The courtyard house is lively in the early morning.
When the first ray of sunshine fell on the courtyard, residents who got up early lined up in front of the faucet in the courtyard.
Just turn to the off-white faucet, take a basin of cold water, and cleanse yourself with a huff and puff, which makes you feel very energetic.
Li Weidong greeted the residents, and when he returned to the house, Yu Li had already prepared breakfast.
Bangzi noodle porridge, white flour steamed buns, and a plate of scrambled eggs with chopped green onions.
This seemingly simple meal is already rare in this era.
While eating, Yu Li whispered: "We don't have much rice and noodles at home, we only have two kilograms of eggs left, and there is only enough pork for cooking tonight. Also, my mother and the others have not been issued food stamps this month.
Come on, just the food stamps for Yu Haitang alone are not enough to feed the whole family, so we have to think of something."
Li Weidong picked up a pair of chopsticks and stuffed the eggs into his mouth, and nodded: "Don't worry, I'll go to Fatty Yu's place after work. He should have already prepared these things."
Supplies on the market have become even more scarce recently.
In the past, you could still buy fine white noodles and meat in the pigeon market, but now there are only some stalls selling stick noodles and fish.
The situation in the market is similar. Even if you stay at the vegetable market early in the morning, you may not be able to buy pork.
The grain station no longer sells refined white flour, and the coarse grains on sale are all old grains, which taste like musty food.
As early as half a month ago, Li Weidong had greeted Zhou Xiaoguang, who was far away in Jichun, and asked him to prepare a batch of food and send it over.
The number is not much, but it is enough for the Li family and the Yu family to survive this difficult period safely.
Yu Li is now heavier and will probably give birth in another two months, so she no longer needs to go to work at the street office.
Li Weidong rode his bicycle alone out of the courtyard, facing the faint sunshine, and ran towards the steel rolling mill.
The streets were crowded with people, flocking to factories in all directions.
Although they were thin in stature and had colorful faces, their faces had a vitality that was unmatched by later generations.
The magnificent and thrilling war in the past few years made all Chinese children feel proud, and the national self-confidence was unprecedentedly high.
It was also this war that made us realize the gap between ourselves and modern countries.
No matter how hard it is, we must tighten our belts and eat chaff, we must develop heavy industry.
Otherwise, you will have to be controlled by others in the future.
The hard work of one generation will benefit future generations.
‘Dong Dong Qiang’
"Qiang Qiang Qiang"
There was a lot of excitement in front of the poverty alleviation workshop.
Li Weidong did not expect that Director Yang and the others would engage in such a big battle.
Dozens of factory leaders, plus hundreds of worker representatives, all gathered in the small square in front of the poverty alleviation workshop.
Seeing Li Weidong riding a bicycle, Niu Meng ran over and took the bicycle from his hand.
Qin Jingru stepped forward and covered him with big red flowers, and said with a blushing face: "Congratulations, Director Li, for being selected as this year's model worker."
There was warm applause at the scene, and the workers’ hands hurt from clapping, but they did not want to stop.
Looking at the excited faces, Li Weidong's eyes were a little raw and he was very moved in his heart.
The factory director and deputy director came up one after another to shake hands with Li Weidong.
"Director, this is really grand."
Factory Director Yang laughed loudly. He patted him on the shoulder and said, "Comrade Weidong, you deserve this."
"It is because of the poverty alleviation workshop you founded that our steel rolling mill can successfully complete this year's target and receive full subsidies."
"Only these poor households can have enough food and clothing, and can their elderly and children be taken care of."
"This is just a simple ceremony. A general meeting of workers' representatives of the factory will be held in the playground later."
"The leaders of the ministries and commissions will award you a certificate."
"As a model worker, you also need to introduce your work experience to everyone."
Li Weidong scratched his head: "Isn't this too outrageous?"
"What's so outrageous? This is a model worker, and there are only a few in the country every year." Director Yang's eyes widened.
“The poverty alleviation workshop has so far earned millions of dollars in foreign exchange for the country.”
"If these foreign exchanges are converted into food, they can feed the people of a county."
"If we replace it with mechanical equipment, we can build another steel rolling mill."
"Besides, this honor is not only your honor, but also the honor of our entire factory."
"At the same time, to give you a breath, I went up to fight for ten pounds of pork and fifty pounds of white flour for you."
Ten kilograms of pork and fifty kilograms of fine white flour. This reward is not light.
Li Weidong was flattered: "Thank you for taking me seriously."
"Hey, why are you so polite? You deserve this."
