Chapter 69 Chapter 69 It’s all thanks to the leadership. …
The barracks department sent over several long benches, which were placed around the long table. The martyrs' families sat on the benches holding their children, watching Liang Xin making tea.
Liang Xin put tea leaves or sugar in everyone's enamel pots, fried a large pot of fruit and shared it with the children of the martyrs' families. "Don't be so serious. Everyone should eat and drink."
The children of the martyrs' families were all very thin. They held on to the sugar water tightly and their eyes lit up when they saw the fruits on the two large enamel plates.
Li Mao felt sorry for the children and said, "Eat quickly."
Liang Xin pulled out a stool and sat down. "Let me first tell you about the bakery situation. Now, in addition to the bakery here, the Jiangjing Bakery Branch and the Beijing Bakery Branch also need manpower."
The relatives of the martyrs who had just picked up the cup to drink water were so shocked that they almost choked.
"Jiangjing? The provincial capital!"
"Beijing? The capital?!"
"Yes, the stores in the provincial capital and the capital need manpower." Liang Xin said, "For sisters-in-law and aunts who want to work in the bakery, the 11th Division Bakery will offer a one-month training course. Participants will be able to become apprentices after one month and can be assigned to work in the stores in Beijing and Jiangjing."
The martyrs' families' skin, dried red by the wind and sun, glowed with joy and they could not hide their excitement.
Li Lanhua, the leader, asked carefully, "If we can't become a master, do we have to go back?"
"The new flour mill of the bakery has been built." Liang Xin smiled and said, "I didn't finish what I said just now. The bakery is just one of the options. Comrades who don't want to knead dough and make snacks can choose to work in the flour mill."
The martyrs' relatives couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Is there still a chance to work in the factory?"
“Are they the same workers as those in the factories outside?”
"Workers who can get 30 yuan in wages, get a house to live in, and eat commercial grain?"
"The flour mill belongs to the farm, and the household registration is transferred to the collective household registration of the farm. The monthly ration for women is 28 kilograms, and for children is 15 kilograms. The flour mill on the farm does not have a system like the factories outside, because the flour mill is still a factory for military families. However, the factory implements a wage system, 28 yuan a month before the start of the expedition, and 30 yuan a month after becoming a regular employee."
Liang Xin continued, "The third option is the contract responsibility system that the country has just implemented. Bakeries and flour mills are still in the initial stage, but the current situation of the distribution of land to households in rural areas is very good. I heard that the members of Xiaogang Village in Anhui Province even bought motorcycles this year after the land was distributed to households. Sisters-in-law and aunts, please seriously consider the three options first. After you make a choice, we can arrange the training class."
Liang Xin picked up the teacup, and the bakery was instantly surrounded by a buzzing sound.
The only drawback of the factory Liang Xin mentioned is that it has no establishment. Without an establishment, all employees are considered temporary workers, which is not the iron rice bowl they imagined. The martyrs' families mainly discussed this point with each other and the discussion was heated.
After the discussion, because of what they saw yesterday about the attitudes of Commander Yang, Political Commissar Zheng and Shi Lanzhi towards Li Lanhua, the martyrs' families spontaneously asked Li Lanhua to speak on their behalf.
Li Lanhua looked at Liang Xin and said, "Director Liang, if there are no male laborers in the countryside, it will be very difficult for us female laborers. It's not just that we can't move food and cultivate the land, but if there are no men in the family, the bad guys will bully us. Although the country favors the families of martyrs, we can't go to the country for every trivial matter. If you can really accept us all, we will definitely be willing to follow you."
"If you're not following me, I'm also following the division."
Liang Xin put down the teacup and said, "In this case, the bakery and flour mill are in urgent need of manpower, so everyone should stay."
After hearing this, the martyrs' families smiled excitedly.
"Although the flour mill is a factory for military dependents and has no establishment, everything has two sides." Liang Xin said slowly: "As long as the flour mill has high profits, in other words, as long as we can make money, we can use part of the money to improve everyone's lives, such as raising wages, improving food standards, and building houses for employees, so that everyone can truly live and work here in peace and contentment."
The relatives of the martyrs, who had originally hoped for a lowering of the punishment, were startled when they heard this.
Li Mao first asked: "Can the salary be increased?"
A relative of a martyr followed closely behind: "Can we really distribute houses like in factories?"
