Chapter 127
Do you have any requirements?
Xia Juhua looked up at Deputy Director Gu in confusion, then smiled and said, "It is my honor to have the opportunity to participate in the expo. I should do all the work at the expo. Director Yang and Deputy Director Gu have already commended me for the little work I have done, so I don't have any more requests. If the leaders insist on asking me to make a request, I would ask them to get the power supply of Ping'an Village to transfer the harvester and diesel to the place as soon as possible, so that our Ping'an Village Brigade can better build agricultural modernization."
The person who asked Xia Juhua whether she had any requests was Director Cheng, the head of the provincial supply and marketing system and Deputy Director Gu's superior. He had heard Deputy Director Gu's various reports on Xia Juhua and knew that Xia Juhua had once asked Deputy Director Gu to arrange for her two sons to work in the supply and marketing system.
Director Cheng had considered choosing to bring up the issue today during the commendation dinner. He wanted to use the harmonious atmosphere and relaxed context to let Xia Juhua let down her guard. He then raised the request and she would agree to it. This would better demonstrate the strength of the provincial supply and marketing system's commendation of Xia Juhua and show that the leaders value Xia Juhua as a person.
Who knew that Xia Juhua no longer mentioned her two sons, but was more concerned about the issue of electrification and deployment of combined harvesters in Ping'an Village. Director Cheng didn't know whether to praise Xia Juhua for her selflessness or give her an unjustified evaluation.
Deputy Director Gu, who was sitting at the same table, calmed down immediately. He looked at Director Cheng with a hint of ridicule: If Xia Juhua was the kind of person who said one thing and meant another, why would she have to come back and report to the organization but still get no response? She should have come to apologize to me the day after she rejected me.
However, he is the leader of the exhibition team after all. As long as the delegation is not disbanded, Xia Juhua will be under his leadership. Deputy Director Gu will not sit idly by and watch Xia Juhua being embarrassed and misunderstood because of his leadership.
He laughed and said to Director Cheng, "Director, I am right, aren't I? Comrade Xia Juhua has always had a characteristic in doing things, that is, she always puts the collective interests above personal interests."
Director Cheng had recovered from his initial disbelief and smiled without any grudge: "We should protect comrades like this, and we should call on all comrades in the supply and marketing system to learn from Comrade Xia Juhua."
Xia Juhua waved her hands anxiously: "Two leaders, I can hardly sit still when you say that. I am just a rural woman who manages some brigade affairs. I am afraid that I can't manage them well, so I worry about them wherever I go. I am sorry to make you laugh."
"We wish all our employees had this sense of responsibility." Director Cheng was truly inspired: "It's easy to say that we should always keep our work in mind and always be ahead of others, but few people can actually do it."
Deputy Director Gu agreed with this point very much, and recounted in front of him how Xia Juhua had amazed her international friends at the expo, negotiated an order for 10,000 tons of rubber for Province L at a price lower than the country's external procurement price, and signed a contract for two tons of cashew nuts at a price nearly one-third lower than the previous import price.
Even though Director Cheng had heard the proposal once before, he still felt excited after hearing it again: 10,000 tons of rubber can almost solve the raw material problem of rubber product factories in the province. Moreover, they have established a connection with Roberts and can place additional orders in the future. For L Province, where the industry is not developed, what a concept!
This is great news that even provincial governors would jump up and applaud. Supply and marketing cooperatives across the country no longer have to worry about shortages of rubber products!
As for the leaders who were sitting at the same table and whose rank was lower than that of Deputy Director Gu, it was the first time they heard of Xia Juhua's great achievements. It was like listening to a fairy tale: it was really eye-opening for them that foreign negotiations could be conducted in this way.
Several leaders were so excited that their faces lit up. They said to Director Cheng in person: "Director, it is a waste of talent for Comrade Xia Juhua to stay in Pingde County as a team leader. Our supply and marketing system is in need of such people."
Even the leaders of the Expo have praised the people of United Harvester, and Director Yang has personally accepted them. Even if they come to the supply and marketing system for a while every day, the role they can play is unimaginable, okay?
Director Cheng and Deputy Director Gu smiled at each other and asked the leaders to be patient - tomorrow is the day when the commendation meeting will be officially held, and everyone can sit together to discuss the commendation and reward for Comrade Xia Juhua.
Xia Juhua felt very nervous after hearing this. She waited until the leaders calmed down a little before looking around with a nervous expression. She quickly lowered her head and said in a neither loud nor low voice: "Dear leaders, I am really not suitable for the work of the supply and marketing cooperative. You should choose someone more suitable."
After saying this, no matter what advice others gave her, she remained silent.
Deputy Director Gu sighed inwardly and shook his head at Director Cheng. They both understood that Xia Juhua was determined not to come to the provincial supply and marketing system. Even if she was determined, they could directly issue a transfer order, but would they really let her sit idle at work every day if they forcibly transferred Xia Juhua into the system?
