The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 174: A Tantrum Leads to the Arrest of a Trusted Confidant; The Show Is Just Beginning

Qian Jin, tearing at the woman, said to the people who rushed over, "Go and notify the police station, go and notify Chief Liu."

"Someone has been harassing me, someone has torn my clothes, I want to report this, I want to report it to higher authorities, I want to report it to the leaders of the municipal federation of cooperatives!"

The woman panicked and cried out, "No, I didn't! I...I...I...you're slandering me..."

Fatty Wang wasn't quick-witted, nor was he particularly intelligent.

Caught off guard, he quickly tried to smooth things over: "No, boss, what are you doing? You're slandering Lihua..."

"You want to be dismissed too?" Qian Jin grinned maliciously at him. "Do you think that if I harden my heart and deal with the two of you, your Director Ma will save your lives?"

"Let me tell you, Fatty Wang, your Director Ma is just a straw man trying to put out a fire; he can't even save himself!"

Fatty Wang shuddered, then hurriedly said to the woman, "Lihua, quickly apologize to the leader..."

"No apology allowed!" Qian Jin said sternly. "She's been fired. If she has any complaints, she can appeal to the county leaders!"

The commune was located in such a small place.

The police station is also nearby.

Liu Jianguo arrived with a bitter face and asked, "What's going on now? Comrade Qian Jin, are you planning to turn our commune upside down?"

Qian Jin angrily retorted, "It's you who are trying to smear my innocence!"

"This woman took advantage of me entering their workplace, when there weren't many people around, and she actually tried to harass me."

“I understand what she means. Before I went to work in the countryside, Director Yi of our city’s general cooperative told me that I must keep a close eye on my belt when I got to the commune. Nowadays, some people will do anything to get into the city!”

The woman screamed, "I didn't! This is slander! He...he...he's slandering me!"

Qian Jin asked Liu Jianguo, "How dare you, a dignified level 25 cadre, slander her with such a matter of conduct?"

"At most, she'll get a scolding from you guys, but what about me? My superiors found out I had some issues with my conduct at the grassroots level, and my path to advancement is completely cut off!"

Liu Jianguo nodded.

That's the truth.

No leading cadre would joke about conduct issues nowadays.

Young cadres, in particular, dare not make mistakes in matters of men and women, let alone humiliate themselves by falsely accusing an ordinary rural woman.

Qian Jin glared at Fatty Wang again: "Tell me, wasn't it her who started tearing my clothes first, and wasn't she the one screaming first?"

"Let me tell you, the leaders of the police station are here. We have to be responsible for what we say. Otherwise, at the very least, you'll lose your job and go home. At worst, you'll go to jail and receive socialist education!"

Fatty Wang's fat face trembled, his cheeks shaking like a Shar Pei.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, that's how it is. It was Lihua who started tearing at the leader."

This is true.

But he knew that Pear Blossom had no intention of using money to commit lewd acts.

I simply don't have the guts.

Pear Blossom also used this point to argue, screaming, "I didn't do anything indecent to you..."

Qian Jin pointed to his crooked collar and crumpled clothes and said, "You didn't tear these? Huh? You didn't tear my clothes, did you?"

Pear Blossom burst into tears: "But I didn't do anything indecent!"

Qian Jin asked Liu Jianguo, "Director Liu, she tore my clothes and pulled at me, but she said she didn't mean to be a pervert?"

Liu Jianguo realized that Qian Jin was going to escalate the situation, so he had no choice but to take them to the police station.
"Let's talk at the office first, Comrade Qian. It's nothing serious, let's go to the office first..."

Fatty Wang asked timidly from behind, "Boss, do I need to go to the office?"

Liu Jianguo sighed and said, "You have to go too."

Fatty Wang said somewhat awkwardly, "I... I was asking about Leader Qian Jin. Um, Director Liu, we're preparing for the spring farming supplies guarantee work, and I need to hurry up and distribute the ribbonfish because they're all starting to smell a bit..."

