Chapter 122
The secretary smiled and gestured with his hand after receiving the response. Deputy Director Gu glanced at Xia Juhua and took the lead to go into the room.
The leader bowed and asked the two to sit down, but Deputy Director Gu did not sit down first. Instead, he formally introduced Xia Juhua to the leader and listed some of her major achievements. Xia Juhua blushed when she heard this: Have I really done so many things? Why does it not sound like I did them?
This is what she thought, and after Deputy Director Gu finished his introduction, she also said: "Leader, these achievements are not my own credit, but are inseparable from the hard work of every member of our Ping'an Village Brigade and Production Team. If I were alone with my own hands, how could I have done so much work?"
The leader laughed again: "Come, come, sit down. Comrade Xia Juhua, don't be modest. Although these tasks cannot be completed by you alone, if there is no good leader like you, can the work points of Ping'an Village Brigade be increased, and can the grain distributed to the farmers be mainly wheat?"
Xia Juhua did not deny this. She also felt that if she could complete the repair of the canal and turn the land of the entire Ping'anzhuang Brigade into irrigated land in her lifetime, it would be a great achievement of hers, so she smiled and lowered her head.
Flowers bow their heads in a coy way, and rice ears bend their waists in a calm way. The leader appreciated Xia Juhua's silence very much. If a leader of his level praised her, most people would unconsciously show some pride even if they were suppressed. But Xia Juhua just smiled it off, as if her past achievements were just a thing of the past.
One can't help but wonder what her future goals are.
The leader also wanted to know, so he asked: "Comrade Xia Juhua, since the opening of the Expo, Ping An Village has received the most orders among all the exhibitors. Why do you think that is?"
Xia Juhua looked up at Deputy Director Gu and said with a smile: "Our Ping'an Village's order is also an order from Province L. This is the result of the hard work of our people across the province."
If time could go back, Deputy Director Gu would take back what he had said to Xia Juhua several times about how L Province was a whole. He would rather Xia Juhua not take his words seriously.
The leader looked at Deputy Director Gu with a smile, and then said to Xia Juhua: "I know that the farmers in your L Province are very hardworking, but what I want to know more is whether the members of your Pingan Village are satisfied with their current lives, whether they have any wishes for the future, and whether they are dissatisfied with the current distribution system."
Deputy Director Gu clenched his fists and sweat formed on his palms. He regretted why he had just told Xia Juhua to tell her the truth about what she knew: Can the hungry farmers be satisfied? Can the current leaders meet their wishes? The current distribution system was established by the old people. If Xia Juhua said she was not satisfied...
Deputy Director Gu didn’t dare to think about the consequences.
If a leader like this had asked Xia Juhua these questions a year ago, she would have chosen to remain silent or to make a few high-sounding remarks. But now it is 1977, and the leader before her is not a member or follower of a criminal group, but a member of the group that is trying to restore order.
So Xia Juhua said under the worried eyes of Deputy Director Gu: "Leader, I will tell you the truth. As for the members of our Ping'anzhuang Brigade, I think they are still satisfied with their current life. After all, the land of our Ping'anzhuang Brigade has become irrigated land because all the canals have been repaired, and everyone's food has changed from corn, sorghum and sweet potatoes to wheat."
Deputy Director Gu sighed quietly, but Xia Juhua continued, "But the situation of other brigades in our Red Star Commune is known to me every time I attend a meeting in the commune. They don't have the convenience that our Ping'anzhuang Brigade has. Everyone's food is still mainly corn and sweet potatoes, and there is little sorghum - the yield of that thing is low, and it doesn't make sense to plant it. So the members..."
"Comrade Xia Juhua." Deputy Director Gu had to remind Xia Juhua, wanting her to know that the person sitting in front of her might not want to hear such words.
But the leader raised his hand, making it more obvious for Deputy Director Gu to remind her that he couldn't say it, but he still succeeded in stopping Xia Juhua from continuing. The leader glared at Deputy Director Gu with some dissatisfaction and said, "I invited Comrade Xia Juhua here today to understand the farmers' voices. Don't mix them up."
Seeing that Xia Juhua seemed frightened by Deputy Director Gu's shouting, the leader smiled at her kindly and said, "Go on, tell me everything you know. I was liberated early, so I don't really know much about the current situation in the countryside."
The so-called liberation refers to those who were overthrown in the early stages of the movement and then resumed their work. The name was different in different places, and only a very small number of people were liberated. The large-scale rectification and rehabilitation lasted from the demise of the criminal group to the early 1980s. Xia Juhua understood this.
