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Chapter 200: Uncle Kou Donghan
When Xie Hushan entered the room, his grandmother was sitting and talking with his uncle Kou Donghan. His master Zhang Cheng was also there, drinking tea and chatting.

As for Daxiu, who delivered the letter, she ran away after delivering the letter. In her words, she was afraid of seeing Xie Hushan's uncle.

In fact, Xie Hushan also trembled when he saw his uncle. It can be said that from childhood to adulthood, among the relatives around him, except for his mother who beat him severely for being naughty, only this uncle had beaten him.

My uncle Kou Donghan was a soldier. He had a bad temper, spoke bluntly, and was clear about right and wrong. He was especially good at physical persuasion and education. His style of doing things was no different from that of a bandit, and he lived up to his surname very well.

Moreover, Kou Donghan had a ferocious appearance. When Xie Hushan saw him, he could think of an adjective: tiger-headed and tiger-brained.

He always thought this word was used to describe cuteness, until he saw his uncle and realized that he looked like a tiger and was not cute at all, but scary.

His eyes were big and round, not almond-shaped or anything like that, but close to the standard circle shape, with more black than white. His face was also round, and his hair was always short and close to his scalp, and there was always stubble on his chin that he couldn't shave cleanly.

Look at the labor camp prisoners from a distance and Kou Donghan from close.

This is the jingle that Xie Hushan's biological mother used to tease her brother.

The sequelae of Daxiu's fear of her uncle probably occurred when she was six or seven years old.

It was winter that year, and the New Year was approaching soon. Xie Hushan took Han Laoer and a group of people to set off firecrackers in the village. The children set off firecrackers, but they did not pick up the whole string of firecrackers to set off. Instead, they took the firecrackers apart and put them in their pockets. They held a carbon stick in their left hand, took out a firecracker from their pocket with their right hand, moved close to the carbon stick to light the fuse, and then threw it far away.

When Xie Hushan threw the firecrackers that day, a mule cart of the brigade happened to pass by. He threw the firecrackers next to the mule's front hoof. After the explosion, the usually docile mule was startled, raised its front hoof and jumped, then pulled the empty cart forward madly, throwing the driver off the cart and causing him to fall.

Fortunately, it was cold that day and the adults stayed at home to stay awake for the winter. The children from the third team who loved to run followed Xie Hushan. The mule cart ran wildly and no one was hurt, but the cart was damaged and the mule injured its hoof when it went crazy. The driver was worn out and was not hurt, but he had to lie on the kang for a long time to rest.

Although the mule was cured by the uncle and the cart was repaired by the sixth uncle, Xie Hushan's parents felt that they had to teach their child a lesson.

At that time, Xie Hushan's parents were still alive. Xie Hushan hid in the room of his aunt and now his grandmother and refused to come out. His grandmother and aunt spoiled him and advised Xie Hushan's mother to calm down. Xie Hushan's mother was very tough. Xie Hushan still remembers that his mother stood in the main room with a rolling pin, pointing at him who was being protected by his grandmother on the kang:

"Get out here now and let me give you a good beating so that you will remember this lesson, or I will call your uncle to deal with you!"

At that time, Xie Hushan was too naive. He always thought that his uncle doted on him and would not be willing to punish him. He challenged his mother: "If you have the guts, let my uncle do it! I'm not afraid of my uncle!"

His mother really didn't beat him that day, and Xie Hushan was not scolded when he returned home. A few days later, when he had almost forgotten about it, his uncle came.

At that time, my uncle Kou Donghan had just retired from the army and was working as a farm machinery driver, or tractor driver, at the Tatuo Commune Farm Machinery Station in my grandmother's home. Every one or two months, he would come to Zhongping to see my sister and nephew while driving a tractor for transportation. Every time he came, he would bring some food for Xie Hushan. As a result, this time, Kou Donghan brought three full baskets of firecrackers for Xie Hushan.

Xie Hushan was so happy that his uncle let him release them wherever he wanted, but he had to take them apart one by one and release them as before.

