illiterate; they would learn by repeating one sentence at a time and were expected to review at home.
Li Guihua organized the village women and children to study with Zhao Nuanyue, Wang Yuan, Li Qiong, and the others.
While everyone was studying diligently, Liu Lanhua and Wang Cuihua moved their small stools to the very back, paying no attention. Staring at the people who had repeatedly bested them, Liu Lanhua was filled with resentment. She had already figured out a way to deal with those little bitches.
But before she could put her plan into action, their husbands were arrested.
When the study session ended, everyone went home.
Wang Cuihua was at a complete loss. She looked at Liu Lanhua and asked, "What do we do now? Our men are locked up. I don’t know if they’ll ever be let out."
In her heart, Liu Lanhua looked down on Wang Cuihua, but now she was the only person in the village Liu Lanhua could talk to. The other women avoided her on sight, refusing to get close. She wanted to win people over, but because the village was targeting their families, the other villagers kept their distance, afraid to associate with them.
"Sigh, you go home first. Make something for my husband and yours to eat," Liu Lanhua instructed. "I’ll go tell them what’s happening in the village. Oh, and don’t make it all watery gruel. That won’t fill them up."
Wang Cuihua wiped her tears and said with a sob, "I don’t want to make porridge either, but we have no grain left at home. I gathered some wild vegetables during the day to make vegetable patties."
"Alright, alright, just hurry up," Liu Lanhua said. She herself had made vegetable patties just yesterday. Her family had also run into a lot of trouble, and they had no extra grain left either.
After speaking, she and Wang Cuihua went their separate ways.
Liu Lanhua went to the shack and called out softly, "Dear, are you asleep?"
"My stomach’s growling so loud, how could I possibly sleep!" Li Siming snapped irritably, though he knew the situation at home. "Even just some wild vegetables would be fine. Being on an empty stomach is miserable."
Her heart ached for him. She quickly explained, "Cuihua is already making vegetable patties. I came to tell you what’s happening in the village."
"What?" Li Siming was startled. "What’s happened in the village now? Oh, and when is that Miao Dahai going to let us out?"
Hearing Li Siming, Wang Dadan sneered, "That Miao Dahai must have heard something after going to the county seat. The problem is, with both of us locked up, we have no idea what’s going on outside. I’m not afraid of Miao Dahai. I’m afraid my cousin-in-law will abandon us. If that happens, our two families are done for. We’ll never recover."
Li Siming’s heart was pounding with anxiety. His expression grew grave. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Lanhua, you mentioned trying to win over those young people from the Dragon King Temple. Have you made any headway?"
At these words, Liu Lanhua grew even more frustrated.
"They go everywhere together now. I can never find any of them alone. Besides, they look at me like they’ve seen a ghost and won’t even speak to me. Even if I had a good offer to tempt them, they have to be willing to listen first!" Liu Lanhua said helplessly. ’Does Heaven really want our family to be destroyed?’
"Just because it won’t work now doesn’t mean it won’t work later," Wang Dadan said. Though furious, he could still think clearly. "That Miao Dahai is the type who won’t act without a sure bet. For him to stir up such a commotion right after returning from the county seat means someone from the higher-ups is probably coming to investigate. This could be our chance. The only problem is, I can’t go to the county seat, so I can’t communicate properly with my cousin-in-law or effectively sabotage their plans."
"Yeah, if the people in the county seat don’t know what’s really happening in the village, we’ll be at a huge disadvantage," Li Siming said with a frown. "And we don’t dare try to escape... Sigh, all we can do is watch Miao Dahai stir up trouble!"
Li Siming and Wang Dadan were getting anxious, growing desperate enough to do something reckless.