Chapter 65

On New Year's Eve.

A family of four, despite the brief disagreement at the beginning, quickly got over it. By evening, they were having the New Year's Eve dinner, setting off firecrackers, and watching the Spring Festival Gala. Father Zhao Jincái, as always, kept criticizing, saying either Zhao Benshān's performance was too fake, or Feng Gōng's jokes were not good, or there were too many songs and dances, finding fault from start to finish.

Zhao Zhìqiáng simply didn’t watch anymore and returned to the room he shared with his younger brother, starting to design a simplified plan for the new village construction. Later, Zhao Zhìgāng couldn’t bear his father’s complaints anymore and went back to the room to help his brother with the design, assisting in drawing the plans...

The Zhao brothers stayed up all night on New Year's Eve.

The next morning, the first day of the New Year.

Since Zhao Jincái lived alone and had only two sisters, and the elders were no longer around, the relatives they visited for the New Year were mostly from Huá Xuěméi’s maternal side.

“No!”

Zhao Jincái said firmly, “If you want to go, go. I’m not going.”

Huá Xuěméi and her two sons looked at each other in surprise.

Zhao Zhìqiáng shook his head; his father must have something on his mind.

The distance wasn’t too far. The four grand-uncles, second aunt, third aunt, second uncle, third aunt, and old aunt, six families in total, were visited by noon. They were very polite and didn’t stay for lunch at the old aunt’s house. The two brothers drove back home. Over the past three years, it had been Xiao Gang going alone. This time, they had paid off their debts and even lent money to the third aunt’s nephew to buy a house, and with the gifts Zhao Zhìqiáng had given, each family praised the two brothers, saying Zhao Zhìqiáng had grown up and could earn money, and hearing that he was running for village chief, they treated him with even more respect.

In their eyes, Zhao Zhìqiáng was no longer the troublemaker he used to be!

Back home, their mother had already prepared the meal and made dumplings. Zhao Zhìgāng wanted to go out to set off firecrackers, but Zhao Zhìqiáng stopped him.

“Xiao Gang, the firecrackers nowadays are too powerful. I’ll go. You’re going to be a senior next year, so don’t do these things anymore.” Zhao Zhìqiáng took the firecrackers, went downstairs, and set them up in an open area outside the neighborhood. After lighting a cigarette, he set off the firecrackers, watching the fireworks bloom in the sky, his thoughts drifting.

Father had been living under too much pressure all these years, something he didn’t understand before.

Now he understood...

In the afternoon, the two brothers decided to play cards with their parents for the whole afternoon, and their father’s mood seemed to improve.

On the second day of the New Year, Zhao Zhìqiáng still couldn’t persuade his father to go and pay respects to the village elders, so he took his younger brother and drove to Guomugou to visit the elders and seniors in the village. This was a tradition in Linzhou: on the first day of the New Year, one visits close family, and on the second day, one visits a wider circle of relatives and friends, with people of all ages going out to pay respects and greet each other.

“Dàqiáng, when did your family move to town?” Wú Bīng was very surprised. He had gone to Zhao Zhìqiáng’s house early on the second day but found no one there except for the couplets and decorations. Just as he was about to call, he saw the Pu Sang car he had sold at a high price return.

“Oh, we didn’t move. This house is not suitable for my mother to live in, so we’re staying in a rented place in the city for now. We’ll move back after the development plan is implemented, hehe.”

“Makes sense. How are your aunt and uncle doing for the New Year? We were just thinking of calling to wish them a happy New Year. We haven’t seen your father for half a year. You go ahead, I’ll follow and tell them where to go…”

At this moment, Táng Gǔn, Liú Yīshuǐ, and others had finished their rounds in the village and called out to drive down the mountain to pay respects to Zhao Jincái.

Zhao Zhìqiáng told them where to go, and these young people drove down the mountain in various minivans and motorcycles. He went from house to house, but didn’t visit Miáo Cuìhuā’s home. He greeted Wáng Zhù but completely ignored her.

Leaving Guomugou, Zhao Zhìqiáng passed by the half-mountain village of Zhangjiacun and went to Zhang Weifā’s home.

If it were three years ago, he wouldn’t have gone to the village secretary’s home even if he were dead, as his father said, it was a matter of principle. But now, he thought differently. Life in society is about human relationships, and without them, there are no relationships.

Hating officials and the rich is baseless. Now his attitude was completely different from his father’s. When he arrived at Zhangjiacun, the courtyard was bustling. Zhang Jikē, by clan seniority, was a grandson to Zhang Weifā, so Zhao Zhìqiáng greeted him as a grandson.

“Happy New Year, Grandpa Zhang.”

“Oh, Dàqiáng, come in and sit down!” Zhang Weifā was surprised and very polite.

Actually, the two times he ignored Zhao Zhìqiáng before weren’t because he didn’t recognize him, but because of his previous behavior, especially his father’s stubbornness. Seeing Zhao Zhìqiáng come, he was really surprised, and after hearing about his recent efforts to persuade the villagers, he had a new respect for this young man.

Zhang Jikē smiled and came over, “Zhìqiáng, we’re opponents now, ha ha. How’s your fundraising and planning going?”