Qian Jin said, "Director Liu is the highest-ranking officer here. If he tells you to go, then you go. Why are you asking me? Why didn't you ask me when we were discussing official business inside?"

Fatty Wang had no choice but to say, "Then I'll clean the ribbonfish first, so that the fishy smell won't attract stray cats and cause trouble."

"Then you'd better clean up the mess. Any trouble will be your fault," Qian Jin added coldly.

Fatty Wang lowered his head and went into the house.

Qian Jin said from behind, "First, distribute the existing ribbonfish according to the proportion. I will check with the county supply and marketing cooperative to find out the missing parts."

"No matter who is involved in violating laws or regulations, we must investigate thoroughly and punish them severely!"

Wang Pangzi's waist, which resembled a lifebuoy, couldn't help but tremble a couple of times.

He lingered in the room until Liu Jianguo, Qian Jin, and the others left, then immediately ran to the supply and marketing cooperative, grabbed the old-fashioned crank telephone in the director's office, and started shaking it:
"Hello, switchboard operator, connect me to room 201 at the county guesthouse..."

Qian Jin demanded that Liu Jianguo produce the police report at the police station, and then said, "I want to show the report to the county leaders. Cao Lihua must be dismissed from her job!"

Lihua, no longer displaying her previous arrogance, sobbed, "Boss, I know I was wrong, please forgive me..."

"You don't just know you're wrong, you know you're going to be dismissed," Qian Jin bluntly stated, hitting the nail on the head.

Liu Jianguo and the other security guards nodded.

That's the truth.

Pear Blossom cried, "Boss, please let me off the hook! I'll tell you the truth. It's not that I want to argue with you, it's that Fatty Wang, that bastard Fatty Wang, who ordered me to do this..."

"Did he instruct you to act like a hooligan towards me?" Qian Jin asked.

Pear Blossom hates Fatty Wang the most right now.

Fatty Wang encouraged her to deal with Qian Jin like a shrew. He said that Qian Jin was an inexperienced young man from the city who would run away if a woman threw a tantrum, so they could win a battle to show Director Ma.

As it turned out, Qian Jin was even more unruly than her, and dared to throw mud at himself and slander her as well.

What angered her was that Fatty Wang got scared and not only refused to speak well of her, but also joined Qian Jin in slandering her!

What's this?

Traitors are always more despicable than external enemies!

So Pear Blossom decided to throw caution to the wind and pin the blame on Fatty Wang: "Yes, it was Fatty Wang who told me to do this."

"He's my boss, I can't disobey him!"

Liu Jianguo is not easily fooled.

He was a veteran security officer, familiar with both Lihua's and Wang Pangzi's personalities, and well-versed in the power struggles within the supply and marketing cooperative and its various branches.

So he took Qian Jin away and whispered, "Give me some face, Comrade Qian Jin, let's settle this matter today and not make a big fuss."

Qian Jin hesitated for a moment, then said seriously, "When I returned to the city, I asked the leaders about your situation, Director Liu. I have great respect for you."

"Since you've given me these instructions, I will certainly follow them."

Qian Jin had genuinely inquired about Liu Jianguo, as well as Ma Defu and commune secretary Kang Yousheng, among others.

Similarly, Liu Jianguo inquired about Qian Jin.

He knew that this young man was not to be offended, because he had a better reputation in the public security system than in the supply and marketing system. Many leaders knew him, and some had even made contributions because of him.

Upon hearing Qian Jin's words, Liu Jianguo was overjoyed.

However, Qian Jin had another request.

He went back and told Cao Lihua, "Director Liu told me not to pursue your responsibility anymore. He hopes to help us resolve our conflict."

“I am willing to listen to Director Liu, but I can let you off the hook within the public security system. However, I will definitely continue to pursue the matter within our supply and marketing system.”

Cao Lihua's mood fluctuated greatly.

Just when you're happy, you're suddenly heartbroken; just when you're about to laugh, you have to cry.

