Director Cao already knew the scale of the medicinal herb fields in Qingshan Village, but he hadn't heard anyone mention Xie Yuyao's patent. Upon hearing Secretary Liu's mention, he curiously asked him what the patent was.
Party Secretary Liu said with pride, "Xie Zhiqing has a talent for medicine and has created several prescriptions. Some of these prescriptions have been successfully patented and have completed the pre-market preparation work. It was because she cooperated with the military pharmaceutical factory in the provincial capital first that she was able to help Qingshan Village develop its medicinal herb business."
"Wasn't it her who started that pear preserve thing you had last year?" Director Cao still remembered it.
"Yes, it is because of her that Qingshan Village has two more ways to generate income."
"Then ask her if she wants to come and work in the commune." Director Cao pondered. If Xie Yuyao could stand at the level of the commune, she could lead the entire Hongqi Commune.
But Secretary Liu was not too happy; how could he send away such a "god of wealth"?
But when he thought about how this was an opportunity for Xie Zhiqing, and how if she could really participate in politics, she would surely benefit the people of the area, he realized that such an important matter could not be addressed by focusing solely on Qingshantun.
However, judging from Xie Zhiqing's actions, she is not a smooth person and does not want to be entangled in interpersonal relationships, so she may not want to go into politics.
Sure enough, when he returned to Qingshan Village and explained Director Cao's invitation to Xie Yuyao, she refused without hesitation.
Xie Yuyao preferred medicine to politics; she was not cut out for the ways of officialdom.
In that environment, being a good person was more important than doing good work, but she only wanted to get things done and didn't want to get involved in personal relationships, which was completely inappropriate for her.
The next day, she went to the commune to find Director Cao and declined his offer of help.
After speaking with her, Director Cao realized he couldn't force the issue and gave up on the idea. However, since she had brought so many benefits to Qingshan Village, Director Cao told her that she could come to him directly if she needed anything, and that he would be happy to support her.
*
Time, like sand in an hourglass, slips silently through our fingers. When the leaves turn yellow, it's time for the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University to enroll its students.
This year, Hongqi Commune allocated an extra spot to the educated youth team. Among the educated youth in the five production brigades under its jurisdiction, three people could be selected, and the educated youth in Qingshantun had a high chance of being selected.
When the news reached Qingshantun, many educated youth were tempted. For the past seven or eight years since the college entrance examination was suspended, the only way to continue their studies was through recommendation to a worker-peasant-soldier university. Now that the opportunity was before them, everyone wanted to seize it.
In the front courtyard of the educated youth compound, the educated youth gathered together, including the Yu brothers, Xie Yuyao, and Yang Shumei.
Once everyone was present, Li Weidong looked at them and shared his thoughts: "The dried fruit factory is just starting out, and I can't leave right now. I hope you can compete fairly."
Chen Kai asked in confusion, "Brother Li, with your abilities, you would definitely be selected if you signed up. Wouldn't it be a shame?"
"No, even if you go to a worker-peasant-soldier university, you won't reach the same level as a dried fruit factory after graduating a few years later," Li Weidong explained.
However, he had three reasons in his heart that supported him in giving up this opportunity:
Firstly, he stated during his job interview that he would find a suitable successor even if he left Qingshantun. Now, the dried fruit factory is like a toddler just learning to walk; he's hesitant to hand it over to someone else.
Secondly, nowadays, worker-peasant-soldier universities mainly involve part-time work and part-time study, primarily training skilled technical personnel who can do hands-on work. It is indeed almost impossible for them to become factory managers immediately after graduation.
Thirdly, he sensed something amiss from Xie Yuyao's behavior. She and Yang Shumei were secretly urging the educated youth to study, and Zhao Jianbin and Yu Wenjiang were also self-studying high school knowledge, seemingly preparing for the future.
After she returned from the provincial capital, one day Secretary Liu came to the backyard of the educated youth compound and took away many books with him, which further confirmed his guess. Perhaps it won't be long before he has a better opportunity for further study.
Yang Shumei, also a member of the factory's management team, was the second to speak: "I don't want to apply anymore. Rather than being recommended for admission, I would rather try my own hard work to get into university someday."
She had already made a future promise with Xie Yuyao. At this crossroads that would determine the future of the educated youth team members, she no longer held back and directly mentioned the matter of taking the college entrance examination.
Seeing her so frank, Xie Yuyao said simply, "I often listen to the radio and read the newspapers, and I guess that the college entrance examination will most likely be reinstated in the future. You should think carefully about whether you want to persevere for a while longer and enter a prestigious university through the college entrance examination, or apply now to compete for a worker-peasant-soldier university."
“I would prefer the former, so I won’t sign up,” Wu Lihong continued.
When she returned from her hometown at the beginning of the year, she had already received a hint from Xie Yuyao. From then on, the college entrance examination became her motivation for studying and her life goal.
Chen Kai and Yu Wenjiang, who were close to Xie Yuyao, also suggested giving up this opportunity. Yu Wenjiang had already set his sights on the college entrance examination, while Chen Kai trusted Li Weidong and Xie Yuyao and made the same choice as them.
After discussing it amongst themselves, Xiang Wenshan and Bei Xiao also decided not to register. Since Xie Yuyao was so confident about the future resumption of the college entrance examination, they had no reason not to believe her. Rather than one of them going to a worker-peasant-soldier university and the other living apart, they decided to take the college entrance examination together.
Finally, only He Wenyao and Yu Wenbo remained, and everyone turned their attention to them.
He Wenyao gritted his teeth and said, "I'm not young anymore. Rather than hoping for an uncertain future, I'd rather give it a try."
Yu Wenbo was left alone, and he said he wanted to discuss it with his parents.
After one night, Yu Wenjiang decided to sign up.
He felt like a useless person in Qingshantun. Even if the college entrance examination were reinstated in the future, he wouldn't be able to get into a good university with his abilities. But if he went to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, the school would provide him with a monthly living allowance, which would allow him to support himself.
After the registration deadline, Director Cao of Hongqi Commune frowned slightly when he saw the list: "Why are there only two educated youths from Qingshan Village who have registered?"
You see, almost all the educated youth in other production brigades signed up, but only two from Qingshan Village. In previous years, quite a few people from Qingshan Village had signed up!
“I confirmed with Secretary Liu several times, and he clearly stated that there were only two educated youths.” The clerk who sent out the list explained, then he thought of something inconsistent, “Director, speaking of Secretary Liu, his nephew didn’t participate in this recommendation either, and I don’t know why.”
Director Cao listened in silence for a while before saying, "Let's screen them according to the list, and first collect their backgrounds and performance since they went to the countryside."
A few days later, Director Cao received a thick stack of investigation reports, with the information on the two educated youths from Qingshantun placed on top.
Director Cao picked up Yu Wenbo's file and scanned it, then held it in his left hand before picking up He Wenyao's file in his right.
Because Xie Yuyao, Li Weidong and other educated youths from Qingshantun performed very well, he secretly wanted to give a spot to the Qingshantun educated youth team.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
