Chapter 128
Watching the car coming from afar, Zhang Baosheng turned around and waved his hand, and the gong and drum team he organized started beating. When the car arrived, he lit a string of firecrackers. Amid the crackling sound of firecrackers, outstanding female workers got off the car with enthusiastic smiles on their faces. Employee representatives came forward to shake hands with Zhai Xiangqiang, Zhang Baosheng and other village cadres and factory leaders.
The gong and drum team and firecrackers were organized by Zhang Baosheng and Liu Tong. They felt that this was the first time the village had received such a large-scale reception, and the guests were outstanding workers, so how could there not be some action?
Zhai Xiangqiang smiled and said, "Welcome, welcome. Thank you for your hard work along the way."
Zhang Baosheng said excitedly, "Welcome, welcome! All members of our Qianjin Brigade warmly welcome you all."
Zhou Jiani was also among those shaking hands. She said warmly with a smile, "Welcome, welcome. Everyone is welcome to visit us..."
During the handshake session, the photographer arranged by Zhou Jiani raised the camera.
The worker representative on this trip was Comrade Mei Hongyun from the Municipal Textile Factory. As a representative, she stood up and communicated individually with the leaders here. She simply thanked everyone for their hospitality and humbly expressed her apologies for causing trouble to everyone.
As the leader of the commune, Zhai Xiangqiang delivered a brief speech and expressed warm welcome to their arrival.
The villagers standing in two rows in front also clapped their hands happily.
Their village has never had this kind of activity before. I heard that these were all outstanding employees elected by various units. The local villagers simply understood that only outstanding employees were qualified to visit their village. Everyone had a proud look on their faces and their hands were red from clapping.
Zhou Jiani saw that everyone had finished their greetings, so she stepped forward and said with a smile, "Is it all hard work for everyone coming all this way? Our leaders asked the outstanding educated youth and members of our brigade to prepare some ginger and jujube tea for everyone. Everyone, follow me. Let's go rest and warm up first."
The educated youth and members who participated in the village's welcoming preparations all had a hint of pride on their faces. They didn't expect that they were actually outstanding educated youth/members, and they all enthusiastically helped to greet everyone.
"Come on, let's go have a cup of hot tea to warm ourselves up."
"Comrade, please come this way..."
"You must be freezing from riding in the car all that time, right?"
It's a little cold today, and we all came here by truck. Several comrades' faces and noses were red from the cold. When we shook hands just now, our hands were as cold as ice. I quickly asked everyone to go to the workshop that the factory had cleaned up and temporarily used as a reception room to rest.
Several comrades were a little surprised and smiled embarrassedly: "You also prepared ginger and jujube tea?"
Li Jingdang happened to be standing nearby. He smiled and gestured towards Zhou Jiani, saying, "That's Comrade Zhou Jiani, our Sales Section Chief. The ginger and jujube tea was Comrade Zhou's suggestion. Considering the cold weather these past few days, and how hard everyone must have traveled, we wanted to warm everyone up by drinking it. Even the red dates were purchased by Comrade Zhou..."
One older woman laughed and said, "Lesbians are still considerate of us lesbians, haha."
The people nearby smiled kindly and heartily, and then walked towards the factory involuntarily.
Maybe it was because of the cold or because they were tired from traveling so early in the morning, but Zhou Jiani noticed that a small number of the comrades looked a little listless, or even lacking interest.
That won’t do. An event like today’s has to be exciting from beginning to end.
If the first event is successful, they will be considered as the advance team for similar events in the future.
Zhou Jiani asked Director Zhai, Zhang Baosheng and other key leaders to walk in front and greet the worker representatives who came to participate. She deliberately fell a few steps behind and walked into the middle of this group of outstanding workers. She had already started talking to the two comrades closest to her.
The two were employees of the Municipal Food Factory, one named Qiao Guiyun and the other Wang Lichun. Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Is your factory near the intersection of Gongqingtuan Road and Xiaoxinan Road?"
Qiao Guiyun laughed in surprise: "Have you been there?"
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "I've never been inside the factory. I passed by your factory gate when I went to the supply and marketing cooperative next door."
Considering its location in the city center, the food factory was a bit remote and far from the department store. Both of them were curious about why Zhou Jiani went to the supply and marketing cooperative over there.
