The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 189: Advice from the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative Leaders, Support for Commune Youth's Exam Preparation

Ma Defu was determined to kill Qian Jin.

Coincidentally.

Qian Jin thought so too.

Ma Defu devised a plan to use his trusted men to launch a fatal attack on Qian Jin.

It's quite a coincidence.

Qian Jin thought the same way.

He now has the dirt on Ma Defu that Li Weiguo, Wei Quanmin and his group have given him.

Those incriminating materials contain their autographs and handprints, as well as recordings of them speaking.

So Qian Jin called the Political Work Department of the Municipal Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.

This is actually a major taboo in the workplace. His superior unit is the county supply and marketing cooperative, so he should have informed the county political work department first.

However, considering that Ma Defu had connections, and that the other party should have gone to jail for having an affair, he was not only not dismissed from his job or expelled from the party, but was also only demoted and internally criticized.

This will definitely not work.

The county couldn't handle him, so he went to the city!
Anyway, he was quite familiar with the leaders of the head office, having met them many times at commendation meetings, and they had also visited him personally at the Jiagang Brigade on several occasions.

Qian Jin first dialed the main dispatch, then was transferred to the political work section of the Municipal Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

The phone was answered by the secretary of Section Chief Feng Changfan.

Qian Jin introduced himself and said directly, "I'm looking for Section Chief Feng."

Soon, Feng Changfan's deep voice came from the other end of the phone: "Hello, this is the Political Work Section of the Haibin City Supply and Marketing Cooperative."

"Hello, Section Chief Feng, this is Qian Jin." Knowing that the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was busy, Qian Jin didn't waste any time and went straight to the point. "I want to report some materials, which is a summary of the illegal and disciplinary violations of Ma Defu, the former director of our Zidian Commune Supply and Marketing Cooperative."

After a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, Feng Changfan said, "How's the material you have? I know Ma Defu. He was just dismissed and went back to his unit to start from the bottom. It won't be that easy to investigate him, will it?"

Qian Jin understood the subtext behind his words:
I, the head of the political work department of the municipal federation, am keeping an eye on this person, but he is not easy to deal with. Without sufficient evidence, we cannot determine his fate.

Qian Jin patted the notebook and the cassette tape, and said, "The evidence is conclusive!"

Feng Changfan didn't ask any questions, but instead granted him leave: "Arrange your work at hand, and I'll send a car to pick you up. Bring your materials and come over first."

Qian Jin had a motorcycle, so he politely declined the leader's offer, saying that he would get to the city as soon as possible.

He made the call in the morning, and by the time he arrived in the city it was noon.

Feng Changfan treated him to dinner, booking a private room at a public restaurant near his workplace.

Following Feng Changfan's instructions over the phone, he went to the back door of the restaurant.

Next to the back door was the greasy kitchen. When Qian Jin arrived, Feng Changfan was already waiting.

This middle-aged leader with a square face smokes the same Harvest cigarettes that the workers enjoy.

When the two met, Feng Changfan exhaled a puff of smoke and threw away the cigarette butt: "Come on, let's go inside and talk."

The kitchen was steaming, and the pungent smell of stir-fried dishes hit my nose.

Feng Changfan was clearly familiar with the restaurant. He led Qian Jin straight through the busy kitchen staff and pushed open a small door to enter the private room.

"I've already ordered the restaurant's specialty braised mackerel with rice. What else would you like to eat? I'll order it for you."

"Life in the countryside is tough. I've been to Zidian Commune. I remember the cook in the commune canteen was a veteran comrade who had been through a lot. He was a good person, and his cooking was also excellent, though terrible!"

At the end of his speech, Feng Changfan made the same expression as an old man on the subway looking at his phone.

Qian Jin asked with a smile, "Yes, Section Chief Feng, did you only go to Zidian Commune in the last two years? You still remember Master Luo."

Feng Changfan said, "No, I went there in 74. I remember it clearly. I was very hungry at the time. I was doing inspections and going to the countryside. In the evening, Ma Defu insisted on treating me to a big meal. How could I do that?"

