Chapter 89: Are there problems with the work style of the investigation team members?
The selection of the "Red Flag Team" was actually a selection of advanced production teams. Since the selected production teams would receive a red banner and the art troupe would perform "Ode to the Red Flag," the people simply referred to the advanced production teams as the "Red Flag Team."
Zhong Ying and Li Linshi had been discussing this matter privately for some time.
In the past, the term "Red Flag Team" had absolutely no connection with the Tonggan Production Team. When selecting advanced production teams, those that could participate had to have something remarkable about them. As the most remote and impoverished production team under Liuzhang Commune, the Tonggan Production Team was already doing well if it could complete its procurement tasks and keep its members fed. The "Red Flag Team" was something it never even dared to dream of.
But Zhong Ying dared to dream.
Based on the selection criteria that Li Linshi told her, Zhong Ying felt that it was worth considering this matter.
The selection of the "Red Flag Team" is based on an evaluation of six dimensions.
The first point, of course, is grain production, which is crucial to farmers' livelihoods. Data can most directly show whether there has been progress.
Every drop of sweat shed during the past year of land reclamation has been worthwhile. This year, the Tonggan production team has achieved impressive grain yields. In addition to fulfilling the task of purchasing grain from the public and ensuring sufficient grain for the members and livestock feed, they also sold surplus grain for extra money.
Secondly, it reflects the trends that are most valued in this era: the number of times quotes are studied and the degree of progress in thought.
Zhong Ying didn't think this was a problem either. Ever since they got electricity and installed a loudspeaker, she would play the radio left by Yu Jing in the village whenever she had free time. As for learning the Quotations, Chen and Yang, the educated youths at the nursery, taught the words from the Quotations.
Thirdly, regarding collective accumulation, the public fund and grain reserves have met the standards. Grain has not lagged behind, but the public fund... Tonggan Production Team, which has just paid off its loan from the commune credit union, currently only has thirty-five yuan left in its public account, which is a slight setback.
However, they can stand up again on the fourth point! The fourth dimension of evaluation is tool innovation. Zhong Ying improved the double-wheeled plow harvester and spike roller under Li Linshi's one-on-one teaching. In addition, there are the improved farm tools left by Han Yanqun, Yang Tongjie, and Yu Jing. Now their production team has no shortage of new farm tools! Moreover, there is also the "great contributor" hydroelectric power station standing at the foot of the mountain. These are all bonus points.
The fifth point is a hard indicator: the average number of working days per person in the entire production team must reach more than 280 days per year. Zhong Ying specifically went to Cheng Bin, the current scorekeeper, to get the "Work Point Statistics Book" to see. Even the laziest and most lazy bum in the team met the standard. Although he only did four or five work points a day by slacking off, those who did more or less work still came to work.
Lastly, there was the criticism and struggle session. In this respect, the production team was quite harmonious. After all, everyone's ancestors were "domesticated children," and now they were all poor and lower-middle peasants. There were no black five categories elements. The sensible mountain torrent had taken away the Chen family, the landlords, more than forty years ago.
Zhong Ying was so keen on the selection of the "Red Flag Team" because, in addition to the priority use of tractors as a reward if elected, the commune would also reward the team with watermelon seeds, allowing them to plant them on their own.
Indeed, Zhong Ying's eyes lit up and she was completely captivated the moment she heard the word "watermelon".
Watermelon! A fruit that can be bought anywhere in modern supermarkets and farmers' markets, in this era where production follows the principle of "taking grain as the key link," watermelon, as an economic crop, is considered "the tail of capitalism" and is to be cut off; its cultivation is basically not allowed.
Zhong Ying searched through her memories and realized that she had only tasted watermelon once before, when she was twelve years old. Her brother, Zhong Cheng, and a group of boys of the same age in the team formed a "watermelon ambush squad." Under the cover of night, they secretly went down into the river and swam to the Yuqianwa production team, where they were able to grow an acre of watermelon that year. The boys grabbed the watermelon and ran away immediately.
