Chapter Twenty-Six: Conflict

Visitors arrived from the town, an unwelcome group. Among the crowd was Qian Youwang, his brows knit in concern. Today, he was not leading the delegation from the town; instead, it was a leader named Zhao.

"Stop right there! Who authorized this construction?" Leader Zhao, his belly protruding and hands clasped behind his back, exuded an air of stern authority.

Aunt Yang, unfamiliar with this leader, had met Qian Youwang a few times and knew he was from the town and easy to get along with.

"Leader Qian, what’s going on?"

Aunt Qian, a straightforward villager, spoke bluntly, without any pretense. She couldn’t fathom the purpose of the town’s visit and had already sent someone to the back mountain to fetch Tang Long and Zhang Xiu’e.

Qian Youwang shot Aunt Yang a meaningful glance, but before he could speak, Leader Zhao interrupted, his expression sour as he asked, "Are you a cadre from Fishhead Village?"

Aunt Yang, fearless even among her own family, was known for her bold manner. Unfazed by Zhao’s questioning, she laughed heartily, "Yes, I am a village cadre. I handle family planning. Is there a problem, Leader?"

Family planning?

Zhao’s face darkened, bristling with anger. "Where are your village chief and party secretary? Don’t you see I’m here? Hurry up and call them!"

Qian Youwang was speechless. People like Zhao had spent too much time in county offices, coming to the countryside with airs as if they were high officials, barking orders. Did he really think the villagers would tolerate this?

It was just as people said: the bigger the official, the more humble and polite; it's those with a little power who strut around, desperate for everyone to know they're in charge.

But he couldn’t say that aloud; Zhao was from the county, and he was only accompanying from the town.

Qian Youwang had visited Fishhead Village days earlier. The torrential rain had not only affected Fishhead Village, but other villages in the town had suffered even greater losses.

He knew Zhang Xiu’e and Tang Long had secured money from Liu Meijia of Qiangyuan Company, but he hadn’t expected them to have such resolve—to use that money to build houses for the entire village.

He wasn’t sure if he was happy or simply gratified. After returning home, he’d done something unprecedented: drank two shots of liquor, and his wife said he had woken in the night laughing.

Donghe Town lacked fearless, bold young village cadres like them; without drive and spirit, these impoverished villages’ residents would never rise. The train can only move with a strong engine!

After the disaster in Donghe Town, Qian Youwang’s hair had turned half white in less than a week from worry.

The town had no money, the county had no money, and the disaster-stricken villagers had even less.

"Who are you? Wait a moment. Our village chief and party secretary are on the back mountain. It takes time to fetch them, and time for them to return. They don’t have wings; they can’t just fly back," Aunt Yang said with a smile.

No matter what, they were town leaders. A bit of temper was nothing. Fishhead Village was different now; everyone had hope, and their words had become much more cordial.

In the past, who would pay any mind to such arrogance? Useless leaders, caring for nothing but bullying others, coming to the village to flaunt their power?

Leader Zhao was furious, frowning, "You, make them stop. Who authorized these houses? Did they pass county approval? Where did the money come from? Was it explained?"

Aunt Yang’s face changed instantly upon hearing this.

Everyone in Fishhead Village knew the money for the houses had been demanded by Tang Long and Zhang Xiu’e from Qiangyuan Company. Tang Long had even led others to dismantle Qiangyuan’s camp at Liangouwa.

Now, with these town leaders suddenly appearing and demanding a halt to construction, questioning the source of funds, were they trying to forcibly reclaim the money?

If the funds from Qiangyuan Company were still in Zhang Xiu’e’s hands, ordinary villagers might not be angered by such questions. But now, the money was already distributed among the villagers, and everyone relied on it to build their homes.

If the town tried to take it back, would the villagers of Fishhead Village be pleased?

"Are you here to demand money for Qiangyuan Company?"

Qian Youwang inwardly cursed; no one understood the mindset of these impoverished villagers better than he did.

Before he could interject, Leader Zhao fumed, "Unless you can clearly explain the source of the funds for these houses, no unauthorized construction is permitted!"

With that single sentence, trouble began.

Aunt Yang turned and ran anxiously toward the busy villagers. "Town leaders brought people to stand up for Qiangyuan Company—they say we can’t build our houses!"

"What?"

"Damned town officials, when Qiangyuan Company bullied us, they didn’t even dare fart!"

"They’re just lapdogs for Qiangyuan Company!"

"If you want money, we have none; if you want lives, we’ll fight!"

"Beat these bastards!"

Leader Zhao was dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected his words to ignite the long-repressed anger of Fishhead Village, turning it into a wave of public outrage.

Faced with hundreds of villagers, tools in hand, closing in on him, his face turned pale, his legs trembling. With so many people, even if they didn’t fight, one stomp from each would crush him.

"Qian Youwang, what’s going on?" Leader Zhao still hadn’t grasped the situation.

Useless!

Qian Youwang cursed silently. Why provoke trouble here? The villagers were building their homes, and you demanded they stop. Why not address your concerns directly with the party secretary or village chief?

Why put on airs?

"Everyone, please, calm down, calm down. The town’s visit today isn’t to stand up for Qiangyuan Company. The county sent an investigation team to survey the disaster caused by the recent rainstorm. It has nothing to do with your house construction…"

Qian Youwang was halfway through his explanation when Fishhead Village’s villagers interrupted.

"I know that guy—he used to follow Qiangyuan Company around, licking their boots. Not a good sort!"

"Beat these bastards!"

Qian Youwang could only smile wryly. It was true he’d accompanied Qiangyuan Company to Fishhead Village several times, but honestly, he’d always sided with the villagers, fighting for their best interests.

Qiangyuan Company’s influence was vast in Donghe Town and even Taoyuan County. As a town leader, how much authority did he have? All he could do was speak up for Fishhead Village and secure as much benefit for them as possible.

But his power was limited, and there were many things he couldn’t tolerate—but what could he do?

Tang Long, carrying Zhang Xiu’e, rushed to the village entrance, witnessing the villagers besieging the town delegation. His expression changed, and he quickly set Zhang Xiu’e down.

"Stop! Everyone, stop right now!"

Tang Long’s voice, like thunder, rang out clear and loud in every villager’s ear, instantly calming the chaotic scene.

"Chief!"

"Party Secretary!"

Tang Long parted the crowd, stepping forward. Seeing Qian Youwang and his group looking somewhat disheveled but unharmed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He walked over with a stern face, frowning, "What’s going on? Why can’t things be discussed calmly? Why did it come to blows?"

…

The villagers thought silently, Who do you think we learned it from? Since you returned, chief, haven’t you fought enough times yourself?