Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

The women whose names were called were all taken aback and looked at each other.

Roland was the first to react, his eyes brightening slightly: "Is this to build up our reputation and shut up those gossips?"

"Hmm." Liu Xiangyang nodded. "There's not much meat, but it's the thought that counts. There are over a thousand people and more than three hundred households in the village. These eight wolves should be enough to give each family a pound of meat. You'll get a good reputation and we can even earn you some work points."

He Xiaoqin and Jiang Xiaowen were a little nervous, but mostly touched. Zuo Qingqing laughed and said, "That's great! Let's see who dares to talk about us behind our backs now!"

Xue Bingbing pondered for a moment: "I think it's a good idea. We have plenty of meat. It's worth it to exchange it for a good reputation. We should keep the hides, antlers, and blood for ourselves."

"Then it's settled." Liu Xiangyang made the decision. "Xiaowen, go and invite Secretary Zhang over. Tell him I'm back and have something to discuss with him. Do it quietly and don't disturb anyone else."

"Okay, I'll go right away." Jiang Xiaowen immediately got up, wiped her hands, tidied her hair, and quickly left the yard.

The others quickly finished their meal. Le Qi and Le Yao cleared the dishes, while Xue Bingbing and Luo Lan reorganized the portion of wolf meat and badger that they had left for Zhang Tiejun and displayed it in the open. Zuo Qingqing and He Xiaoqin wiped the table clean and brewed a new pot of coarse tea.

"Alright, everyone, go home. It'll be hard to explain if the village chief sees this. Let them talk it over." Xue Bingbing dismissed everyone.

"Brother, we'll head back now. You can tell me all about it tomorrow." Zuo Qingqing looked back at Liu Xiangyang every step of the way.

"Okay, let's go back."

After everyone had left, Liu Xiangyang sat down and drank some hot tea, feeling warm in his stomach. He heard footsteps and hushed voices outside the courtyard; Zhang Tiejun had arrived.

Liu Xiangyang stood up, a perfectly timed smile tinged with weariness on his face, and went out to greet them.

The courtyard gate was gently pushed open, and Zhang Tiejun walked in wearing an old jacket, followed by Jiang Xiaowen, who looked cautious.

"Uncle Zhang, thank you for making this trip so late. Xiaowen, thank you for your trouble. You should go back now." Liu Xiangyang stepped forward with a perfectly timed, slightly tired smile on his face and led Zhang Tiejun to sit down at the stone table in the courtyard.

"No trouble at all, just glad you're back safe and sound." Zhang Tiejun waved his hand, his gaze sweeping across the yard. When he saw the pile of wolf meat deliberately placed in the corner and the fat badger next to it, his eyelids twitched. "Wow! There really is... so many? Jiang Zhiqing said you took down a few wolves, that's quite a big difference."

Liu Xiangyang poured him a bowl of hot tea: "Uncle Zhang, it's all luck. My master asked me to find some herbs for him, and I just happened to run into this group. There was no way to avoid them, so I had to kill them."

"Thinking that we couldn't finish the food at home and it would be a waste to let it go bad, I thought about whether we could distribute some to the village in the name of the four female educated youths, Luo Lan, He Xiaoqin, Jiang Xiaowen, and Zuo Qingqing. It would be a small token of their appreciation to the village."

Zhang Tiejun picked up his teacup, but didn't drink immediately. He blew on it to cool it down, then looked up at Liu Xiangyang: "In their name?"

"Hmm." Liu Xiangyang nodded naturally. "Bingbing and Leqi and Leyao caught a wild boar last time, so they won't join in this time. These girls are usually quite hardworking, but they're young, and sometimes I worry that the uncles and aunts in the village might think they're just taking up the good position of scorekeeper and not caring about the collective."

"This amount of meat isn't much, it's just a token. The main point is to let everyone know that they care about our Dongsheng Village. Of course, you can add some work points to each of them as a way to encourage them."

Zhang Tiejun slowly took a sip of tea, put down the bowl, and tapped his fingers on the rough tabletop. The courtyard was quiet, with only the occasional chirping of summer insects.

"Eight wolves..." he calculated. "According to what you said, even if each wolf has forty or fifty pounds of meat, eight wolves together would make three hundred and forty or fifty pounds of meat. There are more than three hundred households in our village. If we divide it up, each household can get one pound of meat. Even if we're frugal, it'll be enough for a meal. As for the educated youth settlement, it would be reasonable for each person to get three ounces."

He paused, looked at Liu Xiangyang, and his eyes held something else: "This is a good thing for the village. It can reassure people and quiet down the gossip. It's also support for my work. Xiangyang, Uncle Zhang appreciates your kindness."

Liu Xiangyang smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, we're family, so let's not stand on ceremony."

Zhang Tiejun leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "But Xiangyang, let me say something. This time, using the names of those girls can be explained as young people wanting to improve and contribute to the collective. But next time... if they have this kind of 'intention' again..."

"It's best to use your own name. You're an inspector, young and promising, working for the benefit of the village. It's legitimate, and the credit will truly go to you, rather than putting it under the names of those girls. It's more secure, and... more appropriate, don't you think?"

Zhang Tiejun left it at that, knowing the implication of his words, and didn't say anything more.

Liu Xiangyang understood. He picked up the teapot and refilled Zhang Tiejun's bowl with water, his movements unhurried: "Uncle Zhang is right. Next time something like this happens, I'll listen to you. As for how to divide the wolf meat, Uncle Zhang, you can decide for yourself."

Zhang Tiejun smiled and picked up his teacup: "Alright! Leave this to me. Tomorrow morning I'll call Lixin and the accountant to weigh and distribute the meat, ensuring fairness and transparency. I'll also record the work points for them. You must be exhausted after a few days in the mountains, get some rest!"

"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Zhang." Liu Xiangyang stood up to see him off. "By the way, please take this pheasant home and add some dishes to your family. I'll keep the wolf skin to make something for my family."

"You silly boy..." Zhang Tiejun didn't refuse much, patted Liu Xiangyang on the shoulder, picked up the heavy pheasant, and said, "Let's go, wait for the good news tomorrow!"

After seeing Zhang Tiejun off and closing the courtyard gate, the courtyard fell silent again.

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Can I exchange wolf meat for work points? Let me know in the comments! I've been holding back for three days, and now comes the part you've all been waiting for!