Xie Hushan was quite happy at first. He took Daxiu to take apart the firecrackers and then set them off one by one. He finally had a great time. His uncle didn't care and just watched with a smile. His parents had already hidden away early. Whenever Xie Hushan recalled it, he felt that he was not vigilant enough at the time. If he had discovered that his parents had slipped away earlier, he should have been able to avoid physical persuasion from his uncle.

No matter how much children like firecrackers, they cannot keep setting them off without eating or drinking. After playing with them for less than two hours, they will not want to set them off anymore and want to play with other things.

At this time, the uncle started to speak. It was okay for Daxiu to not play and he could leave, but Xie Hushan had to play. He could not eat or sleep until he set off all the firecrackers.

When Xie Hushan saw his uncle's face change, he turned around and ran to his aunt's house, wanting to seek shelter from his aunt and grandmother. However, when he arrived there, he found that the door of his aunt's house was locked and he could not get in.

The mother's uncle is the eldest, so it is only natural for the uncle to take care of his nephew for his sister. No matter how distressed the Xie family members feel, they cannot stop him.

Then he was picked up by his uncle with one hand and asked if he would go back to set off firecrackers. Xie Hushan said no. So his uncle hung him on the tree at the door, took off his cotton pants in winter, pulled out his belt and hit Xie Hushan on the butt three times!

Just three times.

It took only three hits to scare Daxiu so much that she couldn't speak. Later, she ran to the veterinary station to complain to the old man and asked him to save her brother:
"My brother was treated like a fish by my uncle! Just like those fish at the market that were hung up by willow branches through their mouths! He died after twisting a few times!"

After that day, Xie Hushan never set off firecrackers again, and his first reaction when he saw someone at home bought him firecrackers was to touch his butt.

And from then on, no matter who he saw setting off firecrackers, Xie Hushan would kindly remind the other person to pay attention to whether there were other people or animals nearby, and to find a place where there was no one.

This shows how powerful my uncle's persuasive education is.

"Uncle, why did you think of coming here when it's so cold?" Xie Hushan greeted his uncle warmly.

The uncle sat on a stool, his hands on his knees, his back straight, and smiled at his nephew who came in with a loud voice:
"Your steel mill has a special car, and you didn't even think about going to your grandma's house to see your uncle, so your uncle can only take the initiative to come and see his nephew."

Seeing Xie Hushan come over to sit next to him with his head down in embarrassment, Kou Donghan reached out and patted his nephew's head a few times: "It's okay, I came to report to Secretary Yin, and by the way, I'll bring some Tatuo cabbage to you and your grandmother."

Xie Hushan didn't react at first, but after his uncle finished speaking, he felt something was wrong. It was normal to send cabbage. Tatuo cabbage was famous for its deliciousness in Bingyang County. It had little water and could be stored well. Every winter, his uncle would send some to the Xie family, but what did the first half of the sentence mean?
"Looking for Secretary Yin to report?" Xie Hushan looked up at his uncle: "What do you want to see him for?"

Grandma sat on the kang and said with a smile: "You may not know yet, but your uncle has been transferred to our commune to be the director of the agricultural machinery station! From now on..."

"What!"

What future is there? Just when there is a future, an uncle comes!

Xie Hushan lifted his butt off the stool, stood up, turned around and looked at Kou Donghan: "Uncle, aren't you the deputy director of the agricultural machinery station in Tatuo Commune?"

"I was promoted half a level. Old Pang from Zhongping Agricultural Machinery Station has retired and returned to your brigade to take charge of the newly established agricultural machinery management station. The county and Zhongping Commune discussed it and thought I was capable, so they transferred me here." The uncle said to Xie Hushan.

Seeing Xie Hushan's reaction, grandma was still praising him: "This child is very close to his uncle. He couldn't sit still when he heard that his uncle was transferred here." Zhang Cheng, who was standing next to him, was so happy that his face turned into a chrysanthemum. He deliberately said: "Sixth Aunt, Old Kou, I don't think Hu Saner is happy."

