After the first month of the lunar year, spring arrives with a gentle breeze, and the vitality accumulated over the winter is ready to burst forth. Children are more sensitive than the young buds on the treetops, eager to rush out into the fields and play crazily.

After eating the Qingming rice dumplings, the children look forward to eating rice dumplings on the Dragon Boat Festival. Time flies and the Dragon Boat Festival is here in the blink of an eye.

It was wheat harvest season, and Han Qingsong was at home helping with the summer harvest as usual to earn work points. In order to encourage the harvesting team to divide the work among the members so that the more work they did, the more they would get paid. Han Qingsong took Dawang and Erwang to the fields before dawn, and sent them breakfast and lunch with Maisui and Sanwang. In this way, he could earn the work points of two or three people, so he did not let Lin Lan go to the fields.

Before dawn on the Dragon Boat Festival, Lin Lan followed Han Qingsong to get up. She took out the sachet she made and tied it on his belt. "It's a holiday today. Let's have breakfast before going to work."

Han Qingsong looked at the sachet, feeling a little entangled. "In the morning, we should harvest wheat without losing the ears of wheat. It is better to go early and let the maid bring breakfast to us. We can come back to eat at noon." He hugged her and bent down to kiss her on the lips, which made her glare at him.

Lin Lan sewed the sachet herself with red cloth. It was filled with incense bought from the commune, as well as mugwort and wild chrysanthemums harvested from her own home. Wearing a sachet on the Dragon Boat Festival was a custom in Lin Lan's hometown in her previous life, and it was now done just for the occasion.

Lin Lan tied it up and patted his waist with satisfaction. "Let's have rice dumplings at noon, and come back after work."

When she heard Da Wang and Er Wang get up, she happily rushed out with her basket in hand, "Don't leave yet, eldest son."

She took a sachet of sachet and hung it around Da Wang's neck.

Da Wang was so scared that he immediately dodged, "What is that?"

Lin Lan smiled and said, "Wearing a scent bag during the Dragon Boat Festival is to ward off evil spirits. Be good, your father also wears one."

Da Wang originally wanted to escape, but at this time Han Qingsong came out of the house, with the bright red sachet on his waist dazzling.

Dawang: “…”

When Han Qingsong looked at him, his legs were filled with lead and he had no choice but to let Lin Lan do whatever she wanted.

Erwang held back his laughter, unable to bear seeing his elder brother in so much pain, "Mom, why don't you use a needle to pin it on the waistband of his trousers." His shirt covered it so no one else could see.

Lin Lan: "Then I have to take the clothes apart before washing them at night. Oh, right..." She looked happy, "Tie it on the buttonhole, it won't cause any harm." She felt sweaty and uncomfortable hanging it around her neck.

Da Wang resigned himself to letting her fiddle with it, after all, his father was wearing it too.

Erwang was very cooperative and took one to tie on himself. "Mom, I feel refreshed as soon as I put it on!"

Lin Lan patted him and said, "Second brother is the one who gives mother the most face. He is so obedient."

The father and his two sons went out.

Da Wang silently took off the red incense bag and immediately felt his father's attention. He put it in his pocket expressionlessly and said, "It's fine as long as I have it with me."

Han Qingsong thought it was okay, so he took it off and put it in his trouser pocket.

Erwang was delighted when he saw it. "I think it's great. I want to spread it to others and let them wear it too."

After they left, Lin Lan was not in a hurry to call the remaining children. It was a long summer day and the children were tired, so she let them sleep a little longer.

She fed the chickens and ducks first, then tied up the calamus and mugwort that the children had cut yesterday with straw ropes and tied them to the gate and the door of the house.

At this time, Mai Sui and San Wang also got up. They took the initiative to put on the sachet given by Lin Lan. Mai Sui tied it on his collar, and San Wang picked three small gourds and hung them directly around his neck. San Wang went to the vegetable garden to help Lin Lan pick early green vegetables, and pulled weeds and caught insects. In the evening, when Han Qingsong came back, he would go to water the vegetable garden.

Lin Lan asked Mai Sui to make breakfast and boil a dozen salted duck eggs in the salted vegetable pot. She took the meat coupons issued by Han Qingsong, rode her bicycle to the commune slaughterhouse, found Tang Laoya's son, and bought a pound of pork belly, some offal and some pork bones.

When I got home, Mai Sui had already prepared breakfast and the reed leaves. He had also soaked the glutinous rice from last night and found red dates, adzuki beans, sesame seeds, etc.

