Chapter 21: The Times Have Changed

“Alright, everyone, go home now. If you want to make money, go dig badgers in the mountains! Although they’re hard to find, there are still quite a few!” Yuan Yue-zhu began to herd the crowd away.

The neighbors were somewhat afraid of Yuan Yue-zhu. They knew that once she lost her temper, few could stand against her, so one by one, they slunk back to their homes.

Soon, news of Tang Jian-cheng’s fortune spread throughout Daping Village.

Many were stirred, hastily grabbing their hoes to head into the mountains to dig for badgers, while others wandered around hoping to stumble upon wild boars like Tang Jian-cheng.

Surprisingly, some actually lucked out.

Only, what they found weren’t wild boars but wild rabbits and pheasants.

The village party secretary felt deeply frustrated when he heard Tang Jian-cheng was making money selling badgers. Even looking at the village’s only radio at home no longer interested him.

“Damn it, badgers aren’t worth that much! I took two badgers to the supply and marketing cooperative and only got sixty yuan. He must be selling to private buyers!” the party secretary cursed.

“It’s not like before. Now, private sales aren’t regulated anymore,” his wife replied as she washed clothes.

“Who says no one manages it? Private transactions are capitalist behavior and must be punished!” the party secretary snorted. “No, I must report this. Otherwise, if the higher-ups investigate, I’ll also be held accountable.”

“Don’t stir up trouble. Times have changed. Besides, we’re all from the same village. What if Tang Jian-cheng finds out…” his wife tried to dissuade him.

“Let him find out! I’m not afraid of a useless bastard who can’t even have a son!” the party secretary put on his thick cotton jacket and went out.

His wife sighed but didn’t stop him.

The party secretary went straight to the township office and found the township chief.

The chief greeted him warmly, “Secretary Tang, you came just in time. Recently, our Sanchong Township has been hit by extreme weather, with continuous heavy snow for several days and no sign of stopping. This could become a once-in-a-century snow disaster. Your Daping Village must take preventive measures! We absolutely cannot let the people suffer!”

“Huh?” Tang Deyi was stunned, staring blankly. “It’s just a few days of snow. It won’t cause a disaster, right?”

“Secretary Tang, you must not be careless! Several households in your village are extremely poor, and some are supported by the government’s five-guarantee policy. You must closely monitor them. If disaster strikes, report immediately! The New Year is coming; no casualties can be allowed!” the chief spoke earnestly.

Tang Deyi didn’t take it seriously and thought the chief was overreacting.

“Don’t worry, chief. I will keep a close watch,” he said, though unconvinced.

Then he shifted the topic, “Actually, I came to report someone.”

“Report? Who?” the chief frowned.

In this day and age, who still bothers with reporting?

Unaware of the chief’s surprise, Tang Deyi continued, “I’m reporting Tang Jian-cheng from our village. The guy found several wild boars two days ago and dug up some badgers yesterday, but he didn’t sell them to the supply cooperative. Instead, he sold them privately! That’s unauthorized trading, capitalist behavior!”

The chief, however, didn’t think Tang Jian-cheng had done anything wrong. On the contrary, he thought it was impressive.

On such snowy days, instead of staying home, Tang was out hunting wild boars and digging badgers—quite industrious.

But to spare Tang Deyi’s face, the chief casually asked, “Who did he sell to?”

“I don’t know,” Tang Deyi shook his head.

“Then how do you know it was private trade?” the chief asked again.

“I guessed!” Tang Deyi said.

“What? You guessed? You’re the village party secretary. How can you randomly suspect villagers?” the chief was displeased.

“I also dug up two badgers yesterday and sold them to the cooperative for only sixty yuan. He made a lot more money, so it’s obvious he sold to private buyers!” Tang Deyi asserted confidently.

“Did you see it? And how much did he sell for that makes you suspicious?” the chief pressed.

Tang Deyi shook his head, “I didn’t see, and I don’t know the amount. But he bought a lot of things from the cooperative and had plenty of vegetables. So, I guessed…”

“Secretary Tang!” the chief cut him off, “You don’t know this or that and just guess. Do you think this is appropriate behavior for a village party secretary?”

“Moreover, the higher-ups have said the focus should be on economic development and encouraging villagers to grow their economy. Even if he sold to private buyers, that’s fine—we should encourage it! You’re just trying to retaliate. What kind of mindset is that?”

“I…” Tang Deyi was stunned by the scolding.

“Enough, go back now.”

The chief waved him off. “Secretary Tang, I hope you adjust your mindset and pay more attention to potential disaster victims in your village. Don’t view business through old lenses. Times have changed. We must change our thinking and actions or be left behind!”

Tang Deyi left, dejected and disoriented.

He had always been a simpleton who rose to the party secretary position through special means during a peculiar era.

Now that times had changed, he couldn’t keep up.

Not long after Tang Deyi left, Huang Tian-yue appeared in the township chief’s office.

“Well, well, Master Huang, it’s rare to see you come to me willingly,” the chief smiled and poured him a cup of tea, much warmer than his reception of Tang Deyi.

“Today I bought quite a bit of badger meat from a farmer. It’s been a while since we last met, so I thought I’d invite you for a drink. Are you free?” Huang Tian-yue said.

“Badgers?” The chief’s interest piqued. “Did you buy them from Tang Jian-cheng?”

“Eh? How do you know?” Huang Tian-yue was surprised.

The chief chuckled, “The village party secretary just came here to report him, saying he sold badgers privately. Turns out the ‘private buyer’ is you! No wonder he sold for a higher price than the cooperative.”

Huang Tian-yue laughed, “This isn’t against the rules now, is it?”

“No, quite the opposite—we should encourage it!” the chief smiled.

“So the policy has completely changed? Private trade is now allowed?” Huang Tian-yue exclaimed happily.

“Yes. Any plans?” the chief asked.

Huang Tian-yue smiled, drifted for a moment, then said, “Meet me at the restaurant at six tonight.” With that, he hurried off.

The chief smiled slightly.

He knew Huang Tian-yue had been waiting for policy relaxation. Once it happened, even without backing from powerful forces, Huang would soar like a true dragon freed from shallow waters.

Meanwhile, Tang Jian-cheng was at home, carefully tending to the three badgers he had kept.