I'm in the county town, and you say I'm a big shot?

Chapter 292 Everyone's Life

Fang Qingye and Bai Ou followed Li Ye along the street for more than ten minutes and arrived at the county education bureau's staff quarters. It seemed that Li Ye had been here before, as he quickly led them to a building.

Upon reaching the third floor, Li Ye knocked on the west door. The door opened, and Gesang stood at the entrance, greeting him warmly.

"Sister Bai'ou, come in, Dad, they're here."

Soon, a middle-aged man in his forties emerged from the bedroom. He wore glasses and appeared to be a refined gentleman.

"Dad, this is Fang Qingye, Li Ye's college classmate. This is Bai Ou, Fang Qingye's girlfriend. She graduated with a master's degree from East China University of Political Science and Law and is now a judge!" Liu Xigesang introduced enthusiastically.

"Welcome, welcome, please have a seat."

Fang Qingye and Bai Ou sat down on the sofa in the living room. Liu Xigesang poured them tea and then went to the kitchen to help.

Fang Qingye took a sip. It wasn't the butter tea she had last night, but genuine Zhuyeqing tea, with a pure and refreshing taste.

Liu Xigesang's father, Liu Wenning, used to be a middle school teacher. When he heard that Fang Qingye and Bai Ou's parents were both educators, he started chatting with them with great interest.

Just then, the door opened, and a girl carrying a schoolbag walked in. She looked a lot like Liu Xigesang, but was younger and seemed to be her younger sister.

"Dad, are we having guests?" the girl asked.

“She’s Li Ye’s college classmate, she came from Jiangsu Province,” Liu Wenning explained. “This is my youngest daughter, Liu Ximeiduo, she’s a senior in high school this year.”

After introductions, Liu Ximei sat down next to her father and asked, "You are Li Ye's college classmates, you studied in Shanghai, do you know anything about East China University of Political Science and Law?"

Bai Ou laughed and said, "I graduated from the University of Political Science and Law, so what?"

“Really? Sister Bai Ou, I want to apply to your school!” Liu Ximeiduo said.

"Welcome, welcome. Our school is great." Bai Ou then told the girl about the school, especially the accommodation, meals, and extracurricular activities, which are of most concern to students.

"That's great! I'll apply to the University of Political Science and Law as my first choice next year!" Liu Ximei said with a smile.

At this point, her father, Liu Wenning, poured cold water on her dreams: "Scores! Scores are the key! If your scores aren't high enough, you can't get in even if you want to. I think you're still a bit short."

"I'm going to apply anyway!" the girl muttered. "If my score isn't high enough for the University of Political Science and Law, I'll apply to other schools! Unlike my sister who only studied in Aba Prefecture, I'm determined to go to Shanghai and stay here in the future!"

Liu Wenning shook his head helplessly, realizing he had spoiled his youngest daughter.

Fang Qingye and Bai Ou exchanged a glance.

Think of Li Ye, who traveled all the way from Shanghai to come here. His girlfriend's younger sister also tried every means to get into a university in Shanghai so she could live there.

Everyone's life.

As the group was chatting, Liu Xigesang and her mother came into the living room and invited everyone to go to the dining room for dinner.

Liu Xigesang's mother is named Gesang Meiduo. According to Li Ye, she is a cadre of the county supply and marketing cooperative and is very skillful in cooking a delicious meal.

The meal included dishes like braised pork belly, dry-pot beef covered with a blanket, and traditional Tibetan delicacies such as hand-pulled yak meat and butter tea, representing a fusion of Han and Tibetan cuisine. During the meal, Li Ye, recalling Fang Qingye's earlier words, asked, "Uncle Liu, how many private and substitute teachers are still teaching in Lixian County? And how many have been dismissed?"

Liu Wenning put down his chopsticks and said:
“The county recently conducted a survey and found that there are about 300 private and substitute teachers still teaching, mainly concentrated in some remote mountain villages, such as Yueziwan Village where you are.”

“There are about 700 people who have already been laid off. Li Ye, why are you asking this?” Liu Wenning asked curiously.

“Yesterday I talked to Qingye about the treatment of private school teachers in the county. He felt that these people have dedicated their lives to rural education, giving too much but receiving too little. He wanted to donate funds in the name of his company to improve their treatment. Qingye, what do you say?”

Li Ye looked at Fang Qingye.

"Here's the thing, Director Liu, my idea is that for the private and substitute teachers who are still employed, I will subsidize them the same amount as the monthly salary the county pays them. For those who have been dismissed, I will also provide the same subsidy as the one-time compensation the county provides."

After Fang Qingye finished speaking, the others were stunned. It took Liu Wenning a while to recover from the shock:
"Xiao Fang, you need to understand that this is a considerable expense. Just considering the compensation for the private school teachers who have already been dismissed, we have calculated that it is about 2.8 yuan per person for 700 people, which is nearly 2000 million yuan! This does not include the part of those who are still teaching substitute classes, which will cost about 200 million yuan per year!"

"Director Liu, I've made some money in the stock and futures markets over the past few years and invested in several companies. I can afford to pay these tens of millions." Fang Qingye said with a relaxed expression.

“Uncle Liu, my classmate is quite capable. If he dares to say it, he can deliver it,” Li Ye added from the side.

Liu Wenning immediately became excited: "That's great! After the holiday, I'll report this to our Director Zhang and the relevant leaders in the county. Although I don't dare to speak on behalf of all the teachers, I personally thank you! I'd like to propose a toast!"

After speaking, Liu Wenning raised his glass.

“You’re welcome. Li Ye gave up his postgraduate studies at Shencai University and traveled thousands of miles to teach here. Now he’s settled down here. What’s a little money like this to me?” Fang Qingye raised his glass, finished his drink, and said, “As for the specifics of how to donate and what methods to use, Director Liu, I’d like to discuss it with you.”

Liu Wenning pondered for a moment before replying, "Xiao Fang, I personally think this approach is better. We can set up a special account in our county's education bureau, and you can directly deposit your donation into this account. The donations from private school teachers who are still teaching will be distributed along with their salaries, essentially giving them double pay. When the government raises their salaries, yours will also increase."

"As for those who have already been dismissed, once the county has thoroughly tallied the figures and posted them publicly without objection, the state compensation and your compensation will be paid in one lump sum. How about that?"

"Director Liu, your idea is good, I agree," Fang Qingye said with a smile.

“Alright, I will report this plan to Director Zhang in your name,” Liu Wenning said finally.

The family dinner was a great success, but Fang Qingye got drunk again. In the end, Li Ye and Bai Ou helped him to the hotel. The plan to stroll around the county town at night was canceled, and Bai Ou sat by the window to serve him.

"Your alcohol tolerance... sigh." Bai Ou shook her head when she saw him like this.

"Pour me a cup of tea, a strong one," Fang Qingye said, struggling to half-lie on the bed.

After Bai Ou poured the strong tea, Fang Qingye took a sip and felt much better.

"There's nothing I can do, that's how it is," Fang Qingye said, then complained, "You know I can't hold my liquor, yet you don't help me."

"Director Liu's whole family toasted you so warmly, how could I possibly drink with you?" Bai Oujiao said with a smile. "Look at Meiduo, she looks at you with such admiration and has drunk several cups with you."

Fang Qingye gave a wry smile.

A high school senior dares to drink like this? Isn't he afraid that he won't be able to study if he drinks too much?
However, the girl seemed fine after drinking it, and went to her room to read after finishing her meal.

(End of this chapter)