How heavy was twenty yuan in this era?

For a poor family, the bride price for a wife was often just that amount.

Twenty yuan was a sum people might even kill for.

Yet Du Jianguo had obtained this much just by catching some wild animals.

Who could not be shocked by this?

Du Daqiang’s voice trembled as he defended himself, “Comrade Zhang, did you… did you perhaps mix up the person with the pharmacy owner? I have raised this child since he was small. I know his capabilities better than anyone. Don’t talk about finding venomous snakes or digging up Fo-ti to exchange for money. He doesn’t even have the courage to chop wood in the mountains!”

“You all don’t believe it?”

Zhang Desheng’s lips curled into a cold smile, his gaze drilling straight into Du Jianguo.

“Du Jianguo, if you did this, do you have the courage to admit it? Don’t wait until I send someone to drag you to the county town to confront the pharmacy owner face-to-face. When that happens, there will be no saving face for anyone!”

“I did it,” Du Jianguo said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.

The villagers surrounding them began to whisper among themselves.

“Is it really this kid?”

“He managed to get wild goods worth twenty yuan in one go. How many old hunters in our village have had such luck!”

“Fo-ti is so precious. I heard it takes years to grow, yet he actually found some?”

“Stop gossiping! Let’s hear how Comrade Zhang will deal with this!”

Someone shouted loudly to remind everyone, and the crowd immediately fell silent, turning to look at Zhang Desheng.

In reality, everyone knew the score. In the past, secretly trading some mountain produce for oil, salt, and soy sauce was not a big deal. However, once money was involved, it could be classified as speculation and profiteering.

Especially in a village like ours that relies on the mountains, who hasn’t secretly traded wild goods for something?

If Du Jianguo was convicted today, there was no telling when this same fate might fall on someone else. The expressions on everyone’s faces grew more tense.

“Breaking the law knowingly, how do you think you should be punished?”

Zhang Desheng stared at Du Jianguo, his tone becoming heavy. “Let’s not talk about anything else first. You must turn over all the illicit money and the wild goods you haven’t handed in! These are collective properties, belonging to everyone in Xiao’an Village. They must be taken out and distributed among everyone!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of the surrounding villagers instantly lit up, filled with eagerness. If they were just watching Du Jianguo get criticized, everyone would at most gather to watch the spectacle.

But if the money and goods were to be distributed to the whole village, it directly affected their own interests.

Old Village Head Liu Chang’an rubbed his rough hands and stepped forward. “Comrade Zhang, consider this. Our Xiao’an Village has harsh conditions. Every household’s grain jar is running empty. It is common for people to occasionally take something from the mountains or fish from the river to exchange for grain.”

“Du Jianguo’s family is already in difficult straits. If we divide all the money and goods he exchanged, isn’t that… isn’t that a bit too inhumane?”

The old village head was still speaking on behalf of the villagers.

“Village Head, I think your words are wrong!”

A shrill voice cut in. Li Ergou, the village loafer, squeezed out from the crowd. A cold smile hung on his lips as he stared straight at Liu Chang’an.

“Comrade Zhang has already stated that Du Jianguo used collective property! To put it bluntly, taking collective things to exchange for money and goods is no different from stealing from the collective. We haven’t tied him up and sent him to the commune, which is already lenient. Asking him to turn over the stolen goods to be distributed among everyone, how is that excessive?”

Li Ergou had just had a conflict with Du Jianguo and had been holding back a grudge, looking for a chance to retaliate.

Now that Comrade Zhang was going to punish Du Jianguo, it gave him the perfect opportunity to speak up. It was as if he had been yawning, and someone handed him a pillow.

Scoundrels recognize each other and naturally form a pack of snakes and rats.

Zhang Desheng appreciatively nodded toward Li Ergou. “This comrade has excellent political awareness!”

To establish himself firmly in Xiao’an Village in the future, he needed such a compliant lackey. Zhang Desheng’s eyes rolled slightly.

“I suppose you are also a cadre in the village who helps everyone with their work?”

Li Ergou immediately plastered a flattering smile on his face, bowing and scraping. “Leader, don’t make fun of me! I am just an ordinary villager. How can I be qualified to be a cadre?”

“What is qualified or not? We are all sons and daughters of the people dedicated to serving the people. As long as our thoughts are correct, we can do practical work!”

Zhang Desheng waved his hand and turned to Liu Chang’an with an uncompromising tone. “Village Head Liu, I think Comrade Li Ergou is a promising material. From now on, let him help us at the village committee. What is your opinion?”

“This…” Liu Chang’an was suddenly stunned.

Li Ergou? That was a loafer even worse than Du Jianguo!

He was addicted to drinking, gambling, and womanizing. How could such a person enter the village committee?

Liu Chang’an opened his mouth to object, but meeting Zhang Desheng’s piercing gaze, he swallowed his words.

After serving as village head for so many years, he could clearly see that Zhang Desheng was openly trying to install his own lackey in the village. Whether he agreed or not did not matter.

Liu Chang’an clenched his fist, forcing a smile onto his face. “Since Comrade Zhang has selected this person, naturally, we will follow your arrangement.”

Zhang Desheng finally showed a satisfied smile and turned to Li Ergou. “From now on, you are a member of the Xiao’an Village Committee. You must work hard and join us in building our village.”

“Hey! Okay!” Li Ergou was overjoyed by this unexpected good fortune. He never dreamed he could become a leader.

He secretly glanced at Liu Chang’an, feeling even more that Zhang Desheng was capable. Even the old village head dared not object. In the future, if he followed Zhang Desheng, he could walk around the village with his head held high.

Li Ergou immediately rushed to Zhang Desheng’s side to show his loyalty. “Leader, regarding the confiscation of Du Jianguo’s goods, why don’t I take some people to raid his house? I guarantee he will spit out everything he swallowed!”

“Good, do as you say.” Zhang Desheng nodded with satisfaction.

But just then, a voice cut in. “Brother Desheng, you cannot do this!”

The crowd parted, and Liu Xiuyun walked out with furrowed brows, her gaze fixed on Zhang Desheng.

“You wretched woman, what are you yelling about!”

Li Ergou immediately acted like a dog protecting its master, standing in front of Zhang Desheng. He then turned to Zhang Desheng with a smile.

“Leader, this is Du Jianguo’s wife. She must be trying to stop us. Don’t pay attention to her. I will take people to raid the house right away!”

Zhang Desheng, who had been happy to see his beloved come out, was annoyed by Li Ergou’s noise. He frowned and kicked Li Ergou in the buttocks.

“Get lost! This is my cousin Xiuyun. How dare you order her around!”

The coldness on Zhang Desheng’s face instantly vanished. He turned a gentle expression toward Liu Xiuyun, softening his voice.

“Sister Xiuyun, I was busy handling public affairs just now and neglected you. I haven’t had a chance to write to you yet. I have been transferred to your Xiao’an Village as a stationed cadre.”

He stepped forward half a step and emphasized, “In the future, if you have any difficulties in life, just ask your cousin. Before, I was too far away to help you. It is different now. With me here, I guarantee no one will bully you.”