Chapter 115
The two of them did not benefit from Zhai Xiangqiang's help. Director Zhai rushed to the city yesterday to attend another meeting. Zhou Jiani and Qiu Zeming took the bus there.
Before daybreak, the two of them went to town to wait for the first bus. Zhang Baosheng personally drove the mule cart to take them there. They stopped at a restaurant and ate some steamed buns. Because he was preoccupied with driving, he didn't exchange many pleasantries. He did chat with them briefly, and those two sentences highlighted the key point: Comrade Zhou and Comrade Qiu were going to the city to give a report...
And left them a newspaper.
Zhou Jiani glanced sideways. The captain's twenty newspapers shouldn't be enough to share, right?
Afterwards, the three of them went to the intersection to wait. When the car came, Zhang Baosheng waved and asked it to stop.
The conductor said with a blank expression, "Come on, come on, hurry up and get on board. Where are you going?"
Qiu Zeming said from behind: "Fu Yong!"
"It's two cents per person to Fuyong..." The ticket seller frowned, looking as if someone owed her money. She said in a stern tone, "Go inside. There are seats."
I glanced at the old man who had just waved and was about to ask him if he wanted to go up when I heard the two young men who had rushed over to the old man yell, "Xiao Zhou, Xiao Qiu, you're going to the city to give a report, so you must take the manuscript with you!"
Zhou Jiani was looking at the two remaining seats on the bus. They were separated, a bit far apart. She was thinking about negotiating a trade when she heard the captain's instructions. She turned around and said with a smile, "...Got it, Captain!"
Show off to whoever you catch.
The passengers on the bus were originally leaning back in their seats with their eyes lazily closed because of the sleepiness from waking up early. When Zhang Baosheng called out, they immediately sat up and looked at Zhou Jiani and Qiu Zeming.
The two of them immediately became the focus of the entire car.
The passenger next to him was surprised: "Wow, going to the city to make a report? What report?"
"What kind of representatives or cadres are you?"
Not to mention, even the ticket seller's attitude changed immediately. He had a face as if he owed someone a debt just now, but now he said "ouch" and asked with a warm smile: "Which brigade are you from? Are you going to the city to make a report?" It was incredible.
He didn't even close the open car door immediately, and gave Zhang Baosheng a smile.
Zhang Baosheng hadn't left yet. He was probably waiting for someone to ask him about it. He shouted from below, "We are from the Qianjin Brigade. These are two of our most outstanding educated youth. Comrade, please take good care of them."
"Oh, that's what I should do."
The conductor immediately came over and asked other passengers to move them to a seat next to each other, saying, "They're together, so let them sit next to each other."
Zhou Jiani hurriedly thanked the passenger, who waved and said, "You're welcome." He glanced at the two of them again, as if carefully observing whether the people who were going to the city to give a report had anything more than them.
Well, it would look better if it were longer.
This person thought that their team was quite good at selecting people. No matter whether they were boys or girls, they picked the most handsome ones. It would be a great honor to send them to the city for a report.
Even the driver turned around to see who was going to give the report in the city. He saw a young couple with very good looks. He grinned and asked, "What report are you going to give in the city?"
He looked thoughtful again, and thought, "Forward Brigade..." I seemed to have heard of it somewhere.
The team leader was too boastful, and it was impossible to keep a low profile. Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "A report on rural construction and the development of village sideline industries."
The car started slowly. Zhou Jiani replied, waving outside the car and shouting, "Captain, go back quickly. It's too cold. Go back and warm up!"
Zhang Baosheng also waved towards the car: "Okay, let's tell everyone about the newspaper story and read the newspaper to everyone!"
Zhou Jiani: ...No wonder I handed them a newspaper this morning, saying it might be useful. It seems like I wanted them to use it here!
Qiu Zeming lowered his head and held his forehead quietly.
Zhou Jiani glanced over, really wanting to be the conspicuous bag and let her boyfriend be the one, so she pushed him and gave him a look. Qiu Zeming nodded slightly, understanding that he would deal with everyone's enthusiasm.