Since the leader said that he was liberated early, then he must have been overthrown and sent down to the countryside in the early days of the movement, so he is more concerned about the real voice of the farmers, right? Xia Juhua thought secretly in her heart.
She seemed to be encouraged. She glanced at Deputy Director Gu and spoke again: "In fact, we farmers have very simple wishes. We just want to have enough food and drink, have some extra money to eat meat dumplings during the Spring Festival, and make new clothes for the adults and children at home. That's enough."
Is this wish simple? It is very simple. Is it easy to realize? It is not easy. The huge population base and the backward industrial and agricultural productivity made the leaders feel heartbroken after hearing Xia Juhua's wish, but they were temporarily powerless.
He signaled Xia Juhua with his eyes to continue speaking, and also signaled Deputy Director Gu with his eyes not to interrupt.
The leaders at this time should have realized that the situation in the countryside and even the whole country has reached a point where change is necessary. So if they speak to the farmers themselves and give them a chance to understand the farmers a little, can they avoid taking detours and let the spring breeze come earlier?
With this in mind, Xia Juhua spoke more fluently: "In our Ping'anzhuang Brigade, we have more water for the land, and the comrades from the Agricultural Technology Station teach us how to farm scientifically, so the yield has increased a lot. In addition to paying enough public grain, everyone has more food rations, and many girls from other brigades are willing to marry into our brigade."
Xia Juhua did not highlight the Pinganzhuang production team too much. After all, the production team was too small for the leadership. If Xia Juhua had not participated in the expo, the team would not have been included in the leadership's inspection.
Seeing the leader nod, Xia Juhua smiled and said, "I think our Ping'an Village Brigade is having a good time now, and everyone feels it's OK. We cut reeds and weave things together, and we sieve the sweet potatoes we grow into powder, which is easier to store and increases our food supply. By the way, we also help the grain stations throughout the county to sieve the harvested sweet potatoes into powder. Director Zhang of the County Revolutionary Committee praised our Ping'an Village for its contribution to the entire county."
"Oh?" The leader was obviously very interested in the method of preserving sweet potatoes by turning them into powder, and asked Xia Juhua to tell him about it. Xia Juhua then told him about how Ping'an Village had used all its resources to help all the grain stations in the county turn their sweet potatoes into powder, thus reducing the losses caused by the drought. Finally, she said with regret:
"It's just that our brigade now has irrigated land, so it's a pity to use it to grow sweet potatoes. Except for those who pay the public grain, we don't plant much, and the starch that leaks out is also small. Otherwise, I want to bring the sweet potatoes to the expo and invite international friends to taste our hot and sour noodles."
Do you think you can bring any exhibits to the Expo if you want? Deputy Director Gu simply ignored Xia Juhua and let her express her regrets to the leader.
Although the leader felt sorry for Xia Juhua, his question was very sharp: "Are there no scoundrels or people who don't work hard and just want to get by in your team? Are they distributed the same way as the members?" During the years when he was sent down to the countryside, he had seen many scoundrels in the production team. They were always involved in petty thefts and had corrupted the atmosphere of the entire production team.
Speaking of this, Xia Juhua couldn't help but be proud: "No. I dare say that there is not a single second-rate person in the five production teams of our Ping'an Village Brigade." Speaking of this, she thought of the three Zhao Tiedans and couldn't help but smile:
"There were a few of them, but once they were caught, someone would be watching them if they didn't work. If they wanted to slack off, all the old people in the village would stand behind them and scold them. Leader, you don't know that the old people in Ping'an Village have high prestige, and no one dares to talk back when they scold them."
"At first, there are old people watching from behind, so the lazy people have to work. But when they see the profits from the powder leak and the benefits of working, they themselves wish they could have powder leaks every day so that they can work hard." Xia Juhua was so excited that she started to talk nonsense.
Fortunately, the leader's focus did not seem to be on dividends. He asked: "The elderly in your Ping'an Village are very conscious and cooperate very well with the work of your team." There are always a few elderly people in many rural areas who take advantage of their age to bully others. The elderly in Ping'an Village are very different.
Xia Juhua smiled a little embarrassedly: "We in the brigade take care of the elderly a little. Every year, the elderly over 65 years old are given an extra five kilograms of white flour, which is ground flour. And the five-guarantee households are given new clothes for the four seasons every three years. The elderly feel that the brigade takes care of them, so they are willing to make the brigade better. The members also think that they will get old one day, so they have no objection to the brigade taking care of the elderly."
No wonder. The leader and Deputy Director Gu looked at each other. This was something Deputy Director Gu did not understand.
