Chapter 6 The Village Committee's Hospitality

  Yu Fan chatted for a while before putting the things in his hands into the house, smiling at Grandma and Grandpa: "Grandma, this is what my third aunt asked me to bring to you. She said there's honey and white wine for medicinal use inside." As soon as Grandma heard that, she smiled at Third Aunt's husband and said: "It's still my little niece who thinks of me. I just mentioned it to her briefly last time, and she remembered." Third Aunt's husband also smiled and said: "Mom, look what you're saying. Isn't this something we should do?"

  Grandpa also smiled and said, "Alright, let's go inside and talk." After finishing speaking, he wanted to lead several people into the house. Third Uncle hurriedly said, "Dad, Mom, you don't have to rush either. We should also go to the village committee to eat. They're waiting for us over there." Upon hearing this, Grandma seemed a bit reluctant and said, "Why do we have to leave so soon?" Third Uncle could only smile wryly, but Grandpa mediated by saying, "It's true, official business is urgent. We'll come back here to eat after we're done with our work."

  Yu Fan had to bid farewell to his grandparents and returned to the village committee of Yujiawan Village with San Gu Fu. At this time, Yu Shuji and Zhang Cunzhang were also at the village committee, accompanied by several cadres from the village. Seeing the two walking in, Yu Shuji stood up with a few people, laughing and saying: "I said Xiao Zou, how did our family's Xianyi Dage's son go to your township to work without telling me?" After finishing speaking, he didn't wait for San Gu Fu to speak and smiled at Yu Fan: "Xiao Fan, I didn't expect you to graduate from university so quickly and work in our township. I said earlier why it looked so familiar."

  Yu Fan also stepped forward and said: "Uncle Yu, I'm new here, please take care of me in the future." Secretary Yu also burst out laughing and said: "Good, you're indeed a university student, your words are so elegant." At this time, Third Aunt's husband also walked up, smiling at Secretary Yu and saying: "Secretary Yu, now it's all settled, we're all one family."

  Yu Secretary burst out laughing again. Zhang Village Chief also walked up and said with a smile: "Old Yu, I think we should go eat first, Wang Team Leader's family has already prepared everything." Wang Team Leader also stepped forward and smiled: "Yes, my wife has already cooked all the dishes at home, just waiting for Zhou Communications Officer and others to arrive."

  Yu Secretary looked at the watch in his hand and smiled at Third Uncle, "Xiao Zou, why don't we call everyone back to have dinner together?" Third Uncle nodded with a smile and said to Yu Fan, "Xiao Fan, go call everyone back from the village entrance to eat. No one needs to stay at the village entrance." Yu Fan also nodded and went to the village entrance to call people back.

  Yu Secretary also said to a person under thirty years old behind him: "Yu Qiang, you just wait for them at the village committee, and we will go to Captain Wang's house with Little Zou from the township government first. You bring them over later." After finishing speaking, he smiled at Third Uncle and said: "That Zou communication officer, let's go together first."

  San Gu Fu heard this, shook his head and laughed: "Director Yu, you're too polite, just call me Xiao Zou. And thank the village committee for their hospitality." Director Yu heard this and burst out laughing, pulling San Gu Fu's hand as they walked towards the door. The others waited until they had walked a distance before slowly following behind them.

  Yu Secretary walked ahead, turned around and looked at the people behind him, then smiled and said to Third Uncle: "Xiao Zou, I also know that your work is difficult, and I fully support the decision of the town government with both hands. However, as a rural person yourself, you should know that the busy work in rural areas throughout the year is just for that little harvest. Now the price is low, and it's all on credit, how can the villagers make a living? It's also hard for me to be the village branch secretary."

  Three Aunt heard the words but smiled and said: "Yu Secretary, you don't have to say anything else, I'm also a rural person, I understand everything. Didn't I call everyone back for dinner? As for other things, I don't know about them, after dinner, I'll let them go on patrol again, what do you think?" Yu Secretary laughed and said: "Good, Little Zou is indeed a clever person, today I'm not leaving until we're drunk!" Three Aunt hurriedly smiled and said: "Yu Secretary, you have to show mercy!" After finishing speaking, the two of them looked at each other and smiled again. Yu Secretary made a hand gesture towards the back, and several people walked out from the crowd in the back and went in another direction, while Three Aunt pretended not to see.

  Yu Fan rode his bicycle to the village head road junction, where Wang Fuchun and several others were chatting together. Yu Fan hastily got off his bike and smiled at them: "Everyone, you've worked hard." When they saw Yu Fan arrive, Wang Fuchun and the others also smiled. It seemed that Yu Fan had somewhat figured out the situation over the past half day; he took out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to each of them before smiling and saying: "Older brother Wang, my third aunt's husband asked me to come invite you all to dinner."

