Chapter 94
Qi Weidong was a little puzzled, and Li Changshun also felt that Xia Juhua only had one granddaughter and one grandson, so it was a bit of a waste to buy so many things. When Xia Juhua said that she wanted to find a few women in the production team to look after the children, the two of them understood her idea.
Even Wang Caifeng, who came out to pour water for Qi Weidong, was stunned by what she said, and she started to think about going to the kindergarten to see the child again. She had made up her mind to let Liu Zhiquan take care of the child tonight. She wanted to listen to what Liu Lizhu said, learn a few more words, and learn the poem that her mother-in-law said, so that she could go to the kindergarten, right?
Li Changshun also felt that what Xia Juhua said was a solution: it was okay during the winter, except for Ping'an Village, the other four production teams did not seem to be short of manpower. But when they started farming, the production team leaders did not dare to let people take leave easily, otherwise it would delay the weather.
"Can your production team pick out those people?" Li Changshun asked uncertainly.
Xia Juhua had just thought about this and had some general ideas: "I think we can have two people assigned to look after the older children. For the breastfeeding children, if the family can trust them, they can be sent there; if they cannot, they can be taken care of at home. The women who send the children will take turns to look after them; if they don't get a turn, they can work; if they don't want to work, they can take a break." They are all her own children, so she doesn't have to worry about them neglecting them when the children are old enough to breastfeed.
"Will you still charge for it?" This is what Li Changshun was concerned about.
Xia Juhua shook her head: "It's actually like everyone is exchanging jobs. Except for the two fixed people who record the work points, other people's children are just like our own adults looking after them. Why should we charge any money?"
Okay, Li Changshun nodded and said to Xia Juhua, "Then you should think about it carefully. If you have a detailed idea, tell me and I will ask those production teams whether they will follow your example."
After saying that, he stood up and said to Qi Weidong, "Xiao Qi, you have seen the situation in Ping'an Village Brigade. None of our members are lazy. Women with infants are trying to go to work. When you go back and see Deputy Director Qi, can you report it for us?"
After seeing Qi Weidong's expression change, Li Changshun was discharged from the hospital with his hands behind his back. Qi Weidong said with a little grievance: "Auntie, what do you think of your captain? I am just...do I have any right to react to people in the county?"
"Captain Li feels that the reason why the entire Ping'an Village team was able to escape the attack last winter was all thanks to you. He thinks you are a capable person and you often interact with us, so he is not shy with you." Xia Juhua said with a smile on her face in a soothing tone.
Qi Weidong felt that he was not comfortable, but he had no choice but to eat three bowls of sweet potato noodles before leaving Ping'anzhuang.
Xia Juhua called Liu Hongling over and told her not to rush to weave the red balls and wait until Qi Weidong really found the bells. Liu Hongling heard Qi Weidong's suggestion and exclaimed: "That man is really capable. Not only did he think of using bells, he was also able to buy them for us. We never dared to think of it before."
There are many things that I dare not think about. When Xia Juhua discussed with Liu Lizhu about him going to the brigade primary school, Liu Lizhu felt that he had not expected it: "Captain, are you really going to let me be a private teacher?"
"You are the one who studies the most in our production team. If you don't do it, who else will? It's just right that you can take the kids with you on your commute to get off work every day, so they won't get naughty on the way."
Going to and from get off work is a sacred word in this era. Farmers use "going to work" and "going to the fields". Liu Lizhu tried to appear calm, but his wife Ma Xiaoqin wiped away her tears: "Captain, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't dare to think that our family could live such a good life."
Xia Juhua and Liu Lizhu both persuaded Ma Xiaoqin that good days were still ahead, and finally she stopped crying. She only notified her and she cried. Xia Juhua decided that if something like this happened again, she would let Chen Qiusheng notify her.
As a result, within two days, Chen Qiusheng came running to find Xia Juhua and said, "Captain, the captain said that today's meeting is to convey important instructions from the commune. Director Zhang from the commune is also here. I can't go. You must attend."
Director Zhang of the commune?
"Did the captain tell you about the meeting?"