Wang Lichun immediately asked with a smile, "Why did Comrade Zhou go to the supply and marketing cooperative over there to buy things?"
Zhou Jiani shook her head. "When I was on business trips before, I would help the locals sell their own products. At that time, in order to help the locals sell their own hair bands, I went to all the supply and marketing cooperatives in the city."
Zhou Jiani doesn't shy away from promoting herself. If you want to make some connections now, why would anyone even take a second look at you if you don't have something special to offer? Why would they remember you?
Wang Lichun was surprised and asked, "Is it the kind of hair band you see in department stores?"
Zhou Jiani admitted bluntly, shaking her head with a wry smile, "Yes, although we successfully sold them into department stores, we failed to sell them to the supply and marketing cooperatives in various places."
Qiao Guiyun exclaimed softly, tilted her head to let Zhou Jiani see, and said with a smile: "See, isn't it? I bought this from the department store."
Zhou Jiani smiled and looked at it, then said, "Yes, yes, I can even find out who did it."
The two of them became intimate with Zhou Jiani and said, "This hairband is so well made. I can wear it at my age. It looks good and doesn't cut my hair."
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "To welcome everyone today, we've arranged a session where we'll invite our best members to teach everyone how to sew hair ties, and they're new styles."
The two of them became excited instantly, and turned around to promote the news to other people in their factory. From one to another, the cheers of surprise continued like waves, and the atmosphere instantly became much more lively.
When we were almost at the factory gate, except for a few representatives who were greeting the leaders in front, the expectations of the other thirty or forty people were suddenly raised to the maximum, which aroused everyone's enthusiasm.
Employees were also arranged to line the factory gate to welcome them and express their warm welcome to their arrival.
Everyone was ushered into a makeshift workshop, where Zhao Mei and other staff members busied themselves pouring tea and exchanging pleasantries. They even borrowed teacups from fellow villagers, but only a few were used. Most people brought kettles and aluminum lunch boxes, filling their water bottles directly.
The aroma of ginger tea instantly filled the workshop. After taking a sip, I felt warm all over.
I couldn't help but sigh, how thoughtful!
Zhai Xiangqiang and other leaders delivered speeches again.
Finally, Zhou Jiani stepped forward, looked around with a smile, and then said, "Our leaders have already said the welcome words. Their words also represent the voice of our people. Our voice is to welcome you all again and again. Now, let me say a few simple words. That is, on this great day today, I hope all the outstanding workers who have come here will have a good time and eat well in our Qianjin Brigade!"
Qiao Guiyun and Wang Lichun looked at her with warm smiles, applauded enthusiastically and shouted, "Good!"
After a round of applause, Zhou Jiani solemnly pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and said with a smile, "To welcome everyone, our Qianjin Brigade has organized the following projects. Regarding the projects at the weaving factory... we'll first take you on a tour of our development history and exhibition booth, explaining how we grew from a small workshop to a factory. Next, you'll experience hand-weaving, where our skilled craftsmen will teach you some simple hand-woven items."
"The knitting factory is over, and the next stop is the plastic greenhouse... Has anyone here heard of it?"
Many people said, "I heard about it. We even tried to grab your food supply before the New Year, but the quantity was too small."
"I've read the newspaper..."
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Now that we're done here, let's go take a tour of the plastic greenhouse and experience the fun of picking. We've also arranged a tug-of-war activity. There's a little prize involved, but we'll talk about that later." She raised her hand and gestured, "Now, let's let our comrades show everyone their weaving skills."
Liu Daniu walked up with a flushed face, and moved his hands and feet nervously, which caused the workers to burst into laughter.
Zhou Jiani had originally asked him to explain the steps while knitting, but when he stood there, his trouser legs rustled like sieved bran. His hands, relying on muscle memory, made no mistakes, but the steps he should have explained became, "Just... first this, then this, then this, then this... and that's it."
Then he walked off the stage with stiff hands and feet.
Everyone burst into laughter, Zhang Baosheng took a breath, and Zhai Xiangqiang looked up at the ceiling.
His master Liu Zhaoye rubbed his face.
