Chapter 144
Hearing that Master Wu's second batch actually hatched five more than the previous batch, Xia Juhua couldn't find any other way to express her admiration for him, so she could only silently give him a thumbs up: "Master Wu, you are this one."
The fifth master was even more proud and asked, "Where is Captain Niu? Let him take all the chickens away quickly. I need to have a good rest for two days."
It turned out that Master Wu had hatched the second batch of chicks for Team Three. Xia Juhua felt that she had to criticize Master Wu: "Master Wu, next time no matter who asks you to do it, you can't hatch chicks for them. It's tiring, it's too exhausting."
The Fifth Master waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "If someone else came to me, I would certainly not intervene. But Captain Niu follows Ping An Village everywhere. If you don't even care about Team 3, will those production team leaders listen to you when you talk to them in the future?"
"I have thought it through. I will not help any other production team except Team 3. This will let them know that only people from Ping An Village who listen to you can help them!"
This sentence made Xia Juhua's eyes turn red: in this life, the one who helped her the most was Master Wu. Whether she was the production team leader or the team leader in Ping'an Village, Master Wu was always there to help and give advice, and he did his best.
Even though Xia Juhua had already established herself in the brigade, Fifth Master was still afraid that others would not take her words seriously, so he would rather, at his advanced age of over 70, in poor health, and with unfamiliar techniques, endure the pain and hatch batch after batch of chicks so that the chicken-raising goal proposed by Xia Juhua could be achieved.
If this doesn't move Xia Juhua, then nothing else in the world can move her. This time, it is because of the wholehearted support of Wu Ye, Zhao Xianzhi and others that Xia Juhua is willing to use her brain more actively than in her previous life to find ways to make everyone's life better.
Achievement is always mutual.
Of course, good days don't come in one day. On the road to good days, one cannot do without hardship and suffering. The members of Ping'an Village were willing to endure hardships and work hard for a better life. They survived together with Xia Juhua.
More importantly, after living a good life, the members of Pingan Village were very grateful and had already regarded Xia Juhua as their backbone. No matter what ideas she proposed, they would support her unconditionally just like Wu Ye. So Xia Juhua didn't care about other production teams, but she didn't want to leave any member of the Pingan Village production team behind.
Even if Sun and Liu Sizhuang were included, Xia Juhua would not deliberately exclude them: she would not take the initiative to take care of them, and let them benefit from all the members of Ping'anzhuang, so as not to make Liu Erzhuang too embarrassed - if Liu Erzhuang was embarrassed, it would probably make Li Daya embarrassed, and Xia Juhua felt that the gain was not worth the loss.
"Come on, if you don't have time, I'll let Qi Xi go find Captain Niu." Master Wu noticed that Xia Juhua's emotions were a little agitated, and not wanting to see her lose her composure, he took the initiative to change the subject.
Xia Juhua sniffed lightly and smiled: "Fifth Master, you haven't seen our vermicelli factory yet, come on, I'll take you to have a look. Captain Niu is also there, so I'll tell him in person and ask him to take the chickens back with him when he returns to the production team."
Wu Ye nodded and walked towards the brigade headquarters with Xia Juhua. Along the way, he asked about the situation of Liu Zhiquan's family in the provincial capital, and asked when Liu Zhishuang would move to the district.
Xia Juhua is really worried when talking about Liu Zhishuang: "That bastard first said he would wait until Xiaoman is out of confinement, and now he says the child is too young and he is afraid of the hassle of traveling, so he wants to wait until the child is a little stronger before moving. He keeps putting it off today until tomorrow, and tomorrow until the day after tomorrow, so who knows when he will move? I am too lazy to pay attention to him."
The Fifth Master had his understanding of this: "Zhishuang is a thoughtful kid. He is worried that you will be alone at home without anyone to talk to. Besides, An'an is a little young. If she goes to the district, Xiaoman will have to stay at home to take care of the child. He will be the only one earn a salary. Life will not be easy for the family of three."