Not to mention whether it is a waste of talent, other people in the system will also have opinions when they see it, and it will have a bad impact on their reputation.
"Comrade Xia Juhua," Director Cheng could still smile, and his smile was even warmer than when he first asked Xia Juhua if she had any requests: "We already understand your thoughts. Don't worry, the supply and marketing system will not force you to do anything. But you can't forget your responsibilities once you leave the provincial capital. I heard from Deputy Director Gu that you still need to contact Roberts more."
Xia Juhua finally spoke again: "Please rest assured, Director. If the supply and marketing system needs me, I will do my best."
"Okay!" Director Cheng picked up the wine glass in front of him, exchanged a glance with Deputy Director Gu, and then looked around at the people at the same table, and said to Xia Juhua: "I feel relieved when you said that. Please rest assured, we will work hard to coordinate the power supply to Ping'an Village, as for the joint harvester..."
Director Cheng paused at this point, but Xia Juhua was not in a hurry and waited for him to continue. Director Cheng felt that his pause did not achieve the expected effect, so he stopped keeping the secret and said, "We will contact Director Yang, but you can also call Director Yang yourself."
Xia Juhua picked up her teacup along with everyone else. When she heard Director Cheng ask her to contact Director Yang, she smiled and raised her cup a little higher: "Director Yang is such a high-ranking leader. He has to deal with international friends every day. I'd better not disturb his work. Anyway, we are not waiting to use the combined harvester. We can use it when the wheat is harvested."
Deputy Director Gu was so anxious that he almost burst out laughing. This Xia Juhua was really stubborn. Forget it, before the meeting, he should remind Director Cheng to come up with more tangible things.
From his observations these days, Xia Juhua did not really reject her personal interests. Only when personal interests and collective interests were put before her at the same time would she give priority to collective interests.
Fortunately, Xia Juhua didn't know when Deputy Director Gu had such an impression of her, otherwise she would have to tell Deputy Director Gu loudly that she was not like that, she didn't have that, and what she cared about most was her personal interests.
Why do you think Xia Juhua is so concerned about electricity? It's because she wants to develop faster in the future, and electricity is a necessary condition. With electricity, the pulping machine will no longer use manpower, and more powder can be squeezed out by saving labor. There are also constant temperature incubators for raising chickens and blowers for burning bricks. Which one can only be turned with electricity?
Xia Juhua, who did not understand Deputy Director Gu's intention, received a great surprise the next day: the provincial supply and marketing system had achieved fruitful results at the expo this time, and the leaders were very happy, so they increased the recognition. In addition to the honor of an advanced individual, Xia Juhua, who had promoted the achievement, was also given a generous material reward.
A Shanghai brand ladies' watch, a 28-inch Phoenix brand bicycle, and a Shanghai brand radio, these were the three major items of the era.
What made Xia Juhua feel even more thoughtful was that the watch was given to her as a reward on the spot, while the bicycle and radio were invoiced directly by the provincial supply and marketing system and could be picked up directly at the Pingde County Supply and Marketing Cooperative, saving Xia Juhua the trouble of being unable to take them back alone.
Xia Juhua secretly thought that as long as it was free, she could transport two more back to Ping An Manor. But she just thought about it and didn't really say it out loud. What she could say out loud was her gratitude to the leaders.
This trip to the expo was really worthwhile.
Xia Juhua sincerely felt that if she had another chance, she would participate again.
After receiving the award, Deputy Director Gu personally saw Xia Juhua and Section Chief Zheng off. He did not shake hands with Xia Juhua, but told her a decision that could not be made public at the commendation meeting: "I have already reported to the leaders about your proposal in Yangcheng to let your two sons join the supply and marketing system, and the leaders have preliminarily agreed with your idea."
No way? Xia Juhua was really embarrassed: "Deputy Director Gu, you see, I didn't do anything. Director Yang rewarded you once, and the province also rewarded you with so many things. Why are you still..."
Deputy Director Gu shook his head to stop Xia Juhua from talking any further: "Don't be too excited. Your two sons are just in their twenties. It's time for them to learn and do business. Recruiting them into the supply and marketing system will also add fresh blood to us. You are thinking about them. As a mother, you love your children. We all understand."
"However, it is impossible for both of them to come to the provincial capital. One of them has to stay in the Chengping District Supply and Marketing Cooperative. You have to go back and discuss it with them. Give me an answer as soon as possible so that we can handle the formalities here."
