Dong Yuanzhong savored such moments.
Alas, not everyone could afford to steal half a day of leisure.
Dong Yuanzhong, for one, could not.
He had a meeting in the afternoon, making it impossible.
It was already difficult enough to carve out these few hours to visit and see his elder brother's great-grandchild.
"I have other matters to attend to, Elder Brother, I can't stay longer to chat with you."
Dong Yuanzhong always held great respect for Grandpa Su, his elder brother.
He truly regarded him as a biological brother.
"You're busy, I know. Come by when you have free time, and your sister-in-law will cook you something delicious."
Dong Yuanzhong agreed with a smile, "Alright, I'll definitely come when I'm free."
As he was about to leave, Dong Yuanzhong recalled that Grandpa Su had mentioned one of the guests today was a village cadre from their hometown, so he sat down again.
"Elder Brother, I just remembered, you said there's a village chief from our hometown visiting today. I'd like to ask him a few questions."
It was rare to meet a cadre from the grassroots, and Dong Yuanzhong felt it was quite necessary to have a brief conversation.
What these people said might be the most authentic voice from the grassroots.
As for what was reported up through the ranks, there might be exaggerations.
"Xiao Tian, go find Uncle Changjiu," Grandpa Su called out. Su Dan Novel Network
Hearing Grandpa Su call her to fetch someone, Su Xiaotian quickly looked for Su Changjiu in the hall.
Due to the presence of Dong Yuanzhong and others, only Grandpa Su, Grandma Su, and the couple Shen Zizhen and Su Taohua were accompanying them at the table.
The others were accommodated in the outer hall.
Su Changjiu was seated in a corner with Li Zhuzi and a few others. Su Xiaotian found him quickly.
"Uncle Changjiu, Grandpa asked me to invite you over."
Su Changjiu knew that the people present today were all influential figures. Although he didn't know their exact identities, they were undoubtedly important guests.
When Su Xiaotian invited him over, Su Changjiu was rather puzzled.
"Xiao Tian, what's the matter?" Su Changjiu asked, a little nervously.
"Someone wants to have a chat with Uncle Changjiu, nothing else."
Su Xiaotian wasn't sure if Su Changjiu should know Dong Yuanzhong's identity.
But in the end, she decided not to disclose it, offering only a vague explanation.
At Dong Yuanzhong's level, even with constant caution, he could still be targeted. Right now, there were many people cautiously guarding outside Yiming Pavilion.
There were also guards outside the private room, watching every move inside the room without missing a beat.
Therefore, all the people serving dishes in the private room today were from the Su family; not even a waiter was allowed in.
Knowing he wouldn't get an answer, Su Changjiu stopped asking.
He would see who it was once he reached the private room.
He followed Su Xiaotian into the private room.
Dong Yuanzhong sized up Su Changjiu. Although his clothes were not brand new, they were washed clean and worn with great dignity.
Moreover, Su Changjiu had an honest and sincere look on his face.
Dong Yuanzhong smiled and asked, "I heard you're from Nanling Village? Village Chief Su, isn't it!"
"Hello, I am the village chief of Nanling Village, Su Changjiu."
The person did not introduce himself, but although he spoke Mandarin, his accent carried a hint of his hometown, which made Su Changjiu feel much more at ease.
However, he couldn't recall any officials from the capital from nearby areas.
"There's no other reason for inviting you here, I just wanted to ask, how is the village doing now?"
Perhaps sensing something, Dong Yuanzhong smiled and invited Su Changjiu to sit down and talk.
After Su Changjiu was seated, Dong Yuanzhong said, "I'm not from Nanling Village, but I passed through Nanling Village decades ago, and your Elder Brother saved me."
His home was not particularly far from Nanling Village; it was in the neighboring county, and they spoke the same dialect.
But because there was no one left in his family, and he himself had almost starved to death, he had never thought of returning to that place.
It was precisely for this reason that even his hometown folks didn't know that such a prominent figure had emerged from their locality.
Upon hearing that Dong Yuanzhong had been saved by Grandpa Su decades ago,
Su Changjiu roughly understood who the person before him was.
Dong Yuanzhong, who had once served as the top leader in their province and was later transferred to the capital as Chief Dong.
This was a truly influential figure, and he never expected him to appear at the Su family's full moon banquet.
Even more unexpectedly, he, Su Changjiu, had the opportunity to meet such a dignitary.
In an instant, Su Changjiu was so excited that he could barely speak.
He stammered for a while but still couldn't utter a word.
Dong Yuanzhong smiled and offered him a cup of tea, "Don't be nervous, have a cup of tea, and we can talk slowly."
Finally, Su Changjiu managed to calm his nerves.
"Whatever you wish to ask, I will tell you everything without reservation!"
Having such an opportunity to meet a high-ranking leader, he was naturally determined to answer questions diligently.
At this moment, Su Changjiu's thoughts were akin to a primary school student preparing to answer a teacher's question.
Dong Yuanzhong politely inquired about the village's development, such as the comparison before and after the household contract responsibility system, the villagers' current thoughts, and their suggestions for the village's development.
Su Changjiu answered each question.
He was, after all, a village cadre with great ideas and courage, and he spoke without his earlier constraint when discussing these matters.
Dong Yuanzhong listened attentively and even took some notes.
"Let me introduce you to Minister Wu from the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister Chang from the Ministry of Commerce. If you have any policy concerns or other issues, you can discuss them with these two gentlemen. Perhaps they can offer solutions."
When Su Changjiu heard that there were two ministers at the table, he almost dropped his water glass onto the table.
He wasn't surprised by Dong Yuanzhong's presence, but how could there be two such important figures?
Had the Su family's network in the capital become so extensive now?
As Su Changjiu pondered this question, Minister Wu spoke first.
"You mentioned earlier that people are living better lives now. Is that true or false? Can you eat white rice and white flour every day?"
As the Minister of Agriculture, Minister Wu was most concerned about the issue of food.
When it came to whether they could eat white rice and white flour every day, Su Changjiu lost his confidence.
While conditions were good, they were still a distance away from eating white rice and white flour daily.
He did not wish to conceal anything from the leaders, so he shook his head, "We can't eat it every day yet. We get to eat white noodles about once every three to four days, and even then, the villagers are content."
Compared to a few years ago, things had indeed improved. Although they still ate mostly coarse grains, they could eat their fill.
The common people's demands were not high; being able to eat their fill was enough to make them content.
"Now, besides handing over grain to the state and the collective, the rest is our own. We can decide what to plant ourselves, so we have enough to eat and wear," Su Changjiu said with emotion.
After so many years of hardship, most people were truly satisfied with their current lives.