Xia Juhua, who was also confused, shook her head: "You came earlier than me, why are you asking about me?"
That means the team leader is willing to talk to you first. Several team leaders had the same idea in their minds, and only Team Leader Niu of Team 3 asked, "Captain Xia, do you think Secretary Zhang of the commune is here to talk to us about the payment of public grain?"
Xia Juhua also thought this was possible, because compared to previous years, there was still no notice to hand in the public rations. Everyone was worried every day, but there was no clear explanation, and the time was really dragging on for a long time. Xia Juhua neither nodded nor shook her head, but smiled and said, "Didn't you three teams set aside the public rations?"
What good would it do to leave it out? Every day the members would be around the granary. The morale of the production teams was not as good as that of Ping'an Village. The leaders of the patrol teams organized every night were a little skeptical. They were afraid that someone would dig a hole in the granary at night and they would become the sinners of the entire production team.
"Since everyone is here, let's have a meeting." Li Changshun quietly let Director Zhang into the brigade headquarters and announced with a gloomy face: "Director Zhang is here to give us important instructions today. Everyone welcomes him."
The sound of applause was sporadic, and Director Zhang pressed his hands downwards with no expression on his face: "No need to applaud, I know is unsure when I come, so everyone let's be brief."
Everyone's eyes were focused on Director Zhang's face. Xia Juhua found that Director Zhang looked in better spirits than when she met him in the commune. She hoped that his words would also cheer people up.
"Everyone has been thinking about the issue of paying the public grain. This year, there was a drought, and our Ping'an Village Brigade actively organized production to save itself, so at least there was still some output. But everyone has heard about the situation in other brigades and even the entire Pingde County. Nearly 70% of the crops were harvested, and the other 30% of the land near the Xihe River was barely able to harvest seeds."
"Under such circumstances, the collective did not forget the farmers and allocated relief rations to Pingde County." Having said this, Director Zhang finally looked at everyone, and with Li Changshun taking the lead, the team leaders applauded sparsely again.
Director Zhang did not stop the applause this time. The applause soon died down, and he tapped the table lightly: "But the relief food can only help temporarily and can only help some people. It is impossible to help all the farmers in Pingde County."
That's why everyone is worried.
Xia Juhua quickly looked up at Director Zhang's expression, which did not change much, and immediately lowered her head to listen to what he said next: "The county has a plan for the distribution of relief grain, which is that the teams that have a good harvest will not receive any, those with a small harvest will receive less, and those with no harvest at all will be guaranteed to have some in their bowls..."
"Director Zhang, our team has a harvest, but it is because we dug the wells ourselves and organized the members to water the crops day and night..." Li Daniu couldn't help but interrupt Director Zhang.
Li Changshun shouted at him angrily: "Li Daniu, do you have the right to speak?"
Xia Juhua also pulled Li Daniu's sleeve and said, "Director Zhang hasn't mentioned the public rations yet, so the Ping'anzhuang Brigade should not get involved in the relief rations issue."
Director Zhang obviously saw Xia Juhua pulling Li Daniu. He glanced at Li Changshun and found that he nodded slightly to him. Then he forced a smile and said, "Your team is carrying out production to save itself, but don't forget that the materials for digging the well were all transferred by the county without compensation."
Li Daniu, who was still snorting angrily after his sleeve was pulled, was suddenly speechless - although Xiaozhuangtou did not have as many wells as Ping'anzhuang, there were still three wells. If their production team was really asked to bear the responsibility of providing materials for drilling wells, they would not be able to produce them now, let alone at that time.
Director Zhang didn't want to argue with him, and said, "Of course, the county didn't just allocate well-drilling materials to Ping'anzhuang Brigade, but it's a fact that Ping'anzhuang Brigade has dug the most wells. Considering that you organized the well-drilling work yourself, the county's initial opinion is that Ping'anzhuang Brigade should pay half of the public grain this year as in previous years. However, there will be no share of the relief grain this time."