Zhang Qianjin was a little better. He stuttered at first, but later he spoke more and more fluently. Although most of what they saw was not real, they were all surprised to see that the straw in his hand was wrapped around his rough fingers and finally turned into a small umbrella, which could be opened and closed like a real umbrella.
Gu Fugui, who learned it later, even braided a few braids.
No one cared about being reserved anymore. Several young men were grabbed by the female workers and asked to weave the clothes again at close range. The room became lively for a while.
Seeing that it was almost done, Zhou Jiani clapped her hands. When everyone quieted down and looked at her, Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Are you all warmed up now?"
Everyone suddenly realized that they were not in a hurry to let them go for a tour or anything, but were letting everyone drink tea and warm up and rest first. They said one after another: "It's warm, it's warm, my hands and feet are warm."
Yes, after drinking half a pot of ginger and jujube tea, I felt warm all over and indescribably comfortable.
Zhou Jiani smiled and invited, "Then let's take a tour of the factory together?"
"Okay, let's take a look. Your knitting is famous in the city."
"Walk, walk, walk, take a look."
Someone else asked, "Can you show us how you make your other knitwear?"
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Of course, we women are the most important today, so whatever you say goes."
Everyone burst into laughter and was extremely happy.
They whispered to each other: "This young comrade looks young, but he is so thoughtful in his work."
"Otherwise, I can become a cadre!"
"I just heard someone say that that young comrade played a very important role in the success of this knitting factory."
"Really? Oh my, she's about the same age as my daughter. The one in our family still needs to be urged to get up in the morning."
Zhai Xiangqiang was also very satisfied.
It’s not like the commune hasn’t hosted such large-scale events before, but he usually just went through the motions, delivering his part of the speech before leaving.
Today he was able to come down in person and assign the activities of other units of the commune to others, and he himself came to the Qianjin Brigade to preside over the work. The main reason was that this was the first large-scale village-level event during his tenure, and it was arranged by the higher-ups. He was afraid that the village would not do well, so he had to come to take charge.
I didn’t expect that Comrade Xiao Zhou could completely bring everyone together, and the female comrades who came were all very happy.
Of course, Zhou Jiani left the tour to Li Jingdang to lead and explain, after all, she is not very good at praising herself...
Everyone gathered around Li Jingdang to listen to the development history of the weaving factory, looked at the wall of honor, and occasionally burst into laughter, and then looked at the pretty girl next to them with an appreciative smile.
The little girl had developed a thick skin. She listened calmly, responded with a generous smile, and took every opportunity to praise the craftsmen in the village.
When visiting the booth, except for a few styles that I had seen in the department store, all the others were new styles that I had never seen before. Many female comrades particularly liked these things. Their eyes lit up and they gathered around them. They didn't need anyone to introduce them and they chattered lively.
"This basket is really exquisite."
"Yeah, I didn't see it in the department store."
"Oh my, you can even weave a suitcase... Cuifen, look at this! It would be so awkward to make a suitcase like this for your husband Xiao. Look, it's so neat and tidy. Oh, I love it so much, but I just can't use it..."
"This... this is a handbag? Oh my, this can be woven too? This bag is so pretty."
"Let me see, let me see..."
"Why does this basket look like the round pumpkins my mother-in-law grows?"
"Look at this basket, isn't that a big goose? Hahahaha..."
Everyone felt that their eyes were not enough, so they squeezed to one end to look, then squeezed to the other end to look. The crowds were surging here and there, and it was very lively.
After everyone had finished looking, Zhou Jiani squeezed in to introduce each one.
The female comrades realized belatedly that they had pushed the host aside and were the only ones having fun.
I was still not satisfied with the visit, so I went to the production workshop to watch everyone weaving.
Many people were eager to try what they saw, but they knew that this was a serious job and they could not participate for fear of damaging it. So after returning to the temporary living room, they were surprisingly enthusiastic about learning to weave small gadgets.
It’s okay for Liu Daniu to teach several people at the same time. It’s not that stressful. He teaches in a very methodical and serious manner.
There were groups of three or five people in the hall, studying very seriously.
Zhou Jiani was able to step out and breathe a sigh of relief, and also to pay attention to the arrangements for the next step.
Zhai Xiangqiang temporarily retreated to his office to drink a sip of tea and said, "It's quite good that you can make the reception so lively without any performances."
