Fishing and Hunting 82, Starting with Three Sisters Who Overprotect Their Brothers

Chapter 133 Imaginary Enemy

No wonder she's the granddaughter of a county official; she understands things instantly!

Zhang Wenshan breathed a slight sigh of relief; the weight that had been hanging over him had finally been lifted.

He only deduced Zhao Linlin's identity from subtle hints and her words and actions, and he wasn't sure if it was accurate.

It seems I guessed right.

This move was also quite correct, at least it gave us a chance to get the message up to the higher-ups.

"Sigh, never mind, I need to hurry back and dig the irrigation ditch." Zhang Wenshan sighed deliberately. "The location of the deer antler is in the mountains about twenty miles south of our village, there's a [something] nearby —"

"Wait a minute!"

Zhao Linlin immediately interrupted him, her eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

"Really deer antler? You're not kidding me?"

"Of course, why would I lie to you?" Zhang Wenshan blinked, his face full of sincerity.

Before he came, he had considered all the possible scenarios.

Now is the perfect time to make Zhao Linlin feel guilty.

"I thought—"

A hint of shyness flashed across Zhao Linlin's face, but she quickly straightened her face, turned her head, and called out to the customer who was still eating.

"Are you going to do anything about it?"

"???"

Zhang Wenshan was taken aback and turned around to look.

The guest slowly put down his chopsticks, stood up, took two steps forward, extended his hand, and showed a gentle smile: "Hello comrade, my name is Shen Yao, and I work at the county committee."

It's working! Everything's working right now!

Wu Xia's meaningful gaze, Zhao Linlin's unusual reaction, and Shen Yao's repeated interruptions—

Love is a protector of flowers, but it makes one see oneself as an imaginary enemy.

Zhang Wenshan realized what was happening and immediately reached out to shake hands with the other person, his face showing just the right amount of surprise and excitement.

"My name is Zhang Wenshan, and I come from Chishongtun."

"Comrade Shen, it's so great that you can help us. Our village is saved."

"Comrade Zhang, please don't get agitated." Shen Yao couldn't take it anymore and quickly pulled his hand back. "I can only report to my superiors; the specific results will have to wait and see—"

"You're just spouting platitudes," Zhao Linlin said discontentedly from the side. "The fish balls, snails, and willow root fish you just ate were all prepared by him."

Do you know why he did it?

"It's to help the poor households in the village. They want 10% of the profits, and 40% to buy tools and expand sales channels."

—The remaining half will be distributed to those in need.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yao's pupils dilated instantly, and he subconsciously looked at Zhang Wenshan, asking, "Really?"

He quickly did the calculations in his head.

Being in charge of all miscellaneous tasks means that he has to bear all the expenses, such as repairing tools, dealing with wear and tear, and loss, all by himself. With a 40% profit margin, he can barely cover these expenses to make a living. It's not that simple.

He has to offer cigarettes to people he meets, and he has to pay money to get information. If someone gets jealous and tries to sabotage him, or deliberately lowers or raises prices, he has to bear all the losses alone.

If things go wrong, you might even have to spend more money on it.

Most importantly, leading a trade at this stage carries risks. Aside from policy risks, there's the possibility of someone getting greedy and engaging in underhanded tactics, or deliberately lowering or raising prices—

All the losses must be borne by one person.

Besides "noble character and integrity," Shen Yao couldn't think of any other words to describe it.

"Sigh, I used to—"

Zhang Wenshan once again resorted to his old excuse.

"After being fired from the factory, I reflected on my actions seriously and then decided to do something."

He did not hide his past.

The other party is from the county party committee, and they won't completely trust you just because of Zhao Linlin's words. They will definitely investigate.

These things simply cannot be hidden.

The difference between him voluntarily revealing it and letting others find out is completely different.

"Ah, I knew your name sounded familiar." Shen Yao suddenly clapped his hands, his face showing a look of sudden realization, his tone full of surprise, "It's that carp you sent to the agricultural machinery factory, and the inspiring words you said."

