Chapter 206 Adding fuel to the fire
When Wen Wan got home, she found out what had happened. There was a meeting in the afternoon. Lu Minghai was no longer the production team leader and a new election was to be held. It was going to be held in the afternoon, so when Wen Wan and the others came back, everyone was still there.
Wen Wan was shocked: "Uncle, are you really not going to be the production team leader anymore?"
Zhang Hongying said, "Well, what's the point? I'm so old. There's no benefit from working myself to death. Whoever wants to be a worker can do it! Just do the work well and get the work points."
Wen Wan heard this before the New Year and thought it was just talk, but she didn't expect it to be real.
Lu Minghai had been the production team leader for quite some time. He had been there during the most difficult years of the 1950s, and he had persevered until now. Honestly, he wasn't really in charge, just a supervisory role. Whenever his superiors asked, he'd have to run around and worry himself to death.
Lu Mingjiang said, "If he doesn't want to be the production team leader, then he can. We just announced it today, and we haven't come up with anything. Let's all think about it carefully and let the people vote to decide who should be the production team leader."
Wen Wan asked him, "What do you all mean? Do you have a choice in mind?"
Lu Mingjiang said: "The one who jumps around the most is Zhou Mingqing, but it is not certain. Zhou Minghong has been the cashier of the team. If Zhou Mingqing becomes the team leader, won't he be able to act arrogantly in the team? That would be unacceptable." Lujiazui is half of the Lu family's world. The Lu family occupies the majority, and they cannot let other families step on them in this matter.
"Isn't it about popular elections? What does that mean for our family?"
Lu Mingjiang glanced at Lu Dongping, who then took over and said, "We need to ask Uncle what he means. His opinion on this matter is exactly what we think."
There are so many young people with the surname Lu. Not to mention their two families, there is also Lu Changfa's family, and further away there is Lu Changxing's family. If the production team leader Lu Minghai is unwilling to do it, it will still fall on the Lu family.
As they were talking, the meal was just in their hands when Lu Mingqing unexpectedly appeared at the entrance of the yard and called out to Lu Mingjiang, "Third brother!"
Hearing the voice, Lu Mingjiang stood up with his bowl in hand and went to the door to take a look. "Hey, Qingwa, what a rare guest! What made you think of coming over today? Have you eaten yet? Come in and sit down."
Lu Mingqing didn't bother to be polite with him. He entered the kitchen and called Zhang Hongying, "Third sister-in-law!"
Wen Wan glanced at him and felt that he was not much different in age from Lu Dongping. She was a little uncomfortable with the way she was called "Third Sister-in-law". She would have to call him "Uncle" when she saw him later. It was really...
Zhang Hongying asked him to sit down: "Have you eaten yet? I'm eating right now, would you like a bowl?"
Lu Mingqing said, "Eat it, eat it, Third Sister-in-law, hurry up and eat yours."
Zhang Hongying simply greeted him briefly, then sat down beside him with her bowl in hand and asked, "Why are you here at this hour? Is there something going on at home?"
Neither Lu Changfa nor his father liked to visit or socialize. Wang Mingfang handled all the trivial matters at home, and since the two families lived close together, they rarely got together. Lu Mingqing, in particular, was not one to shirk his duties, but in the fields, even when others were chatting and laughing, he would just keep working, never speaking to anyone. The occasional words he spoke were only a response to Wang Mingfang's constant chatter, and over time, everyone on the team knew he had a bad temper.
So, it is really strange that he comes to the door at this time.
Lu Mingqing was very direct: "Yes, there is something. It's about the selection of the production team leader."
Lu Dongping glanced at him and instantly understood his intention: "Do you have any ideas?"
Lu Mingqing nodded: "I want to be the captain."
"It's not easy to be a captain. It's a public election. You have to get most people in Lujiazui to recommend you, and you have to get everyone on the team to obey you." Lu Mingqing works diligently, but he is too young to convince others. There are too many veterans on the team, and this is an extremely difficult road to walk.
Lu Mingqing said, "Let's take it one step at a time. First, we need to take down the captain position."
Lu Dongping said, "If you have this idea, our family has no objection. After all, it's still one Lu. You can't write two Lu characters with one stroke. Even if the bones are broken, the tendons are still connected! But what about other families?"
Lu Mingqing was very resolute after clarifying his goal: "It's good that you can agree. I will take this favor to heart. As for other families, I will take it step by step."
He didn't sit for long, simply explaining his purpose. After Lu Mingjiang and his father nodded, he got up and left, as he still had to go to Lu Minghai's house next door. After he left, the family began to discuss the matter.
"I didn't expect him to actually want to be the production team leader. But given his current situation, it's probably difficult. Zhou Mingqing is so active and usually knows how to handle things, so he seems to have a good chance of success this time."
Lu Dongping glanced at Zhang Hongying and said, "That's not necessarily true. He might have had this idea in mind. I think he's much more suitable than Zhou Mingqing. Wasn't my uncle still quite young when he was the production team leader? Lu Mingqing isn't a talkative person, but he's fine in other areas. He never cheats or does anything slacking off. And his mother, Wang Mingfang, is also a troublemaker. In the past, only my aunt could keep her in check. That woman's tongue is as sharp as a knife, and she'll cause Lu Mingqing a lot of trouble."
