Chapter 114
"Director Zheng," Xia Juhua immediately became alert when she heard this. Without waiting for Director Zheng to say what she wanted to discuss, she said, "You can't let me fry peanuts anymore. Haven't you seen my daughter-in-law, who is busy working every day with a bulging belly? My son is already resentful of me."
Director Zheng pretended not to hear and said, "Captain Xia, do you remember that the district supply and marketing cooperative participated in an expo before? In the spring of next year, it will be time for another expo. The district supply and marketing cooperative wants to promote Ping'anzhuang's textile products as a main project. What do you think?"
Xia Juhua had never thought that the knitted products of a production team would be the main promotional item for the entire region to participate in foreign expositions. However, she knew that Pinganzhuang's knitted products were becoming more and more popular.
So I asked Director Zheng a question in a professional and confident manner: "Director Zheng, if we make Ping'anzhuang's woven products the main promotion project, then our current varieties will be a bit limited. I wonder if the district supply and marketing cooperative has any specific requirements?"
"There are less than three months left until spring. If there are any requirements, they must be raised as soon as possible. We must ask members to complete previous orders and compile samples according to the requirements of the district supply and marketing cooperative. And the sample cannot be just one. There must be at least 100 of each type."
When Director Zheng heard that Xia Juhua had agreed, he was so happy that his eyebrows were not covered with tears: "I don't have any specific requirements, I just want you to have more varieties, at least you have to come up with a few series of samples."
It was the same as saying nothing. Xia Juhua thought that she should go back to Zhaoxianzhi to discuss this matter with Zhang Cuiping and others. But she would not let Director Zheng off so easily:
"Director Zheng, we need to hurry up with the iron bucket. It will be too late after the Chinese New Year. And the cloth, you see, I only rode a bicycle here, so I can't take it back. If you want someone to send it to me, that would be great. I just don't have much money this time. Besides, our team members are busy making mats, making flour, and there is no time to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy oil, salt and other things..."
Director Zheng understood everything very well: "Captain Xia, don't worry, just go back and think about how to come up with new ideas, whether it's soaked cloth or daily necessities such as oil and salt. Our county supply and marketing cooperative is about to organize a rural service activity, and I have decided to hold it in your Ping'anzhuang Brigade. Tomorrow, our mobile service vehicle will arrive at the Ping'anzhuang Brigade. Don't forget to inform the members, and those who need it can go to your brigade headquarters to buy it."
Xia Juhua gave Director Zheng a thumbs up and said, "Director Zheng, you are a good leader who serves the members wholeheartedly. On behalf of all the members of Ping'an Village Brigade, I would like to thank you."
After that, the two smiled at each other, neither of them taking the other's words seriously. However, Xia Juhua still ran to find Director Lin and told him that the new powder from Ping An Zhuang had been leaked, and he should remember to ask his brother to pick it up today.
Director Lin has helped Ping'an Zhuang a lot over the years.
Since she was in the county town, Xia Juhua went to the bank and deposited her annual dividends and wages into her passbook: her dividends this year amounted to 936 yuan, plus the 10 yuan monthly subsidy as a team leader, which was another 100 yuan, for an annual income of just over 1,000 yuan. Even in the city, few people could compare with her - even if Xia Juhua put half of it into the Liu family's public fund as usual, she could still save another 500 yuan, not to mention the money she earned from helping to fry peanuts from time to time.
It's a bit scary to say it out loud at this time - the average monthly salary of a worker is more than 20 yuan now, and she earns the salary of several workers in a year.
With so much money kept at home, Xia Juhua thought it would be more economical to put it in the bank and earn interest. The money she deposited last year matured two days ago, so it was a good opportunity to put it all together and renew the deposit.
After carefully putting away the new deposit slip, Xia Juhua smiled at the bank staff at the counter and left, but she caused quite a stir in the bank: more than 4,000 yuan, who among the people present could take out 400 yuan? Even though they sit in the bank every day, families few can take out 400 yuan in savings, and they have already saved more than 4,000 yuan!
