"Pah!" The director slapped the table excitedly: "We two have the same idea. I also think we can weave mats with different patterns." I didn't think of it before, and all the kang mats were the same color. But now Xia Juhua can weave new patterns, and of course the more patterns the better.
"If you can really weave a mat with the word 'Fu' on it, how about the supply and marketing cooperative ordering another 200 mats, still at 2 yuan a piece?"
"Okay, thank you so much, Director. You are helping to improve the status of the women in our production team." Xia Juhua was so happy that she could hardly stop laughing. She thanked the director wholeheartedly - the more mats they made, the more work points they could earn. If the women had more work points, they would have more power to speak with at home.
The director waved his hands repeatedly: "Don't thank me, how can I help you? You should have helped me." Then the director told Xia Juhua that he had taken the mat she had woven last time to the director of the county supply and marketing cooperative to look at, and the director asked for several hundred sheets at once. It was he who said that the women in Ping'an Village could not weave so many, and the commune had to keep some to sell to its own members. Only then did the county supply and marketing cooperative agree to keep fifty sheets for the commune.
"So Captain Xia, you've made me famous in the county supply and marketing cooperative. The director has already said that I'll be one of the advanced individuals in the supply and marketing system this year. I'll have to thank you then, so don't be polite to me."
Xia Juhua didn't expect that the mats she made would be liked not only by the commune supply and marketing cooperative, but also by the county supply and marketing cooperative. However, she thought of a problem and asked nervously: "Director, although it is the first time I thought of making words on the mats, experienced mat weavers will be able to figure it out by themselves after reading it a few times. By then..." If others also follow suit, will the supply and marketing cooperative still buy Ping'an Village's mats at the current price?
Xia Juhua's worries were not unreasonable, because no one stipulated that the supply and marketing cooperative would only accept the mats woven by her Ping'an Village production team. She had reason to suspect that if other production teams wove the same mats but only wanted the price of mats without words, the supply and marketing cooperative would accept theirs.
Unexpectedly, the director gave Xia Juhua a reassurance: "Don't worry, even if those old editors have learned it, they can only edit one or two sheets themselves, or at most teach their family members. How many sheets can they edit at a time? Our supply and marketing cooperative hands in tasks to the county supply and marketing, and we have to hand in hundreds of sheets each time. Of course we have to collect them all at once." It is impossible to collect one or two sheets at a time.
He dared to give Xia Juhua this guarantee, not because of his bad relationship with other brigades or production teams, but because he was telling the truth: even if Xia Juhua could not come up with any new ideas, Ping'an Village could still produce 200 seats with inscriptions at a time, which was an advantage that other brigades or production teams did not have.
Because none of the other production teams who knew how to make mats could teach others like Xia Juhua did without reservation. As for whether the other brigades would have any objections to the supply and marketing cooperative giving priority to the Ping'anzhuang production team, the director did not take it seriously: he did not say that he would not accept plain mats without patterns, but the price was high without words.
Judging from Xia Juhua's appearance, she would probably come up with more than one new trick in the future, so why not just settle it with her first.
Xia Juhua expressed her gratitude and said, "The director is very supportive of our production team. I will ask our accountant to write a letter of praise to our supply and marketing cooperative when I return."
In her previous life, Xia Juhua had heard that when civil servants received letters of commendation, especially those written spontaneously by grassroots groups, they would publicize them with great fanfare. So she put forward her own idea: if the director showed disdain, she would not write next time and would just give something tangible.
The director smiled brightly: "I just did what I was supposed to do. How can it be worth you writing a special letter of praise?"
Even the most dull-witted person could see that the director was pleased. Xia Juhua, who was actively learning to read people's expressions, saw it clearly. She thought that she could make a bigger splash when sending the letter of commendation.
When Xia Juhua returned to Wang Caixia's counter, she was still thinking about how she had made such a fuss to send the director a letter of commendation, so she initially thought she had misheard: "What did you say, Sun Hongmei took Liu Zhishuang's money?"