"The lady is really skillful." Lin Lan praised the wheat ears, and then put enough two-grain cakes and wowotou in a small basket, with stewed sauce and eggs as side dishes, a bowl of small green vegetables blanched in salt water and mixed with lard, and finally a can of egg drop soup. In the summer, people sweat a lot while working, and egg drop soup is nutritious and can supplement salt, so it is very suitable to drink at this time.

Mai Sui and San Wang went to the fields to deliver meals.

Xiao Wang, with a string of red gourds hanging around his neck, was sitting at the table peeling duck eggs. He was afraid of wasting the egg yolk oil, so he carefully took the bowl, humming a little song he made up, tapping his feet to the beat. "Taro? Noono, potato! Big Yuanxiao, big Zongzi, do you want moon cakes? No, how about a bowl of dumplings? No, no, at most I'll give you some spicy ones to taste..."

Lin Lan couldn't help laughing when she heard this. Sanwang was just making up stories, but Xiaowang took them seriously. He could sing anything with gusto.

The homemade duck eggs are marinated in a soup specially prepared by Lin Lan, with white wine and other ingredients added to it. The marinated duck eggs are all oily.

Xiaowang's fingers were covered with egg yolk oil, and he didn't dare to hold his glasses when they fell down. He just tilted his head and tried to rub them up with his shoulder.

Lin Lan went over to help him put on his glasses and kissed his forehead. "When you are two years older, your parents will take you to have surgery and you won't have to wear glasses anymore."

Xiaowang leaned his head on Lin Lan's hand, feeling very happy.

Lin Lan: "Mom, go cut some meat so we can make meat and egg yolk dumplings."

Last year we didn’t have enough ingredients, so we only made a few red dates and red beans to suit the occasion. This year, we want to give our family a big meal to satisfy their hunger.

In the north, eating zongzi at this time of year is either for wealthy families or for city dwellers who buy ready-made ones. For the local country folk, “nothing tastes better than zongzi” all year round. There is nothing good that cannot be celebrated with a meal of zongzi, or else two meals will do.

The children in Lin Lan's family have already developed the habit of eating Yuanxiao on the 15th day of the first lunar month, spring rolls on the 2nd day of the second lunar month, fried beans on the 3rd day of the third lunar month, Qingming rice dumplings on the Qingming Festival, and rice dumplings on the Dragon Boat Festival... They look forward to each festival one by one.

Lin Lan cut the meat, marinated it with a little salt, then tidied up the vegetable patch in the yard and waited for Mai Sui and Sanwang to come back to have breakfast together.

After dinner, Lin Lan taught the children how to make rice dumplings. Mai Sui learned it right away, but Sanwang failed immediately and the rice dumplings fell apart before they were even finished.

Sanwang: "...This thing is bullying!" He clearly followed my mother's method, absolutely correct! Why did it fall apart?

Xiaowang made small rice dumplings with his small hands. He muttered, "Twist and turn, make a small pocket, put some fat rice in it, feed it with red dates, twist and turn, put on new clothes and wrap myself in a big quilt, and make it into a small pillow, muah~" He gave the rice dumpling a kiss, and then asked Lin Lan to help tie it up. A small rice dumpling was ready.

Sanwang poked it curiously, and it didn't fall apart. He poked it again, and it was still fine. "Hey, Brother Xiaowang, you can do it."

Xiao Wang said proudly: "That's right."

"Why did mine fall apart?" Sanwang rubbed his crew-head.

Xiao Wang's long eyelashes fluttered, and his big dark eyes were filled with starlight. "That's because..."

"What?"

"You have to be loving!" Xiao Wang held up a piece of rice dumpling leaf, "Dear leaf, thank you," and then began to twist it around.

Sanwang: “…” After thinking about it, he also started singing Dear Leaf at the top of his voice, which gave Lin Lan and Mai Sui goosebumps.

Mai Sui rubbed his arms and said, "Oh, stop singing. I'm getting goosebumps all over my body."

I don’t know why, Xiaowang’s singing sounds warm and cute, but it sounds weird in Sanwang’s mouth.

Sanwang immediately raised his voice when he heard it, "This zongzi is unusual, it's cunning and slippery, what's hidden in its belly! Come on, I'll strip you naked... strip you naked... let you be slippery, let you hide your cunning..."

Lin Lan looked at him in horror.

Sanwang: "Haha, I'm still waiting to eat."

