Chapter Twenty-Five: Newborn Power

  It was already pitch black in many areas of the county town after 8 pm.

  On the way home, Lu Zhong glanced at Bai Xiaofeng's patched flower dress and said, "In the future, wear new clothes to school, it's fine." Although Wei Xiangxiu had bought many clothes for Xiaofeng, she only occasionally changed into them at home. When going to school, she still wore her patched cotton-padded pants like before.

  Lu Zhong also knew that in rural elementary and middle schools, children who wore clothes that were too "westernized" would be ostracized and ridiculed by their peers.

  Xiao Feng was obviously worried about being excluded by her classmates, so she didn't dare to wear the beautiful clothes bought by Wei Xiang during school.

  "Mm." Xiaofeng nodded obediently.

  "How was it? I didn't go home and had another mouthful tonight, want to have a midnight snack?" Lu Zhong asked with a smile.

  Bai Xiaofeng said: "I'm not hungry."

  Lu Zhong thought for a moment and said: "Xiao Feng, from now on, you can treat me like your own brother. If you ever suffer any grievances, just tell me, okay?"

  On the way back home after sending Ai Fang, I just heard from Ai Fang that Xiao Feng's elder sister had come to scold Xiao Feng, seemingly because she lost an earring and said it was taken by Xiao Feng.

  Xiao Feng's uncle's family opened a dealership, and they were one of the richest families in the village. Moreover, Bai Erqiang was not very pleasant to be around, so Xiao Feng had always been bullied at her uncle's house. Now that Xiao Feng has squeezed into the same room as her cousin, although it was on the condition that Bai Erqiang would clear all his previous debts with the small grocery store, she suspected that her cousin wouldn't care about these things and naturally didn't like someone sharing a room with her.

  The car entered Guo Zhuang, and Lu Zhong did not turn onto the dirt road to the south, but instead drove straight along the asphalt road all the way to the front of Xiao Shuang's old aunt's small grocery store.

  The Xiao Feng's family home, the original courtyard gate was demolished and a room was built as a storefront. Passing through the storefront is the large courtyard and main house of Xiao Feng's family. The south yard of the main house is what Bai Erqiang referred to as the "backyard". In fact, the two houses are connected, but Xiao Feng always kept the south yard locked. Occasionally, Bai Erqiang would bring something from the small sales department and beg with a flattering face for Xiao Feng to open the south yard and let him pass through.

  Lu Zhong hadn't taken this road before, otherwise, logically speaking, every time he came back from work and parked his car in front of the small shop, he would walk through the small shop and Xiao Shuang's courtyard to get home, which was more convenient and faster, and the car would also be driving on a smooth asphalt road.

  Lu Zhong stopped his car and entered a small grocery store, where he was immediately hit with the sweet aroma of various pastries and candies.

  Under the bright light bulbs, on the glass counter and shelves, all kinds of daily necessities, cooking oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, canned goods, and white wine are displayed. Although the small grocery store is small, it has everything.

  Two women were sitting behind the counter, chatting idly. One of them, a stout middle-aged woman, saw someone enter and smiled, saying: "Take a look around, we have everything." Then she saw Bai Xiaoxiao following Lu Zhong and exclaimed in surprise, "Girl, what brings you here?"

  Bai Xiaofeng greeted the two women timidly: "Auntie, Fifth Aunt."

  It seems that the plump woman is Bai Xiaoxue's aunt, and Lu Zhong had no contact with Bai Erqiang's family before.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "Sister-in-law, Xiao Feng came with me."

  Bai Dajie immediately stood up with a smile all over her face, and warmly greeted: "Ah, you must be Zhuangzi, I've heard of you long ago." Although Bai Erqiang liked to boast, saying that this tenant named Zhuangzi paid him more than 50 yuan every month, no one believed it.

  But this Zhēngzi, has a car, spends money lavishly, and can even force Bái èrqiáng to make Xiǎo Fēng go to school. It seems that he should be a capable businessman. Recently, Bái èrqiáng not only stopped owing him money but also repaid his previous debts. All of this is thanks to the blessings of this young man named Zhēngzi.

