Chapter 60 The Road-Building Madman (14)
"Low status, weak voice." It is a common idiom, and like all idioms, it is a summary of life that must be interpreted through lived experience.
Director Gao had led a delegation to the forestry farm for an initial meeting with Guo Guanghui. Although the encounter yielded no concrete results, it at least established a mutual impression. On the second attempt, Hou Weidong, driven by urgency, went to the forestry farm alone. Upon arrival, he found that Guo Guanghui had gone up the mountain. Yang Bingzhang, the deputy, had tea poured for him and asked him to wait in the office.
When Guo Guanghui returned, he did not immediately recognize Hou Weidong, as Hou had remained largely silent during their first meeting. Only after Hou introduced himself did Guo勉强 (barely) recall who he was.
"Hou Weidong, Director Zeng has gone to Shazhou Forestry Bureau for a meeting these past few days. The Yangtze River Natural Forest Protection Project is a major national policy. Land acquisition is a serious matter; only Director Zeng has the authority to finalize it. We simply have to wait a few more days. Ha, ha, ha."
Guo Guanghui used a few hearty laughs to shut Hou Weidong down, leaving him speechless. Feeling unwilling to accept this dismissal, Hou noticed a pager clipped to Guo’s waist.
"The township has established a Road Construction Leading Group, and I serve in the group’s office," Hou said. He took a piece of paper, wrote down the phone number for Shangqinglin Township, and handed it over. "Director Guo, this is the contact number for Shangqinglin Township. If you need any assistance from us, just call this number."
Guo Guanghui took the slip of paper and casually slid it under the glass on his desk. Hou Weidong maintained a broad smile. "Director Guo, could you leave your pager number with me? That way, I can report on work progress to you at any time."
Guo Guanghui hesitated for a moment before finally writing down a number for Hou Weidong.
The next day, Hou Weidong called the forestry farm headquarters. Guo Guanghui was not in the office. Hou sent a page, but there was no reply.
With patience wearing thin, Hou Weidong and Qin Da Jiang went to the forestry farm headquarters again. Still, they did not encounter Guo Guanghui. Seeing that Hou Weidong and Qin Da Jiang had made several visits, Yang Bingzhang realized the matter was becoming difficult to handle. He explained, "Director Guo’s wife underwent surgery. He needs to stay by her bedside at night. Running back and forth is exhausting for him."
People eat the five grains and inevitably suffer from various illnesses. Since Guo Guanghui’s wife had undergone surgery, Hou Weidong and Qin Da Jiang felt it would be inappropriate to disturb him further. They returned to the mountain, feeling frustrated and empty-handed.
This delay stretched over ten days. During this period, Town Mayor Su personally intervened and visited the forestry farm. Guo Guanghui produced a stack of documents regarding the Yangtze River Natural Forest Protection Project and proposed a strategy of "land-for-land exchange." This meant the forestry farm agreed to the road construction, but only if they could exchange it for collective forest land from Dushi Village.
Without the village’s consent, Town Mayor Su could not commit to this proposal. Hearing this condition, Qin Da Jiang flew into a rage. "That bastard Guo Guanghui is truly despicable! When the forestry farm built its small internal roads, we provided at least five mu of land for free. If he wants to exchange land, let’s measure it on the spot. If he pushes me too far, I’ll restore the access road back into farmland."
Director Jiang was also filled with indignation.
It took Town Mayor Su a good deal of soothing to calm down Qin Da Jiang and Director Jiang.
At the joint party and government meeting, Town Mayor Su briefed everyone on the situation. The road construction initiative had originated from the three villages of Shangqinglin and the work group. Due to tight township finances, the town had not made a firm decision to fund the road. Instead, they had encouraged the three villages to rely on their own efforts to achieve self-sufficiency. This approach respected the villages’ wishes while preventing the township’s finances from becoming overly strained.
Qin Feiyue pondered for a moment before speaking. "I will call Director Zeng. Then, Town Mayor Su, you should make some visits to try and gain support from the Forestry Bureau."
Zhao Yongsheng remained silent and did not express an opinion.
After the joint meeting, Town Mayor Su became occupied with the rural power grid renovation project, running to the villages every day. Another ten days passed.
As mid-September approached, winter was not far off. Qin Da Jiang and Hou Weidong visited the forestry farm once more, but still received no clear answer.
On the morning of September 16, Hou Weidong cleaned the office and the conference room, read the People’s Daily, locked the office, and headed to Dushi Village.
At the village office, Qin Da Jiang, Director Jiang, and other village and brigade cadres had already gathered. The room was thick with smoke. After discussing how to resolve the arrears in retained funds and统筹 (comprehensive management fees), the conversation turned to the road construction.
Qin Da Jiang’s voice boomed like thunder. "The township is as soft as a woman. They cut off the small road, preventing the forestry farm’s trucks from entering the mountain. Guo Guanghui naturally knows that the pot is made of iron—that he is stubborn. That bastard is being passive-aggressive."
Director Jiang, a honest and thick-skinned man, noted that Dushi Village and the forestry farm had always maintained good relations. He expressed some hesitation. "Should we still ask the township to step in?"
"Ask? Ask what? If we don’t take the initiative to build the road, who knows when it will ever be finished? If we make a big fuss, someone will naturally step forward to solve the problem." Qin Da Jiang turned to Hou Weidong. "Hou University, you are the Director of the Road Construction Leading Group Office. Do you dare to go dig up the road?"