……

Xie Hushan rolled his eyes at his master, then slowly sat back down, looked at his uncle, and spoke tentatively:
"Uncle, your nephew is doing well this year. He has some connections in the county. Well, Zhongping is a little far from Tatuo. I think your aunt must be thinking about you. Let me find some connections in the county for you and transfer you to a commune closer to home. It doesn't matter if it costs a little money. Your nephew will pay for it!"

"No, your aunt is here too. She will come to see your grandma later. She is cleaning the dormitory with me."

"Ah? What are you doing here, aunt?"

"Well, Secretary Yin of the commune is really nice. After all, he is a leader and thinks of everything. He was worried that it would be inconvenient for me to go home because I live far away, so he said that the Zhongping Commune compound needed a cleaner to sweep the yard, boil water, and deliver hot water to the offices. He asked your aunt to come and do this job, and gave you a salary of more than ten yuan a month. Your aunt was also happy. In addition, Lao Pang used to live in that room at the agricultural machinery station, so it was enough for the two of us, so we both came."

"..." Xie Hushan held his breath for a few seconds before continuing to ask: "What did Secretary Yin say?"

Kou Donghan nodded, his words full of gratitude to Yin Qianfeng: "Of course, Secretary Yin is much better than Secretary Zhao of our Tatuo Commune. He really takes care of his subordinates."

Xie Hushan immediately changed his proposal: "Uncle, I have some connections in the county agricultural machinery factory. I will be dealing with their canteen next year. How about this, I will ask someone to find some connections and get promoted half a level to the county. There is no development in going back and forth between communes. When the time comes, let my sister-in-law do some work in the canteen of the county agricultural machinery factory. Since you two are in the county, my brother may have the opportunity to become a city dweller."

"No need. Why should I look for anyone? I'm old and have no ambition. Before I retire, I can get rid of the title of deputy and become a stationmaster. That's a respect given to me by the state and the county. I'm just a rough guy who repairs farm machinery. Why should I show off in the county? It's good for me now. I plan to work in this position until I retire." Kou Donghan took a sip of hot water and spoke his true feelings to his nephew.

Zhang Cheng, who could no longer hold back his laughter, lowered his head and laughed "gee gee gee". He knew what his apprentice was thinking.

"..." Xie Hushan turned his head to look at Zhang Cheng and asked with a look of disgust:

"Master, why did you come to my house? You came empty-handed. You are a commune leader after all. Although your rank is low, you still have to bring things when you visit the people's home."

"..." Zhang Cheng looked at Xie Hushan: "Ah~ I'm not a guest, I'm not here to be a guest, it was Secretary Yin who asked me to come. When he heard Station Master Kou introduce him, he said that he was a real relative of Factory Master Xie, and he asked me to come here to tell him something. From now on, when the commune borrows a car to give to the steel rolling mill, all the benefits will be sent to your uncle at the Agricultural Machinery Station. It's close and convenient. If you want to blackmail someone in the name of borrowing a car again, go to Station Master Kou to get it."

Hearing Zhang Cheng's ridicule, Kou Donghan turned his head to look at Xie Hushan: "The Xie family has changed their family traditions here? Good fellow, if Secretary Yin hadn't told me with snot and tears, I wouldn't have believed it. What's the matter? The commune has to give you gifts when it borrows your car. You are the second emperor of Zhongping. Also, Old Feng also told me that you always got into fights and made troubles before. Don't always think that your parents died early and your grandma is old, so no one can control you! Now that I'm here, I don't want to see if you dare to do bad things again?"

"Yes, uncle, I dare not. I... I am not that person." Xie Hushan quickly expressed his position to Kou Donghan.

Kou Donghan stood up and said to his grandmother, "Aunt, please sit down. I'm going to visit my sixth uncle at my eldest brother's yard. I can't just say hello to you. I brought him two bottles of wine. I'll drink with my sixth uncle, my eldest brother, and my second uncle tonight."

"I'm sorry to have worried you." Grandma was about to get off the kang to see her off. Kou Donghan held the old lady with both hands and said, "Auntie, please sit down. It's cold outside. I know the way. Besides, even if you don't know the way, there is still Tiger Mountain. Please don't get off the kang."

