Chapter 73
Speaking of the allocation of mat quotas, Chen Qiusheng shuddered in the cold wind: "My wife said that last time everyone made too much and too fast, and the supply and marketing cooperative didn't want to accept it. So this time, no matter what, we can't exceed the supply and marketing cooperative's task. She and An Baoling will go to each family and yard every day to check the number."
Divide the money, and give it to the women immediately. Xia Juhua had only this thought in her mind. If she didn't give everyone money, she would be sorry to Zhao Xianzhi and the others who were so thoughtful.
This time, when the money was distributed, there was no need for the women to line up in the production line. Chen Qiu Sheng himself ran to the yard with the table in his hand. When he read out a name, a woman stood up to receive the money. After counting the money, he put it in his pocket and sat back in his seat without saying a word to continue weaving mats.
In the yard, there was no sound of laughter or chatter except the sound of Chen Qiu Sheng reading out his name. There was only the crackling of broken reed skins and the rustling of mats being woven. Xia Juhua felt indescribably moved.
Are you happy to get the money? You can tell from the smiles on their faces that they are happy. But they are suppressing their joy in order to complete the heavy orders and get more money next time.
Could you say that everyone was greedy? Xia Juhua couldn't say it anyway. She only knew that if these "greedy" women hadn't arranged their tasks in an orderly manner, when she was concentrating on the pulping machine, she wouldn't be able to weave a single mat, and completing the task of the supply and marketing cooperative would become an empty talk.
When I was working hard to move forward, I felt great to have someone by my side to help me clear away obstacles. It was so great that Xia Juhua blurted out, "Everyone has worked hard during this period. After we finish weaving this batch of mats, why don't we take a few days off and go to the county town together?"
Chen Qiu Sheng almost couldn't hold the money in his hand after hearing this: "Captain, you women are going to the county town together, what should we do?" What he wanted to ask more was, Captain, do you know that if the men hear this news, will they scold me to death?
Even Zhang Cuiping didn't care whether Chen Qiu Sheng would be scolded by the men. Everyone was attracted by Xia Juhua's proposal.
Go to the county town. In the past, if women wanted to buy something, they would go to the commune or the market in other villages. Many people had never been to the county town except to buy fabrics before getting married.
The key is that this time the captain wants to take everyone along, not just a few people who get along well with him, but everyone together!
The women, who were excited at the thought, finally started to talk, almost drowning out Chen Qiusheng's voice when he read out his name. Seeing that Xia Juhua had no intention of answering his question, Chen Qiusheng thought it would be better for him to pretend that he didn't know.
This is what the captain discussed with the women. Isn't it normal for him not to know? As for the men blaming him, isn't that something he should worry about ten days later? What if after ten days, the men are too tired to bother him?
The men were too busy looking for Chen Qiusheng's troubles. They were all waiting for Chen Qiusheng to line up and use the pulping machine. Yes, the pulping machine could only hold 200 kilograms of sweet potatoes at a time, and it could only pulp them but not produce pulp. But it was still easier than smashing them by yourself.
Go home and pour water over the mashed sweet potatoes, and the sweet potato pulp will come out. Originally, you could only mash 100 kilograms of sweet potatoes a day, which was tiring enough. Now you can mash 200 kilograms of sweet potatoes a day. Are you still not satisfied?
By the time Technician Xue showed up in Ping'an Village with a modified pulping machine and several sets of cutting tools, nearly half of the households in Ping'an Village had already pulped the first batch of sweet potatoes.
The improved pulping machine can still only load 200 kilograms of sweet potatoes at a time, but the pulping speed is faster and the crawler is easier to pull up. Xia Juhua is a person who only cares about the results. She did not ask Technician Xue how to improve it, but only helped Chen Qiusheng arrange the distribution of the two pulping machines.
The people of Ping An Village were very excited. A pulping machine that could only pulp sweet potatoes had saved them a lot of effort. Two more user-friendly pulping machines could even save them half the bagging process, giving them more time to dry the starch and drain the flour.