Zhang Baosheng was so nervous that his clothes on his back were soaked through. He took a sip of water from the teacup and said, "It has to be a young person." It was all suggested by Comrade Xiao Zhou.
Zhai Xiangqiang nodded: "Yes!"
Zhou Jiani controlled the time, and when she saw that it was almost time, she walked in with a smile and asked, "How is everyone's study going?"
This thing really depends on talent. Some people smiled bitterly and said, "Why can't I learn it?"
Some raised their hands to show her their work, saying, "Comrade Zhou, look at the grasshopper I made."
Those who learn quickly not only compile their own, but also help guide others who have not learned, or simply compile one for them.
Zhou Jiani smiled, looking at everyone with a very kind look, and said with a smile: "No matter whether you can learn it or not, let's all applaud ourselves for our efforts, okay? Let's also use this applause to thank the several skilled craftsmen who taught us..."
"Thank you, Master Liu."
"Thank you, Master Zhang."
"Thank you, Comrade Gu..."
Several young men who were teaching blushed and waved their hands in embarrassment.
After the applause died down, Zhou Jiani said with a smile, "Ladies and gentlemen, let's move over to the plastic greenhouse and take a look at the vegetables we've grown."
The group went to the greenhouse. On the way, Zhou Jiani said that those who like picking vegetables can pick some, and they will stir-fry these freshly picked vegetables at noon.
The female comrades also liked this and were eager to learn what was being grown in the greenhouse...
As a leader, Qiu Zeming expressed his welcome.
Liu Yan introduced to everyone the precautions for visiting and picking vegetables in the fields. Don't pick unripe ones, separate into groups of several people, and don't step on the vegetables next to you when going to the fields.
Everyone filed in, exclamations coming one after another.
First, there is a big temperature difference between inside and outside the greenhouse. Second, when you lift the curtain, you will see lush greenery, which is very different from the scenery outside.
"Don't rush to pick them. Take a look around first. Walk forward..."
"So this is what the inside of the greenhouse looks like."
"It's so warm."
“This vegetable is growing really well.”
This batch of tomatoes has grown very well, most of them are red and look very beautiful.
That crop of peppers was growing particularly well; the eggplants next to them were also ready to be picked, they were plump and purple and looked particularly beautiful.
The other half is cowpeas and kidney beans...
There are those coarsely woven earthen baskets at the edge of the field. If you want to pick vegetables, you can pick one up. If you don’t want to pick them, you can just look at them at the edge of the field and take a rest.
There weren't that many baskets, so two or three people worked in a group, each carrying one.
Almost all of them went to the fields, picking vegetables and praising the good crops grown.
The people working here came over to guide us.
Several older women chatted with the people who brought them: "Are you from this village or are you an educated youth?"
The other party said: "I'm from Shangliang Commune..."
"Shangliang Commune? From Ishihara County... Oh, you came here to study after reading the newspaper, right?"
The other party nodded and smiled: "Yes, I was sent here to study after the New Year."
"How many of you are here?"
"Two are here, and the other one is in the next shed."
The female workers exclaimed, "I think this activity is very meaningful. They're teaching for free... Is it free?"
The young man nodded and said, "Yes, they don't charge any money and they teach very attentively."
"You must study hard."
Everyone was picking the fruits and praising the fruits, thinking that the government's arrangement for Women's Day this year was really good.
In fact, they didn't have much hope before they came, thinking that the tour would be over.
I didn't expect that they would arrange a gong and drum team and a photographer. The tour was very interesting and the hand-woven fabrics were also very well made.
I heard that the villagers will be organized to teach them how to make hair bands. I heard that they are new models, so they are all very happy and satisfied.
After walking around several greenhouses, Zhou Jiani took everyone to the village committee.
After Zhai Xiangqiang followed Zhou Jiani and Qiu Zeming to the greenhouse, he saw that everything was arranged in an orderly manner, so he nodded and went to the village committee to wait with peace of mind, because the next step was to hold a tug-of-war competition on the open space in front of the village committee.
Zhou Jiani struck the gong and said with a smile, "It's almost noon. Let's burn off some energy and eat more later."
Everyone laughed.