“I knew the commune had a canteen, but I insisted on going there to eat from the communal pot—that was the only time I regretted refusing a banquet offered by a grassroots cadre.”

"The eggplant stir-fry made by Chef Luo at that shop was outrageous. He basically just boiled eggplant in water with a little salt. I was so hungry at the time, and then..."

In the end, it all turned into a sigh.

Qian Jin understood his leader's feelings very well.

When you're very hungry and have the opportunity to eat a decent meal, your whole body is looking forward to it.

If you eat a bunch of junk food at this time, you will feel uncomfortable all over.

The food was very good today.

The waiter brought a steaming pot of stewed mackerel to the table, topped with bright green chives and large, fatty slices of meat floating in the soup.

“May is the best time to eat mackerel,” Feng Changfan gestured for Qian Jin to eat. “The mackerel is at its fattest and freshest now. This restaurant has a long-established recipe, so have a taste first.”

Qian Jin wasn't actually greedy at all.

He didn't eat much of Master Luo's plain dishes at Zidian Commune; he cooked for himself most of the time.

So he no longer had to do manual labor, and he ate well, gaining two pounds in the two months he spent in the countryside.

Qian Jin placed the materials on the table.

He ate the fish and meat while eating rice, and Feng Changfan brought the ingredients to him.

Looking at the notebook and cassette tape, he didn't rush to open them. Instead, he took off his green military cap with a red five-pointed star on it, revealing his short, graying hair underneath.

The private room quieted down, with only the sounds of spatulas clattering and Qian Jin slurping rice and fish coming from the kitchen in the backyard.

Feng Changfan lit a cigarette, the smoke lingering under the low ceiling.

He only spoke after Qian Jin put down his rice bowl:
"Xiao Qian, do you know who Ma Defu's father-in-law is?"

Qian Jin was taken aback: "I don't know, but I know he's a former leader. I've met his wife, Pang Baixue..."

“It’s Pang Zhengshan, the former main leader of the prefectural committee, who is also currently listed on the municipal advisory committee.” Feng Changfan sneered, his cigarette ash falling onto the table.

"His brother-in-law is named Pang Jianguo. He is in charge of the appointment and removal of cadres and oversees the personnel appointments and removals of major coastal enterprises and institutions."

Qian Jin took a breath of cold air.

Such a strong connection?

No wonder Ma Defu was not only not fired but was able to go back to work. As long as his wife begged his brother a couple of times, he could easily get back to his original position.

But Qian Jin found it strange: "With such strong connections, why is he still the director of a supply and marketing cooperative in a commune? Of course, I know that our supply and marketing system is independent, and the appointment and removal of leading cadres is a separate system."

"But Ma Defu has too many connections. Why doesn't he just go to another unit?"

Feng Changfan laughed: "What kind of person do you take Old Leader Pang for? He's an old revolutionary and a veteran."

"However, it's only natural for you to think that way. As far as I know, Ma Defu also wants to be transferred to another unit."

"But the old leader disagreed, demanding that he serve the people on the front lines of the supply and marketing cooperative. When he transferred Ma Defu into our supply and marketing system back then, he gave the then-director a strict order—"

"No matter what merits Ma Defu makes during his tenure, he is not allowed to be transferred to the city as a cadre; he must serve the farmers on the front lines in the countryside!"

Qian Jin suddenly understood.

He couldn't help but gossip: "Ma Defu seems to come from a rural background? Was he very capable when he was young? How could he marry a woman of Pang Baixue's social standing?"

Feng Changfan exhaled a puff of smoke, a sudden sadness creeping onto his face: "Look, you young comrades were the first to notice the class difference between the couple, and the leader's painstaking efforts..."

The conversation was interrupted.

He shook his head, composed himself, and continued:
“Back then, young people didn’t care about these things when they got together. Ma Defu met Pang Baixue at a rural-urban youth exchange meeting. You’ve met Pang Baixue, right? She wasn’t good-looking or had a bad temper.”

“Ma Defu was quite handsome when he was young, and he had a better temper. He eventually got together with Pang Baixue.”

