Chapter 97 Holiday
Before going to the Revolutionary Committee, Lin Qingqing wrote a thick plan.
Lin Qingqing writes this kind of thing often and has already gained experience. This one is a compilation of the contents of previous plans, so although it looks thick, it didn't actually take Lin Qingqing too much time.
The plan is divided into three parts. The first part consists of Lin Qingqing's previous plans, each with accompanying achievements. At the end, a systematic summary of the past year's results is provided, along with data comparisons. The second part is a short-term one-year plan, written based on the existing foundation, but slightly exaggerated, emphasizing two key points: insufficient space and tight funding—in short, it's all about money! The third part is a long-term five-year plan, which goes beyond slight exaggeration; it's downright boasting. Of course, boasting has its limits; it can't be all flowery and unrealistic. It needs to be exaggerated yet realistic, making the future depicted in the plan seem both distant and achievable.
Lin Qingqing considered herself an honest person, and the third part of her writing was a bit hesitant. However, Director Gao was very satisfied after reading it. Not only that, he stared at Lin Qingqing in shock for a long time, as if he were seeing her for the first time.
Lin Qingqing could only maintain a polite smile in response.
Much of the plan was discussed and drafted by Lin Qingqing and Director Gao. After it was finished, Director Gao reviewed it and offered suggestions for revision. This revision process took half a week. By the time Lin Qingqing had reorganized the plan and Director Gao confirmed that it was correct, half a month had passed since the two decided to go to the Revolutionary Committee to play the victim.
On Monday, when the Revolutionary Committee was holding a general meeting, Director Gao took Lin Qingqing to the Revolutionary Committee building.
Lin Qingqing used to go to the family resettlement office when she came to the Revolutionary Committee. This was the first time she had been to the third floor. But she was a person who had seen a lot of things, so she didn't feel particularly surprised or nervous.
Because they arrived early, before the Revolutionary Committee meeting had ended, Director Gao and Lin Qingqing were led to the reception room.
When Lin Qingqing entered, she noticed that besides Director Gao, there were several other people in the reception room, all of them men. One of the men saw Director Gao and said with a smile, "Isn't this Director Gao? What a rare guest! What brings you here today?"
"I don't treat the Revolutionary Committee like my own home like Director Huang does," Director Gao said casually, then introduced Lin Qingqing, "This is Director Huang from the soy sauce factory."
Lin Qingqing had heard about Director Gao's previous experience and knew that she had been transferred from the soy sauce factory to the supply and marketing cooperative. The soy sauce factory wasn't a large unit, but it was the only one in Jin City, and it still had dozens of employees. It was also related to people's livelihood, so it was more important than the supply and marketing cooperative.
Judging from the subtle yet firm tone in their conversation, Lin Qingqing instinctively felt that Director Gao and Factory Director Huang didn't have a good relationship. However, regardless of their strained relationship, since Director Gao had introduced them, Lin Qingqing still politely greeted him as "Factory Director Huang."
"And this is..." When facing Lin Qingqing, Factory Director Huang's smile was not as warm as before, and his tone was somewhat indifferent.
"Our supply and marketing cooperative's store manager is Comrade Lin Qingqing," Director Gao said.
Upon hearing that she was a manager, Factory Director Huang looked surprised. Lin Qingqing didn't look that old! However, he was a factory director after all, and a manager of a supply and marketing cooperative store was not worth his attention. He quickly stopped paying attention to Lin Qingqing.
After Director Huang, Director Gao introduced several other people, mostly heads of various units. Lin Qingqing also noticed that they were all alone, and she didn't know if they had come alone or if their companions had been arranged to go elsewhere. However, although Director Gao didn't come to the Revolutionary Committee often, he was certainly more familiar with the rules than she was. Since Director Gao didn't mention it, she didn't bring it up either, and waited patiently for the meeting to end.
...
While waiting, Director Huang and the others chatted.
Judging from their tone of voice, they were quite familiar with each other, but it was hard to tell whether their relationship was good or bad. However, Lin Qingqing was already certain that Director Huang and Director Gao did not get along.
