Chapter 9: One Body Upright Qi

  In Dongsheng Wine House, the director of the Township Water Conservancy Station, Yan Bengli, was treating guests. Old Zheng and Liang Jun sat together, accompanied by a group of officials who were there to drink with them.

  In these few days when Ye Pingyu was collecting rice, Lao Zheng and Liang Jun were still busy entertaining guests in batches.

  "Director Liang, come on, I'll give you a toast!" Yan Bengli stood up and called out to Director Liang Jun in advance. He was short and stout, standing with others sitting almost the same height, just like Wu Dalang.

  "Alright, Lao Yan, the wine in the cup is all gone!" Liang Jun looked very excited, the position of Director of the Party and Government Office was about to be his, and he was in a great mood.

  Old Zheng sat steadily, with an added air of authority that only a rural leader would have. When drinking, he just took a small sip, and everyone knew his capacity for liquor and his temper, so they didn't try to persuade him much, mainly still drinking with Liang Jun.

  Liang Jun finished a full cup and became even more excited. At this moment, the beautiful female boss of the wine house, Wang Fangyun, walked in from outside with a swaying waist, causing him to suddenly shout: "Boss, Chief Yan is here, come quickly to toast a glass of wine!"

  Wang Fangyun was thirty years old, quite attractive, and her husband was a useless man like Wu Dalang. This wine house was all supported by her. In front of the rural cadres, she was naturally elegant and charming. Yan Bingli liked to joke with her after he arrived, and the rural cadres all knew about it.

  "No problem, leaders, I'll first toast Director Liang with a cup of wine!" Wang Fangyun was familiar with all the cadres in the countryside, and Liang Jun was no exception.

  "Hehe, boss lady, Director Liang is still young and promising, not married yet. Why don't you two have a drink together to seal the deal?" Yan Bengli chuckled and whispered aside.

  Wang Fangyun twisted her waist and smiled: "No problem, but Director Liang is still a standard little virgin, I can't take advantage of Director Liang, you say is it?"

  Everyone burst out laughing and said: "Boss's wife, what are you talking about? Why don't you just take Director Liang's virginity today?"

  "Haha!" The table became exceptionally lively, but Liang Jun waved his hand and said: "Boss lady, who's taking advantage of whom is still uncertain!"

  "Haha! Good!" After hearing Liang Jun's words, someone screamed out loud. Tonight was a bit wild. Actually, everyone had been eyeing Wang Fangyun for some time. Although Wang Fangyun spoke without restraint, when it came down to business, ordinary people usually couldn't succeed.

  Wang Fangyun smiled and said: "Alright, I'll have a drink with Director Liang!"

  "Haha!" As they watched the two of them clinking their cups together in a toast, everyone burst out laughing again.

  "What a wonderful wedding night!" someone exclaimed with a laugh after finishing their drink.

  Wang Fangyun smiled and turned around to drink a little wine with others before leaving.

  Watching Wang Fangyun's receding back, Old Zheng sat beside her, lost in thought, thinking non-stop.

  Ye Pingyu returned to the countryside from Jinhu Village, after seeing off the staff of the grain and oil company. The villagers all gathered around him, and Yang Leyi grasped his hand tightly, saying: "Pingyu, I once again represent the old and young masters of the village to thank you! Without you, our village's rice would have rotted at home. In a few days, I'll send a banner to you!"

  Ye Pingyu hastily said: "Le Yi Shu, why are you still being so polite? Don't send me any silk banners, if you want to send something, let's go together in a few days to give it to the people at the grain and oil company. We're counting on them coming again next year!"

  Yang Leiyi smiled and said: "Pingyu you're right, we still have to look forward to next year. In a few days, I'll make a banner and go with you to the region!"

  After hearing their words, the villagers burst out laughing together, with excited expressions. Yang Leyi turned around and grasped Ye Cunli's hand, saying: "Cunli, you've raised a good son, bringing honor to your family!"

  Ye Cunli's face was excited, and he smiled: "This kid doesn't listen to me!"

  Someone beside him laughed and continued: "Xun Li, you don't listen to us, Old Master Ye's words either. Ping Yu is just like his grandfather!"

  "Haha!" As soon as the words were spoken, the onlookers burst into loud laughter, Ye Cunli's face turned red with embarrassment, and Guo Wenxiu hastily pulled him back home.

  Ye Pingyu also felt embarrassed, his old father liked to take advantage of others, the villagers all said that he was a laughing stock, but his grandfather Ye Bingyi was a respected figure among the villagers, being very upright and eager to help others, while his father had not inherited such genes.

  Thinking of this, Ye Pingyu bid farewell to the crowd and went back home to visit his grandfather, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

  Grandpa's house is not far from his house, Ye Pingyu went there directly. Grandma passed away last year, and Grandpa lives alone now.

  As he walked into the three-room earth house, Ye Pingyu saw his grandfather wearing a white linen suit practicing boxing. According to his grandfather, he used this set of boxing to fight bandits and save an official's wife back in the day.