"Of course, the old leader was a warrior who had been tested by blood and fire. He knew exactly what Ma Defu's purpose was in being with Pang Baixue. Basically, during the old leader's tenure, he never gave Ma Defu any benefits."

Qian Jin hit the nail on the head: "There may be no direct benefits, but there should be indirect benefits, right?"

"Otherwise, how could Ma Defu have gotten into the supply and marketing cooperative?"

Feng Changfan nodded with a smile: "That makes sense. Also, the fact that Ma Defu wasn't fired and was able to return to the unit is naturally due to the influence of his former leader."

“So,” he changed the subject, his expression turning serious, “if we really want to eradicate this corrupt official, these materials alone are not enough.”

Feng Changfan opened his laptop and quickly glanced at it.

The top letter is Li Weiguo's handwritten confession, with a bright red handprint at the end.

The second page contains Yu Zhenfeng's testimony that Ma Defu instructed them to falsify the quantities of various materials such as diesel, kerosene, and gasoline purchased, and then withheld the quantities issued to each production brigade. This page does not contain fingerprints.

Further down are testimonies from Chen Kai, accountant Zhang Lei, and others, all bearing signatures and fingerprints.

“The batch of poverty alleviation fertilizer from last winter…” Feng Changfan saw something familiar. “Damn it, Ma Defu even dared to withhold this!”

"It's not just this." Qian Jin pulled out a few more pages of handwritten ledgers from the back cover of his notebook, pointing to the numbers circled in red pen. "Look here, the special funds for warehouse repairs every year are only half used; the rest are all embezzled!"

Feng Changfan slammed his hand on the table: "I knew this was a big rat all along, and I've wanted to catch him for a long time!"

He let out a heavy snort, his face grim.

“We have to deal with Ma Defu this time. I’ll talk to the old leader, but we need solid evidence first. After all, the old leader is getting old, and he values ​​family ties very much now.”

"If he had known Ma Defu was having an affair when he was younger, he would have personally gone and killed that bastard!"

As he spoke, Feng Changfan looked at the contents of the notebook again: "Getting them to sign and put their fingerprints on the document is only the first step."

The more he looked, the angrier he became, and he couldn't help but sneer.

The laughter was like a dull knife grinding against bone. "They need to come forward in person and identify Ma Defu. Can you handle that?"

Qian Jin said, "As long as the leader gives the instructions, we can definitely do it."

Feng Changfan laughed: "You little rascal!"

“Dealing with them is not difficult. Just make them understand that there is still a way out if they turn against us now, but there is only one way out if they follow Ma Defu.”

"However, I know these kids very well. They are all cunning and shrewd. It would be difficult to get them to show up in person."

Qian Jin spoke frankly: "They know Ma Defu's background. They have something on Ma Defu, but Ma Defu definitely has more on them."

"So unless we can promise them that our company won't hold their past actions against them..."

Feng Changfan's thick, graying eyebrows began to furrow.

He's the kind of person who can't tolerate any injustice.

In his view, catching the big rat and letting a bunch of small rats go was no different than not catching no rats at all.

Qian Jin tentatively asked, "Doesn't our organization have a policy? The ringleader must be punished, those who are coerced will not be questioned, and those who turn against their own side will be rewarded."

Feng Changfan said, "I've read their accusations against each other, and there's not a single good person among them."

“If we don’t get rid of this group of people, the supply and marketing system of Zidian Commune will never be clean.”

"Actually, it's not difficult to get them to step forward. Just remember one thing: the masses are the real heroes!"

He took out a stack of papers from his pocket, and when he opened them, they were filled with his handwritten reflections.

It is from the "Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement" written by the leader in his early years.

Feng Changfan instructed him, "Go to the grassroots level to check the accounts first."

“I will cooperate with you to contact the accountants of each production brigade and production team directly through government agencies to check the accounting of each distribution station over the past ten years. It will be easy to get incriminating evidence against them.”

“Ma Defu has dirt on them, but we have even more, and we have even more.”

"When that time comes, you can deliver a fatal blow and let them choose for themselves. I'll say it again: following Ma Defu means certain death, while following us at least offers a chance to live."