Lin Lan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Okay, let's start with the meat and egg yolk ones. This one has to be bigger."

Because of the meat and egg yolk, the rice dumplings have to be slightly larger.

Xiao Wang: "Mom, don't forget to pack chili peppers for big brother."

Sanwang and Mai Sui laughed, and Lin Lan was helpless.

Da Wang didn't like spicy food when he was little. Later, when Lin Lan was promoting the food, she saw that the chili peppers from Yongxing Brigade were good, so she brought some back. At first, she fried some chili oil and made some chopped peppers. She and Han Qingsong adjusted the taste, but Han Qingsong didn't like it much, but Da Wang loved it. This summer, he likes it even more. He can't stand spicy food.

Because her eldest son likes spicy food, Lin Lan is happy to go to Yongxing Brigade to promote it, and bring back peppers to make hot sauce, fried chili oil, roasted chili, ground chili powder, pickled spicy vegetables, and pickled chili kimchi. There are really all kinds of ways to make it.

Even those who grow peppers in Yongxing Brigade may not be so good at eating them.

After wrapping the rice dumplings, the wheat ears are lit and the rice dumplings are cooked. It takes at least an hour to cook them. After half an hour, the fragrance of the rice dumplings will waft far away.

After Sanwang finished wrapping the grass, he carried the basket and led Xiaowang out to cut grass. When they came back with a basket of grass, as soon as they entered the village, they saw people sniffing and asking, "What smells so good?"

Sanwang laughed proudly.

"Sanwang, what delicious food do you make at home?"

Xiao Wang smiled and said, "My mother and sister are cooking rice dumplings."

"Zongzi?" Some people have heard of it but have never seen it, while others have never even heard of it. What is Zongzi?

Some children were drooling over it, the aroma of the rice dumpling was so unique, it had the fragrance of rice mixed with reed leaves, the sweet fragrance of dates, and even the aroma of meat. What's going on?

Sanwang talked a lot, how to prepare reed leaves, how to soak rice, how to wrap it, how to... He didn't know how to wrap it, but he was very good at talking.

Everyone can make reed leaves, but glutinous rice is blocking everyone's way. They don't even have rice, let alone glutinous rice? Will millet work? No, it's too loose and not sticky. Someone is smart and says, "Let's use rhubarb rice." Rhubarb rice is also a kind of sticky rice. Northerners use it to make yellow rice cakes. People who have never eaten glutinous rice also think it is very delicious.

Of course, rhubarb rice does not have the sticky texture of glutinous rice, and the taste is very different, but for the members who are currently lacking food and clothing, especially children who have no fresh food, this is also a comfort.

But making zongzi is not that easy. Some people go to Lin Lan's house to learn from her and go back to make them. Some people try to make them on their own, not convinced that others can do it and why can't they do it themselves. The result is predictable, that is, a pot of porridge made of rhubarb rice, reed leaves and a few red dates, hahahaha.

When wheat ears were cooking rice dumplings, families with good connections would send their children to deliver dumplings.

After the rice dumplings were cooked, Lin Lan asked her children to give the dumplings to two people she was close to so that they could taste them.

In Sanwang's words, "We eat zongzi on Dragon Boat Festival, so it doesn't matter if we don't eat zongzi on Dragon Boat Festival, just give them a try."

At noon, Han Qingsong, Dawang and Erwang came back from outside. As soon as they entered the door, they smelled the fragrant aroma of rice dumplings. Even Han Qingsong, who didn't care much about food, felt his appetite salivate.

Lin Lan smiled at him: "Third brother is hungry. Go wash up and eat quickly." Doing hard work will naturally make you hungry quickly.

It was hot in the summer, and the children prepared to eat under the gatehouse to keep cool. The gate was open, and the breeze was very cool. Before the meal, they fetched water from the well and added a few squash as fruit after the meal.

Originally, Lin Lan thought that the children preferred sweet rice dumplings, but when the children tasted the meat and egg yolk rice dumplings, they all said they wanted to eat salty rice dumplings.

Han Qingsong didn't care. The children didn't like sweet rice dumplings, so he ate sweet ones. There were salted vegetables and stewed sauces on the table anyway, so he wasn't picky about eating both sweet and salty.

Lin Lan also prepared a bowl of chili sauce for Da Wang, which included chopped and pickled peppers and a little soy sauce, so that he could eat it with the rice dumplings. Seeing her eldest son's eyes shining as he ate, she knew it was to his taste.

