Chapter 58
After discussing work matters, Zhang Baosheng recounted the commune's punishment of Zhao Weiguo. Finally, he said, "The subdistrict office in the provincial capital has agreed to take police officers to visit the man who reported you at Zhao Weiguo's behest. I guess the most they'll do is make him write a self-criticism."
Zhou Jiani twisted her lips. He started writing self-criticism not long after starting working, and was still being instigated to act unruly. His development in the unit was also completely unknown.
After discussing this, Zhou Jiani discussed the issue of master craftsmen in the workshop mentoring apprentices. She reported her findings to Zhang Baosheng that morning and again suggested, "Please find time to talk to Uncle Si privately. We need him to take the lead. Otherwise, there's going to be a huge technological gap, and when the weaving industry grows to a certain scale, we won't be able to keep up."
Zhang Baosheng realized the seriousness of the situation and nodded solemnly. "Okay, then, we'll announce the benefits you mentioned last time at the meeting tonight. Let those old guys get a taste of the benefits first. After this delivery, we'll choose one of them to go to the provincial capital to gain some experience."
Zhang Baosheng left with his hands behind his back, his steps not as heavy as when he came.
Zhou Jiani went back to the room and continued sewing hairbands. She became more and more skilled. When she heard Zhao Mei coming back, she had already finished six. She raised her hand to scan them, put five away, and left one outside.
Before dinner started, Zhao Mei came to discuss returning the food delivery job to Zhou Jiani. Zhou Jiani waved her hand and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, this job will be yours from now on. I have other work arrangements."
She picked up her new creation and showed it to Zhao Mei. She said, "I'll make a few more tonight. Tomorrow, you can give them to Wang Liping and the two aunts. Just say they're little gifts from me. Don't say anything else."
"In a few days, ask them indirectly about other people's reactions when they see them wearing this headpiece. Wear one yourself and walk around town more often. If anyone asks, just say it was a gift from someone else."
Zhao Mei flipped through the pieces and, after a few tries, realized it wasn't difficult to make. Then she looked at the one Zhou Jiani was wearing. It was indeed pretty. If it had a wider range of patterns and colors, people of all ages could wear it. She vaguely guessed what Xiao Zhou was planning, but she was worried about whether people would buy into something so easy to make. She nodded and said, "Okay," without saying anything.
Zhang Huihui came back from school. When she saw Zhou Jiani, she jumped for joy and shouted, "Sister Jiani, you're back!"
"Huihui!" Zhou Jiani waved at her.
Zhang Huihui was holding the patchwork schoolbag in her hand. The little girl loved it very much. Every time she went to school, she would wipe the table with her sleeves before putting the schoolbag on it. She didn't just put it there at home, but asked her father to hang it up for her.
After using it for so many days, the backpack still looks very clean.
"Sister brought you a gift."
Last time she saw Zhao Mei using the big scissors at home to sharpen her daughter's pencil, so she bought her a knife when she bought it this time.
Then he took an eraser and a pencil.
Zhang Huihui was too embarrassed to take it, so she ran to ask her mother, then came back to take it and said with a happy smile, "Thank you, Sister Jiani."
Zhao Mei came over and wanted to give Zhou Jiani some money, but Zhou Jiani confiscated it and said, "I brought Huihui a little gift. You don't have to be so polite, sister-in-law. By the way, when you have time, go back to your parents' home and ask Brother Zhao to help me trade some dried cowpeas with the locals. My parents' colleagues at work want them."
Zhao Mei quickly responded, "I'll go back from town tomorrow and tell my brother how much he wants."
"My parents have a lot of colleagues, and none of them don't crave this. There's always enough, not enough to eat." Zhou Jiani smiled, "So just let Big Brother Zhao take care of the collection. This time is different. Tell Big Brother Zhao you'll give me one cent for every pound collected... Don't rush to refuse. This money isn't my own money. I'll treat it as cost and ask my parents and colleagues for it. I've already fulfilled my promise to help me this time. I'm not working for my own family. But you have to make sure the cowpeas are well-dried and safe."
Zhao Mei nodded in agreement: "Don't worry about this. If you are not in a hurry, let my brother collect it for you slowly. If all else fails, my sister-in-law's mother will send it to you in the evening as usual."
"Okay, I'm not in a hurry. I can send it back anytime." Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "I want red dates and peanuts too."
Zhao Mei was naturally happy, thinking that she would plant more cowpeas next year to dry them in the sun and earn some money to supplement her family's income.
She turned back to cooking.
Sun Ping and Yu Wanxia also came back. As soon as they entered the house, Sun Ping said, "Jiani, several old educated youth and sisters-in-law from the village asked me where I bought this flower. I told them you taught me how to make it, and they all said it looked beautiful and wanted to come and learn from you."
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "Just teach them directly. It's not difficult. Anyone who knows how to use a needle and thread can make it." She then asked for confirmation, "Do many people think it looks good?"
Yu Wanxia said: "A lot, everyone says they look good."
Zhou Jiani asked the two of them to help her make it, and used up the remaining rubber bands, making a few with the same color and a few with different colors.
Yu Wanxia admired her work and said with a sigh, "The seemingly ordinary scraps of cloth, after being made into a hair tie, the naturally formed wrinkles look like irregular flowers. I feel like ordinary colors can also look good."
Sun Ping was amused by her words, but she also admitted that Yu Wanxia's explanation was very accurate.
