The autumn harvest is also divided into several stages. The first is to harvest sorghum, beans, and millet, then break corn and harvest peanuts, dry the sweet potatoes, store the whole sweet potatoes in cellars, plow and harrow the land, and plant wheat.

It will take two to three months to finish this busy work. Since the span is long, time is not that urgent. Apart from not delaying the wheat planting, everything else is fine.

After harvesting sorghum and other grains, it was already August, a pleasant and cool autumn day. There were still corn and sweet potatoes left in the fields, which could be harvested slowly.

Recently, Lin Lan was summoned by the commune propaganda team to hold various exchange meetings in the commune and the county. The organizers had a point. If the farmers were idle, they should do propaganda work for the members and have no time to hold exchange meetings. They should take advantage of the members' busy farming time to hold meetings. After all, there is only one person in a brigade.

In this way, meetings are held every now and then, including various exchange meetings and experience summary conferences. Lin Lan feels that attending meetings is more tiring than autumn harvest.

When Han Qingsong was busy with the autumn harvest at home, he would also receive notices from the bureau or the county, asking him to attend meetings. In the past, he would push it away if he could, or let Sun Zhuowen and Huang Weizhong take Luo Haicheng and Han Qingyun to go, and he would go if he couldn't push it away. Recently, Lin Lan had to go to a meeting, and Han Qingsong also became active in attending meetings, so that he could go and come back with Lin Lan.

The two of them were going to the county together that day. She took out their backpacks, put lunch boxes and towels in them, and then tied the teacups to the belts and slung them over their shoulders, one on each side.

Han Qingsong glanced at her, reached out to straighten the strap of her shoulder bag, and then tightened the Chairman M badge on the left side to prevent it from falling off, then touched her head, "Not bad."

Lin Lan: “…”

She saw some washed cucumbers and tomatoes in the basin, so she took two cucumbers and four tomatoes, stuffed them all into her bag, and smiled at him, "Take them with you as a snack."

Han Qingsong: "..." My wife loves eating tomatoes and cucumbers.

He went to push his bike, Lin Lan locked the door and put the key in a fixed place, everyone in the family knew it.

The children were still on their autumn break, and since their parents had to go out, they had no work to do, so they followed the production team. Dawang and Erwang went to pick corn and wheat ears and pick cotton, while Sanwang and Xiaowang sometimes picked cotton and sometimes cut grass.

Lin Lan had already told the children to go home at noon to cook and eat together. With Erwang and Mai Sui, she didn't worry about the other three sons being hungry.

She got on the bicycle and held his waist, "Third brother, let's go."

The Propaganda Department said today that it would evaluate the best propaganda teams and propaganda officers in the county, and encouraged everyone to speak freely and openly.

Lin Lan didn't expect to be selected for the best, but she thought it would be good to have some exchanges. She could quote Chairman M's quotations, bring in the spirit of various central documents, and talk about her experience in propaganda in Shanzui Village, the commune, and other brigades. Naturally, these were not difficult for Lin Lan.

She had collected many slogans by listening to the radio, reading old newspapers and magazines, and had taken detailed notes. After several rounds of digestion, they had become semi-literate and semi-local country slang. When it was her turn to speak, she could come up with witty remarks and received warm applause and frequent nods of approval from her superiors.

Her promotion times, experience, and involvement in hunting are undoubtedly the most extensive.

The meeting room where the Public Security Bureau was holding its meeting was right next door. They were discussing how to cooperate with the Revolutionary Committee to severely crack down on speculation and profiteering, cut off the tail of capitalism, fight against selfishness and criticize revisionism, and crack down on corruption and bad counter-revolutionary elements hidden among the people.

Because the content was complicated and the speech was long and confusing, many people had a headache and wanted it to end quickly. However, no one dared to speak out, lest they be criticized as an example, so they had to endure it with some pain.

At this time they began to envy Han Qingsong. Look at him, he was sitting upright, with a calm and composed look, his expression was serious without a trace of impatience, he really did not show his emotions on his face.

Actually, no, Han Qingsong also felt a headache after hearing this, but he always had a cold expression and people couldn't figure out his true intentions.

At this moment, warm applause and cheerful laughter came from the conference room next door, which immediately attracted his attention. He silently guessed that the person speaking now was his wife.

He had read her manuscript, and it was quite good considering his cultural level. What surprised him was that she had crossed out some of the more cultural words and phrases and replaced them with colloquialisms, presumably to make it easier for the rural officials to understand.