"With concerted efforts and hard work, everything is possible." Liang Xin opened the notebook in front of her. "In addition to the flour mill, Jiangjing Bakery needs at least four employees. Comrade Wang Daya will be the store manager of Jiangjing Bakery and will be responsible for daily management. After a one-month training period, the comrades assigned to Jiangjing will have their household registration transferred to Jiangjing with their jobs. They will have urban household registration and the commercial grain you want. The bakery will rent dormitories to you, which can be considered as housing."
"There is such a good thing?!"
The family member wearing the striped towel yesterday, named Xu Dafeng, said in disbelief: "Director Liang, you just started talking and didn't realize there would be such a good thing later!"
The martyrs' relatives nodded one after another.
Liang Xin smiled and said, "I said at the beginning that the stores in Jiangjing and Beijing need manpower."
Xu Dafeng was stunned, and after thinking carefully, he realized that it was indeed the case.
But their attention was attracted by the glittering "workers". When they heard that it was impossible to reach the standards of the working class, they just thought it was slightly better than working in the production team. They never imagined that the bakery also hid things they dared not even dream of!
A thin woman raised her hand tremblingly, "Then, what about Beijing? Can Beijing do the same?"
Liang Xin nodded, but before she could say anything, she heard a gasp in the bakery.
"That's just the beginning." Li Mao said hurriedly, "Beijing Bakery is making bread for the passengers on the plane!"
"airplane?!"
The relatives of the martyrs all exclaimed in unison in disbelief.
"As for the children, those who stay in the 11th Division will go to school in the 11th Division, and those who are assigned to the provincial capital and the capital will go to school according to the street where their household registration is located." Liang Xin said: "After this allocation, the bakery in the city will probably not recruit more people, unless the sisters-in-law and aunts have excellent management thinking, so everyone should study hard in the next month."
The martyrs' families are still in disbelief.
"This, this is pie in the sky, but it's not as good as Director Liang!"
Li Lanhua looked at Liang Xin and sighed, "It's a pity that you don't become a government official."
The martyrs' relatives nodded vigorously.
"Once we are done, if we are still short of manpower, we can recruit relatives of martyrs from the base and other places, and help local areas meet job needs." Liang Xin said, "This is not much different from what state officials do."
A relative of a martyr said: "Why not? How can you compare to being a government official?"
"So our Liangxin is a good factory manager with a conscience." Li Mao said, "Working with such a factory manager, life will definitely not be bad."
Seeing that the martyrs' relatives were about to nod in agreement, Liang Xin spoke first, "The martyrs' relatives who want to go to the flour mill can go directly to Li Mao's wife. She is responsible for the daily management of the flour mill. Now, in addition to the name of the bakery, there is one more thing. Does anyone from our original family want to go to Beijing?"
The four people in the bakery were stunned.
"If not, I will be in charge of the bakery in Jiangjing, and I will let Sister Daya take Xiaoya to Beijing instead." Liang Xin said, "Is Sister Daya willing?"
Wang Daya nodded quickly, "Yes, it's all right. Take Xiaoya with me wherever I go."
“I want to go to Beijing.”
Xia Xia suddenly raised her hand. "Ever since you came back and told me about the cooperation with the aviation food factory, I've been thinking about this. Yang Tao is alone in Beijing, and I want to transfer there so that I can see her more often."
Li Mao exclaimed, "Didn't you refuse to separate from Commander Yang before? Your relationship has finally eased over the past two years. Why didn't you take the opportunity to cultivate your relationship? Maybe you could have another child. Why did you run away?"
Xia Xia's face instantly turned red. "You really dare to say anything. How old are we? We still have children. Yang Tao is already of marriageable age."
Li Mao said, "So what? Yang Tao is old enough to get married. It's because you gave birth early. You're only in your early 40s. It's not like you can't have children."
The martyrs' relatives immediately rushed to join in the conversation.
For example, in my hometown, at what age did I give birth to my first child, at what age did I give birth to my second child, and at what age did I give birth to my last child.
Liang Xin: “….”
Liang Xin rubbed her temples. "Then Sister Xia Xia will go to Beijing, and Sister Daya will stay in Jiangjing. The sisters-in-law will stay in the guesthouse for the time being. I will ask the logistics department to transfer your household registration to the farm. The reason why we don't move it to the bakery is because the employees of the bakery are all military dependents."
The martyrs' families had no objections and their faces were filled with longing and joy for a new life.
"Sisters-in-law and aunts, please think about where to go. Once you have decided, please find the administrators of the various units to sign up. You can familiarize yourself with the bakery's procedures today, and the training will officially begin tomorrow."
Liang Xin said, "The only thing left is a name. If the sisters-in-law have any suggestions, you can tell us. If you are chosen, you can choose any three kinds of bread as written on the blackboard."