"You have to go and register first." Xia Juhua saw that Liu Zhishuang didn't want to move: "The regional supply and marketing cooperative is good enough. They have allocated a unit to people without registering. Many people who have worked for many years can't get one. If he doesn't go, the leaders of the supply and marketing cooperative will be in trouble."
After hearing this, Master Wu thought it made sense and said with a sigh, "Okay, I'll tell him about it when I meet him someday."
Regardless of whether Liu Zhishuang listened to what Fifth Master said or not, it was always better to have one more person to advise him, so Xia Juhua happily and continued chatting with Fifth Master, and before they knew it, they arrived at the vermicelli factory.
The vermicelli factory covers an area of four mu, and has a 1.8-meter-high wall. It looks very impressive from a distance. The fifth master thought it was very impressive and said, "It really looks like a factory. When will the sign be put up?"
Xia Juhua then realized that everyone had overlooked a problem - everyone was so excited about the trademark that day that they forgot to give the vermicelli factory a resounding name. However, the factory building has not been completed yet, so it is not too late to hire someone to make a brand after it is completed.
Hearing that they had forgotten such an important thing, Wu Ye didn't know what to say: "Didn't you say that the manufacturer's name was printed on the packaging of the hot and sour noodles last time? What name was printed on it?"
"It's the Ping'anzhuang vermicelli factory." Xia Juhua didn't think there was anything wrong.
The fifth master asked, "The packaging of the first batch of hot and sour noodles is different from that of the second batch. The military chief called us to ask about it. If the manufacturer changes its name again, will they ask us again? It's not appropriate to keep worrying about the packaging."
This possibility is not only possible, but also very high. After all, Xia Juhua guessed that the army leaders attached so much importance to hot and sour noodles in order to prepare for the near future - many things happen with signs, and the leaders will not be completely unaware. Our nation is better at preventing trouble before it happens, and making some preparations in advance can be prepared for any trouble.
So the first thing she and Fifth Master did when they arrived at the vermicelli factory was to ask Accountant Chang to find someone to make a factory brand, and the name was set as "Ping An Zhuang Vermicelli Factory". Even Li Changshun, who was arguing with Fifth Master, did not think that Xia Juhua was arbitrary, and everyone accepted this fact smoothly - it was only a few days since the last discussion, so why waste time discussing it again.
Xia Juhua felt even more anxious. She didn't care about how the three production team leaders were competing with Team Leader Niu for the second batch of chicks hatched by Master Wu, nor did she care about persuading Liu Zhishuang to report to the regional supply and marketing cooperative as soon as possible. She focused her attention on the construction of the vermicelli factory.
Even the day before the equipment was to be moved from the Ping'anzhuang flour-leaching room to the vermicelli factory, Xia Juhua did not let everyone stop working, but continued working and moving at the same time: the sweet potato paste that had already been strained remained in the flour-leaching room to dry, and the members who were supposed to be leaking the flour could not stop either, but continued to leak the flour until all the prepared paste was leaked out, and only then were the iron pans containing the dough moved to the vermicelli factory.
It's not that there weren't some members who were worried. They thought that the Ping'an Village production team would suffer a loss if they moved to the vermicelli factory with everything they had. They might not be able to settle the bill in the future. money.
The person who was talking was just making a suggestion, but Xia Juhua interrupted him and he dared not talk any more, so he went to move his things. Chen Qiusheng looked at the increasingly empty powder room, and said to Xia Juhua in a very literary way: "It used to be a lively place, but now everyone has suddenly moved away. It really makes me feel empty. The scene of us building the powder room seems to be right in front of me."
Xia Juhua looked at Chen Qiu Sheng and shook her head. If he couldn't stand the powder leaking room being moved away now, wouldn't Chen Qiu Sheng be even more upset when the household contract responsibility system that would soon come would make rural collective labor a thing of the past?
Seeing her shaking her head, Chen Qiusheng didn't feel embarrassed and quickly found a way out for himself: "It's okay. I have to go to work at the vermicelli factory anyway and be with everyone again soon."