“I’ll send you a car. As long as they’re willing to come forward, I’ll take them to the county immediately,” Feng Changfan said, making a casting gesture. “Then I’ll arrange for the county to deal with them.”

The two discussed the follow-up work.

Qian Jin returned to the commune.

Finally, Feng Changfan told him the reason why the head office had made up its mind to bring Ma Defu to justice.

The supply and marketing system will undergo significant changes, and the entire country's economy will experience major transformations.

Before this, the supply and marketing system was to carry out a top-down anti-corruption campaign. Ma Defu was the biggest corrupt official among the leaders of the commune's supply and marketing cooperative. As long as Ma Defu was dealt with, it would be a great start.

In short, Qian Jin bears a heavy responsibility.

The day after he returned to the commune, he went to find Li Weiguo.

The green-painted wooden door of the medical station was half-open, and Qian Jin could see through the crack that Li Weiguo was wiping bottles of medicine.

Station Master Li's hands were steady, the cotton ball spinning on the aspirin bottle, but as soon as Qian Jin appeared, his hands suddenly trembled, and the bottle slammed against the counter, almost breaking.

"Director Qian, what work have you come to inspect?" Li Weiguo asked cautiously with a smile.

Qian Jin cut to the chase: "Station Chief Li, do you have a copy of the list of medicines embezzled by Ma Defu?"

Li Weiguo's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, his fingers unconsciously stroking the buttons on his white coat.

The third button came undone and hung loosely.

He chuckled awkwardly, "How could I possibly make a copy of this ledger? It's all under Ma Defu's control..."

Qian Jin's face fell.

He turned to organize his medical kit, his back to Qian Jin, and said, "Director Qian, I will definitely cooperate with you in whatever way you want, but I just read in the newspaper that the country is advocating unity among all units. Perhaps we should just let bygones be bygones?"

Qian Jin laughed: "Oh, what does Station Master Li mean by this? Is he telling me how to do things?"

The sound of a bicycle bell came from outside the window.

Li Weiguo poked his head out as if grasping at a straw, and some commune members came to buy tranquilizers for the livestock.

He was so attentive that the commune members felt uncomfortable.

Qian Jin knew he was trying to change the subject.

But that's absolutely impossible.

He waited there for Li Weiguo to finish his work, and after the commune members left, he made his request again:
"Don't think that I'm asking you for the ledger you secretly kept because I'm trying to make things difficult for you. I want to help you."

"To tell you the truth, I have already sent your accusations against Ma Defu to the city. The city has decided to prosecute Ma Defu, giving you a chance to redeem yourselves through meritorious service."

Li Weiguo suddenly looked up.

His face turned pale.

Qian Jin continued, "You need to personally step forward to sue Ma Defu. If you don't have the ledgers, it will be difficult to carry out your work."

Li Weiguo swayed, gripping the edge of the counter tightly with both hands: "No, Director Qian, I've already confided in you, why are you trying to kill me!"

Qian Jin said impatiently, "I'm here to save you..."

"Then if I sue Ma Defu, will Ma Defu go to jail? I'll be fine? Can I redeem myself through meritorious service?" Li Weiguo followed up with another question.

Qian Jin said, "Yes, you can redeem yourself through meritorious service. Not only you, but also Yu Zhenfeng, Wei Quanmin, and all of you."

Li Weiguo stared into his eyes and asked, "I won't go to jail? I can still continue working as the head of my medical station?"

Qian Jin said, "That depends on what the leaders think. I can't promise you too much..." "Even if you do promise, I won't believe you," Li Weiguo said excitedly. "Director Qian, please leave us a way out!"

"Isn't everything fine now? Look, Ma Defu doesn't dare to mess with you anymore. He's like a dog with a broken spine in front of you."

“We dare not offend you. We treat your orders as military orders. We will do whatever you say. We are all serving the people well now.”

Qian Jin found his logic hilarious.

If a bad person commits murder but then doesn't kill anyone else, can they escape being held accountable?
Knowing there was nothing more to say to Li Weiguo, he got up to leave, saying, "Think about what I have to say."

