Chapter 152 The Factory Is Out of Its Power
"Liu Wenming, quickly bring An'an out here and have some sweet mung bean soup to cool off in the heat."
Zhang Wenxiu put the bowl on the small stool by the kang (a heated brick bed) and called out to the inner room.
Liu Wenming, the ten-year-old son of Party Secretary Liu, walked out holding Xu Zhian's hand.
Both children had beads of sweat on their noses, and their eyes lit up like stars the moment they saw the bowl of mung bean soup.
Xu Zhian, with his short legs, hurriedly approached.
He looked closely with his round eyes, then tilted his chubby little face up and asked in a clear voice, "Auntie, is this soup chilled?"
"I've kept the basin chilled with well water for about half an hour, so your stomach won't get cold."
With a smile in her eyes, Zhang Wenxiu ladled a bowl for each of them as she spoke, gently instructing, "Drink slowly, don't choke."
"Come on, young Xu, have a bowl too."
Xu Zhili held the bowl and sipped it slowly. The sweetness of the mung beans mixed with the refreshing smoothness of the rock sugar went down her throat, and the dryness she felt from being exposed to the sun was instantly relieved.
Xie Jianguo glanced at the satisfied looks on the siblings' faces, picked up his wine bowl and clinked it against Liu Zhengwen's across from him: "Speak, what is this important matter?"
Xu Zhili glanced at the two of them, then carefully took out a notebook from her small handbag, took out a few neatly folded sheets of paper, and handed them over with both hands.
The two quickly took it and took a closer look. Good heavens, it was a purchase certificate from the county machinery factory! They couldn't help but exchange a glance, their eyes filled with undisguised surprise.
“Young Xu, this is a purchase certificate from the county machinery factory.”
"And the Public Security Bureau's logistics department, how did you manage to get your hands on them all?"
Xie Jianguo looked at the certificate over and over, and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Xu Zhili smiled and nodded gently.
"My goodness, little Xu, you really are something else."
Liu Zhengwen looked amazed and gave a thumbs up.
Xie Jianguo suddenly seemed to realize something crucial. He put down the certificate and looked at Xu Zhili: "Little Xu, you came to see us today because of this procurement certificate, right? Is there any difficulty?"
"As expected, the old fox is spicier; you guessed it right away."
Xu Zhili smiled and then began to recount her prepared explanation...
Xu Zhili explained that the purchasing agent from the county machinery factory came to the countryside to purchase supplies and happened to hear that Xu Zhili had excellent hunting skills.
So the county public security bureau's logistics department and the county machinery factory thought of asking her to help hunt a game so that they could improve the meals for the machinery factory's employees.
But he was worried that this matter would be misunderstood as speculation and profiteering, so he specially issued a purchase certificate.
After listening to Xu Zhili's detailed explanation, Xie Jianguo nodded slightly and said seriously, "Since it is a public institution with this actual need and the procedures are complete, then such a situation is naturally legitimate and cannot be considered speculation."
Seeing this, Xu Zhili said, "Uncles, the county public security bureau's logistics department and the county machinery factory are interested. In addition to the prey, they also want to see if they can purchase some surplus grain, fruits and vegetables from our Xiangyang Brigade to supplement the staff."
“Young Xu, you’re an educated youth,” Xie Jianguo frowned slightly upon hearing this, gripping his wine glass tightly, looking troubled. “What you said makes sense, it’s a great thing, but you… sigh, you don’t know the team’s financial situation.”
“The past few years have been tough, we just survived a famine, as you know. The little bit of food our team has left is barely enough to give everyone a breather.”
He sighed, his voice deepening, "The task of handing over public grain is heavy, it's a hard and fast rule, there's no room for ambiguity. The remaining rations have to be counted carefully, and when distributed to each household, it's just enough to feed them and ensure they don't go hungry."
"But right now, we simply can't scrape together any extra grain to supply the government."
"yes!"
Liu Zhengwen nodded heavily beside him, his face full of helplessness. "The little bit of grain left in the warehouse is for preventing a spring famine or for saving lives in case of an emergency. We dare not touch it. Young Xu, our Xiangyang Brigade has a warm heart and wants to support the country's construction, but right now... we are really powerless to do so."
"Uncles, I understand the difficulties the team is facing."
Xu Zhili spoke calmly, with an understanding smile on her face, but her voice was clear and firm: "You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time. We can start with the game. The things in the mountains don't take up the team's rations, so I can find a way to organize this."
"As for grains and vegetables, we'll wait until after the summer or autumn harvest, see how the year goes, and weigh the surplus in our granaries. As long as we have the capacity, we'll definitely respond to the national call and make it happen!"
"Xiao Xu, your heart is good, Uncle understands."
Xie Jianguo's tone softened a bit, but his worry remained. "You're a skilled hunter, everyone in our brigade praises you. But the mountains have their dangers; it's not your own backyard. Wild beasts, steep cliffs, getting lost... none of these are trivial matters."