The rice dumplings were big, and Lin Lan and Mai Sui were full with just one.

Sanwang and Xiaowang each carried a large zongzi and ate it. It was filled with meat and egg yolk. The zongzi was like a small pillow. They ate so much that their eyes narrowed.

Xiao Wang pursed his greasy lips and said, "Third brother, you like to eat candy, why don't you like to eat sweet rice dumplings?"

Sanwang: "I think big meat and egg yolk are the perfect match for zongzi, and they are more delicious! Those who don't have meat have to eat dates and red beans, hahaha." He glanced at Dawang and whispered to Xiaowang: "What do you think it tastes like to eat zongzi dipped in chili?"

Xiao Wang shook his head and asked, "Ask big brother?"

Da Wang was eating while dipping the pepper, and even felt unsatisfied and wanted to drink a sip. Seeing his elder brother eating the pepper, Xiao Wang said that his tongue was spicy. The pepper was so strong, but the elder brother was not afraid of it at all. The elder brother was really amazing!

Sanwang suddenly had an idea: "I wonder what it tastes like when dipped in mashed garlic."

Mai Sui quickly said, "It's not like we're eating dumplings without garlic paste."

Sanwang held up the big zongzi and said with a smile: "Look, isn't this just a Dragon Boat Festival dumpling?"

Mai Sui smiled and patted him, "You are so naughty, if you have the guts, just be aggressive!"

Sanwang immediately picked up a pickled pepper and handed it to Xiaowang, saying with a wicked smile, "Brother Xiaowang, it's not spicy at all, it's sweet. Try it."

Xiao Wang's eyes suddenly widened and he shook his head like a wave drum, "Take it away, take it away, I don't want it! Chili is unfriendly and too cruel!"

Sanwang began to vividly recount the funny incident that happened when they ate chili peppers.

That time, my mother brought back some fresh peppers, washed them and put them on the table.

The eldest brother picked up one, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.

Erwang asked, "Brother, is it spicy?"

Da Wang shook his head, "Not spicy."

Erwang also took one, tasted it, and then put it back.

Sanwang asked, "Second brother, is it spicy?"

Erwang smiled and said, "It's not spicy, but sweet."

Sanwang picked one up decisively, took a big bite out of it boldly... and then bared his teeth and glared.

Xiao Wang asked curiously, "Little Third Brother, what does it smell like?"

Sanwang rolled his eyes, chewed, stretched his neck and swallowed: "Delicious!"

Xiao Wang was very curious, so he picked it up and chewed it like a cucumber. At first, he really didn't feel anything. It was juicy and sweet... A few seconds later... Oh my god! It was so spicy! It was so spicy that the tip of his tongue was numb and tears flowed uncontrollably.

"It's too spicy, the chili is too spicy... too harsh..."

Sanwang then stuck out his tongue and fanned himself while breathing out air. It was so spicy, so spicy… I had only heard about pepper water on the radio before, but had never experienced it. Now I knew what pepper tasted like.

Even though everyone knew it, they still couldn't stop laughing after listening to Sanwang's story.

Although the wheat harvest didn't take long, the labor was intense. Han Qingsong and the children didn't let Lin Lan go to the fields, so she thought about how to change the way she worked to nourish the family. When doing physical work, the morning meal was more important. Lin Lan wanted to have a richer breakfast, not just porridge or pancakes all day.

She searched for two idle stone mills in the brigade field. She found that these mills were not used to grind food, but were good for grinding soybean milk. In the morning, she could grind some soybean milk to drink and also make tofu pudding. During the busy farming season, the brigade would also grind tofu to improve the diet. Brine was prepared, and she could just order it.

In the evening, Han Qingsong went to the brigade to apply, and took two people to install the small mill in an open space near his home.

Lin Lan soaked soybeans that night, and told Han Qingsong to bring his two sons back for breakfast the next morning, and asked Mai Sui and Sanwang to grind the mill.

While the two children were grinding the millstone, Lin Lan kneaded dough and made pancakes at home. She also fried a few dough sticks for the children to satisfy their cravings.

The remaining bean dregs can be added with some radish threads to make small tofu. The small tofu has a bean smell, so Lin Lan stir-fries it with lard. In order to cater to Dawang's taste, she also adds chili peppers.

At half past seven, Han Qingsong, Da Wang and Er Wang returned home for breakfast. They could smell the delicious aroma of fried pancakes from a distance, and the three of them quickened their pace at the same time.