Wang Caixia sighed for Xia Juhua: "That day, the two of them quarreled in front of the commune gate. They quarreled for a long time and everyone heard it. Don't get angry. I heard that Sun Hongmei is not a good person. The money is gone, and it's better for your son to divorce her and not be burdened in the future."
How could she not think this way? Xia Juhua repeatedly advised herself to let her money go and live a peaceful life, but she was still heartbroken. She knew very well how much money Liu Zhiquan had, and Sun Hongmei took so much money without saying a word.
Do you think you can live a good life with a little money in your hands? With the Sun couple around, Xia Juhua is not optimistic about Sun Hongmei's future life - they pushed their nephews and nieces to the Red Team in order to embezzle Liu Sizhuang's money. It would be strange if the Sun couple would let Sun Hongmei take the money for herself.
Seeing that Xia Juhua looked lost, Wang Caifeng sympathetically comforted her. Someone happened to come to buy something, so Wang Caifeng asked Xia Juhua to see what she wanted to buy while she went to deal with the customer.
With the experience of buying "disposable products" last time, Xia Juhua brought some money with her before coming, so she was very confident when she walked around the supply and marketing cooperative. Maybe it was the New Year, there were more goods on the counter than usual, but both grain coupons and industrial coupons were required. Xia Juhua, who had been somewhat confident, found that she still couldn't buy anything.
"Captain Xia." The salesperson at the grocery counter recognized Xia Juhua and took the initiative to greet her. He also addressed Xia Juhua by her current position, which made Xia Juhua feel embarrassed: "Hello, I am afraid to cause you trouble, so I am embarrassed to greet you. Please don't mind."
The salesperson smiled and shook his head: "I have heard about your great deeds. I can't learn from you. How can I be surprised?"
How come I don't know what she has accomplished? Xia Juhua looked at the salesperson in confusion. She was waving at her, and her friendliness was no less than that of Wang Caixia.
Xia Juhua rarely resisted others' initiative to show kindness to her now. Even though she was still thinking about Liu Zhishuang, she walked to the counter with a smile on her face and even made a joke that would have been impossible in her previous life: "What good thing do you want to take care of me again?"
The salesperson was very reserved when he saw Xia Juhua last time, but now he was joking with him. He felt that Xia Juhua had changed a lot. He just saw that Xia Juhua didn't care about things like other farmers when she bought things last time, so he wanted to give it a try. Now he feels more confident.
She whispered, "Didn't I buy some noodles for someone last time? Now the noodle factory has some broken noodle heads and asked me to ask if anyone wants them."
Why not? Xia Juhua thought that if she could buy more dried noodle pieces, it would be enough to make up for Liu Zhishuang's loss of money - after all, it was Liu Zhishuang's money, not hers.
The salesperson came up to Xia Juhua's ear and told her in detail who to talk to at the noodle factory and what to say. He also repeatedly told Xia Juhua to pay whatever the noodle factory asked for and not to bargain: "That's a benefit the noodle factory gives to its employees. They don't need these noodles, so they sell them."
Xia Juhua silently repeatedly, said hello to Wang Caixia, and went to the gate of the commune to wait for Liu Daxi. The two of them came together, and they certainly couldn't keep such a good thing a secret. Besides, if Liu Daxi got the benefit, it would be the Fifth Master, who would know what was going on.
Xia Juhua didn't have to wait long before Liu Daxi came out, but his face was not looking good. Xia Juhua didn't ask him what happened, but told him about the possibility of buying a pimp.
Anyway, the faces of people who came out of the Red Team were not good, not to mention that Liu Daxi must have met Liu Sizhuang and his wife, it would be strange if he was in a good mood. Instead of letting him complain to me about Liu Sizhuang and his wife, it is better to let him be happy first. After listening to this, Liu Daxi's mouth curled up: "Sister-in-law, you are really capable."
Xia Juhua naturally felt humbled, and the two of them quickened their pace and walked towards the noodle factory. Although the noodle factory was right next to the grain station, it was not a factory owned by the commune, but built by the county. The workers there were all formal state employees, and the gatekeepers looked at them with their noses: "Hey, you two stop, who are you looking for?"
