Chapter 118 Reception

The escapees obediently followed the comrades of the 25th Company to work in the fields.

The company commander was worried that these people might cause trouble, so he kept an eye on them in the field.

After writing the evaluation board, Song Lubai then taught Liu Xiaolan how to create the bulletin board under the shed.

Lin Jinyao squatted down and played in the dirt, while Song Lubai ignored her.

Liu Xiaolan's stuttering problem was quite serious. Song Lubai took out the newspaper that the instructor had given her and said, "Read it ten or eight times a day, and be able to organize your thoughts and write a reflection on it. Then read it again. If you want to stop stuttering, go over what you want to say in your mind before you speak. No matter how slowly you answer other people's questions, don't be impatient."

Liu Xiaolan nodded, blushing.

Song Lubai will be staying in the 25th Company for several more months, giving her plenty of time to teach Liu Xiaolan; there's no need to rush.

She first taught the people in the camp to write their own names, and then she planned to teach them to recognize more characters, teaching them both pinyin and characters together, starting with the simple ones that are easy to write.

While we were making preparations, a military jeep and a large truck drove up on the dirt road.

This scene reminded Song Lubai of what the company commander and political instructor had mentioned before: that the division, department, and headquarters leaders would be coming down to inspect and guide the work.

She said to Lin Jinyao, who was squatting nearby counting ants, "Go quickly to the canal and call the company commander, tell him that the division commander, the department heads, and the officers have come down to inspect."

Lin Jinyao nodded and quickly ran off.

Liu Xiaolan also stood up and stammered, "I, I, I, will go too."

Song Lubai grabbed her arm, "No, we have to greet them together. How can I manage alone?"

Liu Xiaolan waved her hand, "No, no, I, I, I'm so nervous, I can't speak. I'll embarrass the company!"

She had never even met the director of the farm, and the thought that the person coming was a division commander, a department head, or a commander made her throat tighten.

A nervous Liu Xiaolan chased after Lin Jinyao.

Song Lubai was helpless.

She was now all alone in the camp.

It wasn't time to cook yet, and Li Huijun was leading the female members of the vegetable planting team and the cooking team in working in the vegetable field.

The two vehicles came to a stop in the large open space in front of the shed, and most of the people who got out were wearing military uniforms.

Song Lubai saw Wei Yang on the large truck behind.

When she looked at him, expecting him to nod at her, his gaze drifted away.

Song Lubai felt a little strange, but didn't think much of it.

After all, the leaders and ministers are present today, so it's appropriate to be serious on this occasion.

As the group approached her, Song Lubai, after identifying who was in charge, jogged forward and saluted the middle-aged man in the middle.

He said in a full and spirited voice, "Greetings, Commander!"

The leader looked Song Lubai up and down, nodded and smiled kindly, saying, "Hello, young comrade, you've worked hard."

Is your company commander in the fields?

Song Lubai nodded: "The company commander went to the fields early this morning. I've already sent someone to call him. You've had a bumpy ride, why don't you have some water and a watermelon under the shed?"

Ma Shou and Zhang shook their heads: "While the weather is still cool, take us to the fields to take a look."

He turned to a man behind him and said, "The idea of ​​building brick houses for the 25th Company first is very correct, as they are reclaiming wasteland this year. Director Zhang has a good vision."

Director Zhang said, "Reclaiming wasteland is the hardest part, so I think it's only right to build brick houses for the 25th Company first."

Ma Shou and Chang turned to look at Song Lubai beside them: "You're an employee of the 25th Company, right? Why aren't you working in the fields?"

Song Lubai found the leader to be very approachable and was not intimidated by his question: "Commander, my name is Song Lubai, you can call me Xiao Song. I am from Yangcheng, Henan Province. I enlisted in the army this year and came from the Commercial Department of the regiment. I am currently undergoing labor training in the 25th Company."

It's not that I don't want to work in the fields, but I've just become the company's cultural and educational officer, an assistant to the political instructor, and my main job isn't in the fields.

She spread out her calloused hands, saying, "I was working in the fields every day a week ago, but unfortunately the leaders haven't come yet, so you couldn't see me working so hard."

Her palms were very rough, and the yellow calluses on her hands couldn't be faked.

Wei Yang, who was guarding behind Ma Shou and Zhang, fixed his gaze on her palm.

Ma Shou and Chang Xiao said, "It sounds like Comrade Xiao Song is quite disappointed that we didn't come sooner."

Song Lubai relaxed and replied with a smile, "It is a bit of a pity. I mainly wanted to hear the leaders praise me for being hardworking and capable. That would have given me more motivation."

She was happy to be praised by her superiors, but if she had a choice, she would still choose to work in education earlier.

The work in the fields was so exhausting that just thinking about it made her feel miserable, and she really didn't want to keep struggling with farm work.

The leader laughed heartily, "Comrade Xiao Song, don't be discouraged. You can shine in every job."

Song Lubai relaxed even more, "I will definitely continue to perform well in the future."

The group behind her were all admiring Song Lubai. The person she was talking to was none other than the highest-ranking leader in the entire organization. She was able to be so relaxed in front of the leader and even managed to make him remember her surname.

Commander Ma looked at the person next to him and asked casually, "Old Yang, is Xiao Chen next to you also from Henan Province?"

Yang Zhong was looking around when he nodded and said, "Weiliang is from Henan Province."

Behind Yang Zhong was a tall, thin man wearing glasses; this man was Chen Weiliang, the man Ma and the leader had mentioned.

Chen Weiliang laughed and said, "What a coincidence! I know this Comrade Xiao Song. Her aunt's house used to be right next to mine, but I haven't been back for two years. I saw Comrade Xiao Song the last time I went back."

Song Lubai was taken aback and shifted her gaze to his face.

She didn't care if she didn't look, but the more she looked, the more familiar he seemed. In her memory, there was a man in military uniform living next door to her aunt's house.

Chen Weiliang has a very refined appearance; he looks scholarly and cultured.

She exclaimed in surprise, "You were here!"

Chen Weiliang laughed and said, "You've grown taller than before, but you've also lost weight and gotten darker."

Song Lubai smiled and said, "How can you not get tanned if you're out in the sun all day? You'll get hungry again soon after eating, so you'll definitely lose weight."

Chief Ma and the commander didn't expect such a coincidence. "Little Song just arrived here. How do you think this place compares to your hometown?"

Song Lubai: "Can I tell the truth?"

The commander was taken aback. "Of course you have to tell the truth."

Song Lubai pointed to the vegetable field in front of her, "This land was newly opened before. The vegetables planted here have a low germination rate and low yield, which proves that the geology here is not as good as my hometown. The company commander and the others said that it would take several years to improve the geology."

“If production doesn’t go up, everyone’s stomachs won’t be filled. The young people who signed up to come here all feel cheated because we not only don’t eat well, but we also don’t live well. When we first came, we lived in dugouts, and we only recently moved into brick houses.”