Chapter 140
Hearing that she would be asked to accompany him throughout the process, Xia Juhua became a little anxious: "Impossible. Our Ping'anzhuang vermicelli factory has just been built halfway, and the machines and other things need to be debugged. If there are any problems, they must be corrected immediately, otherwise it will delay the important things. Technician Xue is here to help us, to find someone to coordinate materials and so on, we can't let him run around on his own, right?"
Supplying troops is also a big deal, and Deputy Director Gu knows even more than Xia Juhua. But this visit of foreign guests is also a big deal for L Province. In addition to letting the ministries and commissions see the importance of L Province, the leaders also want to use Xia Juhua and Roberts' friendship to bear more fruit - if Roberts still has rubber in hand and can negotiate a deal, it can completely solve the problem of insufficient production of rubber product factories in the province.
Therefore, Deputy Director Gu had no choice but to accept the order and, taking advantage of Liu Zhiquan's move, invite Xia Juhua to the provincial capital to discuss with her in person about letting her accompany Roberts throughout his visit to L Province.
Now that Xia Juhua had mentioned the supply team issue in person, Deputy Director Gu could not stop talking. He discussed with Xia Juhua, "How about this? The provincial supply and marketing system should coordinate with Pingde County to have them install a telephone for Pinganzhuang Brigade and the vermicelli factory. This way, they can always find you if they have something to do, and you can always call Pingde County if you want to coordinate anything. At the same time, we will also ask Pingde County to cooperate with Pinganzhuang as much as possible. The supply and marketing cooperative will take the lead in providing the people or things that Technician Xue needs. Is that okay?"
The man spoke so sincerely, thinking of everything for her, and delivering her son to someone else - even if Xia Juhua no longer took Liu Zhiquan seriously, she didn't want to see him frowning even once - she had no choice but to nod and agree: "Okay. But if it's really urgent, even if they want to find me, I still have to run to your office to answer the phone. Isn't it too much of a delay for your work?"
Deputy Director Gu smiled and said, "You saw what Zhiquan said. There is definitely not enough room for the five of you. There are rooms upstairs in the guesthouse. Roberts and his friends will also stay here. So from today on, you should stay in the guesthouse."
Thinking about the two beds in Liu Zhiquan's bungalow, there was really no room for five people, so Xia Juhua felt that it was more appropriate to live in a guesthouse. As for the issue of eating, she didn't mind walking a few steps, so she nodded again.
After dinner, Deputy Director Gu said goodbye to Xia Juhua, and the secretary took Xia Juhua and others to the room prepared for her. When saying goodbye, the secretary asked Xia Juhua to come to him if she had anything else and it was inconvenient to bother Deputy Director Gu.
Entering the room, the first thing you see are two large beds covered with clean white fabrics, which are no smaller than the two beds prepared by Liu Zhiquan. The pillows on them are also clean white and look very soft. There is even a tea tray on the desk with two clean white porcelain cups and a tea pot on it.
The two children, who had been holding back their meals for a while, started to have fun: "Grandma's place is so nice."
"Yes, I want to sleep with grandma."
After saying that, they all looked at Xia Juhua eagerly. Liu Zhiquan and Wang Caifeng naturally didn't want the two children to disturb Xia Juhua's rest. two children, sleep with me tonight."
Wang Caifeng asked curiously, "Mom, can I take a shower in this room?"
Xia Juhua had to take the family to visit the bathroom first, and she also demonstrated how to use the shower, which made the two children scream with excitement. Even Liu Zhiquan and his wife, who were happily going back to the tube building to get clothes, didn't care.
Children love playing in the water, and in this weather, they don't have to worry about catching a cold. Xia Juhua left the bathroom, closed her eyes, and lay on the bed with her back straight. After a while, she felt someone approaching her, and when she opened her eyes, she saw that it was Baoguo, so Xia Juhua asked, "Have you had enough fun?"
Baoguo neither shook his head nor nodded, and said softly: "Grandma, when I grow up, I will make a lot of money and build a big house in the provincial capital, as big as our home, and install a shower like this. Then you can live with us, right?"
Xia Juhua looked at Liu Baoguo's careful confirmation and felt a little sad. She sat up and pulled Liu Baoguo to sit next to her on the bed. Then she said, "Grandma has a lot of things to do in Ping'an Village and can't live with you for the time being. It's not because your current place is too small or because there is no shower. Do you understand?"
Liu Baoguo just nodded slightly, and it seemed that he was not convinced by this reason. Xia Juhua continued: "When you grow up, you will see more things and meet more people, and then you will know that except your wife, no one can accompany you for the rest of your life. Grandma is too old to be with you."