His mind wandered, and he recalled how he helped her sew quilts and taught her to read the year before. He had no idea that in just two years, she had made rapid progress, leaving everyone else far behind.

He thinks he should read more books.

In fact, he has never stopped learning, reading books and newspapers all the time. However, he has never been to school. He taught himself after joining the army. His foundation is not solid enough, and he has difficulty learning some slightly profound things.

It seems that he needs to learn from his wife, as she learns very easily.

Although his mind was full of random thoughts, his expression became increasingly solemn and serious, and he looked dignified and upright, and was able to cooperate with the agenda of the meeting.

Deputy Director Li had been secretly observing him, thinking that this country bumpkin was quite interesting. To be able to sit still for an hour or two, his butt must be really heavy!

Finally, it was Han Qingsong's turn to speak. Deputy Director Li saw that Han Qingsong had no intention of speaking, so he patted his arm and said, "Deputy Director Han, it's your turn."

Han Qingsong then slowly stood up and looked at the clock in the conference room. It was almost half past eleven. The smiles on the faces of everyone present had become numb, but they were still forcing themselves to smile. It was really tiring.

Han Qingsong: "I suggest that we take a break and eat first."

Anyway, he won't take up more than two minutes of everyone's time in the afternoon.

Director Qin and the old director immediately exchanged looks with smiles on their faces, and agreed to take a break and eat, and continue in the afternoon. They left first.

Han Qingsong left the conference room and strode to the next door. As expected, he saw Lin Lan standing in front of him and talking. Although her language was as close to the current situation as possible, her expression and movements were still quite different.

When other cadres spoke, they would hold their heads high and rub their hands together, and when they talked about the landlords, rich peasants, counter-revolutionaries, bad elements and rightists, they would grit their teeth and look righteous and stern. Their whole aggression was just like that in the model operas.

She stood there, looking more like a teacher giving a lecture to students, speaking wittily and drawing applause and laughter from time to time.

Han Qingsong relaxed himself and leaned against the window sill in the corridor, looking at her through the small square glass window of the conference room. Two pieces of glass were broken, dividing her figure. He frowned slightly and moved two steps to replace a piece of intact glass, so that her face could be vividly and completely reflected in front of him.

She was in high spirits and had a gentle temperament when she spoke, which made him unable to take his eyes away.

At this time, Deputy Director Li and Deputy Director Gao came out together. They were chatting and laughing in a friendly manner, as if there was nothing dirty about them.

They immediately saw Han Qingsong in the corridor. He was leaning against the window sill, with one of his long legs slightly bent and the other straight, and he was squinting at something. The sun shone on him, and he looked handsome and gentle, not at all like the cold and ruthless Deputy Director Han.

"Hey, Deputy Director Han, what are you doing here?" Deputy Director Li asked curiously.

Deputy Director Gao turned his head and looked through the glass window, just in time to see Lin Lan speaking on the stage, and couldn't help but take a few more glances at her.

Han Qingsong felt a little unhappy because his vision was blocked. His brows wrinkled and he returned to his annoying expression.

"Let's go, let's go eat together. I can't find you every time." Deputy Director Li patted his shoulder affectionately, "Let's go to the cafeteria."

Han Qingsong did not move: "You two go first, I will wait for others."

Deputy Director Gao took another look at the pretty female cadre and suddenly understood, "Oh, no wonder Xiao Zhang said Director Han brought a pretty female cadre to the meeting and asked if she was from the art troupe."

Although Lin Lan and Han Qingsong had been here several times, Gao Weidong had never seen the two of them in the same frame. This was the first time.

Deputy Director Li also leaned over to look, "Where did this female official come from? She's pretty!"

Han Qingsong frowned, "That's my wife!"

When Deputy Director Li heard him emphasize the word "I", he smiled and said, "So it's Director Han's lover. Director Han is so lucky." He looked at Deputy Director Gao and said, "How about we wait a while?"

Han Qingsong: "You two go ahead and do your work." He clearly refused to have dinner together.

Deputy Director Li was not annoyed. Han Qingsong was not close to Gao Weidong anyway, so it was no big deal. He was afraid that Gao Weidong would say something to Han Qingsong after he left, so he asked Gao Weidong to leave as well.

Deputy Director Gao naturally knew what he was thinking. Since their relationship had improved recently due to some things, they pretended to chat and laugh together as they left.