With excitement, everyone worked harder. Just when Director Lin came with cash to collect the Four Seasons Peace Feast, the nearly 100,000 kilograms of sweet potatoes that Qi Weidong had brought were all pulped into pulp. Some of them had been drained into vermicelli and hung up to dry, while others were placed on the kang to wait for drying.
"Captain Xia, didn't you prepare a few extra mats this time?" After Director Lin counted the mats, Xia Juhua was a little uncomfortable with not taking out any extra mats.
Xia Juhua's expression was calm: "How dare we make more mats? Didn't you say last time that you wouldn't accept any extra mats?"
"That's not right, Captain Xia, how come I saw Four Seasons Peaceful Seat in the commune supply and marketing cooperative?" Director Lin had been to the commune before, and he was not someone that could be fooled by Xia Juhua's words.
Xia Juhua was not embarrassed to be exposed: "Yes, we sent the ones to the commune. Didn't I tell you last time that I made 50 mats for Caixia and her family? At that time, I promised Caixia in front of you that I would make some of the patterns that the county supply and marketing cooperative had. But don't worry, she only has 50 mats, which will not affect the sales of the county supply and marketing cooperative."
People should never forget their roots, and Xia Juhua is a person who knows how to be grateful. Even though the task of the county supply and marketing cooperative was heavy this time, Xia Juhua still organized people to send fifty four-season peace seats to Wang Caixia and her supply and marketing cooperative.
Wang Caixia did not treat Pingan Village unfairly, and bought the 50 seats that appeared for nothing at the purchase price of the county supply and marketing cooperative. Xia Juhua would certainly strengthen her cooperation with Wang Caixia for her trustworthy behavior. There was no reason for her to set aside the Red Star Supply and Marketing Cooperative after hooking up with the county supply and marketing cooperative.
Director Lin was not angry at Xia Juhua's reason. Instead, he smiled and nodded: "Well, it really won't affect the sales of the county supply and marketing cooperative. But many people are asking about the Four Seasons Peace Seats. We need to make another 1,000 seats for the next batch."
Are you using reed mats to burn fire in your supply and marketing cooperative? Xia Juhua looked at Director Lin suspiciously and said firmly, "Director Lin, look at us members. We have been weaving reed mats for almost four months without raising our heads. Our necks are almost broken from fatigue. Spring ploughing is coming soon, and we really don't have time to weave reed mats anymore."
People are not machines and they always need time to rest. Even the pulping machine made by Technician Xue needs to replace and sharpen the blade from time to time.
Could Director Lin not notice the fatigue of Xia Juhua and the others? He had worked in the commune supply and marketing cooperative before he went to the county supply and marketing cooperative. He knew too well that the winter was a time for the members to rest and recuperate, and to prepare for the next spring ploughing.
But this year, the women in Pingan Village have been weaving mats and did not return to their parents' homes on the second day of the Chinese New Year. Even though the money they earn is not a small amount compared to the regular workers in the county, it is also a fact that they are exhausted and have no energy at all.
Director Lin said slowly, "The leadership has taken into consideration the fact that you will soon start spring ploughing, so the time required this time is very lenient. You only need to complete it within a month."
It sounds very relaxed, but seeing that the reed stacks were once again empty, Xia Juhua still bargained with Director Lin: "Director Lin, I have promised the members that after the orders are submitted this time, I will give them a holiday and let them go to the county to buy some things. You know, everyone didn't go back to their parents' home during the Spring Festival because of the orders. Now that they are free, they must go back to their parents' home to visit."
Director Lin, who had experience dealing with Xia Juhua, asked evasively, "Do the female members of your village want to go to the county together? What do you want to buy? Our supply and marketing cooperative just happened to have a batch of processed products. Do you want me to talk to the leaders and save some for you?"
Is it really okay for you to blatantly seduce people like this? Xia Juhua said helplessly, "Then I'll discuss it with the members."