  So Bai Dajie had a good impression of this young man whom she had only heard of before.

  "What's up, Xiao Feng? What do you want to eat?" Lu Zhong pointed at the various pastries and fruit boxes on the counter.

  Lu Zhen immediately knew that Xiao Feng wouldn't be picky, so he pointed at the fruit box and said: "This one, this one, there are cakes inside, right? I'll take these two." Then he pointed at the loose pastries, including a type with a big red seal on top and green bean paste filling inside, saying: "I'll have half a catty of that one."

  "Alright!" Bai Dajie smiled and measured out the pastries, arranged them neatly, folded a piece of grass paper into a square shape, pulled down a straw rope from the bundle hanging from the eaves, tied an "well character" knot, made a flower-shaped buckle, put it aside, and asked: "Do you want anything else?"

  Lu Zhong said: "Let's talk after eating, and also, soda water, two bottles, the bottle needs a deposit, right? How much money?"

  "Alright, you don't have to pay now. Just return the bottles after you've finished drinking and that's it." Bai Dajie smiled and went on to fetch two more bottles of soda water from the green bottles, placing them on the counter. She seemed quite skilled at doing business.

  "Are all these for the young lady? You're really good to her." Bai Dajie smiled apologetically, in Guo Village, she had never seen anyone so generous, as if one or two yuan were nothing to them.

  Lu Zhong said, "Yes, who made me and Xiao Feng have a good relationship, she is like my own sister. Besides, such an sensible kid, who doesn't like her? My girlfriend adores her too."

  "Ah, yes, yes," said Bai Dajie with a dry smile.

  Lu Zhong also said: "From now on, whoever bullies her again, don't blame me for being impolite. I plan to take her back to my hometown in a few days and have her pay respects to my ancestors."

  Bai Dajie smiled awkwardly and didn't say a word.

  Lu Zhong sighed again and said: "I'm here, I've also taken over Xiaofeng's room, it's a bit unfair to her, but fortunately, you all treat this little niece of mine well."

  "We're relatives, after all, it's only right, it's only right."

  Lu Zhong thought for a moment and said, "In a few days, the weather will also warm up. Xiao Feng's house has another wing room. Bai Lao Er is preparing to clean it out for Xiao Feng to live in. Otherwise, she would always be called to squeeze into one room with her sister. I really can't bear it. I'm not someone who likes to trouble others."

  At this time, Lu Zhong pointed at some small ornaments in the glass cabinet and said: "These rings and earrings are all plastic, aren't they? Cheating little kids?"

  "Alright, it's like this in our countryside," said Bai Dajie with a smile.

  Lu Zhong beckoned to Bai Xiaoxue: "Come, take a look, the earrings that your Su'e sister lost are in this box, which one is it? Buy it back for her."

  Bai Dajie was stunned, she actually knew what had happened the night before, because her daughter had run to the small shop here and muttered something, wanting to get another earring, but ended up being slapped by her.

  Bai Su'e is only a few months older than Bai Xiaoxue, but her temperament is vastly different. She is greedy for fame and fortune, lazy and gluttonous. Bai Dajie often sighs in frustration, wondering why her own daughter is so incompetent, not even comparable to half of Xiaoxue's virtues.

  But after all, it's her own daughter, so Bai Dajie naturally favors her. Moreover, to say that her daughter is also used to a hard life, although there is some money at home, but her father is very stingy, one coin can be split into eight pieces to spend, growing up like this, the daughter has never really eaten a few decent meals of braised meat, yesterday the daughter even cried because she was craving it, saying that Bai Xiaoyu's family ate spare ribs and she also wanted to eat.

  Originally, Bai Dajie was quite fond of her daughter, but when she saw that this little girl was crying with a runny nose because she was craving something, she immediately became furious and slapped her twice, locking her in the room. Let her cry as much as she wants, just ignore her.

  Bai Dajie probably also knew why her daughter had been bullying Bai Xiaoxue lately. In the past, when Bai Xiaoxue's life was particularly difficult, Bai Su'e had been quite good to this younger sister and even secretly brought her fruit from home to eat. Recently, she suddenly changed her behavior, naturally jealous that this younger sister had good food and good clothes, so she would often find fault with her and bully her for no reason.

