PCJ – Chapter 639 Prepared in Advance

“Only this way, the implementation of the saline-alkali land reclamation project will likely face many difficulties,” Zhu Qingdong said worriedly.

Zhang Jiaohua nodded as well: “This project benefits the villagers. They shouldn’t do things that harm their own interests just because of this matter, right?”

Zhu Qingdong shook his head: “You’re still young and don’t understand these people’s mindsets. The clan mentality in rural areas is very strong. Although those few people committed crimes, for the Gu family in Yingpan Village, it’s because of you that some of their relatives ended up in jail. The key is, they have never seen buying wives as a crime, but rather as a transaction.”

“Even so, we cannot tolerate such crimes. I will do everything I can for the saline-alkali reclamation project, but I cannot condone their barbaric ignorance,” Zhang Jiaohua said.

Zhu Qingdong nodded: “Yes, things should be looked at from both sides. Poverty alleviation is one thing, but crimes must be prosecuted.”

When Zhang Jiaohua returned to Yingpan Village, he immediately felt the villagers’ coldness. Everyone avoided him, even Gu Chuangui deliberately hid when he saw Zhang.

“Looks like things are really troublesome,” Zhang Jiaohua sighed. He came here to do good for the village but ended up being rejected by all the villagers because of this incident.

Zhang Jiaohua shook his head helplessly but had no intention of giving up. He planned to first talk to Gu Baishui to see his attitude. If Gu Baishui cooperated, things might become easier. But if Gu Baishui, like the villagers, was hostile, then it would be difficult.

Gu Baishui, as the village party secretary, didn’t avoid Zhang like the others, but Zhang could sense a chill from him.

“Secretary Gu, this matter concerns the future livelihood of all villagers. I hope you can support it. No matter what happens, beneficial projects for the whole village shouldn’t be rejected. The root cause of Yingpan Village’s poverty is water. Without water, poverty will continue, and more people like Gu Quansuo will be driven to crime by buying wives. I know everyone resents me for interfering. But to put yourself in others’ shoes, if the trafficked women were from Yingpan, what would the villagers think? I should have informed you earlier, Secretary Gu, but would you have supported me? We must have zero tolerance for crimes. If Lei Jingshu had been rescued a little later, she might have died. Then it wouldn’t be just a matter of losing money and people,” Zhang Jiaohua patiently explained. He knew that convincing Gu Baishui might make the project go more smoothly.

Gu Baishui smoked quietly as if not listening: “You didn’t consider me before doing this. You only came to me after things were done. Isn’t that too late? You caused this yourself, so solve it yourself. I won’t clean up your mess. I support the reclamation project, but I can’t control what the villagers think.”

“I think like this. The reclamation project needs labor. If villagers don’t support it, we’ll have to hire outsiders. I’m sure many will come. Most villagers rely on gathering mountain herbs and goods to survive. But prices are suppressed now. Because of this project, I can’t currently help find buyers. If villagers want to sell herbs, they’ll have to find buyers themselves. How high the prices will be is uncertain. Last time, Tao Chunhe was very harsh about this,” Zhang said calmly.

Gu Baishui finally understood Zhang’s meaning and looked sharply at him: “Secretary Zhang, this can’t work! Last time you promised to solve the mountain herb market problem. You can’t back out now!”

Zhang smiled: “I’m not backing out. It’s just that right now, the reclamation is the main problem. Villagers reject me and the project. If I don’t stay here, how can I rest assured? I haven’t said I won’t find buyers for herbs, just that I’m busy now, right?”

“Secretary Zhang, this is no joke! Villagers depend on selling herbs for a living. If you cut off their income, they will have no livelihood. I can’t guarantee what they might do then,” Gu Baishui warned, somewhat threateningly.

Zhang smiled: “I stand by my words. If the reclamation goes smoothly, I’m not worried about anything else. I still have lots of stock. If I don’t handle it, I won’t have money to buy villagers’ herbs.”

“You… you’re going to cause big trouble!” Gu Baishui said.

“As long as the reclamation succeeds, I’m not afraid,” Zhang said and left.

After Zhang left, Gu Baishui’s wife Liang Meihua complained: “What if that Zhang doesn’t buy our village’s herbs? Last time you shouldn’t have driven Tao Chunhe away. Now he’s got us by the throat.”

“You don’t know anything. Even if I let Zhang not interfere, Tao Chunhe’s low prices are trying to kill our villagers. But that Zhang isn’t a fool. He must have expected this and prepared many tricks to deal with us,” Gu Baishui said angrily.

“So what do we do?” Liang Meihua asked.

“What else? Try to get the villagers to cooperate with that bastard. Now all the cards are in their hands,” Gu Baishui said angrily.

Not long after, a truck carrying several water pumps drove into the village and stopped at the old school yard. When technicians started the pumps, several white water jets sprayed below the dam. The small reservoir quickly became a scenic sight again. The reservoir was large, so pumping water slowly would take some time.

Gu Chuangui sneaked into Zhang Jiaohua’s room: “My grandparents don’t let me come play here. They’re worried it will cause the villagers to resent me. But I really want to come.”

“Then do you think what Uncle Zhang did was right or wrong?” Zhang smiled.

“Of course right. They trafficked and beat women, that’s illegal. You caught them, so it’s right,” Gu Chuangui said.