After understanding these things, Fatty and I returned home. I felt particularly clear-headed. It's better to understand something than to be kept in the dark. For instance, before, I thought about that red coffin, that someone offered a lot of money for it, it could be sold, but now if you ask me to choose, only an idiot would sell it. Regardless of whether the Dragon Vein is real or not, this is not something that can be measured in money.
As for other unresolved matters, such as why Second Uncle kneeled before the coffin, those would have to be slowly unraveled. At least today, I was happy to know this. You can't eat too much in one go, right?
But let's set aside idle chatter. The villagers are still in a commotion. The next day, people even came to my house to ask about the red coffin. Since it's a public matter, it wouldn't be excessive for everyone to have a look. This really made me laugh and cry. Regarding such people, Fatty had a single sentence: "Hurry up and scram, otherwise, I'll cast a spell on you to ensure that you have a son without a butthole. What? Your wife has been sterilized? That's fine, your son won't live for three years. I said it." The villagers really bought into Fatty's bluster. Fatty's earlier actions had firmly established his reputation as a divine being, and no one dared to refute him. After sending off a few waves of people, Fatty looked at me and said earnestly, "Xiaofan, you have to think of a way quickly. Do you know that whether or not a curse comes true, it still tarnishes my karma?"
But what good solution could I come up with? The villagers are the epitome of deceiving their own. It's impossible to explain to them at the moment. Could it be that my grandfather arranged a dragon corpse for my wife? After opening it, the whole village would be doomed?
We didn't dwell on this matter for long because in the afternoon, my appointment came. Lin Sanshui had resigned from the position of village head of Linjiazhuang, and I, Lin Xiaofan, would temporarily act as the village head. Originally, there should have been an election for the village head, but it wasn’t the right time for that. My appointment letter only specified that I would temporarily act as the head of the Linjiazhuang Village Committee.
The person who came was a government worker from the town government. He seemed like a veteran accustomed to the ways of the government. After giving me the appointment letter, he casually asked, "Are there a lot of wild game in the mountains behind your place?"
My family was quite happy when I was appointed village head. Even my grandmother was happy, because no matter how small a village head was, he was still an official. I also kept joking that maybe my desperate transfer of luck had worked. Lin Xiaofan would take his first step as a village head and at the age of fifty, reach the peak of life, drive a luxury car, and marry a beauty?
When my father heard the man ask about wild game, he caught onto the hint and directly went out. There was indeed wild game, but it's not like there were captures every day. My old man went out and found only a mountain grouse and a wild rabbit. Because the villagers resented our family for not handing over the coffin, what was once given for free now cost my old man ten yuan.
After buying them, Wu Miaoke cooked them. The taste turned out to be quite good. This guy, upon seeing Wu Miaoke, couldn't take his eyes off her, and kept saying to me, "Linjiazhuang is a wonderful place. The beauty of the mountains, rivers, and people. By the way, Xiaofan, who is this beauty?"
"My mom!" I said outright. Even now, I felt embarrassed to call her mom in front of Wu Miaoke, but I had to say it, just in case he had any other ideas.
"I knew it! Only such a woman could give birth to such a young talent as Xiaofan. Let's make another drink!" This man quickly lifted his glass, trying to cover up his embarrassment.
This guy who worked in the government really knew how to talk. I had to get Fatty to start drinking. He was also a cheap person. When he came to my house today, he wouldn't stop drinking. When he was completely sloshed, I seized his hand and said, "Village head Xiaofan, I didn't expect you to be so young, yet able to hold your liquor. What do you rely on as an official? Your ability to hold your drink! I feel a kindred spirit with you, and because I'm happy today, I'll tell you a little secret. Don't spread it around. Village head Xiaofan, you're going to get rich!"
Fatty was initially impatient, but upon hearing this, he acted like I would, saying, "Bro, what good news? Tell me about it."
"Linjiazhuang. Someone is eyeing this beautiful place. They want to develop a tourist area here. The talks are in progress. I heard that they have a lot of money and are very sincere about it. The entire Linjiazhuang is expected to be relocated. The town is taking this matter very seriously. I think it will be finalized within a week," this man said in his drunken stupor.
"Is that true?" Fatty asked.
"It is, truly!" he said.
