148: The result was a complete reversal.

"Old man, judging by the way you speak, you don't seem like an ordinary farmer, do you?" Zhao Yulin asked suspiciously.

"I won't hide it from you, I served as a village head for over ten years, though that was more than twenty years ago. I still have a little bit of insight, at least!" the Old Farmer said with a hint of pride.

"Old man, did someone teach you to say that?" Zhao Yulin pressed. Chen Yuanhua felt a bit displeased, but he also had some doubts in his heart, so he remained silent.

"Hmph, so you think someone taught me to say this, just to speak well of the county and the town, right? I'm already over seventy years old, with one foot in the grave, what is there that I can't see through? Is there any need for me to play along with Cadres and deliberately curry favor with you? Well, I'll tell you this: I don't know about the others, but that young County Magistrate isn't all that great. Are you satisfied now?" The Old Farmer snorted coldly, stood up angrily after finishing these words, turned around, and walked into the greenhouse, ignoring the two of them.

Zhao Yulin felt a secret thrill. Following by Chen Yuanhua's side, he had seen Lin Zifeng steal the spotlight and gain Chen Yuanhua's appreciation, which filled him with jealousy. He was dying to see Lin Zifeng fail!

So how could he not be happy to hear the Old Farmer say that Lin Zifeng wasn't all that great?

However, Chen Yuanhua had some doubts. Based on Lin Zifeng's political achievements and performance, he should have great prestige and be very well-loved among the masses! He felt that the Old Farmer's reaction was somewhat abnormal.

Next, Chen Yuanhua had brief exchanges with five or six other vegetable farmers.

Among these people, not one had a good word to say about Lin Zifeng. When Lin Zifeng was mentioned, their reactions were all similar; either they said he wasn't very good, or they said he was just average, too young, and unreliable.

If pressed about what exactly was bad about Lin Zifeng, they couldn't explain it, and if questioned further, they would quickly dodge away.

Zhao Yulin whispered by Chen Yuanhua's side: "Secretary, it seems you really can't judge a book by its cover! This County Magistrate Lin's reputation among the masses is not very good! He really says one thing to your face and does another behind your back!"

Zhao Yulin took this opportunity to continuously smear Lin Zifeng. He had no grudge against Lin Zifeng, and the reason he did this, besides being a bit jealous, was fear that Lin Zifeng would be highly regarded by Chen Yuanhua, affecting his own standing in Chen Yuanhua's heart.

He had been Chen Yuanhua's Secretary for over four years, and Chen Yuanhua already had intentions of letting him take up a post in the City Level.

In that case, Lin Zifeng would become his potential rival; once at the deputy department level, every step forward is extremely difficult.

Now that he had a chance to strike at a rival without it affecting him, how could he pass up such an opportunity?

Chen Yuanhua did not speak, instead walking towards the direction of their return, his mood somewhat dampened.

Just then, a Farm Woman in her sixties walked towards them.

Chen Yuanhua's initially good mood had been affected, and he no longer intended to chat with the Farm Woman.

However, Zhao Yulin, wanting to further confirm that Lin Zifeng's reputation among the masses was poor, spoke up in a self-smart manner.

"Ma'am, are you heading home after finishing your work?"

"Yes, I need to head home first to make dinner for the family. My old man told me to go back a bit earlier to rest before cooking dinner. Young man, are you and this brother here to inspect our work?" the Farm Woman said kindly.

"Yes, big sister. The greenhouses and the vegetable trading market here have developed quite well!" Chen Yuanhua replied.

"That goes without saying! These greenhouses and the vegetable trading market ahead have brought us local folks a rich income.

In the past, my Eldest Grandson's living expenses for university used to worry our whole family sick; we were often robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Now it's different. The vegetables from the greenhouses come out in batches and sell for money as soon as they reach the market. Now we have money coming in almost every day, and we work with more vigor every day. Last month, our family even bought an agricultural tricycle!" the Farm Woman said happily.

"Since that's the case, I heard reports that these greenhouses and the vegetable trading market ahead were all works spearheaded and overseen by your county's County Magistrate Lin Zifeng.

If not for his persistence and efforts, all of this might not have reached its current scale. However, I asked some of the growers here, and the growers here don't seem to have a very good impression of County Magistrate Lin Zifeng. What on earth is going on? Could it be that Lin Zifeng has violated regulations or discipline?" Chen Yuanhua still couldn't help but ask the question that was puzzling him.

Hearing what Chen Yuanhua said, the Farm Woman hurriedly waved her hands and said anxiously: "Big brother, one look at you and I can tell you're a big leader. You must not misunderstand; County Magistrate Lin has not violated any rules or laws."

Seeing the Farm Woman's anxious look, Chen Yuanhua quickly said: "Big sister, don't be anxious. Tell me slowly, since County Magistrate Lin has no faults, why do the growers here all say he is no good?"

Zhao Yulin had a premonition that things were about to go wrong, but facing Chen Yuanhua, he didn't dare stop the Farm Woman from speaking.

Hearing Chen Yuanhua's question, the Farm Woman hesitated, looking troubled.

"Big sister, you don't need to have any reservations. If Lin Zifeng really did something wrong, I will discipline him when I go back." In order to get the Farm Woman to tell the truth, Chen Yuanhua deliberately said he would discipline Lin Zifeng.

"No, no, no, you absolutely cannot discipline our County Magistrate Lin. If that happened, wouldn't we people become ungrateful beasts who return kindness with enmity?"

After saying this, the Farm Woman seemed to have made up her mind and continued: "We vegetable farmers all know that our County Magistrate Lin is very capable.

Back when County Magistrate Lin was in Heping Town, he brought quite a lot of benefits to the common people of Heping Town, and now Heping Town has become the wealthiest town in our county.

After County Magistrate Lin went to the county, several of our towns also gradually became wealthy.

This morning, others said that big leaders were coming to visit us.

Our County Magistrate Lin is so capable; if we spoke out the gratitude and praise for County Magistrate Lin in our hearts, and the big leaders heard it, they might transfer our County Magistrate Lin away.

This leader, we don't want County Magistrate Lin to leave, so we discussed it and deliberately didn't speak well of County Magistrate Lin. Please don't discipline our County Magistrate Lin, okay?

If you have a say, please don't transfer our County Magistrate Lin away. Give our County Magistrate Lin a raise, and it would be best if you transferred County Magistrate Lin to our Miaoshan Town; we would definitely welcome him with gongs and drums." The Farm Woman revealed the truth and then looked at Chen Yuanhua with a look of longing.

Hearing what the Farm Woman said, Chen Yuanhua's mood immediately improved.

He felt extremely conflicted; he never expected that these simple commoners, in order to keep Lin Zifeng, would actually come up with such a method, even wanting Lin Zifeng to come work in their town.

They didn't understand the rules of officialdom and thought that being an official was just about money, which is why they asked him to give Lin Zifeng a raise.

This was the greatest affirmation and recognition of Lin Zifeng's work and dedication from the common people!

Thinking of this, he said with a full face of smiles: "Big sister, I don't have the final say in transferring County Magistrate Lin to work in your town; the government has rules and regulations. I also cannot break the rules to give your County Magistrate Lin a raise. Hahaha."

After saying this, Chen Yuanhua said goodbye to the Farm Woman, then laughed lightly, walking forward in high spirits.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yulin, who was following behind Chen Yuanhua, was filled with such bitter regret that he wanted to slap himself a few times; if it weren't for him self-righteously stopping the Farm Woman, he wouldn't have inadvertently helped Lin Zifeng at the final critical moment.