Chapter 603 Are You Going to Jump the Wall?

Chapter 603 Are You Desperate Enough to Jump the Wall?

On the third day of Jiao Zongyao's personal visit to Jiang Yu, he finally saw her.

He snorted, "One might think I was bending over backwards to see you. Seeing Department Head Jiang is truly no small task."

Jiang Yu tightened her coat around her, couldn’t be bothered to chat with him outside.

"Bad timing. Deputy Director Jiao came so early in the morning, and I haven’t even had breakfast yet. If you don’t mind, shall we talk while I eat?"

The temperature had dropped sharply today, and Jiang Yu, who hated the cold, had stayed in bed a little longer.

She hadn’t had time for breakfast after getting up.

No wonder Jiao Zongyao’s timing was so poor.

Before coming, Jiao Zongyao had spent a long time steeling himself.

Managing to appear calm in front of Jiang Yu was already a minor miracle.

He snorted coldly, barged inside, and put down the gift items he was carrying.

"I came today to apologize to Department Head Jiang. *Now* are you satisfied?"

Jiang Yu took her sweet time eating from her bowl, not even lifting her eyelids.

"Deputy Director Jiao, you exaggerate. I wouldn’t *dream* of it."

Jiao Zongyao clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his eyes glaring at Jiang Yu as if trying to bore holes through her.

"Cut the crap—you’re *loving* this! Jiang Yu, I’ve given you *enough* face. Don’t push your luck—don’t push people too far."

Jiang Yu chuckled lightly and deadpanned, "And what if I do push you? Are you desperate enough to jump the wall?"

Jiao Zongyao sputtered, too irritated to waste more words on her.

"Anyway, I’ve come today. Whether you return to the second factory or not is your business. But let me advise you—young people shouldn’t be too arrogant. One day, you’ll take *the* fall. Give people an out, so you won’t land too hard later."

Jiang Yu took a couple more bites before setting down her chopsticks.

"Did Deputy Director Jiao take any falls in his youth? Falling at your age could easily lead to breaking something."

Jiao Zongyao’s expression turned icy, his fury morphing into a cold laugh as he stood there confronting her.

"If you have the ability, go ahead and try! You think a few amateur moves can bring me down? Let me tell you, Jiang Yu, I haven’t survived all these years for nothing. You’re still too wet behind the ears."

Jiang Yu pointed at the things on the table. "I’ll accept Deputy Director Jiao’s apology. Take these things with you, please."

Jiao Zongyao snorted again, picked up the items, and turned to leave.

He was just going through the motions—as long as he could report back, that was enough.

After leaving the housing complex, Jiao Zongyao returned home.

Wu Fengxi, seeing the things he brought back, asked, "Why did you buy malt extract all of a sudden?"

Jiao Zongyao replied indifferently, "It was a gift. She didn’t want it."

He would’ve liked to throw it away, but after all, he had spent money and ration coupons on it. *Waste of good coupons.*

Wu Fengxi stood up and walked over to him.

"Who did you go see?"

"That's not your concern."

He entered the study, only to hear Wu Fengxi say, "A-Jin came looking for you. He said that investigation you tasked him with has some leads, and the documents are on your desk."

"Mm."

Just as he was about to close the door, Wu Fengxi rushed to stop him.

"This girl named Ding He seems to be just a teenager. Why are you investigating her?"

Jiao Zongyao lowered his gaze to look at her and, unusually, explained. "I’d seen her with Lan Raoping earlier."

Wu Fengxi thought for a moment. "Director Lan from Plant No. 3?"

"Mm."

Wu Fengxi said, "I remember Director Lan lost a daughter many years ago. Is this Ding He…?"

"No. But with me involved, she will be."

With that, before Wu Fengxi could react, he closed the door.

Jiao Zongyao sat at his desk, skimming the documents.

After a quick glance, he went out again.

Wu Fengxi didn’t even have time to ask before he was already downstairs.

...

Two days later, He Youfu hurried over from Nanhe Village to find Jiang Yu in a hurry.