Liu Baoguo was a little confused: "Why can't grandma be with me all my life? I still have my parents and Lele."
Xia Juhua couldn't help but smile: "When you grow up, you have to go to college, have your own job, and have your own friends. Then grandma and your parents won't be able to accompany you. As for Lele, she also has to go to college, and after graduating from college, she will have to work. She may be close to you, or she may be far away from you. How can she accompany you?"
This seems to be the truth, and Liu Baoguo didn't know how to refute his grandmother. But he still felt that something was wrong: "What if I don't go to college, can I always follow my grandmother?"
Only a child can say such innocent words. Xia Juhua stroked Liu Baoguo's hair and said, "Look at Hu Zhongshan. He can talk to everyone in each production team about electricity safety because he has learned how to use electricity in books. If you don't study and don't even know how to use electricity, can you guarantee grandma's safety when you take her out in the future? If grandma wants to go far away, she can't go out with you without worry."
Liu Baoguo was deeply attracted by going out with his grandmother to see far away places. He forgot his original intention of looking for Xia Juhua and instead asked her where she wanted to go and why she wanted to go so far away.
As the mother and daughter were talking, Liu Zhiquan and his wife came back with some clean clothes. Liu Zhiquan took Liu Baoguo to wash them first, and after they were done, Wang Caifeng and Lele's mother took over.
After washing himself clean, Liu Baoguo came over and said to his grandmother, "Grandma, I think you are right. We should look around. We use a big basin to take a bath at home, but the shower here pours water from the top of your head, which is more comfortable than taking a bath in a big basin."
Children's focus is always different from that of adults. Xia Juhua did not correct him, but only focused on what she had to do.
As Roberts would arrive in the provincial capital in a few days, Xia Juhua had been following Wang Caifeng to clean up the tube-shaped building.
However, their good days did not last for more than two days, as Liu Zhiquan completed the school admission procedures for them. Those who were supposed to go to the first grade went to the first grade, and those who were supposed to go to kindergarten went to kindergarten. They were tied up again.
Comrade Li, who came every day to watch the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law's progress, asked Wang Caifeng in confusion: "Caifeng, why do you let Lele go to kindergarten now? It costs a lot of money a month. Besides, it's too early for Baoguo to go to elementary school. He is only six years old."
Wang Caifeng could only smile and say, "It's not too early. He's already in school at home. If he comes to the provincial capital and starts over again from the first grade, then all his previous studies would have been in vain."
Comrade Li curled his lips and said, "What about Lele? Three yuan a month can buy several kilograms of meat. You can just watch over her at home."
The problem is that she can't stay at home for a few days. Wang Caifeng was a little speechless about this enthusiastic neighbor, and she said something she didn't want to say: "I have to go to the kindergarten in two days, and there will be no one to take care of Lele at home."
"What? You want to work in a kindergarten?" Comrade Li shouted in surprise, "How can you work in a kindergarten?"
"I was a kindergarten teacher in the production team. Why can't I go to work in the kindergarten after moving to the city?" Wang Caifeng's voice was not raised, but everyone could hear the dissatisfaction in it.
Comrade Li realized that she had said something wrong and looked at Xia Juhua awkwardly. Xia Juhua pretended not to see her look of help and concentrated on sewing the tablecloth. Comrade Li could not stay any longer and slowly moved to the door and went home.
"Mom, did I say something too harsh?" The first person Wang Caifeng met when she came to the provincial capital was Comrade Li. When she saw Xia Juhua leaving, she asked him with some trepidation.
Xia Juhua disagreed: "Behind the scenes, lives their own life, but she insists on asking about other people's affairs. You are right." If you don't calm down Comrade Li at the beginning and let her comment on her own affairs, she will dare to interfere in everything about your family next time.
As long as her mother-in-law said she did nothing wrong, Wang Caifeng didn't care about other people's reactions. Comrade Li, however, told her husband about this matter at night: "You said I was kind enough to remind her, but she said she was also a kindergarten teacher in the production team. How can the kindergarten in the production team be the same as the kindergarten in the supply and marketing system? Who is she showing off to?"
Her husband's eyes widened: "If you have the time to meddle in other people's affairs, can't you clean up the house? Besides, Liu Zhiquan joined the purchasing department as soon as he entered the supply and marketing system, and was able to bring his family's household registration to the provincial capital and directly allocate a house. When his mother came, Deputy Director Gu invited her to dinner and directly arranged for her to live in the guesthouse!"
Comrade Li had gossiped about these things with the housewives in the tube building several times, but they didn't gossip about Liu Zhiquan's background. Now that the man said it again, Comrade Li knew that he could no longer say bad things about the neighbors at home, and it would be best for him to curry favor with them.