Qian Jin continued, "However, what you just said gives me a hint. Perhaps we don't have any hatred between us, but someone is stirring things up behind the scenes to make us enemies."

"Yes, yes, that's it!" Cao Lihua hurriedly shouted.

Qian Jin said, "Now that it seems this person is Fatty Wang, I can change my mind and start taking care of Fatty Wang..."

Cao Lihua almost knelt down: "Boss, you've gone too far with what you've said. You have to work hard on that dead man, Fatty Wang. I really will listen to him."

“You don’t know, leader, I’m living a very hard life. The man in my family is a good-for-nothing. I had to beg and plead to find a job in the commune. Please don’t fire me. If you fire me, my family will be ruined.”

"I provoked you this time because of Fatty Wang. Fatty Wang bullied me. Fatty Wang, he really did harass me—waaaaaah..."

She started crying as she spoke.

Qian Jin was delighted.

Hey.

He originally intended to teach this domineering woman a lesson as a warning, but it seems he can now directly use her as a warning?
Liu Jianguo, who originally didn't want to cause trouble, was dumbfounded.

His scalp tingled, and he said, "Cao Lihua, you can't just say things like that."

Qian Jin said, "Yes, we must not slander our comrades."

“If Fatty Wang really did something inappropriate to you, then tell me and Director Liu, and we will stand up for you.”

"Not only will I report to the higher-ups to fire Fatty Wang, but I will also compensate you by making you the manager of the food store."

Cao Lihua wiped away her tears and said, "Leader, to be honest, even if you asked me to take the position, I wouldn't dare. Isn't Director Ma still in charge of this supply and marketing cooperative?"

"Director Ma and Fatty Wang have a very close relationship; they're good friends!"

Qian Jin said decisively, "You don't need to worry about that. Where is Director Ma now?"

"You must have heard the rumors about him and me. Let me tell you, your Director Ma is about to fall from power!"

He doesn't care about the consequences.

He didn't care about any scheming or plotting; he just wanted to have some fun talking!

Anyway, he has the mall to rely on, anyway, he knows the general trend of national development in his life, anyway, he already has a foothold on Taishan Road!

Upon hearing this, Liu Jianguo gasped.

This young man is amazing!

Cao Lihua looked at Liu Jianguo and then at Qian Jin.

She was a rural woman with little worldly experience, but she also possessed some wisdom.

So she quickly analyzed that Qian Jin dared to say that Ma Defu was going to fall from power in front of a leader like Liu Jianguo, and Liu Jianguo neither refuted nor warned Qian Jin not to talk nonsense.

Then consider the reality that Qian Jin beat up Ma Defu twice but escaped unscathed, forcing Ma Defu to run away...

She took a deep breath and immediately made a decision: "Boss, I'm going to report Fatty Wang! I want to redeem myself through meritorious service!"

As soon as Fatty Wang came out of the supply and marketing cooperative, he saw two security guards asking around:

"Where is Fatty Wang from the grocery store? Have you seen him?"

Wang Pangzi was in a good mood after receiving Ma Defu's new arrangements; he had a plan to deal with Qian Jin.

So he waved cheerfully: "I'm here, what's up?"

The two security guards' eyes lit up when they saw him. They exchanged a glance and ran over to block him from the front and back.

Wang Pangzi sensed something was wrong and asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Wen Chao, what's wrong?"

Liao Wenchao, who was on good terms with him, coughed, pressed his shoulder, and whispered, "Old Wang, I'm sorry."

Another security guard pulled out handcuffs and slammed them onto his wrists: "Come on, Fatty Wang, you're under arrest. You're suspected of hooliganism. The evidence is conclusive, so you'll be going to jail."

Fatty Wang was dumbfounded: "W-what's going on? No, what are you guys doing? Wasn't it Pear Blossom who was being a pervert? What does this have to do with me?" Then, in a moment of self-righteousness, he realized: "I know, that bitch must be saying that I told her to be a pervert..."

