Chapter 249 A Category Ten Gale Sweeps Through the Village
The village chief was annoyed by Wang Zhenli's reluctance, regretting his softheartedness that day. He should have just sent her straight to the educated youth office.
"Fine, your work points won't be deducted, but you'll have to take care of yourself. We won't bother each other."
Zhao Zhenzhen nodded beside him, looking at Wang Zhenli's ungrateful nature. She wouldn't want to care for her even if work points were involved.
"Then, Village Chief, I'll head back first. It'll be dark by the time I get back to the brigade, and it's not safe."
She then looked at Wang Zhenli, her displeasure evident in her tone.
"And Comrade Wang Zhenli, you owe me three mao for today's meal and two liang of grain tickets. If it weren't for your situation, I could have eaten at the educated youth point. I won't work for free; I'll have the village chief deduct your work points for the day and allocate them to me. Also, the ten yuan you borrowed before your surgery, please return it. Since someone else is paying for your surgery, you won't need it."
Wang Zhenli was still angry, blaming Zhao Zhenzhen for her harshness. But upon hearing that her medical expenses were covered, she brightened up immediately.
"Fine, I'll return it. I just didn't expect you to be so selfish, lacking even the basic idea of unity and mutual assistance."
Zhao Zhenzhen ignored Wang Zhenli's words. Since she wouldn't get any benefit, she decided to minimize her losses first.
The village chief narrowed his eyes. He wasn't ready to speak yet; he'd let Zhao Zhenzhen collect her money first.
Wang Zhenli, feeling Zhao Zhenzhen's unwavering gaze, understood that she was expected to pay. She grudgingly took out the money.
"Here, ten yuan and three mao. I don't have any grain tickets on me right now."
"If you don't have them, add money. Another one mao and five fen will do."
"You!"
Zhao Zhenzhen refused to be taken advantage of. Why should she suffer?
Wang Zhenli threw another one mao and five fen at Zhao Zhenzhen and glared at her fiercely.
Zhao Zhenzhen didn't care. She was willing to fawn over Gao Jiaojiao daily because she could get more food. She wouldn't give Wang Zhenli any leeway. After tucking the money away, she said to the village chief.
"Then I'll be heading back now."
"Don't rush. It's not safe for you to go back alone. I'll say a few more words, and we'll leave together."
The village chief looked at the selfish Wang Zhenli and cut to the chase.
"Since you feel you don't need anyone's care, let's discuss your follow-up issues. The educated youth office is covering your medical expenses today, and they will contact your family to claim reimbursement. Whether they succeed in getting the money back is their business, and I won't interfere."
Wang Zhenli's face turned even paler upon hearing about contacting her family. Her family was already struggling, with several younger brothers to support. How could they involve her family?
"No, you can't contact my family. My family has no money."
"Hmph, that's not for you to decide. The educated youth office will discuss it with you. Also, I will deduct today's food expenses and work points for myself and the brigade leader. As for your future meals, you are responsible. Let me be clear, the brigade can lend you grain if needed, but you need to figure out the rest yourself."
Without giving Wang Zhenli a chance to speak, he walked out of the infirmary.
The three of them left decisively, without any regard for Wang Zhenli's future. Let whoever wanted to manage the ungrateful wretch do so.
"Ai Dang, you'll need to go to the educated youth office tomorrow and explain Wang Zhenli's situation."
"Understood, I'll handle it."
Wang Zhenli was stunned by the mention of asking her family for money and hadn't paid attention to her subsequent problems. When she felt the need to use the restroom, she realized the foolishness of her actions.
Meanwhile, Zi Yisheng had also learned of Wang Zhenli's situation.
"Since her leg is healed, we don't need to manage her. As for the money she spent, consider it her compensation for hitting Sheng Ge."
Zi Yisheng wouldn't normally concern himself with such trivial matters, but since it involved the little girl, he wanted to know everything. If it were up to him, that female educated youth wouldn't have been beaten severely enough.
Zi Yisheng looked at A Liang and told him about his discoveries on the mountain that day.
"Take people up the mountain tomorrow and investigate the situation."
A Liang was delighted to hear about the gold mine and sighed at Ye Shengge's luck.
"Alright, I'll ask for leave from the village chief tomorrow and go with A Sen and A Ting."
"Try to avoid being seen. We need to keep this matter quiet. If word gets out, many people will come to seize it."
"Don't worry. Since we found it, no one else will benefit."
Zi Yisheng's lips curved slightly. Yes, the little girl loved money.
"Find someone who knows refining later to assess the content."
Zi Yisheng handed A Liang two gold nuggets, recalling the little girl's reluctant expression and finding it amusing.
"By the way, why hasn't Ouyang arrived yet?"
Ouyang's family, who should have arrived around the same time, had not yet appeared. He was worried they might have encountered trouble.
"I contacted him in the county town a few days ago. He said Old Master Ouyang was ill and should be on the train by now."
Zi Yisheng breathed a sigh of relief, fearing Ouyang couldn't handle those parasites alone.
"Find someone to tidy up Ouyang's residence and buy everything they need, so Old Master Ouyang won't have to worry about it upon arrival."
A Liang nodded. These chores were his responsibility.
"Any news from Uncle Gong?"
"No news. It's said that Han Yuyan has been making contact outside, but we don't know who he's reaching out to."
"Mm, let's take it slow. As long as Han Yuyan contacts someone, I'll eliminate them. I want to see if Han Yuyan can fight alone."
Zi Yisheng could have easily crushed Han Yuyan. But the moment he saw the look in Han Yuyan's eyes when he looked at the little girl, he decided to torment Han Yuyan slowly. He would never forgive any man who coveted his little girl.
The next day, a category ten gale swept through the village. Someone had been killed on the mountain, and the murderer was still hiding there. Such news made everyone in the village feel uneasy.
The village chief's face darkened again. The news he had suppressed for so long had leaked out in just a few days.
The brigade secretary and the brigade leader came to the village chief's house. The brigade leader, in particular, felt that these past few days had been exceptionally unlucky.
First, his youngest daughter was knocked unconscious and brought home, causing him endless embarrassment in front of the new villagers, and his household was in constant turmoil.
Yesterday, he spent the entire day dealing with a female educated youth, and today, before even going to the educated youth office, he was already dealing with a murder case. He didn't know what bad luck had befallen him, leaving him no room to breathe.
Only the brigade secretary remained calm. He usually only conveyed documents from higher authorities and rarely managed village affairs.
Furthermore, in Bai Rong Brigade, the Gong and Ji surnames represented two families. They weren't enemies, but they weren't particularly friendly either. However, Bai Rong Brigade was still controlled by the Gong family, so he wouldn't usually cause trouble.
"Village Chief, how should we handle this matter?"
The village chief took a deep drag from his cigarette, a look of satisfaction on his face.
"How to handle it? Let's call a meeting. Tell everyone to go up the mountain less from now on. If anyone disobeys and gets into trouble on the mountain, don't come looking for us."