Chapter 94
Me and my motherland
"Hey, Lina, you came really early. Your woolen coat is so beautiful. Where did you buy it?" As soon as Director He saw Chen Lina, he put his hand on her woolen coat and started chatting.
"You may not believe it, but I asked Director Du of our plastic factory to buy it from the Canton Fair. It's Chanel, my favorite," said Chen Lina.
"I'm afraid this one is not cheap, right?" Director He didn't know what a fragrant lady was, but he thought the brand name sounded nice.
"Not expensive, fifty dollars." Chen Lina said.
"It's not expensive. This woolen coat of mine costs 200 yuan, which is almost my monthly salary. Why do I feel that the material is not as good as yours?"
The brown woolen coat that Chen Lina was wearing cost more than 200 yuan. To be honest, it cost her 500 yuan, which was her salary for ten months. Fortunately, the salary of the workers was not bad last year, so her money was enough to support the family.
But, this is an international brand. To be honest, clothes of this brand will still look like new even after ten years as long as your body shape remains the same.
Seeing that the time had come to put things right, Chen Lina felt that she should live a more carefree and unrestrained life. However, her salary was not good enough, which was a big problem.
"Hey, District Chief Gao, hello. I heard that Xiaobing has a wonderful show for us today. Tell Auntie in advance, what show will you perform?"
Gao Xiaobing was dressed really beautifully today. She took off her cotton coat and showed her dance costume to Chen Lina. "It's a dance clip from the Dunhuang in my dream. It's very popular in Hongyan. The main actress is Bao Manli, my idol."
Bao Manli, Chen Lina thought that the name sounded a little familiar.
"Director Gao, where is my old Nie? He can't still be in the lab. Why hasn't he come yet since you're here?"
"The head of our autonomous region is here." District Chief Gao whispered, "In his laboratory, the two of them are chatting. Our leader has a lot of questions. It will probably take another hour for the worker to come down."
"By the way, leader, have my formalization procedures been completed? Our farm has a bumper harvest this year, and the three-year military warrant I signed has been fulfilled one year ahead of schedule." It's a good opportunity to ask for my salary while the leader is here.
District Chief Gao and Factory Director He looked at each other, and Factory Director He shook Chen Lina's hand. "Xiao Chen, I originally thought that I would tell you about this after the award ceremony, but I didn't expect you to be so anxious, so I asked you first. This is what happened. The autonomous region leader has approved your application for regularization.
From now on, you are a level 23 officer in our mine, but your salary will probably be reduced to 45 per month, what do you think? "
Chen Lina's smile froze on her face. She calculated silently and said, "Level 23, that's the position of village chief or village cadre?"
"Yes, that's how it was compiled."
"So, as a farm manager, I am not even as good as the staff at the grain station, whose salary is 60 yuan," said Chen Lina.
"But Xiao Chen, you have been converted to a regular employee. You are now a formal employee of our mining area," said District Chief Gao.
Chen Lina thought to herself, go to hell with you, in the future, all those iron rice bowls will be broken, and only those who are capable will have a job. It is because of the solidification of this class system that the entire society will lose its ability to generate income.
However, it was useless to ask District Chief Gao about this matter. After all, her farm was just a subsidiary industry of the mining area. She thought that the autonomous region leaders were willing to give her a formal position, which was already a special favor.
I won't strike unless my wages increase, but it looks like I have to resort to some tricks.
Then she saw the leaders of the mining area taking their seats one after another, waiting to watch the show. After waiting for a long time, the three children still didn't take their seats, so Chen Lina wondered where these children were today.
"I guess Wei Min went backstage to see his sister Gao." As soon as He Lanshan said this, Chen Lina thought of it. That's right, the three children must be in the backstage.
"Junqiang, drink some more Chuanbei loquat paste, and then make a sound. I want to see if you can make a sound." In the backstage, Wang Geming was feeding He Junqiang something to drink.
Well, He Min, the scumbag who has not been seen for a long time, is also encouraging his son.
As for Erdan, he was already on the stage, and although he had nothing to do here, he still came to watch.
This kid was born with a desire to express himself, and he was very selfless, so he said to He Junqiang, "Come on, take a deep breath, and then don't use your throat, use your chest to make sounds, this way you can still make sounds, if you don't believe me, look at me, I'll show you."
"Nie Erdan, get out of here, you idiot, why are you showing off?" After saying that, He Min pushed Erdan and threw a red bellyband that someone had thrown on the speaker on him.
Chen Lina happened to find the backstage because she was looking for her child. She was protective of her own people. When the dog she raised in her previous life was bitten by another dog, she wanted to help the dog bite the other dog herself.
It would be terrible if my son was bullied by someone.
At that moment, Chen Lina picked up the red bellyband and threw it directly at He Min's face. "Let me ask you, is this your child and you beat him?"
"Director Chen, no, this is backstage. No entry for idle people. Don't you know that?"
"You are also a free person, so what are you doing here?" Seeing that he was trying to hide, Chen Lina slapped him twice.
"I'm He Junqiang's father. He's going to perform, so of course I have to come in."
