Chapter 182 Receiving Foreign Guests
May of 1973 was a very lively month for the three northern provinces. A certain head of state, returning from a visit to a neighboring country, began a friendly visit to the three northern provinces that lasted more than 20 days.
The Northern Daily reported the head of state’s visit every day. From the photos published, the road was full of people lining up to welcome him. The welcoming formation, which consisted of workers, farmers, government officials, and students, was also decorated with singing groups, drum bands, and dance groups.
The news specifically pointed out that the welcoming formation lined up on both sides of the road from the station where they got off the train to the hotel where they stayed. Along the way, the sound of singing, cheering, and gongs and drums resounded through the sky.
Some places even rehearse over and over again several days in advance, striving to make the singing, dancing and cheering reach the most perfect state. Some places even set aside funds to repair the buildings on both sides of the road, as if it was a sacred mission.
Su Mo couldn't understand it. You can just find a section of the road to hold a welcoming ceremony. There is really no need to start from the train station and go all the way to the hotel where you are staying, which is so labor-intensive and costly. People's lives are already hard enough, and there is really no need to stop work and school to welcome a foreign guest.
Su Mo originally thought that this matter would only be seen in the newspapers and had little to do with her.
Unexpectedly, after the head of state heard that a large gold mine was discovered here, he decided to come for a visit on the spur of the moment.
This made the leaders of Shuangshan City very anxious. They immediately rushed to Qingxi County and called the troops and cadres of Hongqi Commune to a meeting.
After Su Mo heard
this, her mouth twitched. The members of the brigade were all busy planting. If they put down their work to welcome the arrival, they would be delayed for a few days, missing the farming season, and causing a reduction in grain production. Who would be responsible for this?
Originally, this matter had little to do with Su Mo herself. She was a pregnant woman who was about to give birth, and it would not be her turn no matter who went. But her uncle was the top leader of the county, and her husband was the top leader of the army, so this matter had a lot to do with her.
Therefore, even in the corner, Su Mo listened attentively throughout the whole process.
The leaders were divided into two groups. One group believed that the standards of other cities should be followed. The other group believed that they should do it their own way. The hardware conditions in their county could not compare with those of other big cities, no matter how they tried.
The leaders argued endlessly, and finally the people sent by Shuangshan City and the province to assist decided together that they would not follow the standards of other cities, but they must do their best based on the existing conditions.
We must not lose face for Shuangshan City! We must not lose face for the country!
After the meeting, tasks were immediately assigned one by one.
First, the road leading to the gold mine had to be leveled and paved with small gravel to make the road surface cleaner. The labor force was naturally drawn from the various communes in Qingxi County, and it was compulsory labor without work points.
Su Mo thought that everyone would be unwilling to delay the spring planting. Unexpectedly, everyone was so enthusiastic that even without work points, a lot of people signed up. Each brigade screened and sent some strong and capable young men. It was a pity for those who were not selected.
This was really beyond Su Mo's expectations, so she secretly asked Li Yue'e: "Mom, why are you all so enthusiastic? Don't you think this will affect the spring plowing?"
Li Yue'e smiled, "Oh, we grow grain every year, but this is the first time in history to receive foreign guests. It's such an honor. It shows that our place is good, and foreign guests are willing to come."
"In the future, when we go out and say that we had foreign guests here and we served them, it's so face-saving."
"Besides, when these foreign guests come, we must treat them well and let others know that our country is no longer the same. We are no longer bullied, and the people are in charge."
After listening, Su Mo understood a little.
Her eyes were still on the future, when the country was already very strong and had a high international status, so there was no need to show off. But now, the people have suffered for too long, and now compared to the past, life is already very good. At least if you work hard, you can get something in return.
The people's feelings also need a window to show off.
Thousands of young men transferred from various communes worked enthusiastically for two days and all night long to pave the road smoothly.
The team of the welcoming formation was also in intensive training. All primary and secondary schools in the county suspended classes to form a student formation, each factory also sent worker representatives, each brigade also selected farmer representatives, and there was also a special educated youth formation, that is, the army, which also sent a group of people.
After a busy day, the visiting team finally arrived on the third day.
A dozen cars formed a convoy, followed by dozens of guards on motorcycles. The formation was quite large.
People who were not in the welcoming formation were not allowed to approach the road. The members could only watch from a distance, but they were also very excited. Some of the older generation even shed tears.
As the only commoner who discovered the gold mine, Su Mo was selected to present flowers to the head of state. She was taken to the mining area by Lu Changzheng early in the morning.
Lu Changzheng felt sorry for his wife who was running around with a big belly, but as a soldier, he had to obey some orders. He was ordered from above to fully cooperate with the local units to prepare for the reception.
Fortunately, the visit went very smoothly without any mistakes. Su Mo successfully presented the flowers and went to wait on the side. The head of state visited the mining area for a while and then went back. He had not stayed for more than two hours.
After sending the people away from Qingxi County, all the cadres breathed a sigh of relief.
Geng Changqing had something else to discuss with Lu Changzheng, so after sending the people away, he returned to the Lujia Village Brigade.
After the two of them finished their discussion, they discussed the intention of the higher-ups to let people visit the gold mine while they were having dinner, and Su Mo also listened to it.
As they listened, Su Mo also interrupted, "I'm a little surprised. You say, this head of state can't bring us any investment or introduce any technology, and the authorities still let people visit everywhere, which hurts the people and the money. What's the point?"
The basis of exchanges between countries has always been interests. She really can't see what benefits this person can bring to our country.
Geng Changqing smiled, "How do you know that he can't bring us investment?"
"He is a person who avoids disasters in our country, what can he bring to us." Su Mo said.
She read the history books, anyway, she felt that this person didn't bring any benefits to the country in the end, but it was our country that paid a lot.
Geng Changqing was really surprised this time, "How do you know he is hiding here?"
Su Mo's heart skipped a beat, and she was almost exposed, so she quickly said, "I read in the newspaper that he often visits everywhere. Which head of state is so idle that he stays in other countries every day? He must be unable to stay in his own country, so he ran to other countries."
Geng Changqing looked at Su Mo in surprise. He didn't expect that this girl had some political sensitivity, so he explained to her.
"Our country's current international status is rather awkward, and there are some frictions with the Soviet Union. There are not many countries in the world that have established diplomatic relations with our country. We must show our attitude of being friendly and respectful to our allies."
"Although it will not bring us any economic benefits, it can bring political benefits and help promote our diplomatic relations with other countries."
In fact, this person was also sent by the Soviet Union, but diplomatic relations are far from being explained in one or two sentences.