Country Love: Xie Dajiao, 37, is pregnant!

Lin Chen smiled after hearing this, then waved his hand in refusal, his tone calm but his attitude firm.

"Uncle Changgui, you think too highly of me, but I really can't do this job."

"I'm used to being lazy, and I don't have time to go to the village committee every day."

"Besides, this job is like being caught in the middle. The higher-ups want results, and the lower-ups want benefits. No matter how you do it, someone will find fault with you. You don't like to get involved in these things. You should find someone else."

Chang Gui sighed, not surprised at all:

"I knew you'd say that. And it's true, you're living a peaceful life now, there's no need for you to get involved in these troublesome things. Okay, I won't force you. I'll look for other people, and if you find anyone suitable, please keep an eye out for me."

After chatting for a couple more minutes, Changgui left. Lin Chen escorted him to the gate and watched him walk away before returning home.

As soon as the news spread that the village was going to elect a deputy director, everyone in the village got excited and eager to participate. It wasn't just Liu Neng and Xie Guangkun who were quick-witted.

Xie Guangkun didn't eat his dinner properly that night. He ate a couple of bites and then put down his chopsticks. He sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed) and pondered the matter. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had to fight for this official position. It was a real village official position, and it would be a pity to let it go.

He didn't care what time it was or who among Xie Lan and the others was still awake. He called them one by one, saying there was an emergency at home and everyone had to come home for a meeting.

Pi Changshan and Xie Lan lived nearby and were the first to return. The two of them went straight to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) as soon as they entered the house. They were so sleepy that their eyelids were drooping and they kept yawning, looking like they hadn't woken up yet.

Xie Yongqiang had been exhausted from a long day on the mountain and had just fallen asleep when he was woken up. He didn't push open the door to the house until a little later.

As soon as the other person stepped through the door, Xie Guangkun slammed his hand on the kang table and began to berate him:

"Xie Yongqiang, you're really something! You think you're the only one making an exception when there's an important meeting at home? Why is it so difficult to discuss something serious with you?"

"Look at your brother-in-law, a proper elementary school principal, managing so many teachers. He's much busier than you. I can call him and he'll be there in a heartbeat! You're always so busy you barely have time to breathe! In the whole Xie family, you're the most unruly, with absolutely no sense of family responsibility!"

Xie Yongqiang found a stool next to the kang (a heated brick bed) and sat down, looking helpless and at a loss for words.

"Dad, what's the matter? Why are you calling the whole family back in the middle of the night?"

"What is it? It's a huge deal! It concerns the reputation of the Xie family and our future!"

Xie Guangkun leaned forward, looking serious, as if he were about to announce some major decision.

"The village is electing a deputy director, specifically in charge of investment promotion and village infrastructure—someone with real power! I plan to run! I called you all back tonight to give me advice on how to secure this position!"

Xie Lan, who was already nodding off from sleep, lost all energy after hearing this and mumbled incoherently.

"I thought it was something serious... Dad, how old are you? Wouldn't it be better to stay home and quietly work on your mountain products? Why do you have to go out and join in this fun, vying for that title?"

Pi Changshan suddenly perked up, pushed up his glasses, and seriously offered his advice.

"Wife, you don't understand. This isn't just an empty title; it's real power. Dad, if you ask me, if we work on both sides, we're guaranteed to win. In the village, you should visit every household and canvass for votes. Don't neglect your connections in the town either; go talk to Mayor Qi. With all our efforts, this matter will definitely be settled. Also, please ask about my transfer to the central school as well."

Xie Yongqiang laughed immediately after hearing this, shaking his head repeatedly:

"Dad, come on, don't mess around. This deputy director position isn't something anyone can just take. You have to know the ropes and be able to lead the whole village to prosperity. There's a lot more to it than that."

"Don't you know your own situation? You always meddle in other people's business, you have no ideas, no vision, and you don't understand the ins and outs of attracting investment or negotiating. If you were elected, you would definitely mess up the village's affairs. Do you think that's appropriate?"

"If Brother Chen wants to fight for this position, I'll support him wholeheartedly. He has vision, connections, and the ability to get things done. If it were you, you'd better give up."

These words hit Xie Guangkun right where it hurt, and he immediately got angry, pointing his finger at Xie Yongqiang and yelling.

"You're talking nonsense! How can I not be good enough? Back when I was handling things in the village, Lin Chen was still running around in his open-crotch pants!"

"You're such a traitor! Not only do you not help your own father, but you also boost others' morale while belittling your own! I'm telling you this now, I'm going to get this deputy director position no matter what!"

"When I take office, the first thing I'll do is target your lousy orchard! All the village subsidies and projects will be under my control, and you'll have to listen to me then!"