“But you’re just a little girl. What if something happens to you? How am I supposed to explain it to your six-year-old brother? What if someone dies? How am I supposed to explain it to all the other villagers?”
His eyes held genuine concern and a heavy sense of responsibility.
Liu Zhengwen quickly added, "Old Xie is right. The situation in the mountains is complex and fraught with danger. You're young, and your physical strength is ultimately limited. It's too risky to deal with large prey. We can't put safety aside for a little extra income!"
Zhang Wenxiu, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but chime in: "Yes, little Xu, I know you're stronger than most girls, and I've heard you've hunted wolves and wild boars."
"But those were all just coincidences, weren't they? How can you be so lucky every time? You never know what might happen in the mountains!"
"Uncle Xie, Uncle Liu, Aunt Zhang, I understand what you mean."
Xu Zhili's gaze swept over the three of them, her smile unchanged, but with an undeniable confidence. "I appreciate your concern for my safety. But I'm not just acting rashly on impulse."
She paused briefly, then continued clearly, "I know that forest in the Western Hills well. I know where there are things and where it's safe. I don't intend to just rely on brute force to fight head-on. I have my own methods."
"Besides, I'm not alone. I can organize a few experienced members to help each other out. I'm about 80 or 90 percent confident about the hunt. I wouldn't say 100 percent, but it's definitely not a reckless risk."
She looked at Xie Jianguo and Liu Zhengwen with earnest and firm eyes: "Uncles, let me give it a try. Let's organize a small team to go into the mountains once or twice and see how it goes."
"If it works out, it will be a new source of income for the team and bring some benefits to the members. If it doesn't work out, I will stop immediately and never mention it again. I will leave everything to your arrangements."
Xie Jianguo and Liu Zhengwen exchanged a glance, seemingly exchanging opinions with their eyes.
Xu Zhili's words were reasonable and well-founded. She understood the group's difficulties, proposed a relatively safe trial plan, and expressed her attitude of taking responsibility, which made them hesitate.
After weighing their options, Xie Jianguo and Liu Zhengwen ultimately agreed to Xu Zhili's decision.
After all, no one is willing to risk their life. Everyone knows that Xu Zhili is strong and capable.
However, she was only a sixteen-year-old girl, and even with her outstanding abilities, the fact that she was going hunting alone in the mountains still made people worry.
Just after leaving Secretary Liu's house, Xu Zhili held her younger brother Xu Zhian's hand and walked home.
She lowered her head and asked softly, "An'an, were you scared at Uncle Liu's house today? I was busy just now and didn't have time to look after you."
Xu Zhian raised her little face and shook her head vigorously: "I'm not afraid! I know that my sister is busy with something very important. Sister, I just saw Brother Xie wearing a green uniform, just like the People's Liberation Army uncles in the magazine. Is he a great hero?"
Xu Zhili couldn't help but laugh and said, "You little scatterbrain, you were just calling him big brother, how come you're calling him uncle of the People's Liberation Army now?"
Xu Zhili was amused by her younger brother's words and gently flicked his nose: "You little rascal, you have a sharp eye. Yes, your big brother Xie is a member of the People's Liberation Army, protecting our country. He is a very powerful hero."
"When I grow up, I want to be a soldier in the People's Liberation Army and a great hero."
Xu Zhian's childish voice was full of longing. "Okay, then you'd better eat well first, and grow tall and strong quickly."
Xu Zhili responded with a smile, but her heart was stirred by her brother's words.
After finally coaxing Xu Zhian to sleep, I watched his fluffy head rest on the pillow, his little brows relaxed, his even breathing carrying the light, gentle breath unique to a child.
Xu Zhili breathed a sigh of relief and gently tucked the blanket around his head.
"Enter!"
Her fingertips traced across the void, and after the familiar dizziness subsided, she found herself standing in her own private space.
Here, the clouds and mist swirl, and the vegetation is lush. With a thought, a clear hot spring appears not far away, its steam rising and carrying a faint fragrance of grass and trees.
Xu Zhili shed her chores and clothes, and slowly stepped into the water. The cool spring water just reached her shoulders, as if she were being gently supported by a pair of gentle hands. The fatigue of the past few days seemed to be quietly absorbed by the spring water, and her limbs and body relaxed.
She slowly closed her eyes, immersing herself completely in the tranquility that was rare in ordinary times.
Just then, the iridescent leaves of the Tree of Life, like dreamlike sprites, drifted down gently and flew lightly past her, as if telling a mysterious and beautiful story.
Suddenly, a clear and cheerful voice rang out: "Master, Master, would you like to taste the newly ripened Fruit of Life?"
That Tree of Life stands right next to the Five Hot Springs.
On its branch, it steadily holds a fruit of life.
Xu Zhili did not open her eyes, but only slightly parted her pink lips.
At this moment, the Tree of Life named Ya Ya tilted its trunk slightly, and its branches, as if imbued with sentience, steadily held the Fruit of Life and gently offered it to Xu Zhili's lips.
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