Li Changshun's face became even gloomier, but Xia Juhua, who had dealt with him a lot, still saw a hint of secret joy in the depths of his eyes. Xia Juhua also breathed a sigh of relief in her heart:
Only half of the public rations of the previous year did not have much impact on the disaster relief of the Ping'an Village Brigade. In fact, according to the output of each production team, the days were better than in previous years. However, Xia Juhua also put on the same heavy expression as Li Changshun, and asked with some hesitation and trepidation:
"Director Zhang, what is the purchase price of public grain this year?" Is it the same as in previous years?
Perhaps he had not expected that it was Xia Juhua who asked this question. Director Zhang was obviously stunned for a moment before he said, "It will still be based on the previous year's price."
Li Daniu was a little restless again. Captain Niu pressed his thigh hard under the table to prevent him from standing up, which made Li Daniu's face red and his neck thick. Li Changshun, who was sitting opposite Director Zhang, could see the obvious disapproval on the faces of several captains. After looking at each other, Li Changshun spoke:
"Come on, the collective has taken good care of our Ping'an Village Brigade, don't be ungrateful. Since we have already made a decision, from tomorrow on, each team will organize to pay the public rations." After saying this, he propped up the table with both hands and stood up: "Since we are paying the public rations, then everyone should put their consciences in order and no one should think about going against the collective."
Even though the production team leaders felt that they had been cheated, they still knew how to pay the public rations. They all said that they would use the best rations to pay the public rations, which made Li Changshun smile a little: "It's okay as long as you know how to pay. I'm not afraid of the Ping'anzhuang production team, but I'm afraid that there will be troublesome people in your teams. If any production team gets into trouble, that production team will have to clean up the mess by itself."
As soon as the leader left, Li Daniu pushed Captain Niu away and held his hand: "Lao Niu, your production team follows Ping An Village, and you grow more sweet potatoes than us, so you can leak more flour in a few days. But our three production teams are different. We have half as many sweet potatoes as you do. Why don't you let me ask? In such a year, how can we collect public grain at the previous price?"
Captain Niu slowly rolled an old dry cigarette, without lighting it, and held it in his hand and asked Li Daniu: "Have you asked Director Zhang and he said he would not allow your production team to pay public rations? If they told you to pay according to the amount of previous years, and then give you relief rations according to the amount of other brigades, would you do it?" Do you really think that the leaders have no temper?
That's not possible. Li Daniu has a bad temper, but he's smart. He understood immediately and didn't refute Captain Niu's words. He turned around and smiled brightly at Xia Juhua: "Captain Xia, when your production team pays for public rations, our two teams are so close, why don't we go together?"
Captain Niu and his two companions looked at Li Daniu as if he were a madman. The change was so obvious that it was hard to bear.
Xia Juhua also made Li Daniu laugh so hard that he was confused: "You little village head are going to pick up food for Ping An Village?"
The smile on Li Daniu's face froze: "It's just a companion, a companion."
Captain Niu couldn't stand it anymore and asked Xia Juhua: "Captain Xia, have you ridden your bike today? Can you take me for a ride?" Li Daniu was so angry that he wanted to roll his eyes.
Xia Juhua was also afraid that the other two captains would ask her questions that she would not be able to answer, so she nodded to Captain Niu and said, "Yes, I rode, but my skills are not good enough, and I am afraid that I will lead you into a ditch."
"It's okay, it's okay. If we can take fewer detours, I'll accept the ditch." Captain Niu said seriously.
When Xia Juhua unlocked her bicycle and pushed it to the gate of the brigade, she found that the three production team leaders had not left. They were all standing with Team Leader Niu waiting for her.
"My bicycle can't carry so many people." Xia Juhua gripped the handlebars tightly, looking nervously at the production team leaders who refused to move forward.
The leader of Team 5 laughed: "We are just worried. We want to ask if your production team will continue to pay public grain as before, or pay more sweet potatoes and less other grains?"
Xia Juhua was puzzled: "Didn't we just agree in front of the team leader that we should hand in the best grain to the public rations? Of course we should hand in what we should hand in as in previous years. How could we think of handing in more sweet potatoes to fool people?"
