Chapter 4: Zhu Yuejin

Zhu Yuejin had been listening nonchalantly from the side. Seeing Wang Fushun becoming increasingly verbose, he stood up and asked the person next to him, "Where is the restroom?"

"Send over two or three hundred yuan. It's not about the amount, but rather about demonstrating the village committee's concern for struggling farmers, don't you think?" Zhu Yuejin raised his hand to check his watch and said, "Let's leave it at that for now. I'm heading back to my hometown, so please make sure to handle this matter promptly."

"Look, you have only eaten half of your meal, how can you leave?" Wang Fushun firmly grabbed Zhu Yuejin and said, "Mayor Zhu, let's finish the meal first..."

Yes, yes, it was all me. Wang Fushun raised his hand as if shooing away a fly, "You go ahead first. If there are any issues, we can discuss them after we finish eating..."

"Short-sighted!" Zhu Yuejin shook his head repeatedly, saying, "Fushun, it's not that I'm criticizing you. After all, you've been the village committee director for seven or eight years. How can you be so short-sighted? You can't even manage the village! Do you know that the Planning Bureau has an Urban and Rural Planning Section? That department is specifically responsible for overseeing rural housing construction."

"My village chief, you have only been in the village for two months, how do you know everything?" Wang Fushun chuckled awkwardly and said, "Since you have given the order, I will carry it out resolutely. If it is to be waived, then so be it; Liu Chengwen is also known as a difficult household in the village"

What Wang Fushun did not expect was that after he had taken a step back, Lin Yuanfang would take advantage of the situation, pressing on relentlessly. He opened with provincial documents and closed with how to handle the library. What does that mean? Just relying on the fact that you are an official in the planning bureau? Nonsense! I am not going to build a house in the county town, nor do I need anything from you! Can your planning bureau even manage my village? I, Wang Fushun, give you face as if you are someone important; if I don't give you face, you are nothing! I am not going to build a house in the county town, nor do I need anything from you! Can your planning bureau even manage my village? I, Wang Fushun, give you face as if you are someone important; if I don't give you face, you are nothing!

Lin Yuanfang did not expect Wang Fushun to be so arrogant, and he coldly said: "Director Wang, these words were spoken by you."

"Fushun, do you still not understand? It doesn't matter that your location is too far from the county seat; they simply don't want to get involved, and they are too lazy to do so. If they wanted to intervene, they could do so at any time." Zhu Yuejin gestured in a circle with his hand, casting a sidelong glance at Wang Fushun, who nodded repeatedly to indicate his understanding

"Having served two terms, is this the level of discourse?" Zhu Yuejin's expression darkened, "Have you clarified the background of that Lin Yuanfang? He is just spouting nonsense about numbers 47 and 48. If he really brings this to the provincial or municipal level, can you bear the responsibility for that?"

Director Wang, I would like to ask you two questions. Lin Yuanfang said: "First, what standards are used for the collection of the retention fee at my elder sister's home? Last year, the "Zhongyuan Daily" published the full text of the provincial government's Document No. 47, which clearly states that the collection of retention fees cannot exceed five percent of the total income of farmers. Second, the debt collection team stormed into my elder sister's home, robbing and assaulting people. How do you plan to handle this?"

"Mayor Zhu, I have made it clear! I will handle Liu Chengwen's matter right away," Wang Fushun said to Zhu Yuejin. "I truly apologize for the trouble caused today. How about we meet in the evening? I will come to find you, and we can have a good talk in the county seat.

In Wang Fushun's view, his earlier actions were aimed at maintaining peace and had already given Lin Yuanfang sufficient face. Of course, had Wang Fushun known in advance that Lin Yuanli had a brother working as an official in the county planning bureau, he certainly would not have allowed the debt collection team to seize items from Liu Chengwen's home. However, now that the deed has been done, as the village head, he must support the debt collection team; otherwise, who would be willing to serve as a member of the debt collection team in future tasks?

I am a rough person and do not understand what Document No. 47 and Document No. 48 are. I only know that I will execute according to the regulations set by the village. Go back and tell Liu Chengwen that his family's contributions must be paid in full; not a single cent less!

"It is... it is indeed, soon there will be two terms." Wang Fushun did not understand why Zhu Yuejin suddenly made such a remark, and cautiously replied.

"Let's talk later." Zhu Yuejin smiled faintly, waved to the driver standing at the entrance of the cafeteria, and the driver immediately brought over the Beijing 212 jeep. Zhu Yuejin took the passenger seat and waved goodbye to Wang Fushun. The 212 started up and sped away, kicking up a cloud of dust. After the car had driven quite a distance, Zhu Yuejin turned back to look at the library and saw Wang Fushun standing by the roadside, exaggeratedly waving in this direction. From afar, Wang Fushun's gestures appeared so comically ridiculous.

