Chapter 24: The People's Heart Must Not Be Trifled With

  "I told you before, don't go be a deputy director or whatever, but you didn't listen. Now look what's happened...you're getting punished..."

  Mom complained endlessly.

  Upon hearing the news of Father's punishment, Mother rushed back to Hongqi Commune overnight.

  From the Lotus Commune where Mom works to the Red Flag Commune, it's almost 40 miles away. The bus is not convenient and Mom doesn't know how to ride a bike, so she had to walk for several hours on her two legs. As soon as she entered the door, without even having time to drink a sip of water, she started complaining.

  It's no wonder that my mother was angry, at that time doing administrative work, being punished was a big deal. Especially after offending the head of the county revolutionary committee and being named and punished by the regional revolutionary committee, it was equivalent to being sentenced to political death. As long as Wang Benqing was in Xiangyang County for one day, my father would never have a chance to turn things around.

  I also felt depressed for a while.

  After the crossing, it was unexpectedly influenced by my old man, and he changed from a technical cadre to an administrative cadre. I thought that since I had climbed up to Yan Yucheng, this future county party secretary, my dad would naturally rise to prominence in the future, and I could also get a big hat as a "government official" to enjoy. Who knew it would end up like this.

  Of course, Yan Yucheng may still become the county party secretary, and my dad will eventually have a day of happiness after suffering. I just lack confidence now. Heaven knows what impact this so-called "rice field fish" incident will have on Yan Yucheng.

  But one thing is certain, without my intervention, there would be no "rice field fish", and without "rice field fish", there would be no disciplinary action against Yan Yucheng. A deputy director of the district revolutionary committee who was given an administrative demerit, ranked last, whether he still has a chance to become the number one leader in Xiangyang County after several years, I have no bottom line at all.

  It's clear that Yan Yucheng can't turn things around, and as for Dad, it's even more impossible.

  Dad is even more depressed than me, sitting there smoking one cigarette after another, without a word.

  "You say you are too, the central policy is set, others are promoting it, why do you insist on going against it? Can't this central policy be wrong? Like our Lotus Commune, we were praised by Director Wang..."

  "Don't mention Wang Benqing, I can't bear to hear his name..."

  Dad said with a sullen face.

  The old mother was taken aback, then puckered up her mouth and indeed didn't mention Wang Benqing again.

  I couldn't help but laugh.

  Anyway, mom's heart is still with dad.

  It's time for me to step in. If I let Mom go on and on, Dad will get angry, and it won't be easy to calm him down.

  "Mom, sit down and rest for a while, I'll pour you some tea."

  I carefully moved a stool and placed it behind my mother, then quickly ran to pour tea.

  "Xiao Jun is so well-behaved..."

  After taking over the tea water, her face color became much better.

  Hehe, I'm Mom's favorite child, and this time I've really tried hard to curry favor with her, the effect is immediate.

  "Mom, Dad is feeling uncomfortable in his heart, so don't say anything more, okay?"

  Mom lovingly pinched my face and nodded.

  Mom is just a temperamental person, if she's unhappy in her heart and vents it out, then everything is fine. In the past 40 years of mother-son relationship, don't I know that? Seeing mom not angry anymore, my elder sister immediately said: "Mom, you haven't eaten yet, right? I'll go cook noodles for you."

  Although we three brothers all live in the commune, usually eat in the cafeteria and don't cook for ourselves. At this time, it was past dinner time, and the cafeteria had already closed early. Fortunately, there were still some noodles left.

  "Uh-huh."

  The elder sister's hands and feet were quick, and soon she brought over a bowl of noodles and also fried an egg.

  "Xiao Jun, have you eaten..."

  Although mom was tired and hungry, the first bite wasn't for herself, but she picked up half a hard-boiled egg and brought it to my mouth.

  My heart felt a pang of sadness and I almost shed tears.

  Long-lost family affection!

  "Mom, I'm not hungry, you eat."

  "Be good, listen... come, eat..."

  I couldn't bear it anymore and I took a small bite. Seeing me eating the egg, mom was happier than if she were eating it herself.

  "Hey, I'm saying, why don't you just quit being the deputy director and go back to the electrical station? Do your old job, it's easier!"

  After finishing her noodles, Mom suggested.

  No!

  Dad shook his head, his tone firm.

  "What's wrong with you? You've offended Wang Benqing, what future do you have as an administrative cadre?"

  "I don't believe it, Xiangyang County has really become Wang Benqing's personal fiefdom, allowing him to dominate everything! What if I offend him? Can he even remove me from my official position?"

  "Alright, alright, have it your way!"

  It's strange that Mom didn't get angry. I thought about it carefully and suddenly realized. Dad was transferred back to the power plant, just an ordinary technical cadre, promotion is impossible now.

  My mother used to disagree with my father's transfer to Hongqi Commune for work, mainly considering the problem of children's education. Now that Mr. Zhou is teaching me, which teacher in the county seat can surpass his level?

