March 21, 1982 happened to be the Spring Equinox.
It was the weekend again, and it should have been a quiet day in the staff dormitory area of the Laicheng Mining Bureau headquarters, but at 5:30 in the morning, loud speakers started blaring.
For some employees and their families who want to stay in bed, it is useless even if they cover their heads with a quilt.
After lingering in the quilt for a few minutes, I was finally woken up by the shouting from downstairs.
Men, women, young and old all came downstairs sleepily.
The employees grumbled as they walked towards the gathering place of their units. The elderly went to the trade union, while the children flocked to the designated gathering place of the school.
Everyone had cleaning tools in their hands.
By around 5:50, most of the participants in the cleaning activity organized by the Mining Bureau’s labor union had arrived.
Most of the people who are still lying in bed at home are educated youth who have just returned from the countryside.
Of course, some sensible educated youth who went to the countryside also joined the volunteer team.
Li Guihua held the big broom tightly in his hand, his eyes fixed on the deputy director of the trade union in front of the team.
She had been in the countryside for three years and came back two months ago.
The policy of returning to the city has been gradually relaxed, but the commune brigade is too slow in approving each one of them one by one. She and several educated youths discussed and decided to do it first and ask for permission later, running back first and then slowly going through the formalities.
Although the Mining Bureau is large, the number of vacancies prepared for the educated youth returning to the city is pitifully small, and one step at a time is slow.
The unemployed children standing with Li Guihua were all educated youth who had returned from the countryside. They were chattering in low voices about the inside story behind this big cleanup.
"Hey, who's the leader coming this time? What a commotion!"
"I heard that the researcher who came to the bureau a while ago wanted to inspect and investigate the economic revitalization of the family quarters. I think the logistics department said that this person is only 29 years old."
"What's the rank of a researcher? A technician? But there shouldn't be more than this."
"What technician? He's a deputy director. That's the same level as our deputy director!"
Someone exclaimed and covered his mouth.
"Don't make a mistake, you're only 29 and already the deputy director?"
"My uncle said that he is a top student who graduated from Minzu University. Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. I am also 29, but I have lived in vain."
Li Guihua couldn't help but asked in a low voice.
"He's just a deputy director, and so young. Even when Director Tang came to inspect before, there wouldn't be such a big commotion, right?"
"Yeah, let alone Director Tang, I remember the last time the city leaders came here, there wasn't such a big commotion."
The female educated youth who was best informed snorted with a hint of pride.
"It's normal for you to find it strange. My uncle told me that they came directly from the Ministry in Beijing, and the results of their investigation and research must be reported back to the capital."
"So, no matter how much the bureau takes this matter seriously, it can't be overemphasized!"
The group of people suddenly understood what was going on.
"Alright, alright, stop whining," the deputy director boomed. "Everyone's assigned areas must be kept spotless!"
"Let's not embarrass the bureau in front of our guests from the capital!"
"Everyone, get moving quickly. We'll conduct an inspection at 7:00 and a second inspection at 7:30! Disperse!"
The area that Li Guihua and a childhood friend were assigned to clean was a 30-meter-long sidewalk next to the staff dormitory.
This place is usually populated by vegetable vendors from outside and a few people from the factory who set up stalls in the south.
Although the cleaners sweep the floor every once in a while, the most troublesome thing is the accumulated stains on the floor.
The union brought a lot of detergent from the mine and generously poured some on every part of the sidewalk.
Although Tang Jianan and Huang Jianmin did not think much of the young Zhang Hongcheng when it came to affairs within the bureau.
But they also didn't want Zhang Hongcheng to get hold of any dirt in the bureau and report it to Beijing.
So when Zhang Hongcheng said that he would come to check the family finances of the factory the next day, Director Tang and Deputy Director Huang, who were not on good terms with him, immediately held a small meeting overnight.
Arrange for Deputy Director Li Xianghong, the office director, and Deputy Director Xiong Min, who is in charge of the trade union, the Women's Federation, education, and medical publicity, to work together to ensure that the cleaning and investigation scenes are well arranged.
Li Guihua looked unhappily at a man in his fifties with a cigarette butt in his mouth not far away.
Comrade Li Weiguo had obviously gone out to play cards again last night. He was dozing off with sleepy eyes, smoking and leaning on a broom.
"Dad, you need to go back to sleep!"
"I don't want you to help me, okay? Instead, you make a mess of cigarette ash."
Li Weiguo glared at his daughter unhappily.
"If I, as a parent, don't show up, believe it or not, the tasks others assign you will become heavier and heavier! You are such a fool."
"I'd love to!"
Li Guihua angrily drove his father away.
My father is good in every way, except for his smoking and playing cards.
Li Guihua had sworn in her heart long ago that if she ever dated someone in the future, she would never look for someone who liked playing cards and smoking!
The union people checked it three times before hesitantly nodding and approving the acceptance.
The people in charge of cleaning went home and the "actors" arrived immediately.
The main street in the family quarters, which used to have no more than a dozen small stalls, is now filled with hundreds of stalls.
Those responsible for selling goods include not only the canteen's purchasing staff and chefs, but also many employees of the supply and marketing cooperatives.
The people who play the role of buyers are "reliable personnel" from various units and workshops.
At the same time, the Security Department dispatched a large number of personnel to go door to door and tell those naughty boys and idle young people to stay at home honestly today, or leave the family area, otherwise the bureau will definitely not be polite!
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