Chapter 383: Captain of the Vige Next Door


    Trantor: Dragon Boat Trantion Editor: Dragon Boat Trantion


    Shen Mo originally intended to head to themune, but halfway there he remembered he needed to make a trip to town, so he got off and went to the vige entrance to catch the bus.


    Jiang Chuan rode to themune without parking his bicycle in themune’s bike shed, fearing it would draw too much attention and provoke discussions, so he left it by the roadside not far from themune.


    As he walked into the courtyard of themune, he immediately noticed that there were more than twice as many people as usual. He found it odd; he hadn’t heard of any events happening at themune, so why were there so many people today? Moreover, there were many unfamiliar faces that Jiang Chuan had never seen before, not seeming like vigers.


    While Jiang Chuan was pondering how to navigate through the crowd to reach his office, he spotted Captain Chen Xing striding towards themune’s office building in the distance.


    Jiang Chuan called out to him from afar and took a few steps towards him, asking, “Why are there so many people at themune today?”


    Chen Xing looked around cautiously, as if in a rush, and spoke quickly, “There’s a meeting at themune today. The captains from the five viges managed by themune need to attend.”


    So there was arge meeting. No wonder everyone was gathering at the entrance of themune.


    A singlemune managed five viges, with its headquarters in Pushan Vige. Each vige had positions like chief captain, vice-captain, vige chief, and ountant, who all needed to attend meetings.


    By that count, there were at least twenty people gathered here, making the usually spacious square feel crowded.


    Seeing that Chen Xing seemed in a hurry, Jiang Chuan didn’t ask further and let him be on his way.


    Chen Xing hurried off just as someone greeted Jiang Chuan. Turning around, Jiang Chuan recognized it was Xiao Wu.


    Jiang Chuan asked, “What brings you to themune?”


    Xiao Wu replied, “I’m here in ce of the vige chief. It’s gotten colder these past few days, and the chief’s rheumatism is acting up, his knees are in such pain he can’t even get out of bed.”


    Concerned, he asked, “Is the vige chief’s leg condition serious?”


    “It’s nothing serious, just a bit of knee pain. It’s an old issue, happens every year. A few days’ rest and he’ll be fine,” said Xiao Wu.


    Jiang Chuan figured that wasmon with the elderly and decided to visit the chief after work with some gifts.


    He then inquired of Xiao Wu, “Do you know why there’s a meeting today? I didn’t receive any notice.”


    “The notice was sent out the day before yesterday. You just happened to be away that day, so it’s normal you didn’t know. Today’s meeting is to discuss the uing production strategy. We’re short on rainwater, and the fields are too dry, nothing will grow. So, the n is to brainstorm and see what would be best to nt.”


    With that, Jiang Chuan remembered what Jiang Xia mentioned to him during breakfast about nting rice in the canal. This meeting would be a good opportunity to bring it up—if they could nt the rice in the spring, they would be able to harvest rice in the next autumn.


    As the two were talking, suddenly a burly man approached them. With hisrge and sturdy build, round head topped with ck sideburns, he looked not to be trifled with.


    Before he even got close, he started speaking anxiously in a gruff voice that boomed loudly, “Is this Jiang Chuan?”


    Jiang Chuan thought hard, but he had no impression of the man; he must not be from their vige. So he replied politely, “Yes, that’s me. May I ask who you are?”


    The man’sugh was hearty as he said, “I’m Lao Zheng, the captain of the vige next door. I heard that your vige’s one thousand kilos of corn seed was all thanks to you. Impressive!”


    Jiang Chuan modestly responded, “Oh no, it was just good luck that I happened toe across it.”


    Lao Zheng patted Jiang Chuan’s shoulder with his robust hand, “Luck is part of your strength too, don’t be too humble. I’ve heard about your aplishments these past months. Both your vige chief and Chen Xing can’t stop singing your praises; it’s clear you’re really capable.”


    “What capabilities? He’s just a slick operator,” interjected Wang Xing snidely.


    It was arge-scale meeting. Although only the officials were allowed to participate, if the vigers were curious, they could alsoe and listen. After all, this meeting was about the vital matters concerning the livelihood of the vigers, and it was only reasonable to allow them to attend..