At this time, Lin Lan and the others were adjourning the meeting, but she was tied up by several leaders and could not get out for a while.

After waiting for the leader to leave with great difficulty, propaganda officers from other communes and brigades came to talk to her. Some expressed their admiration, some were dissatisfied and wanted to provoke a debate, and some just wanted to communicate... Lin Lan responded several times but was still stopped and talked to.

She also saw Han Qingsong waiting outside, so she wanted to go out early. "Comrades, let's talk in the afternoon. There is a symposium in the afternoon."

In the afternoon there is a communication meeting for the officers, where they can speak freely.

Several male staff wanted to communicate with her more closely. They thought she sounded very educated and might have graduated from some school. They wanted to ask her, perhaps she was an alumnus.

One of the male officers extended his hand to Lin Lan and said with a smile, "Comrade Lin Lan, my name is Qi Fengbo, and I'm from the Jiashan Brigade... Hey, may I ask who you are?"

Qi Fengbo looked in surprise at the man who had barged in. He was tall and mighty, with a stern face. It was obvious that he was not easy to deal with, especially since he was a soldier!

He immediately pulled his hand back.

Han Qingsong had a blank expression on his face: "I'm sorry everyone, Comrade Lin Lan works very hard in her daily studies and has suffered from anemia. She left home early today and didn't have time to eat, so we have to go eat first." As he said this, he held Lin Lan's arm with one hand and put the other hand on her lower back, protecting her in his arms as if not allowing anyone to touch her.

Lin Lan: “…” I made the big radish and pork dumpling buns last night. I ate three of them in the morning. I also ate a cucumber and two tomatoes on the way…

She smiled apologetically at the staff, and covered her stomach cooperatively but guiltily, completely different from the energetic and long-winded speaker just now.

"Oh, Comrade Lin Lan is so dedicated. Look! His little face is pale from hunger." Someone immediately noticed Lin Lan's weakness.

"That's right, your lips are pale, go eat."

"He is truly a role model for us. We should learn from Comrade Lin Lan!"

Comrade Lin Lan, with red lips, white teeth and fair cheeks, lowered her head slightly with a guilty conscience and allowed Han Qingsong to hold her arm and support her waist as she left the meeting room.

She whispered, "Third brother, that's too much."

Han Qingsong asked concernedly, "Are you dizzy? Do you want me to hold you?"

Lin Lan: "!!!" She looked at Han Qingsong with resentment: "Third brother, you have learned bad things." He actually made a joke to scare her. Then she realized that he was not joking, he really wanted to hold her and walk around! Frightened, Lin Lan quickly leaned "very weakly" in his arms.

When he met acquaintances on the road and greeted Han Qingsong, he would stop to say a few words and introduce his wife. In fact, some of them had already met before.

Afterwards, he took Lin Lan to the cafeteria for dinner.

The two men murmured behind his back: "Is Director Han afraid of his wife?"

"Huh? How did you know?"

"Normally when we greet him, he has a sullen face, which is scary. But today, when he was with his wife, he became cheerful and almost smiled."

"Oh, you're making it sound so scary. Director Han can still laugh? You might be hysterical."

Hearing the two people muttering, Lin Lan couldn't help but laughed while covering her mouth.

Han Qingsong remained calm and helped Lin Lan into the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was now very polite to Lin Lan. The chef who served the rice held a large long-handled spoon and accurately picked out the fattiest pieces of meat from the large basin. He picked up a large spoonful and put it into Lin Lan's lunch box.

Lin Lan: “…………” They are all fat, Master, I, I want thin ones!

Unfortunately, at this time, people think fat is delicious, so if you treat her well, you will give her big fat meat. Lin Lan had to express her gratitude from the bottom of her heart.

A woman grabbed a handful of red dates and gave them to Lin Lan, smiling very gently, "Mr. Lin, replenish your blood."

Lin Lan: “…Thank you.”

During meals, people kept coming to care for her, and one even gave her a boiled egg...

Lin Lan: "... Third brother, thank you so much."

In fact, at that time, everyone had limited food, many people were hungry, and some were anemic. How could she be special? Wasn't it because of the occasion and Han Qingsong's face? The officials of the Propaganda Department of the Revolutionary Committee were naturally happy to flatter her, and the propaganda personnel of the commune brigade who liked her speeches before also spared no effort to express their admiration.

Lin Lan gave all the fat meat in her lunch box to Han Qingsong, and Han Qingsong gave her the lean meat and pork belly in his lunch box.