During their conversation, Factory Director Huang frequently steered the conversation towards Director Gao, ostensibly a friendly reunion, but actually with a hint of boasting. Suddenly, Factory Director Huang called out to Director Gao with a smile, "Director Gao, why don't you come in with me later?"
"No need," Director Gao said calmly.
"Don't be so polite, otherwise what if Secretary Zheng can't remember who you are when he hears your name?" As he spoke, Director Huang and the people around him laughed.
They laughed unrestrainedly. Lin Qingqing frowned slightly as she watched, but seeing that Director Gao's expression remained unchanged, she calmed down.
Before Director Huang's laughter had stopped, the junior staff member who had brought them in earlier walked directly up to Director Gao and said, "The meeting is over. Secretary Zheng would like to invite you over."
The laughter stopped abruptly.
Director Gao nodded and stood up. He followed the junior staff member for a few steps, then stopped and turned to ask, "Director Huang, how about I take you to see Secretary Zheng? That way you won't have to wait any longer."
Factory Director Huang's face immediately stiffened, and he managed to force a smile as he said, "I'll wait a little longer, you go ahead."
"Since Director Huang doesn't want to go in with me, then forget it," Director Gao said casually, leading Lin Qingqing to Secretary Zheng's office.
After everyone left, the smile on Director Huang's face gradually turned cold, and he cursed inwardly, "You little slut!"
...
Director Huang felt that Director Gao had gone to such a small unit as the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative and had not achieved any results, so he was too ashamed to come to the Revolutionary Committee except for the quarterly and year-end meetings. He figured Secretary Zheng would definitely not bother with her.
In fact, during his mid-year report, Secretary Zheng had noticed the changes at the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative. He had been thinking of meeting Director Gao, but he always felt the time wasn't right, so he kept putting it off until now. After the meeting, he learned from his secretary that Director Gao had come to see him, and immediately asked his secretary to take her to his office.
However, upon noticing the young woman following behind Director Gao, Secretary Zheng asked, "And who is this?"
"This is Comrade Lin Qingqing, who was promoted to store manager of our supply and marketing cooperative last year," Director Gao introduced.
"So you are Comrade Lin." Secretary Zheng had been paying attention to the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and naturally knew that Lin Qingqing had made a great contribution to its rapid expansion.
However, Lin Qingqing looked much younger than she had imagined.
However, Secretary Zheng did not show his surprise and asked Director Gao what business he had come today. Director Gao replied in a serious tone, "I've come to report to you on my work."
"Oh?" Secretary Zheng's eyes revealed a hint of interest.
Upon seeing this, Director Gao took out the plan prepared by Lin Qingqing and gave it to Secretary Zheng, beginning to explain the summary at the beginning of the plan. Secretary Zheng actually knew about what they had done over the past year, but his information channels were mainly quarterly and semi-annual reports. These reports were phased, from one to three, and then from three to six, so they didn't have a great impact. His impression after reading them was, "Oh, the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative has done a very good job in the past six months."
But this summary report, from one to six, has a much stronger impact, making people marvel at how much the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative has changed, with its turnover increasing more than tenfold compared to a year ago!
Secretary Zheng is a very ambitious man. He has served as the director and secretary of the suburban revolutionary committee for two years, and he has accomplished a great deal in those two years. He hopes to achieve some success so that he can be promoted. After all, he is only forty-three years old this year, and his political career is still very long.
However, the situation in the suburbs is complicated, and no matter how ambitious and capable he is, he is bound to be constrained. Although he has made some achievements so far, it is not enough.
Therefore, upon seeing this summary and recalling Director Gao's visit... Secretary Zheng pondered this as he flipped through the plan.
As he was looking at it, Secretary Zheng interrupted Director Gao and asked, "Did you make this plan?"
"The proposal was written by Comrade Lin," Director Gao said.
Lin Qingqing also chimed in at the opportune moment: "Director Gao was in charge of the overall direction of the plan. After it was written, Director Gao gave his opinions and it was revised and completed."
Secretary Zheng praised, "You two have very good ideas."
Because Lin Qingqing wrote the proposal, she participated in the discussion, though she didn't offer many opinions. Despite this, Secretary Zheng didn't underestimate her, because although she spoke little, her insights were always insightful.
