Chapter 68
Li Zhaodi was in a state of panic, Xia Juhua felt uneasy as well, and the other women in the yard wished that Director Zheng was asking them.
Because Li Zhaodi was too honest, she would never tell a lie, even if she kept half of what she said. So Xia Juhua quietly asked Zhao Xianzhi, Chang Xiancao and others to tell the weavers how many hours it would take to weave the mats, and everyone tacitly did not inform Li Zhaodi.
I was afraid that if she got nervous, people would find out that she was lying.
But the first person Director Zheng asked was Li Zhaodi, and he kept observing her reaction. Li Zhaodi rubbed the corners of her clothes, pulled her collar, raised her head and quickly glanced at Director Zheng. After a while, she asked Xia Juhua: "Captain, is it because I am slow at making mats that you don't want me to stay and make mats?"
After saying this, Li Zhaodi's eyes turned red with anxiety: "Captain, I know this time the task is heavy, I must weave well, if I can't finish weaving in the yard, I can take it home and weave it, okay? Please let me stay and weave the mats."
Li Zhaodi kept answering Director Zheng's questions, but emphasized that she would learn to weave patterns and speed up the progress. Unfortunately, her language was poor, and she only said a few words of assurance, which were not interesting at all after listening to them for a long time.
Xia Juhua explained to Director Zheng somewhat embarrassedly: "Director Zheng, the members of our production team only know how to work every day. They have never seen the world and don't know how to talk. I'm sorry to embarrass you."
Director Zheng is an amiable leader. Even though she didn't get the clear answer she wanted from Li Zhaodi, she still understood it because she was afraid that she would be sent home if she made up an answer too slowly.
Director Zheng kept a gentle smile on his fair face: "I understand, I understand. This member must be worried that she can't participate in the sideline production and is afraid. Captain Xia, you can't really stop her from weaving mats just because I asked a question and she didn't answer it well."
"That's impossible." Xia Juhua assured Director Zheng quickly: "Zhao Di's hands are a little slow, but look at the mats she weaves, they are dense and smooth, and the edges are gathered tightly and smoothly. Such mats can be laid for seven or eight years without the edges coming apart."
As if he believed what Xia Juhua said, and as if he wanted to comfort Li Zhaodi, Director Zheng actually picked up the mat that she had half-woven, carefully observed the pattern on it, and asked casually, "How long have you been weaving this mat?"
"Ah?" Li Zhaodi understood the question this time and looked at Director Zheng in confusion: "I started editing it the day before yesterday."
Two days have passed since the day before yesterday, and only half of the mats have been woven. Director Lin reported that each woman wove one mat every three days, which was indeed a little slow.
"That's because we're not editing fast enough." Director Zheng put down the mat in his hand and started walking away, asking, "Captain Xia, at this speed, it might be difficult to complete the order for 800 mats."
Xia Juhua said confidently, "Don't worry, Director Zheng. Since Lin, Team Leader Lin, told me last time that the county supply and marketing cooperative might order seats for our production team, our members have been making seats. After Team Leader Lin left the day before yesterday, we took inventory and found that we have already made 350 seats. Moreover, the members have said that they will not go back to their parents' homes for the New Year this year and will all stay in the production team to make seats. We will definitely not delay the task assigned to us by the supply and marketing cooperative."
"It's so cold, can you hold on?" Director Zheng was concerned about the health of the members. He happened to walk in front of Zhao Xianzhi, so Xia Juhua didn't need to answer, Zhao Xianzhi had already spoken:
"Don't worry, leader. We are not afraid of freezing. As long as we have reed stalks, the supply and marketing cooperative will accept the mats we make. We will make as many mats as you want even if we have to stay up all night."
Director Zheng was very moved and nodded to Zhao Xianzhi. After watching the mat weaving for a while, he was taken to the production team by Xia Juhua.
Chen Qiu Sheng had already heated up the house, so that people who came in from the cold outside shivered and felt warm immediately.
Director Zheng said with emotion: "The members have suffered so much for their sideline production."
Xia Juhua neither nodded nor shook her head, and spoke the truth: "Don't be afraid of you making fun of me, Director Zheng. This is the first time in many years that members have seen people pay directly with cash. Although the cash won't reach their hands, it may be counted as work points for them."
"In the winter of previous years, women had little work to do and could only sew at home to make ends meet. Men had work to do in the fields and earned more work points than women, so if they were not satisfied with their wives, they would either scold or beat them."
"But this year, the women in our production team can earn as much work points as the men by weaving mats. When they go home, the men can even help to light the fire, so it's even harder to beat or scold them. Everyone feels that they never dared to think about such a life before, and they all hope to continue weaving mats."
Director Zheng couldn't help but recall the scene in the yard where Li Zhaodi kept begging Xia Juhua to let her stay and weave mats. He felt that he knew why the woman was so afraid of being kicked out of the yard at that time.