Regardless of the other person's attitude, Xia Juhua kept her attitude low: "Brother, let's go find Chen Shusheng."
"Looking for Section Chief Chen. Who are you? How do you know Section Chief Yang? Who is he?" The old gatekeeper bombarded Xia Juhua with questions one after another.
Xia Juhua didn't expect that the person the salesperson asked her to find was actually a section chief. She said nervously, "He's from the supply and marketing cooperative..."
As soon as we arrived at the sales agency, the old man at the gate suddenly changed his attitude: "Oh, you are the relative of Section Chief Chen's niece, then go in, Section Chief Chen is in the production workshop. Just walk to the end of this road, and if you hear the machines, you will see Section Chief Chen there."
Liu Daxi was completely confused until he and Xia Juhua walked for a distance before he asked, "Sister-in-law, is that old man sick?" The change in attitude was too great.
Xia Juhua remembered that Wang Caixia had said last time that the salesperson's surname was Chen (really, Xia Juhua felt that she was not doing this well. Next time, no matter who she dealt with, she would remember their surnames). If she wanted to become a regular employee, she had to curry favor with the director of the supply and marketing cooperative.
She is not a formal employee but can sell goods directly instead of cleaning. It can be seen that the person who arranged it is not simple, he must be capable and competent. Section Chief Chen can arrange a salesperson position for his niece in the supply and marketing cooperative. He has such a big face outside. How can an old man who is a gatekeeper in the noodle factory not flatter him?
Sure enough, although Section Chief Chen was also wearing a blue work suit, he was clean-shaven and his face was free of the dust that is common among noodle factory workers. When he looked at people, he raised his head slightly, and his eyelids drooped a little, but not too much to be offensive.
After listening to Xia Juhua's self-introduction, Section Chief Chen said calmly: "Xiao Man asked you to come."
"Yes, Xiaoman asked us to find Section Chief Chen." Xia Juhua had no choice but to call the salesperson Chen Xiaoman so that Section Chief Chen would believe that her relationship with the salesperson Chen was more than just a matter of buying and selling things.
Section Chief Chen nodded and said, "Xiao Man is an introvert and doesn't like to socialize with people. I thought you wouldn't have a very good relationship with her since you are so much older than her."
Xia Juhua was still smiling: "Section Chief Chen loves Xiao Man, so he always thinks that Xiao Man is still young. The director often praises Xiao Man to me, saying that she is serious and proactive in her work, and she is warm-hearted, and she is first-class in both speaking and doing things."
There is no parent who doesn't like to hear people praise their children, even if Chen Xiaoman is just Section Chief Chen's niece - if Section Chief Yang doesn't like her, she won't be assigned to the supply and marketing cooperative. Hearing Xia Juhua say that the director of the supply and marketing cooperative has praised Xiaoman, Section Chief Chen's eyes slightly raised: "You are also familiar with Director Lin?"
Xia Juhua despised herself in her heart, but nodded bluntly: "We are not that familiar with each other, we have just dealt with each other a few times."
Section Chief Chen's eyes drooped again, and he looked at Xia Juhua with scrutiny. Xia Juhua's expression did not change at all, but Liu Daxi was nervous and wanted to ask Xia Juhua why she didn't tell him about roasting peanuts for the supply and marketing cooperative.
Fortunately, he didn't say anything, because Section Chief Chen spoke again: "I know Director Lin. If he wasn't familiar with you, he wouldn't have praised Xiao Man in front of you. Since we are all acquaintances, I won't waste your time. Come with me."
Xia Juhua motioned Liu Daxi to follow, and the group arrived in front of a room. Section Chief Chen personally took the key to open the door, raised his chin, and let Xia Juhua go in and take a look.
The house was the size of three rural rooms, with several tall wooden racks inside, and piles of noodles neatly placed on them. Several inconspicuous cloth bags were piled by the door, and Xia Juhua looked around and knew that her target should be among these bags.
