Chapter 2: Retention and Collection

At that moment, Lin Yuanfang arrived just in time. He shouted, "Stop!" and immediately reached out with his large hand, grabbing Zhang Luojian's wrist, rendering him unable to move.

At the cafeteria at the southern end of the village, Zhang Luojian felt increasingly anxious, subconsciously believing that he had caused a significant problem for the village chief

The young man pushing the bicycle looked awkwardly at Zhang Luojian

At this moment, Liu Chengwen also broke free from the pull of the two debt collection team members, walked over and glared at Zhang Luojian as if to demonstrate, and said to Lin Yuanfang: "Yuanfang, I will lead the way for you"

"No! Just leave it. You also rely on your salary to make a living; you can't always be the one to support the family!" Aunt Quan said stubbornly, her eyes red, as she held Lin Yuanfang's hand. "You should still use the savings book."

Liu Chengwen, do not provoke me further. If you dare to insult me again, do you believe I will send you to the police station to eat government food?" Zhang Luojian said fiercely

"It's nothing; after all, I am a government official, and my monthly salary is over 300 yuan. If I squeeze a bit, it will work out," Lin Yuanfang said

The young man, after being scolded, made up his mind and attempted to leave while pushing his bicycle. Lin Yuanli cried out, sitting on the ground, holding onto the bicycle tightly and refusing to let go, leaving the young man momentarily at a loss for what to do

Still at the village entrance, Lin Yuanfang noticed from a distance that a crowd had gathered near his sister's doorstep. He sensed something was amiss, exerted force under his feet, and hurried over after a few vigorous pushes.

"Alright, you go ahead and send money to Lili at https://m.hetushu.com. " Uncle Quan waved his hand, "I will go to the rural credit cooperative to withdraw money."

"Dad, don't worry, I know my limits," Lin Yuanfang replied, mounted his bike, and rode towards the village exit. When he reached the village entrance, he turned back and saw his parents still standing dazed at the door, looking in his direction.

"Good boy, setting an ambush for me!" Uncle Quan's gloomy face finally revealed a hint of a smile, "You can keep this money. Being alone in the city, you inevitably have some social engagements. There is still one thousand yuan in the savings book at home; go to the credit union and withdraw four hundred yuan to send to Yuanli."

Uncle Quan remained silent and walked straight into the house. Aunt Quan called out from behind: "What are you going to do?"

Zhang Luojian listened to Lin Yuanfang mention "policy" and then "consequences," and he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Zhang Luojian was not a fool; being able to rise to the position of militia company commander in a large village like Fangzhuang, with a population of three to four thousand, required a certain level of insight. Just by observing Lin Yuanfang's attire and demeanor, he guessed that Lin Yuanfang might have some background. Now, hearing Lin Yuanfang's tone of speech, it sounded just like that of an urban official. As a small militia company commander, he could hold his own in the village, but if he truly encountered an urban official, how could he dare to provoke him? He only looked at Lin Yuanfang's attire and demeanor, and guessed that Lin Yuanfang might have some background. Now, hearing Lin Yuanfang's tone of speech, it sounded just like that of an urban official. As a small militia company commander, he could hold his own in the village, but if he truly encountered an urban official, how could he dare to provoke him?

Liu Chengwen glanced at the seven or eight debt collection team members standing in the yard and felt a bit uneasy. He said, "Alright, let your sister take you; I will stay here to keep an eye on these useless fellows!" As he spoke, he patted off the dust from Lin Yuanli's body before allowing Lin Yuanli to lead Lin Yuanfang away.

"Hand over the passbook!" Uncle Quan said sternly

Zhang Luojian, you worthless scoundrel! With a bad conscience! May you die a miserable death! Liu Chengwen was being held by the arm against the wall by the debt collection team members, struggling desperately while cursing Zhang Luojian, the deputy captain of the village debt collection team and the militia company commander, who was directing this debt collection operation in the courtyard.

"Damn it!" Aunt Quan's face turned red, "What do you mean we have to pay four hundred yuan for the deposit! Our village has only collected a little over one hundred yuan this year"

This time during the festival, we also distributed a bonus of 300 yuan. Lin Yuanfang felt a bit pained as he touched his pocket. This money had not even warmed in his pocket before it was about to be given away.

How could Lin Yuanfang endure it? He shouted from behind: "Please make way!" and pushed his bicycle forward.

Uncle Quan and Aunt Quan escorted Lin Yuanfang to the gate of the courtyard. Uncle Quan, feeling somewhat uneasy, advised Lin Yuanfang: "When you arrive, make sure to speak well with the village officials, and absolutely do not create any conflicts with them. The Yuan family still needs to live there."