The enthusiastic passengers really started to make a noise, and the conductor, aroused, said with a smile: "You guys are in the newspaper? Which newspaper is it? Read it, read it to us all."
The other passengers all said, "Let's listen to it."
Yes, although they were in the newspaper, information dissemination was slow at that time, and the call in the newspaper content was also for preparation for next spring. It was not the case that if it was published today, it would become popular all over the city tomorrow.
Zhou Jiani urged the newspaper reporter before mainly to add more content to report for today's meeting.
Moreover, many fellow villagers do not have the habit of reading newspapers. When they first heard about this, they all looked very curious.
Of course, some people did. Just as the ticket seller finished speaking, a middle-aged man in the corner said, "The Qianjin Brigade... Oh, the one that grows greenhouse vegetables?" He then said, "You're also the village that sells baskets, right?"
Being in the newspaper wasn't as good as word of mouth. Even going to the brigade early and being in the newspaper weren't as good as carrying greenhouse vegetables and baskets. A few of the people in the car who were making a fuss exclaimed, "Oh!" One said, "Oh, greenhouse vegetables, that's what it is... It's your brigade! I heard about it, I heard about it, it's you guys!"
The man asked, "Those strange-looking baskets sold in the city department store are made there, right?"
Another exclaimed: "Oh, it's them!"
The passengers behind also shouted, "Oh, oh, oh, I know about this, I know, I know, it's you! I didn't read the newspaper, but my child's uncle is the village secretary. He was summoned to a meeting at the commune about this matter. I heard that he can go and learn from you, and he doesn't have to pay. Is this true?"
Those who were chatting about baskets were shocked by the words "no need to pay". The topic was unified on these words and a new round of discussion began.
"There's such a good thing without paying any money?" The person who spoke had a doubtful tone, as if he was judging its credibility.
The person sitting next to this person also tilted his head and said, "You want to teach such a good technique without paying? Then does it have to be something else?"
The conductor stood next to Qiu Zeming and the others and said, "I have some recollection of this... I forgot when I heard a passenger on the bus say that the Xihe Commune Restaurant was serving stir-fried pork with cucumbers, braised eggplant, and steamed buns with leeks in the middle of winter. They said a brigade had built a shed and was growing vegetables there to supply the restaurant. Oh, it was your brigade! It even made the newspapers?"
She was thinking about growing vegetables in greenhouses and didn't know about the latest newspaper.
He also asked: "Why don't you charge for teaching this technique?"
Qiu Zeming simply stepped into the aisle and said with a smile, "Everyone, be quiet for a moment. Since everyone is so interested and particularly concerned about our free offer, let me explain it in detail..."
He started by talking about the "Plastic Greenhouse Thousand Mile Tour" event, and also talked about the difficulties encountered in the development of greenhouses in recent years and how Professor Zhao's team overcame them. He also talked about the opportunity for their team to grow greenhouses, and mentioned Zhou Jiani's help to sell vegetables for fellow villagers, one by one, and how the teachers in the provincial capital helped to find materials, and how he contacted friends to help inquire about Professor Zhao's team and ask them for advice.
At this time, the lack of information was evident again. One of the villagers said, "Oh, I thought you guys did it yourselves!"
Qiu Zeming laughed and said, "I don't have the skills of Professor Zhao's team. They've put in a lot of effort and hard work to ensure that ordinary people can eat vegetables all year round in the middle of winter, and they don't ask for compensation. We're just helping to promote it and providing guidance to the best of our ability. How could we possibly charge any fees?"
The atmosphere in the car suddenly became lively.
"That's what happened."
"I really didn't expect that."
"That sounds great! If greenhouses become more common, we won't have to eat just radishes and cabbages in the winter."
"Yeah yeah."
We were chatting animatedly when someone shouted, "Oops! I've missed my stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!"
The passengers laughed.
The car stopped and started again. Everyone urged Qiu Zeming to read the newspaper. Finally, he got off the car with a feeling of unsatisfied, thinking that this would be something to talk about when he got back.
