Chapter Fourteen: Bound in Fish Head Village

“The issue with Qiangyuan Company can wait a little longer. There are still two days before the relocation deadline. We must trust the town and county authorities,” Zhang Xiu’e said, sweeping her gaze across the dozen or so representatives of Yutou Village. “The main reason I called everyone here tonight is to establish the articles for forming our village company.”

Tang Long sat there, his mind drifting. Zhang Xiu’e’s presence had been a great help to him. Whether dealing with the county or communicating with the town, it was far better for Zhang Xiu’e to step forward than for himself. First, being a woman, she was naturally more suited for communication work than a man, and second, her temperament was well-matched for the task.

If it were a matter of fighting and brawling, Tang Long feared no one. But the development of Yutou Village had nothing to do with violence. He wanted the villagers to live better lives, not to have them cursing him behind his back, calling him a no-good scoundrel. Otherwise, if he’d followed his rage that day, would he have let those beasts—who hadn’t even spared Old Village Chief Zhang Deshun’s corpse—leave alive?

“Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Once the village company is established, how should the shares be divided? Should everyone get an equal share, or only those who are willing to stay in the village and join the company to help out?” Zhang Xiu’e asked calmly.

The dozen or so village representatives began whispering among themselves. Most people had returned to Yutou Village, but not everyone. Even after Lian Sheng personally called each one to inform them of the old chief’s passing, some villagers still hadn’t returned. Some were held back by the demands of life and simply couldn’t leave their jobs. Others just didn’t want to come back.

Whatever the reason, these villagers had not returned. Of course, they were a minority, but they were still villagers of Yutou, and nothing could change that fact. When Qiangyuan Company paid compensation for “Liangouwazi,” every villager of Yutou Village was entitled to a share, that much was certain.

“Equal division isn’t right, but not giving shares to those who don’t return isn’t right either,” Aunt Yang spoke up. Though she was a woman, she understood some things better than many of the men. Without Tang Long and Zhang Xiu’e, would this bunch of country bumpkins have been able to get any money out of Qiangyuan Company? Without them, would these hicks even know how to run a company if the money was handed to them?

“So, Auntie, what do you suggest?” Zhang Xiu’e looked at her.

Aunt Yang spoke loudly, “If the village starts a company, every villager should have a share, but not too much. And I think those who actually join the company and work should get an extra share since they’re contributing to the village.”

On this point, almost all the representatives agreed. It was only right that those who worked more got more shares or money. Reward should match labor.

“And then there’s Secretary Xiu’e and Village Chief Tang Long. I think you two should get the largest shares. If it weren’t for you getting the money back from Qiangyuan Company, there’d be nothing to start a company with. If everyone got an equal share and those who did the work got nothing extra, wouldn’t that be just like the old days when everyone ate from the same pot? Who would be willing to put in effort for the village in the future? Isn’t that right?”

Aunt Yang might not be able to expound grand theories, but her words were sensible.

“We—” Zhang Xiu’e shook her head, about to argue, but Tang Long stopped her and nodded. “Auntie is right. We’ll go with that.”

Accept it?

Zhang Xiu’e glanced at Tang Long, as if to ask, “What do you mean, accept it?”

Tang Long smiled at her. “A company needs people who can take charge. Those who work get more shares than ordinary villagers. It’s only natural that those in charge should get more than workers. The leadership should hold a portion of the company’s shares.”

Zhang Xiu’e wasn’t about to be talked around so easily and pressed, “And by a portion, how much do you mean?”

“Fifteen percent,” Tang Long replied after a pause, smiling.

“Is that fifteen percent for all senior management?” Zhang Xiu’e asked.

Tang Long shook his head. “No, that fifteen percent is for you, Madam Village Secretary.”

“For me?” Zhang Xiu’e was startled and snapped, “Tang Long, don’t mess around. We’re discussing serious matters here.”

She hadn’t invested any money, and to take fifteen percent of the village company’s shares for nothing—what sense did that make? If the company prospered one day, wouldn’t the disciplinary committee come knocking on her door? Besides, she hadn’t come to be the village official for personal gain; it was for her ideals. Otherwise, who would come to such a poor, remote mountain village?

Tang Long looked at her and smiled. “Do I look like I’m joking? You helped negotiate with Qiangyuan Company, that was your contribution. You’ve advised the village, that’s your contribution. You arranged for a doctor from the provincial hospital for Ermao, that’s your contribution. You’ve done so much for Yutou Village—why shouldn’t you get a share of the company?”

For the sake of Yutou Village’s future, Tang Long didn’t mind binding Zhang Xiu’e to the “Yutou Village chariot” with interests.

“I don’t want it!” Zhang Xiu’e frowned, flatly refusing his goodwill.

Tang Long replied with a half-smile, “Some things, you can’t refuse. Besides, it’s not just my opinion—Aunt Yang said it too: those who contribute most should get the most. Those who don’t work or help out get, at most, a sip of the soup. They’re just lucky to have been born in Yutou Village. Don’t you all agree?”

“That’s right!”

“Xiaolong’s right! Secretary Xiu’e should get the biggest share.”

The dozen or so village representatives all chimed in with laughter. Whatever they thought in their hearts, no one would speak badly of Zhang Xiu’e’s contributions openly. To deny her would be to invite gossip and lose standing in the village. Yutou people were poor, but they had their pride; sometimes, the opinion of the villagers mattered more than money itself.

“You hear that? It’s not just about whether you accept it or not,” Tang Long said to Zhang Xiu’e, smiling.

He continued, “You get fifteen percent, and I’ll take fifteen percent. We’ll have equal shares in the company. If there’s no benefit, why should we run around for the village, exhausting ourselves?”

“Village Chief Tang Long is right. You two get the biggest shares and eat the meat; we’ll take the small shares and get a bit of the hot soup. Only that way can we all feel at ease,” one of the representatives said with a chuckle.

If you want the horse to run, you have to feed it. Even the emperor didn’t starve his soldiers—if it has nothing to do with you, who would have motivation day after day?

“I—” Zhang Xiu’e tried to say more, but Tang Long interrupted her with a laugh. “No need, really. We’re all country folk and we go by simple logic: if we want you to work hard, we need to give you enough benefits. It’s not that we don’t trust you—giving it to you now saves us trouble later, rather than you having to find ways to take it yourself.”