Having learned from past mistakes, they naturally couldn't repeat them. A year's worth of hard work had been wasted. It would be a lie to say they weren't heartbroken, but they still had to consider the lives of the people in the present.
Among these people, Liu Jianshe was one of the younger ones. He didn't interrupt and just sat quietly to the side listening.
Cheng Jin sat upright on one side.
"What are your arrangements, and how do you require our troops to cooperate?"
Secretary Lin was also at his wits' end; his mouth was covered in blisters after just one night.
“Now that people have arrived, we can’t just ignore them completely. The commune still has some grain reserves, and I’ve submitted a report. However, given the current situation, the reserves are only a drop in the ocean.”
Do you have any ideas?
Looking around, everyone looked worried and distressed; two of the village chiefs even had more blisters around their mouths than he did.
"As for construction, tell me, how did your village discuss it?"
For over a year, Liujiatun had been in the limelight, and Secretary Lin had singled him out first.
"You should have discussed this in the village, so tell me what you think!"
Liu Jianshe pursed his lips; he actually wanted to hear more.
"Secretary, I'm young and inexperienced. This is my first time handling something like this. If I'm wrong, please forgive me,"
"Alright, alright, stop with the flowery language, get to the specifics,"
The fire was already raging, and he was still leisurely strolling around. Secretary Lin had already lost patience for pleasantries and began to speak rudely to him.
"We're all family here, so don't say anything useless. This is your first time here. Didn't your family give you any advice before you came?"
The polite words Liu Jianshe hadn't said were immediately cut off. After a few seconds, he finally exhaled and spoke more crisply and decisively.
"Alright, then I'll get straight to the point, Secretary. I have a question: are they just passing through, hoping to beg for food along the way, or will they stay and find a way to make a living?"
"In this season, even if they want to stay, they can't disturb the earth. What can they do?"
Cheng Jin glanced at it and gave it a hint of approval.
"But we need to know how much grain we are to provide, for how long, whether it is free or a temporary loan, and what the standards are."
There's also the issue of accommodation. As you said, we can't start construction this season. Putting aside safety concerns, not only in our village, but I believe that in all the uncles and elders' villages, the available empty houses probably can't accommodate too many people.
How can this be resolved?
Secretary Lin's expression also turned serious; this sounded like something he had studied in depth.
"Go on,"
Others also turned their gazes expectantly, which was also a concern for them.
In rural areas, traditional thinking still prevails. While the parents are alive, the family doesn't separate. Most families have three generations living together, with ten or even twenty people crammed under one roof. Sometimes, only when the son is about to become a grandfather and there's simply no more room will they consider getting a plot of land to live separately.
Nowadays, people believe that having many children brings many blessings, so one can imagine how lively life would be under one roof.
Even if there are two houses for various reasons, every family has weddings and no room for everyone, so how can they stay?
“Secretary, if they are just passing through and plan to return home in the spring, the Spring Festival is just around the corner. This year, the Spring Festival Gala will be on, and it will be another month or so before spring arrives. This is a problem, isn’t it?”
What about those who don't plan to return to their hometowns but want to find a way out here? Will they be assigned to settle in various villages, or are there other arrangements?
This is just the beginning. I estimate there are still people on the road. It gets colder the further we go. We're almost at the coldest time of winter, and we all know how cold it gets at night.
They've already made it across the road; let's not let them freeze to death here.
Well, that sounds cruel, but it's true.
The coldest period of the year in Northeast China is the "Sanjiu" period, with daytime temperatures often dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures often falling to minus 30 degrees Celsius. Here, near the border, the temperatures are even lower.
Secretary Lin's head was buzzing. Hadn't he thought of that? Several cadres from the commune had discussed it all night, but they still couldn't come up with any useful solutions.
Cheng Jin coughed twice and also spoke.
"Yes, there's one more question."
I don't believe that everyone who has come all the way from the South is a kind person. Of course, even if there are those with ulterior motives, it may just be a helpless act, which we can understand.
But can they trust us?
There have been several disputes among those who entered the city yesterday, haven't there?
The military rule is that everything must be handled in accordance with laws and regulations. I hope you will also adopt the same standards in this regard. Don't let us maintain order here while you make trouble and plead for leniency behind our backs, saying things like "this person is pitiful" or "that person is too pitiful to watch." If you can't stand it, take them back yourself.
As for the refugees, the army has rations; every bite we give out has to be taken from the soldiers' mouths. Our rations are limited, but those who meet the criteria can participate in today's additional conscription.
"Recruitment? Wasn't recruitment already done in the spring?"
For many poor families, joining the army was a way to ensure they could have enough to eat. Moreover, there were basically no large-scale wars after the founding of the People's Republic of China, so the army was still very popular among the people.
"right,"
Cheng Jin nodded.
"This is an exceptional recruitment drive. We can post notices and those who are interested can sign up. As long as the political background check is successful and the physical condition meets the standards, there is a high chance that there will be no problem."
Isn't Cheng Jin suffering inside?
That would naturally be bitter.
But after thinking it over, this method works, and it solves part of the problem.
Those present looked at each other in bewilderment. It had to be said that this was a solution, and almost a permanent one at that.
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