On the table was a sumptuous breakfast, including stewed eggs, boiled vegetables, thick soy milk, a small bowl of tofu pudding, a bowl of loosely fried tofu, golden fried dough sticks, and fried pancakes...

Lin Lan called them: "Hurry up and wash up and eat."

She served soy milk and tofu pudding to everyone, and even brought some sugar.

The soy milk ground from a stone mill is fine and smooth, with a unique stone-mill taste. Add a spoonful of sugar and it becomes sweet and smooth. It is a perfect match with fried cakes and dough sticks.

Lin Lan made a big bowl of this for Han Qingsong, who ate it very happily and obediently, but the children started to play tricks.

Dawang made a bowl of chili and dipped it in fried dough sticks and fried cakes! After eating, he scooped a large spoonful of tofu pudding, mixed it, and ate it spicy.

Lin Lan: “…”Brother Dawang, you can do it.

Mai Sui and Er Wang are also fine. They drink sweet soy milk and eat tofu pudding with some salty vegetables and soy sauce, which tastes delicious.

She looked at Sanwang scooping sugar again, "Little San brother, your soy milk is sweet enough."

Sanwang: "Mom, I'm eating tofu pudding."

Lin Lan watched him pour a spoonful of sugar into the tofu pudding, stir it, and start eating.

Lin Lan felt as if she had been hit by something.

Sanwang even asked Xiaowang to taste it. Xiaowang tasted it briefly and then looked as if he was poisoned, indicating that it was not tasty.

Xiao Wang asked Lin Lan to prepare a bowl of salty tofu pudding for him. After finishing it, he was still not satisfied, so he scooped another spoonful of soy milk, "Wow, salty soy milk tastes better than sweet one! Xiao San brother, come and try it!"

Sanwang looked at the color and grinned, "Uh... I don't want to taste it."

Xiao Wang took a piece of fried dough stick and dipped it in the sauce. Hmm? It tastes even better! Then he saw the soy sauce in the dish and dipped it in the sauce again. "Wow, so delicious! Fried dough sticks dipped in soy sauce, perfect match!"

Sanwang saw that what he said was true, so he also tasted it and said, "...You can eat it yourself. My tofu pudding is still the best."

The two brothers started arguing about sweet soy milk and salty soy milk, sweet tofu pudding and salty tofu pudding, deep-fried dough sticks dipped in soy sauce and sugar...

As Xiaowang grew up, he began to express his own opinions and refused to be led by others. I guess this was largely due to the shadow of eating chili peppers, and he could not just eat something because someone said it was delicious.

In the end, the two brothers looked at each other as if to say, "You are such a brother/little brother", which made Lin Lan almost burst out laughing.

However, the two guys were very good at finding common ground while reserving differences, and they soon came to an understanding with each other. They said, "Although I don't approve of your taste, I still like your food very much." They shook hands and made peace before finishing their meal, and went on to prepare for lunch.

After lunch, Lin Lan asked everyone to take a nap to relieve fatigue. It is even more important to combine work and rest during the busy farming season, otherwise you will be too tired to work in the afternoon.

The older ones all listened to her, but Sanwang never took a nap. In his words, "If I sleep so long at night and then during the day, I will lose my life in sleep!"

So he didn't take a nap. He took Xiaowang, Licehead and a few other children to catch cicadas, pick wheat ears, cut grass, swim, and do anything except taking a nap. At least, as long as they didn't disturb others' rest, it was fine.

Xiaowang didn't have as much energy as Sanwang, but he also liked to run around with him, so Sanwang took him to sleep outside in the shade of trees. He covered Xiaowang's belly with his vest, put a straw hat on his head, and went to the fields to pick wheat ears with his bare chest.

After the wheat was harvested, there would always be some left over in the fields. We would pick them up and send them to the production team to count as work points. Sometimes the production team would also give some to the children to encourage them to work.

Two days later, Lai Xi brought Lin Lan a basket of honey apricots. His grandmother's brigade had an apricot orchard, and starting this year they distributed more apricots to members. Sister Lin got a basket, and she asked her children to give some to her aunts to taste.

Lai Xi also told Lin Lan that the third and seventh brothers of the old Tang family came to help harvest wheat for two days to earn work points. Because of their help, the production team completed the task ahead of schedule that day, and the wheat was not exposed to the rain. This year, the second brother Lin and Tang Hehua were more capable and not lazy in harvesting wheat than in previous years, and Xiaoxin was also very good.

