bullyxtreme Chapter 104 Major Events
Chapter 104 Major Events
However, those few words were enough to make the village chief feel powerless.
The recipe was leaked, and the sweet potato starch production failed. Which villager did this that harmed others and didn't benefit themselves?
The village chief slumped into a chair, his face blank as he spoke, "How could this be? How could everyone do such a thing?"
Seeing the village chief's expression, Song Jiaojiao felt a little guilty, wondering if she had exaggerated the situation.
"Actually, it's not that there's no way, it's just that we can only make sweet potato noodles for the village from now on. As compensation, the recipe for sweet potato noodles will belong to Sifanglou. But that's not the point. The point is that we have to find out who leaked the recipe. I have a lot more to do. I can't just produce one recipe and then leak another. Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't dare to hire villagers to work for me."
Hearing what Song Jiaojiao said, the village chief's expression softened slightly. "Yes, we need to find this rotten apple. Jiaojiao, are you saying that the sweet potatoes can still be harvested this year?"
"We can harvest this year, but we can only sell the rest to Sifanglou. As for how much they will pay, I'm not sure." Song Jiaojiao was thinking that since the recipe had already been leaked, she wouldn't make sweet potato noodles this year. When potatoes came out later, she could make potato noodles.
"That's definitely not as high a price as Song Jiaojiao offered," the village chief thought to himself, just as he was about to speak when he heard Song Jiaojiao say...
"Uncle Wang, let's gather the villagers together first and clarify the sweet potato flour issue. I need everyone to sign a contract later. At first, it was just talk, because I trusted the villagers and didn't make any strict requirements. But this time, I'm afraid they'll be serious. I don't want to be stabbed in the back again. It's because Sifanglou has cooperated with me many times that they know my character. If it were someone else, they wouldn't be so easy to talk to."
"Yes, yes, I'll go and ring the gong right now. Don't worry, Jiaojiao, I'll definitely give you an explanation." After saying that, the village chief hurriedly ran towards the center of the village.
Song Jiaojiao and Aunt Li exchanged a glance. Aunt Li stood up and pulled Song Jiaojiao outside.
"Come on, Jiaojiao, let's go take a look."
We had only gone halfway when we heard the sound of gongs and drums in the village. They were struck three times, indicating that it was a major event and that all villagers aged 15 to 60 were required to participate.
When Song Jiaojiao arrived at the location, many villagers from nearby villages had already arrived. Everyone was talking about it, wondering what had happened. The last time so many people were needed was ten years ago when someone in the family had to join the army. Song Jiaojiao's husband had joined the army at that time.
The village chief remained silent with his eyes closed. He only opened his eyes when most of the villagers had arrived. Most of the villagers had come, except for those who were not at home.
There were too many people, so the village chief beat the gong and drum again.
'Duang'
Only after the scene quieted down did the village chief speak.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why I've gathered you all here. Let me explain. Since Song Jiaojiao opened her workshop, which of you hasn't benefited from it? Let's not talk about anything else, just take sweet potatoes for example. Which of you hasn't sold sweet potatoes to Song Jiaojiao? Ask yourselves honestly, in town, sweet potatoes cost one coin for two pounds, and you still have to be picky. But Jiaojiao sells them for two coins for three pounds, and she even brings along all of your relatives and friends."
The sweet potato farm prioritizes hiring workers from the village. I truly never imagined there would be such an ungrateful person in our village. I hope that person will step forward, otherwise, the consequences will be unbearable.
The village chief paused here, his sharp eyes sweeping over everyone in the village.
Even after hearing what the village chief said, the villagers still didn't understand what was going on. They only knew that it was probably related to Song Jiaojiao's sweet potato farm.
"Village chief, just tell me straight what happened?"
"Yes, village chief, if you don't explain clearly, we really won't know what happened."
"That's right, village chief."
The people below began to ask questions, their eyes filled with confusion.
The village chief waved his hand to quiet everyone down.
"Jiaojiao's sweet potato farm is going to have to shut down, and we won't be able to harvest any more sweet potatoes!" As soon as the village chief finished speaking, a heated debate broke out in the crowd.
"Why did the sweet potato farm stop? Why can't we harvest the sweet potatoes? My family planted two acres of land with sweet potatoes this year."
"Exactly, what's going on? Didn't we say we'd keep harvesting? The sweet potatoes have already been planted, so why can't we harvest them now?"
"Yes, my family not only set aside one mu (approximately 0.16 acres) to plant sweet potatoes this year, but also worked from dawn till dusk to cultivate two mu (approximately 0.16 acres) of wasteland for planting sweet potatoes. We can't possibly eat all these sweet potatoes."
The villagers shouted louder and became increasingly agitated.
'Duang'
A gong and drum sounded, and everyone gradually quieted down.
"Jingjing, listen to me first." The village chief shouted loudly from his high place, "This time, it's not Jiaojiao's fault. A villager leaked the sweet potato flour recipe, which caused Sifanglou to come looking for trouble with Song Jiaojiao. That's why we had no choice but to give the recipe to Sifanglou for free to avoid this disaster. Sifanglou said that if the person who leaked the recipe can't be found, the village won't be able to buy sweet potatoes this year. Even if we do buy them and make them into sweet potato flour, no one will want them unless this matter can give them a satisfactory result."
"What?! Who dared to leak the recipe to everyone?!"
"Yes, who did this thing that harms others and doesn't benefit themselves?"
The villagers looked at each other suspiciously.
"The person who could leak the recipe must be someone who works at the sweet potato factory; otherwise, how would they know the recipe?"
A clear-headed villager pointed out the key point, and everyone turned their attention to the people going to work. Being able to get a job was already a lucky thing, yet some people didn't cherish this hard-won opportunity. Many people in the village wanted to go but weren't selected.
Those working at the sweet potato workshop only then realized what it meant to be pierced by needles. Those who were not afraid boldly met the villagers' gazes without flinching, while those who were usually talkative, or who had let slip secrets at home, all lowered their heads, not daring to meet the villagers' eyes.
Seeing this, the village chief said, "Those who have worked at Song Jiaojiao's workshop, come up first. This matter concerns whether the workshop can continue to operate and whether the villagers can earn more income. Please cooperate with us for now."
People who had worked at the sweet potato workshop stepped forward one after another. Some were fearless, some were nonchalant, and some had their heads down, and it was hard to tell whether they were feeling guilty or just shy.
Aunt Li and Sun Meihua stood up. Aunt Li did not stand with them, but faced the group of people and looked at them. All the people here were recruited by her. They were all hardworking people in the village and had never been involved in any bad things. She never expected that she could misjudge people like this.
Aunt Li, with a sullen face, scanned the group of people one by one. She did see a few people who looked guilty, but without evidence, she couldn't speak recklessly.
Song Jiaojiao herself did not expect that the number of people working in her workshop would reach nearly thirty, most of them women, with only a few men.