Returning to Kushan Village, Li Zhengguo was once again surrounded by congratulators.
The well-wishers were not only villagers from his own hamlet but also many tourists.
Li Zhengguo nodded to the congratulators, wanting to break free, but found himself unable to. He was swept along by the crowd to the entrance of the courtyard house.
Upon reaching the courtyard house entrance, the tourists left. Cadres from the village committee and some villagers followed him inside.
Li's mother, who was at home looking after her great-granddaughter, was unaware of her youngest son's promotion.
Seeing so many people surrounding her youngest son as they entered, she hurried out, asking:
"What's happening? What's happening? Did something happen?"
"Grandma, Little Uncle has been appointed as the Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee and County Mayor," Zhou Chenbin announced happily to Li's mother.
His youngest uncle's situation had made him disheartened with officialdom, but this turn of events was extremely satisfying.
Li's mother was stunned. Her youngest son had been promoted?
She knew her youngest son had no interest in officialdom, so how had he risen so high?
Vice Village Head Ou and Party Secretary Yang congratulated Li's mother, praising her for her good fortune and the Li family for producing capable individuals.
The two elders beamed, their eyes crinkling with smiles. With Li Zhengguo as County Mayor, Kushan Village could rest easy for a few more years.
Though they said they didn't care, as long as they were alive, their hearts would never be at peace. How could they not care?
The accompanying villagers also congratulated and praised Li's mother, leaving her feeling rather dizzy.
Li Min and her elder sister-in-law, each holding a baby, rushed into the courtyard house. Seeing so many people surrounding their mother and younger brother, Li Min shouted, "Make way!"
Then, holding one baby in her arms and clearing a path through the now quiet villagers with her other hand, she walked to her younger brother's side. "County Mayor Li is back?"
Li Zhengguo raised his hand and tapped her forehead. "Stop fooling around."
Li Min covered her forehead and shooed the villagers away. "Everyone, go home. My little brother needs some quiet."
The villagers, who envied and were jealous of Li Min the most, took the opportunity to shower her with flattering words as she ushered them out.
Li Min responded perfunctorily, seeing them to the door before taking the babies to the kitchen to boil water for tea.
As the village committee cadres were staying.
Ouyang Meihua was already boiling water. Seeing her sister-in-law come in, she warned, "Whether Zhengguo becoming County Mayor is a good or bad thing is uncertain. You must be even more careful with your words and actions."
"Don't worry, sister-in-law," Li Min replied. She placed Jinian, whom she was holding, on a small stool by the wall, sitting with Jiyang:
"I'm almost fifty. Even if I can't fully understand my little brother's ups and downs, I know I need to be careful."
In the living room, the village committee cadres sat on the sofa. The excitement from earlier suddenly turned into nervousness once they sat down. Zhengguo would now be the County Mayor, the head of a county!
The sudden quiet and tense atmosphere made Li Zhengguo laugh. "Why has everyone suddenly gone quiet?"
Vice Village Head Ou looked at Li Zhengguo. "Zhengguo, we are very happy that you became County Mayor. After the initial joy, we suddenly feel a distance between us."
Li Zhengguo shook his head and smiled. "Am I not still me?"
As he spoke, he extended his hand to Tian Jing, who emerged from the east room.
Tian Jing sat beside him. "Congratulations on your promotion, Comrade Li Zhengguo."
Li Zhengguo helplessly shook his head. "You just love to tease me."
Their playful banter diffused the tense atmosphere.
Just then, Li Min and Ouyang Meihua entered with tea. Their familiar way of speaking further eased the reservations of the village cadres.
After a few pleasantries and a cup of tea, the village cadres departed.
Tian Jing and Li Zhengguo stood up to see them off. Previously, they could have been more casual, but now they had to be mindful to avoid appearing arrogant.
Returning to the living room, Li Zhengguo took his granddaughter from his mother's arms. "I wanted to stay home and look after Xuanxuan, but this official hat was suddenly forced upon me. Alas!"
Li's mother stood up. "No matter what, you can't escape it now. I'll go cook. We'll celebrate properly tonight."
Ouyang Meihua and Li Min went to help. Only the couple and the little child remained in the living room.
Li Zhengguo asked, "Wife, what do you think?"