The interest alone is several hundred yuan, and now it is being combined with Xia Juhua's other money to earn more interest.
Everyone was wondering what this woman doing and how she got so much money. She didn't look like a city girl in her clothes, but she went to the bank to save money at the end of the year, which made people suspicious.
"Do you think she's a hidden bad guy or something?"
"Or maybe it's speculation. How else could they have so much money? Should we report this to the leadership?"
"What's the point of responding? You only know her last name and where she's from. If you report her, where can you find her?"
Yes, now deposits do not require real-name registration, and even identity documents are not needed. As long as you have money and a private seal, you can deposit money into the bank. When you withdraw money, you can just bring your passbook and private seal.
Xia Juhua herself, unaware of the sensation she had caused in the bank, saw that it was still early, so she simply went to the black market, without looking for Qi Weidong and the others, in order to buy some meat to take home for a better meal.
"Don't sell it to her, don't sell it to her." Li Lin's angry voice soon came from behind him. Xia Juhua turned around and slapped him: "You kid, I want to buy some meat and you won't let anyone sell it to me."
"Auntie," Li Lin winked at the butcher and took Xia Juhua away, "Why are you buying meat by yourself when you're already here? If you want to buy meat, I'll take you there."
Xia Juhua didn't approach them just now because she was afraid that if she said she wanted to buy something, they would sell it to her for free or for less. Now that she had been discovered by Li Lin, she followed him and asked, "I'm wearing a scarf and a hat, how did you recognize me?"
Li Lin laughed: "Auntie, Brother Zhiquan bought this scarf from us. We are the only one who sells it in the entire black market." It was still the same khaki color as always.
Unexpectedly, she was exposed by the scarf her son bought. Xia Juhua had no choice but to tell Li Lin: "I want four pig trotters, a pig elbow, and a few big bones. Are they available?"
"It's hard for others to buy it, but you can't buy it if you want it, auntie. Don't worry, I won't sell it to you at a loss, otherwise Brother Qi will come back to settle the score with me."
You are selling without losing money, but you are not looking to make money either, right? Xia Juhua thought about it and found her current relationship with Qi Weidong and the others a little funny: when they first started dealing with each other, both sides wanted to take advantage of each other as much as possible.
But now, she was afraid that the other party would suffer a loss, so she would give as much profit as possible. However, Xia Juhua knew in her heart that this was just to show that she was buying things for her family. If she was buying for the Ping'an Village Brigade, these guys would dare to ask for a lot from her.
"Auntie, this time you get on the bike from the front. I've tied the basket securely for you to make sure you don't fall off on the way." Li Lin reached out and pulled the rope that tied the basket, then said to Xia Juhua with assurance.
Xia Juhua didn't bother to be polite with him: "Okay, let's go home with Xiaoqi to eat hot and sour rice noodles. This time, Auntie will make it with bone soup for you."
Li Lin naturally agreed with a smile, and watched Xia Juhua ride away before returning to the black market to continue his business.
"No, no, you just came back, go back to your room and rest for a while, you don't have to worry about these little chores at home." When Seventh Grandma saw Xia Juhua, her old face smiled like a chrysanthemum: "Look at how busy you are all day, you must be so tired, the whole team is counting on you."
Even Xia Juhua was embarrassed to accept such an exaggerated statement: "We all earn our living by our own efforts, so there is no need to expect anything."
Grandma Qi pursed her almost toothless mouth and said with a frown: "If it weren't for you, would we be able to eat those five kilograms of flour in peace? If it weren't for you, would we old people be able to wear new cotton clothes?"
The last thing that Seventh Grandma mentioned was a treatment that Ping'anzhuang Brigade gave to the five-guarantee households last year: the brigade collectively had money, and could also buy processed products from the supply and marketing cooperative. After Xia Juhua and several other brigade cadres discussed it, they made a new cotton-padded jacket for each of the five-guarantee households, which moved the five-guarantee households so much.
