Chapter 142
"No, I said it first, so I have to read it first."
"You said it first, I got it first, so I have to see it."
A few children ran past Xia Juhua noisily, interrupting her thoughts. A closer look revealed that the person running behind them and chasing someone was Liu Zhiguo.
Liu Zhiguo was also running and panting, and he shouted to the children in front of him as he ran: "Put the book down for me. I borrowed it from a classmate. If the cover is torn and I am asked to pay for it, I will come after you."
After shouting, he felt someone looking at him. He looked up and found that the old lady was smiling at him. Liu Zhiguo was a little embarrassed: "Auntie, you are back." After saying hello, he thought about the book that was stolen. He wanted to chase after the old lady, but he was afraid that the old lady would think he was rude and make things difficult for the child.
Xia Juhua waved her hand at him: "Go quickly, borrow someone's book and read it carefully. Don't damage it, otherwise they won't lend it to you next time." After hearing this, Liu Zhiguo, as if he had received a pardon, tried his best to ask for it. The kids rushed over.
The two shouts from Liu Zhiguo just now made it easy for Xia Juhua to judge that the children must be fighting for comic books or something like that. I remember that in my previous life until the late 1980s, for the children in Pingan Village, these two things were rare treasures, and whoever had them would be sought after by all the children in the village.
In the provincial capital, it is easy to buy comic books and picture books. So can Liu Zhiquan buy some for the children of Pinganzhuang Primary School? Xia Juhua walked into the powder room while thinking that she had to tell Liu Zhiquan when she got home.
It is still bustling inside, with people working in an orderly manner. Although it is heavy physical labor, every effort is well rewarded, and everyone has smiles on their faces from time to time.
Everyone who saw Xia Juhua greeted her warmly. Although Xia Juhua tried hard to keep a calm face, she would still smile from time to time when answering questions - nothing could make her happier than giving people hope. If she was the one who gave everyone hope, this happiness should be doubled - this made the members who were used to Xia Juhua's stern face before leaving feel a little uncomfortable, and they could not help but respond to her with even bigger smiles.
The first place we arrived at was the row of houses where the vermicelli was drying. The doors and windows were now wide open to allow ventilation to the iron pans placed on the shelves - the vermicelli was neatly placed in the iron pans.
Xia Juhua picked up one and looked at it. The front side was already dry. She turned the dough over naturally. The member who was doing the same job said quickly, "Captain, I should turn that one over soon. Let me do it."
"It's okay. It's easy work and not tiring." Xia Juhua asked as she turned the dough over: "How many dough balls have you collected?"
"It must be several thousand pounds." The worker did not stop working. After answering, he asked his own question: "When will we package it, Captain? I heard that the dough will be served with seasoning this time."
After hearing the production figures, Xia Juhua knew that the first batch of seasonings was indeed ready to be packaged, so she said, "It will be ready soon. Tomorrow, ask Li Changwang to send all the processed dough to the brigade vermicelli factory, and I will lead the team to package them there."
The members were a little worried: "If they take the products to the vermicelli factory, will they still be considered as our Ping An Village?"
Xia Juhua smiled and said, "Why not? The plastic sealing machines are now installed at the brigade headquarters, so it's convenient to package them there. These dough balls are all processed in Ping An Village, and no one can take them away."
Hearing her say this, the member felt more confident and worked harder, turning the dough a lot faster - the temperature is high now, the dough can be dried overnight, if he works harder, he can pack more summer chrysanthemums tomorrow.
Chen Qiusheng had heard that Xia Juhua was coming, so he came over and said from afar, "Captain, why can't you just sit still? You come to work right after you come back. Do you want to do a surprise inspection to see if we are lazy?"
"Yes, I'm just afraid that you'll be the first to be lazy." Xia Juhua was also very happy to see Chen Qiusheng, and asked him if the ingredients for the seasoning were ready. Chen Qiusheng then reported to Xia Juhua the materials that the supply and marketing cooperative had allocated: "... Comrade Li said before he left that the troops had already paid for these things, so we just need to use them."
Having said that, Xia Juhua felt that the pressure had not been reduced, but had become heavier - the troops had done all the work they could, and if Ping'an Village did not produce finished products, it would be unacceptable.
So she brought Chen Qiusheng to the brigade headquarters so that she could tell him where to transport the vermicelli tomorrow. As expected, Xia Juhua was warmly welcomed by Li Changshun and others. Li Changshun even personally brought Xia Juhua to the vermicelli factory. Seeing Xia Juhua was shocked by the half-raised wall, he said with some pride: "So, we didn't forget the work while you were away."
These words coincided with the joke Xia Juhua had just made to Chen Qiu Sheng, and the two of them started laughing again.
