novelraw Chapter 215 Speaking Against One's Conscience
Chapter 215 Speaking Against One's Conscience
Zheng Jingren refused to leave and pushed Zheng Meizhi away, raising his right hand, which still had three prongs left, to show Zheng Meizhi.
Zheng Meizhi leaned closer to Zheng Jingren and whispered something.
Zheng Jingren nodded, and the two followed Hu Xianfa and Miao Yu into the house.
Zhang Changyao stood by the wall, and seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he quickly ran home.
When Yang Wuni saw Zhang Changyao return, she quickly took out the corn kernels that had been aired out and let them cool.
Without a moment's rest, Zhang Changyao hitched up his donkey cart and went to the Hetao region to haul sand.
He was told he'd deliver popcorn today, but he hadn't even touched it yet, and he felt a pang of self-reproach.
"Director Miao, I will do my best to handle what you asked for. It won't be difficult to arrange for someone to go in."
With the arrival of spring, major wiring modifications will definitely require manpower, and both electricians and laborers will be indispensable.
"So, he's just going to be in charge? Can Zhang Changyao, this honest guy, handle it?"
Zhang Changyao brought back the sand and had just entered the yard when he heard Hu Xianfa's voice from inside the house.
"Village Chief Hu, are you trying to make things difficult for me? Are you asking me for something in return?"
Even if the power station makes major changes to the power lines, it doesn't necessarily have to involve your village; it can bypass you and still do the same.
If you really can't let Zhang Changyao manage the laborers, I'll go and talk to Station Master Liu at the power station.
Subcontract this job to Zhang Changyao, and put him in charge of managing materials and laborers.
Also, the women's work in your village is too sloppy.
As the village head, you bear significant responsibility for hindering the progress of family planning.
I'll go back and discuss this with the township head. People who lack ability should be dismissed.
These old geezers are just occupying the outhouse without doing their business; it's time to make them move out.
After Miao Yu finished speaking coldly, she turned around and turned the radio volume up to deafening levels.
"Director Miao, that's not what I meant. I'm just a little worried."
I know Zhang Changyao; he's honest and kind, and a man destined for great things.
When spring comes, I'll hand this job over to him; the pay is double that of a manual laborer.
"You'll have to put in a good word for me at the power station." Cold sweat beaded on Hu Xianfa's bulbous nose.
He leaned against the wall, facing the direction Miao Yu was looking.
His old face, creased with wrinkles, forced out a lewd smile, like that of a grandson.
He shouted at the top of his lungs, at a volume louder than the radio, to talk to Miao Yu.
"Village Chief Hu, I don't like to repeat myself, so you'd better take care of yourself."
Don't let yourself get so old that you end up back in the village knocking on clods of dirt.
I, Miao Yu, never go back on my word. I don't want you to verify the strength of my commitment to keeping my promises.
Miao Yu turned down the radio volume, her tone stern.
"Director Miao, what are you saying? We're like family, how can you put things like this?"
In my eyes, you are the top leader; whatever you say, I will resolutely carry out.
Hu Xianfa took out his ginseng cigarettes, handed one to Miao Yu.
"I don't smoke, but I'll be visiting Brother Liao Zhi from time to time these days."
Later, it's possible that a family planning information point will be set up at his home.
With the arrival of a radio at Zhang Changyao's house, people inevitably came and went, and smoking and such were common occurrences...
Miao Yu used the back of her hand to block the cigarette Hu Xianfa offered her, and casually said something.
Hu Xianfa was a seasoned veteran in officialdom, quick to understand.
As soon as Miao Yu finished speaking, he bowed and said goodbye, hurrying home to prepare.
Zhang Changyao heard everything clearly from outside. He wasn't tempted by the high-paying job; instead, he became more worried.
Miao Yu is a man who leaves no room for maneuver in his dealings; he knows that very well.
Caught between Liao Zhi and Miao Yu, he is now in a dilemma.