所有的獎勵加在一起，也不如顧副主任最後的這幾句話讓夏菊花更激動：重活了好幾年，最初是沒條件，那兩貨不能搬出去分家另過，夏菊花只能忍着。等有條件了，那兩貨又賴上她，死活都不肯申請宅基地，還是沒法分家，夏菊花是真拿他們沒辦法了。
不是夏菊花優柔寡斷，實在是她要生産要平安莊那片土地上，就得順應那片土地的風土人情。這輩子劉志全兄弟兩個的表現，不管擱在哪都能稱得上一聲孝順，難道夏菊花對別人：他們上輩子沒有一個好東西？
那樣一來就不是劉志全兄弟兩個如何的問題，而是夏菊花得被人當成瘋子關起來。
重活一輩子，活得順風順水日子大有奔頭的夏菊花，才不想被人當成瘋子——你是見過有人跟瘋子做買賣，還是見過瘋子能掌握自己的生活？
有了顧副主任的話，就大不一樣了，夏菊花再攆着劉志全兄弟出門，那就是已經替兒子們鋪好了前程，替他們的子孫後代造福呢。
畢竟知道城市戶口會失去吸引力、供銷社的鐵飯碗很快就會生鏽的，只有夏菊花一個人！
于是顧副主任如願以償的看到夏菊花的臉，一下子生光生亮，眼睛裏全是激動的向自己确認：“顧副主任，那兩小子都能到供銷社系統？”
顧副主任連連點頭，收獲了夏菊花數不清的謝謝之後，才握了握鄭科長的手：“具體情況我已經給你們主任打過電話了，他說夏菊花同志回地區之後，還會有相應的獎勵。你記得提醒一下，不要搞那些華而不實的東西。”
在鄭科長保證自己會把領導的意思傳達給地區供銷社主任後，夏菊花便和鄭科長坐上省供銷系統特意給他們兩安排的吉普車，到火車站乘車回承平市。
坐在火車上，夏菊花跟鄭科長商量，她就不參加地區的總結會了，能不能直接坐回平德縣的汽車回平安莊。
鄭科長樂了：“肯定不行。你不知道這一次咱們地區多重視。總結會不光供銷社領導都要參加，就連地區革委會副主任和各縣的革委會主任也要參加呢。咱們平德的齊主任也到會。他參加會肯定有車，你到時跟着他的車一起回去，省得這麽老些東西自己拿不了。”
見夏菊花還猶豫，鄭科長又勸夏菊花：“不是說你得有一個兒子進地區供銷社嗎，你跟領導都見見面，将來你兒子有啥事兒，也好有個替他說話的人。”
對于這一點夏菊花其實不大放在心上——路都鋪好了，走在路上還能崴了腳，那就是走路人自己的問題了。
不過鄭科長有一句話打動了夏菊花：“省供銷系統的領導都讓地區不能搞華而不實的獎勵，說不定獎勵的就是現金呢，那東西讓誰替你領都不合适。”
鄭科長猜想的沒錯，一下火車就可以感覺到供銷社是真的重視這一次博覽會的成果，接人都接到了站臺上，還是由一位副主任帶隊來接的，夏菊花不得不表達了十二分的感謝。
總結會安排在第二天，當天晚上供銷社給鄭科長他們兩個安排了接風宴，一同出席的還有各縣的革委會主任們。齊小叔見到夏菊花，遠遠就笑着打招呼：“你要是再不回來，你們平安莊就亂套了。”
夏菊花看出齊小叔是在開玩笑，不過還是有些緊張：“咋回事，是不是誰不聽李大隊長的招呼，還是有人……”
舉報兩個字沒說出口，場合實在不對。齊小叔似笑非笑的看了她一眼，搖着頭說：“不是平安莊自己人亂了，是西北有人來找你，一直等不着人直接蹲到平安莊去了。李長順他們不知道該咋招呼人，有點亂。”
夏菊花本來不咋擔心，一聽西北有人找倒擔心上了：“我們家西北也不認識啥親戚，咋那邊有人找我呢？”
現場卻不允許齊小叔詳細給夏菊花講明情況，他來開會前，人家又囑咐他在他們沒見到夏菊花之前，不能走露了消息，齊小叔只好向夏菊花搖了搖頭，告訴她等開完表彰會，他會拉着夏菊花直接回平德縣。
見齊小叔雖然語焉不說，可神情不似太過焦慮，夏菊花只能暫時放下擔心，聽話的随大家參加了接風宴，又參加了地區總結會。
地區領導這一次所以把各縣革委會主任都召集來聽會，主要是想用平德縣平安莊大隊出口創彙的事例，刺激一下別的縣工作開展：
雖然罪惡集團已經被粉碎了，可是好些縣裏的主要領導，思想還禁锢得厲害，不想着咋快點恢複幾近崩潰的工農業生産，腦袋裏想的還是階級鬥争。
也不看看自己縣裏的農民，一年的分紅才多少錢，多少人家過年都不能放開了吃頓白面餃子。不指望着你們也給國家創彙，讓自己的縣裏的人吃飽行不行？
所以這一次不光地區供銷社給了夏菊花招工（為了防止影響不好，供銷社模糊了具體招工人的信息）、直接分配住房的獎勵，地區也專門拿出五百塊錢來，獎勵給夏菊花這個帶領全大隊大搞副業生産的帶頭人，并且要求平德縣，要拿出相應的獎勵來。
不誇張的說，盡管招工分房一次到位，讓各縣革委會主任有些吃驚，卻不如五百塊錢的獎勵更讓他們動容：一向精神獎勵為主習慣了，突然把物質獎勵擺到了桌面上，許多人一時都接受不過來。
他們在會後想問問齊小叔，平德縣要給多少獎勵的時候，才發現齊小叔和夏菊花兩個人早已經坐車回平德縣，竟然連慶功宴都不參加了。