The leader of Team 5 was a little incredulous: "Your production team planted so many sweet potatoes, but how much wheat and corn did you harvest?"
I can't tell you how many times I took the shots.
Xia Juhua smoothed her hair that was messed up by the wind and said, "No matter how much we fight, we have to do what we promised. I think the brigade and the commune must have fought for us. Otherwise, as Captain Niu said, we will pay the public rations as in previous years. If we can't pay, we will be in debt to the grain station, and we will still have to eat sweet potatoes every day."
The captain of Team 5 didn't say anything. Li Daniu looked at him with some dissatisfaction and asked, "What do you mean? You didn't say it in front of Director Zhang just now, so what's the point of telling Captain Xia now? Or do you want Ping An Village to hand over more sweet potatoes so that you can pick up the ready-made ones from behind?"
Xia Juhua didn't care what others thought. She called out to Captain Niu and got on the bicycle with one leg tilted. When Captain Niu sat on the rear rack, the bike tilted twice and then got back on track. She soon left the other three production captains behind.
Captain Niu waited until they could no longer be seen before saying, "Captain Xia, I'd better get off and walk."
"No, it won't take much effort." Xia Juhua used to ride a bicycle to take her children to school all her life. Sometimes she could ride two children on the rear rack at once, and she didn't think it was too heavy.
Captain Niu sighed and said, "Captain Five is just that kind of person. He will go wherever the wind blows and never dares to take the lead. Don't take it to heart. Their production team planted fewer sweet potatoes this year, and they didn't harvest as much other grain as your production team. They must have thought of handing in more sweet potatoes and keeping more regular grain."
Xia Juhua thought for a moment before saying, "Captain Niu, it's not easy for any production team this year. The captain of Team 5 doesn't know what our team members have done, but your production team is right next to ours, how could you not know?"
It is precisely because of this that Captain Niu is now convinced of Ping An Zhuang: "How could I not know? You know, after knowing the output of your production team, every member of our production team has been more energetic when going to the fields, and they are even thinking about leaking powder as soon as possible."
This is serious business.
Xia Juhua discussed with Captain Niu how to make the vermicelli more delicious after the leak. The topic was safe, so there was not much to talk about. Even when they arrived at Ping'an Village, Captain Niu still looked unsatisfied: "Captain Xia, when our production team kills pigs one day, we will do as you said."
When Xia Juhua saw the place, she slowed down the car and let Captain Niu jump out. She also got out and said, "Okay, you'll know how delicious it is after you try it."
"What are you thinking about eating now?" Fifth Master's voice suddenly came out, startling Xia Juhua. She turned around and found Qi Xi was supporting Fifth Master and looking at her with a smile on her face.
"Qi Xi, why didn't you stay at home with Fifth Master and let him go out to get some fresh air in such a cold weather? What if he gets sick?" Xia Juhua blamed Qi Xi first.
Wu Ye nodded to Captain Niu, then said to Xia Juhua, "I heard that you went to the brigade for a meeting and couldn't stay at home, so you asked him to come out with me. It's all your fault. You insisted that I couldn't leave someone around. This kid has been annoying me these days."
Old man, when you complain about your grandson being a nuisance, shouldn't you droop your lips? Xia Juhua glanced at Qi Xi, who was laughing secretly with her head down, and turned back to say goodbye to Captain Niu. She walked back slowly with Master Wu, saying, "Director Zhang from the commune came to the brigade and asked us to hand in the public rations."
This must be what the old man is worried about, otherwise he wouldn't stay at home in such a cold weather. Facing the Fifth Master, Xia Juhua felt that there was nothing she couldn't say: "But it's not the same amount as in previous years, only half of what we paid last year. I think the food that our production team has set aside is enough."
Of course it was enough, but who would complain about having too much food? The Fifth Master even slowed down his pace: "How about paying the original amount?"
"Well, you have to pay the original sample and the price is the same as last year."
"Pay it. It's the imperial ration and national tax. Farmers have been required to pay it since ancient times. If the county hadn't provided us with materials for digging wells this year, we wouldn't have such a harvest. By the way, how much relief food will you give us?" The fifth master was very open-minded.
