Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 163

Meanwhile, Zhao Da'e also pointed out a problem with Zhao Tingming's words: "Grandpa, your wording is a bit too harsh. It's the New Year, are you trying to send someone to Balizi? The village chief can't be so forceful..."

Zhao Tingming nodded in agreement, finding some merit in the suggestion. The New Year was a joyous occasion, and it would be unpleasant for any family to have someone imprisoned like that; besides, it had a bad omen and was very disheartening. Furthermore, it wasn't about murder or arson, so there was no need for such a thing. However, if they weren't strict enough, no one would obey, leaving them in a dilemma.

"How do we scare them? Big Goose, let me tell you, these villagers aren't so easily fooled. If you don't let them buy chickens as gifts for the New Year, it's like taking their lives. Even if I'm the village chief and have a big reputation, there are still a few who won't submit to my authority. And is scare tactics really going to work? I have a doubt about it. After thinking it over, I still think that sending someone to put up a fence is the most effective way. If the punishment is severe, those people won't dare to break the rules. Besides, we're all doing this for the villagers' benefit. Like you said, once the chicken plague spreads, all the chickens, ducks, and geese in our village will be finished."

Compared to scaring people, Zhao Tingming was more concerned about whether the chicken plague would spread in his village. As the village chief, he would be the first to be punished if something serious happened in the village. After all, if a bunch of chickens, ducks and geese died, he would be the one to be blamed.

Zhao Da'e said slowly, "Hey! Grandpa, don't be anxious. The more anxious you are, the less likely things will work out."

"Chickens, ducks, and geese must be prohibited from being exchanged or given as gifts during the Lunar New Year. At the very least, you can't buy chickens, ducks, or geese from the 'juren guanzi' (a type of vendor), as the risk is too high and it can easily spread chicken plague. However, there will definitely be many people who oppose this, because they don't know the consequences of eating chickens infected with chicken plague. Chicken plague carries a virus, and if a person eats it, they may experience allergies and diarrhea at best, and death at worst!"

Zhao Da'e had heard of chicken plague in his previous life, so he was quite knowledgeable about it. Eating chickens infected with chicken plague would first lower one's immune system, and secondly, cause various physical reactions such as vomiting, dizziness, and allergies. Moreover, if the chicken had too many viruses, it would also affect the kidneys. With all these negative effects combined, how could it not be life-threatening?

“Wild chickens and geese outside the village are most susceptible to fowl plague, so during the Spring Festival, villagers should be prohibited from going up the mountain to hunt wild animals, and they should also be prohibited from buying chickens, ducks and geese from Juzizhangzi. This is the only way to effectively prevent fowl plague from spreading in our village.”

“During the New Year, although we can’t eat chicken, duck, or goose, at least we can eat pork and fish, just like you said, Grandpa. We can eat meat anytime, but our health is our own responsibility. We only have one life, so we must cherish our health. Health is our lifeblood. If this chicken plague ruins the health of many villagers, they will have to go to the hospital for treatment, which will cost several thousand yuan. Grandpa, think about how many people in our village are wealthy. Not everyone can afford several thousand yuan. Some poor villagers simply cannot afford that amount. Besides, several thousand yuan is just a minimum. If eating chicken with chicken plague damages their kidneys, that’s a serious matter. They’ll be dealing with hospitals for the rest of their lives, and the treatment costs could be tens of thousands of yuan, and I think it will be even more.”

These days, if a family has over ten thousand yuan in savings, they're definitely wealthy. But most people only earn a few hundred yuan a month on average. If they can earn ten yuan a day, that's considered incredibly good. However, medical treatment can easily cost several thousand yuan, equivalent to a year's income for an average family. Poor villagers simply don't want to spend that money, and many don't even go to the hospital. As time goes on, their conditions worsen, their bodies break down, and they die prematurely. Is that worth it? Wouldn't it be better if they had taken precautions from the beginning and hadn't worried about losing a few yuan?

Unfortunately, most people don't think about this aspect. If you ask them to throw away chicken, duck, or goose meat, they probably wouldn't be willing, especially the older generation. Even if the food contains viruses, they'll still try it, just to avoid wasting food. The older generation doesn't care about such things; they've mastered the art of enduring hardship. The more you tell them it's wrong, the more they'll do it. Sometimes, they even justify it by saying, "You don't understand hardship and frugality..."