In such a drunken state, he wobbled to his bicycle and left. It seemed he was used to being in such a state. When he was gone, Fatty exclaimed, "Did the Black Scorpion's people go crazy?!"
"What do you mean?" I was still excited, but Fatty suddenly mentioned the Black Scorpion.
"Why are you so clueless? Who in the desolate and isolated Linjiazhuang has nothing better to do than to develop a tourist area? And the entire village is going to be relocated?!" Fatty cursed.
"Are you saying that the Black Scorpion is behind this? They want to relocate the entire village, just to search for that red coffin after the relocation? Damn it, they wouldn't be so ruthless, would they?" I was stunned. What a huge operation. They would directly acquire an entire village just for a coffin?
"They are not short of money, and they have plenty of ways to handle it without spending money. This is a tricky situation. Otherwise, think about it, they want to develop a tourist area here, there will be demolitions, how much profit is that? How could you, as a village head, get a turn in this?" Fatty continued to pour cold water on the situation.
After we understood this, we hurried home to discuss with Second Uncle. Even Second Uncle, upon hearing this, frowned and said, "It's not easy."
Everything happened very quickly. The next morning, a lot of cars came to the village. All sorts of cars and buses. When I saw this, my heart sank. Hei San and Lin Sanshui were also among them, with Lin Sanshui even introducing me to a man named Wu, "Xiaofan, this is Mayor Wu."
"Village Head Xiaofan is good. A young man with prospects." Mayor Wu was a middle-aged man with a big belly, smiling warmly at me.
Fatty's speculation turned out to be correct. At this time, Hei San unexpectedly became an investor. Even Mayor Wu had to show him deference. He asked me to take them to see the scenery around Linjiazhuang.
I deliberately said, "There's nothing much to see. The wild grass and lakes, are they worthy of developing a tourist area?"
As soon as these words escaped my lips, Mayor Wu was displeased, and said, "You're still too young, Xiaofan. When you have seen wild grass and lakes too much, you will find tall buildings and big mansions beautiful. Just like this, after seeing tall buildings and mansions too much, you will feel that wild grass and nature are beautiful. There's a saying, other men's wives look the most beautiful, Mr. Hei has better taste than you."
I felt sick listening to this and couldn't refute it.
After lunch, Mayor Wu held a meeting for the villagers, discussing the matter of developing the tourist area and the upcoming relocation. Hei San was going to build new houses for everyone, high-rise buildings!
This made the villagers even more excited. This was a good thing! Developing a tourist area could stimulate development. The earth buildings would be transformed into new ones. For a moment, everyone looked at Hei San like he was a god, and even Lin Sanshui seemed more agreeable. —— Last time, when the old village head brought Mr. Hei here, it was actually for the village's development. This was much better than the new village head!
Seeing all this, I really wanted to cry but had no tears. Hei San's use of this trick was really cunning and sinister. Using political power, they overwhelmed us to the point that we had no strength to counter them!
After they left, the excitement among the villagers didn't dissipate. I couldn't explain to this group of delirious people. I could only think that I would go to the policewoman and discuss things with her the next day. It was clear that Hei San had used connections. The demolition was imminent. I couldn't just sit back and wait for it to happen.
When I went to the town the next day, I called the policewoman, telling her that I was Lin Xiaofan.
The policewoman immediately said, "Xiaofan, I know what you want to talk to me about. People above have already spoken to my father and specially instructed me that I should not get involved in the affairs of Linjiazhuang. There's nothing I can do. Wait for me. I will go to the village tomorrow, and we can discuss things face to face."
After I hung up the phone, my heart sank.
It wasn't for the artificial Dragon Vein in the red coffin that I wanted to hold on. It was mainly because I didn't like the feeling of having something taken from me.
But what should I do?
In the past, when I needed help, I longed for power, but now I suddenly realized that personal strength was really helpless in many situations.
"Your dad really can't help?" I asked.
九两 didn't answer, she looked at me for a while and said, "You don't understand the people in the officialdom. Even if he can help, why would he help a poor boy from the countryside? And risk offending people too? What he wants is an exchange. If you want him to help, you need to offer something that will make him interested."
After finishing speaking,九两 and I looked at each other, and she chuckled.
Damn, turns out this girl wants to take advantage of the situation!