Xia Juhua shook her head and said, "The higher-ups said that they are taking care of us by asking us to pay half of the public grain, so they won't give Ping'an Village any relief grain." Fearing that Fifth Master would get angry, she added, "Not only Ping'an Village, but the other four production teams also don't get any relief grain."
"If you don't want to give it to us, then don't give it to us." The Fifth Master said calmly, "Even if we don't get relief food, we have more food this year than in previous years." He smiled mysteriously and said, "Have you forgotten that we can still sift out some flour from the bran?"
According to the proportion sifted in the spring, the newly purchased wheat bran can be sifted into about 300 kilograms of flour. Wu Ye felt that it was a complete waste of money.
Xia Juhua also smiled when she heard this: "I think I have to stay in the production team. I'm thinking about giving three kilograms of dumplings to each of the elderly over 65 so that they can have a good meal of dumplings during the New Year."
If all were to be distributed, each person would not have enough to make up one kilogram. The production team cannot be without any proper food at all. What would they do if something really happened?
To this, Master Wu nodded repeatedly: "Okay, there are only a dozen or so old guys over 65 in the entire production team, so less than 100 kilograms will be enough. I don't want my share, I haven't eaten all the new wheat harvested in the summer."
Qixi walked quietly behind the Fifth Master, not saying a word. Xia Juhua couldn't help but look back at him and whispered to the Fifth Master: "Fifth Master, if you don't take this, how can others eat it?" Not everyone's children and grandchildren are like the Fifth Master's children and grandchildren, who don't care about the old man's things at all.
It was only because of the fact that the Fifth Master had occasionally cursed at the old man in the street over the past year or so that Ping'an Manor had not withheld food from the elderly again.
When Master Wu thought of this, he said with a bit of grief: "Alas, I have become useless when I am old, and no one wants me anymore. Well, in order to let those old brothers and sisters eat dumplings without worry, I will shamelessly accept this."
Seeing Xia Juhua pushing her bicycle and walking with her grandfather, Qi Xi, who had been silent the whole time, asked, "Sister-in-law, shall I go call Qiu Sheng?"
"Go ahead. I have to ask about the production team's arrangements for tomorrow to see which day is suitable for handing in the rations." Xia Juhua thought Qixi was being shrewd and that this remark came at the perfect time.
After Qixi ran away, she advised Wuye: "You are all very filial. Don't keep saying that you are a waste. Even I don't like to hear it. If you are a waste, I don't know who to discuss things with."
"Alas," Fifth Master sighed again, "Don't you think about it? Our Ping'an Manor is relatively good. I heard that someone's elderly in Sun's Manor took medicine, but I don't even want to ask."
It's not that I don't like to ask, why do you take medicine at this time? I know the answer in my heart. Xia Juhua quickly cheered up and whispered: "Why do I care about what others do? As long as the elderly in Pingan Village are all well, that's enough."
That's what he said, but the Fifth Master was still in a bad mood until Chen Qiu Sheng came. Chen Qiu Sheng thought that the old man was worried about the grain in the granary, so he persuaded him a lot and calculated for the Fifth Master, saying that after Ping An Manor produced public grain this year, each person would actually get 480 kilograms of grain, which was a loud number.
The Fifth Master was also happy when he heard this, but he didn't want to make everyone unhappy because of himself, so he smiled and said, "Then you have to watch out. Since we have to pay the public grain, we have to pay it well and not pay the bad ones."
"Don't worry, we at Ping An Village have never failed to deliver the public grain." Chen Qiusheng said poorly, and asked Xia Juhua: "There are about 6,000 kilograms of grain in total. An ox cart can only carry 4,000 kilograms, and we need 20 people to carry it."
Master Wu couldn't help but think of Technician Xue: "If Technician Xue was still here, he would have used a tractor to take us to the grain station."
Xia Juhua's eyes lit up when she heard this. This year, the members of Ping'an Village could save energy by using Technician Xue's tractor, and Xia Juhua had a bold idea.
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