At that time, Xia Juhua had done the math in her heart: there were only a dozen or so five-guarantee households in the entire brigade, and a new cotton-padded jacket for each of them would cost no more than four yuan, which would not have any impact on the collective financial output, but would allow the five-guarantee households to have a good winter.
So after hearing what Grandma Qi said, Xia Juhua said, "That was made last year. It's not new if I wear it this year."
"What are you talking about?" Grandma Qi didn't like to hear this: "Three years new, three years old, everything is new in three years."
Well, that's how the older generation calculated it, so Xia Juhua didn't argue with her. She took out the meat she bought and said to Qi Nai and Hong Cui, "Eat it all tonight before you leave."
Hongcui would occasionally stay for dinner because she had to fry peanuts in the evening, and she was not polite to Xia Juhua. However, Qi Nai felt that she had taken advantage of Xia Juhua too much, and she refused to stay. Xiaoman smiled and slowly said to Qi Nai: "Qi Nai, you should stay, otherwise my mother will have to send Baoguo to deliver it to you. He is so young, it would be so painful if he broke the bowl."
After hearing this, Seventh Grandma no longer insisted on leaving, but she still urged Xia Juhua to go back to the house to rest. Xia Juhua told Xiaoman not to stir-fry anymore after this pot, and to take out the pot to stew the meat.
Although stewed meat is no longer eaten only during the Chinese New Year, the Liu family is still excited to have meat. Hongcui said with a smile, "Auntie, I'll help you today. My mother always says that my stew is not as delicious as yours. I have to see what I haven't learned right."
Xia Juhua agreed and went back to the main room. She got on the kang, opened the kang cabinet, took out the small bag where she kept her money, and counted the cash she had left. It was 2,220 yuan. If anyone heard it, they would be shocked.
This money was not Xia Juhua's own, but half of the family's dividend, with the remaining money after daily expenses. Xia Juhua calculated in her mind that there were no more than three families in the entire Ping'an Village production team who could have the same amount of surplus as their family.
However, all the money of those families was in the hands of the head of the family, and Xia Juhua only received half of the dividends from everyone - whether it was the money from Wang Caifeng and Xiaoman for roasting peanuts, or the money that Liu Zhishuang earned from driving his tractor, Xia Juhua had already let them keep it for themselves.
She was eager to share the money with them as soon as possible - she had finally realized that unless the Liu Zhiquan brothers built a house and moved out, she would never be able to share the money.
Now Xia Juhua has no time to think about how to get those two bastards to move out. She still has to discuss the textile matter with Zhao Xianzhi and the others.
"Mom, why don't I go call Auntie Xianzhi over." Seeing that his mother hadn't even taken two bites of the fragrant pig's trotter, Liu Zhiquan wanted to put down his bowl and go out to find someone, so he volunteered to go and call someone.
Hong Cui also said, "Auntie, I will finish eating soon. I will call my mother and my third aunt when I get back."
Grandma Qi also said, "What are you busy with? I'll go with you later."
Indeed, the first big rooster was made up by Seventh Aunt. Xia Juhua felt that she was really good at counting money, but she was confused: "Okay, you guys should just eat your food. After dinner, Zhiquan will go and call your Aunt Xianzhi and Cuiping, Hongcui will go and call your mother and your Third Aunt, and Zhishuang will go and call your Aunt Xiancao."
Although she asked everyone to eat slowly, Liu Zhiquan and his brother and Hong Cui ate faster, and Wang Caifeng took over the job of washing the dishes: "Go home and call Auntie and the others, Xiaoman should also go back to the room and rest for a while."
As Grandma Qi returned to the main room with Xia Juhua, she said enviously, "Look at your two daughters-in-law. You taught them so well. Xiaoman has been married for two or three years. Has anyone ever heard of them having a quarrel?"
