Chapter 84 - 84 84 Planning

Words : 1938 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

84: Chapter 84 Planning 84: Chapter 84 Planning Liu Hun listened to Xie Heguo’s spiel, which sounded just like a broadcast speech from some big leader. The dish was not the same, but the taste was indeed quite similar. “Mayor Xie, I feel that the biggest issue holding back the economic development of Wanbao Village is the land. The planting of grains occupies the vast majority of our land in Wanbao Village, and grain cultivation requires much investment and is a cumbersome business, yet the economic benefits—meaning the profits—are not substantial. Therefore, I am wondering if we could stop planting grains in Wanbao Village and switch to cultivating other cash crops instead. In this way, the development of Wanbao Village would be much better.” Liu Hun said this sincerely to Xie Heguo. If it were fruit trees and saplings, tending them one by one with Qi could still be manageable, but one season of grains after another using Qi would kill a person. More importantly, the price of the grains really can’t compare to cash crops. “Hey! You ungrateful thing! Do you really think the town is forcing you to plant grains? Your Wanbao Village receives poverty alleviation funds to plant them! This is a national guarantee for you! Not recognizing your blessings, you’re like someone mistaking a teapot for a chamber pot. Do you have any idea how many villages in the neighboring town are eagerly eyeing that poverty assistance funds and wanting to plant grains?” Lin Fugui seemed like a spittoon when he spoke; picking up on everything and then spewing out a stench. “Liu Hun, Director Lin makes a lot of sense here. This is something we fought hard to secure for you in Wanbao Village! You’re using the nation’s money to plant crops, and the state even handles the buying. There’s really nothing for you to fuss about. If you stop planting grains, then the poverty alleviation funds will be gone!” Xie Heguo said earnestly to Liu Hun, genuinely worried that this source of sustenance would disappear. “Mayor Xie, we people of Baoshan don’t want to live life just hanging by a thread, nor do we covet the state’s poverty alleviation funds. What we want is dignity! Development! A better life! We Baoshan residents are unwilling to wear the label of poverty and be the subject of finger-pointing, then yearn for the poverty alleviation funds every year, and even unable to withstand the slightest disaster or misfortune.” Liu Hun said, his emotions getting somewhat worked up. After pausing for a while, he continued speaking, “Mayor Xie, haven’t you also talked about boosting the economy of Wanbao Village? For that to happen, we need to free up the land! Clinging to this state-sponsored bowl of rice, the people of Baoshan won’t starve, but no one will be fully satisfied, let alone discussing economic development!” “How dare you! Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to prattle on here? Who are you educating? Spewing nothing but big, empty phrases, do you think you’re so capable? Feeling like Taiping Town can’t get along without you, is that it? Looking at you, one would think you’re aiming to sit in the Central South Sea. You should be knocking your head on the ground in gratitude for the food you’re given! And here you are talking about dignity and development? What does Wanbao Village have to talk about dignity and development with?” Lin Fugui’s true nature, like a spittoon, flared up again, assuming his official airs, he began scolding Liu Hun, utterly forgetting that he himself had originally left Wanbao Village with nothing but his underwear on. “Liu Hun, you’re still young. Economic development isn’t something that can be achieved by just talking. I think Director Lin is right!” Xie Heguo told Liu Hun. He felt the young man was too green, completely unaware of the depth of things, suggesting they give up the poverty alleviation funds—wasn’t that like cutting off one’s own lifeline? “Mayor Xie, I promise you, if Wanbao Village stops planting grains, our economy will be better than it is now! Vegetables, wild products, fruits—these all earn more than grains.” Liu Hun saw that Xie Heguo seemed like he was about to get up, so he quickly added this. He was determined not to miss this opportunity. “Have your teeth fallen out? Spouting nonsense! Just tell us what Wanbao Village has earned, would you?” Lin Fugui looked at Liu Hun as if he were looking at a potato, his eyes full of disdain. “Vegetables, mushrooms, and tangerines are all on record at the Cooperative, and it’s these that have made our Wanbao Village a lot of money. Plus, with this blueberry harvest, just from the blueberries alone, our Wanbao Village has brought in over a million yuan,” Liu Hun laid out the facts, having come fully prepared today rather than acting on impulse. “What?! How much did you say? Over a million?” Lin Fugui’s eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out of their sockets upon hearing the figure. “Could it really be that much?” Xie Heguo asked Ren Peiling in surprise. He usually didn’t concern himself with such details and was startled when Liu Hun dropped that bombshell. Ren Peiling, as the Rural Affairs Director, closely followed the development of Wanbao Village. She wasn’t like Lin Fugui, who just muddled through days with a cup of tea and a newspaper. She immediately responded to Xie Heguo, “Yes, the figures I got from Xie Dapeng, the assistant, match that as well. Moreover, Boss Yang