When Chen Qiu Sheng went to work at the vermicelli factory, it was agreed upon at the beginning when they discussed setting up the factory - the Ping'anzhuang production team would be the first to leak vermicelli, the first to make hot and sour vermicelli, and the Ping'anzhuang production team would master the preparation of the seasoning. Therefore, Chen Qiu Sheng was responsible for the daily management of the vermicelli factory, and the cadres of the brigade and other production teams had no objection at all.
Who made Xia Juhua also look favorably upon Chen Qiu Sheng and feel that he was one of the most trustworthy people?
Of course, Xia Juhua was the director of the vermicelli factory, Chen Qiu Sheng was the deputy director in charge of production, and the accountant was temporarily concurrently served by the brigade's accountant, who was paid half of his salary.
Accountant Chang did not feel that he was at a disadvantage at all, even though he only received half of the salary of others. Instead, he worked hard, because he kept in mind his own ten work points a day, which was equivalent to one more salary per month than others.
You should know that the monthly fixed salary for ordinary workers in the vermicelli factory (once you enter the factory, you will be called a worker from now on) is 24 yuan, and half of it is 12 yuan. Only a fool would not want to take it.
Xia Juhua and others had calculated why they set the wage for ordinary workers at 24 yuan: if they wanted members to be willing to work in the vermicelli factory, they had to make their income higher than farming in the production team.
Except for the Pinganzhuang production team, whose work points were 26 cents last year, the highest work points of the other four production teams were only 16 cents each, which means a full pay of 48 yuan for 30 days.
But if it really came into the hands of the members, it would be at least half, because had to pay for their food and work points. In addition, some people could not go to work because of a headache or fever, or because of family matters, or when it was windy or rainy, so everyone there were very few ordinary members who could remember 360 days of work in a year, and those who could remember 300 days were rare.
This is why, although the work points are not low, it is not easy for ordinary members of other production teams to earn 100 yuan a year. Working in the vermicelli factory can earn more than 200 yuan a year, and it is in the factory building without wind or rain. It would be strange if people are not willing to come.
The apprenticeship salary in the city factories is 18 yuan a month, and there are many people vying for the job.
Of course, the income of Pinganzhuang members far exceeds this number, but Xia Juhua and others believe that Pinganzhuang members are also willing to work in the vermicelli factory. In addition to the good working environment, the skills of Pinganzhuang production team members are generally better than those of other production teams, and their sense of cooperation has been cultivated in the vermicelli leaking room, so when they come to work, they will have more job choices and a greater chance of becoming a team leader.
The team leader’s monthly salary was increased to thirty yuan.
Xia Juhua had already proposed the concept of overtime pay. After several experiences of going out, Xia Juhua knew that the wages of regular workers in the city were only 28 to 36 yuan a month, so she would not let the Ping'anzhuang vermicelli factory pay more than them. She had already discovered that the Ping'anzhuang brigade was a bit too big to attract attention, and the wages announced by the vermicelli factory were certainly not suitable to exceed the wages of workers in the city. However, there was no problem in paying overtime to the workers.
Xia Juhua can foresee that overtime production will become the norm at the Ping'anzhuang vermicelli factory in the near future, and the overtime pay and actual income received by everyone will far exceed the salary level of city dwellers.
Although others didn't know what Xia Juhua was thinking, they quickly accepted the overtime pay when they heard about it - farmers have their own wisdom, and not refusing opportunities to increase their income is an important part of this wisdom.
On the day when the vermicelli factory was officially opened, Uncle Qi and Secretary Zhang of the commune (as time went by, Director Zhang was promoted to Secretary of the commune) were both present. All the members of Ping'anzhuang Brigade, regardless of gender, age or status, who were able to walk, arrived at the factory gate early, looking at the factory sign covered with red cloth from far or near, pointing and talking, while waiting for Xia Juhua to announce the establishment of the vermicelli factory.
Teachers and students from Ping'anzhuang Primary School were also brought here. Xia Juhua wanted the children to participate in the construction of Ping'anzhuang from an early age so that they would increase their sense of belonging and responsibility to Ping'anzhuang.
The children were all wearing their best clothes, with red scarves fluttering on their chests, and their faces were all smiling. They were all very excited to be participating in such an important event.