"Oh dear, what should we do?" Wang Fushun followed closely behind, his face filled with concern as he said, "Village Chief Zhu, I don't mind causing trouble for the village, but we must not implicate the township!"

Lin Yuanfang was also taken aback. As soon as he entered the room, he sensed that this square-faced individual was not an ordinary person, and he did not expect that he was actually the township head. Well, it's good that he is the township head. Wang Fushun, this local tyrant, does not adhere to policies; can the township head also disregard policies?

Zhu Yuejin fell silent, focusing intently on his small relief, leaving a gap for Wang Fushun to ponder. Once he had finished, adjusted his belt, and started walking out, he remarked: "Take the village as an example; any construction project must be approved by the Urban and Rural Planning Department, right? Even if Lin Yuanfang doesn't escalate the issue, just stalling at the Planning Bureau would still lead to trouble later on"

For example, that Liu Chengwen, since he is a person in difficulty... Zhu Yuejin saw that Wang Fushun could not grasp his meaning, so he had to make it clear, "Shouldn't we consider providing some hardship assistance in our village?"

Zhu Yuejin exited the restroom and stood under the shade of a nearby tree. After pondering for a moment, he said: "There are indeed remedial measures. How about this: you go in later and tell Lin Yuanfang that the retention fee from his brother-in-law's family has been waived..."

Zhu Yuejin nodded slightly and uttered an "oh," following Wang Fushun out at a leisurely pace, along with the books.

This Wang Fushun! Zhu Yuejin muttered, resting his hands on the back of his head against the backrest. He was pondering whether Lin Yuanfang could truly understand his good intentions

What? The several hundred yuan in retention fees have been waived, and now we still need to distribute additional assistance for those in difficulty? Isn't this a bit excessive? Wang Fushun glanced at Zhu Yuejin's expression and saw that the township head Zhu was serious. Only then did he confirm that he had not misheard. With a bitter face, he said, "The conditions in the village are not favorable either. Township Head Zhu, how much do you think is appropriate to distribute?"

Comrade Fushun, eating is merely a trivial matter. Zhu Yuejin said earnestly: We must always prioritize the suffering of the masses above all else

"Mayor Zhu, now that you mention it, I also recall having heard about this department. Do they oversee the construction of houses in the countryside? I have never seen anyone manage the construction of houses in the village."

Wang Fushun became flustered upon hearing the seriousness of Zhu Yujin's words. He said, "Then... what should we do? I have already spoken. At that time, I only thought he was an official from the planning bureau and wouldn't be concerned with our village..."

Lin Yuanfang let out a cold laugh, thinking that I was just a country bumpkin who had never seen the world, and that he could easily dismiss me like this? If the debt collection team had not stolen anything and had not laid hands on my sister and brother-in-law, Lin Yuanfang would not have wanted to cause trouble today; he would have simply gathered the funds to help his sister. After all, his elder sister's family still needed to live in Fangzhuang Village. However, the debt collection team had turned his sister's home into chaos, and had even assaulted his sister and brother-in-law, so Lin Yuanfang could not let this go unchallenged. If he could not support his sister's business today and could not seek justice for her, then his sister's family would inevitably suffer bullying in Fangzhuang Village in the future. However, the debt collection team had turned his sister's home into chaos, and had even assaulted his sister and brother-in-law, so Lin Yuanfang could not let this go unchallenged. If he could not support his sister's business today and could not seek justice for her, then his sister's family would inevitably suffer bullying in Fangzhuang Village in the future

Upon arriving at the outdoor toilet behind the house, Zhu Yuejin, while relieving himself, absentmindedly remarked, "Fushun, you have served two terms as the village committee director, haven't you?"

"Policies are rigid, but people are dynamic!" Zhu Yuejin looked at Wang Fushun with a half-smile, "Fushun, do I not know you? In Fangzhuang Village, you are like a local emperor; everything is decided by your word. In the past, your village has not exempted others from their levies either."

Isn't the retention fund already waived? What kind of assistance is being referred to? Wang Fushun couldn't understand Zhu Yuejin's meaning, and he scratched his head and said, "Director Zhu, do you mean..."

"Forget it?" Wang Fushun said while rubbing his hands, "What about my village head? There are so many people in the village who haven't paid their contributions. I exempted Liu Chengwen's family, but what should I do about the others? This contribution fee is a policy set by the township!"

Ah, Mayor Zhu, the restroom? I will take you there, I will take you there!" Wang Fushun quickly stopped and hurried ahead.

"Are they still the impoverished households?" Zhu Yuejin raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Fushun, as the village committee director, you need to give more thought to the living conditions of the impoverished farmers. When necessary, the village can consider providing these impoverished households with some appropriate assistance."