The Happy Farmer Wanderer-Chapter 232: Played!_1

Li Qing had always felt that there was no need to discuss this matter with Secretary Zhou.

Yet, from what he gleaned between the lines, it seemed that there was a hint of blame in his words.

This left Li Qing somewhat baffled.

He worked for Lü Zong’s company, but that didn’t have much impact on the town, did it?

"Bring the company’s financial statement and come to my office," Secretary Zhou said.

Li Qing acknowledged with a response.

Before he had the chance to ask for clarification, Secretary Zhou had already hung up the phone.

Li Qing sighed softly to himself, reflecting that if it was a blessing, it could not be a disaster, and if it was a disaster, there was no escape.

He couldn’t figure out Secretary Zhou’s intention, but after thinking it over, he realized that there had been no particularly bad incidents lately.

So he decided to make the trip.

The new company had not hired a finance person, relying instead on the accountant from the Lü Family Restaurant to do double duty.

First, Li Qing called Lü Zong to explain the situation, then he went to collect the new company’s financial report.

The report of the company, which had been operating for less than a month, was so simple that Li Qing could understand everything at a glance.

With the report in hand, Li Qing headed to the town government office.

The door to Secretary Zhou’s office was wide open.

As soon as Li Qing stepped in, he noticed someone else was there and stepped backward to wait at the doorway.

He peered inside quietly and saw a long-haired girl seated in Secretary Zhou’s office.

She was dressed in a clean, crisp black business suit, with a knee-length skirt and a slender figure.

"Xiao Li, come in now that you’re here," Secretary Zhou’s voice called out.

Li Qing walked in with the financial statement.

"Xiao Qin, let me introduce you. This is Li Qing, a very outstanding returning young man from our town," Secretary Zhou said cheerfully to the girl, "he has made significant contributions to your village these past two years."

"There was a group in your village who used to be involved in troublesome businesses that provoked the law, but it was under Li Qing’s influence that they gradually started to walk the righteous path. Moreover, the suddenly booming business of Wenguan Leaves this year was first started by Li Qing. Given time, he will definitely resolve the issue of surplus labor in your village, helping the villagers find employment again."

"You can say that Li Qing has played an indispensable role in the current prosperity of Sanhe Village."

Secretary Zhou’s lavish praise drew the girl’s repeated glances in Li Qing’s direction.

Only then did Li Qing notice that she was about the same age as Wu Xingxing.

Her features were clear, with a distinctive oval face, fine eyebrows, and large eyes.

She also wore a pair of silver round-framed glasses on her nose, looking both well-behaved and full of scholarly charm.

"Xiao Li, show Xiao Qin the financial statement you brought," Secretary Zhou instructed, waving his hand.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce her. This is Qin Wenjun, the newly appointed party secretary of your village... and concurrently the village head."

Li Qing’s expression suddenly changed, and his hand, which had just been raising the financial statement, abruptly felt heavy.

The new village head?!

What did that make him now?

"Xiao Li, we’ll talk about the other matters later," Secretary Zhou said, likely noticing the change in Li Qing’s expression.

Suppressing his anger, Li Qing placed the financial statement heavily into Qin Wenjun’s hands, ignoring her greeting.

He was now agonizing over the five thousand four hundred yuan he had just spent.

What a damn foolish waste!

After looking over the financial statement, Qin Wenjun commented, "It looks like a startup company, and it seems likely to incur losses. Secretary Zhou, I don’t think we should promote such a company as a positive example."

"But the fact that Li Qing could have such an idea and even settle a bunch of idle folks from society, I think that’s pretty good."

Secretary Zhou lifted his eyelids, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

He said in a deep voice, "Xiao Qin, you should really rethink this matter and not jump to conclusions so rashly. Although you university-educated village officials are well-educated and insightful, once you are in the village, you must take the actual situation of the village into account."

"Understood, Secretary Zhou, I’ll be going now," said Qin Wenjun.

As she left, she also took away the report that Li Qing had brought.

Li Qing suddenly realized that the report was originally prepared for Qin Wenjun.

Damn it!

Anger surged in Li Qing, seemingly from nowhere.

"Feeling quite resentful, aren’t you?" After Qin Wenjun left, Secretary Zhou stood up and poured a glass of water for Li Qing.

Li Qing didn’t utter a word, just lifted his eyelids a little.

Old man, what do you think?

Pampering me to do this and that, to contribute to the village.

More importantly, I just paid out of my own pocket to treat the villagers to a big show, and this is what you give me in return?

You’re just fooling me!

"I know, this is indeed my fault," Secretary Zhou sighed softly, "The directive has been out for a while, but I never thought it would happen so fast. I was expecting at least three to five years to prepare."

"But I never expected that as soon as the graduation season hit, the village official would take their post immediately. They passed their exams; I couldn’t do anything about it. I broke my promise to you, but I will compensate you in other ways."

"I will make you the representative of our town’s returning youths. In your future business endeavors, whether it’s loans or policies, I will make things easier for you."

Once bitten, twice shy.

Now, as Li Qing listened to Secretary Zhou reason with him, appealing to his emotions and logic, he felt not the slightest excitement but instead a bit nauseated.

Others manage to get something for nothing, at least they extend a hand.

But this guy, he relies purely on his mouth!

"So, Secretary Zhou, are you saying there’s no hope for me now?" asked Li Qing.

Secretary Zhou nodded gravely, "Theoretically, that’s the case."

"The trend is for university-educated village officials; we old-timers are all going to be phased out."

"But don’t lose heart; if there’s another suitable position in the future, I will still consider you first."

Li Qing rested his chin on his hand, yearning to stomp on Secretary Zhou’s pancake face.

Still drawing pies in the sky!

"Thank you, Secretary Zhou. Then... I’ll be leaving now," Li Qing said in a muffled voice.

He was worried if he listened to this old coot go on any longer, he wouldn’t be able to resist unleashing a flurry of punches on him.

Too fucking infuriating!

After coming out of the town’s office building, the more Li Qing thought about it, the angrier he got, feeling extremely suffocated.

It was a good thing he had only told Han Mei and Tian Yue’e about it; if the people in the village knew,

He would certainly become the laughing stock again.

An idiot so desperate to be the village head he spent money and effort to help others.

Knowing the people in the village, they would probably say this to his face.

"This old bastard!" Li Qing cursed under his breath, feeling as if his heart was blocked by a rock.

A strong thought suddenly burst forth in his heart—he wanted to get revenge on Secretary Zhou!