Tang Laoya really sent the old woman to weave cloth. It happened that the Zhengjiazhuang cloth weaving shop was short of workers and was looking for people from other villages. Tang Laoya sent the old woman there and asked Zheng Pozi to keep an eye on her and tell her to weave cloth properly and not to hang out with those gossipy women.

Lin Lan just wanted to vent her anger on her third sister and teach her younger brother and sister-in-law a lesson so that they could live a quiet life. Unexpectedly, not only did her younger brother and his wife improve, but Old Mrs. Tang was also punished and could no longer hide behind and do bad things. She felt satisfied with this.

Although wheat harvesting is busy and tiring, it only takes a short time. Once the work is done, the members can relax, the propaganda team performs, and the children go to school.

As we enter the height of summer in June, cicadas are chirping and the ground is covered with green shadows.

The members were a little more relaxed, and the propaganda team led by Lin Lan and others became busy again. The various teams also found that once they tasted the sweetness, they couldn't stop. They could get by without propaganda, but now they have a propaganda team. If they don't invite them to do propaganda for two days when the farmers are free, the members will lose their energy.

Listening to the propaganda is more fascinating than listening to operas in the past!

When the children were resting, Lin Lan brought Sanwang and Xiaowang to make a guest appearance. Now Yanyan has gone to Linmei Brigade to weave cloth, so the propaganda team does not have a fixed young propagandist. All of them are Lin Lan's children or students in school who help out.

On this day, Lin Lan, Dong Huaihua and Liu Chuncai went to Yongxing Brigade to promote the group. The promotional performance took place in the brigade yard. When Liu Chuncai and others were performing, Lin Lan sat on a small stool below, picking peppers while watching the performance and chatting with the members.

The members like her very much.

Especially the young teacher Lu Changwei and several members who had attended school, as well as several educated youth, would take the initiative to chat with her every time she came to promote her work.

As they were talking, the branch secretary Ren Hongxia came over. She had been a militia captain when she was young, and now she had a female cadre hairstyle, wore a washed-out military uniform, and wore a belt in the hot summer. She habitually carried an empty gun, moved quickly and decisively, and had a high-pitched voice. She greeted Lin Lan from a distance.

Lin Lan felt that Ren Hongxia was just like the hot peppers in their team, exuding a fiery aura and being extremely enthusiastic.

"Captain Lin!" Ren Hongxia immediately strode over when she saw Lin Lan, and stretched out her hand from a distance.

Lin Lan's face turned pale with fear, and she quickly picked up a bunch of peppers and said to Ren Hongxia with a smile: "Secretary Ren, you have grown these peppers very well."

Ren Hongxia had strong hands. She would shake Lin Lan's hand for three minutes every time. After shaking hands, Lin Lan's hand would be numb for a long time! So Lin Lan was very scared and would not shake hands if she could. Anyway, they were already very familiar with each other.

Ren Hongxia laughed, "If you like it, you can take more with you. Our peppers are very spicy." Seeing that Lin Lan was holding so many peppers and couldn't shake hands, she rubbed her hand on her pants regretfully.

Lin Lan: "Thank you, Secretary Ren. In addition to the task of drying peppers for the supply and marketing company, do we do anything else?"

She became familiar with Ren Hongxia and understood her temper. Although she was a little too strict, they actually got along well.

Ren Hongxia frowned upon hearing this and said earnestly, "Comrade Lin Lan, I know what kind of person you are. You are a progressive and good comrade and you won't stand out and do any side jobs."

Lin Lan nodded immediately, "No, no, let's do some sideline business for the brigade, so that the members can also improve themselves. For example, make hot sauce or pickle peppers?" The peppers in Yongxing Brigade are good, at least better than those in Shanzui Village, probably because of the soil and water. So Lin Lan doesn't grow them himself, but eats the ones from their brigade.

Ren Hongxia: "Comrade Lin Lan, we must maintain the true nature of the proletarian and lower-middle peasants. Chili peppers are just chili peppers. Don't learn the tone of bourgeois revisionism." As she said this, she patted Lin Lan on the shoulder, and Lin Lan almost fell to the ground, and her mouth twitched.

Lu Changwei at the side smiled and helped Lin Lan out, "With Secretary Ren as the leader, peppers are peppers and they can't turn into eggplants. They will definitely taste better if they are made into pepper sauce."

Ren Hongxia laughed out loud, "Lin Lan is a good comrade. You should communicate more and invite her to communicate more often."

