novelraw Chapter 157
Chapter 157
"The power supply station? Why are you asking about that? Is there a problem with the village's power facilities?" Sun Wenshi asked.
"Director Sun, our village hasn't even been connected to the power grid yet. I was hoping to find the comrades at the power supply station to see if we meet the standard for electrification. After all, with so many daily orders now, and since I'm bottling in my own village, it's really inconvenient without electricity. Otherwise, I wouldn't have failed to deliver Manager Xiang's goods this time," Song Nianchu said, putting on a distressed look.
"There's a standard for getting electricity? How come I've never heard of that? Didn't they say you just need to go to the power supply station and make an appointment?" Sun Wenshi furrowed his brows.
"Is that so? But our village chief went to the production brigade to apply and waited for days, only for the brigade to tell us the application was rejected because our village hasn't met the standard." Song Nianchu feigned confusion.
"Aren't you usually pretty sharp? This isn't about an application being rejected; they are clearly making things difficult for you on purpose," Xiang Tianyi, who had been standing nearby without leaving, couldn't help but interject.
"Really? But the brigade captain has no grudge against our village. Why would he deliberately make things difficult for us?" Song Nianchu wasn't angry at being scolded; instead, she pretended to be completely clueless.
"Why else? It's nothing more than jealousy. They can't stand seeing others do well. Your village has made quite a bit of money recently from the canned goods, hasn't it?" Xiang Tianyi said lazily.
"Are you saying the brigade captain is deliberately making things difficult for us because he's jealous that our village is making money?" Song Nianchu put on a look of sudden realization, followed by a hint of melancholy. "If the brigade captain is really targeting us on purpose, does that mean our village will never get electricity? If we can't get power, our efficiency won't go up. And if our efficiency doesn't go up, we might not be able to deliver the future batches on time. What should we do?"
Sun Wenshi also started to feel anxious.
"Don't worry just yet. Although I don't know anyone at the power supply station, I can go ask around for you."
"Really? Thank you so much, Director Sun," Song Nianchu said, her face full of gratitude.
"I haven't even helped with anything yet," Sun Wenshi said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Since you've said so, Director Sun, I know you will do your best. Even if you can't help in the end, I'm very grateful for your kindness." Song Nianchu spoke with utmost sincerity.
This only made Sun Wenshi more determined to help her resolve the matter.
"Director Sun, I still have a lot of things to attend to in the village, so I'll take my leave first. If there's any news from the power supply station, just have Wu Gang let me know," Song Nianchu said.
"Alright, hurry back then," Sun Wenshi waved his hand.
Only then did Song Nianchu turn and leave, without glancing at Xiang Tianyi even once during the entire process.
Xiang Tianyi, on the other hand, kept his gaze on her until she was out of sight.
"Tianyi?" Sun Wenshi waved a hand in front of Xiang Tianyi's face.
"What is it?" Xiang Tianyi frowned.
"Did you hear what I just said to you?" Sun Wenshi asked.
"What did you say?" Xiang Tianyi replied absentmindedly.
"I said, don't you know people at the power supply station? Can you help Comrade Song ask about it?" Sun Wenshi repeated.
"Why should I ask? Weren't you the one who promised to help?" Xiang Tianyi cast a faint glance at him.
"But Comrade Song is anxious to get electricity for the village for the sake of your goods." Sun Wenshi hadn't expected the usually agreeable Xiang Tianyi to refuse him right now.
"Hmph," Xiang Tianyi scoffed coldly.
"What do you mean by that?" Sun Wenshi was a bit baffled.
He was perfectly fine just a moment ago. Why was he suddenly angry?
Xiang Tianyi gave him a look as if he were looking at an idiot.
"You're being played for a fool, yet you're still working hard for her."
"Huh? What?" Sun Wenshi didn't catch on.
"Those words Song Nianchu just said were deliberately meant for you to hear. No, in a way, they were meant for me to hear." Xiang Tianyi had completely figured it out.
"Huh? Meant for you? Why? If she wanted your help, couldn't she just ask you directly? Why go through me to deliberately let you hear it?" Sun Wenshi felt his brain couldn't quite process this.
"Because she doesn't want to owe me a favor," Xiang Tianyi gritted his teeth.
"What do you mean?" Sun Wenshi was still a bit confused.
"If she took the initiative to ask for my help and I helped, she would owe me a favor. If I refused, it would be awkward for her to ask you."
"But if she asks you for help, and you can't solve it, you will naturally come to me. That way, she only owes you a favor. She really is full of schemes from head to toe." Xiang Tianyi now somewhat regretted why he had even chimed in earlier, practically setting the stage for her.
"Is that so? But Comrade Song looked quite innocent just now. Could it be that you're the one with too many schemes, overcomplicating things?" Sun Wenshi looked at Xiang Tianyi with suspicion.
Xiang Tianyi was speechless.
"You believe her over me?" Xiang Tianyi's voice suddenly rose.
"I didn't say that. Besides, even if what you said is true, why would Comrade Song rather owe me a favor than owe you one? Isn't it because you have too many schemes and she's afraid of you?" Sun Wenshi muttered.
"Say that again if you dare!" Hearing this, Xiang Tianyi felt a throbbing pain in his temples.
"Alright, alright, I take back what I just said. Just tell me, are you going to help or not?" Sun Wenshi didn't dawdle.
Just as Xiang Tianyi was about to speak, Sun Wenshi added another sentence.
"Think about how much more money you've made since you started cooperating with Comrade Song. Delaying her time is delaying your own money-making."
The words on the tip of Xiang Tianyi's tongue were forcefully swallowed back. He stared at Sun Wenshi with a dark face.
"I didn't realize when you started taking her side so much."
"What do you mean taking her side? It's rare for the young lady to ask me for a favor, so I should get things done for her, shouldn't I? Furthermore, when you asked me to pass messages for you before, didn't I agree without a second word? Just treat this as returning my favor."
With Sun Wenshi putting it like that, how could Xiang Tianyi refuse? He reluctantly waved his hand and left.
Watching his angry receding figure, the smile on Sun Wenshi's face deepened.
He knew Xiang Tianyi had agreed to the matter. Even though he looked a bit reluctant, agreeing was all that mattered.
But his admiration for Song Nianchu deepened a bit more. After all, very few people could make Xiang Tianyi suffer such a silent loss without being able to lash out.
Humming a little tune, Sun Wenshi sat back down behind the tea table and slowly brewed himself a cup of tea.
Meanwhile.
In Yang Village.
Yang Mingwan was just returning from outside. As soon as Yang Dafu saw him, he immediately went up to greet him.
"Dad, did people from Qinghe Fishing Village come again? Have they given in?" Yang Dafu's tone was excited.