booktalesy Chapter 29: Growing Up, Childhood Sweetheart Became My Younger Sister
Chapter 29: Growing Up, Childhood Sweetheart Became My Younger Sister
The small boat slowly approached the shore, and Wu Dagui greeted him with a hearty smile, "Zhiyuan, you're back! This must be Boss Xu, right? Welcome, welcome!"
Xu Youwei and Wu Dagui shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.
Han Tingting lightly jumped off the boat, a bright smile on her face, and greeted everyone generously: "Brother Zhiyuan, you're back! Hello, Boss Xu!"
Wu Zhiyuan introduced, "Boss Xu, this is Han Tingting, the daughter of my father's friend and business partner, Uncle Han. She's a nurse at the town hospital."
Xu Youwei smiled and nodded, his gaze gentle: "Hello, Xiao Han. Sorry to bother you."
Han Tingting said cheerfully, "Boss Xu, you're too kind. Welcome!"
The group boarded the motorboat, and Wu Dagui skillfully steered the small boat toward the island in the middle of the lake.
Xu Youwei stood at the bow of the boat, admiring the open waters around him and the lush green island in the middle of the lake not far away. He looked relaxed and enjoyed the rare tranquility.
Han Tingting sat down naturally next to Wu Zhiyuan and asked softly, "Brother Zhiyuan, how many days are you staying this time?"
Wu Zhiyuan replied vaguely, "I came with Boss Xu today, and I have to leave this afternoon."
Han Tingting seemed somewhat disappointed.
Wu Zhiyuan only told his mother about being assigned to Qinglongshan Forest Farm as a forest ranger and his breakup with Su Taohong.
However, given the close relationship between her mother and Han Tingting, she will definitely tell Han Tingting.
The days at Qinglongshan Forest Farm were undoubtedly the most disheartening time for Wu Zhiyuan.
His mother advised him that Su Taohong wasn't the type of girl to settle down with, but Han Tingting was. Even if he were fired from his job, Han Tingting would still be willing to marry him.
Han Tingting's mother died early, and in her eyes, Zhang Huilan was like a mother to her.
Zhang Huilan treats Han Tingting like a daughter, just like her daughter Wu Kexin.
Wu Zhiyuan casually asked, "Tingting, are you off today?"
Han Tingting smiled sweetly: "Brother Zhiyuan, I worked the night shift last night and I'm off today. My aunt called me and told me to come back and have lunch with me. So I rode my electric scooter here."
It's only five or six kilometers from the town to the aquaculture farm.
Wu Zhiyuan fell silent. He knew his mother was trying to match him up with Han Tingting.
Indeed, after he broke up with Su Taohong, Han Tingting saw an opportunity.
Xu Youwei asked Wu Dagui several detailed questions: How large is the water surface? How much is the rent? What aquatic products are being farmed? What are the yields and profits?
Wu Dagui answered them one by one.
Xu Youwei asked, "Director Wu, making money in agriculture and aquaculture, especially in water-based industries, is indeed not easy. It's risky and has a long payback period. Does the government have any support policies in place?"
Wu Dagui said, "Yes, there are subsidies for facility-based fishery base projects, subsidies for standardized renovation projects of aquaculture ponds, subsidies for fishery projects based on adjustments to refined oil prices, and many other reward-based subsidy projects. But you can't get these projects without going to great lengths to secure them."
Honest, simple farmers like us, who only know how to raise fish and crabs, simply can't compete with those farmers who have connections and know how to get things done.
Xu Youwei listened attentively without offering any opinion, then asked, "What difficulties do aquaculture farms face?"
Wu Dagui said, "Boss Xu, to be honest, the biggest difficulty is the issue of renewing the lease and the rent."
Our farm was contracted out to the town government.
The contract we signed stated in black and white that if we suffered severe losses due to floods, we could apply for a reduction or exemption of part of the rent.
But when something really happens, the town government denies responsibility.
The summer before last, there was a major flood that caused the fishponds to overflow, resulting in the loss of many fish and crab fry and causing heavy losses.
We went to the town government and asked for a rent reduction.
However, the town leaders said that the losses caused by the flood were difficult to measure and could not be determined. Moreover, the town's finances were tight, and they asked us to understand the government's difficulties and that we must pay the rent in full, not a penny less.
The town also threatened that if anyone dared not pay the rent on time and in full, it would be a serious breach of contract, and the contract would be unilaterally canceled.
They also said there were plenty of people lining up to rent out this stretch of water, so our family wouldn't make a difference.
The contract is for four years and expires at the end of this year. If the town doesn't renew it, our initial investment will be wasted.
We spent over a million yuan to dig ponds, reinforce dikes, release fish fry, build enclosures, purchase fishing boats, and install surveillance cameras.
To this day, both Lao Han and I are operating at a loss.
Xu Youwei frowned and said, "Since there are stipulations in the contract, the government should take the lead in abiding by them."
This is not only a matter of integrity, but also a matter of the rule of law.
Director Wu, have you considered resolving this through legal channels?
For example, should we hire a lawyer, sue the town government, and demand that they fulfill the contract?
Wu Dagui smiled wryly and waved his hands repeatedly: "Hire a lawyer? Sue the town government? Boss Xu, you must be joking."
How dare we ordinary citizens sue the government? As the saying goes, you can't fight city hall.
Even if we are in the right, will the court side with us?
Besides, even if we get incredibly lucky and win the case, what happens after that?
Will the town treat us well? Do you even want to keep this farm running?
"I can't afford to file a lawsuit, and I don't dare to!"
Xu Youwei didn't say much; at this moment, his identity was Boss Xu, not the Party Secretary of the Municipal Committee.
Even as the municipal party secretary, and even if everything Wu Dagui said made sense, he couldn't directly interfere with the town government, after all, Wu Zhiyuan was Wu Dagui's son.
At this point, the boat had approached the dock on the island in the middle of the lake.
Stepping onto the island in the middle of the lake is like entering a self-sufficient world.
Around the dozen or so prefabricated houses are carefully tended vegetable gardens, with all kinds of vegetables available.
There are pigsties and sheep pens, where two black pigs and more than a dozen sheep are kept.
There were also hundreds of chickens, ducks, and geese, whose calls rose and fell, creating a pastoral symphony.
Wu Zhiyuan accompanied Xu Youwei on a tour of the island in the middle of the lake.
There is also a small garden on the island, where all kinds of flowers and plants are vying for attention.
This is the masterpiece of Han Tingting and Wu Kexin.
There are stone paths around the island. The mountaintop is only a few dozen meters high, and there are also steps.
The view from the mountaintop is breathtaking, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire waterway.
The shimmering lake surface, the villages and fields on the opposite shore, are all within view.
Xu Youwei exclaimed, "Zhiyuan, this is truly a wonderful place! It's peaceful and serene, like a modern-day Shangri-La!"
Wu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Secretary Xu, you can bring your family here for vacation during holidays in the future."
The vegetables we eat are all organic and pesticide-free, the fish is freshly caught, and the chickens and ducks are free-range—absolutely fresh.
Xu Youwei smiled slightly: "It's not good that I've come too often. However, your teacher's wife and my daughter Yunxi can come and visit here in the future."
Wu Zhiyuan quickly replied, "Aren't we going to take a stroll around the neighborhood with your wife tomorrow or the day after?"
There's an ancient town near our Longqiao Town. Although it hasn't been developed much, it has preserved many old houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties. These aren't imitations.
They were tired from walking around, so they could relax on the island in the middle of the lake and enjoy some local cuisine.
Xu Youwei smiled and said, "I will not make decisions or interfere with your itinerary, as long as they are willing."