Chapter 121
Deputy Director Gu looked at the silent people in the room and was really angry: Everyone thought that rural women were easy to bully, and they didn't have any temper at all? They were still playing dead dogs, thinking that if he came forward, they would help introduce the products of the region?
He looked at the people from the supply and marketing cooperatives in other regions with a stern expression: How could they have the nerve to say that they had no collectivist concept when they were complaining to him just now?
Didn't they tell me the day before yesterday that the textiles of the Ping An Zhuang production team should not be displayed in a prominent position? What were they thinking at the time? Did they really think that others would not notice?
The fact is, today, the textile products from Chengping District, specifically Pingan Village, received the most orders in the entire Expo. Are these people ashamed?
When people helped you with the work that day, you thought it was your due. When you saw them changing the booth and needed your help, no one offered a hand. In your mind, you were thinking of making fun of them, right?
You thought that they couldn't do anything to you. Why didn't you talk about the concept of collectivism at that time? Now look, do you understand that they can do something? You didn't help them, and now they won't help you either. You feel better now, right?
Now they are all depressed and humiliated. How did they have the nerve to come forward and speak for them just now? Where is their nerve? !
Although he was angry at these people for being too petty, not being considerate and not doing their job well, but as it was related to the province's exhibition results, as the leader of the team, Deputy Director Gu had to humble himself and plead with Xia Juhua on their behalf:
"Comrade Xia Juhua, your performance over the past few days has been seen by me and the comrades in the Provincial Supply and Marketing Cooperative. When I return to L Province, I will report to the Party Committee of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. I believe that the Party Committee will commend you as an advanced individual."
"But the old people also said that a single flower does not make spring, but a hundred flowers in full bloom make the garden full of spring. You have made progress as an individual, but you must also lead the group to move forward. Our L Province is participating in the Expo, and the products are not just the woven products of your Ping An Village. As a member of the L Province participating in the Expo, you must also actively promote the products of other brother regions to international friends, don't you think?"
Although his tone was inquiring, Deputy Director Gu looked at Section Chief Zheng, meaning that he wanted Section Chief Zheng to join him in persuading Xia Juhua.
Section Chief Zheng was not unhappy about the current situation. He finally understood why Xia Juhua turned a blind eye to the ungrateful behavior of others that day - she had known that her products would be popular, and she had opened up the situation with the products of Chengping area, so she had no time to compete with these people.
To put it bluntly, people don't take these people seriously.
It would be great if I could have the confidence and determination like Xia Juhua.
Although he felt relieved, Section Chief Zheng still felt pressured when he met Deputy Director Gu's gaze. As the saying goes, the other person's rank was higher than Section Chief Zheng's, and the government office he worked for was also bigger than Section Chief Zheng's. Even if Section Chief Zheng lowered his head and didn't look Deputy Director Gu in the eye, he still felt the heavy gaze on his head.
Xia Juhua felt a little sorry for Section Chief Zheng. She thought that she was just a rural woman and didn't have to worry as much as Section Chief Zheng did. She spoke directly: "Deputy Director Gu, I understand what you said. I also want to introduce products for the brother regions. But I am not familiar with the products of the brother regions. Besides, those international friends keep asking me to introduce woven products, and I don't have time to introduce other things."
How do you have time to introduce the products of Chengping District? Deputy Director Gu resisted the urge to ask and looked at the people from other regions: "If you have time, please introduce your products to Comrade Xia Juhua, so that she can introduce them to international friends."
Do you really think that everything will be fine if I come forward? Deputy Director Gu looked at the people from other regions with growing dissatisfaction. Like Section Chief Zheng, those people also felt the pressure of Deputy Director Gu's gaze, and they all lowered their heads and said that they would introduce the products of their region to Xia Juhua after the summary meeting.
At this time, Section Chief Zheng stood up fearlessly and suggested to Deputy Director Gu that when various regions introduced their products to Xia Juhua, they should not rush in at the same time, but should proceed separately - after all, Xia Juhua suffered from motion sickness on the way to Guangzhou, and she had not had a good rest since arriving and had been busy setting up the booth. Today she did not even have time to catch her breath.
He asked Deputy Director Gu to pay attention that Xia Juhua was older than the others, and even he, who was a few years younger than Xia Juhua, could not handle such high-intensity continuous rotation. Xia Juhua was probably just enduring it.
After these words came out, those who just lowered their heads when Deputy Director Gu was talking felt their faces getting hot. When they were setting up the booth, they only thought that Xia Juhua was strong and worked in an orderly manner, but ignored her age.
When Xia Juhua needed help, they also did not notice this problem. Now that Chief Zheng has pointed it out, anyone with a conscience will feel ashamed of their previous behavior.
