Zhou Chengbin shouted again, "Those villagers who agree to Yang Jianxin serving as Party Secretary, please stand in the corridor."
The villagers did not hesitate any longer. They divided their families in half, intending to vote on both sides.
As a result, Da Niu's father won by a single vote against Yang Jianxin.
Niu Xiao Sao and her husband voted for Yang Jianxin, but Niu Xiao Sao's daughter and her husband voted for their paternal uncle.
Li Min's family of four and Ouyang Meihua's couple also voted on both sides like other villagers. However, the crucial vote was with Li Zhengguo, who voted for Da Niu's father.
Yang Jianxin proactively congratulated Da Niu's father.
Big Brother Niu chuckled honestly, "This is too sudden. Actually, you are more suitable for this position as Party Secretary, after all..."
Yang Jianxin quickly waved his hand, "Don't say that. It's better not to continue these village official positions. My father only asked me to be a candidate, not to get elected."
Big Brother Niu believed Yang Jianxin's words. Otherwise, with so many members of the Yang family, he wouldn't have won by such a narrow margin; surely, the Yang family members would have also divided their votes.
"Everyone, please be quiet," Zhou Chengbin's voice came through the microphone.
"The election has concluded. Below is an important announcement."
"Due to Captain Tian's poor health, the nursery planting base will be temporarily closed. However, as contracts have been signed for this year's greenhouse cultivation, Captain Tian will nurture the seedlings despite her illness. After this year's greenhouse cultivation concludes, it will be entirely terminated."
"This termination refers to the end of Captain Tian's seedling cultivation and the end of acquisitions from the provincial city."
"Villagers from villages one and two, if you wish to continue planting, the greenhouses can still be contracted to you, but you will be responsible for planting and sales yourself."
As soon as Zhou Chengbin finished speaking, various discussions erupted like an explosion, roaring loudly.
Zhou Chengbin closed his eyes, allowing the discussions to fill his ears.
Since his maternal uncle was dismissed and expelled from the Party, his heart had grown cold. In official circles, it was truly difficult without backing.
These discussions gradually changed in nature, dividing into two factions. One faction blamed Captain Tian for irresponsibility, while the other blamed some county officials for irresponsibility.
Zhou Chengbin opened his eyes. As expected, some villagers had lost their conscience amidst Captain Tian's selfless contributions.
He sat up straight, intending to scold these villagers, when a hand landed on his shoulder, followed by a voice, "You stand up, I'll say a few words."
Zhou Chengbin turned around and found that the positions of Deputy Village Head Ou and Secretary Yang beside him had been replaced. One of them was Zeng Da Jiu.
He stood up and looked behind him. An elder with a kind smile was standing there.
However, that kind smile could not mask the elder's imposing presence.
This authority was even heavier than the official aura of his maternal cousin. He respectfully made way for his main seat, standing with Deputy Village Head Ou and Secretary Yang behind him.
The villagers in the corridor, seeing the change on the rostrum, stopped their discussions.
The deputy group leader, who had taken Zhou Chengbin's seat, looked at Zeng Jingrong beside him and asked, "You first? Or me first?"
"I'll go first." Zeng Jingrong took the microphone. He had come to add fuel to the fire, but unexpectedly, a deputy director from the poverty alleviation leadership group had also arrived. Since someone was there to put out the fire, he might as well throw his fuel ahead.
The discussions from the four-story building had stopped at some point. Many people came out of their rooms and stood in the corridor.
Zeng Jingrong picked up the microphone and looked up at the villagers on the upper floors.
"I would like to inform all the villagers in Kusanli that the ownership of the Kusanli scenic area has been transferred from Ling County to the army. The army did not take everything; they gave 20% to Kusanli."
"Villagers working in the scenic area will retain their positions and salaries. If you are dissatisfied, you can resign. Resignation requires one month's notice, and you can only leave after approval."
"Additionally, regarding the shops in the Hot Spring Valley scenic area, each household must contribute money to purchase the land, at the price of 200 yuan per square meter for the vacated properties. Shops that do not pay for the land will not be allowed to operate."
