Back to 1978

Chapter 148: Foreign Goods in the Factory
"These are the supplies that the county leaders and Secretary Yang of the commune specially donated to the steel rolling mill after they heard that our brigade was going to set up one." Xie Hushan stood in front of the supplies and spoke loudly to the crowd watching the excitement in the courtyard of the supply and marketing cooperative.

This reason was hard for everyone present to accept. Was this guy trying to fool them by thinking he was stupid?

Do you think you have become more capable after going to Hong Kong Island and start talking nonsense?

A production team leader nearby pointed at the bicycles. Perhaps he felt embarrassed to yell at the bastard right now, so he suppressed his anger and asked Xie Hushan:
"Tell me, why did the county support our brigade to build a steel mill? Instead of supporting the steel mill, it supported bicycles?"

Even Ma Laowu and Accountant Zhao beside him wanted to nod subconsciously, as the question was right.

Even though the peasants had never seen the world, they knew that they had to be restrained from talking nonsense.

Xie Hushan's lies are endless. What the steel mill lacks most is the raw materials for steel rolling. If the county really wants to provide support, it will be scrap steel or second-hand machines from the steel mill.

How could it be possible that the county would send a batch of foreign goods to the steel rolling mill just after Zhongping Brigade had just demarcated a piece of land?

"Why can't we support foreign goods? If you don't believe me, you can go to the commune and ask Secretary Yang, right? Old Yang won't lie." Xie Hushan seriously pinned the lie on Yang Limin's head and said to everyone:
"Why did we send a batch of foreign goods before the machines? The county knows that the steel mill is short of workers, so these are rewards for the workers. Everyone has heard about it. Secretary Han won't let me hire members from our brigade to work in the factory, fearing that it will delay production. I have to recruit people from outside. If I don't give them some sweet treats and show off, how can I make the brigade believe in the strength of the steel mill?"

"This is timely relief from the county. The bricks I ordered have all arrived, and I am just waiting to unload them to build walls and factory buildings. Once the foreign goods arrive, I can just take them to other brigades to recruit people for work!"

"We worked in two shifts day and night, working overtime to build the factory. We did a good job. The factory did not use work points to fool people, but directly paid with foreign goods to ensure the progress of the factory construction. There must be brave men under a big reward. What is a big reward?"

Xie Hushan turned around and patted the seat of a bicycle:
"Foreign goods are a great reward! Do a good job for the factory! Just give us foreign goods!"

"But there's no point in telling you. You all should go back and water the wheat so as not to delay production. I'll go ask around in other brigades to see if there's anyone willing to help the steel mill work in the middle of the night."

Han Hongbing, holding a cigarette in his mouth, looked unable to hold back his laughter and shouted in coordination with Xie Hushan:

"Everyone, make way, the mule carts loading goods will be here soon. The factory building hasn't been built yet, so send the goods to the headquarters of Team 3 first."

Several other militiamen also maintained order and asked everyone to open the gate of the supply and marketing cooperative compound.

All the Zhongping members present knew that the brigade was going to build a steel rolling mill, because Han Laogou had already officially broadcast this matter as a team affair using a loudspeaker.

The brigade agreed to do it because it didn't have to pay a penny for the construction of the factory. The cost and equipment were all raised by the director of public security, Xie Hushan. The brigade allocated a piece of land to the steel rolling mill, and if it made money, it could get 20% of the profits from the steel rolling mill every year.

When everyone heard Han Laogou's broadcast at that time, they all thought that Han Laogou was wise and that Zhongping's prosperity in recent years was due to him being the secretary.

Listen, this is such a great deal! The brigade only provides a piece of wasteland as a factory and gets 20% of the profits. Everyone doesn’t have to go to the factory to work, and can just wait to get the money at the end of the year.

But now, seeing these foreign goods, everyone thought that Han Laogou was a traitor to his mother's Zhongping Production Brigade!

Why don’t you let us help the factory with work? I love to work and I am willing to help others. Why don’t you let me work?

These foreign goods are piled up like a small mountain and are as eye-catching as the white dollars. Just because Han Laogou doesn't allow the labor force of our brigade to work in the factory, the factory will be taken advantage of by outsiders... If Han Laogou is not a traitor, what is he?
"Chief of Staff Han, ride one and tell the mule carts unloading bricks to unload them quickly, and then quickly load the foreign goods. By the way, try out this bicycle and see how it rides." Xie Hushan patted a Bridgestone outing bicycle and said to Han Hongbing.

Han Hongbing had seen this kind of bicycle in Hong Kong Island. He walked over, pushed one, turned over and rode on it. After pedaling a few times, he turned on the bicycle's double flash warning lights. Amid the exclamations of everyone, he quickly disappeared outside the courtyard gate.

A group of people watched the bicycle leave the courtyard and made comments:
“And bring a light!”

"I saw it a long time ago. There's a gear lever on the beam!"

Ignoring everyone's shock, Xie Hushan continued to greet Chen Daxi and several other militiamen:

"You have worked very hard in the factory these days. Although you are only temporary workers, don't say that the factory director treats you unfairly. As long as you continue to work for the factory, this car will be regarded as a transportation subsidy from the factory for you to ride to and from get off work."

Chen Daxi, Zhang Shengli, Ma Yougen and other militiamen could no longer bear it, and each pushed a bicycle, rode out of the compound and chased Han Hongbing.

These sixteen second-hand SUVs are a bit expensive. The price of one of these can buy four other ordinary Fuji bicycles, but they are really beautiful.

This thing was developed by Bridgestone in the 1960s in order to make money. It was a light luxury concept product specifically sold to middle-class families in Japan. To put it bluntly, it was a product designed for the Japanese petty bourgeoisie.

It is designed to allow Japanese people living in big cities to buy one of these cars so that they can go on a relaxing outing to the suburbs during the weekends.

The 26-inch bicycle frame has widened tires and supports both dry cell batteries and friction power generation. There is a digital meter on the handlebars, a six-speed manual transmission on the beam that looks like a miniature gear lever, hydraulic brakes, turn signals, and double flash warning lights.

In order to meet the needs of outings and cycling, two small storage boxes similar to mailboxes are installed on the left and right sides of the rear bracket.

No matter who it is, at first glance, they would think that this thing with a gearbox and front and rear lights is a small motorcycle.

"Hu Saner, let's discuss this. Your factory is building a house and putting up a wall. We won't delay production. We can send someone to accompany you at night..." A production team leader reacted quickly. While others were still staring at the high-end bicycle, he came up to Xie Hushan and spoke with a smile.

Ma Laowu, who had been keeping his ears perked up, immediately rushed over and pulled the other person away from Xie Hushan, saying:

"Use you? Didn't you hear Hu Saner say that we should take the things to the headquarters of Team Three first?"

Then he smiled and said to Xie Hushan:
"Hu San, our team 3 is idle now. We just finished watering the land a few days ago. There is nothing else to do. It will definitely not delay production..."

"Er Mian Fei, do you think I forgot that you and Accountant Zhao were showing off to me during the New Year's meeting? Let me learn from you." Xie Hushan patted Ma Laowu's shoulder and said with a sly smile:

"Let me pick a Der for you, and you're treating everyone, letting this one taste it, that one taste it, isn't it you?"

(End of this chapter)