  Wang Fuchun heard the words and lit a cigarette in his hand, and he was also hesitant in his heart. According to the "post does not leave people" rule, even if you want to eat here, there must be someone on duty. If it were according to the old rules, the one with the shallowest seniority and the youngest age would definitely have to stay behind. But how did Yu Fan come in, Wang Fuchun was very clear, Zhang Secretary's nephew, ah, he forced his way in and snatched away the promotion quota for Dong Deputy Township Head's brother, and among these people, he was just mixed up for a day. Thinking of this, Wang Fuchun also raised his head and smiled at several people: "I think so, you guys go eat first, I'll stay here on duty."

  Li Changgui looked at Yao Xingming and Song Jian, his expression also somewhat understanding. Yu Fan was stunned for a moment, then asked in confusion: "Brother Wang, my third uncle said that everyone should go eat, no one will stay here." Wang Fuchun was taken aback for a moment, but soon understood, smiling at the few people: "Well, let's all go eat. We've been guarding here for half a day and haven't seen anyone smuggling grain or oil seeds out. The village committee of Yujiawan Village must have done a good job in thought work." Li Changgui and others also smiled and agreed, while Yu Fan could only smile and nod on the side, thinking to himself: "Why do people who are related to the government always like to speak in an official tone?"

  When they arrived at the village committee, Yu Qiang, who was guarding the village committee, took them to Captain Wang's house in the village. The small building of Captain Wang's house was newly built this year, and the new two-story small building stood out among the surrounding red-tiled earth houses. Wang Fuchun walked while pointing at Captain Wang's small building and laughed at Yu Fan: "This Captain Wang is not just the captain of the village, but also contracted a small lake behind the village. This guy is rich and oily, look at this small building, it's more atmospheric than the town house."

  Yu Fan heard this and also smiled: "This shows that Captain Wang has a way to get rich." Li Changgui behind him, however, said sourly: "What kind of nonsense is 'a way to get rich'? If Yu Secretary weren't his brother-in-law, how could he have gotten the contract for the small lake in our village?" Yu Fan only then learned that Yu Secretary and Captain Wang had this relationship, but also didn't say anything more, just smiled.

  Behind him, Yao Xingming also chimed in with a sneer: "Changgui, if you have the ability, go find a secretary to be your sister-in-law. Who knows, maybe you'll get rich too." Several people burst out laughing, but Li Changgui glared at Yao Xingming and snorted, "I, old Li, don't have such good luck."

  Wang Fuchun, who was walking in front, also heard that several people were getting further and further away from the truth. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, stop dragging things out. Once you enter the house, you can't speak randomly. As the saying goes, 'Eat a man's food and be soft on him.' You're good, still compiling stories about others behind their backs. All of you, keep your mouths shut." After finishing speaking, Wang Fuchun also turned around and glared at several people.

  Wang Fuchun's expression turned serious, and the people behind him also stopped talking. Yao Xingming smiled and said: "Brother Wang, don't worry, we only talk about these things when we're here. It's not our first time coming down either, we know what to say in our hearts." After finishing speaking, he glanced at Yu Fan beside him.

  Yu Fan pretended not to see and smiled as he walked into Captain Wang's small building with Wang Fu Chun. At this time, Captain Wang's home had also set up two tables, and San Gu Fu and Yu Secretary were seated, laughing and toasting each other. Seeing several people walk in, Zhang Village Chief also stood up with a smile and led them to the table next door. Yu Fan was surprised to find that there were fewer village officials accompanying him at Yu Secretary's table than he had seen in the village committee.

  After waiting for a few people to sit down, Yu Secretary finally stood up, holding his wine cup and smiling as he walked over: "Come on, comrades from the township government have all worked hard. We're in a rural area here, there's nothing good to entertain you with. Come, let me first toast you all a cup." After finishing speaking, he downed the wine in his hand in one gulp.

  Several people also hurriedly stood up and drank a cup, saying "sorry". Secretary Yu laughed: "Comrades, the hospitality is not good enough, let's just eat something." Wang Fuchun was also the oldest among several people. After hearing Secretary Yu's words, he quickly stood up and smiled: "Secretary is really polite, it should be us who are disturbing you instead."

  Yu Secretary smiled and patted Wang Fuchun's shoulder, saying: "You old Wang, we're familiar with each other now. Today you must drink well. Although there aren't many dishes, we have plenty of wine." After finishing speaking, he drank two more cups with several people before returning to his own table.