Chapter Seventy-Six: Heartfelt Confidences

Saler bought pork, chicken, duck, and fish. Luo Yinxing arrived, and the aunt came to help as well. For a while, the house was bustling with activity. The table in Saler’s main room was large enough, and more than ten people squeezed around it. The eldest uncle brought in an old wine jar, set out the wine bowls, and filled each one to the brim.

The dishes started arriving, though not all were on the table yet, and everyone raised their wine bowls. Secretary Tao and Director Feng sat at the head of the table, and Secretary Tao was the first to propose a toast. Saler wanted to toast Feng Shuya, but she gently declined.

“Since I’m now the Party Secretary of Taosha Village, I must learn to drink, but my tolerance isn’t great. Today, I’ll drink only a little.”

With that, she mimicked the others, picked up her wine bowl, and took a small sip. This gesture won the affection of the old villagers—a city girl willing to drink like them made her seem genuine and approachable.

One by one, everyone toasted her. It was customary here, and as the guest of honor, she was toasted by each person in turn. She accepted every toast; though she drank only a little each time, by the end of the round her cheeks were flushed, radiant as a flower.

The feast lasted a long time. The guests left, satisfied and full, but Feng Shuya stayed behind. Her face was red but she wasn’t drunk, proving her tolerance was better than she’d claimed.

Seeing Feng Shuya stay, the eldest uncle also left. Only the aunt and Luo Yinxing remained to tidy up the dishes.

“Aunt, you can go home. I can finish this myself,” Luo Yinxing said with a smile to Aunt Shengtian. Aunt Shengtian smiled, her face wrinkling with delight.

“All right, I still have to feed the pigs at home.”

Aunt Saler was known for her virtue in the village. She never quarreled with Uncle Shengtian, never meddled in others’ affairs, never gossiped, and spent every day working diligently. She said her goodbyes to Saler and tottered home. Saler was conversing with Feng Shuya.

Saler hadn’t drunk much today, so his face was unaffected. The two sat on bamboo chairs in the inner room, Feng Shuya drinking the coarse tea Saler had brewed for her.

“Feng, I don’t have good tea here, so you’ll have to make do,” Saler said.

Feng Shuya didn’t reply, just took a sip of strong tea and looked at Saler.

“Saler, do you know why I want to be the village chief?” she asked.

Saler shook his head, saying nothing. He picked up his large tea mug and drank deeply.

“Do you want to know?” Feng Shuya smiled, showing her pearly white teeth. “It seems you’re not very interested.”

“If you want to be the village head, you must have your reasons. You’re much smarter than I am, so what’s left for me to say? I’ll just support you. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it, no questions asked.”

Feng Shuya smiled and nodded.

“But I must let you know, and only you. My plan needs your cooperation to succeed. If you fail, my plan turns to dust,” she said, taking a small sip of tea and calmly smoothing a stray lock of hair from her forehead.

Saler looked at her, silent. He didn’t know what her plan was, nor what he was supposed to do, or how to cooperate.

Just then, Luo Yinxing called from the main room doorway.

“Saler, I’ve finished tidying up.”

“Thank you!”

“Does Teacher Feng want to take a bath?”

“Yes, I was just thinking about it, but I need to discuss some work matters with Saler first.”

“Go ahead,” Luo Yinxing replied cheerily. “It’ll take a while for the water to heat up.”

Luo Yinxing went to fetch water from the garden, and Feng Shuya resumed her conversation with Saler. She was serious, though her face wore a smile; her expression was earnest.

“I came here as a teacher and village chief because I have ambition, and I have my father’s support,” Feng Shuya’s voice was pleasant, unhurried, and made Saler feel very close to her. “I can’t stay here long, but I want to use this place as a springboard. If I manage this step well, I might become a county magistrate or even a mayor someday.”

Saler looked at Feng Shuya in surprise.

“In your words, I want to be an official—a big official.”

Feng Shuya made no attempt to hide her intentions, laying them out directly.

“That’s good. If you become a big official, I’ll benefit as well,” Saler laughed, understanding her meaning perfectly.

“Of course. If I become an official, you won’t be left out,” she said, not promising but stating the mutual benefits. “But to advance, to become a big official, I need capital—I came here to earn it, what we call achievements.”

Saler could generally understand her point, but he didn’t see how it involved him. He was just a farmer—could he help her?

“Do you understand what I mean?”

“Not entirely, but a bit,” Saler smiled. “You mean that to become an official, you need something like seeds and fertilizer for farming, right?”

“Yes, that’s basically it,” Feng Shuya appreciated his grasp. “To earn political capital and achievements, it must come from you.”

“From me? What do you mean?” Saler asked in surprise. “Do I have capital and achievements?”

“You certainly do,” Feng Shuya looked him straight in the eye. “Now, the whole country is talking about rural prosperity, especially in poor areas like ours. Officials’ achievements are measured by leading farmers to become prosperous. If I can help Taosha Village prosper, that’s my achievement.”

Saler finally understood. He recalled everything that had happened recently. Feng Shuya had mentioned a poverty alleviation project to help him raise snakes. He was a farmer, and if he succeeded in snake breeding, he’d be on the road to prosperity.

Why had Secretary Huang treated him so well? Why had Director Xie been so kind? Why had Secretary Luo from the county hurried over to ask about his snake breeding, even offering free land for his farm? It was all for Feng Shuya.

Everyone revolved around Feng Shuya.

But he was happy. With government support, his chances of success in snake breeding would be much higher, and who knows what other benefits might follow. Already, he was enjoying the advantages. He was now in the spotlight—he had managed to topple Tao Wendou. If Feng Shuya became a high official, wouldn’t Taosha Village be his to command?

Feng Shuya saw his sudden realization and smiled.

“Now do you understand?”

“Yes, Feng,” Saler said, happily taking a big sip of tea. “As long as I raise the snakes well, you’ll have the capital and achievements you need, right?”

“And are you willing?”

“Of course! This is so good for me. I might even become a millionaire,” Saler beamed. “This is huge. Don’t worry, I’ll do whatever it takes to raise the snakes, so you get your achievements, and I get my benefits. When you become a high official, I’ll be in the limelight too.”

“You’re pretty clever,” Feng Shuya said, her smile fading. “But this must stay between us—no one else can know, not even those closest. Got it? Otherwise, I won’t be able to help you get the poverty alleviation project.”

“I know. I’m not stupid.”

“If you were stupid, there’d be too many fools in the world,” Feng Shuya said.

Saler grinned foolishly.

“Not only should you prosper, but once you do, you must help others prosper too,” Feng Shuya smiled again. “You should quickly contact your sister in Guangzhou or Boss Hong. The sooner this project starts, the better.”

“Well… It’s just that I can’t get through to my sister’s phone, and Boss Hong is abroad. It’ll probably take some time to reach them.”

“If that’s the case, wait until after the cultural performance, then go to Guangzhou. But for now, we must make sure the performance is a success. That’s also important.”

The two talked for a long time. When the water was finally heated, Feng Shuya went to bathe, not letting Luo Yinxing leave. Luo Yinxing seized the chance to slip into the inner room and share a moment of intimacy with Saler.