has requested that Wanbao Village double the blueberry planting area.” After saying this, Ren Peiling had a second thought and added, “Wanbao Village has too much land dedicated to grain. I figured that Liu Hun must have brought this up because he was unable to meet Boss Yang’s demands.” Liu Hun was truly grateful for Ren Peiling’s veiled assistance and, upon hearing this, Xie Heguo began to ponder. If Wanbao Village could continue to develop like this, their future tax revenues might match or even surpass the poverty alleviation funds several times over, and there would be no need to keep begging the County Committee for gifts and money every time. At this moment, Lin Fugui was filled with regret and bitterness, wishing he could turn his intestines green with envy. If he had taken charge of Wanbao Village’s blueberry business from the beginning, think of how much profit could have been made from over a million yuan. Lin Fugui thought it over and over again. If the opportunity didn’t fall into his lap, it certainly couldn’t fall into Liu Hun’s hands. He had to find every possible way to sabotage it. So he said to Xie Heguo, “Mayor, I remember Wanbao Village had a disaster during the blueberry harvest. And think about it, we’ve been growing grains for thousands of years, and there have been complete crop failures, let alone this thing that we’ve never even seen before. So, I think this isn’t safe, and it’s better to have the national poverty subsidy money, which is guaranteed as long as we don’t lose the poor village status.” Xie Heguo was doing his own calculations when Lin Fugui abruptly poured cold water over his plans, and his mental abacus came to a halt. After thinking it through, it did seem possible. “Lin Fugui, you can shamelessly refuse, but don’t drag down our Wanbao Village with you!” Liu Hun glared at Lin Fugui and decided he needed to deal with him later. “Hey! What kind of talk is that? Mayor, I think this kid is just here to make trouble! We shouldn’t even bother with him!” Lin Fugui turned and said to Xie Heguo, knowing that Xie Heguo was the real star of this show. “Liu Hun, watch how you speak. We really do need to think this through,” Xie Heguo reminded Liu Hun, his heart leaning somewhat towards Lin Fugui. Just then, Huang Meili waddled in with her plump body, carrying a tray of tea, “Mayor, Deputy Directors, have some tea.” Having said that, she glanced at Lin Fugui and then passed the tea around to the four people. “Meili, there’s no need for you here, out you go!” Lin Fugui gave a sly smile and waved Huang Meili away. Liu Hun was seated by the door and watched Huang Meili about to leave. He extended a hand and gently touched her, sending his Qi instantly into Huang Meili’s leg. “Ouch! It’s numb! It hurts! Oh, my dear father! What’s happening? It hurts!” Huang Meili suddenly cried out and collapsed, clutching her leg. Her yell was as explosive as a mountain-blasting dynamite, shaking Lin Fugui so much that his dandruff started to fall. The group quickly scrambled to their feet and hoisted the two hundred pounds of Huang Meili off the ground. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Liu Hun stealthily swapped his teacup with Lin Fugui’s. After Liu Hun withdrew his Qi, Huang Meili suddenly felt her leg was fine again and looked curiously at her leg, which had swollen as if soaked in water, “Why doesn’t it hurt anymore?” “Maybe it was a cramp, just move it around and massage it a bit, and it’ll be fine,” Ren Peiling kindly advised Huang Meili. “Look how proud you are, seizing the chance to comment on me being fat, just look at you, acting like a vixen,” Huang Meili muttered under her breath, then, with a smile that squeezed all her features together, she said to Xie Heguo, “Mayor, I’m fine now. Thank you for your concern and care; I’ll continue to work hard.” What kind of talk is that? Xie Heguo thought to himself, feeling his eyes squeezed by the mass of flesh before him, and hastily motioned for Huang Meili to leave. After everyone sat down again, and having struggled with the not-so-easy task of helping Huang Meili, they all began drinking tea out of thirst. Lin Fugui gulped down half a cup, feeling something was off, then glanced at Liu Hun who hadn’t moved yet, and quickly said, “Liu Hun, have a drink! Try our local tea, so your trip today won’t be wasted.” “Director Lin, you drink too.” Liu Hun said with a smile as he picked up his teacup and drained it in one go. Seeing Liu Hun drink so obliviously, Lin Fugui felt extremely pleased and followed by finishing his own cup. “Mayor, the last time I was at the county, I happened to meet Director Chen from the Organization Department. Someone from the County Committee seems to be retiring, and they’re considering candidates from town officials. It seems there will be an assessment of each town’s economic situation and the number of poverty-stricken counties,” Ren Peiling set down her teacup, sat upright, and mentioned to Xie Heguo with an air of nonchalance. Ren Peiling’s words, seemingly as light as a dog’s tail scratching an itch, immediately made Xie Heguo take them seriously. Joining the County Committee was a big step forward in one’s career, and to say it wasn’t tempting would be a lie. Lin Fugui also heard this, realizing it was a huge temptation for anyone seeking to climb the political ladder; it was like teasing a cat with a mouse. Seeing that Ren Peiling had mentioned this, he knew it was time to take a different approach.

Chapter 84 - 84 84 Planning

Comments (0)