“Station Chief Li, ever since you chose to collude with Ma Defu, you have embarked on a dead end, becoming enemies of the people. Over the years, you have gone too far down this path.”

“I’m giving you a chance to turn back. But since you’re unwilling to turn back and insist on going down this dead end, then I’m afraid no one can help you.”

Li Weiguo was trembling behind the counter.

His mind went blank.

Although he had realized this day would come when he went to report Ma Defu and others.

But at the time, he harbored a侥幸心理 (a sense of wishful thinking).

He desperately hoped that Qian Jin would let him off the hook, considering that he had realized his mistake and actively tried to get closer to Qian Jin afterward.

That last glimmer of hope has now been shattered!
Inside the cooperative store, Yu Zhenfeng was writing prices on the blackboard. He was supposed to draw a wavy line under "2 yuan/100 bricks" for special marking, but when he saw money, the wavy line turned into a straight line.

Qian Jin sneered at this.

They all know their end is near, and now they are finally afraid.

When Yu Zhenfeng saw him appear, he quickly put down the chalk and poured tea: "Director Qian, please sit down. Are you here to give some guidance?"

Qian Jin chatted with him for a few minutes with a smile. He had his hands hanging down on his sides, slightly bent over, and looked compliant. He was very open and honest about his work.

The conversation went very smoothly, and both of them were all smiles.

Then Qian Jin quickly changed the subject, saying, "The city's general cooperative has received some materials about Ma Defu, and they need your help."

"Director Qian, cough cough cough..." Yu Zhenfeng covered his mouth and coughed hard, bending over and his eyes red.

Qian Jin watched his performance, his hands supporting his chin.

Wait until he calms down.

Just as Qian Jin was about to speak, he squatted down again and continued coughing.

What else is there to say after seeing this?

Qian Jin understood what he meant: to feign madness.

Yu Zhenfeng stopped going against him; as long as he assigned him a task, he would do it well.

But when it comes to Ma Defu, he wants to stay out of it and refuses to cooperate.

Qian Jin didn't pressure him or try to coerce or entice him; he just smiled and prepared to leave.

he knows.

The heads of these distribution stations had already agreed that in the conflict between Ma Defu and him, they would play the coward and try to remain neutral and avoid offending either side.

He found it very funny.

It's just a few dishes, but they really think they're VIPs.

Accountant Zhang chased after him, and Qian Jin looked back at him, full of hope.

Feng Changfan has already taught him how to deal with these people, but if they are willing to cooperate, his job will be much simpler.

Nobody wants to go through the trouble if the problem can be solved simply.

Accountant Zhang forced a smile and said, "Director Qian, haven't you noticed that Ma Defu has been quite well-behaved lately? I know you're capable, but you don't need to be so ruthless towards him, do you?"

"He has already lost the power struggle. Why don't we persuade him to leave Zidian Commune?"

Qian Jin smiled again.

He patted Accountant Zhang on the shoulder and said, "No wonder you followed Ma Defu down the path of crime. You always thought that only you could break the law, but the country and the law could not punish you?"

Accountant Zhang's face turned pale instantly.

He did not go to see Wei Quanmin and the others again.

There's no need for that anymore. He already knows what these people have chosen, based on his observations and limited understanding.

He strolled back to the supply and marketing cooperative with his hands behind his back. When he passed the commune government, he saw young people sitting on bicycles blocking the entrance of the government building.

Something's obviously going on.

He stopped to look curiously, and soon several more bicycles arrived.

Each bicycle carries at least three people: one on the seat, one on the back seat, and one on the crossbar.

A dozen bicycles stopped, and then dozens of young people arrived.

They carried faded canvas bags, and a significant number of the young people wore glasses, all intently staring into the courtyard.

Some commune cadres came out to negotiate with them, initially speaking softly, but soon the young people started shouting:

"Resumption of the college entrance examination was a wise decision by the Party Central Committee!"

"We need to study! We need to take exams! We need to go to university!"

And young people will continue to arrive in droves.

They pasted red paper on the wall and wrote huge black characters on the spot with a brush, turning it into a slogan.