Thinking of the watermelon cooled by the river water on a hot summer day, Zhong Ying couldn't help but drool.
Therefore, Zhong Ying was determined to get the watermelon seed—no, I mean, the Red Flag Team! Li Linshi also felt that based on the performance of the Tonggan Production Team that year, this matter had a good chance of success.
As soon as December arrived, the time when the Red Flag Team was usually selected, Zhong Ying's anxiety grew day by day, although she couldn't tell it from the outside.
Hearing her younger brother say that the verification team sent by the commune had arrived, Zhong Ying breathed a sigh of relief and immediately glanced at Li Linshi, thinking, "They've finally arrived."
The fact that the commune could send a work team to verify this proved that the production team had at least been shortlisted for the Red Flag Team selection. Zhong Ying parked her bicycle at the village entrance and hurried off with Zhong Xin to meet the person.
The first place the work group visited was, of course, the hydroelectric power station. Zhong Ying and Zhong Xin rushed over, and the backs of four unfamiliar men were surrounded by a crowd in the factory. When Li Ming, who was receiving them, saw Zhong Ying come in, his eyes lit up immediately, as if he had seen a savior. "Our team leader is back now. Let her tell the leaders about it."
Li Ming was really at his breaking point. He was fifty-five years old this year and was starting to forget things. Talking about things like water turbines and generators was really difficult for him.
The commune members made way for Zhong Ying, who strode in, grasped the outstretched hand of the middle-aged man leading the work group, and smiled gently, "We meet again, Deputy Secretary Zhao."
Zhong Ying knew half of the four members of the verification team: the leader, Deputy Secretary Zhao, and Xiao Zheng, the agricultural group officer. The other two, after introduction, were Zhang, the commune's management administrator, and Lao Chen, the representative of the Poor People's Association.
The four of them will stay in the production team for three days to conduct a rigorous evaluation based on six criteria.
Strength is confidence. Zhong Ying is not afraid of their investigation; she is afraid that they will not investigate.
After visiting the hydroelectric power station, the group went to the warehouse to look at farm tools and the granary to calculate grain reserves... While Zheng, the cadre, and Zhang, the accountant, were checking the work points of the production team, Deputy Secretary Zhao was observing Zhong Ying without making a sound. He always felt that the previous Director Ji and the current Director Ding had overly praised this girl, even exaggerating her abilities.
What can a young woman in her early twenties, who still needs a mentor, accomplish? And she's a woman; it's already quite impressive that she's clear about her own marriage plans.
Zhong Ying was lucky; she appeared just when Ji Zhenman and Ding Bingrui were desperate for promotions. She was willing to be the first to "take the plunge" and build a hydroelectric power station. And there happened to be an educated youth in their production team who understood water conservancy engineering. This allowed her to achieve results, be propelled to the forefront, and gain widespread fame.
Deputy Secretary Zhao believes that Zhong Ying took advantage of the timing. When Director Ji and Director Ding needed results the most, even if it wasn't her, but Wang Ying or Zhang Ying, they would still have been promoted by those two political animals.
However, despite Zhao's prejudice against Zhong Ying, he did not let it affect his investigation. He kept things separate and distinct.
Zhong Ying led the four of them around the village for a day, hosted them at her home for a meal, and arranged for them to stay temporarily at the team's accommodation. "There are still empty beds at the educated youth settlement, so please make do with these for now."
The group immediately waved their hands, saying that they were capable of enduring hardship, and besides, what kind of hardship was this?
Zhong Ying led them to the educated youth settlement again. This year, the team did not accept any new educated youth. The room where Han Yanqun and Yang Tongjie had lived before had been empty since they left. One of the four members of the work team went to squeeze into the room of Cheng Bin and Qiu Yucai, which was just enough room for them to stay.