Xia Juhua thought to herself, if I knew how to teach my daughter-in-law, would I have been so frustrated in my previous life? In this life, she never paid attention to her family at all. She only thought about saving some money for her retirement. She only did her best to be a grandmother to her grandchildren. She didn't expect everyone to say that she was a good mother-in-law who knew how to teach her daughter-in-law.
Xia Juhua's experience of what it means to be so wrong is becoming more and more profound.
Suddenly she remembered something and hurriedly said to Liu Zhishuang who had just found Chang Xiancao, "You still have to drive the tractor to each production team and inform them that the county supply and marketing cooperative will go to the countryside to provide services tomorrow and ask the brigade to sell daily necessities. Ask them to inform the members and go to the brigade to buy them if they need them."
Chang Xiancao's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Really? That's great. Captain, do they have any processed products this time?"
Chang Xiancao, who was used to shopping with Xia Juhua, asked a very sharp question. Xia Juhua would certainly not hide it, so Liu Zhishuang could inform other production teams that the supply and marketing cooperative might bring some cloth soaked in snow water tomorrow, and those who didn't mind could bring more money.
While they were talking, Zhao Xianzhi and Zhang Cuiping had also arrived and said, "Why worry about it? It's soaked in snow water, not oil. It won't delay anything if you wash it at home. I've already agreed with Li Changwang this year that I have to make new clothes for each of the children. I originally wanted to trouble Xiao Qi, but this time we can save a lot of money." It was not easy to save up cloth coupons for a set of clothes in the countryside, but if you find Qi Weidong, you can buy them without cloth coupons. The people in Ping'an Village Production Team are already accustomed to dealing with him.
Chang Xiancao asked Zhao Xianzhi: "You want each person in your family to make one set. Do you want to make only the single ones, or do you want to make both the single ones and the cotton ones?"
Zhao Xianzhi smiled: "We worked hard the year before last and the year before last, and everyone made a new cotton-padded jacket. Why are they doing it again this year? They are so beautiful."
"Please stop it." Chang Xiancao said to her uncomfortably: "You can only say this in the village. If you tell others, people from other brigades will start to talk about our Ping An village."
"Let them talk." Zhao Xianzhi didn't take it seriously at all: "We women, we bring the girls to knit things day and night, and it's okay for us to buy two new clothes with our own money. I only care about the girls in our production team, who are all dressed neatly and look respectable."
Zhao Xianzhi is not bragging. The girls in Ping'an Village are just too busy weaving things to leave the village, otherwise they will attract a few more glances wherever they go. They are at the prime age of 90, and they dress neatly and cleanly. They earn their own money and have the confidence to look different from the shabby girls in other brigades.
Now the young men in Ping'an Village all have their eyes on the girls from their own production team and are unwilling to even look at the girls from other teams. Isn't it because the girls from Ping'an Village are no worse than the girls from the city?
Chang Xiancao didn't want to pay any attention to her sister-in-law, but she had to admire Zhao Xianzhi's ability: just looking at the two large piles of reed stalks piled outside the yard, you can understand why Zhao Xianzhi has become a lot darker this autumn - the mat-weaving team consumes reed stalks every day, but they can still save two large piles of reed stalks. This is directly related to the fact that in the autumn, Zhao Xianzhi took Liu Zhishuang to visit all the production teams along the banks of the Nihe River.
"Is everyone here?" Xia Juhua waited until they finished laughing and then asked with a smile. She looked at the women who had been weaving mats with her from the beginning, and she couldn't hide the smile on her face.
"Captain, just tell us what good news you have. Don't worry, as long as it's what you say, I will do my best to get it done for you." Zhao Xianzhi almost patted his chest.
Xia Juhua then told them that the district wanted to take Ping An Village's textiles to the expo as a special item: "...I think this is a good thing for our weaving team. We have received orders continuously in the past two years. Isn't it the result of the last expo?"