After laughing, Xia Juhua did not hide her shock: before she left, the cold storage had just been built inside the wall, and the foundation of the factory had just been laid. Less than ten days after she left, the wall was already halfway up. Xia Juhua knew why Li Changshun was so proud, and an uncontrollable smile spread across her face: "Captain, you have worked hard."
Li Changshun made her feel a little embarrassed: "I am not that hard-working. It is Technician Xue who is working hard. Every day he is either testing this or adjusting that. He has no time to rest."
Xia Juhua was naturally very grateful for Technician Xue's hard work, so she said to Li Changshun: "Last time we called, Technician Xue said that the machine had been tested almost everything that could be tested. Captain, he has helped us so much, how do you think we should thank him?"
Li Changshun seemed to have an idea in mind: "I think just verbal thanks will not work. Can we think of a way to give them some subsidies?"
Xia Juhua was still very surprised to hear Li Changshun say the word "supplement" and could not help but look at Li Changshun seriously.
Li Changshun pretended to be impatient and said, "What's the matter? Even if a member works in the vermicelli factory, you still have to record ten work points a day. Technician Xue works day and night, so I think it's not out of the question for him to be recorded as fifteen work points. Shouldn't you calculate his work points based on last year's Ping'an Village?"
Of course, why not? After she called him, he asked for leave and came to Ping'an Village. Xia Juhua felt that in addition to giving Technician Xue 15 work points a day as Li Changshun said, she should also reimburse him for his round-trip travel expenses.
Since she had already thought of it, Xia Juhua pointed out the place to deliver the powder balls to Chen Qiu Sheng, and asked him to go back to Ping'an Village to arrange people, while she and Li Changshun went to find Technician Xue.
Unexpectedly, the two of them told Technician Xue about the subsidy, and Technician Xue refused without a second thought: "Two captains, I didn't ask for leave on my own. The unit arranged for me to help the Ping'anzhuang Brigade. The unit not only pays me a salary, but also gives me a business trip subsidy. If I accept money from Ping'anzhuang, wouldn't it be like receiving two salaries? No, I can't accept money from Ping'anzhuang."
I guess it is only in this era that people refuse to accept money that is offered to them. After a few years of economic prosperity, everyone's eyes are on money, and they will talk about money first without anyone mentioning it.
Xia Juhua was not one to let others suffer a loss. She deliberately put on a stern face and said, "I don't care who arranged for you to come here. I just know that you came here without hesitation because of my phone call. Auntie will remember this kindness, but I can't just think that you suffered a loss in my heart. If you don't charge, then Auntie will be embarrassed to let you work for Ping An Zhuang anymore - can you see which member of Ping An Zhuang works for free?"
Technician Xue was speechless. After dealing with Xia Juhua for such a long time, how could he not know that Xia Juhua was a person of her word? Before returning to the capital, Xia Juhua had never let him suffer any loss. After returning to the capital, he had always kept in touch with Technician Lin, and he even knew that Technician Lin had been keeping a record of his work points in Ping'an Village.
So the treatment Xia Juhua gave him was not the first, and I believe it would not be the last. This was not the most important thing. The key point was that Technician Xue was very excited about testing these machines, and asking him to leave Ping An Manor and never touch these machines again would be more painful than killing him - he also wanted to apply for a patent after the test was successful as Xia Juhua said.
As far as Technician Xue knows, such a practical machine is still rare in China. Even if he cannot apply for a patent, as long as this technology is promoted, it can help many people get rid of heavy physical labor. Even if people can't remember his name and he can't get any practical benefits from it, Technician Xue still feels that his life is worth it.
Because Xia Juhua's threat was not a threat, Technician Xue finally nodded and agreed to accept the work points given to him by Ping An Village. Xia Juhua felt more at ease and said to Technician Xue:
"Auntie doesn't want you to make mistakes, but I think you are not young anymore and you should get married and start a family. I heard that there are many adults in the capital and it is difficult to allocate houses. If you have some money and buy a house yourself when the opportunity arises, girls will be willing to date you."
Technician Xue's face turned red: "Auntie, why are you talking about this?"
If not this, what else should I say? Should I tell him that even those who work so hard will never be able to afford a house in the capital? It would be better to use the topic of needing a house for marriage to make Technician Xue face the necessity of buying a house and buy a house while the price is still affordable. Whether it appreciates in value in the future or is demolished and re-allocated, he will not be without a place to stay.
This is Xia Juhua's way of repaying Technician Xue.
