Early the next morning, Jiang Xingye cooked two pots of rice and a pot of soup. Everyone ate together, and then they split into two groups to leave.
Each person gave Jiang Xingye a pound of food coupons, and Jiang Xingye accepted them without reservation.
Although it would have been more convenient for them to head towards Shangjiang Team, due to the confidential nature of their mission and to avoid bringing trouble to the Shangjiang Team, Jian Jingchuan decided to return the sa way they ca.
Before leaving, Xu Qinghuan gave a pill each to Li Shouzhi and Jian Jingchuan, "It’s freezing cold, and neither of you are in great health. After such a long journey, problems are likely to arise."
Li Shouzhi accepted it without hesitation, aware that anything Xu Qinghuan offered was extraordinary.
Jian Jingchuan, naturally, didn’t refuse either. He swallowed it on the spot, unsure of what the pill was made of, but it lted instantly in his mouth, warming him throughout. Several old injuries on his body throbbed slightly, yet felt a sense of release.
These past years, those injured spots always felt numb, limiting his movents and almost causing accidents.
But now, after the tingling, only a comfortable numbness remained.
Jian Jingchuan watched Xu Qinghuan and Jiang Xingye depart, his gaze lingering on Xu Qinghuan. Her braid was slightly loose, and the wind had tousled so strands of her hair.
Jiang Xingye raised his hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. They exchanged so words, then smiled at each other. Xu Qinghuan playfully hit Jiang Xingye’s hand, which he then held. The two of them crossed a hill and disappeared from view.
"Huanhuan’s dicine works well, Old Xu, how are you feeling?"
Li Shouzhi mistakenly called out, turning to look at Jian Jingchuan, who was watching him with a complicated expression.
"Old Jian!" he quickly corrected.
"The effect is indeed very good," Jian Jingchuan said, a hint of lancholy in his expression. His gaze fell on the dead invaders, filled with hatred. "Make so sleds and get these people out."
There was a pack of wolves guarding the place, but after Jiang Xingye communicated with them, they stayed quietly by the side until the group left, and only afterward began to move around.
Xu Qinghuan and Jiang Xingye walked for half a day before finally returning to the Shangjiang Team.
Having received the ssage from Jian Jingchuan, Jiang Baohua, though no longer anxious, was still worried.
As soon as the two returned, he approached them, not daring to ask too many questions, only inquiring of Jiang Xingye, "Do we need to send soone to patrol?"
Jiang Xingye replied, "The troops should have arrangents. There’s no need to send soone patrolling unnecessarily. Just focus on getting the production right for now."
Jiang Baohua said to Xu Qinghuan, "Tang Quantong ca again yesterday afternoon, still regarding the factory setup. The authorities have given their approval, and the commune has assigned him a building. He’s eager to get the equipnt and recruit people now."
"As for the equipnt, it’s just ovens, stoves, and dough mixers—fairly simple devices. Just leave it to and Ah Ye. However, are they planning to finance this through borrowing, or are we considering investing with equipnt from our production team?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Baohua replied, "I’ll need to discuss this clearly with our team mbers. Do you think it’s better to loan money or invest with equipnt?"
Xu Qinghuan didn’t express an opinion, instead looking at Jiang Xingye.
"Let’s go with equipnt investnt. The production team will have a fixed inco source every month, which lessens the financial pressure considerably," Jiang Xingye said. "With more funds, the team can accomplish more in the future."
"Alright, I’ll gather everyone to discuss it."
After Jiang Baohua and the team leaders discussed, they quickly convened a eting with the commune mbers.
"What’s there to et about again? We’re all so busy, where’s the ti to listen to them talk about these things?"
"Exactly, I was planning to make a few more wooden crates to grow so leeks. Oh, you have no idea, the pak choi I planted just sprouted the other day. They’re growing so tender. In a few days, I’ll be able to pluck them, and they’ll probably sell for at least four or five mao."
"You can sell that much? You must’ve earned three or four yuan just over this winter?"
"Just about, I’ve earned so. Hehehe. Next year, I’m planning to chop more firewood and heat up more rooms. The earnings could potentially double."
All along the way, Xu Qinghuan heard discussions about greenhouse vegetable cultivation, the furniture factory rushing orders, and the wages, which were about twenty to thirty yuan for a month. There were also updates on the threshing machine factory’s progress, and everyone was talking about how much they could earn this month.
The atmosphere was overwhelmingly positive.
It’s important to know that within the sa commune, the other teams were plagued by anxiety, unable to deliver grain and, consequently, unable to distribute food. The year had brought poor harvests, and each household was forced to borrow from the team, albeit hesitantly.
The local team had no money, and once liabilities were calculated, the point value would undoubtedly be very low. Each household wouldn’t receive much, and if they borrowed excessively, how would they repay?
Without borrowing, how could anyone afford clothing, dicine, or essentials like needles and salt?
Life was bitter and harsh.
In contrast, after the Shangjiang Team delivered their grain, not only did each household’s point value not decrease, but their rate was higher than ever. This year, a point was worth one mao and five cents, nearly double the previous year’s value.
Despite it not being New Year’s yet, every household seed to be in celebration mode, as even in the winter, wages were being paid. How could they not be happy?
Since October, the young n of the Shangjiang Team saw their value increase daily, desired by girls even from other teams and communes.
"Alright, I have sothing to say!"
Once Jiang Baohua saw that enough people had arrived, he stood on stage and began, "So, let say a few words. There’s sothing to discuss with everyone, and what is it exactly..."
Jiang Baohua recounted the story, "The county food factory plans to open a branch in this commune, and our production team’s factory will support them with equipnt, such as ovens, stoves, and dough mixers—with Xiao Ye and Xu Zhiqing in charge;
The factory equipnt was mostly set up by them; you all know their capabilities."
Indeed, they knew—very impressive!
Everyone looked respectfully at Jiang Xingye and Xu Qinghuan, while Jiang Chengxu gazed intently at Xu Qinghuan. Seeing this, Jiang Xingye was filled with anger and punched Jiang Chengxu in the face.
"Where the hell are you looking, don’t you want your eyes anymore?"
Xu Manman quickly pulled Jiang Chengxu behind her, "Comrade Jiang, I’m sorry, he didn’t an it, please don’t be angry."
Jiang Chengxu wiped the corner of his mouth, casting a gloomy glance at Xu Manman before turning to leave.
Jiang Baohua ignored him, and even the gossipy won of the Shangjiang Team only cast disdainful glances toward the door without ntioning him.
Jiang Baohua continued, "I invited everyone here to discuss whether the equipnt should be sold or if we should invest with it. Let state first, the recipe for this communal food factory branch is contributed by Xu Zhiqing in the na of the production team, which counts as a technical investnt;
If we also invest with the equipnt, once the food factory is successful, we would receive annual dividends, which will naturally be distributed among everyone. What do you all think?"
Soone imdiately asked, "Xiao Wu, how should we handle this? Considering you and Xu Zhiqing, we’ll follow your lead."
"Right, what decisions can we make? Whatever Xiao Wu and Xu Zhiqing say, we’ll go with that."
"Exactly, Xiao Wu, discuss it with Xu Zhiqing and make the best decision for us."
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