The paste wasn't sticky enough, and the slogans were rustling in the spring breeze. The wind was strong today, and some of the large red paper couldn't stick and were quickly blown away.

Someone recognized Qian Jin and ran up to him, saying, "Director Qian, could you sell us a few bottles of glue?"

Someone else asked, "Director Qian, do you know what we want to do? Would you dare sell it to us?"

The young men were about his age, and they all looked indignant.

Qian Jin smiled silently and said solemnly, "I am the director of the supply and marketing cooperative, serving the people. As long as we have the goods you need, and as long as you meet the selling conditions, I will definitely sell them to you."

"There's no question of 'dare' or 'not dare,' only 'can't' or 'can'

He took the young people to the supply and marketing cooperative, and then sold five bottles of soft-pack glue for a fee.

The young people happily ran towards the government building, and Qian Jin followed them.

There are even more people at the main entrance now.

They were all young people in their early twenties. Some were wearing faded military uniforms, some were wearing work clothes, and some were wearing patched clothes, but they all had textbooks tucked under their arms.

At the front of the crowd, a young woman with two short braids was arguing with Secretary Wang of the commune, waving her "Self-Study Series on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry" and her braids were shaking with excitement.

“Secretary Wang, we’re not causing trouble.” The female educated youth’s voice was already hoarse. “We’ll continue working in the fields. We just ask that we be given half a day each day to read. We just ask that you arrange for the brigade to find us a quiet place to read.”

Secretary Wang kept wiping away sweat, his polyester shirt soaked through the back: "Comrade Xiao Zhou, studying is a good thing, and we will definitely support you, but your main job right now is farming."

"You need to study, so you take a half-day break. If a commune member needs to take care of their child, can they also take a half-day break? And if a commune member's family member is sick, can they also take a break? Comrades, the commune also has its difficulties."

More and more people came to watch the spectacle.

Everyone knows what happened.

It's already May, and the college entrance exam is next month.

The educated youth in each brigade went crazy. They had either failed to take the college entrance examination last year or failed for various reasons, and they all believed that this year was their last chance, so they wanted to get more learning opportunities in this last month.

Qian Jin approached the crowd and overheard two male educated youths in the back row whispering.

The taller one, with engine oil still clinging to his fingers, said, "I heard the county has already arrested three ringleaders, so we..."

"What's there to be afraid of? Zhou Xiaofang is a woman and she's not afraid, so what are you, a grown man, afraid of?" The man with glasses lowered his voice. "Besides, the People's Daily has already published it, saying that we should 'respect knowledge and respect talent'."

As he spoke, he patted the tattered copy of "Political Economy" in his arms. The cover of the book had been repeatedly marked with pen, and the original color was no longer visible.

Liu Jianguo also arrived with his men.

They had serious expressions and menacing eyes. Each of them had their belts tightly fastened and their trouser legs wrapped in leggings. However, Qian Jin noticed that Liu Jianguo did not carry a gun.

"Director Liu." Secretary Wang nodded when he saw Liu Jianguo.

Liu Jianguo nodded and took a step back without making a sound.

Hundreds of young people gathered here.

If this isn't handled properly, something bad could happen!

The head of the local police station got into trouble.

The educated youth all have relatives and friends in major cities. If he hurts someone, he might be prosecuted for it.

and so……

After he arrived, he never went against the youths. No matter what they said, he pretended not to hear them. However, the youths were not allowed to make a move. If anyone tried to make a move, he would immediately step in to stop them.

Wang Zhenshan realized he couldn't be trusted, and then he spotted Qian Jin. As if seeing a savior, he grabbed Qian Jin and pulled him inside.
"Director Qian, please be the judge! Spring plowing has just ended, and there's a lot of work to do with watering and fertilizing. Our production teams are really under a lot of pressure right now!"

Qian Jin pulled Wang Zhenshan behind the gate and they discussed behind the wall: "Actually, their demands aren't excessive..."

“Hey, it’s not too much for them now, but you have to understand that this is just their first step. There are still several more steps to come!” Wang Zhenshan couldn’t help but interrupt him.