Later in the conversation, Director Gao suggested moving to a larger venue.
But Secretary Zheng did not agree immediately, and only said, "I remember your supply and marketing cooperative has three floors? And a courtyard in the back?"
"As you can see, according to the plan, even if we vacate the third floor now, the supply and marketing cooperative's current location will become scarce again in less than six months," Director Gao said.
"There are still six months left," Secretary Zheng said, looking at Director Gao and Lin Qingqing's expressions. "Comrades, you must believe me, I very much hope that your supply and marketing cooperative can expand its scale, but you know the situation in the suburbs. Where can we find a suitable place for you? Besides, your scale hasn't caught up yet, which makes things difficult for me. How about this, after six months, if your current place is indeed not enough, I will arrange a place for you, is that alright?"
Director Gao had already anticipated Secretary Zheng's attitude. It would have been better if they hadn't had this idea before, but now that the idea had arisen, and they had spent another half a month preparing the plan, only to receive such a reply... Director Gao was unwilling to accept this.
But Director Gao also knew that these officials were the type to act without seeing tangible results, and it would be difficult for a mere proposal to impress Secretary Zheng. Ultimately, it came down to the fact that the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative was too small. If they were the size of a city department store, relocating them would be a simple matter of a word from them.
While Director Gao was pondering, Lin Qingqing smiled and said, "That's possible, but..."
Although Lin Qingqing was considered a cadre in the supply and marketing cooperative, she was no match for Secretary Zheng. If it weren't for Director Gao bringing her along, Secretary Zheng probably wouldn't even have seen her. Naturally, she had no say in this situation. But one must strike while the iron is hot. If this opportunity was missed, it would be difficult to secure venue funding later. So she boldly answered for Director Gao, but left the question unanswered.
Knowing her cautious nature, Director Gao immediately asked, "But what?"
Seeing that Secretary Zheng didn't seem angry, Lin Qingqing continued, "The development path will definitely be different whether we change the venue or not. If we continue to use the current venue, it may take us a year to achieve our plan, but if we change the venue, the time may be shortened considerably."
Secretary Zheng listened with interest and asked, "Now that the location has changed, how do you plan to develop it?"
"That depends on how big the venue the organization arranges for us," Lin Qingqing said.
When Secretary Zheng heard her still keeping him in suspense, he smiled and asked, "How big of a venue do you want?"
Lin Qingqing laughed: "Of course, the bigger the better. As big as a department store would be ideal."
Secretary Zheng laughed heartily, pointed at Lin Qingqing, and said to Director Gao, "Your colleague certainly dares to speak her mind."
Director Gao was also somewhat surprised, but having seen many storms, she remained calm no matter how much turmoil stirred within her. She smiled and said, "Which supply and marketing cooperative doesn't want to become a department store?"
Secretary Zheng thought about it and realized that a soldier who doesn't want to be an officer isn't a good soldier, so he said, "If I were to approve such a large site for you, what would you want to do with it?"
"If you approve such a large site, it's not about what I want to do, but what you want to do."
"Hmm?" Secretary Zheng frowned, not quite understanding what she meant.
Lin Qingqing simply asked, "Do you know Central Street?"
The department store was located on Central Street, the busiest commercial street in Jin City. Secretary Zheng grew up in Jin City, so he naturally knew Central Street, but he didn't know its connection to this matter. Although unsure, Secretary Zheng didn't ask rashly, but simply nodded and said, "I know."
"Didn't you ever think about creating a second central avenue in the suburbs?"
Upon hearing this, Secretary Zheng's expression froze: "Do you know what you're saying?"
“Of course I know,” Lin Qingqing said.
Secretary Zheng stared at her for a while, then suddenly laughed, pointed at her, and said to Director Gao, "Your colleague is quite interesting."
Director Gao understood his meaning and said to Lin Qingqing, "Say what you have to say."
...
Seeing that Director Gao and Secretary Zheng had been talking for nearly an hour and still hadn't come out, not only Factory Director Huang, but the others also started to get restless, muttering, "Why is it taking so long?"
Just then, Secretary Zheng's secretary passed by in the corridor outside. Someone went out and stopped him, inquiring about the situation in Secretary Zheng's office and how long they would have to wait. The person did not reply immediately but instead knocked on the door of Secretary Zheng's office.