"Hushan, send your uncle to your grandfather's courtyard." Grandma instructed Xie Hushan.

Xie Hushan accompanied Kou Donghan and Zhang Cheng outside. Kou Donghan knew the way and walked in front, looking at the newly built ballast road and changes in Zhongping. Xie Hushan gritted his teeth and said to Zhang Cheng a few steps behind him:

"Secretary Yin is a man of few virtues. He will not have a good ending. Why didn't old Han step up his efforts to anger Secretary Yin to death? I was just taking advantage of the commune for fun. Why did they transfer my uncle here? My uncle is old. It's good to be the deputy station chief. He has no time and not much to do. Why did they bring him all the way to Zhongping to be the station chief? Are they treating him like a beast?"

"How many deputy station chiefs are there at the grassroots level? Do you think it's easy to become the station chief of Zhongping Agricultural Machinery Station?" Zhang Cheng said to Xie Hushan, "How many people want to be the station chief but can't? Previously, a deputy station chief from another commune really offered Secretary Yin this amount..."

Zhang Cheng pointed two fingers mysteriously and said, "Two thousand yuan."

"I'll pay four thousand, and Secretary Yin just needs to send my uncle back." Xie Hushan said to Zhang Cheng.

It's not that he really didn't want to see Kou Donghan. He was his own uncle, how could he not be close to him? The main reason was that he really felt that the job of the director of the agricultural machinery station was not a lucrative one. It was not the time when people could take bribes. Being the director of an agricultural machinery station in Zhongping was the most tiring and laborious unit at the grassroots level, and if he didn't do his job well, the farmers would really dare to deal with him.

Even the farmers who work in the production teams know that being the director of the Zhongping Agricultural Machinery Station is a tough job. There is a jingle to describe this position: "There are endless production teams to visit and endless on-site meetings to hold."

In spring, there is land reclamation; in summer, there is wheat harvest; in autumn, there is autumn harvest and planting; in winter, there is infrastructure construction during the slack season and summary meetings of the agricultural machinery system. Farmers at least have a slack season to catch their breath, but there are no agricultural machinery station managers, and they are busy all year round.

Why is Lao Pang willing to retire and return to Zhongping? Isn’t it because there is less work?
Zhongping Commune has 17 production brigades under its jurisdiction. How can the agricultural machinery station provide agricultural mechanization support for the 17 production brigades with the few agricultural machinery it has? The station director has to rack his brains to make plans every year to ensure that everything is fair. If there is any imbalance, the people in Zhongping will not tolerate you whether you are a cadre or a leader. They will scold you when necessary, and if you make a big fuss, you will probably get beaten.

Now Lao Pang is only in charge of the 19 production teams in Zhongping Brigade, and he still gets the same salary as before. He wakes up happy in his dreams and has lost a lot of hair.

It turned out that my uncle was the deputy station chief, mainly responsible for the daily repair and maintenance of agricultural machinery in the station. Other things like planning had nothing to do with him, he just needed to focus on training his two apprentices and enjoying the life.

To put it bluntly, when I was the deputy station chief, as long as the machines were not broken or malfunctioned at the agricultural machinery station, it had nothing to do with him if they broke down outside the station, and other people would be responsible.

But as the webmaster, all the shit will have to be blamed on him.

Also, his uncle's temper makes him unfit to be the top leader. He is like a firecracker that explodes at the slightest touch.

"We're here. I'm going back." Seeing his uncle arrive at the door of his grandfather's house, Xie Hushan said something beside him.

The uncle turned his head and looked at Xie Hushan in confusion: "Why are you going back now? Come in and stay with me for a while. Are you embarrassed to enter your uncle's house?"

At the same time, he shouted into the courtyard: "Sixth Uncle, are you home? I'm Dong Han, am I doing well?"

Xie Laoliu came out of the wing wearing a dirty cotton jacket, with a smile on his face, but when he saw Xie Hushan next to him, he pointed at him:
"Get out of here, kid!"

(End of this chapter)