She understood what the man said, that is, Liu Zhiquan's family should be treated well and not offended. This realization made her snort in anger, turned over, closed her eyes and ignored the man.
Xia Juhua, however, was not so lucky and fell asleep right away. She was talking to Technician Xue: "...Really, the pulper can use electricity now. Is it the big pulper you modified later?"
After getting a positive answer from Technician Xue, Xia Juhua wanted to see the pulping machine which was twice as big as the original one. It would take less than half an hour to pulp hundreds of kilograms of sweet potatoes after being powered on.
"What do you think about the machine for making vermicelli?" Xia Juhua said to Technician Xue, "Right now, making vermicelli is the most labor-intensive process. It would be great if there was a machine for this process, which would save at least half the manpower."
Technician Xue on the other end laughed, "Auntie, you are a little ungrateful. Now we have machines for making dough and drying. Next, I want to try to use the machines for making flour. Before I figured that out, you gave me another difficult problem of making dough."
Xia Juhua also felt that her request was a bit excessive, but she was not shy with Technician Xue and said, "Auntie, this is for your own good. You have tested these things in Ping An Village, and you can apply for patents in the future. Whoever wants to use these machines will have to pay you. How great."
"Patent?" It was not the first time that Technician Xue heard this word, but it was something that only foreigners talked about. At that time, China emphasized collective labor and collective achievements, not individualism.
However, Xia Juhua's suggestion that he should apply for a patent earlier still tempted Technician Xue. He decided to ask someone knowledgeable after returning to Beijing whether he met the requirements for applying for a patent.
Because he wanted to apply for a patent as soon as possible, Technician Xue paid more attention to the dough-making machine proposed by Xia Juhua. If the dough-making machine could be made and combined with a flour-leaking machine, the vermicelli production would not only be semi-automatic, but would be infinitely close to fully automatic production.
Xia Juhua, who had inspired Xue, finally met Roberts and his party four days later. In order to better welcome Roberts, the provincial supply and marketing system not only made new clothes for Xia Juhua, but also asked a translator to teach her to speak a few words of G country to deal with the occasion.
Unfortunately, Roberts' Chinese language progress is not comparable to that of Xia Juhua, who is over 40 years old. When they met, he immediately said, "Magical Xia, we meet again." Roberts grinned, revealing his white teeth that contrasted sharply with his skin color: "I look forward to meeting you this time. You can give me a different surprise."
Xia Juhua had no idea what kind of surprise she could give Roberts. She held the hand that Roberts extended to her with a somewhat stiff smile and said, "It's nice to see you again."
"No, no, no, Xia, I came here specifically to see you." Roberts stated his purpose very frankly: "I hope that this time, in addition to handing you the cashews, I can also bring back all the textiles I ordered from you to Country G. Is that okay?"
It turns out that this was the surprise he wanted. Of course there was a problem: "Roberts, we have signed a contract, but the delivery time has not yet arrived. I can't deliver all the goods to you." Xia Juhua was not moved by Roberts' enthusiasm.
Just kidding, Ping An Zhuang received more than one order from Roberts at the Expo. If they delivered his order first, the other orders would have to be put on the back burner. If the order could not be delivered on time, Ping An Zhuang would have to pay a penalty.
Deputy Director Gu cleared his cough and reminded Xia Juhua to pay attention. The comrades from the ministries and commissions who accompanied Roberts to the provincial capital already looked unhappy.
But Roberts looked aggrieved: "Xia, you can't do this to me. I am the only one who signed the contract with you. I flew to China specially to see you and the goods."
It's not that Xia Juhua didn't hear Deputy Director Gu's cough, but the principles that should be adhered to must be adhered to. You can't let all the efforts of Ping An Zhuang be in vain just because some people are unhappy.
Perhaps it was because there were too few international friends coming to China at that time, so the relevant departments were almost always responsive to the requests of visiting friends and provided the best products.
Xia Juhua had no objection to providing high-quality products. After all, she had watched TV all her life and knew that what the country needed most was foreign exchange. Considering that domestic standards were different from foreign standards, in order to prevent losses caused by returns, it was understandable that the standards for exports were set higher than those for domestic exports in order to earn some foreign exchange as soon as possible.
However, the quality of Ping An Zhuang's textiles has been tested at the expo and has been approved by foreign orders over the past two or three years. Xia Juhua does not think that just because Roberts came to China in person, it is enough for Ping An Zhuang to bear a cost exceeding the total amount of his order.
It's not that you can't make friends, but they can only be called friends on the premise of equality. Otherwise, if one party only gives and the other only takes, they are not friends but vampires.