Yongqiang's mother quickly stepped in to smooth things over, afraid that the father and son would quarrel and become hostile.

Pi Changshan acted as mediator:

"Yongqiang, say less, Dad. Shall I add something?"

Xie Guangkun glared at Xie Yongqiang:

"Listen to what your brother-in-law has to say!"

Pi Changshan cleared his throat:

"First of all, I think it's great that Dad has this idea. On a small scale, he's a village official, but on a larger scale, he's contributing to our village. He's a bit old, but he's only five or six years older than Uncle Changgui, which isn't that old. He can still contribute. Most importantly, Dad has business experience, so maybe he can lead our village to a better life."

Yongqiang's mother muttered quietly beside him:

"I didn't see that coming..."

Xie Guangkun said with dissatisfaction:

"What are you muttering about? If you can't see it, go get some glasses. If your eyesight isn't good, let someone with good eyesight talk more. Changshan speaks so well. Changshan, you're so eloquent, you should say more."

"Alright, then I'll continue. Dad, your most urgent task right now is to go see Mayor Qi. Get my transfer to the central school sorted out first. If I get promoted, I can put in a better word for you, right?"

Xie Guangkun waved his hand:

"Stop it! Your problems are minor. I've become the deputy director, so yours are nothing."

The family argued and fought until late into the night, finally deciding that Xie Guangkun would go door-to-door in the village to canvass for votes, and the whole family would work together to win the official position.

……

In the following days, Ivory Mountain Village became completely lively.

In order to win votes, Xie Guangkun and Liu Neng each used their own methods. The two of them wandered around the village every day, undermining and slandering each other, and the whole village would gather around to watch the spectacle.

Xie Guangkun is cunning and calculating, and he doesn't want to spend much money on campaigning.

After much thought, he got 20.7 jin of ribbonfish and delivered them to several wealthy households in the village. It looked respectable, but it didn't actually cost much.

After that, he would bring ribbonfish to visit people's homes every day, placing it on their stoves as soon as he entered, with a smile on his face and a very sweet tongue.

"Sister-in-law, we don't have anything fancy, but you can have this little bit of ribbonfish. When the village elects a deputy director, you'd better give me your vote. If I become the deputy director, we'll definitely get the benefits and good things from the village first!"

"Look at Liu Neng, that fool. All he does is talk nonsense. Do you think he'd be willing to spend a single penny? I'm the one who can truly contribute to the village."

Xie Guangkun was delivering ribbonfish, but Liu Neng was even stingier than Xie Guangkun. Getting him to spend money on gifts was more painful than cutting off his own flesh.

He wanders around the village every day with a small notebook, relying solely on his words, which he stammers over, without ever bringing anything of substance.

He would pat his chest and make grand promises to the villagers, exaggerating their abilities.

When he encountered people he was close to and couldn't refuse them, he would go back to his own vegetable garden, pick a couple of bunches of scallions, and gather a few cucumbers to give away.

After delivering the goods, he still had to find excuses for himself, justifying it with self-righteousness:

"This is all completely organic, pesticide-free. You can't buy this kind of good stuff in the city even if you have the money!"

He had practically plucked his own vegetable garden bare, but he couldn't bear to spend a single dollar on anything decent.

While campaigning for votes, the two also sabotaged each other every day.

Xie Guangkun would tell everyone he met:

"Liu Neng is such a stingy guy, he won't take a single penny, he's all about fooling people! If he could become an official, what benefits could he possibly bring to our villagers? Pure nonsense!"

Liu Neng also went around badmouthing Xie Guangkun:

"The ribbonfish Xie Guangkun sent were all old stock, almost rotten. Who will care if they get sick from eating them? He's only after his own personal gain by vying for the official position; it's all self-serving!"

……

The day for the inspection of the Wang Group arrived quickly.

At 10 a.m., dust filled the dirt road at the village entrance, where Wang Dana's Mercedes-Benz was parked.

Liu Da Naotou, with his big belly, got out of the passenger seat. His hair was slicked back and shiny. He walked with a square gait and held his head high.

Changgui, along with several village representatives, quickly stepped forward to greet him, shaking his hand repeatedly with polite smiles on their faces.

"Assistant Liu, you must be tired from your journey. Our whole village has been eagerly awaiting your inspection!"

Liu Da Nao touched his hand symbolically, then immediately pulled it back, frowned, glanced at the bumpy dirt road, and looked disgusted.

"The infrastructure in your village is terrible. What kind of road is this? Our group really wants to invest here, but we can't even drive our cars in. It's such a hassle. This road needs to be fixed as soon as possible."

He spoke in such a condescending tone, it didn't sound like a cooperative inspection at all, it sounded like a leader coming to inspect.