Lu Changwei nodded and started to help Lin Lan pick peppers. At this time, the peppers were not mature on a large scale, and most of the peppers that were harvested were bitten by insects and needed to be picked.

Ren Hongxia squatted down and talked to Lin Lan about issues such as rising to the top, the bourgeoisie, and revisionism. She spoke in a loud and rhythmic voice, in the typical style of a conference cadre.

Lin Lan: "..." Secretary Ren, I was wrong. I just don't want to shake hands with you and make small talk. I will never dare to encourage you to imitate your mother again. Please let me go.

Seeing her look of despair, Lu Changwei laughed. While Ren Hongxia was finishing her speech, he agreed with her and took the opportunity to change the subject. "Secretary, is the story about the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University true? Can the educated youth in our brigade sign up?"

Ren Hongxia: "Well... I have to look at the documents carefully. I see there is an age limit, maybe more than 10 years old. Anyway, married people are not allowed to go, and they have to return to their original units after completing their studies."

No matter what the original intention and regulations are, from the central government to the local governments, layer upon layer of documents are passed down, and finally reach the grassroots brigade units, where the various requirements and explanations will be understood beyond recognition.

Ren Hongxia thinks that this may be to make up for the loss of universities in the past few years because they did not recruit students. It is estimated that the recommendation has been made in the past few years since 1967. The age range is about 16 or 17 to early 20s, and it is estimated that no one will be allowed to exceed 25.

Lin Lan looked at Lu Changwei, "Teacher Lu has a chance to sign up."

It would be fine if she could change the subject and not talk about the ideological and political class. Even though she is in charge of propaganda and likes to brainwash members and children, she cannot force them to listen by the ear.

Ren Hongxia looked at the two of them and shook her head. "I also received the documents last year, but it was useless. The application form was not submitted to the commune, and the county had already reported it."

Last year, the Linlan Brigade did not say anything. Han Yongfang probably knew it was useless so he did not mention it, so as not to arouse the anxiety of the educated youth.

"It is said that each commune has quotas this year. The branch secretary must help us find out." Lu Changwei is a teacher at the commune's junior high school and is well-informed.

Ren Hongxia was persuaded by Lu Changwei to start talking about the brigade's application for the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University.

Of course, not everyone can sign up. You must have at least a junior high school or high school education. Otherwise, how can you do it without knowing how to read? Therefore, the communes and brigades are basically reserved for educated youth and students who have been educated. People who have not been educated don't have to think about it, and they don't have that interest.

Last year was the first year, and the number of places was limited. All of them were selected from the army and factories, and the rural communes were not included.

Since there are vacancies this year, you can definitely sign up, but the review will probably be very strict.

Those who want to apply go to the brigade to get the application form. The brigade will first review the application, the most important of which is family background, followed by age, health, education, etc. Then fill out the application form and send it to the commune. The commune will review it in the second step, and the county revolutionary committee will review it for the third time, and finally the university will review it.

Ren Hongxia was talking excitedly when someone came to find her. She immediately stood up and said, "Comrade Lin Lan, let's talk later." Then she left in a hurry.

Lin Lan breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Changwei looked at her and smiled. "Captain Lin has never been to school, but he has reached his current level of learning. He is much better than those of us who have gone to school. You should go to college."

Lin Lan shook her head. "No, I'm older and have several children. I don't meet the requirements." Besides, she had already graduated from graduate school and didn't need to continue studying.

"It's not impossible. Last year the requirements were very strict, but this year they will be much more relaxed. I heard that many gays in the city who are married and have children have also signed up. It depends on whether they can be accommodating during the review. If it's OK in the city, then it's even easier in the commune."

Lin Lan pinched a chili pepper and said, "Teacher Lu, there seems to be something behind your words." Is he hinting at something?

Lu Changwei waved his hands quickly, "Don't make mistakes, Captain Lin misunderstood. I just said my own understanding. This kind of university is not as strict as the regular universities in the past. To be honest, you can't learn much. I learned last year that the stay in Beijing is only one year, during which there are various activities, labor, and training. The learning time is pitifully short. To put it bluntly, it is just to gild. After all, there is no examination and only recommendation. There is no unified standard. Then how to recommend is not decided by the units at all levels? Haha, in the final analysis..."

He didn't finish his words, but Lin Lan understood that his subtext was just a joke.

She couldn't help but look at him seriously. She didn't expect that he had such insight. It seemed that he had a deep understanding of the grassroots.

