Seeing that everyone had lost interest in asking questions and returned to their previous apathetic state, the member who had found out the information stood there excitedly and shouted loudly.
"It's related to us. I heard they're recruiting workers in the commune!"
"What?! You're not lying to us?"
"Where did you get this information from, and is it even true?"
"It's true, it's confirmed. The factory is jointly run by the city and the military region, so they will definitely be recruiting workers from the city."
"Everyone can take the exam then, but I don't know what academic qualifications will be required."
Well, if they need a degree, that's still irrelevant to them. Disheartened, the villagers went back to work in the fields.
Those who went to school are still gathered there. They have academic qualifications, but what other conditions do they have?
Can elementary school students take the test?
"Keep dreaming! You need at least a junior high school education. My son only has a junior high school education."
"With so many people taking the exam, you'll probably need a high school diploma."
Although there aren't many people with a high school education, there are still a few in each village, and their parents all stay in the same place.
The educated youth exchanged glances and cautiously asked the commune member who had come to deliver the message.
Are there any requirements regarding household registration?
"I haven't heard of that. It should be open to people all over the city. You educated youth should be able to take it too."
The educated youth were overjoyed, but the villagers felt uneasy. If the educated youth could also take the exam, wouldn't they be competing with their children for jobs?
"What will the exam cover? When will it be held? Is it too late for us to start studying now?"
"I graduated a few years ago, and I'm afraid I've forgotten all the knowledge I had before."
They couldn't wait to discuss how becoming workers would mean never having to work in the fields again.
A group of people gathered around and discussed the matter. Those who had no chance in the distance could only swing their hoes heavily. This was a factory belonging to the military region, and they might only be hiring military dependents. Each of them acted as if they were certain they could get in.
"Alright, alright, I don't know any more. If you want to know, go and ask around yourself."
The commune members pushed through the crowd and ran away quickly. The brigade leader finally came over and told them to hurry back to work. But now the fields were no longer lifeless.
Not only Yanghe Village, but all the communes nearby that knew the news were in an uproar, and even the families of soldiers in the military region were astonished.
The commotion at the entrance of the family compound naturally did not escape their notice, but before everyone was just speculating and no definite news had come out. Now, Director Zhang specially posted the news on the bulletin board.
"Director Zhang, is it really true that a textile factory is going to be built in our residential compound?"
"Are you blind? Didn't you see that several factory buildings have already been built? Director Zhang, when are we going to start recruiting?"
"Yes, yes, are there any restrictions on hiring?"
The Women's Federation office was almost bursting at the seams with the families who had gathered there. Since the textile factory hadn't been built yet, the temporary office was set up in an empty building next to the Women's Federation.
Song Qing's status had already changed; she was now a full-time employee of the textile factory. She was currently in the temporary office. The people outside were so enthusiastic that Director Zhang couldn't handle them all, so he simply asked Song Qing to come over and answer everyone's questions.
“This is Comrade Song Qing, a member of our textile factory’s early preparation team. If you have any questions, just ask her.”
"Comrade Song Qing, when will our textile factory start recruiting?"
"What are the requirements for hiring? How much will you pay us each month?" A short-haired woman rushed to Song Qing's side very quickly, and the others could only stand behind her because they couldn't squeeze past her.
"You're asking about the starting price before the factory is even up and running? Pass the exam first."
"Passed the exam? This factory was built by our military region for the families, why would we need an exam?"
Some family members were worried because the women themselves were barely literate; how could they possibly pass the exam?
Everyone was excited because they saw the scale of the textile factory, which would definitely need to hire a lot of people, and they thought that everyone would be put in the factory.
"Nonsense, how can you operate the factory if you can't read?" The family members with education started to refute, saying that factories nowadays all require exams.
Song Qing couldn't get a word in edgewise, and the two sides started arguing. One side said there was no need to take the exam, while the other side said a degree was required.
"Listen to me, everyone. The factory will take some time to be built, and the specific recruitment method has not yet been determined."
However, one thing is certain: for the factory's long-term development, there will definitely be requirements for our workers.
The family members without formal education began to feel uneasy, wondering if this had nothing to do with them.
"Xiao Song, what use is literacy in the factory? We just need to know how to do it."
"You definitely need to be literate, otherwise when someone sends you a document, you'll think they're giving it to you to use as toilet paper."
The illiterate family members started whispering among themselves, while the literate and educated family members straightened their backs, which gave them a greater chance.
"Don't worry, everyone. It's not confirmed yet. But we've been running literacy classes in our residential compound, so we can start learning now."
A significant proportion of the family members in the residential compound are illiterate, so their situation must be taken into account. Since the factory's recruitment is not yet finalized, we certainly can't filter out a group of people solely based on their education level.
"Yes, yes, just because we couldn't read before doesn't mean we won't be able to read in the future."
“Then I’ll go back and sign up for a literacy class.”
Previously, the literacy classes in the residential compound were basically ignored, but now everyone regrets not attending and is eager to grab a spot.
"Xiao Song, when should we start recruiting?"
Yes, if the time is too short, how could they learn to recognize words in such a short time?
"The timeline is not yet set. The factory will take another half a month to build, and with the purchase and testing of equipment, it will take at least a month."
“A month? No, we need to schedule more classes for literacy classes. If we only start in the evening, it won’t be enough.”
"Yes, yes, I'm free to attend classes during the day. Director Zhang, could you arrange for the literacy class staff to teach us during the day as well, and for family members who are not available, we can teach in the evening?"
The discussion was lively and engaging, which pleased Director Zhang greatly. The literacy campaign had been progressing poorly, but he never expected that everyone would be so proactive in requesting to attend classes.
Song Qing and the people in the temporary office were pulled aside and talked for a while. Everyone was so tired from talking that the excited family members finally left.
"Comrade Xiao Song, if you have any issues, please post them on the bulletin board. We're usually too busy to look after them."
"No, what about those of us who can't read? Little Song, how about we go to your house to ask around for information later?"
After finally persuading the family members to leave, Song Qing breathed a sigh of relief, and Director Zhang came over and patted her on the shoulder.
The others in the Women's Federation office saw this and secretly grimaced, wondering why she was allowed to work in the textile factory.
These women put in a lot of effort to get into the Women's Federation. Judging from the current trend, the textile factory is definitely better than the Women's Federation. Why did she get in and secure a position so quickly?
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