The blue and military green cloths that are commonly seen on everyone are rolled into a ball and placed on the table. When the inner circle is tightened, the outer circle forms a natural wrinkle curve, which looks really beautiful.
Of course, the ones made of floral fabrics are still the most beautiful.
In particular, there is a piece of corduroy material with a red background and small flowers, which can be made into a very beautiful hairband.
Sun Ping and Yu Wanxia took turns wearing them and looked at themselves in the mirror.
Then let Zhou Jiani put it on to see the effect.
"Jiani is pretty, and she will look even prettier in this bright color." Yu Wanxia took off the one she was wearing on her head and replaced it with this one.
Zhou Jiani also looked at herself in the mirror and the effect was indeed good. Black and red are a very sharp contrast, and it is particularly eye-catching when worn.
Someone called her outside. Yu Wanxia looked out and said with a smile, "It's Brother Qiu."
Zhang Huihui ran in and said, "Sister Jiani, the village asked you to go to a meeting."
"Okay, I'll go right away." Zhou Jiani didn't change her hairband and went out directly with this one.
Qiu Zeming had a few books and magazines in his hands. When he saw her coming out, he handed them to her and said, "This is the information sent by my friend in the capital. Take a look."
"Then wait for me. I'll put it back and take some time to take a good look at it."
When Zhou Jiani turned around, Qiu Zeming's gaze paused on the red hairband behind her head.
He went back to the room, put down the book, and came out in a hurry, saying, "Let's go."
As they walked side by side toward the village committee, Qiu Zeming glanced sideways at the hair ornament and whispered, "Comrade Xiao Zhou, the woolen fabric I negotiated for the garment factory last time has arrived. We have some extra. Do you want some?"
Zhou Jiani's eyes lit up: "Yes, yes, yes, yes!"
Qiu Zeming's lips curled slightly. "Okay, I'll go to the county town with Wang Qian tomorrow and bring it back this afternoon. Qianjin's brother-in-law will also be there. He'll bring some carp from Qingshui County, and there's a share for you. Is there anything else you need to bring?"
Zhou Jiani smiled even more brightly.
Isn't this just walking into trouble?
"Two more bags of palm-sized scraps. If you can choose, one brightly colored with patterns, one darker. And get me a big bag..." She gestured, "of yellow rubber bands."
Qiu Zeming raised an eyebrow and agreed, then continued, "Let's go see if there are any new movies at the county cinema tomorrow. If there aren't any new ones, why don't we go see something else in a few days?"
Zhou Jiani nodded, feeling more and more embarrassed. They should have watched a movie last time. Comrade Xiao Qiu was a little obsessed with it.
On the other side, Liu Ailing was also called out.
"Comrade Wang Changzheng!"
Wang Changzheng looked at Liu Ailing with a gloomy look, his eyes filled with confusion, but he still said, "Weiguo was punished to work on the farm, and he may be sent to another brigade in a year. Before he left, he asked me to take good care of you in the future. If you need any help in the future, just come and ask me."
Wang Changzheng thought of Zhao Weiguo's earnest instructions before he left, and wondered if Weiguo was dating Liu Ailing.
It's no wonder he thought too much. He had heard Zhao Weiguo mention Liu Ailing more than once, praising her highly. He also said that the conflict between her and Zhou Jiani was due to Comrade Zhou's misunderstanding of Liu Ailing, and he felt quite sorry for Liu Ailing.
But today, Zhao Weiguo left, and until I came to find her, Liu Ailing didn't go to the educated youth site to ask anything.
So there was some subtle condemnation in his eyes.
Even if they were not dating, Zhao Weiguo cared about her so much and usually took good care of Liu Ailing, so she should have come to ask about him, but in the end, there was no sign of him.
Liu Ailing was furious when she learned that Zhao Weiguo had asked Wang Changzheng to take good care of him in front of a group of old educated youth and militiamen. However, she didn't show it on her face and whispered with concern, "Is Zhao Weiguo seriously injured? I wanted to ask him after hearing about it, but you know my current situation. I'm almost a rat crossing the street..."
She gave a self-deprecating smile. "I've been particularly reluctant to interact with other people lately, but I'm worried about Comrade Zhao Weiguo. Luckily you came to let me know. Thank you, Comrade Wang. I appreciate your kindness. If there's anything I can handle on my own, I'll do my best to solve it myself. I won't cause you any trouble."
The inquiry in Wang Changzheng's eyes disappeared. Thinking that he might have misunderstood Liu Ailing, he softened his tone and said, "It's not a problem. Come to the educated youth camp to find me if you have any questions."
As he was about to leave, Liu Ailing suddenly had an idea and said hurriedly, "Comrade Wang, wait a moment."
She turned and went back into the house, brought out two pounds of cornmeal and handed it to him. With a gloomy look in her eyes, she said worriedly, "Farm work is hard and physically demanding. It's better to stay in the brigade and be comfortable. The little food we've divided up won't be enough for Zhao Weiguo to survive. I know you're good friends, and you're worried about his situation over there, so you'll definitely go see him. When you go, please bring this little food back for him so he can at least have a full meal."
After saying that, he turned around and went in without waiting for Wang Changzheng to refuse.
Wang Changzheng was stunned for a moment holding the cloth bag before turning around and leaving.
He had no plans to visit Zhao Weiguo, but now he felt that what Liu Ailing said was right. He should find time to go and see what the situation was like over there, so that he could lend a hand if he needed any help.
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