Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: The Arrival of the Former Village Chief

“Investigate me?”

Lu Yang looked utterly bewildered.

The original owner had spent a long time at school and was unfamiliar with many village customs, leaving him completely clueless about their meaning.

Lu Yongguo explained, “Young Village Chief, since you study every day, you might not know some things from the past.”

“Our village is far from the township and nestled deep in the mountains, so many matters are beyond the township’s control.”

“Do you remember the incident five years ago in Chaomen Village where people died?”

Lu Yang nodded. “Yes, I know. It was about someone promoting capitalism and then being taken by the township for ideological re-education, right?”

Lu Yongguo grew somewhat worried. “Since then, the township has said our village is too remote and hard to supervise.”

“If anyone gets involved in such activities, the old village chief should investigate first. After the investigation, they’ll be sent directly to the township for ideological education!”

Upon hearing this, Lu Yang exhaled deeply.

Earlier today, passing by the commune, he had seen a notice posted at the entrance.

It roughly stated that the nation was currently focused on economic development.

All townships and brigades should abandon old thoughts and outdated notions.

They ought to boldly innovate in this new phase of construction, sweep away outdated burdens, and strive to improve the living standards of the people.

“So that’s the case. I thought it was some kind of crime,” Lu Yang murmured, glancing at the slightly panicked villagers and sipping his tea.

“Everyone, don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”

Lu Yongchun suddenly stood up with a sharp sound. “Young Village Chief, you’re the one who pushed capitalism for us.”

“If there’s an investigation, we’ll all be investigated together; if anyone goes to jail, we’ll all go together!”

The sound of stools scraping the ground echoed as Lu Xiugu, together with about thirty villagers, stood up in unison.

Though she didn’t utter a word, her gaze was resolute, as if ready to live and die alongside Lu Yang.

The villagers then shouted loudly.

“Second Brother Lu is right! Investigate us all together, jail us all together!”

“A person must have a conscience! The young village chief hasn’t abandoned us, so we can’t abandon him!”

“Young Village Chief, we’ll go with you to see the old village chief!”

Lu Yang was perfectly aware of the consequences of being investigated.

It would simply mean being sent to the township and waiting for ideological confinement.

However, this was no longer five years ago.

If anyone needed education, it would be the township leaders educating the old village chief.

But the villagers didn’t know that.

In their eyes, once you went to the township, you wouldn’t return for ten or fifteen days.

Even if you did return, people would look down on you, labeling you with various accusations of opposition, making it impossible to hold your head high for life.

Yet they had no regrets, nor any hesitation.

Lu Yang felt as if a resilient string within his heart had been gently plucked.

That string was not love, but the passion to make a grand effort.

Looking into dozens of steadfast, trusting eyes, he felt as if he had returned to his own village—a place where villagers loved him like parents, brothers, and kin.

They were willing to overcome any difficulty for his orders.

Willing to travel all over the riverbank at his mere command.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his heart.

“Lu Yang, stay here. These villagers are what you need.”

“They share your resolve! They are willing to fight against heaven and earth for you.”

“If you go to the city, perhaps you’ll find a better career, but you’ll never find such loyal subordinates again!”

“Lu Yang!”

A loud shout snapped him back to reality. Turning, he saw the old village chief had come forward.

But instead of approaching, he stared furiously at those behind Lu Yang.

“What are you all doing?”

Zhao De Zhu bellowed, throwing his pipe onto the ground.

“You want to be like Lu Yang, promoting capitalism, huh?”

“I’ll tell you, that’s illegal! It means jail time!”

“Old Zhao, take people and arrest Lu Yang!”

Zhao Si hurriedly picked up the pipe and handed it back to him, then led his men forward.

“I want to see who dares arrest the young village chief today!”

Lu Yongchun was always the first to step up in such matters.

“Old Village Chief, the young village chief was forced by Wang Youfu!”

Lu Yongguo tried to calm the situation, hoping to prevent it from escalating.

But today’s matter was too grave; Zhao De Zhu would not relent.

“Second Brother Lu, you rascal, I don’t want to talk to you!”

“Lu Winter Melon, you step aside!”

“Lu Yang, you’re supposed to be educated! Educated people have backbone! Do you dare to shoulder this responsibility?”

Lu Yang gently pushed past Lu Yongchun and Lu Yongguo, stepped forward, and smiled at Zhao De Zhu.

More than anything, it was this calm confidence that made the villagers behind him feel the young village chief was more suited to lead than the old one.

“Old village chief, how long has it been since you last went to the county?”

Zhao De Zhu looked at those behind Lu Yang and strangely felt intimidated, while his own heart grew uneasy.

Indeed, apart from the three mountain teams, the other six supported him.

But if it came to a fight, the six teams under his command would not be as united as those three.

The mountain villagers, constantly climbing up and down the slopes, were naturally more robust.

If they truly united, victory was not guaranteed.

Even if they won, Dayang Village would split into Dayang Village and Xiaoyang Village—like the chronic hepatitis B types of “big three positive” and “small three positive”—beyond redemption.

His decades of reputation would be utterly ruined, and he would be condemned as the cause of the village’s division.

Now, all he could do was reminisce about past favors and hope Lu Yang would come to his senses.

“Hmph! Lu Yang, do you forget who sent you to study in the county town?”

“It was me, Zhao De Zhu! It was also me who told you where the county high school was, what the county had, and what you would learn in school!”

“But what about you? What have you learned these three years? How to oppose your elders, oppose the township, and oppose the country!”

“I’m telling you! Don’t think that just because you earned some money for everyone, you’re remarkable or capable.”

“You’re leading everyone down a crooked path of laziness, cunning, and shirked duties, destroying the foundation on which Dayang Village depends!”

“Let me ask you one last time: Are you still selling wild game? Are you still earning the capitalist’s money?”

Zhao De Zhu was right.

Hunting could never be the villagers’ main livelihood.

Aside from seasonal constraints, hunting was too unpredictable.

Lu Yang never intended to continue it; all this was simply to accumulate capital.

Yet the label of “capitalist” was one he absolutely refused to accept.

“Old village chief, I will definitely earn that money—and even more.”

“Because only then can everyone have a better life. Only then can our village shake off the title of the poorest in the county.”

“But I am not a capitalist. I have no intention to exploit anyone, nor to destroy the foundation of Dayang Village.”

Zhao De Zhu coughed angrily and threw his pipe onto the ground again.

This time it landed on a stone, cracking loudly.

He inhaled deeply, as if making a solemn decision.

“Fine! Very well—no wonder you’re a high school graduate. I, a mere elementary school graduate, can’t control you anymore!”

“What about you all? Will you follow this man down the capitalist road?”