The senior students even had small drums tied around their waists. This was the show that Liu Lizhu and the children prepared to present to the vermicelli factory: whenever there was a happy event in the village before the sports activities, there would always be people playing gongs and drums and dancing yangge to add to the fun. The vermicelli factory's start of production was a happy event for the entire Ping'an Village Brigade, and Liu Lizhu felt that it should be livened up.
Looking at the watch on her wrist, the hands had already pointed to 9:10. Xia Juhua picked up the microphone she had taken from the brigade headquarters and announced loudly to the densely packed crowd: "Ping'anzhuang Vermicelli Factory will officially start production from today. Now, please invite County Mayor Qi to unveil the plaque for us."
Many people present were hearing the term "unveiling the plaque" for the first time, but they immediately understood its meaning and looked eagerly at Uncle Qi standing in the front row.
Unveiling the plaque for a factory run by a brigade was a new experience for my uncle. Although he had made countless reports at the county cadre meetings, his hands were still slightly sweaty when facing the expectant eyes of the members.
However, Uncle Qi walked towards the factory sign with steady steps, and no one could see the sweat in his clenched fists. It took Uncle Qi only five steps to reach the factory sign. Everyone didn't know today what these five steps meant to him and the Ping An City Brigade, but they would know it soon.
"Secretary Zhang, Captain Xia, let's do it together." Uncle Qi, who was standing in front of the red cloth, did not do it himself, but turned around and invited Secretary Zhang and Xia Juhua. Xia Juhua shook her head but did not move, but Secretary Zhang walked to the position side by side with Uncle Qi. The two smiled at each other, and Uncle Qi exerted a little force, and Secretary Zhang cooperated by lowering the hand holding the red cloth. The red cloth slowly fell, and the Ping'anzhuang Vermicelli Factory sign with black characters on a white background came into everyone's sight.
At this moment, Liu Lizhu raised his hand, and the waist drums of the older students of Ping'anzhuang Primary School started to beat at the same time, while the younger students started to dance the yangge to the beat of the drums.
The celebratory drumbeats were very infectious, and the members' feet were itching. The old men and women could not help but sway along with the drumbeats, and their bodies were so excited that they swayed like willows in the wind.
Gradually, more and more people joined in the dance to the beat of the drums, and soon the front of the vermicelli factory became a sea of yangko. Uncle Qi and Secretary Zhang looked at the lively crowd and whispered, "When we did sports before, we also danced yangko together, but none of us had this kind of spirit."
Secretary Zhang smiled and said, "The spirit and energy of Ping An Village right now cannot be matched by any other brigade."
Xia Juhua did not want to stop the members from enjoying themselves, but she was afraid that the leaders would feel uncomfortable standing here, so she hurriedly invited the two leaders to visit the factory. The production in the factory had started at eight o'clock, and no one stopped working even though it was so busy outside.
Looking at the tall cold storage, Uncle Qi became very interested - he remembered that Xia Juhua had originally thought of building a cold storage, but he didn't expect that she would actually build it - and he pulled Director Zhang towards the cold storage.
"Um, two leaders, can you put on your work clothes?" Xia Juhua asked weakly as she followed behind them.
Uncle Qi and his friend turned around and saw the white coat Xia Juhua had brought from somewhere. They were a little puzzled: "Do you need to wear a white coat to enter a cold storage?"
Xia Juhua explained to the two leaders somewhat embarrassedly that anyone entering the factory had to wear a white coat, because the vermicelli factory produces food and hygiene must be guaranteed from the source.
The two leaders had another fresh experience. They put on their white coats and looked at the sweet potatoes piled in the cold storage with Xia Juhua. Secretary Zhang asked curiously, "Are these the same sweet potatoes from last year? Can they really be preserved for such a long time?"
Xia Juhua nodded and answered: "It's last year's sweet potatoes, but they're not from our area. They were coordinated by the troops from the north." If the cold storage had not been built when the sweet potatoes were transported from the north, they would not have been stored for such a long time.
Uncle Qi asked, "How long does it take you to produce these sweet potatoes?"