So he asked the question Xia Juhua had been waiting for: "Captain Xia, I heard that you give each woman six work days?"
Xia Juhua nodded this time: "Yes, six a day. Director Zheng, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. I'm also a rural woman. I know that men and women are equal now, but women have to suffer a little at home because they earn less work points. I think, if women can earn as many work points as men..."
Director Zheng, a good and considerate leader, fully understood Xia Juhua's idea and even admired her for having such an idea and realizing it. So he took the initiative to find a reason for Xia Juhua:
"Our new society advocates equal pay for equal work, and women hold up half the sky. In the city, male and female workers are paid the same. Captain Xia, you dared to make such an attempt in the countryside, and you are responding to the call of your superiors."
Xia Juhua was a little embarrassed by Director Zheng's praise, and she asked Director Zheng to drink water. Director Lin came to Ping'an Village this time, and he had always been in charge of Director Zheng and didn't say anything. Now he spoke: "Captain Xia did this, not only responded to the call of the superiors, but also solved the problem of shortage of local varieties in our supply and marketing cooperative."
Director Zheng nodded repeatedly: "Xiao Lin is right, it has indeed solved our problem. That's right, Captain Xia, we have also learned about the situation of our production team's mat weaving just now. The working environment is too harsh. In order to complete the task, the members have suffered so much and voluntarily gave up going back to their parents' homes. Our supply and marketing cooperative is very grateful."
As long as the price per seat goes up, expressions of thanks can be put on hold.
Xia Juhua would not be bought by a flattering word, and quietly looked at Director Zheng and waited for the next step. Fortunately, Director Zheng's on-site inspection was only to confirm the production capacity of Pingan Village, and the general plan had already been discussed in the county:
"Of course, our county supply and marketing cooperative cannot let the majority of members suffer in vain, so we have decided to increase the purchase price of each double happiness and blessing table to 2.70 yuan from now on."
Director Zheng paused for a moment, and as expected, he saw the surprise in Xia Juhua's eyes, and continued in a good mood, "Captain Xia, considering the time cost, the supply and marketing cooperative has decided to purchase your new Four Seasons Peace Seat at a price of three yuan and one cent. Do you think it's okay?"
"Time cost?" Xia Juhua's surprise had not yet faded, but her eyes were already confused by the new word that Director Zheng had come up with. This confusion greatly increased Director Zheng's sense of superiority, and he patiently explained to Xia Juhua:
"To put it simply, the time cost means that it takes you two days to make a blessing mat, but three days to make a four-season peace mat. But the production team has to record the same work points for you every day. Doesn't it take more work points to make a four-season peace mat than a blessing mat?"
Xia Juhua nodded in understanding: "Yes, that's the reason. I've already told Team Leader Lin that if the Four Seasons Peace Seat is priced the same as the Fortune Seat, we won't make it. It's a waste of time if we can't make it."
Director Lin looked at Director Zheng helplessly, then he said, "Captain Xia, why are you wasting your time? Director Zheng said that the Four Seasons Peace Seat is 3.10 yuan per seat. If you have any other difficulties, you can also raise them. Our supply and marketing cooperative can also find a way to help solve them."
No matter how ruthless a leader is, he would never bow to a rural woman. Director Lin's words were just right - if Director Zheng had not been optimistic about Xia Juhua's Four Seasons Peace Feast, he would not have come to Ping'an Village for an inspection during the busy New Year.
An investigation is an investigation, but the county supply and marketing cooperative cannot fall down. It has always been the farmers who begged the supply and marketing cooperative to purchase local products. How can the supply and marketing cooperative take the initiative to extend an olive branch to the farmers?
Even if the mats had been delivered, people should feel that the supply and marketing cooperative was doing so out of love for the fruits of farmers' labor. But how could Xia Juhua, a rural woman, say that weaving mats for the supply and marketing cooperative was a waste of time?
The county supply and marketing cooperative has already given a guarantee to the regional supply and marketing cooperatives that 800 new reed mats will be supplied on time! The content of the guarantee is far more than the existing two patterns. The region is also optimistic about the four-season peace mats, and hopes to get no less than 800 in the next step.
Director Zheng may not know the speed of the Pingan Village women's mat weaving, but Director Lin, who has been dealing with Xia Juhua, still has some idea in his mind. Director Lin's understanding of Xia Juhua's desire to increase the price of reed mats is different from Director Zheng's verbal understanding.
The conditions under which the women of Pingan Village weave mats are indeed too hard. The farmers are indeed too eager to earn some cash. Director Lin understands Xia Juhua's desire to lead the people of Pingan Village to a good life.
Director Lin's words just now were apparently to help Director Zheng out of trouble, but in reality they were hinting that if Xia Juhua had any requests, she could raise them in front of Director Zheng. It would be much more useful than raising them with a small purchasing team leader like him.