夏菊花想着報答薛技術員，平德縣縣長（革委會主任的稱謂，終于退出歷史舞臺，縣長重新出現在人們的稱謂之中）齊明堂同志，親自坐車來到平安莊大隊，要感謝一下夏菊花。
在接到省委層層傳遞下來的消息之後，齊小叔就做出了這個決定，一聽說夏菊花回到了平安莊，他馬上就趕過來了。
正好趕上夏菊花家招待送她回來的司機，齊小叔一點不客氣的坐下來問：“有我的飯吧？”
堂堂縣長光臨，沒有也得說有。好在孫招弟做飯的時候，考慮到司機是從省城來的，要給劉志全帶面子，免得人家回省城後，因為劉志全老家是農村的看不起他，特意把自己家的雞殺了一只，還讓劉志雙跑到縣城買回來了豬肉，加上自留地裏的青菜，飯菜十分豐盛，不擔心再加齊小叔和司機兩雙筷子。
別人只在心裏感嘆，齊小叔卻直白的說：“你家生活可夠好的。”
夏菊花自是不承認：“這是家裏有一個坐月子的，才吃的比平常好些。”
如此倒能說得過去，只是聽的人并不相信。省供銷系統的司機想起自己媳婦頭一回坐月子，想買一只雞炖湯下奶都找不到門路，人家劉志全家在農村卻有雞有肉，主食也是純白面饅頭，咋也不相信這是單純的打腫臉充胖子。
齊小叔就更不相信了：“我又不天天上你家吃飯，你用不着這麽遮掩。對了，你們平安莊不是要發展養殖業嗎，每家三十只雞都養齊了？我可跟你說，這些雞年底都得送到收購站，你要是敢往出送一只雞……”
供銷系統的司機一聽平安莊竟然每家都要養三十只雞，眼睛都瞪圓了，直勾勾的看着夏菊花，生怕她答應下來——劉志全老家養這麽些雞，年底的時候他單獨跑一趟買些回省城都值。
夏菊花也不同意齊小叔的說法：“齊縣長，你也太瞧得起平安莊了吧。說是一家養三十只，能養活幾只還不一定呢。再說一只雞一窩能孵幾只小雞，你心裏還沒數？平安莊現在怕是還沒養齊呢。”
齊小叔嗤笑了一聲，顧自挾起一筷子紅燒肉放在自己碗裏才說：“你們那個五爺，自己一個人就孵出了二百七十多只小雞，還個個都活了，你真當我不知道？現在他不是又在家裏孵第二批了？”
五爺開始孵第二批小雞，夏菊花還真不知道，不由看向孫招弟，見她無奈的向自己點頭，便知齊小叔所言不虛，不由好氣又好笑：“我們大隊的人嘴夠快的，齊縣長的耳朵也夠長的。”
“你別冤枉平安莊的社員。”齊小叔竟然主動替平安莊人辯解說：“都是衛東那小子回去跟我說的。”
原來是齊衛東那小子，夏菊花覺得這倒有情可願——那小子天不怕地不怕，卻很怕齊小叔，如果齊小叔開口問他平安莊的情況，齊衛東沒膽子撒謊。
好在齊小叔與自己的利益是一致的，夏菊花不擔心他把平安莊養雞的事兒當成自己的把柄，不過該替平安莊争取的還是要争取：
“齊縣長，就算五爺再孵出下一批小雞來，養到年底連一斤半都到不了。再說我們養雞是為了留着下蛋，把下蛋雞都賣了，社員這一年不是白辛苦了嘛。”
齊小叔意味不明的哼了一聲，比夏菊花還象主人的招呼供銷系統司機吃菜，自己也吃的有滋有味，就是不吐口平安莊的雞可以不上交收購站。
對于他的作派，夏菊花也沒當回事——司機在呢，許多話不适合當面說，大家一起吃飽肚子多好。
直到劉志全帶着司機回東廂房休息，齊小叔才算好好跟夏菊花說話：“這回你在省城替平德縣做的努力，縣委都已經聽說了。書記跟你不熟，不好過來看望你，特意讓我來向你表示感謝。”
一來就想把平安莊養的雞，全都收到收購站去算是感謝嗎？夏菊花狐疑的看着齊小叔，連句謙虛或是說是自己應該做的都欠奉。
齊小叔也不以為忤，笑笑說：“你能時刻想着全縣人民的利益，縣裏都記着呢。可是你也知道平安莊大隊現在比別的大隊強的太多，縣裏也不能大張旗鼓的表彰你。”
對此夏菊花當然能理解。說白了現在平安莊有些樹大招風，也就仗着她在省城做出的貢獻實在難以抹殺，上頭都獎勵她，別人不敢對她個人起啥心思。供應部隊的事情又來得太及時，誰也不會不開眼的拿供應部隊的任務說事兒，不然早該有人看平安莊不順眼，舉報或是給平安莊小鞋穿了。
當然，有齊小叔在縣城替平安莊頂着，也是重要的一環。否則平安莊一個大隊，想通電就通電、想接電話就接電話，做夢呢。
別說啥上級有要求，還有一句話叫上有政策下有對策呢，人家磨磨洋工，拖一拖進度能不能做到？平安莊的人又不懂電，當面拖工期他們都看不出來。
所以夏菊花也很鄭重的向齊小叔表示了自己的感謝，卻被齊小叔無情的嘲笑了：“甭說虛的，你們今年養的雞，真的只能送到收購站。放心，收購站已經答應了，到時候不會壓你們的價。”
能被齊小叔再次提及，夏菊花便想明白了，一定還是有人對平安莊擴大養雞提出了疑問——漏粉是為了供應部隊，沒人敢質疑；編席組那邊是為了給國家掙外彙，也沒人敢說啥；只的擴大養雞規模，在外人看來是可以攻讦一下的突破口。很可能那些人不光攻讦了平安莊，還捎上了一直替平安莊頂雷的齊小叔。
