mijobooks Chapter 56 As for guns, no way.
Chapter 56 As for guns, no way.
Chen Shi stared into Officer Liu's eyes for a full three seconds before softly asking, "So, is that area in Laonangou considered safe?"
Officer Liu was surprised that Chen Shi would be so direct in asking this question, and he hadn't thought of how to answer it for a moment.
Chen Shi himself knew that this question touched on the other party's sore spot. If it was truly safe, the commune had no reason to postpone the land distribution; if it wasn't safe, then the commune had lied in its previous records.
He shifted his gaze to Gu Cheng. When the policeman heard the word "safety," his fingers trembled slightly, and he almost dropped the cigarette in his hand, scrambling to catch it.
Chen Shi had a bold guess in his mind.
"I understand what Officer Liu means. Let's talk this out privately. I can agree not to make a scene. But the Chen family can't suffer this loss for nothing."
Officer Liu put the cigarette to his lips and exchanged a glance with Gu Cheng.
"Your terms are as stated." Officer Liu slowly exhaled the smoke, his tone as if he were discussing a trivial matter.
"The old explosion in Laonangou can't be ignored like this. The explosion wasn't left by my family, nor was it buried by Kaoshantun. It was reported to higher authorities back then, but the commune didn't come down to deal with it. Now that people have been killed, no one from Kaoshantun should be held responsible."
"Whether the commune sends people down to conduct a large-scale re-investigation, or the two of you leave a record in the brigade, so that no matter what happens in the future, as long as this record is kept, the responsibility will not lie with Kaoshantun."
Officer Liu's eyes sharpened. He was used to the vague handling by grassroots cadres, but Chen Shi was demanding "a written agreement."
From the perspective of public officials, keeping a record means taking full responsibility upon themselves. This guy dug a hole for himself with his very first condition. Whether he keeps a record or not, neither of them is doing a good job.
"Let's talk about the second one first."
"Secondly, it's not easy for my sister to raise two children. It's within the scope of the policy, and we can't restrict it here. Also, both children take their mother's surname."
Gu Cheng scoffed from the side, letting out a disdainful sneer, clearly thinking that these were nothing more than trivial matters in the face of power.
Zhao Defa said, "Xiulan is from our Kaoshantun village. Her father, Chen Mancang, built houses and rescued people for the village. Now that her husband is dead, she and her children are struggling to make ends meet. The village will not let them go hungry."
"Grain is distributed according to population," said Officer Liu.
"Then let's divide it by population," Chen Shi quickly added, "by her own household, not by her husband's."
Officer Liu pursed his lips.
There's more to that than meets the eye.
Han Changgui, that scoundrel, lived off the Chen family's food stipends while he was alive. After he died, the houses, land, food rations, and perhaps a bunch of unknown debts under his name remain unaccounted for.
Chen Shi was saying: Don't pin Han Changgui's mess on my sister.
Officer Liu slowly picked up the enamel mug on the table.
The water was no longer hot. He took a sip, then put it down. "Is there any more?"
Third, I want to go into the mountains.
The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.
In those days, going into the mountains without a record was considered sneaking around and was most likely to be labeled as "speculation and profiteering" or "damaging forest products".
"I can't live like a thief, hiding every day." Chen Shi stared at Liu, the cadre. "The commune needs to issue me a 'village protection and mountain patrol' certificate, which needs to be registered. As long as I don't cut down living trees, no one can stop me from walking in the mountains."
Officer Liu frowned. "A patrol permit? What gives you, a seventeen-year-old, the right to have that?"
"You don't care." Chen Shi ignored the other person's reaction and continued to make his demands, "If I'm going into the mountains, I need a gun license."
This is an extremely aggressive demand. In rural areas, guns represent absolute deterrence.
"One last thing," Chen Shi added, "Kaoshantun is far from the purchasing station. I'll help the village deliver its mountain products to the station in the future, and the brigade will issue a letter of introduction. Whether it's hides or medicinal herbs, as long as it's legitimate, don't keep calling it 'speculation and profiteering.'"
Officer Liu sneered, "You've got quite the appetite. You should know that we're giving you a chance, not doing business with you."
Chen Shi didn't refute him; speaking up at this point would only lower his own bargaining power.
In this atmosphere, Zhao Defa couldn't hold back any longer and chimed in, "Officer Liu, Shizi is Mancang's son, and he really knows the mountains. These days, not many young men in the village dare to venture into the deep forest. Having him guard the gate will also benefit the brigade, so that if something happens in the future, we won't be left without someone knowledgeable to search."
Zhao Defa's words gave Liu, the clerk, a way out.
Officer Liu stared at Chen Shi for a long time, and finally glared at Gu Cheng.
Finally, he snorted coldly, pulled a piece of scrap paper from his briefcase, quickly scribbled a few words with a pen, and slammed it onto the table. "I can grant you the first three of your requests. As for the gun, no way."
After saying that, the two of them left without looking back.
Chen Shi couldn't say whether he was satisfied or dissatisfied with the outcome; the commune had come to him to try and settle things peacefully.
Chen Shi simply replaced what the other party wanted with what he wanted.
Zhao Defa wiped the charcoal ash from his fingers onto his pants.
He looked at Chen Shi in front of him.
The boy who stood in the snow just a few days ago, too afraid to move forward, is now sitting at the table, negotiating terms with the commune one by one.
"I'm going back." Chen Shi stood up. "My family is waiting for me."
"Um."
Chen Shi walked to the door.
Zhao Defa said from behind, "If your father knew, you would have taken over the old news report he filed back then and kept the paperwork..."
He didn't finish speaking.
Chen Shi paused at the door for a moment, then pushed it open and went out.
Li Cheng leaned against the wall outside the brigade's house. He had come out to get some fresh air because he was still angry, but a large part of the reason was that he was afraid of being pregnant with Chen Shi's secret. Now that he saw Chen Shi come out, he tucked the cloth bag under his arm.
"Is everything settled?"
"We discussed part of it."
Chen Shi waved the paper in his hand.
He knew that in the face of absolute power, it was normal not to have a gun. But as long as he got the "legal entry ticket into the mountains," he wouldn't have lost the battle.
"Those who can speak have already spoken," Chen Shi said. "The rest, those who can't speak, we'll have to rely on others."
Li Cheng followed beside him for a few steps, then suddenly said, "When Officer Liu and Gu Cheng came out, their expressions didn't seem like they had suffered a loss, nor did they seem to have gained an advantage."
"That's right."
Huang Er suddenly darted out from the shadows, leaping nimbly and brushing against Chen Shi's trouser leg, making a low whimpering sound.
Chen Shi squatted down, gave the old dog's head a couple of big rubs, and smiled happily.
When she got home, Chen Xiulan was waiting at the door, her eyes full of worry.
"How is it?"
Chen Shi put the note into his inner pocket, a faint smile on his face, and reached out to rub Ya Ya's head.
"We won't have to hide when we go into the mountains anymore."