"Then raise your hand if you agree to repay the money."
The final count showed there were still more than thirty people who were completely neutral, but those who agreed to repay far outnumbered those who did not.
Wang Shulin felt much more at ease.
"Since there’s a decision, let say a few more words. I know so of you feel uneasy seeing others earn money from us. I’ve even heard people say the tractor in Li Family Village was bought with our village’s money.
To be blunt, they could’ve earned their money elsewhere; there are plenty of people lining up to pay to use their tractor.
Those who accompanied to deliver the public grain know that our village was the third to go. So villages are only just starting to plant their fields right now.
We haven’t always had it easy; we’ve had seasons when the corn didn’t even grow kernels by winter, and that was a lost harvest.
I also know that buying another tractor would an we could use it during the autumn harvest, and even lend it to others to earn rent.
But don’t you know we waited a whole year for our first tractor? Don’t you know we had to keep waiting to contact that side?
If it weren’t for the people from Li Family Village putting in a word for us, who knows how much longer we would’ve waited?
Let’s take Er Gouzi as an example. If you had such a relative, and they borrowed money without repaying, would you lend them a second ti? A third ti? Think it over carefully."
"Village Chief, can we all chip in and buy another one?"
"I don’t know about that. I’ll ask when I go to repay the money tomorrow. If it’s possible, we can all pitch in and bring back two tractors.
Honestly, everyone has benefitted from the tractor. I’d like to get another one. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be going door to door borrowing money, or trudging through the rain to Li Family Village to ask for help.
It’s a favor when people help, not an obligation.
That’s how Jin Family Village has kept up a good reputation over the years, otherwise, people wouldn’t bother helping, and you’d just wait in vain."
After Wang Shulin’s words, no one spoke up.
They all understood, but when it ca to taking money from their own pockets, it made them uncomfortable.
"And think of the kids. People say Jin Family Village doesn’t keep its word, so who would want to marry into our village? Our daughters wouldn’t be respected either."
This ti, even more silence from the crowd. Only the sound of mosquitoes being slapped could be heard.
"Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone, go ho. I know you want us to have a good life, but we have to stand tall and withstand scrutiny."
Secretary Zhou was so angry he couldn’t speak. He felt Wang Shulin was targeting him, implying he was not trustworthy.
But there’s nothing he could do about the criticism. It’s a bitter pill to swallow without a word to say.
In his heart, though, he resented Wang Shulin.
He was already wary of Wang’s close relationship with Li Yungui, fearing it threatened his own position. That’s why he devised a plan to drive a wedge between them, so that Wang wouldn’t hold both the village chief and secretary positions like Li Yungui.
Wang Shulin understood what Secretary Zhou was up to, but he didn’t care. In Jin Family Village, the Wang Family was a big presence, with many extended relatives. For him to step down without a mistake was unlikely.
At ho, Wang Shulin wanted to smoke but his wife stopped him.
"Enough, it’s late. Stop smoking and go to sleep."
Wang Shulin put down the smoke pipe and sighed.
"It’s not a big deal; you’ve already made Zhou lose face. Don’t think too much."
"I just can’t understand who advised him to make such a foolish move to drag down Jin Family Village’s reputation. Can’t he see the elders wouldn’t agree? He’s getting more and more muddled."
"He’s scared, right? Your reputation is so good now; you’re even recognized above. He’s afraid he can’t keep his position as secretary."
"I can’t stand sly people who play petty tricks."
"Alright, get so sleep. You have to go to Li Family Village tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, let the accountant and the captain of the third team go with . We’ll take a cart over."
Wang Shulin lay down but still felt aggrieved, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Secretary Zhou couldn’t sleep either. He was angry too, not expecting that today’s outco wouldn’t go as planned, but instead made Wang Shulin even more popular. It was a loss with no gain.
No one in the Zhou family dared say anything, mainly fearing Secretary Zhou’s anger; he ruled their household strictly.
No matter what, ti doesn’t stop. The next day, after breakfast, Wang Shulin had the accountant fetch cash and called on the captain of the third team, who hadn’t raised his hand to agree to repay the money the previous night.
Actually, Wang Shulin was quite petty. He rembered those who wanted to default on the debt, along with the abstainers, just waiting for a chance to deal with them.
Zhao Changlin was very anxious, but hearing he was to accompany the trip to Li Family Village, he felt relieved.
He had regretted his decision the night before. He hadn’t intended to oppose repaynt, but because his wife, a mber of the Zhou family, insisted on helping her third uncle, he went along with it.
Being asked to go to Li Family Village assured him that he wasn’t in trouble. After all, the matter was between the Wang and Zhou families. As a re team captain, he had no real influence.
He resolved not to get involved in their affairs in the future.
Whoever was right or wrong didn’t concern him much. He too sotis thought about becoming a captain or village chief.
But he had long since abandoned that notion since it was never going to happen.
The three traveled to Li Family Village by horse cart, as the ox cart was too slow.
Wang Shulin had instructed the captain that the thirty abstainers would be given the toughest work today.
Wang Shulin wasn’t afraid they’d see this as retaliation.
Along the way, they passed through three villages, noticing fields still being sown. It filled them with a sense of superiority. But upon reaching Li Family Village, their spirits dampened. The second batch of corn was already being thinned, just a few days ahead, yet the gap was so wide?
It turned out they were in the first wave to catch the rain, and the robust seedlings were as dark and green as can be.
"Shulin, have a good talk with Li Yungui about getting two tractors. I’m envious seeing their crops.
And don’t air our dirty laundry; don’t ntion anything to Li Yungui."
"Second brother, I know. I’m not that foolish. If I don’t get a chance to say it today, I’ll find a ti to co over myself. Hearing it directly from is different than through soone else."
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