Some people saw that Lin Lan didn't eat fatty meat, just like discovering a new continent, "Secretary Lin, the meat in the cafeteria is delicious, why don't you like it?"

Those who come to the meeting always treat the meeting as a way to improve their lives during the Chinese New Year, because they can eat meat! Whether it is roasted meat with potatoes or roasted meat with kelp, there are always four or five pieces of meat in it. And they like to eat fatty food the most. When they chew, their mouths are full of fat. They are so happy that they are about to pass out.

Just as Lin Lan was about to explain, Han Qingsong said, "Comrade Lin Lan is the most hardworking and simple-minded. She always leaves the fattest meat for her comrades and the leanest meat for herself."

Those who heard it were immediately moved, "Mr. Lin, you are so great, you are so amazing, you are really a good example of selflessness, I, we all want to learn from you!"

Lin Lan: “!!!” Please let me go, I can’t take it anymore.

"Director Han, you are so lucky to have Secretary Lin as your revolutionary partner in life." Some people began to envy Han Qingsong.

Han Qingsong nodded: "That's true."

Lin Lan: If you eat with me, I will also exchange fat for lean meat with you!

After Han Qingsong's publicity, everyone not only knew that the cold and serious Director Han came with his wife today, but also that his wife was super virtuous, super progressive, and super selfless, and was truly a good fighter for communism!

So at the afternoon symposium, Lin Lan was instantly upgraded from the experienced, active, and witty Lin to the most lovable person, the most proactive member, the most progressive role model, and the most selfless partner...

Lin Lan: Thank you! Don't flatter me too much, I have to be dignified. I am anemic anyway!

She took out a handful of red dates and shared them with everyone present so that they could replenish their blood.

"Although it is just a red date, it fully demonstrates the sincere heart of Officer Lin towards his revolutionary comrades!"

"Comrade Lin Lan not only has a high revolutionary enthusiasm and iron revolutionary determination, but also treats his comrades as warm as fire and treats his enemies as cold as ice. Comrade Lin Lan is like Comrade Lei Feng..."

Listening to their endless chatter and praise, Lin Lan was not flattered, but rather frightened. Don't make me a role model. I just want to live a simple life with my husband and children. I feel guilty! I am anemic!

As a result, Lin Lan had no idea how she could become the best worker despite being self-taught, not eating breakfast, being a little anemic, and not eating fatty meat.

Originally, many people were competing for the best award, and none of them were convinced. But now everyone unanimously voted her as the best.

She was awarded the title of Red Flag Bearer of the Propaganda Team, the Most Outstanding Member of the Propaganda Team, and all the certificates, red flags, and prizes.

"Comrade Lin Lan, not only have you firmly established your proletarian ideology, you have also learned the knowledge of workers, peasants and soldiers very well, and your consciousness is even higher. You deserve this award!" The leader spoke happily, praised Lin Lan, and shook hands with Lin Lan.

Feeling guilty, Lin Lan bowed and thanked him.

Someone else shouted from below: "Comrade Lin Lan is as humble as Xiao Cao. Although she carried the red banner of propaganda, she is not proud at all. She is worthy of our learning!"

"Learn from Comrade Lin Lan!"

Lin Lan: Mom, please forgive me. I bow to you.

She bowed again, and the applause became louder and the atmosphere became more lively.

As Han Qingsong listened to the enthusiastic applause from next door and the excited voices of the officials calling "Officer Lin", the expression on his face softened a little, causing the members to be curious about what good news he had, as he didn't even look threatening.

"I'm going to say the same thing as in previous years: everyone should do their part. There is nothing that cannot be done well. However..." He glanced at the audience and said slowly, "This year I have a new saying."

When everyone heard this, they were surprised that Han Qingsong, who had sent them away with just two sentences, could actually come up with something new. They really listened to it.

Han Qingsong said slowly: "If all communes and brigades strengthen cooperation, they will be successful in everything they do."

"Good!" The old director took the lead in praising, "We should strengthen cooperation and not work alone. You have been too scattered in the past few years."

Because of the Cultural Revolution, various places refused to obey the constraints of their superiors and did whatever they wanted. The brigade judged things on its own, beat people to death on its own, handled cases on its own, and threw the Public Security Bureau over the wall.

Gao Weidong glanced at Han Qingsong, and vaguely felt that this boy was not simple. He was in the commune, and when the communes cooperated and communicated with each other, he would definitely have the upper hand.