Outside, the leaders had already taken their seats, and of course, the programs of each school were also ready.
The second grade teacher, Mr. Tian, also said, "Hey, Director Chen, I have to tell you something. Your Nie Weiguo is really stupid and has no vision. The performance is about to start, and he keeps disturbing He Junqiang, preventing him from performing well. This is really not okay."
"Yes, in your eyes, he should be digging out shit and herding sheep in the desert instead of studying, because in your eyes, my son is a shit-making machine."
Teacher Tian's face immediately turned red. "I, I said that because I was angry. What teacher doesn't care about the students?"
"No, you're not angry. You're just a teacher who has been facing children all the time. You're used to being angry and scolding people.
Although you can recognize a few characters, your appearance is not worthy of the characters you know, so you keep using vulgar and vicious words, and you feel more and more proud as you curse.
Well, if the tiger doesn't show its power, you will think I am a sick cat.
"But you can't deny that your Nie Weiguo is stupid and poor at studying."
"I don't think my son is stupid at all. He just has a hard time learning. But I want to ask you, Teacher Tian. My son knows everything. Why does he need you as his teacher? Isn't the purpose of studying to learn knowledge under your guidance and leadership?"
"Okay, okay, Chen Lina, I know you are the strong woman of Mulan Farm, you are Mulan, but that does not mean you can attack our teacher. I am now solemnly declaring that if you want to protect your son, go home and protect him. Our elementary school in the base will not accept your son Nie Weiguo. We can't afford to serve him." Wang Revolution, He Min's mother was already angry because her child had a hoarse voice. When she heard Chen Lina directly scolding her teacher, she couldn't tolerate it anymore. She was going to expel Erdan from the school.
"Nie Weiguo is going to be expelled, so I won't go to school either." The performance at the mining area primary school was over, and it was time for the No. 1 base primary school to start. When Liu Xiaohong heard this, she took off the flower on her head, threw it away, and stood behind Chen Lina.
"If Erdan doesn't go to school, I won't go either." This guy Nie Weimin was elusive. When the curtain was lifted, he was actually standing behind the big red curtain.
"Okay, you all don't have to go to school anymore. Go choose better schools. To be honest, I don't think you can learn better knowledge even if you stay." Wang Geming said loudly.
Oh, Manager Chen is so angry that my beautiful hair, which I just permed yesterday, is about to stand up.
However, she no longer cares about her image.
"Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen." Just when Chen Lina was about to take another step forward, a parent stopped her and said, "Come on, Lina, just give in. Don't you understand? The primary school teachers are there to deal with parents like us. In front of them, heroes will be short of breath and iron will bend. Who lets us be parents? You have annoyed her now, it doesn't matter, but you are a hostage in her hands, and you can't transfer your child to another primary school. Just bear with it, okay?"
"No, no, no, no matter how advanced you say Nie Bozhao's work is, and how proactive Chen Lina is at work, I just want to tell you that Nie Weiguo is very, very stupid, and Nie Weimin is just an arrogant little peacock. I don't need such people in my student team." Wang Geming became more proud when he heard someone trying to stop the fight.
"Principal Wang, the base primary school should serve the employees of our No. 1 base and the members of the farm. He Junqiang is your eldest grandson, and everyone knows this. And today, so many leaders from the mining area and even the autonomous region have come, for a total of three programs, and you let him take full charge alone when he has a sore throat. Is it because you think there are no children in our base?" Chen Lina was really angry.
"But He Junqiang is excellent. I only recognize that he is excellent. I don't care whether he is the son of an employee of the base or not."
"Then let him sing to me now, and I will ask him if he can make a sound?" Chen Lina pointed at He Junqiang and said.
Well, this child has a hoarse voice and can't even speak, how can he sing or recite poetry?
The more anxious he became, the less he could speak.
"I am just the farm manager. I should not be involved in the affairs of the elementary school. However, I will call all the children in the base elementary school today to ask them a question.
Are all other children mute? Is it true that, except He Junqiang, there is no one who can make a sound?"
"So what do you want to do?"
"Whoever makes the sound will go up. Nie Weimin, do you want to go up or not?" Chen Lina pulled Nie Weimin out from behind the curtain.
"No."
"Qian Goudan, do you want to come up?" Before he finished speaking, Qian Goudan, who had been joining in the fun, slipped away.
Backstage today, there are teachers and students from more than one school. Teachers and principals from the four primary schools in the mining area are all here.
"Wang Geming, friendship comes first, winning or losing comes second. But He Junqiang just vomited, do you really want to let him go?" asked the principal of the mining area primary school.
"He's fine, let him go now."
"Yes, he is fine. The problem is you, Principal Wang. Your prejudice and protection are the most terrible. Your eldest grandson has vomited, but you still let him go. Are you going to let him vomit all over the leader?"
"Don't argue. I will never let Nie Weiguo go to the stage. He can yell a few times, but he is stage-timid and has no future. He will never be able to enter the hall of elegance."