這就有些蹊跷了：按理說這一次平德縣可是拔了頭籌，在會上齊小叔還做了經驗發言，慶功宴上還能不大出風頭？
咋就悄沒聲的走了呢？這不是不給地區和供銷社的臉嗎，在領導那裏會得了驕傲自滿的印象，在供銷社這裏是不給面子，以後還想不想調配物資啦。
齊小叔可不是剛參加工作的毛頭小子，這點兒事他能想不明白？別的縣革委會主任，同樣不是剛走上工作崗位，一看地區領導和從銷社領導、仿佛沒發現齊小叔和夏菊花沒出席慶功宴，都明白了。
齊小叔帶走參加博覽會的大功臣夏菊花的事兒，地區領導知情，供銷社領導同樣知情！而能讓他們在知情的情況下還放人，一定是平德縣有更重要的事兒等着齊小叔和夏菊花。
好事咋都讓平德縣趕上了呢？！
此時被別的縣革委會主任羨慕運氣好的齊小叔，剛剛向夏菊花介紹完在平安莊大隊等她的人是誰，為啥他連飯都不讓夏菊花吃一口，就得急急往回趕：
“部隊上的事情咱們不大清楚，可一涉及到部隊就沒小事。人家不讓我多提，我也只知道這麽多，具體的情況還得你回去，才能搞清楚。”
夏菊花已經從最初的震驚之中醒過神來，想到一種可能：“年前從咱們縣招兵的，就是西北軍區的吧？”
齊小叔點了點頭：“可不就是西北軍區的。一開始我還想着是不是你們平安莊大隊出去的兵，犯啥事兒了人家來調查。可側面問了幾次，人家都說新兵訓練還沒結束呢，咱們縣的孩子們表現的都不錯。”
當兵走的人沒事兒，結果軍區的人找過來了，夏菊花可真想不明白人家所為何來了。即是想不明白，夏菊花幹脆裝起駝鳥來，想着等見到了人，總能知道他們是幹啥來的，現在犯愁除了讓自己胸悶外，啥用沒有，那還犯愁個啥。
不想提早把自己愁壞的夏菊花，竟然在路上睡着了，把齊小叔看的好氣又好笑——這人的心得有多大，那兩個軍人來後，他都有些坐立不安，夏菊花聽後只吃驚了一會兒，竟然就睡着了？！
回頭看了一眼歪在後排睡得挺香的夏菊花，齊小叔囑咐司機把車開穩一點兒。
雖然笑話夏菊花心大，可齊小叔與夏菊花也算熟悉，這次見到她明顯發現她比出門前瘦了一些，眼角本不明顯的皺紋都深了兩分，可見雖然得了不少獎勵，那獎勵得的并不容易。
在齊小叔吩咐之後，車速明顯降下來一些。不過專車不用停靠上人，還是節約了不少時間，沒等天黑，車子已經駛過紅星公社，快到平安莊了。
夏菊花早在車子駛進土路的時候就醒了，看着越來越熟悉的景物，不由感嘆一聲：“總算是回來了。”
齊小叔聽了一笑：“見過大世面，看不上這些小土房了吧？”
夏菊花覺得這話太不中聽：“小土房咋啦，小土房養人，住着自在。那磚房是高是寬敞，可不是自己家的，住進去手腳都不敢挪動。”
Uncle Qi didn't think Xia Juhua was the kind of person who would live in a brick house and not dare to move, but seeing Ping'an Manor right in front of him, he still reminded Xia Juhua: "It seems that the people coming here are also in charge of things in the Northwest Military Region. You should be more polite when talking to them."
Xia Juhua was a little embarrassed: "I just made a few jokes because I'm familiar with you and Director Zhang. It's just a joke."
Uncle Qi did not comment on Xia Juhua's words. He had already seen Li Changshun standing at the entrance of the fifth team's village, craning his neck to look at the road, so he asked the driver to stop the car on the side of the road.
When Li Changshun saw Xia Juhua getting off the car, he limped over excitedly and said, "You're finally back. If you don't come back, I'll be at a loss."