"Ten yuan a bag, how many bags do you want to buy?" Seeing that Xia Juhua's eyes did not stay on the wooden shelf for long, Section Chief Chen's expression became less serious and he asked for Xia Juhua's opinion.
Xia Juhua asked Liu Daxi quietly, and he said he only brought 10 yuan, so Xia Juhua decided to buy four bags. Section Chief Chen nodded, and was neither surprised that Xia Juhua, a farmer, could take out 40 yuan at once, nor did he complain that she bought too much. He just said, "How are you going to transport so much? I can lend you a cart, but the factory will need it tomorrow."
"Thank you very much, Chief Chen." Xia Juhua said quickly, "It happens that the supply and marketing cooperative will go to our production team to pick up some things tomorrow. Can I ask them to bring them back for you?"
She spoke so naturally about using the supply and marketing cooperative to pull a truck and push a cart. Section Chief Chen was more convinced that Xia Juhua's relationship with the supply and marketing cooperative was not as simple as she said, that they had only dealt with each other a few times. His eyes smoothed down, and there was a barely perceptible smile in his tone:
"Okay, as long as it can be delivered tomorrow. I just don't know if Xiaoman has ever been to your production team. We should let her go out into the vast world and broaden her horizons." After saying that, he called for someone to push a cart over, his eyes still on Xia Juhua.
Xia Juhua nodded and said, "Don't worry, Chief Chen. Xiaoman is so eager to make progress, so she will have a chance. Although Hongxia still goes to our production team more often now, when Xiaoman is needed, can the director not send her to our production team?"
Listen, listen, if she is not familiar with everyone in the supply and marketing cooperative, can she talk about the people in the supply and marketing cooperative as if they were her own family members? Section Chief Chen felt that his judgment just now was correct, and he felt that his niece had handled this matter very well.
Don’t listen to Xia Juhua always talking about the production team. She is definitely not an ordinary member of the production team!
For this reason, Section Chief Chen actually sent Xia Juhua and her partner to the factory gate, and waved his hand as he watched them walk away before returning to the factory. The old man at the gate also watched the two people walk away, and decided to be more polite to them next time they came.
"Sister-in-law, this bag must weigh about 50 to 60 kilograms, and they sell it for only ten yuan a bag." Liu Daxixi still couldn't believe it. The heavy cart he was pushing was loaded with four bags of noodle dough.
Noodles are all made of white flour. Even the noodle maker uses white flour. Ten yuan buys fifty or sixty kilograms. How much is one kilogram? It's only one or two cents more expensive than the public grain they pay, right?
The public grain they pay is all unmilled wheat. Doesn't the loss when it's turned into white flour count?
After hearing what Liu Daxixi said, Xia Juhua's heart was moved again. She thought that after returning to Ping'anzhuang, she could send Liu Daxixi home first.
The fifth master was too old to work in the fields. He tended his own private plot in spring, summer and autumn, and hid in the house to take care of the cats in winter. When he heard that Xia Juhua had come, he was a little puzzled. When he saw the two bags that Liu Daxi had brought into the house, he asked in surprise, "Where did you get these from?"
Liu Daxi is already over 30 years old, but he still smiles adorably in front of Master Wu: "Master, this is the noodle dough that my sister-in-law brought me to buy from the noodle factory."
"How could they sell such good things to you?" It's not that Master Wu didn't believe it - the things had already been moved into the house, so why shouldn't he not believe it - he was just simply surprised.
Xia Juhua recounted the whole story to Fifth Master again, and the old man gave her a thumbs up and said, "Mr. Dazhuang, we made the right choice by electing you as the production team leader. If you build a good relationship with the supply and marketing cooperative, we won't have to worry about fertilizers next spring. It will also be convenient for us to exchange for something in the future."
This Dazhuang family usually seems to be a quiet person, but he is unexpectedly better at talking and doing things than his favorite grandson. It seems that if Dazhuang family needs to run errands in the future, he will have to let his grandson follow him. The pros and cons are secondary. Learning how to talk to different people is a skill.