  "It's nothing, just kids fooling around." Bai Dajie said with a forced smile.

  Bai Xiaofeng walked up to the counter, her beautiful long eyelashes blinking, pointing at a pair of emerald green plastic bead earrings inside and said: "Ah, it's this one, brother, I'll buy it, I have money." After the New Year this year, Bai Erqiang finally had a kind heart and gave Xiaofeng two cents as pocket money, which she had been saving all along.

  Lu Zhong just laughed: "You're not even worth two cents, are you? Forget it, I'll see if you can make it to next year's New Year. This little holiday is really something, so frugal! Whoever marries you in the future will definitely get rich."

  Bai Xiaofeng didn't know whether Zuozi Ge was teasing her or praising her, her little face turned red and she didn't dare to make a sound.

  "Never mind, it's just a trifle that cost five cents, no need to make a fuss about it. That careless girl probably lost it herself, didn't even sew the button on properly. I'll scold her later." White Aunt hastily waved her hands repeatedly.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "It's not about the money, kids don't care about this." He took out a one-yuan note and said, "Is it one yuan per pair? Alright, big sister, you pick a few pairs for Xiao Feng, and a few pairs for Su E, so in the future, they won't fight over such trivial things. These only children are getting more and more spoiled, and their uncles, aunts, and siblings will have to be nice to them."

  Bai Dajie smiled and said yes, thinking that she would have to educate Su'e well when she got back, so as not to bully Xiao Feng.

  "What's up? I'll go open the back door?" White Dabai hastily said as she saw Lu Zhong was about to leave.

  "No need, no one's home can be used as a road, it seems to have its own rules, walking on the road is not good." Lu Zhong smiled and waved his hand.

  Bai Dajie nodded in her heart, thinking that this young man was really rare. He looked like a person of status, but when he spoke and acted, he could make you understand without feeling offended. In the whole village of Guo Zhuang, it would be hard to find another outstanding young man like him.

  Bai Dajie shook her head immediately, thinking to herself, what was she thinking, people from big cities must be used to better things, how could the young people from a small place like Guo Zhuang compare?

  The gloomy weather seems to have brought people's mood down with it.

  In the office, Ma Weiguo looked at Qu Xueyue with a shocked face, "What? You want to resign from your party position?" Early in the morning, Qu Xueyue came to his office and gave him such astonishing news.

  The wrinkles on Qu's face seemed to deepen as he sighed and said, "I'm old too, it's time for me to give way to the young."

  "This, if it's because of that case, isn't it still inconclusive? Besides, what does it have to do with you?" Ma Weiguo was puzzled by Qu Xueyue's sudden decision.

  "It's not because of this, I'm old and want to take a rest." Qu Xueyue let out a long sigh, her interest somewhat dwindling.

  Ma Weiguo suddenly remembered that a few days ago, Lu Zhong had a conflict with Qu Lao at the entrance of the office building. He frowned and said, "Is it because of Lu Zhong? Did he do something sinister?"

  Qu Yue was silent for a moment, shaking her head: "It has nothing to do with him."

  Ma Weiguo's eyebrows furrowed even tighter, and he asked: "I heard that recently Wang Jiabin has been asking people about some things related to the reception of the former Soviet Union. Qu Lao, it can't be related to you, can it?"

  Finally, Qu Yu's eyes condensed for a moment, and then became dull again, silent, without making a sound.

  "Qu Lao, think about it again, no matter what happens, we can discuss it." Ma Weiguo was still trying to persuade him to stay.

  Wei Guo sighed and said, "I've been thinking for three days and three nights, this is the best outcome for me. I just submitted my resignation report to the municipal party committee."

  Ma Weiguo fell silent, it seemed that this matter was now irretrievable. In his heart, he suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of unease. In Qinglong, Qu Xueyue was his most steadfast and powerful political ally, just as Lu Zhen had just taken office, in the eyes of all Qinglong cadres, the new county magistrate's weight was far from comparable to that of Chairman Qu.

  After several months, more and more cadres gathered around Lu Zhong, as if they already had the power to turn the tide in Qinglong.