  After removing this layer, going to work anywhere is still the same.

  The so-called mistake made by Dad is not serious enough to be dismissed from public office.

  "This Wang Benqing, see how arrogant he is!"

  Mom muttered angrily.

  "Mom, you're tired too, go rest early. Big sister, let's go back and sleep."

  Seeing that mom was no longer angry, I tactfully took my leave.

  "Xiao Jun, sleep with mom tonight."

  My scalp felt a chill and I shook my head repeatedly: "No, I want to sleep with big sister."

  My mental age is 40 years old, but this is absolutely impossible. Sleeping in the same bed with my older sister is already quite awkward.

  As soon as I pushed open the door, I suddenly saw a group of people standing at the entrance, and I was startled. Upon closer inspection, the leader was Xiao Shu, along with Qi Bo, Qi Po Mu, Xiao Qing Jie, and several others who were all familiar faces from the Liu family mountain.

  I was surprised and delighted: "Young uncle, how did you come?"

  "We've come to deliver fish, is your husband in?"

  "Look... Dad, Mom, Little Uncle and Seventh Uncle have brought fish... Quick, come in and sit down..."

  Dad and mom were also shocked.

  "Cheng Lin, how did you all come... Ah, Fifth Brother is also here... Quick, come in and sit down... Everyone, please come in and sit down..."

  There were eight or nine people in total, including the branch secretary of Liujia Mountain Brigade, who was my fifth uncle Liu Jinwen and the brigade leader Ruan Chengsheng. Seventh Uncle picked two full buckets of fish, all dried on the kang, probably weighing twenty or thirty kilograms.

  The dormitory of the commune was originally not spacious, and suddenly so many people rushed in, it was crowded to the point where one could hardly turn around.

  "So many dried fish? Ah, Fifth Brother, Seventh Brother, Cheng Sheng, what are you all doing?"

  Mom said repeatedly.

  "Hua Zi, pour tea quickly!"

  Wu Bo is already over fifty years old and has been serving as the branch secretary of Liujia Mountain for many years.

  "No need, we just came to take a look at Jincai. Thanks to your help and Director Yan's, our Liujia Mountain Brigade had a good harvest of fish this year, with 2,500 or 2,600 catties. I heard you and Director Yan were disciplined because of this matter?"

  Wu Bo had always held his younger brother, Lao Da, in high esteem. When Lao Da was appointed as the deputy director of the commune, he was overjoyed for a while. The Liu family finally produced a leader who could make decisions at the commune level, and he felt proud. When the commune proposed "rice field fish farming", Lao Da was the most enthusiastic among all the brigade cadres. He personally selected fields with good terrain and convenient water sources, personally chose fish seedlings, and even took charge of patrolling himself, almost wanting to take on everything by himself, also to give his brother a boost. The "rice field fish farming" was a huge success, and every household had an abundance of fish, naturally earning everyone's praise. Wu Bo was also extremely happy. But then, unexpectedly, a document came down from the county, and both Director Yan and Jin Cai were disciplined for this, leaving Wu Bo perplexed.

  "What's going on here? We peasants just eat a couple more fish, why can't the leaders of this county tolerate it?"

  "Brother Five, these things can't be explained clearly."

  Dad smiled wryly.

  "Besides, Fifth Brother and Seventh Brother, I appreciate your kind intentions. You can take these fish back with you. The county doesn't allow it."

  "What's up?"

  Wu Bo's eyes widened in anger.

  "This isn't public property, it's something we brothers and relatives took out of our own share of fish. Who says we can't accept it? It's our own stuff, we can give it to whoever we want, what business is it of the county?"

  "Is that so? This county is also too broad, right? Last time Xiao Jun saved Xiao Qing's life..."

  My scalp was numb again, and I hastily interrupted: "Seventh Uncle, let's not talk about this anymore."

  Alas, I don't know if this habit of being unable to accept thanks will be changed in this lifetime!

  Dad is actually very open-minded, thinking about it makes sense, haha, and then doesn't say much more.

  "Jin Cai, this fish farming in the paddy fields is a good thing that increases income for both the collective and its members. The masses all support it. Why does the county government insist on not allowing it? They say something about 'speculation' and 'production force theory', 'bourgeois ideology'. The county leaders don't even come down to investigate, just spouting nonsense...this is..."

  "Brother Five, don't talk nonsense."

  Mom hastily stopped her.

  "I am a peasant, from a poor and lower-middle-class farming background. What am I afraid of?... Alright, alright, I won't say it, don't want to affect you all..."

  "Older brother, you're also an old party member now, your party age is much longer than mine, we should trust the organization."

  I couldn't help but sigh. My father himself didn't know how much he had endured, and now he was patiently doing the work of Fifth Uncle again. At that time, party members had strong organizational discipline.

  "Jin Cai, the masses' eyes are bright and clear, we all know you and Director Yan have done the right thing. We support you..."

  Dad's eyes were a little red.

  Truth is still in the hands of the majority after all!