Director Yang narrowed his eyes and said, "You have to believe in the superiors. The superiors will not treat any comrade badly."
"I hope you can continue your efforts and create greater glories in your work in the future."
The plant-wide employee representative meeting was successfully held in the playground of the steel rolling mill, with Haitang serving as the announcer.
at the conference.
After Li Weidong accepted the certificate from the leaders of the ministries and commissions, he came to the rostrum with the certificate in his arms and began a passionate speech in front of the representatives of the entire factory staff.
After the speech, representatives from the poverty alleviation workshop took the stage and called on all factory workers to learn from Comrade Li Weidong.
With firm ideals and beliefs and a spirit of selfless dedication, we think in one place, work hard in one place, and work together with one heart.
The representative's speech elicited a burst of warm applause.
It was almost noon when the meeting ended.
In order to celebrate Li Weidong's achievement as a model worker, the ministry specially allocated two large fat pigs from the food station and cooked them into meat dishes in the small canteen.
Each worker is given a meat ticket, which can be used to purchase meat tickets.
Originally, Director Yang was going to ask Li Weidong to open a small stove in the canteen.
At Li Weidong's suggestion, Xiao Zao canceled the meal. All the meat prepared for Xiao Zao was brought to the canteen and distributed to the workers as meat and vegetables.
The steel rolling mill is a small society, and the news spread quickly, and all the workers praised Li Weidong for his high moral integrity.
"Niu Meng, Qin Jingru, it's so hard for you to hide this from me. I haven't even heard about such a big thing."
Li Weidong found a seat with his aluminum lunch box and sat down, and said to the two cadres in the poverty alleviation workshop with a smile.
Niu Meng was nibbling on the cornstarch and said sheepishly: "Master, you really can't blame us for this. Director Yang didn't let us tell you."
Qin Jingru pouted and said, "Yes, yes, Director Yang said that if we let you know in advance, he will punish us."
Li Weidong chuckled: "You are afraid of being punished by Director Yang, but you are not afraid of being punished by me?"
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he felt something was wrong.
Looking again, Niu Meng and Qin Jingru's faces were as red as monkey butts.
Qin Jingru was once punished by Li Weidong. Thinking of those things, it is understandable that she blushes.
But why is Niu Meng blushing?
You are our apprentice.
Master and apprentice?
That can't be done!
Besides, if Niu Yong knew about it, he would have to fall out with him.
Li Weidong could only pretend not to see it, lowered his head and opened the aluminum lunch box.
The ministry sent two big fat pigs this time, with more than 500 kilograms of meat.
However, there are tens of thousands of employees in the steel rolling mill, and everyone has only a small mouthful.
Silly Zhu is indeed a master chef. He actually chopped the pork into fine pieces and made a simplified version of pork stewed vermicelli.
The rice noodles are glutinous, the Chinese cabbage is refreshing, and there is fragrant minced meat inside, making it very delicious.
After eating, Li Weidong walked out of the cafeteria and prepared to return to the studio.
Just after taking two steps, a crisp voice came from behind.
"Director Li, please wait a moment."
Li Weidong turned around and saw a pretty little woman running over.
This woman was not wearing a loose steel rolling mill work uniform, but a blue floral cotton-padded jacket. The cotton-padded jacket seemed a little too small and bulging.
As she moved, it vibrated up and down.
Li Weidong narrowed his eyes slightly and finally remembered, isn't this woman Liu Lan!
A few years ago, Deputy Director Li was set up by Li Weidong to spy on Qin Huairu. Due to Lao Huang's intervention, he was arrested by the security department of the steel rolling mill.
Liu Lan was the lover of Deputy Factory Director Li and was implicated.
It's just that she can be considered a victim, and she didn't participate in Deputy Director Li's dirty things.
Factory Director Yang took pity on her as a young widow who had a hard life with several children. He did not fire her from the factory, but still let her work as a temporary worker in the canteen.
But without the protection of Deputy Factory Director Li, Liu Lan's life in the cafeteria was very difficult. She did all the hard and tiring work.
Li Weidong didn't pay much attention to Liu Lan, but when chatting with Sha Zhu, he heard Sha Zhu mention a few words.
"It's Liu Lan, what's the matter?"
Li Weidong said hello lightly.
Liu Lan glanced at Li Weidong resentfully, bit her lip and said, "Director Li, I found a wild ginseng in the grove over there, with as many as six leaves, but I don't know how to pick wild ginseng for fear of damaging it.
