Chapter 85: True Intentions Over Wine

"Secretary Ma, your people in Dashan Village can't even feed themselves, relying mainly on relief and poverty alleviation funds. Do you really think the livestock farmers you reported can raise the piglets and chicks given to them?" Zhu Daodong had walked around Dashan Village and found the situation much worse than he had imagined. Therefore, he was skeptical of Ma Mingyi's claim of over two hundred livestock farmers.

"The township provides free feed, so we just need to feed them diligently," Ma Mingyi said with a sheepish smile. He was desperate to change the situation in Dashan Village. Although he had only been the village secretary for a dozen years, he had taken over from his father, who had always wished to ensure the villagers had enough to eat and wear. However, his father had never achieved this goal before he died. After Ma Mingyi took over as the new village secretary, his mission was the same: to ensure the villagers had enough to eat and wear. Yet, this seemingly simple goal had never been truly achieved in Dashan Village since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"But even a few lumps of sheep manure can cause a dispute in Dashan Village. Do you really think the sheep manure in Dashan Village can feed over two thousand pigs? I doubt all the sheep manure in Dashan Village would be enough for even one meal. A pig needs at least six months to be ready for market. You can't feed them raw food every day, can you?" Zhu Daodong sneered. "Eat what you can afford. Dashan Village can only have ten livestock farmers this year."

"Director Zhu, please don't. This is the hope of Dashan Village. You know how poor Dashan Village is. Ten livestock farmers are just a drop in the bucket and won't make any real difference!" Ma Mingyi was anxious. Ten livestock farmers wouldn't solve Dashan Village's problems. At least half the families needed to become livestock farmers to truly change the village's backward situation.

"You can't make a fat man in one bite. The situation in Dashan Village can't be solved in one go. Gradual progress is the best approach," Zhu Daodong understood Ma Mingyi's feelings, but Dashan Village was like a long-suffering patient. If he used strong medicine rashly, the patient might not be able to bear it, and in the end, the disease wouldn't be cured, and the patient might die.

"Director Zhu, it's time for lunch. Why don't we eat first and discuss this later? The feed mill hasn't started production yet, so we have plenty of time," Ma Mingyi's eyes twinkled. He didn't have a deep relationship with Zhu Daodong, and the best way to change Zhu Daodong's mind was not through face-to-face talks but over a meal.

Although Dashan Village was the poorest in Shulin Ridge Township, it received many leaders every year. Otherwise, who would send relief funds and food and poverty alleviation funds without reason? This was the biggest difference between Ma Mingyi and the old village secretary. The old secretary had been fair and impartial all his life, so under his leadership, the relief funds and food and poverty alleviation funds in Dashan Village could only match the average level of the entire township. However, after Ma Mingyi took office, the situation changed significantly. Dashan Village received much more relief and poverty alleviation funds each year. This was largely due to Ma Mingyi's willingness to invest in meals, and now he was going to use this tried-and-true method to deal with Zhu Daodong.

"No, I have something this afternoon. I've seen enough of Dashan Village's situation. I'll come back another time," Zhu Daodong shook his head. He didn't want to add to Dashan Village's burden. Although the township rules stated that meals in the village should be paid for, in reality, which village would actually collect such money? And at three yuan per meal, it was enough for him.

"That won't do. The food is already prepared, especially for you. If you don't eat it, it will be wasted," Ma Mingyi wouldn't let Zhu Daodong go, pulling his arm and dragging him towards his house.

"Especially for me? Then I can't eat it here," Zhu Daodong firmly shook his head. He didn't want to enjoy such "special" treatment as a deputy township head.

"It's special, but not extraordinary. Just a simple meal, a simple meal," Ma Mingyi quickly smiled.

"Alright, but I'll pay the actual cost, in full. I'll treat you to lunch today," Zhu Daodong, now a ten-thousand-yuan household, wouldn't be so formal in Houjiatang Village, but in Dashan Village, he felt a bit reluctant.

Ma Mingyi's house was similar to the other villagers', a one-story stone house with a few tiles on top. The only difference was that it had a few more rooms and a courtyard. As soon as they entered the courtyard, a rich aroma greeted them. Ma Mingyi had prepared a full lamb feast for Zhu Daodong.

"Secretary Ma, is this what you call a simple meal? If a 'simple meal' in Dashan Village is a full lamb feast, then I must congratulate you; Dashan Village has already entered a well-off level," Zhu Daodong said with a stern face, coldly.

"Director Zhu, don't be angry. The only thing we can offer is lamb. We can't let you eat the same poor food as us, can we?" Ma Mingyi, seeing that Zhu Daodong was really angry, quickly explained.

"But you don't have to use a whole lamb to treat me. How much does it cost? One hundred and fifty? Two hundred?" Zhu Daodong took out two hundred yuan and placed it on the table. "If I had known, I would have invited you to a better place. That wouldn't have cost two hundred yuan!"

"Director Zhu, the lamb doesn't cost that much. Fifty yuan is enough," Ma Mingyi returned the remaining one hundred and fifty yuan to Zhu Daodong.

"You're talking about the price of a lamb. It's two hundred yuan," Zhu Daodong waved his hand. Eating a two-hundred-yuan meal in Dashan Village, who would believe it if he told them?

"But that's really... Director Zhu, I feel embarrassed," Ma Mingyi, who had been the village secretary for many years, had never heard a township leader pay for a meal, let alone so much, enough to buy a whole lamb.

"If you feel embarrassed, invite a few more people to eat. The two of us probably won't finish this full lamb feast," Zhu Daodong smiled. Now that he had paid, the food on the table was his.

Ma Mingyi didn't invite many people, just one. At the village entrance, Zhu Daodong met Li Shun.

"See, I told you. When the township officials come, the secretary's house will have good food," Li Shun looked at the full lamb feast with disdain.

"Old Li, this is paid for by Director Zhu, two hundred yuan. The village actually made money this time," Ma Mingyi took out the two hundred yuan and waved it at Li Shun. "Today, it's Director Zhu's treat."

"That's why you invited me. Since it's paid for by Director Zhu, I won't be so formal," Li Shun sat down and grabbed a lamb hoof, eating it without any restraint.

Zhu Daodong and Ma Mingyi exchanged a smile. This old Li was really informal.

"Old Li, would you like some wine?" Ma Mingyi asked with a smile.

"With meat, there must be wine. But who's paying for the wine?" Li Shun asked.

"I'll pay. Director Zhu has enough money left, and it can be used for wine," Ma Mingyi quickly said.

"Secretary Ma, no need for wine. I have to go back to the township this afternoon," Zhu Daodong said.

"How can a man not drink a little? You're really a township head who doesn't dare to drink!" Li Shun huffed.

"Old Li's drinking capacity was tested in the Korean War. Even now, he's hard to match in the village," Ma Mingyi said. Li Shun loved to drink and would talk openly with anyone who could drink half a liter with him.

"Alright, then let's have some," Zhu Daodong smiled. He didn't know why Ma Mingyi had invited Li Shun, but since Ma Mingyi had done so, there must be a reason. Eating and drinking were Chinese customs, and he would take it step by step.