Based on Director Lin's understanding of Xia Juhua, she should be able to understand his hint.
Xia Juhua did understand, and she smiled sincerely: "Three yuan for one mat, and the production team can earn three cents for one mat... OK. Director Zheng, don't worry, after weaving these 800 mats, we will start making the Four Seasons Peace Mat."
Director Zheng's expression just relaxed a bit, but Xia Juhua's smile disappeared: "It's almost the New Year, and we can't keep making mats all the time. We have to be busy preparing for the New Year. Alas, Director Zheng, you don't know that we farmers don't worry about anything else except that we have money but no tickets, so we can't buy what we want."
This sentence successfully made Director Zheng frown again. He glanced at Director Lin and asked, "So what do the members want to buy?"
"It's not a rare thing for you, Director Zheng. It's just that some people want to get married and need a hot pot and a washbasin. Some also want to make new clothes for their daughters during the New Year." Maybe Xia Juhua felt very embarrassed to tell the director of the county supply and marketing cooperative about such a small matter. Her voice was almost inaudible at the end.
Director Zheng's tense mood suddenly relaxed. For farmers, they needed industrial stamps to buy hot pots and wash basins, and it was extremely difficult to exchange them. But for the county supply and marketing cooperative, although it was in short supply, they could still get eight or ten.
As for cloth, let alone cloth, what supply and marketing cooperative would not receive "processed cloth" that was soiled or torn a little during transportation? It would be processed anyway, so whoever it was processed would be treated.
Director Zheng smiled amiably: "Director Lin, please remember this. Our supply and marketing cooperative cannot just think about asking members to complete tasks for us, but should also share the worries with members. How much materials does the Ping'an Village production team need, and whether we can share them, we will decide when we return to the county. Captain Xia, do you think this is feasible?"
Sure, of course. Xia Juhua had just mentioned the kettle and washbasin, thinking that she would try her best to solve the problem. Now even the kettle and washbasin could be solved, and she couldn't stop smiling.
"I'm sorry to have caused trouble to the comrades in the supply and marketing cooperative again. On behalf of the women comrades, I would like to thank Director Zheng." She imitated what she had seen on TV in her previous life and stood up to bow to Director Zheng, but was avoided by him: "Captain Xia, we don't like this."
Although he did not accept Xia Juhua's bow, Director Zheng was obviously in a good mood. He allowed Director Lin and another staff member to count and settle the existing banquets in Ping'an Zhuang, and then he said goodbye to Xia Juhua with a smile.
They came to pay with cash and wanted to sell supplies to Ping'an Village without a ticket. Xia Juhua would never let them go like that. She insisted that Director Zheng and his group stay for lunch before leaving.
Director Zheng declined helplessly: "Next time, next time we will definitely eat at Ping'an Village. Today is really not possible. Since we have come to the Red Star Commune, we must go to the Commune Supply and Marketing Cooperative to take a look. Otherwise, the comrades in the Supply and Marketing Cooperative will think that I am dissatisfied with their work."
Xia Juhua had no choice but to look at Director Lin pleadingly: "Team Leader Lin, you have come to Ping'an Village several times, but you always leave without even eating. Today, Director Zheng, such a senior leader, finally came to inspect our production team. You can't use your tricks on Director Zheng again."
This speech praised both Director Lin and Director Zheng, and even the staff who came with Director Zheng started to laugh. They felt that although the female captain of Ping'anzhuang was a little cunning like a farmer, she was generally a real person.
During the shoving and pushing, Li Changshun's voice suddenly rang out in the yard of the production team: "Xia Juhua, you are in the production team. I heard that the leaders of the county supply and marketing cooperative are here?"
Xia Juhua suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to report such a big thing as the leaders of the county supply and marketing cooperative coming to Ping'an Village to the captain Li Changshun. She responded with a guilty conscience, "Captain, I'm here," and hurried out to greet the captain.
Li Changshun himself had limped in. Director Zheng was a little surprised to see a man with a broken leg become the captain. Director Lin cleverly leaned over to his ear and quickly told him what he knew about Li Changshun's experience.
It turned out to be an old revolutionary. Director Zheng took the initiative to step forward and extended his hand: "You are Captain Li of the Ping An Brigade. Hello, I am Zheng Qiang from the County Supply and Marketing Cooperative."
Li Changshun grabbed Director Zheng's hand and refused to let go: "Director Zheng, you have worked so hard to come to our brigade for inspection. You can't leave without eating. That would be too bad for us."
Facing the enthusiastic old revolutionary Li Changshun, Director Zheng was very considerate and repeated his reasons, promising that next time he came, he would go to the brigade to meet Li Changshun for a drink, and then come to Ping'an Village when he was happy.