Boom!
The entire meeting venue immediately erupted in chaos. Over two thousand villagers heard the news, and their inner anxiety and unease were confirmed. They needed to speak loudly to their neighbors to release it.
Not only was the greenhouse cultivation ending, but even the Hot Spring Valley scenic area was not secure.
"Screech!" A harsh sound rang out. It was the microphone in Zeng Jingrong's hand being snatched by the deputy group leader.
This sound reached everyone's ears, but it did not stop the buzzing discussions.
"Quiet!" The deputy group leader's calm voice, carrying an invisible pressure, immediately silenced the villagers.
"I am Meng Fanwen, the deputy group leader of the poverty alleviation leadership group. The nursery planting base is temporarily closed due to various reasons."
"Regarding the reclamation of the Hot Spring Valley scenic area, I have only just learned about it. I have no authority to stop this, as all land and mountains belong to the state."
"The dividends you have enjoyed from the Hot Spring Valley scenic area for so many years are the result of the efforts of Captain Tian and Comrade Li Zhengguo."
"However, those deep mountains are not within Ling County's jurisdiction. Even if Ling County had previously purchased the area around Laoyingzui, it must be repossessed when the country needs it."
"The fact that you can still retain 20% should be Captain Tian's final effort to fight for you."
"Just now, I heard your discussions. Some people said the county officials were irresponsible, and some said Captain Tian was irresponsible."
"Your benefits have been largely stripped away, and you feel disheartened. Hearing you say Captain Tian is irresponsible also makes me feel a little disheartened."
"As far as I know, the development of Kusanli was supported by Comrade Li Zhengguo with personal loans. The then Deputy County Head Ji provided great support by waiving interest for several years."
"These responsibilities were borne by Comrade Li Zhengguo and the then Deputy County Head Ji."
"And you? It was only under Comrade Li Zhengguo's strong urging that you changed your bad habits and developed."
"Not to mention villages one and two in Kusanli, but just in Kusanli village itself, which household does not have savings exceeding 500,000 yuan? Who provided this?"
"Your two small foreign-style buildings per household, and each building with a shop in the new village, who provided these?"
"Who did Comrade Li Zhengguo rely on to succeed? What was the reason for the great sales of watermelons and vegetables?"
"Everything was supported by Captain Tian behind the scenes. For more than a decade, even your parents wouldn't have supported you so wholeheartedly, would they?"
"When you feel your heart grow cold, think about others' hearts – aren't they cold too?"
"Villagers who felt wronged by Li Zhengguo's dismissal, think about whether you have been fair to Captain Tian and Comrade Li Zhengguo."
"Alright, I have finished speaking. I am going to visit Captain Tian. Her body is operating beyond its limits, and she can no longer support villagers like you who rely on the charity of others."
The deputy group leader left with over a dozen people. Li Zhengguo hurried downstairs.
In the twenty-odd rooms on the fourth floor, except for Li Zhengguo's footsteps, there was no other sound, as if even breathing had ceased.
Zeng Jingrong left the rostrum amidst this silence.
Zhou Chengbin returned to the side of the rostrum and sat down. He looked up at the villagers in the corridor and said coldly, "Employees of the Hot Spring Valley scenic area who wish to resign, please apply at the village committee immediately."
"Also, please note that this year's May Day ticket price will be increased to 150 yuan, with an additional 2 yuan for accident insurance. Accident insurance is not mandatory, but tourists must be informed."
"Villagers who answer reservation calls must remember to remind tourists."
"All villagers, please pay attention: regarding the ownership of the scenic area, do not complain in front of tourists. Do not let tourists mock your sense of entitlement and shamelessness."
"Meeting adjourned!"
Zhou Chengbin stood up and walked towards the courtyard at the back.
Deputy Village Head Ou beckoned to the villagers to clear the rostrum, and he also walked towards the back.
Secretary Yang sighed and followed.
All the villagers stared blankly at the rostrum area, which had now disappeared, remaining silent.