Chapter 233

Back in the dormitory, Zhou Jiani studied the two hairbands, which were two of the first few styles she asked Zhao Mei to lead everyone to make.

The fabric used was ordinary cotton cloth, and the workmanship was average, similar in quality to the ones that the cooperative unit had secretly hired someone to make at the time.

These are just two of the models. She could see five styles in the two piles on the counter just now, all of which she had asked Zhao Mei to lead everyone in making.

If only one or two models are similar, it can be called a coincidence, but if all of them are the same, it is not a coincidence.

The hair band was not Zhou Jiani's original creation, nor did she consider it her own. It was just that so many models were sold at the department store counter, which was obviously a copy of her style. She had a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder and wanted to know who brought it.

If possible, let's cooperate. The wind of reform and opening up is about to blow, and we can make money together.

Yu Wanxia?

That girl had followed my lead before and could make all these styles, but she wasn't an adventurous girl. Besides, with Yu Wanxia's personality, if she really wanted to make hair ties, she would definitely have mentioned it at the last dinner.

Sun Ping has done it too, but she is in Hebei Province. Isn’t it better for her to conquer the market in Hebei Province than to come to the capital?

Is there anyone else from the local area who has been admitted to the capital?

Zhou Jiani was stunned for a moment, and thought of Liu Ailing, and a feeling of physical discomfort came over her.

If it was Liu Ailing, then she would really feel uncomfortable.

Zhou Jiani didn't have time to verify it. She had already bought a train ticket for tomorrow morning. She also had to go to Qiu's house for dinner tonight and talk to her boyfriend on the phone.

Besides, given how busy the department store is, would the teller pay attention to her inquiries?

After having dinner at Qiu's house in the evening, she only spoke to Qiu Zeming on the phone for a few minutes when the other end issued an order for an emergency assembly. Zhou Jiani only had time to remind everyone to "be careful" before the phone was hung up.

Du Yunxin looked worried, but as a military family member, she would not complain. She just patted the back of Zhou Jiani's hand soothingly and changed the subject with a worried look.

Zhou Jiani went to Bai Haoyang's house, not to ask him for help, but Bai Haoyang asked her for help and asked her to bring some clothes to Xiao Min.

By the way, he told Bai Haoyang about the circle posting and said, "If you have a chance, please help find out who brought it here."

Bai Haoyang was furious. He subconsciously thought that this was something Zhou Jiani had researched and now it had been plagiarized. He almost cursed on the spot and said, "Okay, I'll ask someone. If I find out, I'll definitely go find her and argue with her."

Zhou Jiani: "Let's hold off for now and wait until I come back after the New Year."

Bai Haoyang: "That's fine. I'll call you when I get the letter."

The next morning, Du Yunxin sent her to the station.

"Sleeper cars are relatively safe, but they'll wake you up a bit at night. Give me a call when you get there..."

Du Yunxin instructed softly and handed her the net bag in her hand. Inside the net bag were pancakes, steamed buns, boiled eggs and pickles wrapped in oil paper.

"I understand, Aunt Du."

Zhou Jiani was talking to Du Yunxin, her eyes swept across the crowded crowd and paused slightly.

She saw Liu Ailing carrying things, and a strange gay was following her. The gay took most of the luggage. The two of them were talking and laughing as they walked, and their behavior was very intimate.

Liu Ailing didn't see Zhou Jiani and squeezed into the front carriage with the male comrade.

Zhou Jiani also got into the car under Du Yunxin's instructions, and the driver helped her take her luggage up and settled it.

There were four passengers in this compartment, including Zhou Jiani. There was someone guarding it, so she didn't feel comfortable performing any magic. She put her luggage neatly in place, lay on the bed and started reading and browsing her phone. She ate on time, slept on time, and got off the bus on time.

When the car arrived in Qi Yang, her father was already waiting there. He helped her take some of the money back home and then sent his daughter to the train to Bin County.

"Your mother got up early this morning to make some steamed buns and fried some meat sauce. Take some with you on the way." Zhou Wanli took some of his daughter's luggage and tied it to the car. He handed her a net bag and reminded her, "Be back by New Year's Eve!"

"It won't be that late, and it won't delay the New Year." Zhou Jiani smiled and sent her father away. She came back and waited for a while before getting on the train again. This time, she didn't use her connections to buy a sleeper berth. Her family only bought her a seat ticket, and she took a ten-hour train to reach Bin County. It was already evening.

I found a guesthouse to stay in, packed my things, took a shower, and fell asleep right away.

The next day, I didn't go to the county government. Instead, I went to the county weaving factory, took a look at the design department's practice in the past few months, gave some guidance, and then took a bus back to the Qianjin Brigade in the afternoon.

Knowing that Zhou Jiani was back from winter vacation, several young people in the village who failed the college entrance examination came to ask her if she would give them lessons during the next few days.

She hadn't planned to teach anyone this time since she wouldn't be here for more than a few days. But seeing everyone's eager eyes, Zhou Jiani nodded slightly and said, "I'll teach you two more questions tonight."

Everyone cheered.

So, after Zhou Jiani finished chatting with Zhang Baosheng and others at the village committee, she went to Zhao Mei's house to have a quick meal and then returned to the village committee.

There were fewer people this time and the empty classroom was too cold, so we used the village committee's large office, put up a blackboard, and placed a brazier next to it, so it wasn't so cold.

Zhou Jiani would wander around the greenhouse during the day and give them lectures at night. Somehow the news got out, and starting from the next day, people from other teams gradually came over, but the venue did not change, as it was warmer to huddle together.

What surprised Zhou Jiani was that people from Donghe Commune came to attend the class at night with flashlights.

