24: Chapter 24 Seeking Local Delicacies

Under the old locust tree in front of the Zhengjia Village committee office, Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian had already been waiting for an hour.

This nearly fifty-year-old Party Branch Secretary was wearing his only Dacron shirt, with the buttons fastened all the way to the top.

Seeing the tractor appear, he trotted up to welcome it, almost tripping over his own cloth shoes.

"Welcome, Township Head Li!"

Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian's calloused hands tightly enveloped Li Dakang's hand, the warmth of his palms as scalding as a steamed bun just out of the steamer.

Behind him, the Women's Director's red hair tie, the accountant's glass spectacles, and the militia company commander's liberation shoes formed a vivid portrait of the mountain village cadres.

"Hello, Party Branch Secretary Zheng. Sorry to disturb you by coming here today," Li Dakang responded with a smile.

"Not at all, not at all. It is our Zhengjia Village's good fortune that Township Head Li could come," Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian said, his words full of sincerity.

Subsequently, Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian introduced the other village cadres to Li Dakang one by one.

Li Dakang shook hands with them one by one to pay his respects, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

"Dad, don't just stand here," Zheng Shijun reminded him softly from the side.

"Right, right, right. Look at me, I was just too excited to see the leader."

Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian enthusiastically invited them: "Township Head, our village office conditions are humble. Why not come to my house to sit for a while and have a cup of tea?"

"I will follow your lead. I'll listen to whatever Party Branch Secretary Zheng arranges," Li Dakang nodded with a smile.

While passing through the courtyard where chili peppers were being dried, Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian's wife was standing on tiptoe to arrange teacups on the Eight Immortals table.

The wild mountain tea in the coarse porcelain bowls emitted a fresh fragrance. Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian reached under the shrine and took out a pack of cigarettes wrapped in tinfoil, his fingers trembling slightly as he tore the seal.

This pack of "Shahe" brand cigarettes was bought by his son, Zheng Shijun, to honor him after starting work. He usually couldn't bear to smoke them, saving them specifically for entertaining leaders, while he himself only smoked dry tobacco.

"Party Branch Secretary Zheng, I came down this time to get a better understanding and see if there are any projects in the village worth developing that could increase income for the masses," Li Dakang said after taking a sip of tea.

"Township Head, you have seen it yourself. Here, besides mountains, there are only more mountains," Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian said with a distressed face, and the other village cadres nodded helplessly.

Zhengjia Village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with little land. Besides growing some grain to make ends meet, the villagers' biggest side business is raising a few chickens and ducks and selling some eggs to subsidize the family expenses; there aren't even many households that raise pigs.

"As the saying goes, 'rely on the mountains to eat from the mountains, rely on the water to eat from the water.' Having many mountains is not necessarily a bad thing."

Li Dakang put down his teacup: "I just saw that the grass on the hillsides is growing well, so developing animal husbandry would be quite suitable."

"Township Head, that is easy for you to say, but our village foundation is weak. The villagers have no extra money in their hands and simply cannot afford livestock. Moreover, if the livestock gets sick, no one can afford the loss," Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian said with a face full of worry.

"That is also true. It seems this matter requires careful consideration," Li Dakang nodded.

"Dear, the meal is ready. Let's eat before chatting," after chatting for a while, Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian's wife came over to remind them.

"Township Head, let's eat first. You must be hungry after the journey," Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian enthusiastically invited them.

"Okay, I didn't expect time to pass so quickly. Then I will trouble you, Party Branch Secretary Zheng."

Having bumped along on the road for more than two hours, the food he ate in the morning had long been digested, and Li Dakang was indeed a bit hungry.

Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian had put a lot of thought into this lunch: not only did he kill his own laying hen, but he also specifically got two plump, delicious crucian carp from the river.

Besides that, there was stir-fried cured meat with chili peppers, stir-fried eggs with scallions, air-dried wild rabbit meat, plus a basin of tofu and two seasonal vegetables.

A total of eight dishes.

"This... is too extravagant," Li Dakang's Adam's apple bobbed.

He knew clearly that this table of food might be the Zheng family's meat and fat for several months.

In this day and age, such a standard of food is only available to ordinary families during festivals and holidays. In a remote mountain village like Zhengjia Village, they might not even be able to eat this well during the New Year.

"Township Head, this is your first time here. The village conditions are poor, and these are just local goods; they aren't worth much," Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian said with a chuckle.

"Then everyone, please sit down. Don't let Party Branch Secretary Zheng's kindness go to waste."

Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian brought out a coarse pottery wine jar. The moment he slapped open the mud seal, the sweet fragrance of rice wine filled the air.

"Township Head, it's homemade. Please don't mind it."

His hand trembled slightly as he poured the wine, and the amber-colored liquid swirled in the bowl.

"Good. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Let me taste it."

"Township Head, I will toast you first."

Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian raised his wine bowl: "It is Shijun's good fortune to be able to follow you."

"Party Branch Secretary Zheng, you and your wife are the ones who should be thanked. You raised such an outstanding young man as Shijun, which has saved me a lot of worry in my work," Li Dakang responded with a smile.

This rice wine had a faint sweetness when it entered the mouth and was very smooth.

After a few bowls of wine, the atmosphere at the table became much more lively, and even the originally reserved village cadres loosened up.

"Township Head, try this tofu. I got up early this morning to make it," Village Party Secretary Zheng Yaoxian said, pointing to the plate of tofu.

"Okay, let me try it."

Li Dakang picked up a piece of snow-white tofu, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

This tofu melted in the mouth, and the bean fragrance carried the sweetness of mountain spring water; it was a taste he had never experienced before.

"Party Branch Secretary Zheng, this tofu..." Li Dakang picked up another piece.

"Haha, Township Head, this is a specialty of Zhengjia Village. Every time I come, I have to ask Party Branch Secretary Zheng to make some. I haven't eaten it for a long time, and I really have a craving for it."

After speaking, Vice Township Head Huang also picked up a large piece of tofu and put it into his mouth, looking like he was savoring the taste.