Lu Chongfeng happened to push the door open, the sunlight piercing through his black hair. He raised his hand and said, "I suggest that we call it the Conscience Bakery!"
“This is not my own bakery.”
Liang Xin walked over and said, "This is the bakery that belongs to the 11th Division. Don't talk nonsense."
"No, it's not the fragrance of flowers in your name." Lu Chongfeng put down his raised hand and patted his heart on the left side. "It's the heart of conscience."
“This is good!”
Li Mao clapped his hands excitedly: "After hearing so many names, this one hits the nail on the head and touches my heart!"
"That's right."
Xia Xia smiled and said, "This name is the essence of our bakery. It is not only nice to hear and easy to remember, but also very meaningful."
Zhong Xuelian and Wang Daya nodded repeatedly to show their agreement.
“That’s a great name.”
There was an elderly woman among the martyrs' relatives who spoke for the first time. She looked at Liang Xin and said, "Director Liang is totally worthy of the name."
"Yes." Li Lanhua nodded. "Bread is for eating. The name Conscience makes people feel at ease as soon as they hear it."
"You are my husband. Why do you feel a little shameless for giving us this name?"
Lu Chongfeng only heard the first sentence Liang Xin said, ignoring the rest. He raised the corner of his mouth and said, "The division has held several votes in the past six months. If you think it's inappropriate, then hold another vote and write down all the names they picked before."
Liang Xin gave him a thumbs up and said, "Your mind works very quickly."
Lu Chongfeng curled up his fingers and rubbed them together, resisting the urge to reach out and hold her thumb. "I'll go get you the voting box from the division headquarters. Write your name and prepare some paper and pen to put on the box. The name will be out in the evening."
Liang Xin patted his arm and said, "Thank you."
Lu Chongfeng looked at the family members who crowded around the bakery, touched the arm that Liang Xin had patted, and turned to walk out.
The issue of the martyrs' families getting employed was resolved and the voting boxes were set up.
It was already the 29th day of the lunar year, and Liang Xin did not stay in the bakery any longer. She went home carrying the freshly bought beef from the service center.
After turning into the alley, a person was suddenly pushed out from behind the moon gate.
Liang Xin stopped and looked at the unfamiliar cadre.
The cadre looked impatient.
Another cadre came out from behind the moon gate and smiled at Liang Xin, with an obvious hint of flattery in his smile.
"Comrade Liang Xin, I am Zhang Zhibing, the deputy battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 22nd Regiment. This is the deputy company commander of the 2nd Company of our battalion, Liang Kang, whose last name sounds the same as yours."
Liang Xin looked at the two of them, "What's the matter?"
Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang pushed the young cadre.
Liang Kang impatiently slapped Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang's hand away and was about to leave, but was pulled back by Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang.
"Comrade Liang Xin, you can see that this kid has a bad temper. This is what happened. Earlier at the whole group meeting, this kid had a quarrel with Group Leader Lu. He didn't speak very nicely to Group Leader Lu. In fact, he already knew he was wrong..."
"Who knows what's wrong..."
Liang Kang just stiffened his neck to interrupt Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang, but Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang grabbed his arm and threw him behind his back.
Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang smiled at Liang Xin again, "That day, what Captain Lu said actually made a lot of sense. It was this kid who was worried that I would be demoted, so he argued with Captain Lu. Comrade Liang Xin, can you help persuade Captain Lu to not take this kid's words to heart? Liang Kang is the most capable cadre in our battalion in all aspects, but his bad temper often offends the leaders, so he has never been taken seriously."
Liang Xin looked at the two of them, "So, you think Captain Lu is the same leader that Deputy Captain Liang had offended before?"
Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang was stunned. "No, it's different with Captain Lu. So our grassroots cadres all cherish this opportunity. This guy offended Captain Lu because of me. Please forgive me if there is anything wrong with what I said. It's because I was overly worried that this happened."
"Don't be so humble here, I can't stand it!"
Liang Kang pulled Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang to leave, "I'm used to it a long time ago. I've already written the report for transfer. I don't care."
"fart!"
Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang shook off Liang Kang's hand and said, "Comrade Liang Xin, this kid went to the military academy and got A's in every course. In fact, he really admires Captain Lu and often regrets not being able to follow Captain Lu to participate in the Vietnam War because of going to the military academy. He really doesn't have any problem with Captain Lu, he just values friendship and loyalty..."
"In the past few years that I've been married to Captain Lu, I've never asked him about his work."
Liang Xin said, "I'm sorry."
Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang looked a little anxious, but in the end he did not stop Liang Xin. He nodded apologetically and made way for her.
Liang Xin walked home carrying the beef. She had encountered similar things many times when she returned to the 11th Division, but they were basically all for her own benefit. This was the first time she had encountered someone asking for help in saying good things for the sake of others.
Walking into the backyard, I saw that Lu Chongfeng had already killed, plucked and cleaned the chicken. There was a big pot of pork ribs stewing on the honeycomb coal stove, emitting the tempting aroma of meat.
Liang Xin washed her hands, took out the salt shaker, rubbed the chicken with salt, pinned the wings on the chicken's back, stuffed the chicken legs into the chicken's stomach, put it in an enamel basin, grabbed a handful of peppercorns and spread them evenly, and marinated it in the enamel basin.
After the rice is cooked, take out the freshly bought beef, clean it, and rub it repeatedly with salt.
Xiaoju came over, looked at the beef, raised his front paws and licked his face to wash it.
"I'm back."
Lu Chongfeng walked into the long hall, holding a bag of oranges in his hand, "The service center has oranges, I bought a bag, what are you doing?"
"Make roast chicken and spiced beef."
Liang Xin finished rubbing the beef and put it in the jar to marinate. Seeing that the rice pot was boiling, she washed her hands, cracked two eggs into an enamel bowl, added some salt, and stirred them with chopsticks. She looked at Lu Chongfeng in front of the sink and said, "Steamed eggs, chrysanthemum, vegetable and pork ribs soup, and what other stir-fried dishes do you want?"
"Eating yellow chrysanthemum and green vegetables again?"
Lu Chongfeng wiped his hands with a towel, looked at the vegetable garden and smiled, "Plant more of this vegetable next year. I don't think there are many left. Can't you eat the roast chicken and five-spice beef you made today?"
"I can't eat the food prepared for the New Year tomorrow."
Liang Xin looked at the live fish in the bucket and said, "How about we braise one of the fish?"
"I stewed a lot of ribs. I cut the ribs myself. I know you like it, so I left more meat." Lu Chongfeng walked to the honeycomb coal stove, opened the lid of the large steel pot, and scooped up a piece of ribs with a spoon, "Look."
The fat and tender meat has been stewed until it is soft and hangs on the ribs. It is crystal clear and full of meaty aroma. You can tell at a glance that once you put it in your mouth, the meat will fall away from the bones and be soft, tender and fragrant.
Liang Xin swallowed her saliva, put the eggs into the rice, and covered the pot. "Then don't cook the fish. Put the vegetables in the pot and cook them. Let's eat directly."
Lu Chongfeng understood that Liang Xin was very satisfied, "Okay."
Liang Xin ate five or six pieces of ribs in a row, paired with rice, and chewed with a satisfied look on her face, "These ribs taste great."
"Cool?"
Lu Chongfeng looked at Liang Xin in confusion, "What does '爽' mean? 'Cold?'
Liang Xin: “….”
Lu Chongfeng leaned over and looked at Liang Xin's bowl. "No, it's still steaming. Let me try it."
Liang Xin stopped chewing, knocked his chopsticks away with her chopsticks, and exhaled a long breath through her nose, "Just pretend I didn't say anything."
Lu Chongfeng scratched his head. "Shall I get you another bowl of hot food? There are plenty of ribs in the pot. There are only two of us and we didn't buy much meat. This New Year, you can eat as many ribs as you want."
Liang Xin glanced at him, and couldn't help but curl her lips again, "I see the atmosphere in the school is still very tense. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, are you still not done with your work?"
"Didn't you tell me to pay attention to the method?" Lu Chongfeng scooped a spoonful of steamed egg and put it on the rice. "Let the whole group have a good New Year. We'll talk about it on the first day of the new year."
Liang Xin: “….”
It feels both humane and ruthless.
Lu Chongfeng continued, "On New Year's Eve, take care of the mood of those cadres who will be demoted, and on New Year's Day, send good mood to those cadres who will be promoted."
Perhaps influenced by the two cadres on the road just now, Liang Xin forgot that there were cadres who would be promoted. She looked at Lu Chongfeng and smiled sincerely, "Your steel bar is not as hard as before. It has become soft."
Lu Chongfeng stopped the egg that was about to reach his mouth and turned to look at Liang Xin.
Liang Xin's smile changed slightly and she looked at him warily.
Lu Chongfeng: "It's all thanks to the leadership's guidance."
Liang Xin slowly relaxed her tense breath.
"Why are you sweating?"
