bookrandom Chapter 112 Voting
Chapter 112 Voting
Nowadays, pigs at the pig farm have become the most important thing in the village besides grain.
Every day, you can hear the noise and commotion of the pigs from not far from the pig farm.
Everyone is in a hurry!
They're crying out that they're hungry! They're crying out that they're hungry!
But what should we use to feed them?!
Pig feed?
It's fed pig feed every day, but it still squeals!
If people living near a pig farm can hear the pigs making a fuss.
Those who keep watch every night are practically being tortured.
It's really strange! Are the piglets in Jiang'an City really that amazing? How can they be so energetic, constantly banging their heads against the pigpen even when they're not getting enough to eat every day?
Seeing that all 100 piglets had survived without any loss and had been raised smoothly for three months, it was impossible for them to die. They were all big, fat pigs, and we could have an extra bite of meat during the New Year!
But, but, sigh!
Ye Fang kept bothering Zhao Zhongcai to come up with a solution.
So Zhao Zhongcai called on several cadres to discuss how to resolve the issue.
"Tell me! We have to come up with a solution!" Zhao Zhongcai spoke first, his eyes never leaving the broiler pigs in the pigpen.
It hurts!
What wonderful piglets! If they could be fed properly, growing into big, fat pigs wouldn't be a problem at all.
Now that he can't get enough to eat and can't gain weight, how can he not feel bad?
"What else can we do? We've almost plucked all the pig feed around here, but look at these pigs, they're only growing bigger, not fatter." Zhou Ping also felt at a loss!
Zhao Lide: "It's only May now, there's still so much time, won't they starve to death!"
Xia Yongshou paused for a moment, holding the tobacco leaf. "That's quite possible!"
They've invested a lot of money in these 100 pigs at the pig farm, and they're growing well, so they're sure to make a fortune during the Lunar New Year. But if they're starving every day, there won't be much meat for the New Year, and they won't get a good price for it!
"Use grain??"
A tentative voice rang out, and the scene fell silent for a moment.
"No way!" Zhou Ping was the first to refuse. "Grain is our staple food. We're using something so precious to feed pigs? What will people eat?"
Lu Yuanqing quickly held his breath, determined not to express his opinion in front of so many people.
He's not going to be the one to stand out.
He only breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Zhao Zhongcai say that he would feed the pigs with grain.
It's no wonder he always says this when he talks to Zhao Zhongcai about pigs.
Zhao Zhongcai was clearly influenced by his words, which is why he blurted it out.
Lu Yuanqing chuckled to himself.
He would only reveal his true plans in front of Zhao Zhongcai. If other cadres were present, he would always be a sensible junior, never offering unwarranted opinions or arguing back.
Therefore, Xia Yongshou and the others treated him very kindly, did not cause him any trouble, and got along very well with him.
As the saying goes, extreme joy can turn to sorrow, and fortunes change.
Just as Lu Yuanqing finished feeling relieved, he heard Zhao Zhongcai's words: "Yuanqing told me that if you feed pigs sweet potatoes, corn, or soybean residue, they can be ready for market in five or six months. These 100 pigs are obviously good pigs that can eat and grow well. I was thinking, should we try feeding them sweet potatoes? We can raise two rounds of pigs a year. The money from selling the pigs should be enough to easily make up for the cost of feeding them sweet potatoes!"
Xia Yongshou and the other two immediately looked at Lu Yuanqing.
Lu Yuanqing, who was originally quiet, was suddenly subjected to all sorts of scrutinizing glances from them.
Lu Yuanqing: "..."
Fortune may change, but it's changing way too fast!
Lu Yuanqing glanced speechlessly at Zhao Zhongcai's smile that had just faded.
What a rip-off!
Xia Yongshou ignored their subtle exchanges and asked directly, "Yuan Qing, did you calculate this?"
Having worked and cooperated for so long, he knew that Lu Yuanqing wouldn't easily make such empty promises. Moreover, this guy was a genuinely cultured person; he kept the village accounts crystal clear, without a single falsehood, much better than the previous accountant.
Moreover, Lu Yuanqing particularly likes budgets.
When the pig-raising plan was proposed, Lu Yuanqing calculated the price of piglets for them, plus the expenses of raising pigs, and how much money they would make if they sold the large fat pigs.
At that time, Lu Yuanqing showed them a form.
It was because he used numbers to show them that raising pigs would make money and allow everyone to live a better life that the cadres did not object, but instead actively helped with the planning.