"I didn't think too much about it at the time, it was just something I said casually, I hope Comrade Shen won't laugh at me."

"What you casually said, the leader completely agrees with." Shen Yao warmly pulled Zhang Wenshan to sit down and asked, "Can you write?"

"meeting."

"Okay, write down your idea for joint drought relief, and I'll submit it to you."

As Shen Yao spoke, he took out a pen and a notebook from the black faux leather briefcase next to him.

"No need, I've already reported it to Director Yang." Zhang Wenshan pretended to be stupid.

Shen Yao smiled and shook his head slightly, pointed at him with his finger, and said nothing.

"Why don't you understand?" Zhao Linlin stamped her feet anxiously and said bluntly, "That guy surnamed Yang just wants to steal your credit."

"He will definitely change your idea into his own and report it to his superiors. In that case, even if the joint drought relief project is approved, your village will definitely be at the very bottom of the list."

Zhang Wenshan feigned confusion, asking, "Why?"

"Because of your carp, because of your method, his life can be saved."

Zhao Linlin sneered.

"He didn't do a good job of entertaining the guests assigned by his superiors. It was all thanks to your fish that he managed to save face. He was trying to take credit for it, but your words have already spread far and wide."

"Also, the leaders brought an inspection team this time to carry out rectification, and he knows nothing about it. If things go wrong, we might have to withdraw—"

"Comrade Zhang, let's hurry up and write it."

Shen Yao interrupted Zhao Linlin, giving her a silent glare with a serious expression.

Zhao Linlin immediately glared back, then quickly added guiltily, "Comrade Zhang isn't an outsider, and he wouldn't spread rumors, right?"

"No, were the fish I sent not good enough?" Zhang Wenshan said deliberately, "Why are you holding a grudge against me?"

"Anyway, don't believe him."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Linlin immediately breathed a sigh of relief, while Shen Yao, standing beside her, lowered his eyelids and slowly spoke.

"That willow root was delicious, do you have any left?"

"When will you ever eat again?" Zhao Linlin put her hands on her hips and couldn't help but scold.

"Yes, yes, yes, Linlin, come here and help me get it from behind."

Wu Xia, who had seemed to have disappeared, suddenly spoke and pulled Zhao Linlin away.

After everyone left, Shen Yao suddenly spoke up: "Linlin is rather naive, so I'll have to trouble Comrade Zhang to take good care of her in the future."

Zhang Wenshan paused while writing.

What appears to be a request is actually a declaration of sovereignty and a warning.

Asking him to take care of Zhao Linlin, who is clearly of higher status, is the subtext: I know you are smart and know everything, so don't try to take advantage of her.

"Comrade Shen got it backwards. I just set up a fishing and hunting group in the village and rely entirely on orders from the state-run restaurant to make a living."

1

After finishing his sentence, Zhang Wenshan continued writing.

Shen Yao did not speak again.

For a moment, only the sound of pen tip scratching against paper could be heard.

When Zhao Linlin returned with the pickled willow root dish, there was only one person left in the restaurant.

"Comrade Zhang has left?"

"Um."

"Oh, I was just about to ask him about the deer antlers," Zhao Linlin said, casually putting the plate on the table. "Sister Xia is so careless; she can twist her ankle even on flat ground."

Shen Yao smiled slightly, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of willow root, and put it in his mouth.

"Your deer antlers won't run away, and even if they don't, you'll definitely get a gift that will satisfy you."

"Of course."

Zhao Linlin crossed her legs and picked up a willow root with her hand.

"He's incredibly skilled at hunting and fishing. You know there's practically nothing around the village anymore, but he always manages to catch something—"

"He also has these novel ways of eating things; he can make even unwanted items taste delicious."

"The snails in town have been selling like hotcakes these past few days, and so have the fish he delivered to the farm machinery factory the other day—"

Shen Yao propped his head up with his hand, as if he were hearing these things for the first time, occasionally letting out a gasp of surprise.

A smile played on his lips.