Tian Jing shook her head. "I don't know. This appointment was made without informing you. Either it was arranged by the opposing side, or our own side gave you no chance to refuse."
"As Mother said, if you can't escape it, then don't try to."
"I suppose Lu Shi and Hao Hao should know by now?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Li Zhengguo's phone rang.
Tian Jing took her granddaughter and handed her to her husband so he could answer the phone.
The call was from Han Lu Shi, congratulating his father-in-law on his promotion.
Li Weihao and his two brothers were also with Han Lu Shi, all congratulating their father on becoming County Mayor.
Li Weixin joked that he was not only a second-generation rich kid but also a second-generation official, so finding a girlfriend would no longer be a problem.
The four brothers were currently in the special skills team. Ten days prior, they had sent the evidence they had found back to the team.
Deputy County Mayor Tong's backer was the Hong family in Kyoto. The Hong family was a political and business family. Two of their members served as provincial vice-governors and department heads in local governments, and one served as a county mayor. These three official positions were all obtained through bribery.
These three members of the Hong family had numerous clandestine dealings with local officials. These dealings involved not only local business monopolies but also the facilitation of official appointments.
Deputy County Mayor Tong was one such individual who obtained his position as Deputy County Mayor of Ling County through the Hong family's influence.
The Hong family's ability to facilitate official appointments relied entirely on the protection of their in-laws residing in the military compound. This in-law family was one of those who had lost a bet with Old Master Shen and had invited Tian Jing to cultivate ginseng.
This elder gentleman was resentful of Old Master Shen's cunning tactics, as they all knew that if the Ginseng Strengthening Pill proved effective, it would bring not only money but also power, and most importantly, the favor of higher authorities.
His task was to find the location where Tian Jing was cultivating ginseng in Kushan Village and take photos for him.
He wanted to see if ginseng grown for three years could truly possess the efficacy of thirty-year-old ginseng before making further arrangements.
However, the Hong family misunderstood. Unaware of Tian Jing's background, the Hong family took it upon themselves to retaliate against Tian Jing.
Zeng Jingchu saw the evidence brought back by the four brothers and submitted it that very day. Trafficking in official positions and monopolizing businesses – how could this be tolerated?
The Hong family and their in-laws were naturally investigated, causing another tempest in Kyoto.
As Shen Jianrong was very busy and the Shen family was not involved in this incident, Tian Jing was unaware of the storm brewing in Kyoto.
Meanwhile, those within the Kyoto elite once again warned their families not to provoke Captain Tian, not even to attempt any probing.
The higher authorities wished to compensate Tian Jing and felt they had wronged the efforts of Tian Jing and her husband. Thus, Li Zhengguo was promoted by skipping ranks to become Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee and concurrently County Mayor.
As for the rule that locals could not serve as county mayors, it wasn't an absolute prohibition. Some locals did serve as county mayors and party secretaries in their own regions.
Take the former Secretary Ji, for instance. Although he was not a local, he had been in Ling County since serving as a commune secretary and had served a term as county party secretary.
The primary reason for this was that Old Master Shen wanted Secretary Ji to protect Kushan Village. Although there were personal sentiments involved, there were no incidents of forming cliques or engaging in corruption.
Not only did he stabilize and improve the development and construction of Ling County, but he also safeguarded the stable output of the nursery planting base.
In contrast to the situation in Ling County where the leadership class was changed, and the nursery planting base was destroyed, after the higher authorities issued only a verbal warning to Old Master Shen, Li Zhengguo was appointed Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee and concurrently County Mayor of Ling County.
After listening to the report from the four children on the other end, Li Zhengguo lamented inwardly, 'What a predicament! I would have preferred to sit on the sidelines.'
Tian Jing glared at her husband, then took his phone and praised all four children.
She especially praised her son-in-law for his competence, telling her three sons to learn from their brother-in-law.
After hanging up, the three Li brothers proceeded to give their brother-in-law a good beating.
How dare he steal their parental affection? He was asking for it!
Han Lu Shi allowed his three brothers-in-law to beat him. Once they were done, he took out his phone. "I'll call Dad and Mom and tell them you all beat me up."
"You wouldn't dare!"
The three Li brothers pinned him down again, beat him once more, and snatched his phone.
Han Lu Shi rubbed his swollen face, grinning as he watched the backs of his three brothers-in-law leave.