"What's going on again?" Zhao Zheng frowned, then told Zhaodi and the others to bring the coal into the kitchen before heading towards the village entrance.
Everyone who should be there had arrived.
Three village elders, Xu Youde, Old Man Wang, and Old Man Wu, stood in front.
Someone asked, "Uncle Youde, what's the big announcement this time?"
"Don't worry, we'll know once everyone's gathered," Xu Youde said, glancing at the crowd. "Everyone should be here, right?"
"Listen up, young and old. The township has issued a notice saying bandits are making movements in Daguanshan. To protect us from them, all the men in the village aged between fifteen and sixty are forming a militia. They'll start training on a chosen day until the danger is over!"
Everyone's face dropped. "Training?"
"Uncle Youde, the township won't let us fight bandits, will they?"
"That's no joke. Bandits have horses, swords, spears, and bows. Wouldn't we be courting death if we went?"
Zhao Zheng had heard about the bandit movements in Daguanshan while he was in the township. Surprisingly, the township acted even faster than he'd expected.
Training wasn't a big deal. Every year, all the men in the village set aside one to three months for training. They could be called township soldiers or village soldiers.
If there was a war, these would be the best soldiers.
Lay down their weapons to be farmers, take up arms to be soldiers.
But the village soldiers weren't regular troops, they had no weapons. How could they fight the bandits?
They were all just bloodthirsty men.
"What are you arguing about? Be quiet," Xu Youde glared at them unkindly. "This is the township's decision. Anyone dissatisfied can speak up."
No one dared to stand up, and everyone remained silent.
"Training isn't unusual. The township is asking us to prepare. Daguanshan is far from our small village, and they might not return. Besides, the township already has soldiers."
"If anyone is unwilling, I'll recommend them to the township!"
At this, many people looked horrified. "Uncle, calm down. We're convinced!"
"Yes, we are. Please don't let us go to the township. I heard the bandits in Daguanshan kill people for food!"
Seeing their resignation, Xu Youde said, "That's more than enough."
After a pause, he continued, "Any family with a suitable male must provide one. I've calculated that there are about 160 males in the village. We'll form eight teams, each with a team leader. I'll be the team leader, and Lao Wang and Lao Wu will be vice-captains!"
At this, many people's eyes lit up.
Since there was no way to avoid it, was it possible for them to become team leaders?
Never underestimate the villagers' desire for official positions.
"Uncle, I want to be the captain."
"Goudan, you are qualified to be the captain, uncle, what do you think of me?"
"Uncle, I am tall and strong, I can be the captain!"
The crowd who were originally reluctant suddenly became enthusiastic.
Zhao Zheng was very annoyed. Wouldn't this delay his own development?
But he was a member of the small mountain village after all, and he could not be excluded.
Xu Youde smiled faintly, with a sense of planning and strategizing. "Now start the team assignment. After the grouping, we will discuss the team leader tomorrow. If you are confident in yourself, you can recommend yourself."
Zhao Zheng cursed in his heart. Isn't this obviously asking everyone to bribe?
Soon, the teams were divided, and Zhao Zheng was assigned to Team 8. Looking at the team members, they were either teenagers or fifty-year-old veterans.
"The teams are divided. Please leave early tomorrow and disperse." Xu Youde waved his hand and said.
The crowd dispersed, chatting in groups of three or five, and some people directly canvassed for votes in the team.
"Old Zhao, you're okay with me being the team leader of Team 8, right?" The speaker was Yan Dali, the nineteen-year-old second son of the old Yan family. He was incredibly arrogant, constantly referring to himself as "Old Zhao.
" Zhao Zheng smiled and said, "Sure, I have no objection!"
Yan Dali had assumed Zhao Zheng was difficult to talk to, but unexpectedly, he agreed straight away. He thought, "Everyone in the village said he was clueless, and now it seems true!"
He patted Zhao Zheng on the shoulder, "Don't worry, I'll definitely take care of you as team leader."
Zhao Zheng nodded, then his face darkened.
He hadn't originally wanted to be team leader, but surely he knew the morals of the villagers?
Being a team leader at least conferred a certain amount of power.
That evening, he first carried thirty kilograms of firewood to Xu Youde's house, then gave twenty kilograms each to Old Man Wang and Old Man Wu.
Giving rice was out of the question; it would have been unreasonable for him to do so.
Anyway, he still had nearly a thousand kilograms of firewood and two or three hundred kilograms of coal in his warehouse, which was enough for a long time.
"Father-in-law, grandma said in the village today that you are unfilial!"
Yang Zhaodi whispered while lying in bed at night.
"It must be the fourth daughter-in-law who is behind this." Zhao Zheng was very angry.
"It's not just the fourth aunt, but also the fourth uncle. They said behind your back that you don't recognize your own mother, but recognize someone else's mother as your mother." Zhang Xiao'e said timidly: "They are too much."
"Oh? They knew so quickly that I recognized Auntie as my godmother?" Zhao Zheng was surprised. In his impression, Auntie Zhou was not the kind of person who could not keep secrets.
"No, they are talking nonsense." Yang Zhaodi said worriedly: "
They just want to put the blame on father-in-law's head." "Find a time and tell everyone in the village that I recognized Auntie as my godmother." Zhao Zheng said.
"Ah, then grandma will definitely be very angry." Zhang Xiao'e said.
"Do I need to be secretive about my adoption?"
"Didn't I support my mother?"
"No!"
"That's it?" Zhao Zheng said calmly. "They're trying to pin the blame on me, so let's see if they have the guts to pin it on my mother!"
This was a perfect opportunity to establish the truth, to make sure everyone in the village knew that he, Zhao Zheng, was not someone to be trifled with.
Three generations of loyal Zhou family.
He, Zhao Laosan, and his twin sons were loyal!
His sweat was redder than their blood.
What could they use to accuse him of?
The next morning, everyone gathered at the village entrance.
After a night of speculation, everyone was curious about who would be the eight captains.
Even many idle old women had gathered early to watch the fun.
One hundred and sixty men stood straight, but each one, starving and underfed, staggered as they struggled to stand.
"The elections for team captains are now open. Starting with Team One, those who wish to be captains nominate themselves, and then we, the three team captains, will make the decision!"
Zhao Zheng scoffed at the hypocritical Xu Youde. Sooner or later, this hypocritical old man would be kicked out of office.
Team One was a scramble for the position, and in the end, Xu Youde's son, Xu Dashan, was elected.
"Thank you for your support in letting me be captain. From now on, I will lead everyone in training and defend the village!" Xu Dashan shouted.
Meanwhile, Ma Dazhu of Team Two glanced at Zheng Chunmei in the crowd and clenched his fist. He was determined to secure the position of captain.
Becoming a team captain would give him a chance to improve his reputation in the village and impress Zheng Chunmei!