"Now, elections for the captain of the second squad!"
As soon as the words had finished, Ma Dazhu rushed forward. "I, Ma Dazhu, am running for captain of the second squad. Among other things, I'm a decent archer. I can teach everyone archery and how to make bamboo bows and arrows. If bandits really come, we can handle them!"
Ma Dazhu offered a long speech, but no one showed much interest.
Zhao Zheng curled his lips. Hiding the moment the bandits came charging over was foolishness. Fighting them head-on was foolishness.
They have horses. There aren't even a few mules in the village. Shooting bandits with your bamboo bow and arrows?
Could you possibly hit them?
However, to Zhao Zheng's surprise, he actually got elected.
It seemed Ma Dazhu had gotten in through a backdoor.
"Done!" Ma Dazhu waved excitedly, then looked at Zheng Chunmei in the crowd. Coincidentally, Zheng Chunmei was also looking his way, and he felt a surge of pride.
But he never imagined that Zheng Chunmei didn't even look at him, but at Zhao Zheng in the crowd, with a hint of resentment in her eyes.
Zhao Zheng also noticed it and was a little angry. This widow Zheng was so bold that she flirted with him in broad daylight. Was there no one in the village that she cared about?
"I must teach her a lesson sometime."
The following election was also very boring. They were all pre-selected. Zhao Zheng almost fell asleep while listening to them.
In the crowd, the wife of the Yan family said nervously: "Boss, the next election is for Team 8. Do you think our Dali can be elected?"
Old man Yan held a straw in his mouth. "Didn't Dali say that everyone in the team supports him? He must be elected!"
"It would be great if he could really become the team leader. Our family has never had anyone who became an official."
"You are useless. Is the militia team leader considered an official? At least the village militia captain is considered an official!" Old man Yan said this, but he was very nervous in his heart.
Last night, his son ran home and vowed that he would definitely be elected. He was so excited that he couldn't sleep for half the night.
Yan Dali in the crowd was also nervous. He knew that his parents and his brothers and sisters were all looking at him. He couldn't show his fear. Besides, the girl he liked was there.
Including her father, he was also in the eighth team. He must be elected as the captain and be proud of himself.
When the village elders called out the election for the eighth team, he was the first to rush up, "I... I, my name is Yan Dali. I'm strong, young, and I know some martial arts. You can't go wrong by choosing me!"
The people around him frowned and even stuttered when they heard it. He also wanted to be the captain?
Someone in the crowd said, "Dali, go back and let your parents straighten your tongue before running for election!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Yan Dali's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Old Man Yan cursed furiously, "Bullshit! My Dali is just nervous. Stuttering is perfectly normal. Besides, everyone in the village knows how filial he is. He can do the work of three people. Is there anyone in Team Eight more suitable for captain than him?"
With just one sentence, he offended everyone in Team Eight.
Like father, like son; no wonder Yan Dali has such a low EQ.
Zhao Zheng sneered.
Xu Youde frowned. "Everyone, be quiet! Running for captain is a serious matter. What's all this giggling about?"
After everyone quieted down, Xu Youde let Yan Dali go first, and three more people took the stage.
"Anyone else from Group Eight nominate themselves?" Xu Youde asked.
At this moment, Zhao Zheng stepped forward.
Yan Dali was taken aback. "Old Zhao, didn't you say you were supporting me?"
"With so many nominees from other groups, Group Eight can't be left behind, right? Don't worry, I'm old, and the village elders will definitely choose you," Zhao Zheng said with a smile.
Yan Dali thought so too. Zhao Zheng was already old, and he could beat ten of him. There was no reason the village elders wouldn't choose him.
After taking the stage,
Zhang Xiao'e was excited, "Sister-in-law, my father-in-law is up."
Yang Zhaodi was a little nervous, "Do you think my father-in-law will be elected?"
"I think so," said the old lady from the Zhou family nearby. "Among these people, San'er is the most calm and intelligent!"
Zheng Chunmei's eyes grew more resentful. Of course, she also hoped that Zhao Zheng would be elected, so that he could help her family.
She didn't have any people, but they had to work.
What for?
Washing and sewing clothes for these people.
It didn't matter if they didn't work, they could just give them food.
But she couldn't afford food, so she could only work.
Some were happy for Zhao Zheng to be elected, but some were not.
The Liu family, the Wang family, and those who looked down on Zhao Zheng all mocked him in their hearts for overestimating his abilities.
Zhao Yi, his hand draped with a sackcloth, spoke coldly, "My Sanbao didn't make the team, so why should he?"
Mrs. Zhao also said, "It's a pity my Dabao isn't here, otherwise, he would definitely have been elected team leader!"
Zhao Zheng glanced at the crowd and said, "I, Zhao Zheng, everyone knows me. If the bandits really come, I suggest every household hide their valuables in advance and leave some less valuable items outside. If they do enter the village, giving them your belongings can save your life."
"Young wives and daughters in your families, if you can avoid showing up in public these days, do so. Bandits don't have a good time in the mountains, and if they see a beautiful woman, they'll definitely abduct her to become their concubine. So, to avoid this, be prepared."
"If I were the captain of Team 8, I would definitely lead everyone to survive and minimize the losses!"
With that, Zhao Zheng left.
Many people fell silent.
Indeed, relying on them to fight the bandits, there was no hope of victory.
It would be better to hand over their belongings to save their lives. The village had been plundered by bandits before.
As long as they are honest, they rarely kill people.
The most dangerous ones are what Zhao Laosan said, young wives and girls. Those vicious bandits are all lustful. Once they are spotted, they will definitely be abducted.
Old Man Yan sneered: "You useless thing, what's the point of hiding when the bandits come? Then what do you need as a team leader for?"
The wife of the Yan family also said: "Choose our Dali, let our Dali teach you martial arts and protect the village!"
The wife of the Liu family said, "Zhao Laosan is not good enough, he can't be the team leader!"
The old lady of the Wang family said, "Zhao Laosan is a coward. If we let him be the team leader, let alone protecting the village, he will not sell us out!"
Zhao Yi said nothing. He could curse him in private, but he certainly could not say it openly. In fact, if Zhao Zheng could really become the team leader, it would be a good thing for their family.
He wanted Zhao Zheng to be elected, but he was unwilling in his heart.
The old lady of the Zhao family was similar. She had a stern face and said nothing.
Yang Zhaodi and Xiao E looked at the three village elders who were whispering to each other above, and their hearts were in their throats.
After a while, Xu Youde cleared his throat, "After discussing with the other two deputy team leaders, the three of us unanimously agreed that the most suitable person to be the captain of the eighth team is..."
Yan Dali had already stepped forward, ready to accept everyone's attention.
"Zhao Zheng!"
When Xu Youde called out this name, Yan Dali was dumbfounded!