One passenger double-checked before getting off the bus and said, "Comrade Qiu, isn't it possible for us to learn from you guys if we're not from this city's brigade?"
Qiu Zeming nodded. "Of course, you can learn the skills for free, but you'll have to provide for your own food and cover the costs of living with your fellow villagers. It's best to discuss this matter openly. Let your team leaders come to our leadership."
"I understand. Thank you, Comrade Qiu."
Most of the people got off at the county town, and the bus became quiet again.
But the ticket seller took good care of them along the way and was very friendly to them.
Zhou Jiani sat there quietly the whole time. With her partner helping her socialize, she was happy to have some free time. While Qiu Zeming was reading the newspaper to everyone, she joined the group and grabbed a red envelope, and bought three servings of raw chocolate and five packs of hand-peeled bamboo shoots.
After Qiu Zeming sat down, she still regretted that she could not feed her partner raw chocolate and hand-peeled bamboo shoots, so she took out two pieces of egg cake that she had put in her bag in advance and let Comrade Qiu have a snack.
Qiu Zeming also prepared some snacks for Zhou Jiani on the way. He made some dried meat with lean meat himself and whispered, "I learned this from my grandma. Try it."
Zhou Jiani ate a piece, was surprised, ate another piece, and said happily: "Comrade Xiao Qiu, your cooking skills are not bad!"
Qiu Zeming raised his lips and said, "I've saved some meat coupons. I'll make some before the New Year and bring it to Jiaping and Jia'an."
Zhou Jiani let out a "tsk" sound and called him quite affectionately. Is she trying to please her brother-in-law?
After getting off the bus at Buyong, the conductor enthusiastically asked, "Are you going back this afternoon?"
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Yes, if nothing goes wrong I should take your car again this afternoon."
"Okay, I'll save two seats for you."
"Thank you, big sister."
This time, we didn't take the bus directly to the station. We got off halfway and rushed over. So when the bus started moving again, the conductor said to the others who hadn't gotten off, "Did you see those two educated youth from earlier? They're here to give a report in the city."
At first she thought the team had chosen the good-looking person to give the report, but later she found out that the person had earned the honor based on his or her own ability.
Passengers who didn't know asked curiously, and the conductor started talking incessantly.
On the other side, Zhou Jiani and Qiu Zeming rushed to the government gate and saw Zhao Hongchang waiting there.
Seeing the two people coming over, Zhao Hongchang breathed a sigh of relief and asked first, "Comrade Zhou, Comrade Qiu, have you prepared the manuscripts?"
"Ready!"
"Okay, let me take a look."
Director Zhai asked Zhao Hongchang to help review the manuscript to avoid inappropriate words.
Zhao Hongchang was also hard at work. Standing in the cold wind, he reviewed the two people's manuscripts, corrected a few words, and crossed out one or two unimportant paragraphs. He said, "I don't have much time left for you. Try to be concise and highlight the main idea. Take a look at it first and familiarize yourself with it before your report."
He then comforted her, "Don't be nervous. I think you were in a good state and relaxed when you gave the report in the county. It's the same here. You just need to report your achievements to the leaders."
"Okay, thank you Secretary Zhao."
"Of course, of course. Come with me."
After entering the conference hall, Zhou Jiani took a deep breath. The scale of this conference was much larger than that in the county, and there were more people attending than in the county.
Zhao Hongchang comforted him again: "Don't be nervous, relax."
Zhai Xiangqiang came over to greet them and said, "Just sit here. Xiao Zhao will call you later."
"Okay, Director, you can go and do your work. Don't worry about us." Zhou Jiani said with a smile.
Zhai Xiangqiang nodded and left.
Zhou Jiani looked ahead and saw several familiar cadres from the county, who were communicating seriously with the people next to them.
The two sat down in the back row, and people around them turned to greet them. These people were different; they were current affairs conscious. When they heard they were educated youth from the Qianjin Brigade, they immediately said, "So you're from the Qianjin Brigade! Hello, comrades! I saw the newspaper and was deeply moved. Thank you for sharing your technology for free. Our commune is already holding a meeting to discuss this matter. I'll visit your brigade and learn from you later."