A short while later, Secretary Zheng's secretary returned and said that Secretary Zheng and Director Gao had important matters to discuss, and the end time was uncertain, so they were not in a hurry and could go back first.
These people weren't just dropping by for no reason, but it wasn't exactly urgent either. Hearing what the secretary said, several decided to go back first and come back to see Secretary Zheng another day. Someone else asked Factory Director Huang if he was leaving, but Factory Director Huang was still pondering what Secretary Zheng's secretary had said.
He was puzzled.
Director Gao is just the head of a small supply and marketing cooperative. What important matters could he possibly have to discuss with Secretary Zheng? It's as if Secretary Zheng can't even spare a moment to see them!
He wanted to see what kind of tricks they were up to.
Thinking this through, Director Huang said, "I'll wait a little longer."
Two hours passed before the door to Secretary Zheng's office was finally opened from the inside. Secretary Zheng came out first, followed by Director Gao, and then Lin Qingqing. It seemed as if Secretary Zheng had come out specifically to see them off.
Factory Director Huang couldn't sit still any longer. He walked over and said with a smile, "Secretary Zheng, Director Gao, have you finished your business?"
"Director Huang is still here?" Director Gao asked with surprise. She had overheard the entire conversation between Secretary Zheng and his secretary when they went in.
At first glance, this seemed like a simple inquiry, but Director Huang and Director Gao didn't get along, so he found the question rather offensive. However, in front of Secretary Zheng, he didn't dare to be too obvious, and simply smiled and said, "Secretary Zheng, I have something to discuss with you, so I waited outside for a while. You and Director Gao talked for so long, is there something big going on at the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative?"
When he said the word "big," Director Huang emphasized it.
In his view, a small unit like the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative couldn't possibly be making any big moves, so his words were more sarcastic than curious. He even suspected that Director Gao was pestering Secretary Zheng for so long, and that Secretary Zheng must be unhappy with her.
However, Secretary Zheng only gave him a faint "hmm" and then said to Director Gao and Lin Qingqing, "Go back and write another proposal for me, and we'll have another meeting to discuss this matter later."
“Okay.” Director Gao readily agreed. “Since Director Huang has something to attend to, we won’t bother you any longer.” He then smiled slightly at Director Huang and said, “We’re going back to carry out our big project.”
Like Director Huang, Director Gao also emphasized the word "big" when he spoke of it.
Factory Director Huang had worked with Director Gao for many years and had always been suppressed by her. He couldn't stand her sarcastic tone the most, and he was so angry that he was furious! But considering that Secretary Zheng was there, he could only grit his teeth and force a smile: "Take care."
But even after entering Secretary Zheng's office, Director Huang was still pondering what exactly the big move that Director Gao had mentioned was.
Jinshi is a large city, with at least seven or eight supply and marketing cooperatives, if not a dozen. Although the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative has made quite a splash in the past year, Director Huang sees it all as a publicity stunt, and it's really nothing special among the supply and marketing cooperatives in Jinshi. Unlike their soy sauce factory, which is the only soy sauce factory in Jinshi, supplying not only the major supply and marketing cooperatives in Jinshi, but also connecting with surrounding cities and county communes.
They didn't do anything big. What kind of trouble could a lousy supply and marketing cooperative possibly cause?
It's definitely a bluff!
But if it was just a bluff, what did Secretary Zheng mean by that? They even need to hold a meeting to discuss it…
"Director Huang!"
Factory Director Huang suddenly snapped out of his daze and saw Secretary Zheng frowning at him. He was so startled that he became completely alert.
I can't think about it anymore.
Factory Director Huang forced a smile and said, "It's like this..."
...
Director Huang paid excessive attention to Director Gao, but Director Gao didn't take him to heart. He was focused on the matter they had discussed in Secretary Zheng's office. After returning to the supply and marketing cooperative, Director Gao took Lin Qingqing to his office and discussed the matter in more detail.
The discussion lasted for half a day, and they even ate lunch in Director Gao's office.
After reaching a conclusion, Director Gao said, "Put everything else aside and focus on this for now."