Xia Juhua then turned serious and said, "Roberts, are you serious? If you are, then Ping An Zhuang can give priority to completing your order."
This sentence made the atmosphere in the room relax a little, and Roberts even smiled with all his teeth showing. Unexpectedly, Xia Juhua had something else to say: "Just please pay the penalty for the other orders that came before you first."
Roberts' smile was a little awkward, and the comrade from the ministry who had a bad look on his face just now was even more embarrassed than him - when he heard the word "liquidation fee", he realized the price that Ping An Zhuang might have to pay for completing Roberts' order first.
"Ah, Xia, you still love to joke." Roberts, who was able to squeeze into the G country delegation, knew very well when to insist and when to act like a joke. He extended his hand to Xia Juhua again: "Xia, I have important news this time to share with you."
As Xia Juhua and Roberts shook hands again, the atmosphere of the meeting became relaxed again, and Deputy Director Gu smiled and greeted Roberts. Roberts naturally remembered Deputy Director Gu, after all, it was this person who gave him the check last time.
Then Roberts said something that surprised everyone present. That was that after returning to his country, he had quickly organized another supply of 30,000 tons of rubber. Out of friendship for Xia Juhua, he specially applied to join the G country delegation so that he could deliver the rubber order to Xia Juhua in person.
"Xia," Roberts said to Xia Juhua complacently, "Do you think I am trustworthy? I didn't reveal this news to anyone in your capital. I only told you."
The leaders of L Province and the provincial supply and marketing system who attended the meeting wanted to step forward and cover Roberts' mouth - you said you would only tell Xia Juhua, so why did you say it in front of the accompanying people from the ministries and commissions?
There was a burst of coughing sounds beside her. Xia Juhua helplessly watched as Deputy Director Gu made the mouth shape to her, "Answer him quickly," without caring whether Roberts noticed it.
"Thank you, Roberts. But the 10,000 tons of rubber we just bought has not arrived yet, and the other 30,000 tons are coming..."
Deputy Director Gu really wanted to pull Xia Juhua's sleeve, but unfortunately the accompanying personnel from the ministry were watching him covetously, so he dared not think about it but act on it.
Roberts was a qualified businessman. Hearing the coughing, he thought of something and said to Xia Juhua confidently, "If you think it's too much, then I can..."
The comrade from the ministry was about to speak, but Xia Juhua was staring at him sternly, making him feel as if he was not being stared at by a rural woman, but as if the leader of the ministry was right in front of him. He was speechless.
"Of course, it's your rubber, you have the right to decide who to sell it to." Xia Juhua smiled at Roberts nonchalantly: "But Roberts, I want to know before you came to China, have you paid for the 30,000 tons of rubber? Have you rented a warehouse for storage, have you booked a ship for transportation, and have you paid the fees?" In a TV series in my lifetime, the heroine who worked in foreign trade seemed to have negotiated the price after asking a similar question. Xia Juhua envied the actress for a long time because of her full aura, and she also remembered the words she said to her.
Xia Juhua just hoped that her memory was correct, and that Roberts had already loaded the rubber on the ship in order to gain the upper hand, just as he did on TV.
A series of questions stumped Roberts: The sale of 10,000 tons of rubber at the Expo was too smooth, and the profit he got far exceeded what he got from selling it to other countries. After returning to China, he and his business partners jointly concluded that after the Chinese ministries purchased 50,000 tons of rubber, L Province still came forward to purchase 10,000 tons of rubber, which was enough to prove that the market was huge, so they should fill this gap quickly instead of letting others get ahead of them.
So the two of them quickly organized the supply of goods. While Roberts was trying to squeeze into the delegation, his business partner signed a transportation contract with a transportation company, and the destination was China.
Roberts was stunned for a moment, then understood the expression on the face of the accompanying personnel from the ministry and chose to trust his own and his business partners' judgment: China is still a seller's market.
So I said to Xia Juhua confidently: "I will take care of all this, Xia. We are old friends, so I chose to tell you the news about rubber first. If you don't want it..."
"Then no one in China will buy your rubber anymore."
After saying that, Xia Juhua glanced at the accompanying personnel from the ministries and commissions, and they all bowed their heads and acquiesced to Xia Juhua's words. How could they not acquiesce? Not acquiescing would mean malicious competition and undermining the unity of the entire Chinese people!
Fortunately, Xia Juhua said that no matter who bought it, it would ultimately be used under the unified coordination of the state, so he would be able to report back to the ministry.
Roberts, who had been observing the accompanying personnel from the ministry, asked Xia Juhua disappointedly: "Then, should we still make the deal at the expo price?"
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