I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 26 Settling Accounts After the Autumn Harvest

"Shi Qiang, did you send Dezhong's wife to the police station?"

The last trace of color drained from Shi Qiang's face. He opened his mouth to argue, but seeing the astonished looks from the surrounding villagers, his throat felt like it was being choked by something, and he couldn't squeeze out a single word.

"Shi Qiang, answer me." Shi Tiezhu's voice was not loud, but it was oppressive.

A few days ago, Lan Xiuying wanted to talk to the Party Secretary, but Zhang Beichuan stopped her and told her to wait.

Furthermore, her brother-in-law also pulled her and Dequan aside and asked them a lot of questions about the village. At the time, she didn't understand why Zhang Beichuan was asking these questions, but today she understood.

After enduring for several days, Lan Xiuying finally had to stop. She poured out her heart, recounting how Wang Guifen had gone to report the crime that night, twisting the truth.

Shi Qiang's forehead was covered in beads of sweat. Looking at Shi Tiezhu, who was on the verge of exploding, he knelt down with a "plop".

"Secretary...please let me explain. I...I was only trying to..." Shi Qiang tried to explain, "I was afraid...afraid that Dezhong's injuries would be serious, in case something bad happened..."

"It's also to uphold justice, and incidentally, to get my third brother in there too, preferably to make him bankrupt, right?" Zhang Beichuan chimed in, "Captain Shi, Cuicui is injured, and your son is one of the masterminds."

"As a father, instead of disciplining your child, and as the team leader, instead of trying to understand the situation and find a fair solution, you take this opportunity to retaliate against those who have had arguments with your family. What a truly competent team leader you are!"

These words completely exposed Shi Qiang's shady intentions, and a low murmur and discussion arose from the crowd.

"They're trying to ruin Dequan's entire family!"

"Instead of thinking about how to unite the villagers, the team leader is only scheming and plotting crooked ways, ugh!"

Shi Tiezhu listened to the surrounding discussions and his face turned somewhat ugly.

If it weren't for so many villagers watching, he might have been able to teach this kid a lesson, apologize to the De family, and let the matter drop.

But with so many people watching, even if he wanted to cover it up, there was nothing he could do.

Shi Tiezhu took off his shoes and slapped them across Shi Qiang's body.

"You bastard! You've completely disgraced the Shi family!"

The cloth shoe lashed down again and again. Shi Qiang, seeing the look Shi Tiezhu was giving him, dared not dodge. He could only cover his head and endure the blows, begging for mercy repeatedly.

"Second Uncle...no...Secretary, I was wrong! I was just confused for a moment, please forgive me this time!"

"Spare you? Do you think Dequan's family will spare you? Do you think the villagers will spare you?" Shi Tiezhu became angrier with each blow, his shoes slapping loudly.

The villagers watching remained silent; no one went to stop them.

Shi Qiang's actions were extremely taboo. Although Zhang Dequan was not a member of the same clan, he had been living in the village for three generations, and there was some affection between them.

After Shi Qiang's actions, people with different surnames will always harbor resentment, which is not conducive to unity.

Zhang Beichuan watched coldly, knowing that Shi Tiezhu had no choice but to continue the self-inflicted injury act, otherwise Shi Qiang's family would be gossiped about behind their backs every day in the team.

Only when Shi Tiezhu was tired and stopped, panting heavily, did he slowly speak.

"Secretary, Captain Shi's actions, at best, are settling a personal score; at worst, they undermine the unity of the production team and damage the collective's prestige. If we let this matter go so easily today, who will dare to trust the team's mediation in the future?"

"If someone is wronged, should they all follow his example and try to get the other party imprisoned first?"

That made sense, and the villagers nodded in agreement.

Although there are sometimes disagreements between people, everyone may fight and make a fuss, but no one ever thinks of trying to kill someone.

Shi Tiezhu's chest heaved as he glared fiercely at Shi Qiang, who was kneeling on the ground, before looking at Zhang Beichuan with a complicated tone.

"Then tell me, what should we do?"

"First, Shi Qiang needs to apologize to my third brother and sister-in-law, and to the whole village; second, isn't he a bit unsuitable for the position of team leader?"

"Ogawa is right! We can't let him be the captain anymore!"

"Exactly! He's got ulterior motives, how can he lead us?"

People had long held opinions about Shi Qiang. The team had just been connected to electricity, and his family was already able to afford a television. Where did they get the money?

Every year, the grain was delivered to the production team, and then collectively to the town.

Every year everyone hands over the full amount, but just a few days later they say the grain wasn't dried properly, that it contains moisture, and that everyone needs to replenish it.

Although the supplement was not much, whether there was a real shortage of grain, or whether the grain had been eaten and sold by someone, who can say for sure?

