I made a dime from selling tangerines and you call me heartless?

My name is Jiang Lili.

My father is Jiang Bangcai, the village chief of Jiangjia Village.

Since I was a child, I knew that I was different from others in the village.

My mother passed away when I was five years old. My memory of her is very vague. I only remember that she was always smiling and her hands were warm.

My father never remarried and he gave all his love to me.

The people in the village were very nice to me. Maybe it was because of my father, but they always smiled when they saw me and praised me for being smart and pretty.

I know because I am the daughter of the village chief.

When I was a kid, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with this.

I thought that all this was natural. My father was the village chief, and it was normal for them to respect me and please me.

I study very hard, but my grades are not very good, even average.

I know I might not be cut out for this.

But my father always says that I am his pride.

In the year of the college entrance examination, I was admitted to a private college in the province.

Tuition and living expenses are about 40,000 to 50,000 yuan per year. Although it is not a famous school, it is already outstanding in the village.

Because before this, there was only one college student in our village.

That person's name is Jiang Che.

A few years older than me.

But since I was a child, I grew up being compared with him.

He is a good student, but he is dull, honest, and doesn't like to talk. His father is a well-known good man in the village.

Compared with him, I am more lively and likable.

At least.

I think so.

My mind is more active than his. I think I am no worse than him, or even better.

My father was very happy. He set up several banquet tables and invited people from the whole village to celebrate.

That day, I wore my newly bought dress, stood in the center of the crowd, enjoyed the compliments of the villagers, and felt like a princess.

When I arrived in the city, I realized how big the world is.

The students from the city dress fashionably and speak with confidence.

I had low self-esteem, but soon I found my strengths.

I am beautiful, which is a natural asset.

The boys in the class started to surround me and help me solve various problems.

When I didn’t know how to do my homework, someone took the initiative to teach me; when I didn’t have enough living expenses, someone treated me to a meal.

I think all this is because I am good enough.

Otherwise why do they all like me?
I had a smooth time during my three years in college.

I thought this was my ability.

I thought that as long as I was willing, there was nothing I couldn't do.

Until the day of graduation, reality slapped me hard in the face.

I submitted countless resumes in the city, but to no avail.

I interviewed with several companies, but never heard back from them.

I began to wonder if they didn't want me because I was a girl.

Patriarchal.

It's really everywhere.

Even though these people in the city have been in reform and opening up for so many years, their minds are still so feudal, stubborn and prejudiced.

I'm obviously no worse than anyone else, why don't they even give me a chance?
During that time, I couldn't sleep all night and felt very angry.

I am angry.

I don't want to admit defeat.

but I……

I feel abandoned by this world again.

My father called and asked me how my job search was going.

I gritted my teeth and said, I'm still looking.

He was silent for a while and then said,

"Lili, why don't you come back? Dad needs you."

I was stunned.

Return to the village?

I never thought about going back.

I, Jiang Lili, am now a college student. I am destined to carve out a world for myself and create my own career in the city. What's the point of returning to the village in disgrace now?
But reality has left me with no way out.

Finally, I had no choice but to pack my bags and head back home.

My father told me when we returned to the village.

He is almost sixty years old now and wants to retire, but Jiangjia Village cannot be without a village chief, right?

He was worried about handing over the position of village chief to someone else and hoped that I could run for the next village chief.

I was stunned.

Become the village chief?
This idea was something I only thought about when I was a child.

At that time, I always thought that I wanted to be a person like my father and be respected in the village.

I just gradually forgot about it later.

Now think about it.

The country is developing rural affairs and helping farmers and alleviating poverty in full swing. It seems like it would be a good idea to stay in the village and work as a village chief?

The future also seems promising.

I can go into politics.

Climb up step by step.

Gradually change the situation in today's society where women are still subject to prejudice and discrimination.

I agree,

"Okay, Dad, I'll stay then."

"Lili, you just came back, so you may not know much about the village. I want you to learn from Jiang Che first."

My father gave me earnest advice.

I remembered.

Jiang Che.

The man who was admitted to a key university a few years ago.

After he graduated from college, things didn't seem to be going well for him.

This made me laugh for a long time. What's wrong with a key university?
Still can’t find a job?

Isn’t it just possible to go back to the countryside and farm?

It's so funny.

Now I heard that he has grown some greenhouse vegetables, and every year and every season, he helps the village sell various fruits.

He is very successful in the village and has become a popular candidate for the next village chief.

Dad said,
"Lili, you should learn from Jiang Che first. He is very capable."

I feel very uncomfortable.

Why should I learn from him?

I'm obviously no worse than him.

I graduated from university too!
But looking at the respectful eyes of the villagers towards him, I have to admit that he might be a little better than me.

But that's only because he came back two years earlier than me.

If I came back early.

What I am doing now is definitely not worse than what he did.

I, Jiang Lili, am no less inferior than others.

I began to hold my breath, wanting to overtake him.

I want to prove that I, Jiang Lili, am no worse than anyone else.

I asked my dad to find Jiang Che and told him that he wanted me to learn from him.

He smiled and agreed.
"Okay, I just need some help."

His smile was gentle, but in my eyes, it was full of sarcasm and contempt, which made me even more uncomfortable.

Especially the way he occasionally looked at me.

Let me know that this guy, like everyone else, might like me and be attracted to me.

I secretly vowed to do better than him.

Next, Jiang Che began to take me to the fields frequently and taught me some methods of growing greenhouse vegetables.

I sneered.

A greenhouse.

What's so great about something that has existed since the Eastern and Western Han Dynasties?

It's like you know everything and you still want to teach me?

Is this what I want to learn?

What I want to learn is how to communicate with the bosses in the city and how to establish connections with them.

If only I had this way?
I believe that I can definitely replace him and even do better than him.

The opportunity finally came.

This year, the village has a good harvest of tangerines.

Jiang Che finally took me into the city for the first time.

Start communicating and discussing with the bosses in the city.

When they saw me, I could clearly feel the bosses' enthusiasm and goodwill towards me.

This makes me very proud.

That's the charm.

...(End of chapter)