Chapter 5 lantern

Jiao Faxiang, secretary of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, went to work early in the morning, walked into the square concrete pillar door opened by the county committee, and saw a group of people surrounded by the velvet flower tree next to the reception room. only lanterns.Driven by a sudden burst of curiosity in his heart, Jiao Faxiang leaned forward. It is indeed a lantern for everyone to watch. It was a small lantern woven with thin bamboo strips, with a layer of red paper pasted on the outside, and a small candle lit inside.This kind of small lantern is played by rural children during the Chinese New Year. It is common and not uncommon.

The person carrying this lantern is an old country farmer, who looks a little funny.His face was too wrinkled, like a crumpled gray cloth, or more like a dry and wilted eggplant, lifeless; his eyes were open and closed, cloudy and dull; his mouth was tight They are tightly pressed together, there are a few sparse yellow beards on the upper lip, trembling slightly.On the whole face, only these slightly trembling yellow beards are full of life and emotion, which shows that he is holding his breath. "Hey! What are you doing here?" Jiao Faxiang asked. Those eyes that seemed to be open and closed looked over at the sound, but did not speak, as if weighing and appraising the identity of the interrogator.

"What a fool you are!" Jiao Faxiang said. "Seek the truth!" His withered lips moved. The onlookers laughed, the truth?Looking for truth?Such a rather elegant line, coming out of the mouth of a gray old farmer, undoubtedly has more comical colors. "What truth are you looking for?" Jiao Faxiang also smiled. "Look for the truth of the Communist Party!" the old farmer said stubbornly. "Can you be more specific?" Jiao Faxiang reminded him. His eyes rolled suddenly, a ray of unbearable light appeared under his drooping eyelids, he stared at Jiao Faxiang, and asked, "I told you, do you care?"

"I just want to ask you." Jiao Faxiang said affirmatively. "Ah! I found Bao Qingtian—" the farmer holding the lantern muttered, "I found Bao Wenzheng..." The specific narrative of the lantern-firing peasants—— I live in the same yard as the branch secretary Liu Zhitai.This is a stable in the landlord's house during the land reform period. There are three rooms, each accounting for half.Two families crowded into one courtyard, and they had to build pigsty, sheep shed, chicken coop, latrine, and pile up firewood. It was so crowded that no one could stretch out.In the past few years, money was tight, and I didn't have the strength to build a house, so I had to squeeze.

In the past two years, my money has been exhausted, and I want to move out and build a new house in another hospital, so I applied to the team for the allocation of another hospital's Xinzhuang base, so that Liu Zhitai's family can live in the old courtyard, and it is lenient.Liu Zhitai is the secretary of the party branch, and he allocated the Xinzhuang base of the First Hospital for himself, but he did not approve my request, saying that he had moved away and let me live in the old courtyard.That's okay, that's okay, anyway, the land in Xinzhuang and Laozhuang are the same size, and the team stipulates that the land is divided into three and three, and whoever leaves and who stays is the same thing.

Unexpectedly, Liu Zhitai allocated the Xinzhuang base, built a new house, moved, and never mentioned the issue of his house on the old Zhuang foundation.I discussed with him to demolish the old house and build a new one.He said he was busy and didn't have time to dismantle it.After half a year, I asked him when it was time to free up his hands, and he said he was busier.After another half a year, he simply said that he would not demolish the house, and would tie up the cows in the old house to feed them. I panicked and said that this Laozhuang base had been assigned to me.He said he admitted this, but he couldn't afford to demolish the old house, and there was nothing he could do!Later, someone gave me some advice and told me to spend money to buy Liu Zhitai's house.My God, this old house was originally a horse house when it was in the landlord's house. It is old and old, the rafters are rotten, the tiles are rotten, and it leaks like a straw sieve in rainy days.I even have to tear down my half, why buy his half of rotten wood and rotten tiles?Isn't this clearly a scam?

Thinking about it again, if you don't get pitted, you won't get off the stage!Anyway, I am anxious that he is tired.My three children are row upon row, and I haven't even married a daughter-in-law, just waiting for a house!I asked someone to negotiate the price with Liu Zhitai, how open the party secretary was to ask for the price!Terribly big!I can't afford it! I approached the township government no less than eight times, always saying that I was busy and couldn't spare time to solve such trivial matters.I know it's a trivial matter in the government, it's trivial, but it's a big deal in my family.The house leaks and the wall collapses, people are afraid to live in it, and the baby's daughter-in-law has nowhere to settle down when she gets married. How will my family live?I really couldn't think of a good way, so I put on a lantern...

"Secretary Yang? Hey! In Qingshuiwan, your township, a farmer named Tian Chengshan came to the county with a lantern because of a little dispute at the Zhuang base. You should deal with this matter!" Jiao Faxiang Said calmly.He was doing the inspection of party discipline in a county, and there were naturally many people and things that violated party discipline more seriously than what this farmer reported.Therefore, he was not excited, nor did he arouse much righteous indignation. It was just a trivial matter, and it was a trivial matter, which was settled by the village. "Okay, okay. It's outrageous to make a mess like this. Blame our dereliction of duty." Secretary Yang blamed himself repeatedly on the phone, and assured him, "Don't worry, Secretary Jiao, I will handle this matter myself. Three days later, I will give You report the results of the processing."