Lu Mingjiang waved his hand and said, "Eat, eat. After eating, wash what needs to be washed and rinse what needs to be rinsed. Take care of your own affairs first."
He had already made up his mind. Since Lu Mingqing wanted to be the captain, he would go talk to Lu Minghai. After all, they were Lu family members. There were only three positions on the team: captain, accountant, and cashier. Zhou Mingqing absolutely could not be captain. That bastard, he was a human being in front of people but a devil behind their backs. His brother was the cashier. If he became captain, wouldn't the two brothers have absolute power over the team? That would be disastrous. These three couldn't be placed in the same group; that was the only way to truly ensure their supervisory role.
With him at home, Lu Dongping didn't bother to care about it. He didn't want to be the captain, so whoever wanted to be the captain could be the captain.
As soon as I put down the bowl, Lu Minghai came over.
The fire in the fire pit had gone out, so Lu Mingjiang added some firewood to rekindle the fire.
"Lu Mingqing came to see you?"
Lu Minghai nodded: "Did he come to you too? He said he wanted to be the captain. It's a good idea, but the problem is that if we just talk about it one or two households, it won't count!"
Wen Wan added, "Everything depends on human effort. I think he's quite serious about this matter. Maybe it will work out!"
Lu Minghai glanced at her with a smile. "Let's not talk about his business for now, Wanwan. I came to see you to find out what your brother is thinking. It's about that substitute teacher in elementary school. You taught there for a while, and Wang Xiannian's sights have become higher. School has already started, and they still haven't found a teacher. They said they'll ask a few teams to recommend someone to take the exam. I saw that your brother was doing well in the literacy class he taught before the New Year, so I asked him if he wanted to go, but he still refused. Hey, this guy, I don't know what's going on in his mind. Substitute teaching is so comfortable, out of the wind and rain. Several people have come to me, but he still refuses to go even when I call him."
Wen Wan was stunned for a moment, then quickly came to her senses and said, "Hasn't a primary school teacher been recruited yet? I don't know his situation, but he's grown up enough, he should have his own ideas. If he doesn't want to go, then don't go. There are still many educated youths at the educated youth center. Uncle, please take a look and recommend a suitable one!"
Lu Minghai nodded. "That's fine. If I miss this opportunity, I'll never have it again. Once the new production team leader is chosen, I'll be useless and unable to help!"
A week later, before the spring corn harvest, another meeting was held, this time chaired by Lu Minghai. After work, a huge crowd gathered in the wheat field, with representatives from every household. This time, it was a real election meeting. Wen Wan happened to be passing by there after school and was dragged by Lu Chun'e to watch the excitement.
It is really lively at this moment. The women have just finished work and have to go home to cook. Most of the people who come are men. A group of men gathered together and talked a lot. The scene is super spectacular.
Xu Qingming was also there, standing at the very edge with a group of educated youth.
Wen Wan called out to him, "Seventh Brother!" and came to him with Lu Chun'e.
Lu Chun'e also called out, "Brother Qingming!"
Xu Qingming smiled faintly at the two of them and nodded: "Why don't you go home after school and come here to join in the fun?"
Wen Wan smiled and said, "I just saw you were here. It's rare to see you're not busy, so I came over to say hello!" After that, she gently pulled him and said, "What's going on? Has the election started yet? Seventh brother, are you guys participating in the election too? Who are you voting for?"
Xu Qingming tilted his head and whispered, "We are now part of Lujiazui, so of course we have to participate in the election. We have the right to vote, right?"
"Okay, so have you nominated anyone? Who did you choose?"
Xu Qingming blinked: "Guess!"
Wen Wan kicked him gently: "Tell me or not?" What a guess, how would she know.
"Lu Mingqing."
Wen Wan blinked: "Seventh Brother, why did you choose him? Are you familiar with each other? Do you have a good relationship?"
Xu Qingming said, "The relationship is average, but I think he's down-to-earth and capable, smart, studious, and motivated. He's the perfect choice to be the captain."
They weren't close before. He was an educated youth, and no matter how hardworking and capable he was, he just couldn't seem to fit in with the commune members. Lu Mingqing, on the other hand, just kept his head down at work, speaking only when absolutely necessary. So, the two of them didn't really have much in common. They became close because of that literacy class.
He was responsible for teaching the members to read. Lu Mingqing was one of the members who came to the literacy class. He was also the most serious one and the one who made the most progress.
It didn't matter to him who became the production team leader, as he couldn't possibly be one. But if he really had to choose one, he would definitely choose someone he liked and who would benefit him. Lu Mingqing hadn't thought about becoming a team leader, and it was he who suggested it.
Naturally, he would give his full support to the people he mentioned.
The Xu family’s tradition is that if you take on a task, you either don’t take it at all or you have to complete it.
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