Speaking of discussing, would the women disagree with what Xia Juhua said? They had been weaving mats for four or five months, and it was their morning habit to go into the yard every day to pick up reed skins and make a mat bit by bit. Now they could continue weaving, so of course they urged Xia Juhua to agree quickly.
Zhao Xianzhi said it most bluntly: "Captain, let's make it up. If we make it up, our women won't have to go to the fields in the spring. How great is that."
"If they don't go to the fields, the men will be exhausted just from plowing the soil. If they can't cook for them while weaving mats, the girls will have to go to the fields to work too. Who will take care of the family?" Chang Xiancao would often hit Zhao Xianzhi.
Xia Juhua had more to say: "If we want to weave the mats, we have to go to the county town in two groups. I'll talk to Technician Xue about using his tractor. One tractor can carry half the people."
Everyone just nodded after hearing this. As for whether Xia Juhua would go to the county town with the first or second group, it was not even within the scope of the women's consideration: Anyway, there was no rush to make the mats this time, so couldn't the captain go to the county town on both days? Without the captain to lead them, what could they buy in the county town?
Xia Juhua didn't know how to tell Director Lin about the result, but he had already heard everything and took Siji Ping'anxi to say goodbye to Xia Juhua happily.
As soon as Director Lin left, Xia Juhua called An Baoling, Zhao Xianzhi, Chang Xiancao and Zhang Cuiping to discuss how to divide the banquet money: The women were too active and proactive this time, so the rewards must keep up.
Finally, it was decided that, in addition to the old rule that whoever made the mats would get paid, the women who made the mats in the yard would each receive a separate mat fee. Xia Juhua said:
"Everyone got up early this time to make mats. If you had worked quietly at home, you would have been able to make a mat. Those who have daughters at home seem to have gotten a bit of an advantage. Those who don't have daughters can use the money from the mats to buy something in the county town."
Even though their family didn't pay for the meal, they were still able to get a meal fee. The women wanted to pick up Xia Juhua and throw her into the sky: How lucky they were to have such a captain who only cared about the members.
下回，下回不管生産隊有啥事兒，她們還得象這回一樣，好好幹完，因為隊長一定不會虧待了她們。
跟婦女們興高采烈不同，聽到消息的男人們，一個個看向夏菊花的眼神裏透着不可思議和哀怨：隊長，難道只有婦女們是你的社員，我們這些漏粉兒的男人就不是嗎？
我們也漏了快兩個月的粉兒了，婦女們編席好歹還能坐着，我們連坐着的空兒都沒有。
夏菊花只好去看已經搬到生産隊院裏的兩個絞漿機，男人們順着她的目光看去，不敢再用那種眼神看夏菊花了。
陳秋生好死不死的問了一句：“隊長，要是我們粉條漏完了，是不是也給我們放一天假，讓我們也去縣裏逛逛？”
夏菊花沒有意見，男人們恨不得把陳秋生捶死：你見過哪些大老爺們，成群結隊的到縣城裏閑逛，不怕人家把你當成盲流抓起來？
再說，婦女們逛街手裏有編席錢，男人們難道一人抓一把粉條子去逛街嗎？！
不管男人們心裏有多少草泥馬奔騰而過，夏菊花還是帶着婦女們開開心心的坐着薛技術員開的拖拉機，向着縣城而去。
這一次不止場院裏的婦女們來了一半，有閨女的也把自家閨女給帶上了。雖然大冷開坐在連個遮擋都沒有的拖拉機鬥裏，能把人給凍成冰棍，架不住大家心裏熱火呀。
“隊長，你今天要買點兒啥？”趙仙枝是不會讓別人比她坐得更靠近夏菊花的，問起話來很方便。
“年都過了，也想不出有啥要買的。”夏菊花實話實說，拉了拉自己厚厚的軍大衣。
這件大衣是薛技術員硬要賣給她的，要是夏菊花不買的話，他就不肯繼續吃劉家的飯。明知道薛技術員要借這件軍大衣還自己的人情，自己也确實需要一件禦寒的大衣，夏菊花就不客氣的買下了。
全新的軍大衣，薛技術員只收了十五塊錢，可把劉志全和劉志雙羨慕壞了。好在這倆現在心裏的數，沒一個敢開口問薛技術員還有沒有軍大衣賣的，要不一定會被親娘拍飛。
趙仙枝也羨慕的看着夏菊花的軍大衣：“要是供銷社有這樣的大衣，我也給李常旺買一件。”
看吧，這就是農村婦女樸素的感情，有了好東西她們頭一個想到的不是自己，而是自己的男人，等男人武裝起來了，又想到孩子，最後才想到自己。
夏菊花似笑非笑的看着趙仙枝，順便把臉往大衣領子裏埋了埋，倒把趙仙枝笑的不好意思，一路上沒再跟夏菊花說一句話。
“夏隊長，我去縣農機站找個人，過三小時再來門口接你們。”薛技術員把拖拉機停到縣供銷社門口，也不熄火，等婦女們嘻嘻哈哈都下了車，告訴夏菊花他來接人的時間。
夏菊花本想請薛技術員在縣城吃點兒好的，聽說他去找人，忙問：“你去找誰，關系好不。要是關系不好的話，中午還是跟我們一起吃吧。”
自然關心的話語，不止不讓人覺得聒噪，反而令薛技術員心裏升起一股暖意，臉上不覺現出笑容：“是我大學時的師兄，人挺好的，早就讓我來找他，我一直沒時間。正好今天有空兒，可以和他好好說說話。”
大學的師兄？夏菊花真不知道薛技術員還是一個大學生，看他的目光肅然起敬。這是夏菊花上輩子，經歷過學好數理化、走遍天下都不怕洗禮人的本能反應。
可在這個知識分子成了臭老九的年代，薛技術員已經多年沒被別人用這種眼神看過了。這是對有學問人發自內心尊重的眼神，是對知識的尊重。
一個自己都不認識幾個字的農村婦女，發自內心的尊重知識，可能嗎？
如果不是自己親身感受到，薛技術員會告訴你不可能。偏偏一切發生在他眼前，他不得不相信——如果不是相信知識的力量，哪個農村婦女會抱着缥缈的希望，直接跑到農機站尋求幫助？
如果不是對有學問人發自內心的尊重，哪個農村婦女會拿出自己家裏最好的東西，招待一個連機器效果都沒試驗出來的農機站小小技術員？