If it's broken, it won't be worth anything. Thinking about how knowledgeable you are, you might be able to find a solution."
Six-leaf wild ginseng Li Weidong was stunned for a moment.
He still knows something about wild ginseng.
Generally, wild ginseng has only three leaves, also known as Sanhuazi.
Then one leaf is added every year until the sixth year, when six leaves are grown, no more leaves will grow, only the weight will increase. Therefore, a six-leaf wild ginseng may be a hundred years old.
It's just that this is too coincidental.
There happened to be a wild ginseng in the grove, which Liu Lan happened to encounter, and Liu Lan happened to meet him.
The experience of two lifetimes tells Li Weidong that things that are too coincidental may often be intentional by others.
But why did Liu Lan deceive herself into the woods?
Seeing Li Weidong's hesitation, Liu Lan flipped up her hair, the blush on her face became brighter, and she avoided looking at each other.
"Director Li, I know this may take a little time for you, but if it is really wild ginseng, my family will have food this month."
Looking at Liu Lan's shy little appearance, Li Weidong finally understood why Deputy Director Li, a man who had seen the world, was obsessed with this little widow.
Liu Lan has an ordinary appearance, but her skin and complexion are as white as jade, and her figure is so good that people can't put it down.
Moreover, compared with girls in the city, she has a bit more wild flavor.
It's like a camellia in a ravine. Although it's not as beautiful as a peony, it has a different flavor.
It’s not surprising that Deputy Director Li is used to eating fine grains, so he likes the atmosphere of the mountains and valleys.
After thinking about it, Li Weidong nodded: "Okay, I'll go with you to see if there is any wild ginseng."
Hearing this, Liu Lan smiled and turned around to walk into the woods, with Li Weidong following closely behind.
This forest was originally a barren mountain. Due to its remote location, there was no one inside, and only a few birds could be heard occasionally.
After entering the woods and walking about a thousand meters, Liu Lan suddenly turned around and hugged Li Weidong.
Li Weidong was startled, quickly held down her arm, and shouted in a low voice:
"Liu Lan, you don't want your life. Someone might be passing by this place."
"Don't worry, Li Baldy and I have been here several times and we have never met anyone." Liu Lan pursed her lips and said.
Li Weidong slowed down and frowned: "Comrade Liu Lan, if you have something to say, what's going on with you?"
When Liu Lan heard this, the corners of her eyes turned red instantly. She sobbed softly for a while before she said slowly: "Director Li, you have to be responsible."
"Responsible?"
Li Weidong was a little confused when he heard this.
"Yes, Bald Li and I were fine. We each got what we needed, but you sent Bald Li into the fence."
Liu Lan nodded vigorously and wiped her tears: "It's better now. Without Li Baldy's support, my ten yuan a month is not enough to support my children and treat my parents-in-law."
"Tell me, should you be responsible?"
What is fallacy? This is it.
Deputy Factory Director Li was taken away by the Security Department for violating national laws and factory disciplines, but Liu Lan placed the blame on Li Weidong.
Li Weidong made a serious face and pulled Liu Lan's arm hard: "Liu Lan, if you really think so, you can go directly to Factory Director Yang and the Security Department and ask them to release Bald Li."
"I still have to go to work, and I don't have time to mess around with you here."
Seeing Li Weidong taking steps to leave, Liu Lan bit her lips, rushed forward again, and stopped in front of Li Weidong.
"Li Weidong, I have no choice. The commune's relief food has not been distributed this month. My mother has been living in the hospital for half a month, and the children can't even eat cornstarch."
Nowadays, supplies in the city are becoming scarce, and one can imagine the situation in the countryside.
After thinking about it, Li Weidong raised his eyebrows and said, "Do you want me to help you?"
"Yes, I know you have several women, Qin Jingru in the poverty alleviation workshop and Qin Huairu in the locksmith workshop. I want to be like them." Liu Lan said solemnly.
Li Weidong glanced at Liu Lan in surprise. He had been careful enough, but this woman could see it. It was really not easy.
Liu Lan explained slowly: "I am a woman and I know women best. Every time we eat, Qin Jingru and Qin Huairu will look at you secretly. That look is only seen when they are dating someone."
It turned out that this woman had no evidence. Li Weidong breathed a sigh of relief.
But even if Liu Lan has evidence, he is not afraid.
Just like Liu Lan used to be Deputy Director Li's little lover, this was something everyone in the steel rolling mill knew, and it did not have any impact on Deputy Director Li.
As long as you reach a certain height, such trivial things will become insignificant.