Zhao Zhongcai wasn't the kind of brigade leader who made empty boasts. Since he said that, he must have privately discussed the matter with Lu Yuanqing.
Lu Yuanqing: "Grandpa Xia, the brigade leader mentioned it to me, and I also did the calculations. Although feeding pigs with grain is too extravagant and increases costs, we need to think long-term!"
"Just like the team leader just said, we can raise pigs twice a year. In that case, we'll earn even more than raising pigs once a year. I've calculated the approximate expenses and profits, and I can show you later!"
That's right, it was the captain who brought it up, he was the only one who brought it up, it has nothing to do with him! The budget wasn't calculated by him alone either, the captain made him calculate it!
Zhao Zhongcai: "..." Shameless! He's being blamed all by himself! He can't even argue back because both of them want what's best for the village.
He can only blame himself for being so easily swayed by Lu Yuanqing. He supported whatever Lu Yuanqing suggested!
That brat!
“That’s right, I’ve reviewed Yuan Qing’s budget, and I think it’s feasible!” Zhao Zhongcai said calmly.
Why is there a strange hint of sadness in her tone?
“I still disagree. What a joke! Using everyone’s food to feed pigs? The villagers won’t agree to that!” Zhou Ping disagreed.
Zhao Lide: "If we were to feed them grain, there would be no grain in the warehouses right now, and the grain in the fields is not yet ready for harvest. The earliest we'd harvest is sweet potatoes!"
Summers in Sichuan and Chongqing are long and hot.
Generally, in hot weather, the growth cycle of sweet potatoes is shorter.
This is also why sweet potatoes can be harvested twice a year in Shihua Village!
The sweet potatoes have been planted for almost three months now, and with the current weather, they should be ready for harvest in about 120 days.
“It’s mid-May now. By early June, the sweet potatoes in the field will be ready to be harvested. Right now, we’re clearly short of pig feed, but we can use sweet potato vines as a substitute. Just hold on for another half month, and we’ll be fine!” Lu Yuanqing said calmly.
Of the group, Zhao Zhongcai and Lu Yuanqing agreed to feed the pigs with grain.
Zhou Ping was firmly opposed!
Zhao Lide is a swing person; he doesn't support the side with the most people, but rather the side that is weaker.
Xia Yongshou, on the other hand, remained neutral.
Lu Yuanqing observed their behavior discreetly.
If Xia Yongshou remains neutral, then given Zhao Lide's character, he will definitely support Zhou Ping, resulting in a two-to-two vote.
Clearly, everyone knew that the final crucial vote lay with Xia Yongshou, and they were all watching him closely!
……
Xia Yongshou is a man who has managed to serve as the village party secretary for so many years; he must have some merit.
Among the cadres, he was the oldest and had the highest seniority.
Lu Yuanqing was not old. In his memory, Xia Yongshou had not done anything extraordinary, but Zhao Zhongcai and Zhao Lide gave him face, so he knew that this person was not a simple character.
Lu Yuanqing was straightforward and didn't like to keep things mysterious, but Xia Yongshou was the kind of person who preferred to reveal only a part of the story.
Dealing with people like that is exhausting.
Therefore, he usually behaves properly in front of them and never offers any unsolicited opinions.
In addition, he wasn't the type of person who liked to stand out, so things naturally went smoothly.
Lu Yuanqing was unaware that Xia Yongshou actually thought highly of him, but he hadn't told anyone about it.
Eating the same food for decades still makes a difference.
At least in Zhao Lide and Zhou Ping's view, Zhao Zhongcai was the most proactive one, and Lu Yuanqing only sided with him because of their relationship.
But Xia Yongshou had already sensed that something was amiss.
He had been quietly observing ever since the village's grain distribution reform began last year.
It wasn't that he was overly suspicious; he had simply noticed the positive changes in the village that Zhao Zhongcai and Lu Yuanqing had brought about through their various efforts.
However, he understood Zhao Zhongcai.
He doesn't have the ability. Even if he does have some ability, he's too cautious. Without someone giving him a push, Zhao Zhongcai will never be able to change anything on his own initiative!
Throughout these changes, Lu Yuanqing's presence has remained constant.
This left him no room to think too much!
In the collective pig farming initiative, deciding to feed the pigs with grain is of paramount importance!
When Xia Yongshou met several pairs of eyes staring at him, especially Lu Yuanqing's expectant eyes, he was reluctant to play along anymore!
"I support it!"