她不是不識好歹的人，也不能讓人齊小叔太難做，點頭應下來：“行，齊縣長你要是這麽說的話，那我們平安莊就交。不過大小我們可不敢保證，誰讓我們是頭一年養，沒經驗呢。”
對于夏菊花一點就通，齊小叔印象深刻，只說要交的話自然得交三斤以上的雞，否則收購站收些半大雞是養着還是賣給市民？
有這句話，等于是給平安莊留下了雞種，夏菊花也就心滿意足，只在心裏暗暗提醒自己，在政策徹底放開之前，平安莊只維持現狀就好，不能再鋪新的攤子了。
不過在第二天送走劉志全之後，夏菊花還是來到五爺門前，想看看五爺這一批雞仔的孵化進度。她還是沒能進門，今天陪着五爺的六喜隔着院門告訴夏菊花，這批雞蛋上炕不過五天，得半個月、二十天後才能知道成果。
夏菊花除了讓六喜好好照顧五爺的身體，也沒法說別的——雞蛋沒上炕之前，她還能制止五爺如此玩命，都上炕五天了，再說于事無補。
既然平安莊擴大養雞的事兒已經有人拿來做文章了，夏菊花就繞着村子轉了一圈，家裏有人的還進去看看，觀察一下各家的雞養齊了沒有。
不看不知道，一看就能看出各家主人的性格來：有的人家膽小，說讓養三十只，就真的只養三十只，連以前家裏的老母雞都算在內，一只也不敢多養。
有的人家膽子就大一點兒，小雞就有三十只，以前家裏養的成雞一只沒舍得處理。見夏菊花上門看養雞情況，人家還有說詞：“小雞這玩意，誰知道哪天會被耗子或是黃皮子給惦記上，多養兩只保險點兒。”
說的可真有道理，夏菊花聽了也只是一笑，并沒因多養幾只雞就覺得人家不聽招呼——她自己要是沒點兒膽子，平安莊現在還得靠天吃飯，水渠通不了、編席組和漏粉房也都不可能存在。
現在平安莊家家戶戶的小雞都養齊了，夏菊花還是很滿意的。不過這也讓她發現了一個問題，那就是平安莊的雞都養齊了，五爺咋又孵起第二批小雞來？
估計六喜幾個也說不明白，只能等五爺再次打開院門才能清楚，夏菊花也就沒再去敲門，而是來到了豬圈。一進院子，一股豬糞味直嗆鼻子，夏菊花很是适應了一會兒，才往裏走。
陳路生一開始沒在意誰進了院子，孫氏使勁咳嗽了兩聲，陳路生才擡頭，一見是夏菊花，嘴角便向兩邊翹起：“隊長回來啦，志全他們都安頓好啦？”
夏菊花跟着大兒子去省城的事兒，平安莊人人都知道，孫氏更是羨慕的眼睛都紅了。有時候她也想，要是自己當初沒把夏菊花母子逼得離開老院，這一次跟去省城的會不會也有自己？
答案當然是否定的，以她前些年的性格不可能不偏心劉四壯一家，也就不可能讓夏菊花娘三個留在老院。就算他們留在老院了，夏菊花還能跟現在一樣能幹，讓全大隊的人都心服口服嗎？
Sun couldn't answer this question herself. When she heard Chen Lusheng greet Xia Juhua, her expression became a little stiff: as a mother-in-law, she felt that she shouldn't take the initiative to greet Xia Juhua. But as an ordinary member, if she didn't greet a large group of cadres, it would be very easy to be criticized.
Xia Juhua saw Sun's expression from the corner of her eye and somewhat understood her approach, but she just nodded to her and was led by Chen Lusheng to the pig pen to see the growth of the pigs in the production team:
Understanding Sun is one thing, forgiving her is another: Sun is different from Liu Zhiliang and Liu Hongjuan. The two were children at the time and had no sense of right and wrong. They all depended on how adults guided them. But Sun is already an adult and she has to be responsible for what she did.
Just because you are old and confused doesn't mean you can undo all the evil.