But where did Da Zhuang learn this from? I have never seen her interact with others, and I have never seen her so eloquent in the past twenty years.
Is it because he became the production team leader?
The Fifth Master looked at Xia Juhua suspiciously. The suspicion in his eyes was too obvious for Xia Juhua to ignore. Although she didn't know why the Fifth Master suspected her, she couldn't tell anyone that she had lived a new life. Xia Juhua said to the suspicious Fifth Master:
"Fifth Master, actually I came here today mainly to discuss something with you. This is something I thought of after I went to buy some noodles."
Master Wu just nodded. Xia Juhua pretended she didn't see his suspicious look and continued, "I went to the noodle factory and found out that they process all their flour themselves. Since we can buy noodle dough from them, maybe we can also buy wheat bran."
Why do we need to buy wheat bran? Master Wu immediately understood and his eyes lit up with excitement: "Can it be done?"
"I want to try it."
"We have to give it a try no matter what." Fifth Master gritted his teeth and said, "If it doesn't work, we can send something to the director of the supply and marketing cooperative and ask him to help us talk for us."
Fifth Master is Fifth Master. Xia Juhua felt that she had found the right person, but she did not dare to say it with certainty: "Fifth Master, rest assured. I will make new mats in the next two days and then go to the supply and marketing cooperative again."
Although Fifth Master felt that it was time to get things done, he also knew that if he didn't bring out real stuff to impress the supply and marketing cooperative, the director would not look down on the little things presented by the farmers.
So he stopped talking about the bran, opened the bag of noodles, and took a look and gasped: "Did you really buy this for ten yuan a bag?"
Liu Daxi didn't understand the matter about wheat bran, but he had a say in the noodle boss. He grinned and said, "It's really ten yuan a bag. This bag weighs more than 50 kilograms." They didn't even weigh it at the time, he just picked the bags with more.
The Fifth Master turned around and glanced at Xia Juhua suspiciously, and saw that she was also looking at the noodles in the bag with her head lowered and her eyes obediently. She didn't show any unhappiness because of Liu Daxi's interrupting. He nodded in his heart.
It's different from the original, but it hasn't changed. Instead, it continues to bring benefits to Ping An Village, which means it brings benefits to the members surnamed Liu. Now this first benefit is ours, which is good, good.
"Didn't I just give you ten dollars?" The fifth grandfather thought of a question and asked his eldest grandson, "You carried two bags in."
Liu Daxi said a little embarrassedly: "When my sister-in-law asked me, I told her that I only wanted one bag. But she paid for an extra bag without saying anything."
"Dear daughter-in-law Dazhuang, look at this..." Master Wu felt embarrassed.
Xia Juhua raised her head from her bag. Well, these noodles are made of good white flour. It doesn't matter if they are a little broken. They have to be chewed up before they are put into the mouth. Xia Juhua raised her head and pointed to a bag and said, "Fifth Master, your family has many people. If you give a little to each room, a bag will be gone. You and Fifth Grandma are getting older, so you have to keep some for yourselves. This bag is my filial piety to you."
The Fifth Master valued his reputation all his life, not the filial piety of the younger generation. Xia Juhua offered him a bag of noodles without hesitation, which made the Fifth Master feel that Xia Juhua valued him, the Fifth Master, and it made him proud.
Others made him proud, and Fifth Master himself was not a person who would take advantage of others. It was also a fact that there were many people in his family who had to share the money, so in the end he still forced ten yuan on Xia Juhua. Seeing that he insisted, Xia Juhua accepted it.
In this era, few people can afford a gift worth ten yuan, and even fewer feel comfortable accepting one. So when Xia Juhua went home and asked Liu Zhiquan to give five kilograms of rice to her father-in-law's family, Wang Caifeng herself felt distressed:
"Mom, you don't need to send so much, just enough for them to eat for one meal." It would be better to leave the rest for Baoguo to eat. After saying this, Wang Caifeng felt a little uneasy again. Would her mother-in-law think that she was reluctant to give something to her family, and would not respect her mother-in-law in the future?!
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