Furthermore, if Yang Wuni were to find out about the relationship between Miao Yu and herself, it would be a matter of life and death, and someone would die.
After seeing Hu Xianfa off, Zhang Changyao and Yang Wuni started popping popcorn.
Seeing that Miao Yu had no intention of leaving, Zhang Changyao took advantage of the break while adding firewood to carry Xiao Wenda to Liao Zhi's room.
After popping the popcorn, Zhang Changyao took advantage of the fact that no one was around and carried half a bucket of water into the house.
In the room where Yang Wuni and her companion lived, there was half a bucket of water on the stone kang (heated brick bed) that was burning their faces.
With a loud "crack," the hot stone slab of the heated kang bed cracked open, creating a large gash.
On the kang (heated brick bed), there was a fist-thick layer of yellow clay, which collapsed into a long strip along the crack in the stone slab.
"What's wrong?" Yang Wuni, who was drying popcorn outside, ran in when she heard the noise.
Miao Yu, who was in Liao Zhi's room, also rushed over to see what was going on.
Zhang Changyao pretended to splash water on the collapsed area to make others think...
He only came in to cool down the kang (heated brick bed) after he heard it collapse.
"Oh dear! How are we going to stay tonight?"
Yang Wuni rolled up the fallen kang mat, weighed it down with a pillow, and rolled up her arms to climb onto the kang to tear off the kang surface.
"Wu Ni, don't do it yet. I'll go deliver the popcorn, and we'll do it together."
Zhang Changyao pulled Yang Wuni down and asked her to help him tie the popcorn to the donkey cart's deck.
"Zhang Changyao, let's go together. Your kang (heated brick bed) has collapsed and there's no room at home, so I won't squeeze in with you guys here."
Miao Yu went inside and said goodbye to Liao Zhi, then came out to push her cart, intending to leave with Zhang Changyao.
"Wu Ni, you come with me. If I don't have time in the future, you can deliver the popcorn yourself."
Zhang Changyao looked at Yang Deshan who had just entered and had an idea in mind.
Wu Ni happily put on a floral cotton-padded jacket, tied a headscarf around her neck, and got into the car.
Disappointed, Miao Yu got on her bicycle and sped off.
After delivering the popcorn, Zhang Changyao and Yang Wuni counted their money all the way back, huddled together happily.
"Zhang Changyao, you have to take what Miao Yu said to heart."
Rural road network renovation is not a task that can be completed in a day or two.
Can you count how many natural villages there are in our township, and how many households are in each village?
You couldn't finish the job in six months, and you wouldn't have to do any work, but you'd get double the salary.
It's like a windfall falling from the sky and landing on our roof.
After finishing their meal, Liao Zhixing blurted out to Zhang Changyao.
Liao Zhi never wants to give up any opportunity to make money for the family.
He has already integrated himself into this family, and he hopes that Wu Ni and the children can live well.
"Liao Zhi, you don't know what's going on here, so let's not get involved, okay?"
Miao Yu's words are unreliable. Last time she said she could keep hauling bricks until spring.
"I finished the job in a day and a night, and I still got cursed so badly my ancestors' graves were emitting auspicious smoke."
Zhang Changyao wanted to keep this a secret, but he felt uneasy because Liao Zhi brought it up.
"Zhang Changyao, didn't our family make money last time we were hauling bricks?"
Have you forgotten where your father's retirement money comes from?
Even if it's just two hours, let alone a whole day and night, that's still Miao Yu's kind gesture.
They wanted to help us, so they dug a hole in the door to find us work.
It's you, being so stupid, complaining that the job Miao Yu found was too short-term, spouting nonsense and speaking against your conscience.
If it were anyone else, they'd be so angry they'd want to kneel down and kowtow to her twice, and even that wouldn't be enough.
Upon hearing about a way to make money, Yang Wuni immediately sided with Liao Zhi and started arguing with Zhang Changyao.
"Auntie, Uncle, look what I brought for your family!"