For example, an elderly person in the family is reluctant to throw away leftovers, so they eat them all. Then, in the middle of the night, they have a stomachache and are taken to the hospital, where they end up spending several thousand yuan. It's like picking up a sesame seed and losing a watermelon; it's completely not worth it.

Moreover, most families are still very poor. Although life is much better than before, the problem of greed for small gains hasn't been solved. Preventing villagers from hunting in the mountains, from buying chickens, ducks, and geese from the vendors, and from discarding those infected with fowl plague is practically impossible. But for their own good, it's necessary to enforce a strict ban on the trade of chickens, ducks, and geese. However, there will always be some who resist, believing it's harming them and attracting a lot of criticism. But some things have to be done, even if it means bearing the blame. And if you don't do it, and something goes wrong, they'll blame you. Humans are strange creatures; they often eat their fill and then curse their mother.

After hearing this, Zhao Tingming felt a chill run down his spine. He nodded and said, "What you said makes sense. We must issue an order to prohibit the villagers from catching pheasants and such. Even if I get scolded by the villagers for it, it doesn't matter. There's no chicken plague outbreak in the village, and no one will be affected by it and have to go to the hospital. So what I'm doing is worthwhile. This is the job I'm doing, and besides, no one dares to scold me. If they do, you'll see how hard I have to work."

Zhao Da'e nodded in satisfaction. His great-grandfather was indeed "sensible," having foreseen the bigger picture. If it were someone else, they probably wouldn't have done it this way, as it would have brought them a lot of criticism. Of course, Zhao Tingming was decisive and his words carried weight; the villagers were all afraid of him, which was why he dared to speak and act so boldly.

only……

Zhao Da'e made a face at Zhao Tingming, then leaned closer and whispered, "Hey! Grandpa, but sometimes we have to use some tricks. The reason those villagers don't want to listen is largely because they haven't seen those terrible endings and consequences with their own eyes. If they had seen them with their own eyes, they definitely wouldn't act recklessly; on the contrary, they would cooperate willingly."

Zhao Tingming's eyes lit up. "Oh? Big Goose, do you have a good idea? Tell me about it."

Zhao Da'e said slowly, "Think about it, Grandpa, all we need to do is let everyone see the consequences of eating chickens infected with chicken plague."

Zhao Tingming was bewildered. "Then how can we make the villagers see the consequences? If we let this actually happen, wouldn't that be incredibly unfair? Knowing that eating animals infected with chicken plague will make people sick, but still letting them eat it and catch a few unlucky ones? That won't do..."

Zhao Tingming hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up, "How about I do it? I'll eat a few sick chickens first. I haven't had a cold or anything for years, I'm in great shape, I think I can..."

Zhao Tingming was also worried about potential health problems from this stuff. Everything else was manageable, but if a few unlucky individuals developed serious illnesses, things would get complicated. So, if all else failed, he'd just have to test it on himself. If they got sick, he could simply go to the hospital; his family had some savings and could afford the cost. But some of the poorer villagers wouldn't be able to afford it. If those guys got sick, they'd be begging for forgiveness and blaming him for his incompetence.

Zhao Da'e was getting anxious. She sighed and said, "Oh, Grandpa, why are you so foolish? It's not worth risking your life. Besides, you're already so old. If you really get sick from eating it, you'll have to stay in the hospital forever. You're the village chief, but you're getting old too. You have to think about your health. No matter what, you have to take care of your body."

When Zhao Da'e saw that Zhao Tingming had come up with this idea, she was furious. What if Zhao Tingming actually did it and got sick as a result? That would be her real sin, and she would feel terribly guilty. Besides, the old man was over sixty years old; what if he did *that*? She would become a sinner for all time.

Zhao Da'e never expected that Zhao Tingming would go and taste the food himself. Was this some kind of joke?

So Zhao Da'e stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Look, Grandpa, we can do a little something... like put on a play, a play about what happens if the villagers eat chickens infected with chicken plague."

Zhao Tingming was a little stunned. "Huh? Acting? I can't act. How am I supposed to act like this? Am I supposed to pretend to eat a chicken with chicken plague? And then act out things like vomiting or feeling dizzy on the spot? I think I could try that. But would I just roll around on the ground like that? Wouldn't that be too easy for people to spot?"

Zhao Da'e exclaimed, "Grandpa, you don't need to act this out. Leave the details to me. Just make sure the villagers don't buy chickens, ducks, or geese from Jurenzhangzi during the New Year, and don't let them go up the mountain to catch wild pheasants or rabbits. Leave the rest to me. How can I let you work so hard and go through all this trouble?"