Qiu Zeming: "Welcome, welcome!"
Zhou Jiani also shook hands with the person next to her: "You are welcome to visit and give us guidance at any time."
"Don't dare, let's go and ask for advice and learn!"
After some polite greetings, the meeting began.
At the beginning of the meeting, the leaders of the city gave speeches one after another, followed by the leaders of the districts and counties, then the communes, and finally the outstanding brigade representatives under the counties, technical personnel who made outstanding contributions in various units, worker friends, etc., all came to the stage to give reports one by one.
Zhou Jiani was listening intently when Zhao Hongchang bent over and came over quietly, quietly reminding her to get ready.
Zhou Jiani exhaled lightly and recited the manuscript silently again. When a leader in the city extended the topic to weaving, she followed Zhao Hongchang quietly to the front.
"...This young comrade is also an outstanding comrade who dares to think and act. He sent his village's woven baskets to the Provincial Department Store and the Provincial Friendship Store. He also led the village's artisans to set up processing workshops and factories. In less than six months, artisans from his brigade, including several surrounding brigades, were able to earn wages in the village."
"I heard that this educated youth has only been in the countryside for less than half a year, and look at his efficiency..."
Zhou Jiani tried hard to keep herself calm, appearing as steady as an old dog, but she felt a little ashamed in her heart. She had not had such a big ambition at the beginning, she just wanted to make money for herself.
But on second thought, it was precisely because of the idea of 'making money' that pushed her forward step by step to achieve the honor she has today.
Any motivation is motivation, and there is nothing shameful in making money.
Thinking of this, he calmly accepted everyone's praise.
Amidst warm applause, Zhou Jiani walked onto the stage and stood among the leaders. She calmed herself down, bowed, greeted everyone, and then read the script.
Many people in the audience's eyes lit up slightly, and whispered to the people next to them: "I didn't expect that this female comrade is so beautiful."
His voice was clear and relaxed, his attitude was generous and he spoke the manuscript beautifully in standard Mandarin. In the eyes of Comrade Xiao Qiu below, his object was shining.
After her report, the leader straightened the microphone and continued, "Speaking of the Qianjin Brigade, their achievements this year are not limited to basket weaving. Has anyone here read the newspaper from the day before yesterday? Have you heard of plastic greenhouses..."
There was a murmur of discussion in the audience. Amid the discussion, Qiu Zeming walked up. Many people said "oh" softly, and their thoughts changed instantly. They glanced at Zhou Jiani who had returned to her seat.
I thought to myself, has the Qianjin Brigade picked a perfect pair?
That's not true. Those who came here are outstanding comrades who have made achievements. Therefore, the people in the Qianjin Brigade are not only outstanding in themselves, but also in appearance.
Qiu Zeming stood still and glanced towards a certain spot below the stage. Their eyes met, and a faint smile appeared in his dark, radiant eyes. He began his speech: "Dear leaders, dear fellow countrymen, good morning. I am from..."
While Qiu Zeming was giving a report on the stage, his elder brother Qiu Zexun, who was far away in the capital, came to pick up the bride.
It's a happy day, but today is a little bit unhappy. Qiu Zexun's mother wants to attend. Du Yunxin understands, but she won't flatter her. She doesn't owe her anything, so why should she be made a laughing stock in front of the guests because of her son's marriage.
So, if that lesbian comes over, she won’t be present on the wedding day.
This was just her own thought, and she didn't express it clearly. When Qiu Zexun discussed it with Qiu Dongshu, she didn't express any opinions, leaving it entirely to Qiu to decide.
But her stepson looked at her several times, as if he wanted her to express her opinion. Du Yunxin found it amusing. Was he trying to see her nod, or to hear her say something so he could take advantage of it?
She ignored her stepson's hints and didn't join in the conversation. She just looked down at the agreed menu with concern, pretending to add and subtract items, without letting her stepson see any emotion.
Qiu Dongshu flatly refused. He certainly didn't want to, and there was no need to explain anything - when he came back from outside, he opened the door and saw a man lying next to Zexun's mother, sleeping soundly.
