Nomination of Village Mayor

Speaking of this matter, the village began to endlessly talk about the past injustices: "A Li, I remember one year, the court was going to wage war and said they needed to conscript people to mine iron. Mining is a tough job, often life-threatening! Normally, each village should share the mining conscription according to population. But back then, the village chief was from the neighboring village and favored his own people, bullying our village. Most of the mining conscripts reported were from our village! Several families lost their men that year."

"Another year, when repairing the canal by the river, it was also a tough job, and unfortunately, it was our village again."

Su Li, because she was still young back then, didn’t know these inside stories.

The village chief sighed at the end, "Ah, back then I argued and fought with the village chief. I insisted he redistribute the conscripts, but he just saw me as a poor village chief and ignored me. Truly, fortunes turn around. Just a few days ago, when several village chiefs gathered, their looks at me were completely different, all flattering, afraid to offend me. If I didn’t allow their village children to study at our Haizi Academy! Now that I say the village chief should be chosen from our village, they didn’t dare make a sound and all agreed."

Su Li smiled, "Village chief, I really didn’t expect building an academy would have such a big influence."

"Exactly," the village chief laughed, "We have something others don’t. Now it’s others who come to us! A Li, since you and your fourth uncle funded the academy, your family deserves the most credit. So, for choosing the village chief, I want to ask if you have anyone in mind."

"Huh, I get to choose the village chief?" Su Li looked surprised at the village chief, "Would my choice even count?"

The village chief slapped his thigh and laughed, "It counts! Your word counts a lot, A Li. You’re an honest child, smart and capable. Whoever you choose will definitely be right! Just one word from you and whoever you say is the village chief, will be the village chief!"

Su Li immediately became happy, not expecting she suddenly had the power to decide the village chief.

It must be known that the village chief position is a coveted and easy job that many fight over. Now Su Li’s one word can decide who manages several villages and thousands of households!

Although Su Li was happy, she didn’t act impulsively but said to the village chief, "Choosing the village chief is a big matter. I need to think it over carefully and select a suitable person."

The village chief laughed, "Good, then take your time to think it over. Once you decide, just tell me. I'll talk to the other village chiefs and report the name to the officials, and it’s done!"

Su Li happily went home. When Wang saw Su Li so happy, she smiled and asked, "A Li, why are you so happy? Is there some good news?"

Su Li told Wang about the village chief letting her choose the village chief. Wang was surprised and widened her eyes, "Oh my, the village chief letting my daughter choose the village chief? This is really something! A Li, you must think carefully about the candidate. They must be capable and able to win the people’s respect. Don’t let everyone down."

"Mother, don’t worry. I’ll think it over carefully and definitely choose a suitable person," Su Li smiled.

Soon, the news of the village chief asking Su Li to choose the village chief spread through the village like wildfire.

The villagers were extremely surprised, firstly because for several generations, the village had been poor and never had a village chief; secondly, because the village chief actually let a woman choose the village chief.