Even Deputy Director Gu felt ashamed to force Xia Juhua to promote other regions, and said in an apologetic tone: "Comrade Xia Juhua, you are so capable that I overlooked your age. Chief Zheng is right, if you have the energy, you can promote them. If you don't have the energy, just focus on promoting the products in Chengping."
Xia Juhua, who has lived her life over again and has deliberately avoided thinking about her age, said: I always feel that you are saying that I am old, and I have evidence.
With Deputy Director Gu's words, no one disturbed Xia Juhua's rest that night, so she had a good sleep. When she woke up the next day, although she still felt a little sore, Xia Juhua moved around a bit and didn't take it seriously.
On the way to the expo this time, someone offered to help Xia Juhua get the reed skin. Xia Juhua recognized that this person was the one who knew Cantonese. He had helped her translate the reporter's words several times, and now he took the initiative to show his goodwill. Xia Juhua did not hesitate to let him hold the reed skin in his arms.
"Sister Xia, I'm from Cheng'an area. My last name is Deng. You can just call me Xiao Deng." Seeing that Xia Juhua was willing to hand over the reed bark to him, Xiao Deng hurriedly introduced himself.
As the saying goes, one should never hit a smiling person. Xia Juhua came to the expo to sell her textiles at a good price, not to offend anyone, so she chatted with Xiao Deng without any grudge on her face.
What they talked about was nothing more than what products were available in Chengping and what were the differences between Cheng'an and Chengping. I have to say that Xiao Deng was quite capable of attending the expo, and he introduced the products of the region in a very clear and logical way, without being offensive or pretentious, and he also made Xia Juhua remember their products.
So after being surrounded by international friends again, Xia Juhua deliberately inquired about what products they needed. If Chengping area did not have them but Cheng'an area did, she would not mind asking Xiao Deng to come over and introduce them, and she also placed a few orders for Cheng'an area.
Of course, the area that receives the most orders is Chengping. Coupled with the restrictions on purchases, international friends find it even more difficult to get hold of Ping An Zhuang's textiles.
Not only Chinese people have the mentality that what is unattainable is the best, but international friends also have this mentality. When they heard that each person could only buy one set of samples, the pen holders and writing mats that had not been popular the day before became popular items, and we received several orders worth thousands of dollars.
Taking into account that there are not many reeds left in Ping'an Village now, and that they will have to wait until the reeds grow up in autumn to harvest, Xia Juhua had to remind Chief Zheng to extend the delivery time as much as possible - even if the provincial supply and marketing cooperative could allocate reeds from other places to Ping'an City, it would still take some time.
It seems that the mat weaving team has to recruit again. Xia Juhua thought of the scene when the mat weaving team filled up all three rows of houses after the vermicelli room was moved to the vermicelli factory, and a smile appeared on her face as she introduced the products.
"Xia, Xia, can I take a photo with you?" Someone asked Xia Juhua in stiff Chinese. Xia Juhua glanced at Section Chief Zheng, and after receiving his affirmative response, she agreed with a smile.
Not wanting to take another photo after taking one, some people even asked Xia Juhua through translation to pose for braiding and then stand behind her for the photo. Xia Juhua thought that posing was useless, so it would be better to just braid directly, which would look more natural.
As a result, after hearing about it yesterday, the international friends who came today saw Xia Juhua weaving a small chili pepper with her fingers so quickly that they applauded, took photos, and some wanted to take photos with Xia Juhua, while those who didn't have a chance to take photos looked at other things at the L Province booth.
Xiao Deng seized the opportunity to introduce the products to friends who were looking at things from the Cheng'an area. He also followed Xia Juhua's example and opened the packaging of an exhibit to invite friends to taste it on the spot.
As a result, the L Province exhibition became more and more lively, and representatives from other regions finally came to their senses and followed Xiao Deng's example to communicate with international friends. Unfortunately, English was not yet popular at that time, and some minority languages were even more out of reach. Without translation, they only relied on gestures, and often spoke incoherently.
"Lin the translator, please come over here." Someone saw Lin the translator always circling around Xia Juhua, and he really didn't understand what the international friends were gesturing, so he had to ask Lin the translator for help.
Lin the translator was in a dilemma - Deputy Director Gu had given him a strict order yesterday that he must ensure Xia Juhua's communication with international friends. Now he had to decide whether to stay or leave. It was really a headache.
Xia Juhua saw Lin the translator's embarrassment and said nonchalantly, "Lin the translator, you go ahead. I'll edit something for everyone to see. I don't think anyone will ask any questions."