"I want my son to go to the class today, and I have to tell you, if the leaders outside applaud and he sings well, you will get out of Base 1 Elementary School immediately.
Because, this proves that you not only have no quality, but also have poor eyesight. Leaders say that children are the sun at eight or nine o'clock, and they are the hope of our motherland's future. You are giving a random definition of the hope of our motherland's future, and you are not worthy of being a people's teacher." Chen Lina was directly furious.
To be honest, no one has ever seen Chen Lina like this.
The previous show had ended a long time ago, and the announcer was getting anxious. Liu Xiaohong took off the oil worker's hat from He Junqiang's head and dragged Erdan onto the stage.
The music started, and Erdan really had a natural ability to express himself. When he roared, his voice, which was still young, already had a steely tone. How bad would it be when he grew up?
Liu Xiaohong's voice was sweet and crisp. Perhaps the leaders had been waiting for a long time, or perhaps the two children's performance was really good. When they sang "I Contribute Oil to the Motherland", the loud applause and cheers from the front could be heard directly from the backstage.
"I can't carry out this educational work. I have to write a report and go back to Daqing. I also have to tell the comrades who will take over and let them know how difficult it is to manage the children of Director Chen."
"You'd better leave quickly. Our base temple No. 1 is too small to accommodate a great god like you." Chen Lina is much more powerful than her.
"Just wait for me."
"Watch your step." Oh my god, Wang Geming, who was swearing, didn't pay attention and his foot got caught on the line and he fell flat on his face.
Everything went smoothly. The following poem recitation and chorus were all started by Erdan alone.
To be honest, instead of quarreling, Chen Lina wanted to admire how dazzling the muscular little black boss, whom she had only seen in photos in her entire life, was on the stage. So, she hurried back to the front stage.
"Manager Chen, you are amazing. I heard you guys arguing in the backstage." The worker said as soon as Chen Lina sat down.
She looked around and saw that, sure enough, the leaders around her were looking at her in a strange way.
"Xiao Chen, you're right, but I guess your son will have a hard time in school in the future." District Chief Gao said to Chen Lina on the other side.
He had just finished watching the performance of the young lady and went backstage, where he witnessed a quarrel. He was afraid of being involved in it, so he quietly slipped back.
"Why, District Chief Gao, I have a very good candidate for the position of principal. I've been recommending her to you every day, but you refused. You insisted on letting Director He and her second mother take over. Now I'm in trouble. If you don't transfer her away, I will quit my job as director tomorrow and become the principal of a primary school. Secretary, I will guarantee to give me the position as soon as I ask for it. The salary is the same, 45 yuan. We earn the same money. Why don't I enjoy a leisurely teaching job instead of working hard and farming?" Chen Lina asked back.
District Head Gao was speechless. After thinking for a long time, he said, "As long as Wang Revolution opens her mouth, I promise to transfer her away. But where can you find a suitable candidate for the principal?"
"Anna, like me, went to college for one year, but I want to tell you that she has a natural professional ethic as a teacher.
They are not like the red and expert graduates you have found. They have been cursing people for eight years since the Four Cleanups and Five Antis Movement in 1966. All they have learned is to curse people. If they are allowed to be role models, they will only poison the next generation. "
"She is a girl from Shanghai. Is she willing to stay in the frontier?"
"She is willing to stay on the frontier and fight with me forever."
"What about you, Comrade Xiao Chen? You are such an outstanding talent. Your hat is about to be taken off and there is nothing to be afraid of. Are you still willing to stay in the frontier?" District Chief Gao asked again.
"Did you hear the song my son sang? 'I Contribute Oil to the Motherland'. District Chief Gao, I have a bad temper and many flaws, but I think, like you, I have a dream for the prosperity of the border. Let's work hard together." Chen Lina said.
District Chief Gao gritted his teeth, just like he had to pee quickly, which made Chen Lina anxious.
The music never stops, it is the recitation of poetry with both voice and emotion.
It was the first time that Nie Gong discovered that his second son, who had a dull mind, could be so active on the stage.
However, while he was watching his son, his wife and her leader were whispering to each other and talking non-stop.
Miss Chen is charming and confident, with her coat, high heels, lipstick and charming smile. She has always been the focus of attention of all men in the auditorium.
The bad thing was that whenever Nie Gong found himself staring at her, his heart would always beat wildly.
He couldn't help but recall the excitement and palpitations he felt when he saw her from behind, and always wanted to be with her as much as possible. They had been married for four years, but when she turned around and looked at him, he was as excited as a teenager!
So he looked at his wife, then at his son. He had two eyes in total, plus the lenses made four eyes, and he was so busy that he couldn't handle it all.
"Did my son also know how to sing in his previous life?" Nie Bozhao asked when he finally saw Chen Lina sitting up straight.
As the music played, Chen Lina thought for a moment and said, "I've never met Erdan, but your third child once told me that his second brother loves to listen to music and also loves to sing. Oh, and they both like the same song."
“I donate oil to my country?”
"No, the composer of that song probably hasn't written it yet, but anyone in the Republic can sing it by heart. It's called "My Motherland and I"."