Lin Yuanfang saw Liu Chengwen's face bruised and swollen, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Knowing that his weak brother-in-law must have suffered greatly, he felt both anger at the barbaric actions of the debt collection team and concern for his brother-in-law's health. He said, "Brother, you stay here to look after the house, and let my sister take me over!"

You... were about to lose your temper and prepare to vent at https://m.hetushu.com, but then you noticed that the young man in front of you was dressed like a city dweller and exuded a certain calm demeanor. For a moment, you couldn't quite grasp his background, and your tone softened a few degrees, "... Who are you?"

Dad," Lin Yuanfang said as he pulled Uncle Quan, "I still have some money in my pocket, let's send it to my elder sister first.

The villagers stepped aside while sizing up Lin Yuanfang. Someone whispered, "Who is this person? Look at his attire; he must be from the city, right?" Another person replied, "Don't you recognize him? This is Liu Chengwen's wife's brother; he works in the county seat!"

"Good-for-nothing!" Zhang Luojian scolded, reaching out to snatch the handlebars from the young man. He then turned to Lin Yuanli, who was sitting on the ground, and said, "Lin Yuanli, are you going to let go or not? Don't think that just because you're a woman, I won't dare to do anything to you!"

At this moment, Lin Yuanli's home was in complete disarray, with members of the debt collection team ruthlessly looting: some were carrying grain out of the house, others were grabbing hens from the chicken coop, and a few were pinning a pig to the ground... Another was using a hemp rope to tie the pig's hooves, while the pig struggled desperately, emitting terrified cries...

"I do good deeds for you, but who does good deeds for me?" Zhang Luojian sneered coldly and shouted at the young man, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and push me away!"

Isn't the credit union still in the village? Lin Yuanfang knew that his parents were concerned about him, so he had no choice but to say: "How about this, first use my money to send it to Sister Dahe at the library, and then you can return the money to me from the passbook later, okay?"

In the distance! Almost at the same time as she was preparing to speak, Lin Yuanli also saw her younger brother. A wave of emotion surged within her, and tears streamed down her face. "You must take charge for us!"

Sister, you can rest assured, leave it to me!" Lin Yuanfang said to Lin Yuanli, then turned to Zhang Luojian and said sternly, "Let go already!"

The journey from Linzhuang Village to Fangzhuang Village, though only about 10 miles, is entirely uphill. By the time Lin Yuanfang arrives at Fangzhuang Village, he is already drenched in sweat and it is nearly noon.

"No! No!" Sister Lin Yuanli sat on the ground with her hair disheveled, dragging her bicycle, and cried out, "You can take anything else you want, but this bicycle was a dowry from my father. Please, have mercy and leave it for me!"

Seeing that the two elders were still hesitating, Lin Yuanfang pointed to his watch and said: "Dad, Mom, it is already 11 o'clock now. They just said that if the money is not paid by 11 o'clock this morning, the village will start to seize the pigs and cattle."

However, having caused such a commotion, Zhang Luojian found it difficult to soften his tone. He gritted his teeth and said, "I don't understand policies or anything like that. This was decided by the village committee. If you have any issues, go talk to our village head..."

"You filthy woman, this is no flattery! Don't blame me for hitting a woman; this is all your doing!" Zhang Luojian, in a fit of rage, threw down his bicycle, rolled up his sleeves, grabbed Lin Yuanli from the ground, swung his arm back, and was about to slap Lin Yuanli in the face.

Lin Yuanfang was worried about his elder sister and had no desire to argue with his parents. He simply said "Okay" and pushed his bicycle out.

Upon arriving, I saw a group of people whispering among themselves while stretching their necks to peer into the elder sister's house. Then I heard a cacophony from the courtyard, filled with cries, shouts, and angry reprimands, all mixed with the sounds of a pig's wailing

Lin Yuanfang raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice: "Withholding funds? Your actions seriously violate the Party's policies! I warn you, if you dare to act recklessly again, you will bear all the consequences!"

Where is your village chief? Lin Yuanfang stared intently at Zhang Luojian

At the entrance of the house, a young man from the debt collection team was pushing the only bicycle of the Liu family outside, following the instructions given by Zhang Luo Jian. This Phoenix brand bicycle was originally purchased by Uncle Quan as a wedding gift for Lin Yuanli when she got married.

"Do you have money?" Uncle Quan said in surprise, "Didn’t you give two hundred to your family last month when you got paid? How do you still have some?"

Lin Yuanli only cried, holding the bicycle with increasing strength in her arms

Alright, I will go find your village chief and ask him how he is implementing the provincial government's document No. 47

Zhang Luo Jian subconsciously released his grip on Lin Yuan Li, but immediately felt that he was acting a bit timid. Therefore, he straightened his back and said with words he learned from the village chief: "We are here to collect the village's levies. I don't care who you are; do not interfere with our official duties"