These new faces were a little embarrassed and brought Zhou Jiani some steamed buns made of two-grain flour. A female comrade surrounded by the crowd politely asked, "Comrade Zhou, can we listen in?"

Another person said, "We want to take the exam again this year. We've heard from people in your commune that your lectures are very clear and insightful. By the time we heard the news that summer, it was already too late. Today, we heard that you're back to give lectures again, so we thought we'd be cheeky enough to come and take a class."

Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "As long as you don't mind, you're welcome to come and listen. However, time is tight this time, so I might only be teaching for a few days. It's best if you can take some time to compile a collection of questions. Collect the ones you're least good at and the ones you make the most mistakes in during practice. I'll take some time to focus on them for you. How much you can remember is up to you. Also, don't bring anything with you. I don't accept anything."

Several people were very happy and expressed their gratitude in a flurry.

The woman in the middle raised her hand and said shyly, "Comrade Zhou, I have my notebook with me. Can I ask you a few questions later?"

Zhou Jiani nodded: "Okay."

The person next to the lesbian said, "Ailing, you are more careful."

There are many people with the same name "Ai Ling" in this era, which is not surprising, but Zhou Jiani was still attracted by the name because someone took a second look at this lesbian.

The other party also took out her notebook, with her full name "Qiu Ailing" written on the cover.

Qiu Ailing's handwriting is very good, and Zhou Jiani even praised her: "Your handwriting is quite good!"

Qiu Ailing smiled sheepishly and said, "You're too kind."

Her companion laughed and said, "Ailing is the one who makes the bulletin board for the team because of her good handwriting."

Seeing that she had carefully recorded her wrong answers in her notebook, Zhou Jiani asked gently, "Your year... Oh, it's already January, so it's a new year. Did you take the college entrance examination last year?"

Qiu Ailing nodded and said dejectedly: "I didn't pass the exam."

Her companion said, "It's strange. In our group, Ai Ling was the best at reviewing. She even explained the questions to us. As a result, those who usually studied worse than Ai Ling passed the exam, but Ai Ling failed."

He added, "Of course, I'm even worse at it."

Qiu Ailing blushed slightly, tugged at her companion, and said embarrassedly, "I'm only half-baked, Comrade Zhou, please forgive me for laughing at you."

Even though she studied well, she still didn't pass the exam. She was really embarrassed to say that she was a good student in front of Comrade Zhou, a top student from Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Zhou Jiani waved her hand and said, "Don't say that. Everyone who works hard is excellent. Find the right methods and keep a calm mindset. I'm sure we'll hear good news from you this year."

Everyone laughed and said, "We will take your good words."

After teaching everyone, I focused on highlighting the key points for Qiu Ailing and others and explained a few questions. It was already very late when I finished.

Zhou Jiani asked, "Are you still going back so late? Or why don't you stay with a fellow villager for the night and leave tomorrow?"

Qiu Ailing and the others shook their heads and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Comrade Zhou. We have to dig a canal tomorrow and work early in the morning, so we won't disturb the villagers here. There are four or five of us, and we can supervise each other on the way to memorize the lessons and discuss tonight's lessons. We have to consolidate our knowledge when we get home, so we don't want to disturb the villagers' rest."

Zhou Jiani is also someone who has gone through the review process. Who didn’t study late into the night?

Then he reminded me, "Then be careful. You can come early tomorrow afternoon and I will explain a few more questions to you so that you can finish class normally with everyone else in the evening."

"Thank you so much, Comrade Zhou."

"Thank you, Comrade Zhou. We will come earlier tomorrow to bother you..."

After a few polite words, they left with flashlights.

Zhou Jiani also returned to Zhao Mei's house with her neck hunched.

The family held the door open for her. She came in quietly and closed it. After returning to the house, there was hot water ready. She poured some water to wash her feet. When she went to bed, Huihui was sleeping soundly. Zhou Jiani pushed her in, but the girl didn't wake up.

The next morning, when Zhao Mei was eating, she said, "Jia Ni, my brother brought the things over last night. I put them in the cellar for you."

Zhou Jiani nodded while drinking her porridge and said, "Okay, I'll send it out in batches over the next two days."

After dinner, she went to the team. Captain Zhang was not there, so Zhou Jiani went to the greenhouse and looked around before she found him.

Zhang Baosheng avoided his gaze and asked, "Why are you running out so early in the morning instead of staying in the office to warm up?"

I have been here for several days, and we have only talked about the production, sales and grain production of greenhouse vegetables, but have not yet talked about the household contract responsibility system.

She felt that the old man was avoiding her.

"If I want to warm up, I can just stay in Qiyang. Why do I have to come here?"

Zhang Baosheng nodded and said, "Yes, are you going to the factory today? The order from this autumn's Canton Fair..."

Zhou Jiani sighed: "Didn't you hear the news at the end of the year? The country is going to implement a policy of opening up to the outside world and reforming the country internally..."

The two of them chatted for nearly twenty minutes without responding to each other, and finally stood in the cold wind staring at each other.

Zhang Baosheng finally gave in and said, "Let me think about it again."

Zhou Jiani didn't force him and said, "It's okay. Just think about it slowly. Just don't forget about it."

Zhang Baosheng did not forget. Not only that, he also secretly called a small meeting of village cadres. At first, everyone was a little excited and eager to try, but after calming down, they felt that the political risks were too great, and finally decided to wait and see.

Zhou Jiani was indeed not in a hurry, even if Zhang Baosheng and the others took another year or two to consider it.

Of course, she couldn't really let this drag on for a year or two, but she also didn't want them to support her and slowly change his mind subtly.

After their department journal comes out after the new year, she will send it back so that Old Man Zhang can feel the freedom of speech of Hua University students.