Chapter Eight: The Subtle Schemes of the Qiao Father and Son

Upon hearing this, the villagers who hadn’t seen fresh meat in a long time immediately grew noisy, speaking all at once to express their thoughts.

“Father, Zhang Tiejun is just buying favor with the people. Not long ago, I even saw him eating alone. Now, he takes public property to the brigade office to claim credit. I think he’s firmly stuck in right-leaning landlord ideology!” Qiao Dafang quickly jumped in to criticize.

“Is that so? Since you say that, I’ll just take the reindeer into the Guandong Mountains to feed the wolves,” Zhang Tiejun replied without argument, preparing to lead the reindeer back the way it came.

This action sparked opposition among the villagers. Compared to the tangible meat in Zhang Tiejun’s hands, Qiao Dafang’s half-hearted accusations seemed trivial.

Qiao Kangzhan’s face darkened. Seeing Zhang Tiejun’s sensible behavior made his own son’s ineptitude all the more infuriating.

“Enough,” Qiao Kangzhan sharply rebuked Qiao Dafang, who was acting like a jumping clown.

Watching the chattering crowd, Qiao Kangzhan was naturally unwilling to lose face.

“Tiejun, first, on behalf of the Qiao Family Shop Production Brigade, I thank you for your assistance!” Qiao Kangzhan said with a smile. “However, the brigade now has rules forbidding unauthorized mountain excursions. First, if anything happens to you, I can’t explain it to your mother. Second, it’s simply against regulations.”

“Living off the mountain or the sea, habits formed over so many years can’t just be abolished overnight,” Zhang Tiejun replied cheerfully. “I know some of the commune’s rules. With natural disasters affecting the nation, every level of government tells people to plan their own grain reserves to weather the crisis. Now, with fresh meat right in front of everyone, wouldn’t it be wasteful not to eat it?”

The villagers’ growing excitement made it difficult for Qiao Kangzhan to openly defy them: “In that case, as the secretary, I certainly can’t let the young and old of the entire shop go hungry. Then let’s divide it up!”

Qiao Kangzhan’s words completely ignited the crowd’s enthusiasm. Several cooks were already sharpening their knives, ready to carve the reindeer.

While the crowd busied themselves with dividing the venison, Qiao Kangzhan silently slipped away.

“Father!” Qiao Dafang tried to cause trouble again but was pulled back home by Qiao Kangzhan.

That night, smoke rarely rose from the chimneys of the entire Qiao Family Shop. The scent of reindeer meat spread through every household, yet the Qiao family compound was cold and desolate.

“The crocodile gives birth to the gecko; each generation worse than the last. You two are truly strange. Other families feast on meat, but ours just drinks soup,” Qiao Wangshi muttered to herself as she poked the fire stove.

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“I’m having my brother gather people to come back and seal off their entire household!” Qiao Dafang said stubbornly.

Qiao Wangshi quickly interrupted, “You better behave. Your brother has finally made a name for himself in the county seat; don’t cause trouble for him. You always stir things up with a widow’s child—what’s his name again?”

“I just can’t accept it. People like Zhang Tiejun, why does he always get to run amok? The Qiao Family Shop is our domain!” At last, Qiao Dafang confessed why he always targeted Zhang Tiejun.

“Nonsense!” Qiao Kangzhan knocked the pipe on the edge of the heated kang bed. Tiny sparks trickled down, dimming quickly on the ground.

Naturally, Qiao Dafang dared not disobey, shrinking his neck and folding his arms as he leaned against the clay wall by the kang.

“Why do you always talk about children?” Qiao Wangshi was reluctant to defend her son. “If you have something to say, just say it!”

“You don’t understand! Too much pampering spoils a child!” Qiao Kangzhan explained. “What use is fighting and bullying? No matter how tough you are, you’re just relying on my protection. The villagers show me some respect. Look at your behavior today — running around wildly, almost becoming the enemy of our entire shop.”

“That’s because you didn’t speak up. If you had, who would dare defy you?” Qiao Dafang asked confused.

Qiao Kangzhan sighed: “You don’t understand. To hold office, you must learn to wield both kindness and authority! If I oppose the people, I make enemies. It’s good to be feared, but not to excess. If people listen to you, you’re an official. If no one does, what kind of official are you?”

“So what do you mean?” Qiao Dafang asked.

“My time is almost up. The Qiao Family Shop will soon have a new brigade secretary. I’ve talked it over with your brother—we’ll try to support you as much as possible,” Qiao Kangzhan said, lighting his pipe again. “Once you become the brigade secretary, won’t you be the one in charge of the Qiao Family Shop?”

“Really?!” Qiao Dafang jumped up from the kang. “Will the village elders really agree?”

“Be patient,” Qiao Kangzhan took two puffs from his pipe. “I still have a few old comrades alive. They’ll issue a document based on your standards. Your brother will find people to campaign for you. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

After saying this, he added, “But Zhang Tiejun is indeed a bit arrogant. If this boy wins over the people, he’ll be hard to deal with.”

“Exactly, Father!” Qiao Dafang eagerly climbed onto the subject. “You should find a reason to kick him out! Better to get rid of him than have him cause trouble for me.”

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“That may be true, but we don’t have a proper excuse. If we act too obviously, it won’t look good,” Qiao Kangzhan said, lowering his head in thought.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the Qiao family compound.

“Secretary Qiao!” An elderly man panted as he ran inside.

Through the window crack, Qiao Dafang recognized the visitor. “Father, it’s Old Qiao, the shepherd.”

Old Qiao was one of the few bachelors in the Qiao Family Shop, sixty-three years old, who had tended sheep for nearly thirty years.

After the founding of the new China, the commune entrusted the Qiao Family Shop with over thirty sheep, which were entrusted to Old Qiao out of trust. Over the years, Old Qiao had been diligent and responsible. Seeing him rush in like this, something must have gone wrong.

“Don’t say anything for now,” Qiao Kangzhan instructed before putting on his worn cotton jacket and stepping outside.

“Old Qiao, what’s happened? What’s the matter?”

“Secretary Qiao, come take a look! The sheepfold has been attacked! More than a dozen sheep were bitten to death!” Old Qiao cried out in anguish.

Qiao Dafang, who had just stepped outside, heard this clearly and exclaimed, “What? Is that true? Old Qiao, how could you make such a mistake! This is dereliction of duty! These are socialist assets!”

Accused so harshly from the start, Old Qiao’s deeply lined face shifted from worry to fear.