The village is mandatorily collecting 8,000 yuan from each household for bridge and road repairs.
Refusal to pay is allowed.
Just don't use the new bridge, use the original large stones.
Don't use the new village road, use the original dusty old one.
"I know you feel like the money you just got your hands on is being taken back by the village."
"You feel like the village just sees you as production machines, earning money, giving you a little to enjoy, and then taking it back."
"That's short-sighted. Let me break it down for you."
"Last year, you earned 9,896 yuan from watermelons and 2,200 yuan from vegetables, a total of 12,096 yuan."
"So, what about this year? Will it be about the same amount?"
"The village collects 8,000 yuan, and you'll still have 4,000 yuan left, which is much more than your income from several years past."
"Even if you earn another 12,000 this year and the village collects 8,000 again, you'll still have 4,000."
"And I, with this kind of operation, haven't even collected enough to cover the two million yuan loan I took out."
"Even if this two-million-yuan loan is paid off by everyone together over three years."
"If you are satisfied with this, I won't build bridges or roads, and I won't proceed with the later plan for unified building construction."
"I also won't build a primary school for the village, and I won't continue with the final grand plan."
"I'll do as you say, whether we proceed or not."
A silence fell over the audience.
After a long pause, a villager stood up.
"Let's do it! Fortune favors the bold, and the timid starve."
"Yes, let's do it! Village Head Li's strong policies have never failed us. We didn't spend a penny and got over ten thousand yuan for free. I was sleepless all night before the New Year. I must have this money with a clear conscience."
"Yes, let's do it! Follow Village Head Li!"
"Yes, follow Village Head Li, do as you say."
Li Zhengguo raised his hand to signal for quiet.
"Good, I understand that you're saying this, but you still have some doubts in your hearts."
"Then let me explain further. Once the bridge is repaired, it's for all the villagers to use, so that's fine."
"For the roads, once they are repaired, toll booths and barriers will be set up at the entrance to the town and at the entrances of the four villages ahead. If any village wants to pass through, they will have to pay a toll."
"The roads we build are not for their convenience. This is one small source of income."
"Secondly, after the roads are repaired, transportation costs will be reduced by 100 yuan, and the spoilage of watermelons and vegetables will definitely decrease, which is another small income."
"These are all borne by the village because the two million yuan loan was used for bridge and road construction."
"Therefore, the tolls belong to the village, while the savings in transportation costs and spoilage of watermelons belong to you."
"The entire two million yuan loan is still on my shoulders as the village head."
"However, you need to be more proactive and work harder, because starting from the fourth year, the village will collect fees again. What fees? A twenty percent collective village fee."
"This fee will be used to build the primary school and support the final grand plan."
"For the final grand plan, the twenty percent of your annual income that you submit will only entitle you to a one-thousandth share."
"What does a one-thousandth share mean? It means for every thousand yuan the village earns, you get one yuan."
"It will take at least five to six years from the start of this plan to its official operation."
"My position as village head is fixed at ten years, and that's why."
"Because only I can complete the final grand plan. If someone else were to take over, even if I gave them the detailed plan, they wouldn't be able to execute it."
"Now, if anyone has any objections, please voice them. You can also choose not to pay the twenty percent. The same principle applies: if you don't pay, you won't participate in the grand plan."
The villagers were stunned.
Why did it sound like the hole was getting bigger and bigger?
How big was this grand plan?
The two million yuan hadn't even been repaid yet...
Would their money be safe?
Li Zhengguo was disappointed by the villagers' hesitation.
"Fine, I understand. If I rely on you, we won't even be able to repay the two million yuan, let alone secure more loans for the grand plan."
"Later, you will line up at Accountant Yang's place to sign a statement renouncing your right to enjoy village collective benefits. Without you, I can still move forward."
"No! Our family won't sign." Sister-in-law Niu, pulling her husband, stood up first.
"My family won't sign either." Brother Wang raised his hand. "We will completely follow Village Head Li."
"Our family won't sign either." Secretary Yang raised his hand.
"Our family won't sign either." Deputy Village Head Ou raised his hand.
"We won't sign."
"We won't sign."
Chaos ensued in the audience. Li Zhengguo banged the table, "Those who won't sign, sit down. Those who will, stand up and go to Accountant Yang's to line up."
The villagers looked around, but no one took the lead. No one dared to be the first.
"Anyone?"
Li Zhengguo lost his patience, "I don't have the patience to coax you. Sign or don't sign, make up your minds quickly."
"I'll count to three. If you don't go, it means you agree to any future plans and decisions regarding fees. One, two..."
"Wait." A villager raised his hand. "Can I ask a question?"
Li Zhengguo waved at him, "Ask. I'll answer if I can, and if I can't, I won't tell you."
The young villager's face was full of eagerness. "Is the grand plan located in the back mountain?"
Li Zhengguo raised an eyebrow, looking at the lad who was barely in his teens. "Who are you?"
"I am Zhang Shitiao, Zhang Fangcao's nephew. I just turned eighteen this year, and I have the right to ask questions."
Zhang Shitiao's eagerness made Li Zhengguo chuckle. "Don't be anxious. I can't answer your question."
"However, would you like to come work for me? As my assistant, or as a secretary, as they say in the south. What do you think?"
"Okay, okay..."
Zhang Shitiao's arm was pulled by his mother.
"Mom, let go. I'm eighteen, I have my political rights."
"Shitiao!" Sister-in-law Zhang warned, "If you keep causing trouble, I'll split you off."
Zhang Shitiao shook off his mother's grip. "Mom, you're going against Village Head Li. In ten years, no, in nine years, by April 1st, 1996, you can split me off."
"I'll accept Village Head Li's offer, even without pay. I want to escape from you, my overbearing mother."
"Slap!"
Someone stood up next to Sister-in-law Zhang and slapped Zhang Shitiao to the ground.
"Dad!"
Zhang Shitiao, lying on the ground, shouted angrily at the person who had hit him.
Li Zhengguo waved behind him. "Security team, help Zhang Shitiao to sit behind me. Escort Zhang Shitiao's father to the office. Secretary Yang will personally give him a session of ideological education later."
Seeing the security team members dealing with the Zhang family members below, Li Zhengguo announced to the audience.
"I declare that the Zhang family is disqualified from planting watermelons this year. Sister Guihua, your civilization group has failed in its duties."
"Yes." Sister Guihua nodded. "Tonight, I will lead all my team members to search the entire village for children aged eighteen and under, to see how much darkness is hidden in places we haven't seen."
Ah~
The villagers' faces were filled with misery, and they could only wail in their hearts. The Zhang family had brought so much trouble!
Being watched by Sister Guihua's family of women, they wouldn't dare to beat their children in the village, but who hadn't secretly beaten their children at home?
Li Zhengguo shook his head. "There's no need to wait until tonight. The meeting cannot proceed."
"Now, I'll hand over the podium to you. All male and female children aged eighteen and under will stay. The rest of the villagers are dismissed."
It's over.
It's over.
It's over.
Village Head Li wasn't killing a chicken to scare the monkeys anymore; he was directly killing the monkeys.