Chapter 54: Can't Cover the Mountain
Political Commissar Zhang paused, flicking the ash off his cigarette. "But, given the current situation... and your background (he'd apparently heard rumors of it too), things are a bit tense. Some things can't be rushed."
First live a stable life and take good care of your children.
As for the rest... let's wait until the rumors die down, or until there's definite news from the Wei Kingdom... before we talk about it?"
His words sounded like concern, but more like a subtle warning.
Shen Lingning tightened his grip on Fubao and looked up at Political Commissar Zhang.
His eyes were clear but firm: "Thank you for your concern, Political Commissar. I know the seriousness of the matter. I will take good care of Fubao and will not cause any trouble to the organization."
Shen Lingning understood the warning words of Political Commissar Zhang.
She did not refute directly, but the quiet unwillingness and persistence in her eyes, like a stone, could be seen clearly by Zhang Qinjian.
Under the table, Wang Shufen quietly kicked her husband, signaling him to be more careful with his words.
Political Commissar Zhang shook his head helplessly, and without saying anything more, he put out his pipe, said hello to Wang Shufen and Damao, and said goodbye to Shen Lingning: "I'm leaving now. I have a meeting this afternoon."
Then he got up and left the yard.
Shen Lingning walked two steps forward, turned around and gently carried the sleeping Fubao back to the kang in the inner room, carefully tucked in the corners of the quilt, and moved two pillows to block the edge of the kang. Then he tiptoed out and closed the door.
In the yard, Wang Shufen was cleaning up the dishes.
Shen Lingning picked up the thermos, sprinkled some tea leaves he brought with him into a large coarse porcelain bowl, and poured boiling water over it.
The brown tea swirled in the coarse porcelain bowl, steam rising from it.
"Sister-in-law, sit down for a while and have some tea."
Shen Lingning handed the bowl to Wang Shufen and sat down with an enamel pot.
Wang Shufen took the bowl, feeling a little embarrassed. "Lingning, don't take it personally. Old Zhang is just like that, very strict and straightforward, but he has good intentions. He's worried that you'll get into trouble again if you're new here and your foundation isn't stable."
Shen Lingning smiled slightly and blew the hot air from the enamel pot: "Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? Political Commissar Zhang is a decent person, I understand. He reminded me for my own good, and I remember this in my heart."
She picked up the mug and took a sip. "It's a pity that I don't have good tea sets, so I can only use this big bowl. I'm neglecting my sister-in-law."
Wang Shufen waved her hand, indicating she didn't care. She picked up the coarse porcelain bowl and was about to drink when her eyes fell on the tea leaves floating at the bottom of the bowl.
Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Huh?" and asked in surprise, "You still have tea leaves? It's so rare these days! Even the director of the county office might not be able to get a quota. Where did you get it?"
Shen Lingning was even more surprised than her and put down the teacup: "Ah? The tea supply is so tight? This is not supplied. It's the wild tea I picked in the back mountain. I dried it and made tea with it. Sister-in-law, try it to relieve the greasiness."
She pointed in the direction of the back mountain.
Wang Shufen took a big sip doubtfully. The hot tea slid into her throat with a fresh mountain fragrance and a hint of bitterness. She smacked her lips.
His eyes lit up: "Hey! You know what! This wild tea tastes a bit rough, but it's really refreshing to drink! It quenches thirst much better than plain water! It's great stuff!"
Shen Lingning showed a hint of just the right amount of sadness on his face, and continued with the conversation: "Yes, as the old saying goes, 'The seven necessities of life are firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea'. Tea should be something that ordinary people have at home, to relieve fatigue and refresh the mind.
But now... alas, it has become a rare commodity. It's a pity that our Qinnan, with its beautiful mountains and rivers, is a place that naturally grows good tea, but we have a treasure mountain but no way to let everyone drink a sip of real tea."
She took another sip of tea, her tone filled with a hint of regret. "I heard that in Suzhou and Hangzhou, the best tea paste can be exchanged for valuable foreign exchange for the country. Alas, the old tea plantation on the mountain in front of our door is just lying there like a wasteland. What a pity..."
Having said that, Shen Lingning stopped talking and didn't go into details.
She held the enamel pot, her gaze fixed on the desolate outline of the mountains in the distance, as if she were observing the land, or perhaps thinking about something further. Her brief, brief regret was more powerful than a lengthy speech.
Wang Shufen listened, looked at Shen Lingning's profile, and sighed in her heart.
Comrade Shen is really smart and dares to think.
But Lao Zhang is right, this matter... is difficult now.
Just then, Aunt Sun walked into the courtyard with a half-finished shoe sole in her hand.
She greeted Wang Shufen and Shen Lingning, then naturally pulled over a small stool and sat down. While she skillfully threaded her needle, she chatted casually, lowering her voice a little:
"Hey, have you heard? The base sent people to the county for a meeting these past two days, and there's quite a stir!"
Shen Lingning and Wang Shufen both looked at Aunt Sun.
Wang Shufen asked, "What kind of meeting is this? So serious?"
Aunt Sun paused her needlework, glanced around, and lowered her voice with a hint of mystery: "I heard it's some 'economic work conference'! The county has called all the units together to come up with a solution! It seems it's because... because the 'foreign exchange' gap is so huge?
The higher-ups have given us a mandate, requiring each region to "adapt to local conditions" and develop some sideline businesses that can generate foreign exchange through exports! Director Chen from our base's logistics department was mentioned at the meeting, and his face is as black as the bottom of a pot!
When he came back, he slammed the table at Deputy Director Jiang, extremely angry!"
"Foreign exchange? Exports?"
Wang Shufen was a little confused: "What does this have to do with our mountain village?"
Shen Lingning's hand holding the enamel pot paused slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the warm wall of the pot.
Her eyes flashed rapidly under her drooping eyelashes.
Foreign exchange gap?
Export mission?
Start a side job according to local conditions?
These words, like a few sparks, instantly splashed into her heart, and the flames were ignited again!
Wang Shufen was still mumbling, "Let us start a sideline business of exporting? We can't just haul the rocks from the mountains and sell them, right?"
Aunt Sun also agreed: "Who said it wasn't? This is really embarrassing!"
Shen Lingning slowly raised her head, her face still calm, even a little curious, and followed their words and asked: "Auntie Sun, at that meeting...did you say what specific side business you wanted to do? There must be a direction, right?"
Aunt Sun frowned and tried to recall: "Direction... I think they mentioned something... something... 'Specialty agricultural products'? 'Traditional handicrafts'? Oh! That's right! They also specifically mentioned 'those with historical traditions and capable of producing high-quality products'!"
Isn't this what Director Ma got angry about? He said Songtaogou is a poor mountain valley with nothing but rocks and trees, so where are our historical traditions and special products?
Shen Lingning silently recited these words in his heart, and his eyes once again involuntarily drifted towards the back mountain.
Amid the sad complaints of Wang Shufen and Aunt Sun, the cold half of the boundary marker seemed to be silently emitting a scorching light in her eyes!
At the same time, at the gate of the county compound.
Jiang Weiyi signed in and turned around arrogantly.
He ran into a young woman wearing a Lenin suit, with a haggard face but unfriendly eyes - it was Chen Manli who was beaten by Shen Lingning on the train!
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