Several people nodded, and one of them asked, "What is a series?"
Xia Juhua had heard this term several times in her previous life. Although she was not quite sure what it meant, she could still give a rough idea of what it meant: "It's the same kind of thing. For example, the rooster you made up, a rooster, a hen, and a chick can be considered a series. If you make up the twelve zodiac signs, it can also be considered a series."
Zhang Cuiping smacked her lips repeatedly when she heard her say that: "The twelve zodiac signs, that thing is not easy to make, how many colors of reed stems must be soaked."
After hearing this, Xia Juhua quickly wrote down a few words in the small notebook she had prepared: "Buy pigments!" Then she motioned for others to continue. Everyone started to discuss how to make a series of mats, how many shapes the small baskets should have, and how many patterns the pen holders that were later tried out should have...
It was almost half past ten before they finally agreed that the mats would be divided into five series: blessing, longevity, joy, peace and happiness, and joy and good fortune, with one hundred mats in each series.
The small baskets are in the shapes of gourds, pumpkins and peppers, with 100 of each in large, medium and small sizes.
For the pen holders, we will make 100 of each of the existing round and square medium sizes. This has the least orders, probably because not many people like it.
As for the rooster series, Qi Nai thought that a nest of chickens and the twelve zodiac signs were both good, and she promised to think about it for a few days to see which one was easier to weave, and then teach others after she figured it out.
Xia Juhua thought of several hanging ornaments she had seen in her previous life and said, "There is another type that I think I can try, which is to weave some small peppers, eggplants, corns, and carrots, dye them all with colors, and weave them together. It will definitely look good."
No one discussed her suggestion, and everyone thought it was right to follow her lead. However, Xia Juhua decided that she had to do these things herself, otherwise the weird and incomprehensible works made by others would be a waste of time.
Thus, six series were decided, and Xia Juhua thought that was enough. It was getting late, and everyone had to go back to rest. Seventh Grandma stood up first: "Juhua, you have to find someone to light the fire for Xiaoman and Hongcui. I won't be here for a few days."
"Okay, Seventh Grandma, don't worry about it. Tomorrow, Xianzhi is thinking of having someone deliver the reed bark to Seventh Grandma, so that she won't have to make the trip alone in such a cold weather."
For Zhao Xianzhi, who was in charge of more than a hundred women, this was not a big deal, and he agreed immediately. Not only to Seventh Grandma, but also to Xia Juhua, the next day, before she even finished her meal, someone sent her a large armful of torn reed bark.
Xia Juhua asked Li Zhaodi, who was delivering the reed bark, "Xianzhi and the others have already gone to the yard, why are you here so early? She told you that the supply and marketing cooperative will come to the brigade to sell things today, so why don't you go buy some?"
Li Zhaodi said in confusion: "Team Leader Zhao called all the old people over early in the morning, saying that she wanted us to test some new product. I didn't hear her say that the supply and marketing cooperative was coming to sell things."
This Zhao Xianzhi. Xia Juhua asked Li Zhaodi to wait for her for a while, and she finished her meal in a few mouthfuls, and followed them to the yard. As soon as she entered the door, she heard Zhao Xianzhi's full-hearted voice assigning tasks: "Sun Zhaodi, you lead these people to edit the original orders, Baoling, you lead these people to edit the pen holders, Cuiping, you lead these people to edit..." One by one, the arrangements were in an orderly manner.
Xia Juhua didn't bother to tell her about the visitor from the supply and marketing cooperative today, and stood aside to let her do what she wanted. Zhao Xianzhi seemed quite calm and composed, and there was no trace of the angry look she had when she first encountered trouble.
So don't look down on rural women. They just started on a smaller stage and at a lower level. In time, if they are put on the same stage and starting point, those who look down on rural women may not be able to outlast them because of their ability to endure hardships and work.
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