With all the counters in the supply and marketing cooperative running smoothly, Lin Qingqing no longer needed to worry about those matters, so she nodded and said, "Okay."
For the next few days, Lin Qingqing was busy with this matter. But this matter was not only related to the development of Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative. If it was done, it could affect the pattern of the suburbs and even the entire Jin City. There was a lot of information to be consulted and organized, and the plan was not easy to write. So she was busy for more than half a month.
The plan cannot be completed once it is written. Secretary Zheng must review it and make revisions. Once it is approved, a meeting will be convened.
There was more than one meeting, and the attendees were not only members of the Revolutionary Committee.
So by the time things were settled, it was already the end of September 1975.
...
In the 1970s, there was no concept of a seven-day National Day holiday; people only got one day off on National Day itself. Many model workers stayed at their posts and refused to rest for even a day.
Lin Qingqing didn't have that awareness. Besides, she had been busy for more than a month and finally had a chance to relax. She should treat herself to a three-day break instead of taking a ten-day break.
Director Gao knew she had been extremely busy lately, and now that things had settled down, he readily approved her leave. Remembering how often she yawned while working, he patted her on the shoulder and said, "Take a good rest these few days; you'll be busy again after National Day."
Lin Qingqing smiled and agreed. She returned to her office, packed her things, and waited for the bell to ring before leaving get off work and going home.
When they got home, Xie Wei was already back, but instead of steaming rice as usual, he told Lin Qingqing, "It's Lao Ding's birthday today, and he invited us to his house for dinner."
"It's Commander Ding's birthday?" Lin Qingqing pushed her cart into the corridor, asking with surprise, "Why didn't you tell me beforehand? Did you buy him a gift?"
"Take some food with you," Xie Wei said.
Today is Commander Ding's thirty-sixth birthday. Since it's not a major birthday celebration, there wasn't a big party; he just invited a few comrades for a meal. Besides, at this time of year, birthday celebrations involve giving red envelopes (cash gifts), not presents, so Xie Wei didn't prepare anything.
"Then let's take the meat with us." Lin Qingqing thought that Xie Wei would be back in the evening, so she bought a pound of pork ribs. She was going to the Ding family's house for dinner, so she could take the meat with her.
In addition to the pound of meat they had just bought, they also brought apples and navel oranges to Commander Ding's house.
Last year, Lin Qingqing bought up all the apples left over from the supply and marketing cooperative's New Year's welfare distribution. During the Spring Festival, Xie Wei brought apples with him when he visited relatives. Because the apples were big and delicious, even Commander Zhai's wife went to the supply and marketing cooperative to inquire if there were any apples left.
As more and more people asked about it, Lin Qingqing got the idea to set up a fruit counter.
Actually, the supply and marketing cooperative used to have fruit counters, but they were sold alongside the grain and oil counters. The variety of fruits they sold was limited, mainly oranges, apples, and pears. In the summer, they would sell some watermelons, all of which were local varieties.
The newly opened fruit counter offers a much wider variety of fruits. In the summer, in addition to watermelons, they also sell peaches, plums, and grapes, while in the winter, besides apples and tangerines, they also sell strawberries and pomelos. Not only is the variety of fruits greater, but the types of individual fruits have also increased. For example, in addition to locally grown prickly tangerines, they now offer honey tangerines and Gong tangerines, as well as navel oranges and mandarins.
During holidays, the fruit counter also sells fruit baskets. For example, during this Mid-Autumn Festival, the fruit counter sold several hundred fruit baskets. Some people bought them themselves, while others had their companies purchase fruit from the supply and marketing cooperative to give to their employees as holiday benefits.
Other organizations were willing to buy fruit as holiday benefits, so the supply and marketing cooperative certainly couldn't be stingy. They distributed several kilograms of apples and navel oranges.
Lin Qingqing and Xie Wei were just the two of them, and they couldn't finish all the fruit, so they picked a pound each of apples and navel oranges and took them to Commander Ding's house.
Although it's easier to buy these fruits from other places now that the Qingshan Supply and Marketing Cooperative has added fruit counters, they are still not cheap due to transportation costs and losses along the way.
Therefore, these items are quite presentable when they are delivered to your door.
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