Jiao Faxiang was busy with more important things that he should be busy with. On the morning of the third day, just as Jiao Faxiang walked into the gate of the county party committee's square concrete pillars, walked through the cement passage, climbed up to the second floor, and walked into the office, the phone was ringing hurriedly. Jiao Faxiang grabbed the phone receiver and put it on his ear. It seemed that the earphone was leaking electricity, and his ears and even his whole body trembled.The call came from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, saying that it was a farmer named Tian Chengshan from Qingshuiwan, this county, who carried a lantern to the gate of the Municipal Party Committee under the name of "Looking for the Truth", but was actually crying out for injustice.

How did it happen?Jiao Faxiang was really on fire. Without taking the phone off his ear, he dialed the number in the village and called Secretary Yang of the township party committee to speak. "It has been dealt with. Secretary Jiao, I have dealt with the issue of Tian Chengshan in Qingshui Bay seriously yesterday, and the specific opinion is this—" Jiao Faxiang listened patiently, and Secretary Yang's enthusiasm for work came from the headset. The voice said, "Yesterday, I talked to Tian Chengshan and pointed out clearly to him that it is a manifestation of anarchism to make a big fuss with the county party committee with lanterns because of a personal dispute, which affects the normal work of the county party committee. After education, Tian Chengshan has realized the serious consequences of his actions and destroyed the good situation of stability and unity. I have seriously pointed out to him that this is the poison of the "Cultural Revolution" and the impact of "liberalization". After investigation, Tian Chengshan's "Cultural Revolution" 'Although Zhong didn't join a factional organization, his wife was a formidable hand. He had joined an organization in the village at the time, so it cannot be said that he was not affected. Considering that Tian Chengshan is an ordinary villager and not a party member, it is difficult to punish him. He should educate him. Forget it. Whether there is a background behind this incident remains to be further understood. I think, how could a fool like Tian Chengshan come up with such a deliberate insinuation trick like picking up a lantern? How could he say "find the truth" Advanced words?..."