After the meeting, Director Qin, the old director, and the three deputy directors stayed to talk.

At this time, Han Qingsong returned to his usual attitude, with a stern expression, sitting like a pine tree, silence is golden, and he would not say a word unless it was necessary.

The old director emphasized the current tense situation between the enemy and us, "After the Lin x Group is destroyed... and the remaining spies in Taiwan... the remnants of the feudal and underworld in the old society... all must be taken seriously." He looked at Deputy Director Li and Gao Weidong, "You two must work closely together to ensure coordination between the county and the district party committee public security bureau."

The two men immediately accepted the order.

The old director said to Han Qingsong: "Deputy Director Han,"

Han Qingsong immediately stood up to listen to the lecture.

The old director was very satisfied. "Sit down, let's talk among ourselves. The communes should strengthen their ties and cooperation. I'll leave this matter to you. You are the deputy director of the county and the director of Shanshui Commune. You will be able to cooperate better in your work."

Han Qingsong accepted the order.

Gao Weidong glanced at him and said nothing.

Director Qin said a few more words and then adjourned the meeting. He personally escorted the old director out and called to Han Qingsong, "Director Han, say a few words." He motioned for Han Qingsong to go out with him for a walk.

Han Qingsong walked beside him.

Director Qin took him to the backyard, where the landscaping was quite good. There were pomegranate and date trees at the base of the wall, laden with fruits.

"Qingsong, you know what I'm going to say, right?"

Han Qingsong: "Director Qin, I'm not good at guessing riddles."

Director Qin smiled and said, "Okay, let's talk about the matter. I'm talking about Xiaochan from the farm, oh, Qin Lixin."

Qin Lixin, whose original name was Qin Yuchan, was a niece of Director Qin. However, he and Qin Yuchan's fathers were not close, and their blood relationship was a little distant, so the two families were not closely related, except that they had the same surname. He explained the general situation and smiled to Han Qingsong: "For work needs, you have to do whatever you want. You don't have to consider my feelings. We, the proletarian revolutionary fighters, have never been partial to personal feelings."

Han Qingsong: "Don't worry, Director Qin, it's not the case."

Director Qin nodded, "That's good."

After chatting for a while, he brought up the Shanshui Commune again. "Comrade Han Qingsong, do you have any intention of joining the Revolutionary Committee?"

Director Jia of Shanshui Commune had committed a crime and had been dismissed. Now all parties began to take action to replace him. But he heard that Han Qingsong was not only inactive but also went home to harvest crops every day, which was really rare.

Han Qingsong said decisively: "Director Qin, the Public Security Bureau still needs my service."

Director Qin glanced at him and saw that he did not seem to be lying. He did not expect that he was not greedy for power. Which cadre did not want to be the director of the Revolutionary Committee?

Han Qingsong's attitude was clear. After he retired from the army, he naturally had to do work related to the army. In fact, he was a soldier and a warrior, not a politician or a writer. He thought he was not suitable for the complicated struggle of the Revolutionary Committee and would rather stay in the Public Security Bureau.

Director Qin thought about it and it was true. With Han Qingsong's personality, he would not be able to show his abilities if he went to the Revolutionary Committee. If he had no one to protect him, he would probably be stuck in the quagmire of struggle and unable to protect himself. After all, the cadres of the Revolutionary Committee were replaced at a rapid pace at that time.

He said nothing more.

Han Qingsong said goodbye and went back to the corridor to wait for Lin Lan.

As soon as they said the meeting was over, he strode in immediately when he saw Lin Lan surrounded by a group of people.

"Please make way. Comrade Lin Lan is anemic and too crowded will make her unable to breathe." Han Qingsong unceremoniously pushed away several men who were too close to Lin Lan, occupied the most intimate position with Lin Lan, put one hand on her shoulder to protect her and left.

Those people wanted to communicate more with Lin Lan, but Han Qingsong did not give them the opportunity.

"Comrade Lin Lan, if we have the chance, let's go to Shanshui Commune to learn from you."

Lin Lan: ...I'm anemic! I'm dizzy! I'm having trouble breathing! My husband is a jealous person, you'd better not come.

The author has something to say:

Lin Lan: I want to ask, when did my brain change from an ice cube to a vinegar jar? It wasn’t like this before!!!

Director Han: Maybe you want me to become a drunkard? I can be more relaxed after drinking.