Though it was freezing, sweat dotted his brow, clearly anxious.

"Uncle He, what’s the matter? Why the rush?"

Jiang Yu fixed him a cup of sugar water and gave him two minutes to catch his breath.

He Youfu swallowed the sugar water, but a bitterness rose in his throat.

Even his eyes looked troubled.

"Jiang Yu, I’m here to return your money."

Jiang Yu saw him pull out a thousand yuan and returned it to her.

"What’s this for? Did the collective sideline fall through?"

He Youfu covered his forehead, shaking his head with his eyes closed.

"Don’t ask."

He set the money down before slowly explaining to Jiang Yu.

Apparently, soon after Jiang Yu had left Nanhe Village, gossip started swirling in the village.

"They're all saying that I'm in cahoots with you, trying to use our collective sideline venture as cover for speculation."

They even claimed that if we actually turn a profit, it would never be shared with them and would all end up in Jiang Yu's pocket.

Some even said, "No wonder Jiang Yu took out a thousand yuan so willingly—she must have planned this business venture herself and just needed to cover the initial costs."

There were far worse things said, things Uncle He couldn't even bring himself to repeat.

"They're all kicking up such a stink that this collective sideline is doomed before it starts. I'll return the money to you first. When the elections come next spring, I won't run again. Let them do as they please."

Uncle He completely lost heart this time.

He had served as the captain of Nanhe Village for so many years—if nothing else for his years of service, right?

Finally, he had seized an opportunity to boost the village's income, hoping to push forward and lead everyone to a better life.

But before it even began, he had cold water thrown on it.

"If they don't trust me, fine by me. I don't want to drag your reputation down with mine. From now on, it's best if you steer clear of village business."

Jiang Yu took the money back, though she still felt a twinge of regret.

"If that's how it is, then let it be. Uncle He, don't take it too hard. After all these years in Nanhe Village, everyone knows your character."

Uncle He Youfu smiled bitterly. "If they really knew, they wouldn't believe such ridiculous rumors."

Jiang Yu fell silent for a moment, her brows knitting together.

"Is there really no other way? Though it came to me on the spur of the moment, starting a chicken farm is actually a solid idea, and there's no shortage of buyers. You've been in the village for so long, with deep connections—surely a good portion of the villagers still support you."

At a time when everyone was barely scraping by, these goods would sell like hotcakes even in the city.

Take Yunjiao Village, for example—they've already started their collective sideline full steam ahead, clearing a large stretch of wasteland to grow cotton.

Rural resources are scarce. If we don't find ways to generate income, we'll be left depending on the same meager harvests forever.

Jiang Yu clutched the money in her hand; the more she thought about it, the more she felt it was a shame to give up so easily.

"Uncle He, has your sideline application been approved?"

Uncle He Youfu nodded. "It's already been approved."

Jiang Yu said, "Since it's approved, then there's no need to be held back by these rumors. Go ahead boldly. In the past, our village distributed grain based on household size, but now we need to change the rules."

Villages traditionally distributed grain based on household size and work points, with work points barely counting—most of it depended on the number of people.

This led to many people shirking work, just going through the motions with the group.

Everyone figured that whether they worked hard or not, as long as they showed up, they'd get work points.

Even if you didn't lift a hand, you'd still get a share of grain at the end of the year.

More and more people got lazy, learning to slack off.

"The collective sideline should also count toward work points, but we need to significantly increase their weight. Let everyone understand what it means to 'more work, more gain.'"

"No matter which path we take, the beginning is always the hardest. If you're truly determined to do this, Uncle He, you'll need to brace yourself."

Only when it's time to distribute earnings and people see the difference—and the hope—will they put their hearts into the collective sideline.

Jiang Yu took out the thousand yuan again. "Uncle He, no matter what you choose, I'll support you. Earlier this year, Yunjiao Village harvested the cotton they planted on reclaimed land, just in time for winter—they raked in good money."

The thought of sharing profits sent a fire in Uncle He Youfu's belly.

"Jiang Yu, I've made up my mind—I'm all in!"