顧副主任自己心裏也很震驚，他了解的夏菊花，是參加展會的夏菊花，還有從鄭科長嘴裏說出的能幹的夏菊花，而不是實實在在，當大隊長幹了更多實事的夏菊花。
這讓他不得不覺得羞愧——自己了解的太片面了，如果不是領導問的詳細，他都不知道農村那些冬天靠着土牆、插着袖子曬太陽取暖的農村老人，可以起到這麽大的作用。
領導恢複的很快，他再次問了夏菊花最重要的問題：“那你們平安莊大隊的社員，對現在的分配制度滿意嗎？”
夏菊花看了看顧副主任，人家沒看她。再看看領導，低頭的時候都能感覺到目光的關切。于是她咬了咬牙說：“我覺得我們平安莊的社員，對現在的分配還算滿意。”
“是這樣啊。”領導輕輕應了一句，聽不出對夏菊花這個答案滿意不滿意。
顧副主任同樣不知道，自己是應該松一口氣，還是遺憾。遺憾什麽，他沒法說出來。
不想夏菊花的話并沒有說完：“那個，領導，我說了你可別生氣，也別讓人□□我。我們平安莊大隊的分配，跟別的大隊有點兒不一樣。”
領導和顧副主任都是一愣，沒有人發問，可眼神裏都寫着疑問：哪裏不一樣？
夏菊花不是賣關子的人，她既然開了頭，就會實話實說下去：“剛才領導問我們平安莊為啥沒有二流子了，我說是因為他們看到了幹活的好處，實實在在拿到了錢。這份錢不止是領導你們想的年終分紅，還有我們幫助糧站漏粉，人家給的加工費。”
“這份加工費，各生産隊是按照誰漏的粉歸誰的原則，直接發給社員的，不算在分紅之內。包括我們平安莊編席組編出來的東西，定量是每兩天編一張席，一天編兩只公雞。随着大家越編越熟練，一般的婦女一天半就能編出一張席來，一天編三只公雞也很輕松。”
“超出定量的那些，扣除我們買葦杆的錢，也都直接分給了編席組的婦女們，同時還給她們每天記工分。因為大家都能馬上領到現錢，及時看到自己的勞動成果，所以大家才對平安莊的分配制度還算滿意。”
領導一直靠在椅背上的上身挺直了，顧副主任的嘴不知不覺的張開，卻沒有找到制止夏菊花繼續說下去的時機，不得不跟着領導聽完這麽大膽的分配制度。
“你們不怕有社員不滿，比如那些漏粉少的或是編東西慢的社員，他們比別人拿的錢少，向公社或是縣裏舉報你們嗎？”領導又發現了另一個需要關切的問題。
夏菊花又笑了一下：“領導，剛才我也說過了，好些外隊的姑娘，都想着嫁到我們平安莊來呢。為啥，就是因為我們平安莊越來越富裕了，生活越來越好。這麽好的日子，大家都想繼續過下去，誰要是想舉報的話，那就得想想他一家老小還能在平安莊生活下去不能。”
“把我舉報着挨□□了，換上另外的人來當大隊長，水澆地可能都種小麥？漏粉，還敢讓大家繼續漏嗎？就算漏，還敢收加工費、直接分給社員嗎？編東西還能再接着編，可現在誰想出新花樣來，我都有獎勵，下一任大隊長還能獎勵他們嗎？還敢把超出定量的錢分給大家嗎？”
“慢慢的，大家幹好幹壞又變得一樣了，最恨的人是誰，吃虧的人是誰？”夏菊花此時的表情是那麽自信：“為了比現在過得更好，大家都不會讓那些有小心思的人得逞的。”
咋不讓舉報人得逞夏菊花沒說，聯想到剛才她說的各生産隊老人的作用，領導和顧副主任心裏都有數了。
“嗯，”領導仿佛被夏菊花的自信感染了：“你說的很好，你的辦法也很好。一個大隊，幾千號人裏頭，沒出一個二流子小混混，人人拼命掙自己能掙得到的錢，通過勞動改善自己的生活，還能适當的照顧生産隊的老人和五保戶，你們的做法是值得肯定的。”
最後一句話，領導是對着顧副主任說的，意在提醒他，回去後不要找夏菊花的麻煩。顧副主任心裏苦笑了一下：就憑平安莊這次博覽會拿下的那些訂單，他也不會找夏菊花的麻煩，不然那些訂單完不成，就是國家找他的麻煩了。
領導看了夏菊花他們進屋之後，就一直沒有出聲的秘書一眼，秘書站了起來，對顧副主任和夏菊花說：“顧副主任，夏菊花同志，今天領導向夏菊花同志了解的情況，還請你們注意保密，免得給夏菊花同志帶來什麽麻煩。”
顧副主任帶着夏菊花也站了起來，向領導保證自己會保密，也請領導早些休息，才帶着夏菊花往他們的住處走。
領導跟各省參展人員住的不是一個樓，顧副主任同樣跟夏菊花他們的住處是分開的，不過顧副主任還是送夏菊花到了她住的樓下，鄭重的告誡夏菊花：“你們大隊的那個分配制度，不要再當着別人提起了。就算是回到大隊，也要再提醒社員們一下，注意不要走露了消息。”