"If the machines are fully operational and the workers work in two shifts, they will be used up in ten days or so." Xia Juhua frowned when she said this, but when she thought of what Lin Hongliang said that the troops would continue to coordinate the sweet potatoes, she did not express her concern about the sweet potatoes not being delivered in time.
Uncle Qi and Secretary Zhang had both managed agriculture, so they could estimate that the pile of sweet potatoes in front of them must be about 30,000 to 40,000 kilograms. When they heard that they could be used up in ten days or so, they were a little surprised: "The current production capacity of the factory is only 3,000 to 4,000 kilograms per day?"
Xia Juhua led the two leaders to the production workshop with some pride. They saw dozens of people sitting by the big basin picking and washing sweet potatoes. Xia Juhua explained, "To make good vermicelli, it is very important to clean the sweet potatoes. Although Technician Xue also tried the machine to wash sweet potatoes, they have been stored for such a long time that spots are inevitable. I think it is safer to pick them manually."
The two leaders understood this very well, and followed Xia Juhua to the pulping workshop. There were far fewer people here than in the cleaning workshop, only about ten people, but the pulping machine was more than twice as big as the one they had seen in the Ping'anzhuang production team before.
The outlet is no longer an open iron trough, but a long pipe, one end of which is connected to the outlet of the pulping machine, and the other end is directly injected into the large barrel for receiving pulp. There is a faucet at the bottom fifth of the barrel, which can be opened to release the pulp. Several people are moving the pulp back and forth.
This can prevent the sweet potato pulp from being exposed to the air and falling into dust, and can also control the amount of pulp water to prevent the pulp water from flowing out and being wasted during the repotting process.
"This is a good idea. Technician Xue is very attentive." Uncle Qi praised him and asked Xia Juhua, "Where is Technician Xue?"
Logically speaking, today was the first day of official production, and Technician Xue should be guarding the machine. The three people arrived for a while, but didn't see Technician Xue, so Xia Juhua led the two leaders to the drying workshop: "There's a new machine in the drying workshop, maybe it's there."
Sure enough, Technician Xue was explaining the operating instructions to everyone in front of the dryer. When he saw Xia Juhua and the other two come in, he just nodded without even pausing in his explanation.
The three of them listened and left without interrupting. Xia Juhua felt it necessary to tell the two leaders about the advantages of the drying room: "This is much more advanced than the powder room. It only heats up, but the machines here also increase air circulation, allowing moisture to dissipate quickly. It won't mold even in humid weather, and can be used in both winter and summer."
It is precisely because of the improvement of the efficiency of the drying workshop and the shortening of the powder output time that the needs of the powder leakage workshop can be met.
Compared to the first two workshops, which have undergone significant changes, the flour-leaching workshop is still semi-mechanized: mixing the batter and pouring it into the colander are done by machines, but scooping out the cooked flour and dough still requires manpower, so the flour-leaching workshop is also the place with the most people in the entire factory.
Uncle Qi looked at the people in white coats surrounding the big pot and asked only one question: "Are there any measures to prevent heatstroke?" The weather is getting hotter day by day. If a few people get heatstroke, production will be delayed.
Xia Juhua told the two leaders that every morning and afternoon, she would cook mung bean soup for the workers in the vermicelli workshop so that everyone could drink it to cool down. It was indeed easy to get heatstroke when they had to gather around a steaming pot to scoop out vermicelli in such hot weather while wearing white coats.
Uncle Qi thought for a moment and said, "I'll ask the supply and marketing cooperative to install a few ceiling fans in the powder leakage workshop later."
Xia Juhua smiled and thanked the leader for his concern: "We are all used to it. We never thought about installing a ceiling fan."
Whether it was unexpected or a small loophole was left to show the wisdom of the leadership, no one investigated it. As long as the listing was successful and the production was smooth, Xia Juhua had no other requirements.
That's not right. She still had a request, which was to send Captain Niu and Captain Sun to other brigades to inquire about the growth of sweet potatoes, in case the sweet potatoes coordinated by the troops could not be delivered in time, and to use local early sweet potatoes to supplement them. Production could not be delayed due to insufficient sweet potato supply.
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