"Stop talking, go to the station and cooperate with the investigation." Liao Wenchao gave him a wry smile. "Old Wang, I'm giving you a heads-up because I used to eat your fried dough sticks."

"Be lenient with confession, strict with resistance!"

Fatty Wang finally felt fear.

Why did reality turn out so differently from what he had expected?
How come everything is so different from the confident arrangements made by Ma Defu on the phone?
He was taken to the police station.

Qian Jin then left, looking quite energetic.

Liu Jianguo came out to see him off, but when he saw Fatty Wang, his face darkened, and he said sternly, "Take him to the interrogation room and interrogate him properly!"

The food station's work can not be carried out for the time being, so Qian went to the medical station to check the drug reserves.

The medical station was not a commune health center; it was more like a 21st-century pharmacy and a half-veterinary station.

This store sells some common medicines, such as yeast tablets, norfloxacin, mentholatum, hawthorn pills, licorice tablets, glycerin suppositories, and Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, etc.

Medical conditions in the commune were poor, and each production brigade had a barefoot doctor. The barefoot doctor did not get the medicine he needed from the health center, but instead got it from the medicine station.

They submit purchase orders to the medical station every quarter and every month, and the medical station purchases and delivers the goods to them.

In addition, some communes did not have dedicated veterinary stations, so veterinarians would stay at the medical stations, since the medical stations sold a wide variety of veterinary medicines.

There was no veterinary station in the Dictionary Commune. The head of the medical station here was Li Weiguo, a tall and thin veterinarian who was currently arranging medicine bottles on the counter.

"Station Chief Li, how's the preparation of medicines for preventing spring epidemics going?" Qian Jin asked as he entered.

Li Weiguo didn't even look up: "Everything is prepared according to plan, including anti-diarrheal tablets, antidiarrheal medicine, gauze, and alcohol, nothing is missing."

“Take me to the warehouse to see the actual items,” Qian Jin said.

Li Weiguo then looked up and rubbed his hands together: "The warehouse key is with the custodian. His mother is sick and went to the city for treatment today. She probably won't be back until tomorrow."

Qian Jin laughed: "What if someone comes to buy medicine today?"

Li Weiguo explained, "We have all the medicines on our shelves; we have all the varieties that are available in the warehouse."

His gaze towards Qian Jin was tinged with disdain:
You don't even understand this and you still want to go against Ma Defu?
Qian Jin had already learned from Li Hua that all the secondary distribution stations and dual-agent stores in the production brigade had joined forces and, under Ma Defu's command, were going to make things difficult for Qian Jin.

So he wasn't angry and continued, "Then let me see the list of medicines first."

Li Weiguo slowly opened the drawer, rummaged around for a while, and finally took out a crumpled notebook: "Here, it's all written down."

Qian Jin opened the notebook and found that the records inside were disorganized.

Some medicines are only listed with abbreviations, and the quantity is not specified.

He pointed to a record and asked, "What does 'Xiaopian 200' mean? Does it mean 200 bottles of Xiaowen tablets?"

Li Weiguo leaned over to take a look: "Ah, this should be 200 pieces, not a bottle."

"Count them one by one?" Qian Jin raised his voice. "The total number of chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, horses, cattle, sheep, rabbits, and mules in the commune is no more than ten thousand. What are you going to do with 200 anti-epidemic tablets?"

The anti-epidemic tablets are not for human consumption; they are for poultry and livestock to prevent spring plague.

Li Weiguo calmly replied, "Comrade Qian, medicines are in short supply right now. The county pharmaceutical company has only provided this much; there's nothing we can do about it."

Qian Jin closed his notebook: "Where's the county's allocation order?"

“The transfer order,” Li Weiguo stammered, “is with Director Ma. He took it with him.”

Qian Jin stared at Li Weiguo for a long time, then slowly smiled and said, "Enjoy these good days. I'm about to go down to the production team to investigate the work of your medical station."

Li Weiguo didn't care at all.

Go ahead and investigate. You're not in the production team taking bribes or demanding favors, so what can you possibly find out?