Now that Zhang Beichuan has given them a chance, they naturally want to change the team leader to collect the grain before the grain is delivered in the second half of the year.

Seeing everyone's excited state, Shi Tiezhu knew that Shi Qiang would not be able to become the team leader no matter what.

"What are you still standing there for?"

Shi Qiang, who had been yelled at, glared at Zhang Beichuan and reluctantly apologized to Lan Xiuying, Zhang Dequan, and the entire village in front of everyone.

In order to quell everyone's dissatisfaction, Shi Tiezhu had no choice but to announce it in front of everyone.

"From today onwards, you're fired! Go home and reflect on your actions! Pay them back the money you owe as soon as possible!"

After placing the money on the table, Shi Qiang knew that his reputation was completely ruined.

The villagers gradually dispersed, discussing the day's events as they walked away.

Having received compensation from Cui Cui and public apologies from both families, Lan Xiuying and Zhang Dequan had some smiles on their faces as they walked home.

Back home, Lan Xiuying quickly took out the medical expenses he had paid in advance. "Xiao Chuan, take this money."

"Sister-in-law, keep the money. Buy some good food for Cuicui, and consider the rest as pocket money for my three nieces."

Lan Xiuying glared at him, somewhat displeased.

That's over eighty yuan! How many snacks could you buy with that?

"No, no, if it weren't for your help this time, who knows what situation our family would be in now. Besides, you even helped your brother with his business and paid for his medical expenses. We absolutely cannot accept your money."

"Sister-in-law, really, you don't need to..." Zhang Beichuan declined as she offered him more money.

Zhang Dequan, who was sitting on a stool smoking, watched the two of them pushing each other back and forth and said with a smile.

"Yingzi, why don't you just give her a little something? It's Xiaochuan's way of showing his appreciation."

Lan Xiuying couldn't refuse, so she took out 10 yuan from the money that was being pushed back to her, and handed over the remaining 72 yuan.

"Xiao Chuan, I won't argue with you anymore. Just give the little girl ten yuan to help her out. Don't pay back the money you borrowed before. If you don't agree to this, I'll be very angry!"

Zhang Beichuan smiled helplessly at her stubbornness.

"Okay, okay, okay..."

Seeing Zhang Beichuan accept the money, Zhang Dequan, who had been busy with the little girl these past few days, suddenly remembered his important business.

"Youngest brother, you're back from your trip to the provincial capital to buy goods so quickly? Did you get everything settled?"

"The goods have been delivered, and the shop has been rented. Brother Baojun should be able to get everything ready in the next few days. I estimate we can open for business in another two or three days."

Upon hearing this, Lan Xiuying and Zhang Dequan's eyes lit up.

"So fast?"

"Yes, it went quite smoothly." Zhang Beichuan looked at them. "Third Brother, Sister-in-law, who do you think should go to the city to familiarize themselves with the business?"

It's already the end of August, and the rice harvest will be soon. It's unrealistic to ask them all to go.

Zhang Dequan reluctantly stubbed out his cigarette and glanced at his wife.

"Why don't you let your sister-in-law go with you? It'll be time to harvest the grain soon, and there's a lot of work to do."

Lan Xiuying paused, watching her eldest and second eldest sons surrounding the youngest, examining the gauze on her head from all angles.

"Master, you go ahead. There are still three maids to take care of at home. If these three maids go crazy, you won't be able to control them."

While they were discussing, Zhang Beichuan interjected at the opportune moment.

"Sister-in-law, I think we should send the three of them to study in the county town. Firstly, the quality of education there is better, and secondly, it would broaden their horizons."

Lan Xiuying immediately shook her head, "No, no, I won't go to the county town."

My brother-in-law has been so helpful. If we were to send all the children to study in the county town, it would only cause him more trouble.

She already owes her all this favor, and if she has to repay it again, she really doesn't know how she'll ever be able to.

No matter how Zhang Beichuan tried to persuade them, Lan Xiuying and Zhang Dequan remained unmoved.

"Xiao Chuan, I appreciate your kindness. It's already good enough that the three of them can go to school; why would they want to go to the county town? You'll be getting married someday too. If you're always just helping us, the girls might gossip."

"Well......"

Zhang Beichuan didn't know anything about this, how it got involved in getting married.

By 2026, he'd already heard his grandma nagging him so much his ears were practically calloused; and in 1986, he'd still be nagged by her.

After some discussion, the two decided that Zhang Dequan would go to the county town, while Lan Xiuying would stay home with the children.

As for the farm work at home, when it's time to harvest the rice, we can either exchange work with other people in the team to help out, or Zhang Dequan and the others can come back to help.

"Well... okay then."

Zhang Beichuan also knew that it was unrealistic to get his grandparents to completely give up farming in a short time; this had to be done step by step.