Chapter 58: Forcing a Duck onto the Perch

Autumn faded into winter, and the weather began to turn cold. The snakes in the serpent garden had gone into hibernation, and Le’er had made all the necessary preparations to help them through the season. He also started digging a pond in the vegetable garden.

The little snake, Jin’er, had never returned, but Le’er resumed his cheerful life as before. He firmly believed Jin’er would come back one day.

Each day, he would visit the village committee office, and if there was nothing to do, he would simply sit for a while and go home. On this particular day, Secretary Tao suddenly informed him that he was to attend a meeting in town. In other villages, only the party secretary would attend, but Taosha Village was sending an assistant as well.

Tao Wen was the one who received the notice, and it gnawed at him like a bug. Such a minor assistant was allowed to go, yet he, the dignified village director, was not invited. He had no choice but to pass on the notice. He no longer dared to make things difficult for Le’er; every time he tried, it would ultimately backfire.

What made it worse was that, of the six people in the village committee, all but himself were on warm terms with Sha Le’er, while they treated him with indifference. Tian Sihua, in particular, was especially obvious—she greeted Le’er as if he were a lover, chatting and laughing, but the moment Le’er left, her manner toward Tao Wen would turn icy and she would scarcely speak a word to him.

“Le’er, you’re going to the meeting with Secretary Tao this time. Remember to bring back some snacks for your sister-in-law, or I won’t let you off,” Tian Sihua said, her pretty face radiant with a smile.

“Of course, sister-in-law. What kind of snack do you want?” Le’er replied.

“Do I really need to teach you?” Tian Sihua felt Tao Wen’s cold stare at her back, but she didn’t seem to care, and kept joking warmly with Le’er. “You’ll be dating soon yourself—you ought to learn a thing or two. Want me to teach you a few tricks?”

Le’er grinned good-naturedly and followed the old party secretary out the door.

“The meeting isn’t until the afternoon, but Secretary Huang wants us there in the morning. Looks like I’m benefiting from your reputation,” Secretary Tao said with a cheerful chuckle. His old legs were still strong and kept pace with Le’er.

“Not at all, it’s me who’s benefiting from you, uncle,” Le’er replied, carrying an old hen that had been raised for eight years by Luo Yinxiang’s mother. He’d been tending it all this time, and now he was bringing it to town for the meeting. “Do you know what the meeting’s about, uncle?”

“I don’t. Why bother racking my brains?” Secretary Tao glanced at the hen. “This chicken’s seen some years, hasn’t it?”

“Eight years,” Le’er answered.

“Eight years? That’s a treasure,” Secretary Tao said, patting the chicken’s head. He understood Le’er’s intention in bringing the hen to town. “You really know how to conduct yourself, kid. No wonder Secretary Huang thinks so highly of you.”

Le’er just smiled with his simple honesty.

He and Secretary Tao tried to head straight upstairs to Secretary Huang’s office, but the sharp-eyed old doorman was not so easily fooled.

“Hey, stop right there!” The old man came out of his small room, wearing an air of authority. “I’m talking to you two—playing deaf, are you? Sneaking around—what mischief are you up to?”

“We’re not doing anything wrong…” Le’er said, a little embarrassed.

“You say you’re not up to no good? Where’d you steal that chicken from?” The old man’s eyes brightened as he noticed the hen in Le’er’s arms, and he moved quickly toward them. “Put the chicken down—hold on, I’ll call the police—well, aren’t you going to put it down?”

Le’er felt a flare of anger, but he still smiled and gently stroked the chicken, walking up to the old man.

“Old fellow, do you want some chicken meat?” Le’er teased gently. “I stole this chicken from Chief Xie at the police station. Secretary Huang is treating guests at lunch, Xie will be there—do you want to join us for some?”

The old man’s eyes finally lit up, and he seemed to recognize Le’er.

“Heh, my old eyes must be failing me—I didn’t recognize you, young man. Aren’t you Secretary Huang’s relative? You came by last time, and Secretary Huang even took you out for dinner,” the old man said, patting his head. “Go on in—look, Secretary Chen is here.”

The old man smiled so broadly that his wrinkles seemed to gather in one spot, and he quickly retreated to his little room. Secretary Chen spotted them and, with a coquettish sway, hurried over. The wind lifted her long hair and played with her clothes, making her voluptuous figure all the more striking.

“Sha Le’er, Secretary Tao, you’re finally here. Secretary Huang has been waiting for ages.”