Hou Weidong was young and impulsive, eager to build the road but blocked by the forestry farm. He had been seething with anger for some time. "Life is what it is; what is there to fear?" Although he was not yet familiar with rural work, he had spent every day in the village recently and had gained some understanding of the historical ties between the forestry farm and the village. He analyzed, "When the forestry farm built the road back then, the village supported it without compensation. However, the village never signed an agreement with the forestry farm. The land occupied by the small road belongs to the village. Legally speaking, we are digging up our own farmland. It has nothing to do with the forestry farm. No matter where we take this to court, we will not lose."
Qin Da Jiang, also a man of quick temper, said, "Zhu Bajie, this is your territory. Find a few people and cut off the road today."
Zhu Bajie was the brigade secretary. His surname was Zhu, and he was the eighth child in his family, hence the nickname Zhu Bajie. He was timid and said, "The forestry farm workers are all big and burly. If we fight, something bad might happen."
"Zhu Bajie, what is there to fear? We are digging up our own land. What business is it of the forestry farm? If you are afraid, I, Hou University, and Li Yong, we three will go together."
Li Yong was also a grassroots civil servant stationed in Dushi Village. Since Hou Weidong had been assigned to Dushi Village, Li Yong had acted as a hands-off manager, letting Hou Weidong handle all major and minor matters. He had not visited the village in a long time.
Director Jiang was worried about the decision to dig up the road, so he sent the women’s director to Shangqinglin Town to summon Li Yong to the village.
Li Yong had a thick beard and a rugged appearance. Hearing about the plan to dig up the road, he said casually, "Dig it then. What is there to fear? Zhu Bajie, organize a few people. A few shovel strikes will cut it off." He added, "It is best if the township does not get involved. Let the commune members dig it themselves. That way, it is easier to explain."
Qin Da Jiang grabbed Li Yong’s arm. "That won’t do. You are a stationed cadre; you must participate in village affairs." Li Yong smiled and said, "I have guests at home today. My cousin is coming from Shazhou. I cannot leave."
After much persuasion, Li Yong still left. Before departing, he said to Hou Weidong, "Hou Weidong, don’t be afraid. Once the road is cut, the heads of the forestry farm will step forward."
Director Jiang watched Li Yong’s retreating figure and muttered, "Li Yong is as slippery as a dog’s ass rubbed with oil."
Qin Da Jiang turned to Hou Weidong. "Hou University, do you dare to go?" Seeing Li Yong leave, Hou Weidong felt a surge of nervousness, but the arrow was already on the string. "Why wouldn’t I dare? Let’s go."
Hou Weidong, Qin Da Jiang, Director Jiang, Zhu Bajie, and others walked down the mountain. They followed the forestry farm’s small road for a stretch until they reached a bend. Zhu Bajie stopped and said, "This is the He family’s farmland. It was originally one contiguous plot, but the road construction split it into two pieces. We will dig here."
Director Jiang smiled. "The He brothers are known for making trouble out of nothing. Let them do the digging."
After a while, Zhu Bajie called the He family members over. Hou Weidong saw that He Hongfu, whom he had previously interacted with, was among them. He Hongfu, whose grain had been forcibly taken, still looked at the village cadres with cold, hostile eyes.
Qin Da Jiang explained the entire situation. Upon hearing that the purpose was to build a road, He Hongfu’s expression changed. He said, "Why should they not allow us to build the road? The forestry farm is too damn unfair. They took Second Brother’s land for free, and it has been years. I will not only bend the road back, but I will also make the forestry farm compensate for the losses."
Hou Weidong thought to himself, This He Hongfu is smart; he knows how to find a good excuse. He added, "This land was allocated to the He family. The register bears the He family’s name. The forestry farm did not requisition the land, did not sign an agreement, and provided no compensation. No matter where we go, they have no justification."
He Hongfu said happily, "Exactly. That is the logic. Let’s go get our hoes and dig immediately."
Except for Hou Weidong, everyone present was accustomed to using hoes and steel drills. Hoes flew, and steel drills pierced the ground. Within an hour, a ditch more than a meter wide was dug through the gravel road surface.
A blister formed on Hou Weidong’s palm.
A large truck from the forestry farm drove down from the loading area behind the headquarters. Seeing the ditch, the driver shouted, "What are you doing, you bastards?"
Qin Da Jiang, Hou Weidong, and the others felt the joy of labor. They held their hoes and steel drills, smiling at the driver. The driver cursed a few more times, but seeing that the others ignored him completely, he said, "Wait here. I’ll go get the farm management."
Seeing the driver leave, Hou Weidong thought, I am a township cadre; digging up the road is ultimately inappropriate. He said to He Hongfu, "Now that the road is cut, the township and village will not appear publicly. You brothers should stay here and guard it. Just say this is the He family’s farmland."
Knowing that the township and village were determined to build the road, He Hongfu was very pleased. He said to Hou Weidong, "Don’t worry. I know what to do." Director Jiang, who was more cautious, instructed, "The forestry farm workers are wild. Do not fight with them. Anyway, we can cut the road off at any time." He Hongfu said carelessly, "I know. We won’t fight. We will ensure we are reasonable, advantageous, and restrained."