Reborn before the famine, kicking away the scumbag's family and living a carefree life.

57. Promotion

Su Jinru's only regret is that she cannot openly provide her family with abundant food, beautiful clothes, and a comfortable life.

In those extraordinary times, all she could do was endure and wait.

Within two days of Jin Gui taking office in Daben Township, he restored collective canteens to all production teams in the township, allowing everyone to have porridge.

He became the savior of Daben Township.

Jin Gui naturally received praise and awards from the county government leaders, and he instantly became a legendary figure in Nanyang County.

Some even called for Jin Gui to become the deputy county head to solve the food problem for the people of the county.

Some people also approached Jin Gui privately, asking him to help them buy grain.

People come to him every day asking for help to buy food.

At this moment, Jin Gui deeply understood why Su Jinru had initially refused to let anyone know that she was the one who had arranged the grain supply.

Fortunately, he took the blame. Otherwise, if she, a woman, had people coming to her door every day, the gossipy women in the village would surely be spreading rumors about her!

The people who came to Jin Gui to buy grain included not only ordinary people, but also leaders from higher levels.

After being rejected multiple times, the leader wanted to use the same method he had used to force him to take up a position as deputy county head in charge of disaster relief.

Jin Gui knew this was a hot potato.

He was not capable of taking it.

Su Jinru had made it clear to him that this was the last time she would buy food for him.

During such famines, food is scarce and prices skyrocket.

It's already a miracle that he was able to buy so much grain at such a price; he can't push his luck.

Again and again, not again.

Although he wanted to save more people, his abilities were limited.

He knew he could no longer buy food.

Therefore, he was not capable enough to become the deputy county head in charge of disaster relief.

However, once the appointment was made, Jin Gui couldn't refuse it. He was caught in a dilemma and could only hide away.

For three days in a row, no one could find Jin Gui.

The leader had no choice but to go to Jin Gui's house in person. Ding Xiang wouldn't even let him in, saying that she herself wanted to ask the leader for the person back!

Ever since Jin Gui became the township head, he has been unable to eat or sleep properly. Groups of people come to him to buy grain, and if he refuses, they harass him relentlessly.

Dingxiang cried and said, "Jingui is just an ordinary person. He doesn't have three heads and six arms. There is a famine all over the country and food is scarce everywhere. He was just lucky to be able to buy some food to tide him over. How could he possibly buy as much food as he wanted!"

“Every day people come to pressure him to buy grain. Where is he supposed to find so much grain? He is under too much pressure. The more the leaders trust him, the more guilty and restless he feels.”

Dingxiang wiped her tears with her sleeve.

“If anything happens to Jin Gui, I will sit in front of your county government every day and cry. I just want a person, a living, breathing person, I don’t want him to be a leader.”

The leader was speechless, also moved by Dingxiang's tears.

Even though he knew Jin Gui was probably hiding at home, he couldn't just barge into someone's house!

Besides, Jin Gui's wife is clearly a sensible person. She can tell that the couple is putting on a show, and there's nothing she can do about it.

However, aside from the matter of buying grain, Jin Gui was indeed a good cadre and a person who truly served the people.

If he were a person who was ambitious and eager for quick success, he could have easily taken up the position of deputy county head based on the achievements he had made in Daben Township, and lived off his past glory without a care in the world.

He now clearly knows that he can no longer buy grain, so he dares not take up the post. His reason is that he is afraid of delaying the people of the whole county and disappointing the leaders.

There aren't many people like this who are down-to-earth, humble, and self-aware.

There are many people in positions of power who do nothing.

Leader: "I understand. Jingui is probably under too much pressure and went out to relax. When Jingui comes home, tell him that we appointed him as deputy county head not to force him to buy grain, but because we value his down-to-earth work ethic, his dedication to the people, and his ability to lead everyone to do some practical things."

“Just like you said, we are all ordinary people, all mortals. We can only do what we can. Including me, I also want everyone in the county to have food to eat, but I can’t. People are starving to death every day. We are the hardest-hit area in this famine. The disaster is severe. I also want to change things, but I am powerless. Even so, we must try our best to solve as many problems as we can. As long as we do our best, we will have a clear conscience. Therefore, running away is not the way to solve the problem.”

The leader left after saying those words. Jin Gui was at home and heard everything that was said.

After thinking about it at home for a day, Jin Gui finally went to take up the post of deputy county head.

He told Dingxiang that he could not let down the leaders' expectations of him, and that he would do what he could to serve the people.

After Jin Gui took office as deputy county head, he never went to see Su Jinru again.

He remembered that on the way back from the county town that day, Su Jinru said that this was the last time she would help him buy grain. Since she said it was the last time, he shouldn't go to her again and put pressure on her.

He fulfilled his responsibilities in his own way, just as the leader said: as long as you do your best, you have a clear conscience.

Qi Zhengyang's home.

Qi Zhengyang and Du Mei were lying in bed.

Qi Zhengyang said, "I had a dream before that Cheng Xiao starved to death, and we could be together openly and honestly, no longer needing to sneak around like we are now. But now that your production team has resumed the collective canteen, it's impossible for someone to starve to death to happen again."

Du Mei leaned against Qi Zhengyang's chest.

"You said, if the famine is over and our school returns to normal, can we go back to class? I don't want to go to work. Being exposed to the wind, rain, and sun will make my skin look old. I want to go back to class."

"Once the famine is over, we will definitely continue to attend classes. The country needs talent, and that means it needs teachers."

Du Mei: "Although the collective canteen has been restored now, the porridge is so thin you can see your reflection in it. You start to feel hungry again in less than two hours, so it's not impossible for people to starve to death."

Qi Zhengyang: "That's not enough to cause someone to starve to death. It would take five to seven days for a person to starve to death."

Du Mei: "Don't worry, if I say he'll starve to death, he will. These days, people die inexplicably every day, and nobody cares how they died."

Qi Zhengyang's heart skipped a beat when he heard Du Mei's words.

He once hoped that Cheng Xiao would starve to death like in his previous life, so that he and Du Mei could be together legitimately and never have to live in such fear again.