Lu Chongfeng took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off Liang Xin's forehead. "Didn't you just say it was cold?"
Liang Xin let him wipe the sweat off his face, picked up the soup bowl and took a sip of the soup, put down her chopsticks, and left the table. "I'm done eating, take your time."
Lu Chongfeng looked at Liang Xin who was taking a walk with a puzzled look, picked up Liang Xin's soup bowl, and poured the remaining chrysanthemum heart and greens into his own bowl of rice, "Are you tired of eating this already?"
It seems that there is no need to plant more of this variety of vegetables next year.
At the ballot box at the door of the bakery, the military families were very active in voting.
In the evening, Zhong Xuelian opened the ballot box and counted the votes.
Conscience, this name topped the list with an overwhelming number of votes.
Lu Chongfeng went to the bakery, picked out three kinds of bread, and took them home proudly.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, Liang Xin woke up at the same time as Lu Chongfeng, which was a rare occurrence.
This is because Lu Chongfeng didn't bother me last night, so I was able to sleep well until dawn.
Lu Chongfeng went for drill. After Liang Xin washed up, she steamed a few vegetable, oil residue and vermicelli buns given by Li Mao next door. She boiled some paste in a small pot and smeared it on the gold-embossed spring couplets she brought back from Jiangjing.
As soon as Lu Chongfeng came back, the two of them took the Spring Festival couplets and walked out of the house, just in time to see Li Mao and Captain Lei from next door also taking Spring Festival couplets and walking out.
Liang Xin gave the command and Lu Chongfeng aligned them and stuck them to the gate.
On the left is: Adhere to the truth and let the torch of revolution illuminate the world.
On the right is: Inheriting culture, China's wisdom has been passed down through the ages.
Horizontal banner: Happy Spring Festival.
"Oh, after all, these are the Spring Festival couplets that Jiang Jing brought back!" Li Mao ran over after putting them up, "They look better than those written with a brush!"
Liang Xin walked to the door of Li Mao's house and looked at the Spring Festival couplets.
Three children are reading aloud:
"The red sun is rising, the dawn of communism is shining on the world, white clouds are floating, the ideal of a harmonious society is unfolding!"
Liang Xin pulled Xiao Dan's pigtails and said, "Xiao Dan can recognize so many words now."
Xiao Dan looked up at Liang Xin and said, "I want to be a college student like my aunt."
"Okay, you will definitely pass the exam!"
After putting up Spring Festival couplets, both families didn't stay at the door for long, and hurried back to cook.
After breakfast, Lu Chongfeng and Captain Lei went to work as usual.
The bakery was closed for two days, so the families of soldiers who needed to buy snacks received a large supply of snacks after the first day of the training class started yesterday, and most of them have been sold out.
Liang Xin put the chicken that she had marinated yesterday into the frying pan and fried it until it turned golden brown, then took it out and drained the oil.
Then take out the beef that has been marinated overnight in the jar, soak it in clean water, blanch it in a pot of boiling water, wash off the blood stains, cut it into large pieces larger than mahjong, put it into a pot of cold water, add soy sauce, sugar, scallion segments, ginger pieces and bundles of celery, then put in the seasoning packet containing fennel, cinnamon, aniseed, pepper, cloves and other ingredients, and cover the pot.
Turn around and pick up the chicken that has been drained of oil, put the same spices and seasonings into the chicken's stomach, and steam it in a pot over high heat.
Lu Chongfeng was only there for an hour and came back from get off work early to kill and clean the two fish.
The people of Jiangjing have their New Year’s Eve dinner at night, but the families of soldiers in the barracks come from all over the world. The two were busy when suddenly there was a deafening sound of firecrackers outside.
Liang Xin subconsciously looked at Lu Chongfeng, and Lu Chongfeng was also looking at her. The two smiled at each other amid the sound of festive firecrackers.
Yellow croaker fried rice cake, five-spiced beef, roast chicken, cured meat platter, fried prawns, braised pork, vinegar-fried cabbage, mushroom-fried vegetables, three-fresh soup, eight-treasure rice, spring rolls...
The square table was filled with dishes.
Liang Xin felt that having more dishes would not only make the place more lively, but also give it a strong festive atmosphere. She held up two glasses and said, "Let's light the firecrackers too."
No response.
Liang Xin turned around with the glass in her hand and saw Lu Chongfeng opening several red velvet boxes.
There was a sudden flash of golden light before my eyes.
The red velvet box contains a gold ripple chain heart pendant necklace, a dragon and phoenix bracelet, a rose ring and rose earrings.
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