Qian Jin patted him on the shoulder and said, "We'll count the items again tomorrow when the custodian comes back. Also, go and find out what happened to Fatty Wang."

Li Weiguo frowned.

what happened?

What happened to Fatty Wang?
This morning he even went to Fatty Wang's place to buy fried dough sticks.

Just as Qian Jin stepped out of the pharmacy, he saw a middle-aged man from Guangmingding slip into a small alley.

He recognized the man at Bright Peak; he was the manager of the cooperative store, named Yu Zhenfeng. According to Jin Hai's assessment, Yu Zhenfeng was a very cunning person.

At this moment, this cunning fellow sneaking around to find Li Weiguo must be up to no good.

He thought for a moment, then didn't follow. Instead, he walked quickly to the commune office to find the economic clerk in charge of dealing with the supply and marketing cooperative.

Zhang Xiaoqiang, the economic clerk of the Dictionary Commune, was currently engraving wax plates to print some promotional materials.

Qian went inside to take a look and found that it contained information about the resettlement policy for educated youth.

The issue of educated youth is now becoming a major problem in the country's development process, because as a large number of rural youth enter the cities through the college entrance examination, the pressure on urban residents to ensure their livelihoods increases sharply.

Meanwhile, when college graduates enter the workforce three or four years later, the pressure on job security in the city will be immense.

However, the return of educated youth to the city is a reality that the whole society has to face. In the past, it was difficult for educated youth to return to the city, so this matter could be suppressed.

With some educated youth returning to the city through the college entrance examination and others returning through recruitment, those who remained in the countryside were no longer able to sit still.

They all wanted to go back to the city.

The propaganda materials were the same old thing, urging the educated youth in the Dictionary Commune to be brave enough to contribute to social development and not to follow the crowd and always want to return to the city, etc. It also listed several role models of educated youth in the production teams and asked the educated youth to learn from them.

Qian Jin glanced at the promotional materials, and Zhang Xiaoqiang quickly covered them with a large red paper, asking, "Comrade Qian, what brings you here?"

"Using this kind of material to deal with educated youth will cause problems," Qian Jin kindly reminded Zhang Xiaoqiang.

In the city, he came into contact with educated youth everywhere, whether it was a shock brigade or a transport team, the main force of which was all educated youth.

Therefore, he understood the temperament of the educated youth and knew the explosive power hidden in their emotions.

The lid can't be kept on any longer.

Zhang Xiaoqiang didn't care and laughed, "This is not my responsibility. I'm just a clerk who prints materials and forms."

"Oh, Comrade Qian, you haven't said anything yet. What are you doing here?"

Qian Jin said, "With spring plowing just around the corner, we need to ensure the supply of materials for spring plowing."

Zhang Xiaoqiang was baffled. He said, "Yes, that's how it is."

Qian Jin laughed and said, "But our Director Ma isn't at the office right now. A snake can't function without a head, and a train can only run fast because of its locomotive, right?"

“Yes,” Zhang Xiaoqiang nodded subconsciously again, then suddenly realized, “You want to act as the acting director while Director Ma is away?”

Qian Jin waved his hand: "No, no, no, Zhang Wenshu, you've misunderstood me. Why would a new salesperson like me compete for this?"

"It's because Director Ma is not here, and the various distribution units only follow his orders, which has caused delays in carrying out spring plowing and ensuring the work is carried out."

Zhang Xiaoqiang understood: "Do you want me to help you find Director Ma, or do you want me to contact the managers at the distribution centers to handle this matter?"

Qian Jin smiled helplessly.

This clerk probably saw too much backstabbing and power struggles in government agencies, and because of his own constant conflicts with Ma Defu, he always thought of things as a struggle when he saw him.

Qian Jin softened his tone and said, "Zhang Wenshu, these things have nothing to do with me. As I just said, I'm just a new salesman."

"You should think about this: if there are problems with spring farming supplies and production is delayed, who will be held responsible when the investigation comes down?"

