rselves? Geez!" This seemingly trustful sentence almost caused them to fret to death. While old Zhangtou was a stubborn man, he understood officialdom well. Even a seemingly minor speech arrangement could spark inter-provincial conflicts. Liu Mazi’s acne-ridden face wasn’t for nothing; between the two of them, they brainstormed a perfect solution.

"In keeping with our West Village’s tradition of humility and hospitality, we invite Secretary Xiao, our esteemed guest, to speak!" Frankly, old Zhangtou wasn’t dubbed opportunistic without reason. Notice how he phrased it—the distinguished guest from afar—even though both villages were separated by just a river. How far could that really be, right?

Chapter 12: Twists and Turns

The term "guest" carries significant subtlety. To put it plainly, West Village was the host venue. Realizing this first was the Party Secretary of West Village Town, Secretary Ge, whom everyone regarded as the host. What does being a host mean? It means being the event organizer and, metaphorically, having home advantage.

For instance, countries worldwide compete to host the Olympics to showcase their strength. Leading the applause, Secretary Ge of West Village set an example, causing the whole village to thunderously clap. Even East Village’s residents felt proud seeing their Secretary speak, knowing that whoever spoke had the higher official rank.

Both riverbanks echoed with prolonged applause. Secretary Xiao from East Village, not holding back, stood up and cleared his throat.

"Dear villagers and colleagues! On behalf of the Party Committees of both towns, I wish the athletes good luck in achieving excellent results today. I want to emphasize that, although nations have borders, friendships do not. This friendship match between our villages highlights the camaraderie and our shared aspirations for a prosperous life. I hope that during the competition, we exemplify high moral standards, unity, and the vigor of our new rural life. I hereby declare the East and West Village Summer Friendship Games officially open." Amidst the sounds of firecrackers, the games began. As the applause and firecracker sounds faded, Secretary Xiao added, "I believe that the villagers of East Village will achieve excellent results in this competition. Go East Village, go!"

Clearly, Secretary Xiao was retaliating against old Zhangtou’s remark about treating him like a guest. A town’s Party Secretary manages the grassroots officials on behalf of the state. What are village officials then? They are the essence of the village. Hence, how could the cunning thoughts of old Zhangtou and Liu Mazi escape this region's small lieges? Leading the cheer squad, how could East Village residents not be thrilled?

The shout of "Go East Village" kept rising, wave aft

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