"Okay, let's get back to business. For the common good of all members of our Dongjiang Brigade, I hope everyone will put forward more ideas, pool their wisdom, and work together to improve the current situation."
Although Liu Xiu had just caused a negative impact, the Dongjiang Brigade was still united as a whole. Everyone knew that the establishment of the rice mill and oil press would indeed bring them tangible benefits, so everyone was very supportive and looking forward to it.
The village cadres also brought stools over to sit on, with an oil lamp hanging beside them. The scorekeeper took a small notebook and sat next to the oil lamp, intending to write down everyone's suggestions later.
Zhao Xuelin sat down on the bench and said, "Come on, anyone with an idea, come forward. Regardless of whether it's reasonable or useful, I hope everyone will actively participate."
"Captain, we are all uneducated, uneducated, and have never seen the world. We can only do work with brute force. Things that require thinking should be done by the educated youth." Li Xiami said while peeling melon seeds, and slowly changed the subject.
Zhao Xuelin looked at the group of educated youth and said, "You are also members of our production team. The establishment of the rice mill and oil press is closely related to you. If you can come up with good ideas, our village cadres will give you extra points and make appropriate adjustments to the subsequent production team task allocation."
The meaning of his words was clear enough. If the educated youth could provide good ideas, they would have the opportunity to be arranged to work in rice mills and oil presses.
The educated youth originally thought they had no chance and did not want to participate, but now that the team leader had released the signal, they were all excited and immediately started to think.
They were happy, but the local people were not so happy. After all, the number of recruits was limited, and the educated youth occupied the places, so there were fewer places for them. Now everyone's tacit accusatory eyes fell on Li Xiami.
Li Xiami: "...Why are you looking at me? If you have any ideas, bring them up now."
Yun Huaying and the other two were also discussing in low voices. She had already expressed her thoughts to Han Zheng before, but hadn't told Lin Shan and Jiang Yuan. So she asked them, "Do you have any ideas?"
Jiang Yuan had some thoughts before, but seeing the expressions of the members in the production team, her thoughts instantly dissipated. She whispered, "We are newly arrived educated youth and have not made any contribution to the team. If we try to grab the job quota now, the team members will definitely want to tear us apart, so I give up."
Lin Shan thought the same thing and shook her head decisively: "Although this is a good opportunity, I don't have the ability. The work in the rice mill and oil press is not easy. Hard physical work is not suitable for me, and I won't participate."
They spoke in a very low voice, but Han Zheng who was standing next to them heard it. The corners of his mouth curled up as he muttered to himself: It's true that birds of a feather flock together.
The three of them decided not to compete for the job, but Yun Huaying had other ideas. A smile flashed in her beautiful eyes as she whispered to them, "We're not competing for the job opportunity, but we can use our ideas to gain some practical benefits from the team leader. We can also leave a good impression in front of the village cadres. Maybe the next opportunity will be left to us."
Lin Shan and Jiang Yuan's eyes lit up, and they nodded in unison, smiling in unison: "Smart."
"Yun Huaying, Lin Shan, Jiang Yuan, what are you three whispering about? Do you have any good ideas?" Zhao Xuelin turned his head and saw the gleam in their eyes, so he called out their names without thinking.
The entire team's attention shifted to them, and the look in their eyes when they looked at them was not as kind and friendly as usual. It was obvious that none of them wanted them to be selected.
Called by the team leader, Yun Huaying stood up as the representative, looked around, and saw the expressions and eyes of the members. She was somewhat glad that she had refused Han Zheng's help at that time. If she had not refused and had gone through the back door to work in the rice mill, all kinds of rumors and unpleasant comments would have drowned them both.
"Captain, I do have some good ideas, but before I put forward them, I'd like to say something."
Zhao Xuelin nodded with some anticipation: "You go ahead."
"Lin Shan, Jiang Yuan and I just discussed this. The three of us are newly arrived educated youth and have only been here for a week."
"During this time, thanks to the care of the village cadres and the old educated youth from the neighboring villages, we have learned a lot of new knowledge that we have never been exposed to before, and we have also felt the simplicity, kindness and enthusiasm of the rural people. We are very grateful for everyone's welcome and tolerance for the educated youth."
"The rice mill and oil press are collective enterprises that the village cadres and Comrade Han Zheng worked hard to establish. They are also the industries that our Dongjiang Brigade hopes to change the current situation. The three of us, newly educated youth, are willing to contribute our own efforts to support their development. However, we are new here, unfamiliar with the area, lack agricultural knowledge, have no experience in operating machinery, are alone and weak, and have limited personal abilities and physical strength."
"So what we are saying is that we can now provide good ideas to support development, but we will not be involved in the operation and work of this collective industry."
Zhao Xuelin had known her idea for a long time, but Secretary Tian, Accountant Li and the scorer were not aware of it. As soon as she made this decision, their favorability towards the three new educated youths increased rapidly, and they all gave them a big red flower in their hearts.
The expressions of the other villagers and old educated youth also changed. Their eyes, which were more defensive than before, now showed more joy. Smiles appeared on their faces, the brightest they could be.
"Oh my, look at them all—Yun Zhiqing, Lin Zhiqing, and Jiang Zhiqing—they all have such high levels of ideological awareness. They're all very beautiful, speak well, and never argue with us. They always put themselves in our shoes and consider our needs. They're the good educated youth who deserve praise."
Mrs. Wang still remembered the good things Yun Huaying had done for her family, so she immediately seized the opportunity to praise her.
Lin Xiaolan and Lin Shan were close friends. They'd become like sisters after spending some time together, and she praised them, saying, "Yun Zhiqing and the other three new educated youth are truly excellent. They've been diligent and down-to-earth since arriving, and quickly integrated into our life. They've become one with us, without any of the condescending airs of city dwellers. They're also willing to learn from us while doing farm work. Unlike some people who cry for three days upon arrival, throwing tantrums and crying non-stop, and who haven't adapted to life here for over a year, drag their feet at work, cheat and bully honest people, are lazy, greedy, and love to gossip and stir up trouble, making people dislike them."
Lin Xiaolan didn't name anyone, but everyone knew who she was talking about. Who made that person not give her man face in front of so many people before?
Liu Xiu had just suppressed his anger when Lin Xiaolan pulled him out as a negative example. He jumped up in anger and walked away with a sullen look on his face.
All the village cadres looked at her back as she left, their faces looking unhappy. They didn't say anything, and it was unknown what they were thinking.
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