Fan Cuidi was remarrying, not marrying into a family. Just because the man's house was not big enough, she came back to occupy his house. She even shamelessly said that coming back to live with him would help him take care of his mother and breastfeed the child, and she also got his mother's consent.
Qiu Dongshu was lucky that he didn't die of anger on the spot.
Yes, because of the special nature of the mission and the name of sacrifice, it was not easy for her as a woman with a child to live. He understood it, but he understood it in theory. However, the scene he saw when he came back was too shocking, and he could not suppress the strong discomfort in his emotions.
It was later learned that Fan Cuidi neither took care of her mother nor breastfed the child, but instead quickly became pregnant with a new child with her new husband.
Now she wants to attend her son's wedding... Haha, Fan Cuidi has given birth to five children in a row over the years, and has never asked about her eldest son.
Qiu Dongshu refused on the spot, and Qiu Zexun breathed a sigh of relief. Secretly, he didn't want his biological mother to come either. How could his biological mother compare to Du Yunxin, his stepmother?
This stepmother has a good family background, a good job, and is well-mannered and polite. My biological mother can't compare to her at all.
He wanted to get into this circle, and some things were just bonuses. If the people in the compound saw how rustic he was, and how old his mother looked, who was ten years older than his father, all his efforts over the years would have been in vain.
Originally, he wanted to use Du Yunxin's mouth to make a fuss, giving him a reasonable excuse to deny the request made by his biological mother. Then he would tell his biological mother that he wanted to live under his stepmother and asked Fan Cuidi to step back. After the wedding was over, he would bring the bride to visit.
Unexpectedly, his stepmother did not participate, and his father rejected it.
His father was fine, but his mother was a little unhappy and brought up the old things again: "Did you blame me back then? How could I have known he was not dead? I was pregnant with you when I received the news that he had died. I was able to give birth to you, so he should be grateful to me for the rest of his life. If he had really died back then, you, his posthumous child, would be his only descendant. I left him with his descendants, what else could he want? Why are you so ungrateful!"
It took a lot of effort to finally convince his mother.
But unexpectedly, his mother did not come, but instigated his aunt to cause trouble today.
Du Yunxin was also annoyed. Qiu Wen was her sister-in-law and had always had a good relationship with Qiu Zexun's biological mother. She had also taken care of Qiu Zexun when he was a child and was more partial to this older nephew.
Her ex-sister-in-law didn't come today, so Qiu Wen was very upset. It seemed as if her words implied that she, the stepmother, was instigating and preventing Qiu Zexun from letting his biological mother come.
Qiu Wen kept talking in a sarcastic tone, but Du Yunxin didn't tolerate her and told Qiu Dongshu directly, "Either tell her to shut up, or get out, or I'm leaving!"
Before Qiu Dongshu could say anything, the old man had Qiu Wen and her husband sent out, saying to her, "If you don't learn to respect your elder sister-in-law, don't come back."
He told the security guard that he didn't need to let Qiu Wen and her family in next time.
Qiu Wen was almost mad outside, whispering: "What elder sister-in-law? I only recognize one sister-in-law in my life..."
"I know you have a good relationship with Ze Xun's mother, but my eldest brother married my eldest sister-in-law in a formal ceremony. Why are you being so awkward with her? If I had known you were going to do this, I shouldn't have let you come here today." Qiu Wen's husband was so angry that he dragged her away.
Inside the room, Qiu Zexun went to apologize to Du Yunxin in a humble manner. Du Yunxin's eyelids twitched, but she smiled lovingly and said affectionately, "Good child, this is just a quarrel between the elders. It has nothing to do with you young ones. Today is your big day, you can't be unhappy. Go and get busy."
When the guests nearby saw Du Yunxin's loving attitude, they all praised her and said that their own mother was no more than this.
Qiu Zexun was slightly surprised. He felt that his stepmother was not the same as before. Just like the relationship between him and Qiu Zeming, there was an extra layer of hazy veil.
From then until the end, Du Yunxin did not let anyone find any obvious mistakes.
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