Li Zhixin said, "I didn't think too much about it. I just wanted to save myself some trouble. The woman who's attracted to me and her mother are both a bit self-righteous and the type who talk to themselves. Refusing them might not be helpful. I can live a peaceful life by staying away."
Gao Ling was silent for a moment, then asked Li Zhixin, "How are you doing over there? Are you adjusting well? You've been gone for over a year, and you only wrote us a letter to let us know you're safe. I counted, and your letter, including punctuation, only had 33 words. You're much more capable than your brother. His handwriting is huge, but it still manages to fill a whole page."
Li Wanjun: "... If you're talking about the second brother, don't point at me."
Li Yongrong said, "I can recite it. 'Dad, Mom, Little Sister: I'm fine. I've settled in, everything's going well. Don't worry! Enter Li Zhixin.'"
Li Zhixin laughed awkwardly. "I'm too busy. I really don't have time. My boss has assigned me so many things to do that he treats me like a beast of burden."
Li Dongshan smiled and said, "This is something that Xiao Xie can do. How are you doing with your studies?"
Li Zhixin chuckled, "It wasn't a wasted trip. I'm not bragging, but I've made rapid progress over the past year or so."
"Then are you ready to graduate? Rencheng has been developing very well this year, and there are many job opportunities. Rongrong can find a job on her own. You can go back to the tractor factory, or try the newly built motor factory, as they are also short of professional talent. I'm quite familiar with Lao Wei from their factory, so I can give you a chance to try."
Li Zhixin shook his head. "No, I've only just started. I still have a lot to learn. I have to hurry. Some of the experts have already gone back. I have to learn more while they're still here."
Li Dongshan said, "It's good that you understand. I had no choice but to send you to the countryside before. Now, if you want to come back, you can come back. If you don't want to come back, just study hard there. What are you researching now?"
"We're currently working on machine tools and car engines. Deputy County Chief Xie told me they plan to invite another expert in the spring, which will definitely give us even more strength. This expert was highly recommended by Teacher Pan."
"Who is it?"
"He didn't tell me the details. Professor Pan kept it a secret, only saying that this person's level was above his."
Li Dongshan was shocked. "Even more powerful than Professor Pan?"
"That's what Professor Pan said. I also asked Deputy County Magistrate Xie, and she pondered for a long time before saying, 'He's probably not inferior to Professor Pan.' It's just that everyone has their own destiny, and life's circumstances are unpredictable. Professor Pan was unlucky. He had an accident in 1958, and he wasn't able to participate in many subsequent research projects. If he had participated, his achievements would definitely have been significant. This person is also unlucky."
Li Dongshan: "..."
Professor Pan is indeed very capable, but that's where his downfall lies. He's a versatile talent, not only well-versed in math, physics, and chemistry, but also well-versed in literature and history. He's a thinker, and as he thinks more, he develops his own ideas about national policies. Simply having ideas is not a problem; the key is expressing them. During the Great Debate movement, Professor Pan published an article in the newspaper expounding on his views on education. This offended people, and he was labeled a reactionary academic authority, wasting many years.
This man's resilience and optimism, coupled with the support and encouragement of his family, would have been enough for anyone else to give up and fail. Meeting Xiao Xie and his group was also a stroke of luck. Of course, Professor Pan's resurgence is also a stroke of luck for Qushui County and the country.
He patted Li Zhixin on the shoulder and said, "Study hard. If you become a scientist or researcher in the future, you will bring honor to our Li family."
Li Zhixin vowed, "I have decided to devote myself completely to scientific research. I will follow Professor Pan. He is in Qushui County, so I will stay in Qushui County. If he returns to the capital, I will find a way to follow him."
"I can recommend you to attend the Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' University. Although most graduates return to their original units, if you're exceptionally talented, staying on campus shouldn't be a problem. You can definitely pass the exam, right?"
"sure."
"By the way, is Xiao Xie's brother in high school now?"
"I'm already in my second year of high school and will graduate in the summer."
"How are his grades? What's he like as a person?"
Li Zhixin looked depressed. "Better than me. Both the siblings are better than me. Deputy County Magistrate Xiao Xie is a serious high school graduate with straight A's. She's very smart and has studied with Professor Pan for a long time. She's much better than me." Professor Pan said that Deputy County Magistrate Xiao Xie is as good as him, and even better than him. He relies on hard work, while Deputy County Magistrate Xiao Xie relies on talent.
Her younger brother is also very smart. He's been studying with Professor Pan and his colleagues since he started attending high school in the commune. He started earlier than I did, so I usually call him "senior brother." Actually, it doesn't matter whether he attends high school or not; he learns much more in-depth courses than high school courses.
Li Dongshan asked, "So after graduation, will he find a job, or go to Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University?"
"You say that as if he could remember it if he wanted to."
"Do you think Xiao Xie can't help her brother get a place at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University?"
He saw clearly that Xiao Xie was indeed of noble character, but she was not the kind of person who would "lose fish in clear water". If her status and power could make her family live a better life without violating principles, Xiao Xie would not deliberately refuse.
"It's not that he can't, it's that he doesn't want to. We were chatting a little bit before, and Deputy County Chief Xie said that after Xie Shen graduates, he'll continue studying with Professor Pan and wait a few years. He'll only be 15 when he graduates, so why rush?"
Li Dongshan stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and said, "After he graduates, we'll hire him as a technician at the tractor factory and let him stay in Taoyuan Commune as an expatriate employee, helping the tractor factory with research. It'll also be a favor to Xiao Xie, so we can ask her for favors in the future."
"Dad, I will tell Xie Yun about all your schemes and tricks."
"Hey! How can you say that? How can this be called a conspiracy? This is all an open conspiracy. Even if you don't say it, I will tell her. In a cooperative relationship like ours, the most taboo thing is conspiracy. What time is it now? The world is in decline and people's hearts are no longer as they used to be. If you want long-term cooperation, you have to treat each other sincerely. Our tractor factory and Xiao Xie have such a sincere cooperative relationship.
I'm warning you, don't tell her. I'll find time to tell her."
Li Zhixin: “…”
☆
The new expert from Taoyuan Commune was an old lady in her seventies named Zheng Shuhua, a few years older than Pan Changqing.
A few years ago, I was put in prison for saying the wrong thing. I spent six years in prison and was just released in the winter of 1973.
Xie Yun met her in March 1974.
The old lady was in good spirits and smiling, and it was obvious that the previous suffering had not defeated her.
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