Volume One, Chapter 16: Dismissal from Office

Yuan Yanzhou had just returned from the commune when he saw the members gathered together, with Uncle Ding standing on a table.

He pushed through the crowd and walked inside. “What’s going on?”

Uncle Ding, spotting him, seemed to see a savior. He jumped down from the table and rushed over.

“Captain Zhou, you’ve come at just the right time. What Ding Cuiying did today is simply unacceptable.”

“Uncle, how does this have anything to do with me?”

Ding Cuiying tried to interject but was silenced by Uncle Ding’s glare.

“If you hadn’t brought Jiang Yingli here, would any of this have happened?”

“There’s no shortage of people in other parts of the village.”

Yuan Yanzhou replied calmly, “No shortage elsewhere? Ding Cuiying, do you want me to go check with the other team leaders?”

Ding Cuiying fell silent, lowering her head and pretending to be absorbed in her ledger.

Yuan Yanzhou listened as Uncle Ding explained the situation from start to finish, then turned to Jiang Yingli. “Comrade Jiang, how do you wish to handle this?”

“Let’s do as Uncle Ding said. I get ten work points, he gets eight. And the lunch I missed—Ding Cuiying should make up for that.”

“For what reason!”

Both of them protested in unison.

Jiang Yingli’s gaze swept mockingly past Jiang Jingguo and landed on Ding Cuiying. “Ding Cuiying, I’ve only been in the Fifth Production Team for three days, and your hostility toward me is already this intense?”

“Today you had me go dig the canal but didn’t send anyone to bring lunch. The day before, you shorted me two work points. Who knows whose name you’ve been putting those points under!”

Ding Cuiying slapped the table and stood up. “How can you say that about me! I work wholeheartedly for the production team!”

Her words were full of conviction, but the members weren’t convinced.

“Tch! Every month, whenever the accountant takes leave, my work points drop by one or two.”

“Hey, now that you mention it, mine seem to as well!”

“I think she was substituting for Four-Eyes’ shift.”

The group began discussing animatedly. Ding Cuiying, who had stood tall a moment ago, now looked flustered. She hadn’t expected them to remember their work points so clearly.

It’s all that troublemaker’s fault! That vixen! If it weren’t for her, nobody would have noticed those missing points!

Yuan Yanzhou met Four-Eyes the accountant’s gaze, the chill in his eyes prompting Four-Eyes to quickly hand over the ledger.

Flipping through the records, Yuan’s voice was calm.

“Ding Cuiying, do you know how you got this position?”

“Because I attended junior high school!”

He lifted his eyes to her. “Those educated youths attended high school, and so did I.”

Seeing her go silent, Yuan Yanzhou continued, “Your father came to me, and I gave him face, but I didn’t expect you’d handle things like this!”

“Captain, it’s my responsibility.”

Four-Eyes didn’t want Yuan to have a falling out with the old village chief, so he tried to take the blame. Yuan Yanzhou didn’t even glance at him.

“Come clean—where did you divert the members’ work points?”

The total work points for the team were correct, which meant those points hadn’t disappeared, just been moved.

“I don’t know.”

Yuan Yanzhou ordered Four-Eyes, “Go, call over all the male educated youths from the educated youth quarters.”

Everyone knew how friendly she was with the male educated youths, always going out of her way to please them, though they ignored her.

No one expected such trouble—if word got out, their production team’s chances for this year’s awards would be ruined!

“Captain!” The old village chief had heard what his youngest daughter had done and hobbled over, leaning on his cane.

“Father.”

The old chief slapped Ding Cuiying across the face, his goatee trembling. “Don’t call me father!”

After striking her, the old chief staggered toward Yuan Yanzhou, grabbing his hand and preparing to kneel.

But for some reason, his knee never touched the ground.

To outsiders, it appeared he was too weak and needed Captain Zhou’s support, unable to get up for ages.

A lifetime of clear reputation, ruined by his youngest daughter—how could he not be so angry his legs gave out!

Yuan Yanzhou leaned close and whispered, “Old Uncle, if you kneel, you’ll disgrace more than just me.”

No one else heard this, but Jiang Yingli caught every word.

So the old man still played the elder card. He looked so righteous, but in the end, he favored his own family.

The old chief’s face darkened, and he could only stand upright with Yuan’s support.

Regaining his composure, the old chief spoke, his voice choked. “Captain Zhou, when you first came, I gave up my position without hesitation.”

Ah, another attempt to use gratitude as leverage.

Jiang Yingli leaned against the table, watching the scene unfold. Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed. Reacting quickly, she flipped her assailant over her shoulder.

A dull thud sounded.

The crowd parted, revealing Jiang Jingguo sprawled on the ground, clutching his waist and groaning.

Jiang Yingli frowned; she had been enjoying the show!

“Jiang Jingguo, why did you grab my hand?”

“Hey! Is he being indecent?” some members jeered.

“Who wanted to touch you! I just wanted to ask you something!”

He struggled to his feet, rubbing his waist. “Where did you go at lunchtime when you didn’t eat?”

“No food, so I went to the mountain to forage for wild vegetables.”

“That’s right! You’ve freeloaded off others for years and still can’t give her a share, clutching your bowl like you’re afraid someone will snatch it!”

Uncle Ding sneered loudly.

Some members weren’t aware of their relationship, but Aunt Ding was happy to explain.

The tide turned quickly, with everyone criticizing Jiang Jingguo for being ungrateful, forgetting the issue with Ding Cuiying entirely.

Seeing this, the old chief’s legs suddenly became nimble; he tried to drag his daughter away, but Yuan Yanzhou stopped him.

“Old Chief, where are you taking her? Avoiding responsibility? Is this the awareness you’ve gained from years in leadership?”

Jiang Yingli clearly saw a bead of cold sweat slide down his forehead.

“I—I’m taking her home for discipline!”

“Mistakes made within the organization should be resolved within the organization! Ding Cuiying violated organizational discipline—she’s stripped of her cadre status! Someone else will handle the registration from now on!”

The old chief hadn’t anticipated Yuan would show him no mercy, his hands trembling with rage.

Ding Cuiying was his late-born daughter, pampered all her life, never having to endure hardship in the fields.

He had traded his official position for a record-keeper’s post for her, and now it was gone with a single sentence—wasn’t this turning his back on him?

“Zhou Mo, are you truly set on this course?”

“I am responsible for the members of the production team!”

Rebuffed, the old chief’s gaze turned grim, and he dragged his daughter away.

“Four-Eyes, record it: Jiang Yingli ten work points, Jiang Jingguo eight.”

Yuan Yanzhou had served in the army, and nothing irked him more than people disregarding rules and discipline—especially those who refused to follow orders!

Jiang Jingguo saw the captain backing her up and slunk out of the crowd.

With the matter settled, Jiang Yingli prepared to pack and go find her uncle.

But Yuan Yanzhou pulled her out of the crowd. “Comrade Jiang, please help with the registration.”

“Me?”

Was Zhou Mo doing this on purpose? Shooting the bird that sticks its head up—did he want her to be that bird?

She quickly slipped away, leaving only, “I’m not suitable for this.”

Late at night, Jiang Yingli stepped out under the moonlight, evading the militia patrol as she headed toward the First Production Team.

Behind the hill, she retrieved her bamboo backpack, which was filled with convenient foods like noodles, powdered milk, and dried meat.

Smelling the familiar scent of cow dung, she knocked twice on the cowshed.

This was their agreed signal.