尊重都是相互的，面對夏菊花的尊重，薛技術員只是不想欠人情的心理悄悄發生了變化，對夏菊花的笑容中生出面對親近長輩才有的親近：“中午我師兄一定會管我飯的，餓不着我。”
行，餓不着就行。夏菊花放心的點頭，聽到趙仙枝招呼自己，向薛技術員擺擺手讓他忙自己的去，頭也不回的跟趙仙枝一起進了供銷社。
出人意料的舉動，讓薛技術員啞然失笑，不過這才是夏菊花能幹得出來的事兒吧。
“隊長，你看這個暖壺。”趙仙枝一直緊緊拉着夏菊花：“咋比林主任帶到平安莊的還貴呢？”
夏菊花恨不得捂住她的嘴：“小聲點兒，人家林主任拿去的是處理品，知道不，處理品。”要不是林主任帶來了平時不好買的東西，夏菊花才不會輕易松口繼續編席呢。
“沒磕沒碰的處理品？”頭一次聽說的趙仙枝不敢相信。不過她這些日子最會看夏菊花的臉色，現在見隊長一副不想讓她多說話的模樣，馬上把自己的嘴閉的緊緊的，一句話也不多問，心裏則飛快的盤算着，下次林主任再是帶“處理品”到平安莊，不管是啥她都得搶一個。
比供銷社賣的還便宜，又不要工業票，搶到就是賺到，不搶的是傻子。
“嬸子？”趙仙枝還在想要不要跟夏菊花先預定個名額呢，那頭就有人在叫夏菊花了，不是齊衛東是誰。
見真是夏菊花，齊衛東嘴都快咧到耳朵邊上了：“嬸子你們的活都幹完了，今天有空來供銷社啦。你想要啥，讓志雙告訴我一聲不就行了，還自己特意跑一趟。”
夏菊花面對一臉地主老財嘴臉的齊衛東，一句話都不想回答：你就算是想讓平安莊快點兒把粉條漏出來，也不用表現的這麽明顯吧？
齊衛東見夏菊花不說話，肯定不能冷場，還在咧着嘴問：“嬸子你們咋來的，吃飯了沒有，中午我得請我嬸子吃飯，嬸子你想吃啥？”
擺脫是擺脫不了了，夏菊花等齊衛東終于停下來，才拉着他走到沒人的地方問：“小齊呀，你那粉條賣的好嗎？”
一句話成功讓齊衛東臉上的笑容維持不下去了，嘴角也從耳朵邊重歸原位，可疑的向下耷拉着：“嬸子，要不是粉條賣的太好，我也不會盯着咱們平安莊不放是不是。”
夏菊花就看着他不說話。
齊衛東不止嘴角耷拉，連眼皮都耷拉到地上不敢看夏菊花了：“嬸子，侄子求你了，這批粉條漏完之後，能不能再漏一批。”
“不可能。”夏菊花回絕的斬釘截鐵。
齊衛東快哭了：“我要是有一分辦法，也不再麻煩嬸子。可我這不是沒辦法嗎？”說到這兒他的眼睛四下裏亂轉，發現真沒人注意他們兩個，湊到夏菊花耳邊說：
“上回我怕嬸子擔心，沒敢把發生的事兒全都告訴嬸子。我想着只要替人把這批紅薯漏成粉兒，事兒也就過去了。”
在夏菊花目不轉睛的注視之下，齊衛東本就小的聲音幾不可聞：“誰知道人家已經發現是平安莊在漏粉兒，說我要是不能說通嬸子繼續幫忙，就向紅小隊舉報。”
如果眼神可以殺人，夏菊花不介意把齊衛東五馬分屍。雖然在齊衛東運來第二批紅薯的時候，夏菊花已經意識到平安莊的秘密怕是保不住了，卻沒想到來的這麽快。
都是齊衛東惹出來的禍！
夏菊花知道自己是在遷怒，可平安莊走到今天這一步太不容易，全生産隊的人費了多少心血汗水，因為齊衛東想多賣粉條的決定，說毀就要毀了，夏菊花能不遷怒嗎？！
“嬸子？”齊衛東不敢看夏菊花的眼神，弱弱的叫了一聲沒有下話。
夏菊花努力調整了一下自己的呼吸，問：“那個人是誰，跟紅小隊是什麽關系？”如果沒關系的話，咋能指揮得動紅星公社的夏隊長。
齊衛東終于找到了自己的聲音：“是縣革委會的副主任。”見夏菊花吃驚的瞪圓了眼睛，連忙小聲解釋：“嬸子你別擔心，那是我親小叔。他沒害過人，一直都是抓農業生産的。”
不用再解釋了，你再解釋下去，夏菊花都要懷疑齊衛東是不是在逗自己了。
沖着站在一邊守着的趙仙枝招了招手，等她過來後夏菊花讓她跟別人一起看看需要買啥，看中了先別着急，等自己回來再說，自己要跟齊衛東去辦點兒事兒。
趙仙枝不願意離開，那小子一看就是城裏人，聽說城裏人的心眼可多了，要是隊長吃了虧怎麽辦？
Fortunately, Qi Weidong didn't know what Zhao Xianzhi was thinking, otherwise he would have settled accounts with Zhao Xianzhi to find out who had suffered more losses since they started dealing with Xia Juhua.
But now it is obvious that Xia Juhua has to bear more. What else can Qi Weidong do except wait quietly for Xia Juhua's next move?