Zhao Tingming laughed, "Big goose, are you going to be the one acting? But do you even know how to act? You're only six years old, you'll be seven after the New Year? You're still too green, don't let your true colors show."

Zhao Da'e chuckled, "Grandpa, you underestimate me. I know a lot of things. Don't underestimate me just because I'm young. I'm more shrewd than all of you adults."

Zhao Tingming laughed, "Alright, alright, you're smart, okay? It's a pity you're the only clever one in your family. If only your father had your awareness..."

Zhao Tingming couldn't help but sigh when he thought about the current situation of Zhao Da'e's family. Putting aside the fact that Zhao Da'e's own grandmother, Wang Guixiang, wanted to throw away the newborn Xiao Juanzi, there was also the fact that she made Cheng Jinxiang, who had just given birth, live in a dilapidated warehouse. This was immoral. Would a grandmother or mother-in-law do such a thing? She even went to jail again for falsely accusing Zhao Da'e of stealing money. Zhao Tingming saw all this and was furious.

His younger brother, Zhao Tingxu, was also clueless and unable to distinguish right from wrong. He couldn't see his clever and intelligent granddaughter, Zhao Da'e, and only had eyes for his grandson. No matter what was right or wrong, it was always his granddaughter's fault. The second and third branches of the family were almost at the point of dividing the family property, but Zhao Tingxu not only didn't show any reaction, but also allowed the situation to escalate. He insisted on believing that only grandsons could provide for his parents in old age, showing an extreme preference for sons over daughters. He couldn't see this in Zhao Da'e, who had always been filial. It was truly disheartening.

The problem is, everyone can see that Zhao Chunqin is unreliable. She relied on her brothers' savings to get into university, and after graduating and being assigned a job for many years, she not only doesn't give money back to her family, but also comes home to swindle money. This is something no normal person would do. She's a complete ingrate, but Zhao Tingxu and his wife just can't see it.

The third son, Zhao Tiegang, was also unreliable, always slacking off at home, and even his wife was lazy and didn't do any housework. The eldest son, Zhao Tiebao, was all talk and no action; he never dared to make any decisions.

The second son, Zhao Tiesheng, was the most worry-free. His wife, Jinxiang, had worked tirelessly for the family, doing everything from spring planting and autumn harvest to working in the fields and husking corn. Yet, Zhao Tingxu and Wang Guixiang not only failed to see the good in the second son's family, but also allowed these two filial sons to live in a dilapidated barn, while the lazy and good-for-nothing third son's family lived in a nice room. They were even unwilling to subsidize the second son's family or build them a better room, even though they had money.

Zhao Tingxu and Wang Guixiang's favoritism is outrageous; it will eventually break their hearts. When they get old, can no longer move, and truly need someone to take care of them, perhaps they will realize who truly cared for them.

only……

Zhao Tingming glanced at Zhao Da'e, the little kid. He was tiny, but incredibly clever; he was sure to amount to something. In fact, Zhao Da'e might just be the most successful child in the Zhao family. Of course, the main reason was that the rest of the Zhao family were utterly useless; not a single one of them was worth mentioning.

“Hey, if your family members bully you again, just squeak once. Your family members… sigh…” Zhao Tingming had a headache, then said, “Don’t pay any attention to them, just stay away from them. None of them are any good people.”

It's just that Zhao Tingxu's whole family is incredibly unreliable. Even Zhao Da'e's parents, like Zhao Tiesheng, always listen to his mother, Wang Guixiang. He's too honest and easily bullied, and has almost no say in the family. Zhao Da'e's mother, although she's now back at her parents' home, has been known for her good temper for many years. While she can be a bit petty sometimes, she's very filial to her elders and doesn't like to argue with Zhao Tingxu and his wife. Unlike other daughters-in-law, she's not arrogant or domineering. So, over the years, Zhao Da'e has actually been secretly bossed around by her grandparents quite a bit.

Of course, calling Zhao Tiesheng a mama's boy isn't entirely accurate, but his initial attitude definitely screams "mama's boy." They've been married for six or seven years, and he's still living in the same courtyard as his parents. Zhao Tingming has no idea what Zhao Tiesheng is thinking. Their lives are getting poorer and poorer, and they still don't separate the household. He must be out of his mind.