Xu Ningyan wasn't in a hurry to go out. She first found a large bowl in the cupboard, scooped out a large bowl of noodles, poured cucumber shreds, garlic water, and seasoning sauce on top, mixed it well, and handed it to Qian Chunlan: "Aunt Chunlan, these noodles are something I saved for the children so they can try them too."
In the countryside, it's customary to give the best food to the guests first; if the guests haven't had their fill, the children in the family can't eat.
Women who love their children will secretly save some of the good things for their kids.
The brigade leader's family always doted on their children, so she simply set aside some food specifically for them.
Leaving aside Qian Chunlan, even the two daughters-in-law of the brigade leader who were helping to stoke the fire showed a hint of a smile on their usually bitter faces.
For them, giving things to their children brings more joy than giving them to themselves.
Their gazes toward Xu Ningyan became much more amiable.
I just think Xu Ningyan is really a good person, look how well he knows how to treat people!
She received awards from the county and the commune, but she never became arrogant or looked down on others. She remained as sensible and polite as ever.
With a beaming smile, she firmly refused to let Xu Ningyan help in the kitchen, pushing Xu Ningyan out and telling her to go eat properly.
Xu Ningyan then came out.
The brigade leader and the party secretary had already repeatedly invited Director Zhang and Li Jianguo to start eating.
Li Jianguo just joked and laughed, praising the courtyard and the tree, but he didn't touch his chopsticks.
Director Zhang understood what Li Jianguo meant and joined in the banter.
Only after Xu Ningyan came out and sat down at the table did they start eating.
The farm-raised old hen was simmered in a clay pot until tender, with a thick layer of golden chicken fat floating on top. The aroma of the chicken soup was truly enticing.
Although crucian carp with broad bean paste has many bones, its skin is spicy and its flesh is sweet.
The braised eel with cucumber has firm flesh and is extremely flavorful. The cucumber absorbs the broth and melts in your mouth.
The cured pork cheek skin has a unique cured aroma. It is stewed together with fresh broad beans. The pork cheek skin is soft, tender and fragrant. When you bite into the outer skin of the broad beans, they are hot and fragrant, and the inside is powdery. They are so hot that you can only inhale and not want to spit them out.
This meal is a specialty of housewives in the countryside.
Even though Director Zhang and Li Jianguo were well-traveled and had been to many restaurants, they weren't exactly greasy, and they were quite satisfied with their meal.
The last dish, cold noodles, was especially delicious and received rave reviews.
Eating too much oily food makes you sweat profusely. A bowl of cool noodles with refreshing cucumber shreds and minced garlic to cut through the grease is refreshing and comforting.
We had plenty of food and were quite full.
Qian Chunlan and her two daughters-in-law cleaned up the mess and brought up some tea.
Only then did he squeeze into the kitchen with the others to eat together.
Upon seeing Director Zhang, Li Jianguo quickly got up and said he needed to go to the brigade headquarters to take a look around, as he had other matters to discuss. After leaving the brigade leader's house, he made room for him at the dining table.
Once outside, Li Jianguo gestured for them to go to the brigade headquarters.
Upon arriving at the brigade headquarters, Li Jianguo didn't mince words and clearly explained his plans.
He emphasized that he came up with this idea because of Xu Ningyan.
Whether it will work out or not depends on the leader's arrangements.
The brigade leader and the party secretary had already given up hope and were disheartened.
I wasn't in the mood for dinner, and I didn't even drink any alcohol.
Seeing the unexpected turn of events and the surprising arrangement, they were immediately overjoyed.
Knowing that Li Jianguo was speaking to them and also hinting at their intentions, they immediately patted their chests and guaranteed that if this matter could be resolved, Xu Ningyan would only need to be responsible for contacting the county department store to supply goods, and would no longer need to work in the fields, and would receive the highest work points!
If they go on a business trip to the county town or something, they'll even give them a food subsidy! They'll definitely not let Xu Ningyan suffer any losses!
Director Zhang was a shrewd man. Upon hearing Li Jianguo's arrangement, he immediately thought of the commune and other brigades. He couldn't help but say, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Section Chief Li, this Comrade Xu isn't just from the Tuanjie Brigade, he's also from our Hongxing Commune. If the county has any needs that the Tuanjie Brigade doesn't have, our Hongxing Commune has more than a dozen brigades under it. We can always find a way to meet the quota and complete the task perfectly!"
Li Jianguo chuckled, half-jokingly saying, "If this works out, everything else will be easy to discuss later—"
Director Zhang knew there was an opportunity when Li Jianguo didn't completely rule it out.
However, this was not the time to talk about the future, so he just laughed it off. He was already thinking that if Xu Ningyan's temporary job was successful, the commune could not let this opportunity pass.
It should be noted that among the seventeen communes under Jingshan County, Hongxing Commune was neither particularly outstanding nor so poor and backward as to require the attention and support of county leaders.
They're the kind of people whose fathers don't care about them and whose mothers aren't close to them; they're born and raised by nature, and nothing good ever happens to them, nor do they encounter anything bad.
It really doesn't have much of a presence.
The commune leaders naturally wanted to achieve something, but they just never had the opportunity.
And here comes the opportunity!
If it really works out, we can give Xu Ningyan a temporary job in the commune, pay him some money and ration coupons, it won't be a big deal.
While Director Zhang was still pondering this in his mind, the brigade leader and the party secretary had already prepared the letters of introduction and recommendation, and solemnly handed them to Li Jianguo.
Li Jianguo carefully put away the two letters, patted Xu Ningyan on the shoulder, and said, "Yan'er, just wait at home for your uncle's news."
He got up to leave.
No one dared to stay any longer.
Xu Ningyan accompanied the brigade leader and others, escorting Li Jianguo and Director Zhang to the brigade's outskirts. Only after watching the two ride their bicycles away into the distance did he turn back.
The brigade leader and the Party branch secretary were still very excited, pulling Xu Ningyan aside to imagine how Tuanjie Brigade would become the number one brigade in the commune, how spirited they would be, and how they would impress the leaders...
Xu Ningyan had to pour cold water on the idea: "Captain, Party Secretary, it's too early to talk about this! We don't even know if things will work out, so we can't spread the word. If the news gets out and things don't work out, I'll be fine, but won't our Tuanjie Brigade become a laughing stock?"
In this day and age, there are many people who resent those who have things and laugh at those who don't.
In the Tuanjie Brigade, not to mention others, just Miao Cuihua's family, if they knew she had a job, who knows what kind of trouble they would cause.
Moreover, this temporary worker arrangement was a plan Li Jianguo devised for his own benefit. Although he said there were no problems, it still involved some risk.
If this gets back to the ears of people who don't get along with him, and they use it as an excuse to report him or sabotage him behind his back, wouldn't that ruin him?
The brigade leader and the party secretary then calmed down.
The Party Secretary patted his head, realizing that the two old men were not as composed as a young girl.
He hurriedly replied, "You're absolutely right! None of us can say anything until this is settled!"
The captain was about to agree when his face suddenly scrunched up: "When I was waiting for you to have dinner at my house earlier, I think I mentioned it to Director Zhang a few times. It should be alright, right?"
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