前幾次夏菊花開始編東西之後，國際友人們确實十分安靜，林翻譯歉意的向夏菊花點了點頭，走向喊他的人。夏菊花又坐下，拿起幾根葦皮來。
本來有些吵鬧的展位，一下子安靜不少，外圍還沒明白發生了啥事兒的友人，也被靠近夏菊花的人提醒，讓他們不要打擾了夏菊花編織。
實在是夏菊花一編上東西，就不再擡頭也不再回答問題的形象太深入人心，讓友人們以為她編東西真的需要安靜。
這邊安靜了，那邊林翻譯他們的交談就顯得有些突兀，好幾個人回頭不滿的看向三人，林翻譯不得不帶着他們走遠一點兒。
可惜直到夏菊花編完，那邊的訂單也沒有談成，因為國際友人的眼睛不時看向夏菊花，完全一副心不在焉的态度，能談成才怪呢。
跟友人談的人惱火不惱火？肯定是惱火的。可能怨夏菊花嗎？他自己也明白怨不上，所以還是要跟夏菊花打好關系，由她介紹或是幫着遞一下産品，都會受到友人們的看重。
承安地區的小鄧就是一個很好的例子，今天他已經簽成好幾個訂單了，真是讓人羨慕不來。
人都有從衆心理，L省的展位一直人來人往不斷，還不時傳來陣陣掌聲，很快就引起了博覽會領導的注意。一問才知道這樣熱鬧的場景，是因為一位農村婦女現場編手工藝品引發的，
領導讓人找來顧副主任，想知道L省是從哪兒找出這位能耐人的，才知道上一屆博覽會，平安莊的編織品已經參展，今年是又帶來了更多的産品，為了更好的向國際友人們展示，L省就大膽做出了讓夏菊花跟随參展的決定。
“走，咱們看看去。”領導興致很高的帶着顧副主任，身後還跟着秘書之流，一齊向L省的展位走。期間顧副主任見縫插針，向領導彙報了昨天平安莊編織品取得的成績。
“一天的訂單就達到了十三萬七千元？”領導聽到這個數字也很吃驚：“他們的東西都是用葦杆編的，就是那種長在河溝子邊上的葦杆？”
顧副主任點頭：“沒錯，就是農村河邊常見的葦杆。不過我倒挺替他們犯愁的，我們L省河流不多，葦杆的産量也少。夏菊花他們現在接訂單高興了，等回去沒有足夠的原料，怕是會受到影響。而且我看過夏菊花編東西，每樣都需要時間，不知道他們生産隊的人手夠不夠。”
“能用小小的葦杆增加副業收入，已經很了不起了。咱們國家地大物博，還怕供應不起一個平安莊用的葦杆？”領導很有氣勢的向顧副主任宣布，這個問題他完全沒有必要擔心。而顧副主任擔心的人手問題，就是平安莊生産隊自己的事兒了，領導也幫不上忙。
顧副主任松了一口氣：以L省之力，自然可以解決平安莊現階段的原料問題。可人心哪有那麽容易滿足，誰不想好上加好？如果領導真能記着平安莊的事兒，能幫着在鄰省調撥一下葦杆，平安莊的編織品肯定會越來越多，那可是好事兒，他才不會拒絕呢。
領導想的更加深遠：“看來下次博覽會，我們的産品種類也可以适當調整一下。通過平安莊編織品的成功，可以看出，國際友人更希望看到有我們民族特色的東西，而不是局限于那些吃的、喝的。”
顧副主任這幾天也在思考這個問題，跟領導探讨起來大有惺惺相惜之感，不知不覺就走到了L省的展位前。
展位前依舊人滿為患，有別的地區閑着的人員，看到了顧副主任，剛想打招呼，被顧副主任擡手制止了——他們是來看夏菊花如何就對國際友人的，又不是來擺譜接受下級獻殷勤的。
“編東西的就是夏菊花吧。”領導透過人群的縫隙，看到仍一心一意編着小辣椒的夏菊花，笑了：很好，一看編的東西就知道的确是農村出來的，很接地氣，很有農村特色，讓他不由想起自己在運動初期，下放到農村的情景。
此時夏菊花已經連續編了十個辣椒，編完最後一個後，拿起一根紅繩，幾下就把辣椒錯落着串好，然後自己站起身，将辣椒串舉了起來。
單獨的小辣椒只是形似，一串紅通通的擠在一起，就十分沖擊人的視覺了。領導示意跟着自己的随行人員，透過人群給夏菊花拍了一張笑着舉起辣椒的照片，才對顧副主任說：“這樣的同志，應該好好的宣傳。”
顧副主任聽後，向領導介紹起夏菊花已經上過報紙，以及上報紙的原因來。領導便想起前兩天羊城日報的一篇報道，問：“這個夏菊花，是不是就是在火車站主動替工作人員打掃衛生的那位不知名同志？”
顧副主任一愣，很快反應過來領導為啥這樣問，點了點頭說：“夏菊花同志是位很質樸的勞動婦女，她對勞動人民有着深厚的感情。”
領導點了點頭說：“是呀，我們的農民都是質樸的，他們表達自己的方式也同樣是樸素的。可惜呀……”只可惜現在的華國，還有千千萬萬跟夏菊花同樣質樸的農民，在為一日三餐發愁。