Seeing that he couldn't keep Xi, Li Changshun suggested using the brigade's horse-drawn carriage to send Xi back to the county town for the supply and marketing cooperative. His enthusiasm was so great that Director Zheng couldn't even say no.
Seeing that Li Changshun had taken the initiative as soon as he arrived, Xia Juhua pretended to be silent and didn't exist. But could she really pretend? Every time Li Changshun spoke to Director Zheng or Director Lin, he would look at Xia Juhua, which made her feel uneasy.
She really didn't mean to fail to report to the team. Even though Director Zheng and the others had already walked away with Xi, she still had to make this clear to Li Changshun.
"Whether it was intentional or not, you did not report it to the organization. This is a serious act of disorganization and lack of discipline." Li Changshun gave his own evaluation very seriously: "This kind of behavior should be thoroughly examined at the meeting of all cadres."
Xia Juhua nodded obediently, but she had only one question: "Captain, can I do an oral examination? I can't write."
Li Changshun was choked by her and looked at her unhappily: "Didn't Liu Lizhu from your production team start teaching the children to read?"
Xia Juhua grinned dryly: "Let Liu Lizhu teach the children to read because many of them are only seven or eight years old. They can't do much for the family and are running around everywhere. It's better to collect them together to learn a few words so that the adults at home don't have to worry about them. Besides, he only taught the children to read for two days, and I didn't learn with him."
"Da Zhuang family," Li Changshun suddenly said earnestly, "Although you are only the captain of the Ping'anzhuang production team, you are also a member of the Ping'anzhuang brigade, right? It can't be that your production team is thriving while other production teams are struggling year after year."
Xia Juhua knew that this sentence would come to her ears when Li Changshun suddenly appeared in the production team. Therefore, she acted very calmly: "Captain, you are too flattering. Our production team only sold a few more mats than others, and the reed stalks were bought from other production teams."
We are not just looking after ourselves. Other production teams have piles of useless reeds, but we exchange them all for money, cash!
Li Changshun knew that he was somewhat unreasonable, but who could blame the other production team leaders for being incompetent and unable to think of ways to increase the income of the members? So he had no choice but to be thick-skinned and ask for favors from Ping'an Village on behalf of those production teams:
"You're almost out of the reed poles you bought last time, right? Do you need to buy more from other production teams? They still have plenty of reed poles. The production teams are not too busy right now, so why not just ask them to deliver them to you tomorrow?"
Ping An Manor naturally needed reeds, but when the four production teams sent reeds last time, except for the captain of the third team, none of them had good things to say. Xia Juhua didn't want to accept their reeds again:
"Captain, according to your arrangements, we should continue to collect reeds from our brother production team. But last time they came to deliver reeds, they took the money and then started to talk about how Ping An Manor took advantage of them. This time, let's not let Ping An Manor take advantage of them again."
Li Changshun's old face was visibly red. Xia Juhua understood his painstaking efforts and knew that he wanted all the members of the production team to live a good life. From Li Changshun, Xia Juhua even saw the shadow of her efforts in her previous life to make both sons live a good life.
But wishes are beautiful, and whether the person taking advantage of others appreciates it is another matter. Whether the person being taken advantage of is willing to continue to suffer losses is not something that can be influenced by the balancer.
"These bastards, they want to rebel." Li Changshun cursed angrily and was about to leave with his hands behind his back. Xia Juhua felt a little sorry, so she took two quick steps to catch up with him and whispered, "Captain, I don't mean to go against the team. It's just that Li Daniu and his gang talked about it in our production team yard, and our members heard it, and we are all unhappy."
Li Changshun ignored Xia Juhua and walked quickly with one limping leg.
If it were Xia Juhua, she would not have the face to stay in Ping'an Village, but looking at Li Changshun's limping back, Xia Juhua did not feel happy at all.
It wasn't that he felt uneasy about offending Li Changshun or was afraid that he would make things difficult for him - the fact that Li Changshun could serve as the captain for such a long time and was not defeated even when the movement came was inseparable from the fact that his character was recognized by everyone.
Xia Juhua just missed Li Changshun who took several production team leaders to deliver letters of commendation to the supply and marketing cooperative.
Even if she still missed him, if Li Changshun proposed that Ping'an Village buy out the reeds from other production teams, Xia Juhua would still refuse: It's fine if she doesn't get any thanks for doing a good deed, but it's too much to be scolded.
After hearing Li Changshun's reaction, the Fifth Master slammed the tobacco pot hard and said, "The Xihe River is so long, and it's not just our brigade that cuts reeds in the fall. Tomorrow I'll ask Daxi and the others to go around asking the production teams. How can no one be willing to sell?"
Xia Juhua also felt that other production teams would actually prefer to exchange the reeds that took up space for cash, so she nodded in agreement with Master Wu. Master Wu saw that she couldn't sit still, so he waved his hand at her with a smile, "Go to the production team quickly, those women must be waiting impatiently."
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