"Okay, okay, you've really used your brain!" Jiao Faxiang couldn't laugh or cry, and he couldn't bear to continue listening, "What's the consequence of your handling of this matter?" "As I said at the beginning, Tian Chengshan admitted that his actions were wrong." Secretary Yang's voice still did not lose enthusiasm. "Did you know?" Jiao Faxiang said mockingly, "Tian Chengshan took the lantern to the gate of the Municipal Party Committee!" "Ah?" Secretary Yang's voice suddenly became thicker, and his breath was very loud, "This guy is really outrageous!" "Think about how we are not worthy." Jiao Faxiang said in a cold tone, "If you keep going like this, Tian Chengshan will go to Zhongnanhai with a lantern in time for tomorrow!" The other party seemed to have suddenly realized that he was not satisfied with his report, and remained silent for a long time. Jiao Faxiang put down the phone angrily, and sent a message to the driver: "Take a trip to Qingshui Bay." Qingshui Bay is surrounded by slopes on three sides, and one side is out of the waterway. There are many persimmon trees, apricot trees and peach trees on the slopes. The fruit will definitely be very popular.In front of the village, there is a flat plain like a dustpan, where wheat and rice are grown.One can tell at a glance that this small village is a unique corner in the mountainous area of ​​this county. Seventy or eighty households of villagers did not need to use the radio. The village chief yelled from east to west, and men and women gathered in the meeting place in the middle of the village. Jiao Fayang asked Liu Zhitai, the village party secretary, to read out the county government's No. XX document on allocating village bases to villagers. Liu Zhitai was tall, with bald hair on the top of his head, and his bald forehead shone brightly in the autumn afternoon sun.He has a crisp voice and good reading skills. After reading the documents aloud, he hung one hand on the temporarily moved table and put one hand on his waist, and addressed all the villagers: "According to the spirit of the county government documents, set aside the foundation of Xinzhuang, The old Zhuang Jijiao collectively planned, and I will conduct a self-criticism first. I did not relocate the old house in time, which affected Comrade Tian Chengshan’s house building. It was caused by my laziness. I am always afraid of trouble..." Jiao Faxiang couldn't help but look at this old party secretary who was nearly sixty years old, he was really clever!He didn't ask him to do a self-criticism, he didn't even ask about it, he realized it immediately and self-censored without hesitation.He originally thought that holding a mass meeting to investigate this matter in public and hurting Liu Zhitai's face would be better than talking to him alone.Now, Liu Zhitai had already walked ahead of him, so he asked, "Let's meet the date this time! Tian Chengshan's son is waiting to build a house and marry a wife!" "We'll start tomorrow!" Liu Zhitai said, "as long as it doesn't rain." "I heard that for a while you wanted to sell the rotten house to Tian Chengshan. Is this true?" Jiao Faxiang asked, starting a disturbance. "What's the matter!" Liu Zhitai didn't change his face, and he agreed, "That's Chengshan asking someone to buy it. I thought about it later, I can't sell it, what's the point of selling it!" Jiao Faxiang stood up and said, "Comrade Zhitai, it is said that this house originally belonged to the landlord, and you and Tian Chengshan are the fruits of victory. It's good if you don't sell it. If you sell this house that is about to collapse To Chengshan, if I say something that doesn't please you, your heart will be too dark—" Jiao Faxiang paused for a moment, turned his head to look at it, Liu Zhitai's face turned red, as red as a pig's liver.He continued: "Think about it, the distribution of the landlord's horse name is the fruit of victory. No one asks you for a penny, right? Now you have allocated a new foundation, and no one asks you for a penny, right? You If you keep the old house there and don’t demolish it, Tian Chengshan can’t build a house. If you want to borrow some rotten wood and rotten tiles to pit Tian Chengshan for a fortune, think about it, don’t say whether you are enough to be a Communist Party member, whether you still have popularity Son?" Liu Zhitai lowered his head, drooped his eyelids, shook his big hand holding the short pipe pipe, smiled awkwardly, and didn't answer. When Jiao Faxiang mentioned this, he became emotional for no reason, and said: "Fellows of Qingshuiwan, I have worked in our county for ten years, and I have never been here. I never thought that our county has such a place with good geomantic omen. Liu Zhitai Comrade! Don’t forget that you are a cadre of the Communist Party. Your surname is not a pit. A muddy bay..." His voice was drowned out by the shouts and applause from the villagers of Qingshuiwan. Jiao Faxiang suddenly saw that Secretary Yang of the Township Party Committee was also standing in the den, applauding vigorously. When did this guy come here? The jeep drove out of Clear Water Bay and galloped on the dirt road with potholes.In the fields in autumn, the autumn crops are all harvested, and the winter wheat has a touch of green, and piles of black grain stalks are piled up everywhere on the field ridges and irrigation canals.The sunset is like gold. The driver cursed the damn road under his breath, making the car rattle and rattle. Jiao Faxiang and Secretary Yang sat side by side on the back chair. Secretary Yang was deeply moved and said: "Secretary Jiao, you really live up to your reputation and work hard. I was in Qingshuiwan just now, and I was deeply moved by listening to your speech! You see that the problem is profound, so profound!" Jiao Faxiang remained calm, but smiled wryly: "Don't come here to drink cabbage with vinegar, okay! Is there anything I said that is profound? Communist Party cadres are not allowed to deceive the masses. What kind of profound truth is this? A joke! That is just a truth That's all!" "The people in Qingshuiwan call you Bao Wenzheng, you are upright and selfless!" Secretary Yang was still immersed in his own world. "It's sad!" Jiao Faxiang laughed at himself, "A leading cadre of the Communist Party is only up to the standard of an honest official in the feudal society, so is it worthy of praise?" Secretary Yang felt a little resentful, and lit a cigarette. "Let's talk about your handling of Tian Chengshan!" Jiao Faxiang tilted his head and stared at Secretary Yang, "I'll call you and ask you to deal with his dispute with Liu Zhitai's Zhuang base. Why did you investigate his wife?" What kind of shit organization did you join during the Cultural Revolution?" "Ha! I misunderstood, I misunderstood what you mean." Secretary Yang smiled embarrassedly, "I thought Tian Chengshan was messing around in the county, making troubles..." "Why didn't you think that it was Liu Zhitai who bullied Tian Chengshan?" Jiao Faxiang asked, trying to make his tone as friendly as possible, "Tian Chengshan has approached you several times, and you should understand the ins and outs, but you don't solve it for him. The question is, in turn, we need to check his performance during the 'Cultural Revolution', and further check his background, and doubt who taught him the 'advanced discourse' of 'finding the truth'. If he does this, can he obey?" "I ignored Liu Zhitai's corruption of the party style." Secretary Yang blamed himself, "I only considered that Tian Chengshan destroyed the overall situation of stability and unity." "If there is a problem, first check the root cause and background of Tian Chengshan. What kind of habit is this?" Jiao Faxiang stared at Secretary Yang, "To be honest, Liu Zhitai's style of work is not difficult to correct, as long as the policy and the masses As soon as we met, he put his foot down and curled up his hands. The difficulty lies in our terrible habit! Think about it, what kind of habit is this?" Secretary Yang's face was red and sweat was dripping out. The jeep stopped at the gate of the township government. Secretary Yang got out of the car and invited Jiao Faxiang to go in for a drink. Jiao Faxiang walked out of the car door, holding a lantern in his hand, and said with a smile: "I will give you this lantern as a souvenir. The answer to the question about the 'habit' is in this lantern. If you find it, Just tell me and give me back the lantern." Secretary Yang blushed and took the little lantern. Jiao Faxiang got into the jeep.The car was speeding on the asphalt road, but he said to himself: This habit!Hateful habit!this vice...