  When he saw Ye Pingyu coming in, Ye Bingyi immediately stopped his fists and feet and said kindly: "Pingyu, you're here!"

  Ye Pingyu smiled and walked forward, saying: "Grandfather, your fist technique is getting more and more powerful!"

  Gently patting Ye Pingyu, Ye Bingyi chuckled and said: "Grandpa is old, can't fight anymore, do you still practice now?"

  Ye Pingyu smiled and said: "I'm currently practicing Ba Duan Jin, and occasionally practice some fist techniques!"

  Ye Bingyi said after hearing: "Ba Duan Jin is also a traditional Chinese martial art, practicing it isn't bad, but remember to cultivate a righteous energy and don't cultivate evil energy as well. The boxing technique I taught you emphasizes the importance of being upright, if one's moral character is not upright, they will inevitably take an evil path and be shamed by others!"

  Ye Bingyi again spoke to Ye Pingyu about this kind of truth, although when he was young his grandfather's words made him a bit annoyed, but now he understood his grandfather's good intentions. His own father didn't listen to his words, so he could only place his hopes on him, and he himself had always been a very obedient child. Now that he had started working, he even more deeply understood his grandfather's good intentions.

  "Grandpa, don't worry, I will remember your words and continue to practice my fist technique. This time I helped the villagers sell rice and the harvest was great, helping others is so joyful!" Ye Pingyu said with deep feeling.

  Ye Bengyi stroked his beard and smiled, saying: "That's natural. Your grandfather has helped countless people in his life, never calculating whether others will repay him or not. Although I haven't done anything earth-shaking, thinking about it is still something to be proud of! Ping Yu, you're working in the countryside, originally to serve the common people, and you must help others even more, only then can you have peace of mind, otherwise others will scold you!"

  Ye Pingyu nodded heavily, his grandfather's character was what he had always admired, and he also hoped to be such a person, not seeking fame or fortune, but only asking for a clear conscience.

  Grandpa didn't have any income, and after chatting with Grandpa for a while, Ye Pingyu put some money in Grandpa's hand when he was about to leave, so that Grandpa could buy something to eat. Ye Bingyi saw it and felt that this was also his grandson's filial piety, so he smiled and accepted it. However, he never spent it, but saved it up and then gave it to his own grandchildren.

  After leaving his grandfather's place, Ye Pingyu returned to the countryside. As soon as he arrived in the countryside, Cao Dafu called him over, and his expression changed again, returning to the way he looked when he first saw himself, with a smile all over his face, extremely polite.

  "Xiao Ye, come on in, hurry up and take a seat!" Cao Da Fu sat up straight, smiling as he beckoned to Ye Ping Yu.

  Ye Pingyu walked in respectfully and stood before him, saying: "Head of the village, the rice harvest in Jinhu Village is complete, the people from the regional grain and oil company have all left, and the money has been paid to the common folk!"

  Cao Dafu stood up, smiled and said: "Well done, Little Ye! This time you've done a great thing for our village. Otherwise, the villagers would never be able to sell their rice, and I wouldn't be able to sleep at night either. Manager Han personally came here to collect rice, which is also a big help to us. When we have the chance, we must go to the region to thank them!"

  Ye Pingyu said: "I discussed with Yang Leyi, wait a few days to make a brocade flag and send it to them, Village Head, do you think it's okay?"

  Cao Dafu hastily and happily said: "This idea is great, at that time I will go with you all, to express my gratitude in person again!"

  Ye Pingyu didn't say anything else, but Cao Dafu thought for a moment and said to him: "Xiao Ye, come out with me tonight. I specifically praised you in front of the county leaders, and they want to meet you. We'll go together tonight!"

  Ye Pingyu was surprised for a moment, and didn't know why the county leaders wanted to see him. He also didn't understand why Cao Dafu would report his business to the county leaders. After all, he had only helped the villagers sell rice, which was actually thanks to Han Yuanqing's efforts. The one who really helped him was a person from the regional administration office surnamed Zhu, and Ye Pingyu just assisted them in collecting the rice.

  "Town head, I haven't done any work either, why does the county leader want to see me?" Ye Pingyu thought for a moment and said.

  Cao Dafu said, "Xiao Ye, don't be modest, it's settled then. We'll go together tonight. Also, if you have time, invite Director Zhu and Manager Han to our village for a work inspection!"

  Suddenly, he mentioned this situation again. Ye Pingyu suddenly understood Cao Dafu's intention. He wasn't looking at how well he was doing his job, but rather that he had contacted Han Yuanqing and then there was also Director Zhu, wanting him to contact them and come here for an inspection, in order to establish a connection with them!

  Cao Dafu's abacus skills are truly impressive, no wonder he can become the village head. I should learn from him, having connections and not having connections makes a big difference in official circles. Even if one has great abilities, without certain connections, they won't be able to get ahead. Now that I have this connection with Director Zhu and Han Yuanqing, I must take good care of it. But what he finds strange now is why Director Zhu came here alone to buy rice back then? And he said it was entrusted by someone, who is that person?