這也更顯出夏菊花的可貴來。她帶領全村婦女編出的東西，用料是牲口都嫌棄的葦杆，卻可以換來國家寶貴的外彙，簡直就是點石成金。
如果全國的農民都能跟夏菊花一樣，用幾乎可以丢棄的東西換來外彙，國家可以用這些外彙買多少糧食回來，農民還用擔心一日三餐嗎？
領導問了顧副主任另一個問題：“夏菊花她們生産隊，工分值是多少，其中有多少是編織品掙到的，是按什麽樣的比例進行分配的？”
這下子可把顧副主任問住了，他只知道去年平安莊的工分值是二毛六，裏頭編織品占了多少比重，如何在編織品與農産品之間進行分配，他還真不清楚。
“今天晚上，你帶着夏菊花同志到我這裏來，我要向她詳細了解一下平安莊的情況。顧副主任呀，我覺得這個平安莊很有特點，夏菊花這個帶頭人也很有想法呀。”
對于夏菊花很有想法這件事兒，顧副主任是贊同的——以往夏菊花行事他不了解，可這幾天參加博覽會夏菊花的言行，他還是看在眼裏記在心上的。
所以他對領導說了以下的話：“夏菊花同志的确有自己的想法，在團結同志上也有自己的一套做法，在是非觀念上，同樣有自己的尺度。”
領導聽了是非兩個字，輕輕點了點頭，告訴顧副主任，帶夏菊花到自己這裏來的事兒，不用驚動太多的人，他也會交待身邊工作人員的。
跟在顧副主任身後的夏菊花，有些不解的問：“顧副主任，咱們這是要去哪兒？我在羊城也不認識誰，咋會有人找我呢？”
顧副主任笑了一下，心說找你的人，多少人想見都見不到呢，嘴上說的卻是：“一會兒見了你就清楚了。夏菊花同志，我要提醒你的只有一條，那就是不管見你的人向你提出什麽問題，你都要實事求是的回答。”
剛出門時，還沉浸在鄭科長彙總出來的訂單數字喜悅之中的夏菊花，猛地站住了：“顧副主任，我來羊城之前可從來沒出過門。一路上也有鄭科長跟着，沒跟咱們L省外的人接觸過。參加博覽會也全都跟着L省的人一起行動，我真的沒做對不起國家的事兒。”
顧副主任被她說愣了，要想一下才明白夏菊花誤會在哪裏：剛才他最後一句讓夏菊花實事求是的回答，太象電影裏正面人物對反面人物下的最後通牒，成功的讓夏菊花以為組織上懷疑她做了危害國家利益的事兒。
“你想啥呢。”顧副主任不得不小聲告訴夏菊花，是領導同志要向她了解平安莊的實際情況，他怕夏菊花出門前，公社和縣革委會交待夏菊花出門在外，只能報喜不報憂，所以才要求她說話要實事求是。
夏菊花剛才可真是出了一身的冷汗，聽了顧副主任的解釋才拍了拍胸脯說：“我們公社和縣革委會的領導都知道我是鋸了嘴的葫蘆，說不出啥話來，所以沒讓我報喜不報憂。”
就你跟國際友人說一天都不帶停的講話頻率，還是鋸了嘴的葫蘆？顧副主任覺得夏菊花所在的公社和縣革委會領導怕是對她有啥誤會。
遠在平德縣的張主任、齊主任：是的，我們根本沒這樣認為過。
顧副主任已經看到了領導身邊的秘書同志迎了上來，輕咳一聲示意夏菊花打起精神來。夏菊花下意識的扯了扯衣襟，剛想拍打一下身上的塵土，想起這是在羊城，還是在招待所裏而不是在平安莊的地頭，她的身上不會有啥塵土。
"Hello, Deputy Director Gu. Hello, Comrade Xia Juhua." The secretary greeted the two with a smile, and said as he led them, "The leader is waiting. Please come in." As soon as the words fell, the three of them arrived at the door. The door was gently pushed open by the secretary, and he reported to Li Hui, "Leader, Deputy Director Gu and Comrade Xia Juhua are here."
"Please come in." The leader's voice was cheerful and carried a hint of smile, which made Xia Juhua's tense heart relax a little.