Zhao Youfang's worries were not unfounded. They had already lost a large sum of money to the Yan family just now, otherwise, why would the other party be willing to let go and spare Zhao Xuefei?
Even if the family had some savings, it was likely depleted. The benefits Zhao Tielin had reaped from being the village head were probably all spent.
Zhao Tielin, however, said, "You don't need to worry about the money. You just tell me, is there any way out for us if we leave?"
Zhao Xuefei finally regretted it. "Dad, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I've implicated the whole family. I'll leave on my own, I won't burden you anymore."
"Even if you leave on your own, we still need to make arrangements for you. You're a young girl, who can rest assured?"
Zhao Dasao snorted coldly, "Why can't they rest assured? She can charm a man in his fifties, what else can't she do? If you want to leave, you leave. I'm not going anywhere."
She had lived in the village for so many years. Leaving suddenly, with no one to support her, could she survive outside?
Zhao Tielin said, "If you don't want to leave, let the eldest son divorce you, and you can return to your maiden home. No pressure."
"What?"
Zhao Dasao's heart completely chilled. For her daughter, he would give up his daughter-in-law and even drive her away. This life was unbearable. Crying, she ran out to reason with the village head.
She had borne sons for the Zhao family, why should she divorce and return to her maiden home?
Zhao Tielin didn't care. He asked Zhao Youfang to come inside with him. Zhao Youliang looked conflicted. This time, it was truly a choice between his sister and his wife.
His father had spoken, and he had to obey.
Zhao Youfang was also unhappy with Dasao's troublemaking. When the family was united, why was she causing trouble? Father was right, if she didn't want to leave, then divorce. Who was afraid of whom?
Zhao Tielin took out a box from under the bed, carefully opened it, and took out two gold bars, handing them to him. "Do you have any connections in the county town? Sell these, and we'll have money."
Zhao Youfang's eyes almost popped out. He stared at the box. Could there be gold bars inside?
Gold was a hard currency in any era. The current price of gold was seventy to eighty yuan per gram. A bar, weighing about fifty grams, was worth three to four thousand yuan.
Two gold bars were enough for them to settle down in the city.
"Okay, I'll go sell them. Dad, you're amazing! You actually hid such a treasure!"
Zhao Tielin smiled triumphantly. "Did your father live in vain? Dad does all this for you. If this place doesn't keep me, I'll find another. We'll leave."
"Dad, you're amazing, not pedantic, and decisive. With you in our family, we are the bedrock, we fear nothing!"
After a bit of flattery, Zhao Youfang eagerly headed to the city.
...
The one who went to cause trouble at the Zhao family's house was Yan Xiaoliang's mother, arranged by Xie Sui. How dare they lay hands on his grandmother! He would ruin the Zhao family's reputation.
Of course, he stayed behind the scenes, letting Gu Lei leak the information. Gu Lei grew up in the county town and could easily handle such a small matter.
If Xie Sui hadn't stopped him, he would have wanted to go watch the spectacle.
In the 1980s, the scene of going to someone's home to catch a mistress and beat her up was not common.
Grandmother Xie had undergone surgery and needed to stay in the hospital for seven days for observation before she could be discharged. Lin Wanyuan and her two older sisters took turns caring for her. In the evenings, Xie Sui would take over, taking good care of Grandmother Xie.
During the day, Xie Sui had to oversee the factory. The launch of new products required his presence.
When he arrived at the factory that day, Chen Weimin was already waiting for him. Xie Sui felt a little embarrassed and spoke first. "I've been really busy lately and haven't had time to go to the city to get supplies. Don't worry, once my grandmother is settled, I'll definitely make a trip for you."
Chen Weimin understood. "I know, your grandmother fell. I'm here to talk about something else. I know that fellow Zhao is at odds with you. Recently, he's been trying to sell two gold bars. The Zhao family still has such good things? Are they from a landlord family?"
Xie Sui was very surprised. "No, their father was the village head. Could he be from a landlord family?"
Village head?!
Xie Sui suddenly came to his senses. The village head's power in the past was considerable. He had been the village head for decades, and he must have reaped a lot of benefits. Could it be something he hid back then?
Recalling that Zhao Tielin had produced a large sum of money and then gold bars, this old scoundrel must have embezzled a lot of collective property.
Xie Sui had an idea. "Brother, thank you for telling me this. You've helped me a lot. I owe you a favor."
Chen Weimin smiled. "Don't say that. I just happened to come across it. It was sold to me. I thought about the feud you had with him, so I came to tell you."
"Can those two gold bars be sold to me?"
"Sure, I'll sell them to you at cost. I won't make money off you."
"Thank you, I accept this favor."
He spent six thousand yuan to buy the gold bars from Chen Weimin. The market price could indeed fetch over seven thousand yuan, but on the black market, the price was heavily discounted. Zhao Youfang was eager to sell, so he could only sell them at this price.
After sending Chen Weimin away, Xie Sui's mood greatly improved. Humming a tune, he thought, Zhao Youfang, Zhao Youfang, you brought this upon yourself. It would be a disservice to my rebirth if I didn't send you packing this time.
Things done will always leave traces. To investigate a former village head, one naturally had to go to the county's Disciplinary Committee. Xie Sui had no connections, but Secretary Tang did.
It had been a long time since he visited Secretary Liu. Xie Sui brought some pickled green beans, pickled cabbage, and pickles, and rode his bicycle to find Secretary Tang.
When Secretary Tang saw him, he felt a headache coming on. This guy always brought gifts when he had something to ask.
He was different from others. He would bribe leaders by sending gifts every few days. This guy, however, only came to ask for favors when he had something to ask. If he needed help, he could forget about the big shot, Secretary Liu.
"Secretary Tang, it's been a few days, and you've become even younger."
Secretary Tang said indifferently, "Thank you for the compliment. I wasn't old to begin with. Do you have something to discuss?"
Xie Sui's eyes darted around. He immediately understood his thoughts and said, "Yes, it's a matter of great importance to the entire county's livelihood, a great matter related to our county escaping poverty and heading towards prosperity."
Secretary Tang watched him quietly. "Keep bragging. If you keep bragging, the whole country will be millionaires, the world will be at peace, and humanity will have left Earth to settle on Mars."
Xie Sui chuckled and continued to fool him. "Secretary Tang, what do you think of the pickled vegetables I make?"
"They're okay, I guess."
If they weren't good, would you be here chattering with me? A big secretary like me, would I be idle and chatting with you?
"You tell me, if we make these pickled vegetables the pillar industry of the entire county, how much tax revenue can it bring to the county?
I plan to open a pickle factory. The beans, radishes, and cabbages from the farmers in our county will have a good sales channel. In the future, they will be sold all over the country, even the world. In the future, please call me Xie Pickle, I want to be the King of Pickles!"
Secretary Tang was dumbfounded. He had seen shameless people, but never someone this shameless. You're willing to completely discard your dignity just to curry favor with the secretary. Selling pickles can even sell to the world?
If it weren't for the Earth's gravity holding you down, wouldn't you be floating to the moon?