Zhao Zhìqiáng shook his hand and smiled, “Jikē, you’re a college graduate. I’m under a lot of pressure. I can’t tell you about the plan, it’s confidential!”

“Ha ha!”

The people who came to pay respects all laughed.

Zhang Weifā stroked his beard, “This election method is good, but the pressure is also great. You two are the best among the young people in the village and the hope for the future. Work hard and compete fairly. Even if you don’t win, don’t be discouraged! With the reform and opening up, there will be many more opportunities to do business.”

“Yes, Grandpa Zhang,” Zhao Zhìqiáng smiled. He respected this village secretary, who had been in office for thirty years and was supported by the entire village for his fairness and integrity, even if his abilities were average.

Zhang Jikē nodded, “Don’t worry, Grandpa, I won’t disgrace the Zhang family.”

“What Zhang family! You need to look at the whole village! In this, you’re not as good as Zhìqiáng. Even though he didn’t finish high school, his insight is no less than yours…” Zhang Weifā said coldly.

Zhao Jincái was bored when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.

He thought, who would come to wish him a happy New Year in the city? Could it be the landlord…?

Opening the door, he saw his niece from his third sister’s family!

“Happy New Year, Uncle!”

“Happy New Year, Uncle and Aunt!”

Before he could finish greeting them, a large group of people came in behind them.

Wú Bīng was in the lead, “Ha ha, Uncle, Gādàn is here to wish you a happy New Year!”

“Yīshuǐ is here to wish you a happy New Year!”

“Gǔnzi is here to wish you a happy New Year.”

“Xiǎoqī is here to wish Uncle and Aunt a happy New Year…”

Fortunately, the room was large enough to accommodate the dozen or so young people who came in, sitting, standing, or walking around, chatting with the elders, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Huá Xuěméi kept giving out peanuts, sunflower seeds, and drinks, busy and happy.

It had been years since the Zhao family had been so lively!

Zhao Jincái kept greeting the guests, feeling a strange tug in his heart, almost wanting to cry.

For the first thirty years, he looked up to his father; for the next thirty, he looked up to his son. Zhao Jincái, though stubborn, understood this. These people came to wish him a happy New Year because Dàqiáng had made a name for himself, paid off debts, and returned favors. Reciprocity is important. His son was indeed better than him.

On the third day of the New Year, early in the morning, Gù Quányǒu brought his whole family!

This surprised Zhao Jincái. Gù was only a few years younger than him but kept calling him “Big Brother Zhao.” Was this his son’s boss? It didn’t seem like it. Which boss would come to wish an employee a happy New Year?

Not long after, Méi Jūn and Bái Hǎijūn arrived in a pickup truck loaded with cigarettes and alcohol. Without a word, they started unloading the items, then paid their respects, saying these were gifts from Boss Zhōu, who had wanted to come but had to go to Korea. Zhao Zhìqiáng politely said he would visit in a few days.

On New Year’s Day, Zhao Zhìqiáng had called Lín Lǎo and Lǐ Lǎo, and today was the day to visit them in person. He went out with Méi Jūn and others, while Gù Quányǒu had already planned to stay for a meal. Chén Lìqín and Huá Xuěméi were getting along well and seemed to have no intention of leaving.

“Brother Qiáng, if you have anything to ask, just say it.” Bái Hǎijūn kept apologizing to Zhao Zhìqiáng outside, even pulling him aside to admit that the lone wolf was introduced to him by him.

“Ha ha, President Bái, it depends on whether the lone wolf can stand up to it. I don’t take such matters seriously, but you need to be careful. You know what kind of person Zhao Tiějūn is.”

Bái Hǎijūn, hearing that the matter wasn’t being pursued, felt relieved.

As long as no one was watching, he wouldn’t be exposed. The rest was about smoothing things over with the police. Even if something happened, he couldn’t let it be known that he had hired someone to do it, or else even if this person didn’t come after him, his boss wouldn’t let him off easily.

He took out a golden card from his pocket, “Brother Qiáng, here’s five million as a token of my apology. The password is six 8s….”

Zhao Zhìqiáng didn’t hesitate, taking it calmly and smiling, “No problem, no problem. We’re friends, and we get to know each other through conflict.”

Méi Jūn, seeing Zhao Zhìqiáng accept the money, felt much more at ease.

“Ha ha, the two presidents, I have a favor to ask. I’m running for the position of village chief of Chang’an Village, and one of the conditions is to attract enough investment. I hope you can support me!”

Bái and Méi were immediately overjoyed.

“Of course, of course! We’ll definitely support Brother Qiáng’s campaign! I’ll report this to Boss Zhōu right away!”

What they feared most was not that Zhao Zhìqiáng would cause trouble, but that he wouldn’t. Now that he had something to ask, it was all good.

They asked some specifics, but Zhao Zhìqiáng was running out of time. He looked at his phone and smiled, “I need to visit an old brother. We can talk about the details later.”

He got into the car and left.

“Uh, Brother Méi, I want to get Brother Qiáng a new car. Our new Audi is too high-end, and his Pu Sang is too low-end!”

“This? You need to ask him. If he really becomes the village chief, the Pu Sang might be better…” Méi Jūn thought for a moment, looking at the green Dragonback Mountain in the distance, and said.