Chapter 86: The Poverty of Thoughts

In fact, Ma Mingyi’s goal was simple: to get Zhu Daodong to agree to the conditions set by the 200-plus households of livestock farmers in Dashi Village. Although Dashi Village did not have the conditions, they had to create them. If they could not create them, they had to make Zhu Daodong provide them. If he could not be persuaded at the dinner table, getting him to drink a few more cups and say a few words in his drunken state would also be good.

Only if Zhu Daodong said something he himself did not know, would Ma Mingyi have a reason to pester him. Originally, Ma Mingyi had two bottles of Xixing wine and a few jars of homemade rice wine at home, but he did not bring them. Instead, he brought several bottles of Laobai Gan from the Shulin Ridge distillery.

Li Shun could drink two catties of white wine, and Ma Mingyi could drink about one catty. With a bit of strategy, the two of them could easily get Zhu Daodong to drink three catties of Laobai Gan. Even if Zhu Daodong could drink well, it was impossible for him to drink three catties of white wine in one go.

This was Ma Mingyi’s little scheme. With a full lamb feast and Laobai Gan, it was an irresistible temptation. Over the years, Dashi Village had repeatedly used this tactic to secure more relief and poverty alleviation funds, and it had almost always worked.

Although Li Shun was very stubborn and did not like the township officials, if it was for the village’s benefit, he would follow the village’s arrangements. In the past, when the village needed to secure funds from above, they would use his identity as “the most beloved person,” and he would always cooperate. Even if he cursed behind their backs, on the surface, he would express gratitude for the concern of the leaders from above. This time, Ma Mingyi also wanted to use his drinking capacity to persuade Zhu Daodong.

However, this time, Ma Mingyi’s plan was clearly wrong. At the beginning, Zhu Daodong did not want to drink more after the three of them had shared one bottle of Laobai Gan. He had to return to the township in the afternoon. But Ma Mingyi and Li Shun tried their best to persuade him, especially Li Shun, who, with his old revolutionary and party member status, made it hard for Zhu Daodong to refuse him.

When Ma Mingyi opened the seventh bottle of Laobai Gan, his hands were already trembling. He knew he had reached his limit. Li Shun’s old, cloudy eyes were already bloodshot, indicating he had also reached his warning line. But what about Township Chief Zhu? His eyes were still bright, like a pair of light bulbs in the dim light.

“Secretary Ma, I think we should stop here today. I need to go back. We can drink again next time when I come to Dashi Village,” Zhu Daodong said. He already knew Ma Mingyi’s intentions and felt sympathy for Dashi Village’s situation. However, as he said, one cannot become fat in one bite. He could think of ways to help Dashi Village, but not through the form of livestock farming.

“Little... Zhu... Township Chief, drinking should be enjoyable. Xiaoming, pour more wine, pour more wine,” Li Shun insisted. He had already drunk two bottles of wine, and his stubbornness was showing. Zhu Daodong had drunk three bottles of Laobai Gan. In his younger days, he could drink four or five catties of white wine without any issues, so he was not convinced by Zhu Daodong’s drinking capacity.

“Grandpa Li, drinking too much is bad for your health. Let’s stop today. I’ve already had a great time,” Zhu Daodong smiled. Li Shun was almost seventy, having fought against the Nationalists and the Americans. If something happened to him because of drinking with him, Zhu Daodong could not bear the responsibility.

“Alright, next time you come, I’ll definitely drink with you again,” Li Shun said. Although he was initially dismissive of Zhu Daodong’s efforts when he first arrived in the village, he was very impressed by Zhu Daodong at the dinner table. Drinking was about strength, and there was no faking it.

“Township Chief Zhu, let me see you off,” Ma Mingyi said, looking at Zhu Daodong’s steady gait and calm speech, feeling a bitter smile inside. Zhu Daodong not only adhered to principles but also had an incredible drinking capacity. He had not achieved any of his goals today.

“No need, I know the way. You stay and rest for a while,” Zhu Daodong said with a light laugh, seeing that Ma Mingyi could barely stand.

As soon as Zhu Daodong left Ma Mingyi’s house, he heard Ma Mingyi’s snoring. Li Shun, who was about to pour more wine, had also fallen asleep on the table. They had been barely holding on, and now that the main character had left, they could no longer keep up.

Walking through Dashi Village, he saw nothing but stone houses. If Dashi Village had any resources, it was only one: stones. Although the village was surrounded by mountains, there were few trees, only grass, and little land. It was a miracle that Dashi Village had managed to survive without starvation for decades.

The permanent residents of Dashi Village were mainly the elderly, women, and children. As Zhu Daodong slowly walked through the village, he heard the villagers talking. He realized that the best way to understand a place was to listen quietly to the residents’ conversations. He could learn a lot of information he wanted to know. For example, what they were having for dinner tonight, or if it was just pickled vegetables. The word “still” revealed a lot.

As he approached the village entrance, Zhu Daodong even heard people talking about him. At the house where he had left his motorcycle, they were discussing him.

“Mom, I’m going back to my mother’s house this afternoon.”

“Oh, I have to go cut grass for the sheep. Township Chief Zhu’s motorcycle is still at our place.”

“Township Chief Zhu is eating at Secretary Ma’s house. It’s not easy for him to come back. Even if you cut the grass and come back, Township Chief Zhu might not come to get the motorcycle.”

“That won’t do. If Township Chief Zhu comes and the door is locked, it won’t be good. You go back to your mother’s house, and I’ll wait for Township Chief Zhu.”

“Mom, Township Chief Zhu is not some big shot. Why do you have to wait for him?”

“You don’t know. Township Chief Zhu is in charge of the township’s livestock farms. Secretary Ma said that whether the villagers can become livestock farmers depends entirely on Township Chief Zhu.”

“He looks so young. Can he have that kind of power?”

“Why not? He set up the tofu factory in Houjiatang. This year, the people of Houjiatang will get rich.”

The reputation of the tofu factory had even reached Dashi Village. Hearing the conversation between the mother and daughter-in-law, Zhu Daodong felt a mix of emotions. The mother’s envy of the tofu factory was evident. Everyone wanted to change their fate and live a better life. This desire was not wrong. If he could help them achieve their wishes, it would not be in vain for him to be a deputy township chief.

After retrieving his motorcycle, Zhu Daodong returned to the township. Whether it was Dashi Village, Jinsha Village, or Houjiatang Village, they all wanted to change their fate and improve their living conditions. Houjiatang Village had seized the opportunity first, and now Dashi Village was eager to change its impoverished and backward appearance. Zhu Daodong felt the weight on his shoulders growing heavier.