對于這一點，夏菊花哪能不注意，所以點頭點的很利索，倒讓這兩天習慣了夏菊花不配合的顧副主任有些意外：“夏菊花同志，領導讓你保密，是出于保護你們平安莊大隊的社員。”
夏菊花更點頭了：“謝謝領導的關心，也謝謝顧副主任你的提醒，我們平安莊大隊會注意的。”
顧副主任一下子不知道自己該說啥了，只好向夏菊花點了點頭，向自己住的樓走去。
他剛走，鄭科長便從樓裏沖了出來：“夏大隊長，你沒事吧？”
面對如此真誠的關心，夏菊花有點感動，向他笑了一下：“沒事呀，領導就是問問我們平安莊大隊的情況，我也如實向他彙報了，能有啥事兒。”
“沒事就好。”從夏菊花跟顧副主任走了之後，就擔着心事的鄭科長長出一口氣：“那你趕緊洗漱休息吧，明天還得去博覽會呢。”
接下來參展的幾天，夏菊花依舊忙碌，又因為顧副主任那天晚上善意的提醒，看其他地區的人都順眼起來，遇到國際友人需要的東西而承平地區沒有的，也不介意幫着其他地區介紹一下。
等到展會進行到倒數第二天，夏菊花帶來的産品都已經被買光，帶來的葦皮也被編完了，她終于可以喘一口氣，坐下歇一歇了。
鄭科長怕她閑得無聊，問：“夏大隊長，你要是沒事兒的話，咱們去友好國家的展位看看？”
對呀，博覽會可不光有華國各省的展位，友好國家也帶來了不少産品呢。雖然此時與華國交好的國家，大部分同樣不富裕，可見識一下異國的産品，也沒白來博覽會一趟。
夏菊花就站起來說：“我自己去吧，你還得看着展位呢。”
承平地區帶來的不光有編織品，還有其他産品，這幾天也沒少簽訂單，現在仍不時有國際友人聽到他人的介紹，找過來要看展品，說不定又能簽下單子呢。鄭科長還真舍不得離開，便同意夏菊花自己逛一逛展會。
“你別走遠了，記着咱們的展位在哪兒，可別把自己走迷路了。你記着，友好國家的展位，順着這條道一直往前走，走到頭往右一拐再走到頭，就能看到了，記住了沒？”不能跟着夏菊花一起去，鄭科長有些不放心的囑咐着。
夏菊花覺得博覽會占地雖然不小，她還不至于找不回展位。就算真的找不回來，問問工作人員，找回招待所還是沒問題的，所以沒把鄭科長的話當回事兒，自己溜溜跶跶的走開了。
因為這幾天L省的展位太過受國際友人的歡迎，各省參展的人也都到他們的展位前取過經，大多記住了夏菊花這個會編工藝品的大姐，以至夏菊花每過一個展位，都有人熱情的向她打招呼，請她到自己省的展位上坐一坐。
急着看看異國産品的夏菊花，一律笑着回應大家的招呼，卻哪個展位都沒進，迅速的按鄭科長告訴她的路線，向自己的目的地進發。
一路上曲裏拐彎的，足足走了二十多分鐘，才看到了與剛才各省不大一樣的展位，夏菊花眼前就是一亮：這應該就是友好國家的展位了。
夏菊花剛走近一個展位，就有人用生硬的華語驚喜的叫道：“夏，真的是你。”
夏菊花不得不擡頭，一看說話的人笑了，這位她真的記住了，無他，這就是頭一天跑到L省展位找公雞的G國友人，夏菊花記得自己還跟他握過手。
“你好。”知道這位友人懂一點華語，夏菊花直接向他問了一聲好。
The international friend smiled a little silly: "Xia, come to our booth, take a look around." Then he enthusiastically led Xia Juhua to his country's booth and handed something to Xia Juhua: "Cashews, taste it, it's delicious."
The curved fruit is light brown, something Xia Juhua had never seen before in her life. She took one and put it in her mouth with some doubt. It was hard and crunchy when she bit it. After chewing it a few more times, she could taste the fragrance her friend had mentioned. Xia Juhua couldn't help but ask, "Is this raw or cooked?"