The three words were powerful and resonant, and the four people who heard them were either pleased or unhappy.
Xia Yongshou, though unhappy, didn't care and continued, "Three votes to two, that's settled for us cadres, but if we want the villagers' support, we still need to vote!"
The idea that the people are the masters of the country is not just a slogan to be taken lightly!
"Let's leave this to the brigade leader! He's a good talker! He'll definitely be able to persuade the villagers!" Lu Yuanqing reacted quickly! He immediately assigned the arduous task to Zhao Zhongcai!
Zhao Zhongcai opened his mouth briefly, then closed it again.
He was too late again!
However, he still glared at Lu Yuanqing.
"Alright! In any case, let the villagers hear it. They have their own judgment. Then they can vote directly, and those who agree can put their fingerprints on it!" Zhao Zhongcai didn't say anything more, waved his hand, and went back to the village office to call a meeting!
……
This matter is different from voting on pig farming.
To put it bluntly, when I decided to raise pigs, I thought I would build the pig farm myself, which wouldn't cost any money. I would use the money from selling the cabbage to buy piglets.
Since the money that should have been distributed didn't go directly into everyone's pockets, it was easy to agree to it.
But grain is different!
Although last year's harvest looked bountiful and no household was running out of food, we just couldn't eat to our hearts' content. But we didn't have to worry about starving to death!
The famine has only just ended! Everyone's still on edge!
Sweet potatoes are their staple food, and everyone is hoping that after harvesting and distributing them, everyone can have a good meal!
Now they're directly saying they'll use their grain rations to feed pigs, which directly affects their interests.
Opposition was to be expected.
Sure enough, as soon as Zhao Zhongcai finished explaining the purpose of today's meeting, he was met with opposition from the villagers, some of whom even started swearing at him!
"Zhao Zhongcai, you've only had a few decent meals, and you already have no sense of responsibility?"
"What are you thinking! I haven't even had a full meal yet, and you're already feeding the pigs with grain? Haven't we been feeding them pig feed all along?"
"That's right! We've always fed pigs with pig feed, why are you feeding them sweet potatoes now? This is our food, why are you feeding it to animals instead of people?"
"..."
Lu Mingxi and Cheng Xia also huddled together to discuss the matter.
"Xiao west, do you think this proposal will be approved in the end?"
Lu Mingxi: "It definitely will! My third uncle agrees!"
"Hmm!" Cheng Xia thought for a moment and said, "I think that's a good idea! Whatever your third uncle wants to do, he can definitely do it!"
It has to be said that, unbeknownst to Lu Yuanqing, he had already gained another little fangirl besides his family.
The two girls weren't interested in the topics discussed at today's meeting, but they were very interested in praising Lu Yuanqing's abilities, and they kept chattering away.
The two didn't notice that Gu Baoxia behind them had rolled her eyes so many times that she almost had a cramp!
Gu Baoxia glanced at Lu Yuanqing in front of her, then looked away with disdain.
I'm angry again at myself for misjudging things before!
Lu Yuanqing is not someone who can be easily manipulated; on the contrary, he is very opinionated.
At this moment, she completely gave up the idea of marrying Lu Yuanqing.
Gu Baoxia is capable of earning work points and making money. She doesn't need a partner who will control her; she wants to marry someone who will listen to her in everything.
She wants to be in charge and not let others control her!
She wants to find a man who is gentle, indecisive, and who will listen to her in everything after they get married!
A capable man like Lu Yuanqing would never willingly be controlled by a woman.
Lu Yuanqing had no idea what Gu Baoxia was thinking. If he did, he would only be happy and even look forward to Gu Baoxia finding her ideal marriage partner soon!
His thoughts were all on Zhao Zhongcai.
It's so pitiful. Every time this brigade leader makes a decision, he never mentions the final result. In any case, he always gets scolded by the villagers at the beginning!
There was nothing he could do; the people who insulted him were all elderly and senior members of the village. He even had to carefully consider his words before responding.
The others, even if they objected, didn't dare to be so direct, after all, the captain still had authority! At most, they would mutter in a low voice so that Zhao Zhongcai wouldn't hear.
However, we must still oppose it!
"Captain, aren't you thinking about us?"
"You've taken all our food rations to feed the pigs, and you still say you're doing it for my sake?"
"Make money? How much can we make? Is it enough to buy us food?"
Zhao Zhongcai was used to everyone having their own opinions. He ignored those who simply wanted to criticize him, but patiently explained things to those who genuinely wanted to ask questions.