Cheng Bin knew that these people had come to inspect the area, so he warmly welcomed them and helped tidy up the next room. At the same time, he subtly tried to earn points for the production team. "I have been working in the Tonggan production team for two and a half years now. The members are all very nice and take good care of us educated youth. I feel that the production team is like a big family, where everyone is working together to move forward."
Accountant Zhang and Old Chen exchanged a smile. They were used to it; when faced with an inspection team, who wouldn't say a few good words about their own production team?
However, after observing the production team for the entire day, it does seem to be doing quite well.
"Grain production has increased significantly compared to last year!" Accountant Zhang exclaimed.
Officer Zheng also said, "We have made great progress in improving agricultural tools, and our level of mechanization surpasses that of other production teams."
Old Chen from the Poor Association chimed in, "This production team even has a nursery and two barefoot doctors, a man and a woman. That's great! With a female doctor here, women don't have to worry about getting sick or giving birth."
Cheng Bin felt as if they were praising him personally, and his heart was filled with joy.
But in the other room, Qiu Yucai was also talking to Deputy Secretary Zhao.
Listening to the opinions and views of ordinary commune members is also part of the assessment. Deputy Secretary Zhao first asked Qiu Yucai if he had any difficulties in life after going to the countryside, and then asked him about his views on the cadres in the production team.
The conduct of cadres is also a very important point of verification. If there are serious problems such as being out of touch with the masses, engaging in capitalism, or other issues, even if the production team has a high output, they will be disqualified from running for the Red Flag Team.
Qiu Yucai knew he should say nice things at this moment, but for some reason, he seemed to be bewitched for a moment and had a crooked idea.
“Captain Zhong, there’s nothing wrong with what she does, whether she was the women’s team leader before or the production team leader now,” Qiu Yucai said, becoming hesitant. “Well, she and Cheng Bin… well, they’re the team’s scorekeepers. Never mind, maybe I’m overthinking it. One is the team leader, and the other is the scorekeeper. Their close relationship is just because of work…”
Deputy Secretary Zhao's heart skipped a beat. As far as he knew, this Captain Zhong was supposed to be a widow. Then he thought of the educated youth named Cheng Bin he had just met, who was handsome and refined...
Qiu Yucai glanced up and secretly watched the changes in the leader's expression. He couldn't help but feel secretly pleased. Why was it that others had bright futures and were highly respected, while he was like a rat in a gutter, unknown and obscure?
Qiu Yucai looked at Cheng Bin, who had returned to the room, and thought bitterly, "Let's all rot and stink together, and fall into darkness!"
The next day, Deputy Secretary Zhao, with a serious expression, decided to focus the investigation on the issue of cadres' work style.
He watched coldly as Zhong Ying organized the commune members to carry out production work. He saw Cheng Bin walk to her side and the two talk about the work points for the day. The young man and woman of similar age stood together, and the morning light shone on them. Whether it was because of his preconceived notions or not, Deputy Secretary Zhao thought that the scene looked very well-matched.
If the man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried, that would be a wonderful story, but that's not how it is in reality!
Just as Deputy Secretary Zhao was getting a little frustrated, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a dark shadow below. He looked closely and thought, "Hmm? Why is there a big black dog between these two?" The dog was quite large, effectively separating Zhong Ying and Cheng Bin at a safe distance.
Deputy Secretary Zhao's gaze moved upwards again, and looking at them once more, he realized that the two people, who weren't even standing very close, had absolutely no romantic feelings for each other.
Cheng Bin noted down today's work assignments, glanced at the big black dog in front of him, and could only turn around and leave to get back to work.
Zhong Ying glared at Li Linshi, annoyed. Hongtang was clearly a guard dog, but he had used her as a dog to watch over and protect her.
Li Linshi simply bent down and patted Hongtang's big black head, thinking, "Good daughter."
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Author's note: Li Linshi: I'm watching over my home, protecting my people, and guarding against any man who might try to steal my wife.
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