"Is it me? Am I, a salesperson, in charge? Or is it Director Ma who is in charge?"

Zhang Xiaoqiang opened his mouth and finally nodded.

Qian Jin continued, "Think about it again. If there's a problem with the supply of spring farming materials, and the supply and marketing system holds us accountable, then who in the government will be held accountable?"

Zhang Xiaoqiang's expression changed, and he unconsciously drew circles on the wax paper with the iron pen in his hand.

Qian Jin smiled, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

That night, he was leisurely gazing at the stars in his drafty, dilapidated dormitory room when someone knocked on the door:

"Comrade Qian Jin, it's me, Zhang Xiaoqiang."

The clerk lowered his voice: "Comrade Qian, I have something to say to you."

Qian Jin just opened the door.

Zhang Xiaoqiang suddenly appeared, followed by another person.

A short, middle-aged man.

Qian Jin looked at the middle-aged man with a puzzled expression.

Zhang Xiaoqiang introduced, "This is Zhang Minsheng from Shuangdai Store in Ba Niu Brigade. He's my cousin. He said he has something important to discuss with you."

Qian Jin asked, "Comrade Zhang, is there anything I can help you with?"

Zhang Minsheng held an envelope in his hand, his voice trembling slightly: "This was sent over by Director Ma today. I... I think I should let you take a look."

Qian Jin took the envelope; inside was a note that read:

Proceed according to the original plan, and make sure Qian Jin backs down. The county has already made arrangements, so there's no need to worry.

The signature featured a drawing of an old horse.

Below the note was a document bearing the seal of the county guesthouse.

Qian Jin smiled as he read the letter.

Ma Defu is really something.

Remotely directing oneself to deal with oneself—this is truly a fight to the death against oneself.

He asked, "Comrade Zhang, what does 'original plan' mean here?"

Zhang Minsheng shook his head: "I really don't know. Comrade Qian Jin, Xiaoqiang is my brother. He knows who I am..."

“My cousin is very honest,” Zhang Xiaoqiang said. “He was originally a veterinarian in the commune and should have been the head of the medical station.”

"But somehow, Director Ma dismissed him from his post. As compensation, he was allowed to open a dual-agency store in the brigade as a salesman."

“How can opening a dual-distributor store compare to working at a pharmacy? Most people would have made a scene in this situation. I wanted to ask Director Ma what was going on, but my brother wouldn’t let me. He didn’t want to offend anyone.”

The full name of "Double Agent Store" is "Agent Purchase and Sales Store". In recent years, with the implementation of the planned economy market, the supply and marketing cooperatives at the grassroots level in rural areas have cooperated with production brigades to establish such commercial outlets. Their task is to "sell industrial products and purchase agricultural and sideline products", hence the name "Double Agent Store".

Generally, in the cooperation process, the production brigade provides the site and personnel, while the supply and marketing cooperative provides funds, goods and business guidance, forming a "combined farming and commerce" management model.

Sales agents were selected by the production brigade from villagers who were literate and capable of arithmetic, and were under the dual leadership of the supply and marketing cooperative and the production brigade.

Therefore, being a sales agent in a double-agent store is not as good as being the head of a medical station in a commune, because a sales agent is essentially still a farmer and has to participate in collective labor.

Only after the work is completed will the sales agent return to the dual-agency store to resume business.

Qian Jin pondered for a moment, then nodded: "I understand this matter. Director Ma is practicing nepotism. I'm afraid there are some economic crimes going on behind closed doors."

"Alright, Comrade Zhang, you should go back right away and pretend you never came to see me."

"You just continue with your work as usual, and leave the rest to me."

He nodded to Zhang Xiaoqiang again: "I will give you brothers an explanation."

Zhang Xiaoqiang asked, "What should we do regarding the supply of materials for spring farming?"

Qian Jin patted the paper and laughed, "It's simple, let the person in charge take responsibility."

"Just you wait and see, there's going to be a good show!"

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(End of this chapter)