Ma Le shook his head: "I don't understand."
Zhang Xingrong expressed her doubts, "Not long after my father died, my second uncle suddenly said he had good luck and got an opportunity to work in a factory, so he went to work there. But I find this really strange. Factories usually consider urban residents first when recruiting workers. Even if they wanted to recruit people from our production team, they would have to notify the commune through layers of government. How could my second uncle suddenly be able to work in a factory without going through the commune?"
After all, workers were highly sought after in those days. They enjoyed good wages and high social status, which is why so many people scrambled to get jobs in factories. It wasn't just a matter of luck. Furthermore, household registration was strictly enforced, and recruitment procedures were very clear. You couldn't just go if you wanted to.
Now that it was made clear, Ma Le couldn't help but say what was in his mind: "Actually, I also found it strange at the time. Logically, the factory would have gone through our commune to recruit workers, and the commune would have known about it. But no one knew about your second uncle's situation. I thought it was your father who found the job for your second uncle before he died."
After all, Zhang Guojun's position at that time was not low. If he was promoted again, his whole family would be exiled. What a pity...
"No." Zhang Xingrong shook her head. "My father is very clear about the distinction between public and private affairs. He especially doesn't like to seek personal gain. He couldn't have found a job for my second uncle quietly. Look at my eldest and second brothers. They found their military jobs on their own."
"Yes, your father is indeed like that. He's admirable!" Ma Le nodded. Zhang Guojun didn't seek personal gain, but he did a lot of good things for the commune. He used to have a very high status in the commune. "If that's the case, then what's the matter with your second uncle's job? Is he just lucky?"
"No!" Zhang Xingrong recalled the situation at that time, "Uncle Ma, I have a guess..."
Ma Le was surprised after hearing this: "You mean, this quota was supposed to be given to your family as compensation for the martyrs, but your second uncle took it away?"
Zhang Xingrong nodded: "I just suspect it, but I don't have any evidence yet."
Ma Le turned serious: "If that's the case, then we have to investigate it thoroughly. So, how do you need my help?"
Zhang Xingrong said, "Uncle Ma, I need to go to the county labor department to investigate what happened back then."
"Where are you going to check? Even if it's really like what you said, where do you start?" Ma Le felt that if he was going to check, he would have to start slowly. After all, he had no clue at the moment.
"I'll go to the Labor Bureau first and check the records. Since the factory is hiring workers, especially from the countryside, there must be records." Zhang Xingrong pondered. "I don't want to alert the enemy about this matter. Uncle Ma, I hope you can help me stamp the letter of introduction."
Unlike later generations, household registration was strictly enforced. Even taking a bus required a certificate from the production team or commune. Not to mention finding a job, which the Ministry of Labor would undoubtedly record.
Ma Le's eyes lit up: "That's a good direction. Wait a minute, I'll give you my stamp."
Without saying a word, he gave Zhang Xingrong a letter of introduction.
After getting the letter of introduction, Zhang Xingrong immediately went to the county town.
She had originally thought that everyone was busy paying grain and no one would go to the county town, but after walking for a while, she saw a donkey cart driving into the city. She waved, and the fellow immediately stopped.
That's how it was in the production team. As long as you were polite, almost everyone was willing to give you a ride.
Arriving in the county town, Zhang Xingrong went straight to the Ministry of Labor.
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