'So he wants to trade a job recruitment spot for this.' Accountant Li was afraid of doing something as dirty as what Wang Dadan was suggesting. He didn't dare!
"Dadan, didn't you already promise to pull some strings for my Shanzi?" Accountant Li grew anxious. So this was what Wang Dadan had been waiting for. He'd given him so many gifts before, but to think the man was still not satisfied and wanted him to do such rotten things!
Wang Dadan winked, looking rather pleased with himself. He raised his cup and chuckled. "Actually, you don't have to do anything else. Just be a little more... meticulous when they hand in their things. People will only say you're a diligent worker. No one is going to find fault with the village accountant over some outsiders."
This was the entire reason Wang Dadan had made a special trip today. If he didn't agree, his son probably wouldn't be able to join the army. Accountant Li had to admit it: Wang Dadan had him right where he wanted him.
"Alright," Accountant Li said weakly, yielding to Wang Dadan.
"Heh heh, I knew my dear Li would understand me," Wang Dadan laughed, then began making grand promises to Accountant Li. "Your Yingzi isn't a little girl anymore. She's pretty and well-behaved—it's a shame for her to be stuck toiling in the fields. In a few more years, if a spot opens up, I'll get her a factory job in the county seat. She'll be a city dweller, no more farming at home."
Liu Lanhua, who was just carrying in a large plate of scrambled eggs with chives, overheard this. She gave him a thumbs-up with her other hand, her face breaking into a wide, beaming smile. "Brother Dadan, you'll have to look out for our family in the future, then. You know our Old Li—he's too simple and honest. He does things that offend people and gets no thanks for his trouble. Not like you, living the good life. Who in Nianqiao Village doesn't say you're number one!"
Wang Dadan was thoroughly enjoying Liu Lanhua's flattery. Beaming, the fat on his face quivered and jiggled, a picture of perfect satisfaction. He raised his cup. "You're good to me, ma'am, and I'll be sure to remember it. From now on, leave Yingzi's job to me."
Even though she knew Wang Dadan was the type to skim a profit off every deal, Liu Lanhua felt a sense of relief. As long as giving him things could get her daughter a job, she was happy to do it. 'The real tragedy in life,' she thought, 'is having no connections. It's like holding a pig's head for an offering with no temple to take it to. What a waste that would be.'
Completely satisfied, Wang Dadan left with a half-jin piece of cured pork that Liu Lanhua had given him. Stir-fried with some garlic shoots, it would make another fantastic dish to go with drinks!
After Wang Dadan left, Liu Lanhua saw her husband sighing and groaning, huddled at the head of the bed smoking his pipe. As she stitched a shoe sole, she asked, "What are you sighing about? Didn't Dadan promise to get a spot for Shanzi? And he said he'd get Yingzi a worker's position in the future. Isn't that all good news?"
Accountant Li exhaled a cloud of smoke, instantly filling the room with the distinct smell of tobacco. He frowned and snapped, "What does a woman like you know! You know exactly what kind of person Wang Dadan is. He brought a few things to our house today, all suspiciously nice. Did you really think he's that close to our family? He just wants me to do his despicable, dirty work!"
Hearing her husband's words, Liu Lanhua glared at Accountant Li and said with a chiding laugh, "Oh, so you're the only one who understands! Wang Dadan is no saint, that's true, but he's well-connected. If we want to set up Shanzi and Yingzi, we have to go through him. There's no other way. Anyway, stop sulking. What exactly does he want you to do? If it's something tricky, tell me. We can figure it out together."
"That Wang Dadan wants me to give those three female volunteers a hard time when they weigh in their fish," Accountant Li said gravely. "You know as well as I do, doing something like that in front of everyone... it would be too obvious."
Hearing this, Liu Lanhua was unimpressed. She scoffed, "You useless thing! You're letting a little thing like this trouble you? Are you a man or not? I can get someone to help you. We can just say the fish aren't fresh, or they're too small, or the weight is off. You're the accountant. Fudging the numbers should be a piece of cake for you!"
As long as her son could join the army and her daughter could get a city job, making them both city dwellers in the future, her life would be complete. Who Wang Dadan wanted to sleep with was none of her business.
'If it was convenient, she might even play matchmaker for him!'
Besides, it wasn't her daughter he was after, so Liu Lanhua didn't care.
"Mm, I suppose that's the only way," Accountant Li said, his mind made up. He figured that to get something, you have to pay the price. 'There really is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.'
But from that day on, Liu Lanhua started paying attention to the three city girls. It didn't matter which one; as long as they could procure one for Wang Dadan, their deal would be complete.
And so, whenever Zhao Nuanyue, Wang Yuan, and Li Qiong came to turn in their hauls, Accountant Li would either say the fish were no good or that the weight was short. Even though they had done an excellent job, even better than the villagers, Accountant Li would still dock their work points.
"Accountant Li, our weight was clearly sufficient! Why are you saying it's not enough?" Li Qiong couldn't hold back any longer. "Our baskets are obviously fuller and heavier than anyone else's!"
"See for yourselves!" Accountant Li retorted. By some trickery, even though their haul was larger than others, it just never met the required weight.
Zhao Nuanyue sensed something fishy was going on. She pulled Li Qiong back, urging her not to make a scene just yet. 'Today's catch was about the same as usual, maybe a jin or two more. Tomorrow, let's bring in three full baskets of fish and see what Accountant Li has to say then.'
Back at their lodging, Li Qiong sat on a wooden stool, wiping away her tears.
"Life here is hard, but we've gritted our teeth and endured it. We haven't been a burden. So why are they bullying us?" Li Qiong choked out between sobs. "If we can only earn half our work points every day, when they distribute grain and money at the end of the year, we won't have enough to eat. We'll starve."
Wang Yuan was also indignant. "It was always enough before, but today it wasn't. I have a feeling that Accountant Li is targeting us. But we're new here, and we haven't offended any village officials!"
Zhao Nuanyue couldn't figure it out either, so she suggested a straightforward approach. "Even a mighty dragon can't crush a local snake. For now, we really can't afford to cross Accountant Li. Tomorrow, let's catch more fish. If we bring in half as much again as the others, I refuse to believe he can still lie to our faces."
Li Qiong and Wang Yuan agreed it was a good idea. They would just have to work harder.
It was just like the old saying: people are worthless when they're far from home. Accountant Li was bullying them simply because he saw they were far from home, alone, and helpless.
That night, Zhao Nuanyue's consciousness entered the water, traveling through the rivers and canals of Nianqiao Village until it arrived at Accountant Li's house.
"Sigh, giving those three young ladies a hard time today... it doesn't sit right with me," Accountant Li lamented as he drank. His conscience was bothering him, but his circumstances forced his hand.