If we look into it carefully, the practice of nominating and electing cadres or college students can basically not be proven innocent for more than two days. It becomes a means of generating income within a few days. This brigade may be innocent, but other brigades may not be. Besides, there is also the commune.

After all, even if the review is strict, there are still many people who meet the requirements. There are only a few places, so who will sign up? In addition to the advanced evaluation, there are naturally some other means.

Lu Changwei did not avoid her gaze, and even smiled, "Don't be afraid that Captain Lin will say that I have too many ideas. Considering Director Han's position, it is not difficult for him to ask for a quota from the commune. Instead of asking outsiders to beg for it, it would be better for our own people to use it, isn't it better?"

Lin Lan said seriously: "Our Director Han never does such a thing."

Lu Changwei raised his hand to apologize, "Captain Lin, please don't be upset. I just said something out of concern for you. You have such a strong learning ability. It would be a pity if you don't pursue further studies. After all..." He smiled and said nothing more, "Your team members are calling you."

Lin Lan turned her head and saw Liu Chuncai waving at her, so she went over to take a look.

As soon as she finished talking to Liu Chuncai, she was immediately surrounded by several people. They enthusiastically asked her questions, complimented her, and praised her for her good show.

One of the educated youth was Yu Xin, who had two long braids, a pointed chin, peach blossom eyes, and a sweet voice. "Captain Lin, you guys did a great job promoting the program. We didn't have your brains even though we went to school."

"We tried to help write a few shows, but we were too embarrassed to show them."

Although Lin Lan felt that their sudden enthusiasm was a bit strange, since it was about work, she didn't refuse and helped them.

Lin Lan watched the program they had compiled. It was too serious and dry, a standard model opera format.

She offered some professional advice, "There's really no trick. Ordinary people don't have much culture. Just observe them more and speak their language."

Seeing that it was almost time, Lin Lan and the others packed up and prepared to go back.

When Ren Hongxia heard that she was leaving, she stopped her work to see her off and asked someone to pack a bag of chili peppers for her.

Lin Lan: "... Secretary, you are so polite, so polite. Just a little bit will be enough." She picked a small pile, which was enough.

Ren Hongxia didn't care, "A little bit is enough, of course we have to take care of it." She asked Liu Chuncai to carry her on his back, "Captain Lin, you have only been in our team for two days, come again in a few days."

Now all the teams are proud to have invited Lin Lan and his team, and they are competing with each other.

After Lin Lan and others left.

Several educated youths gathered together and muttered, "Where does she get her confidence from? She has never been to school, and she still has the nerve to instruct us?"

"That's right. Look at the slogans she wrote. There are also simplified characters. I'm afraid she can't write proper characters."

"She's just relying on the fact that her husband is the director. If she hadn't used the backdoor, would she have been in charge of publicity?"

"I heard from the people in her village that she is lazy and greedy in the village, and she is very domineering."

"She's so unfashionable, all she does is talk about chili peppers all day long. I guess she doesn't have anything real in her mind except food. Anyway, I've never seen her write any poetry."

Yu Xin can write poetry and always boasts of being a talented woman. She showed Lin Lan her work, hoping to impress her so that she could give her the show and take the opportunity to build a good relationship with her. But she didn't know that Lin Lan was stupid enough to not understand, and actually gave her serious advice. Bah! A country woman who knew nothing about chili peppers, how could she dare to give advice to a high school student like her?

People call her Teacher Lin, does she really think of herself as a teacher?

Look how beautiful she is!

Although they all wanted to curry favor with Lin Lan and get Han Qingsong to recommend them, they were also wary of comparing with each other. So as soon as Lin Lan left, they started to find fault with her, as if the more unpleasant things they said, the less likely they were to get a backdoor.

Lu Changwei was very angry when he heard them slandering Lin Lan, especially when he saw how enthusiastically and worshipfully they had surrounded Lin Lan just now. The contrast now was really disgusting.

"Although Comrade Lin Lan has never been to school, I think she has learned better than you. At least she is more cultured and knows more about shame than you!"

Several people didn't expect to be heard by Lu Changwei, but they were not afraid of him. "Why are you flattering someone when they've already left? Even if you're afraid of flattery, men won't recommend you to go to college. Haha."

"Of course I won't ask for recommendations through backdoor channels, but you guys, please don't say bad things about others behind their backs and then ask for recommendations later."

Yu Xin taunted, "Teacher Lu, you have no relationship with her, why are you like this? Do you have feelings for Captain Lin?"