Some of the lively ones even joked and laughed.
Zhou Jiani continued, "Do you remember this morning when I said I was going to organize everyone to learn how to make hair ties?"
Everyone was very supportive. They had also heard that this series of activities was organized by Comrade Zhou, so they were very satisfied and naturally supported him. They smiled and said, "Remember, the loser can't learn, right?"
Zhou Jiani laughed loudly and said, "That's not the case... The losing team will help the aunties in our village cook. The winning team will sit on the stools over here and learn how to make hair bands. They will also supervise the losing team as they cook for everyone. How about that?"
"good!"
"Hahaha, this is quite interesting."
"Agree, we agree, hahahaha."
"Okay, let the loser cook."
Everyone responded, finding this arrangement both familiar and novel.
What is familiar is that I have participated in it in the factory, but what is new is the reward and punishment method.
Everyone then realized that there were several stoves set up nearby with iron pots on them, and several aunties and ladies in aprons were looking at them with smiles.
Everyone gathered around to look at the stoves and pots, the chopping boards and washing dishes placed next to them, and they all found them interesting.
Someone else laughed and said, "You said you cook at home every day, and it's so hard to cook when you go out for a day. I really want to show off my cooking skills, hahaha."
The teams are divided into groups by drawing lots. The team that draws the number written "1" is the team that draws the number written "2".
The rope was ready and lime powder was sprinkled on the ground.
As the referee, Zhai Xiangqiang was surrounded by many villagers who spontaneously gathered to watch the fun. Some people even came from other villages to watch the fun after knowing that the Qianjin Brigade was having an event.
As soon as the whistle blew, the two groups of people pulled with all their might, and the surrounding villagers spontaneously cheered for them, making it very lively.
The tug-of-war ended with a roar of laughter. The losing team, far from being disheartened, was so overcome with laughter that they squatted on the ground, unable to get up. When they got up, they chased after one of the women, jokingly scolding her, "It's all your fault! You were grinning and making such a fuss over there."
During the tug-of-war, a female comrade at the front of Team 1 bared her teeth at the other side. The other side laughed, lost their energy, and was pulled a long way by Team 1.
The onlookers also laughed.
The winners all laughed and said, "Cook, cook..."
Zhao Mei brought out a few sisters-in-law from the village and taught everyone how to make hair bands.
The winner had no time to supervise, his eyes lit up when he saw the samples in the basket.
Of course, we definitely can’t let the guests actually cook, they just help out. While we’re busy, they’re unconsciously attracted by the hair band making and run over to watch...
After a lively lunch, we took everyone to climb the mountain and visit their fields.
When the event was over and the female workers were preparing to return to the city, Zhou Jiani waved her hand, and the aunts and ladies carefully selected from the village each held a prize basket with a finger-wide red silk tied on the basket, and put one into their hands.
The master in the photo studio quickly raised his camera and took a few shots.
Everyone likes it.
When they were about to say goodbye, several female workers were filled with tears and repeatedly thanked the elders and villagers of the Qianjin Brigade for their hospitality. They said to Zhou Jiani, "Comrade Zhou, please come to our machinery factory when you have time..."
"Captain Zhang, thank you for your hospitality. I wish your weaving factory and greenhouse will continue to grow better and better."
"Thank you, Director Zhai, for giving us a different kind of holiday."
"Deputy Director Li, goodbye. Thank you for your hard work."
"Comrade Zhou, thank you so much. I had a very happy holiday today. Thank you, and thank you to the folks of the Qianjin Brigade..."
The fellow villagers who came to see them off also shook hands and said goodbye one by one.
After watching the truck leave, Zhai Xiangqiang, as the leader of the commune, gave verbal praise and encouragement to the members and educated youth who participated in the reception today.
Afterwards, he called all the cadres into the office for a meeting, expressed his approval of today's reception work, and finally asked Zhou Jiani to write a summary report and submit it to the commune, and specifically reminded her: Write it well!
Liu Tong is responsible for counting all the expenses for the day and reporting them, and the superiors will issue subsidies.
It was the first time I organized such a large-scale event. I have to say it was quite tiring, but I got some exercise and accumulated valuable experience. Zhou Jiani started writing the summary report while soaking her feet in the evening.
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