Secretary Chen led them into Secretary Huang’s office. Huang was sitting behind his large desk, smoking. On seeing them, he stood up. Secretary Chen brewed some tea for them, then cast a flirtatious smile and glided out of the room.

“Secretary Tao and our little bull have arrived. Don’t just stand there, sit down!” Secretary Huang beamed at Le’er and Tao, joking with Le’er. When he saw the old hen, he was surprised. “Le’er, you rascal, why are you bringing a chicken to a meeting?”

“Secretary Huang, you may not know it, but this old hen is a real treasure—eight years old. Le’er brought it specially for you,” Secretary Tao answered quickly.

“An eight-year-old hen? Where did you get it?” Secretary Huang asked Le’er with delight. “You’re quite thoughtful. Hens like this are rare.”

“Well, we country folks don’t have much else of value. An old lady gave it to me, and there’s nothing else in the house worth presenting, so I brought it along,” replied Le’er.

“An eight-year-old hen not worth much? I’ve been looking for one just like this! My wife is frail, and the old doctor says she’s suffering from qi and blood deficiency, and needs an old hen stewed with angelica and ginseng to recharge her strength. I’ve searched for ages with no luck—ha, you’ve done me a great favor,” Secretary Huang said.

He called Secretary Chen to have the chicken sent to his home, then turned to ask about Le’er’s work. Secretary Tao showered Le’er with compliments, leaving him little chance to speak and only able to smile in his honest, unassuming way. As they talked, the topic turned to the meeting.

“At present, cultural life in the countryside is extremely lacking. To liven things up, the county committee has decided that the publicity department and cultural bureau will organize a grand county-wide rural arts performance. Every village must prepare at least one act, first to be performed at the town level, and the best acts will then go on to the county. I suggest that Sha Le’er be responsible for your village’s entry, with Secretary Tao handling logistics. How does that sound?”

Secretary Huang had barely finished when Le’er jumped to his feet.

“No way—Secretary Huang, I’ve never done this kind of thing before—this is just frivolous, flowery nonsense, and I’m bound to mess it up.”

“Eh…” Secretary Huang frowned. “I thought you were a man for big things, but it seems Secretary Feng and I have misjudged you. If you can’t handle a little thing like this, how can you expect to do anything bigger?”

“I… I’m not someone who does big things,” Le’er replied awkwardly, scratching his head. “I just know how to get dogs to chase chickens and stir up a little mischief. Big things are beyond me.”

“Nonsense!” Secretary Huang’s voice grew louder, his expression darkening. “If I’ve assigned you something, you’ll do it whether you want to or not. You can only succeed—failure is not an option. If you mess it up, you’ll answer to me.”

“Uh…”

Le’er was thoroughly bewildered. Wasn’t this just forcing a duck onto a perch?

“Le’er, with Secretary Huang backing you, what’s there to be afraid of?” Secretary Tao said, his eyes crinkling with a smile. “You clever lads always find a way. It’s only a performance—what’s to fear? I promise to run errands for you. You just make sure to win us first place, and we’ll bang drums and set off firecrackers in your honor.”

Le’er gave a wry smile, scratched his head, and looked at Secretary Huang. He wanted to refuse, but didn’t dare. Secretary Huang watched his troubled expression and burst out laughing.

“All right, did you really think I’d force you into this?” Secretary Huang lit a cigarette and smiled. “Your village is sure to win first prize—after all, you’ve got a real talent over there.”

At these words, Le’er’s eyes lit up.

“All right, I’ll take it on.”

“I knew it—your head isn’t just filled with bean curd. You figured it out quickly, didn’t you?”

“Secretary Huang, is the talented person you’re talking about Teacher Feng?”

“You catch on quick—yes, Teacher Feng was famous for her talent back at university. With her on your team, your village is sure to win first place.”

So, Secretary Huang had planned it all along and was simply forcing Le’er to take the lead. Secretary Tao grinned, his yellowed teeth showing, and Le’er also broke into a laugh.

“But today, that’s just a small matter. The real reason I asked you here is that Secretary Luo from the county committee will be coming to see you. Later, we’ll have a meal together—Secretary Luo will join us.”

“Why is Secretary Luo coming to see me?” Le’er asked.

“That’s not for me to know. He’s Secretary Feng’s assistant. How could I have a say in Secretary Feng’s business?” Secretary Huang smiled mysteriously. “But I’m sure it’s a good thing.”