"Now they are asking for half a day of study time and a place to study. As the college entrance examination gets closer, will they ask for even more study time?"

"Do we need the teacher to answer our questions?"

"You don't even know what they're thinking. What if they get tired from studying and need extra food and nutrition to replenish their energy?"

Qian Jin chuckled: "So we've agreed on three rules. I have experience in this area; I ran a study room on Taishan Road, and it's still running now."

"At its peak, there were six hundred students in my study room before last year's college entrance examination!"

Wang Zhenshan nodded thoughtfully: "I've seen this in the newspaper. Yes, you have experience with this."

Qian Jin pointed to the northwest: "The commune and the supply and marketing cooperative both have old warehouses. We can clean them up, and with the support of various units, we can set up desks and chairs for them and allow them to study there."

“We will provide a suitable venue, but compress the time. We will give them half a day to study every other day. I will help our commune get a sponsorship from Taishan Road and ask the city to provide some medical glucose to supplement their drinking water. This will help them replenish their energy and nutrition…”

He laid out a series of plans, and the more Wang Zhenshan listened, the more relaxed his expression became.

After listening to him, he clapped his hands and said, "I'll go and write a request for help to the Taishan Road Neighborhood Committee and ask them to arrange a labor commando team to help."

"What about the teachers?"

Qian Jin said, "I'll take care of that. As for the exam papers and questions, I can handle that too."

“The study room on Taishan Road has a printing press. It just means we’ll need a little more ink and scrap paper. I’ll arrange for someone to come and deliver the exam materials every two days.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhenshan beamed with joy, clapped his hands, and said, "Great, great, Director Qian, you're a lifesaver! We'll do as you say."

He strode out and pointed at Qian Jin, saying, "Everyone knows this comrade; this is Director Qian of our supply and marketing cooperative."

Qian Jin frequently went to the countryside and had already gained a certain prestige there. After all, he went to the countryside to do things for the people. Even when he stayed at the commune's supply and marketing cooperative, he would go to the lobby to serve the people as a sales clerk.

Most importantly, news of the Taishan Road Study Room has reached Zidian Commune.

These people knew Qian Jin far better than the ordinary members.

The educated youth had a very good impression of him. When they saw him come out to speak, the crowd gradually quieted down, leaving only a hundred or so pairs of eyes staring at him.

"Comrades!" Qian Jin shouted, "My identity is the same as yours, I am also an educated youth, and I am one of those educated youth who went to fight in the Qiongzhou fishing grounds!"

Upon hearing this, murmurs of discussion arose from the crowd.

Going to the countryside as an educated youth is not like winning a lottery, where you just get to wherever you end up; it depends on your connections and relationships.

The most capable people can stay in the suburbs of the city, which is convenient because it's close to home and makes everything easier.

The most tragic and pitiful are those who go to the frontier, with the southernmost frontier being in Qiongzhou...

Qian Jin said, "I work in the supply and marketing system. The city leaders in my unit have always had the same attitude—to fully support the educated youth in their review and preparation for the exam!"

"We must do everything we can to send ambitious young people to universities for further studies! We must use all our resources to help the country acquire knowledgeable, capable, responsible, and ethical talent!"

The crowd erupted in a buzz.

The young people were overjoyed to finally have the support of their leaders. Qian Jin had just overheard the conversation between the two young people, and the bespectacled one grabbed his companion's arm without even noticing his pen slipping out of his pocket.

After the commotion subsided, Qian Jin and the others continued, "With Secretary Wang's approval, in order to support everyone's studies, our commune will start today and work overnight to renovate the temporarily vacant warehouse into a study room to accommodate the students' studies."

"The study room is open 24 hours a day. And those who are certified by the commune and want to take the college entrance examination can rest for half a day every other day starting tomorrow. This half day is dedicated to studying..."

In an instant, the cheers nearly overturned the roof tiles of the commune.

The female educated youth's braids swung into waves, and several young men threw their hats into the air.

Qian Jin shouted, "Don't worry about the poor conditions in the study room. The commune will do its best to support everyone's studies."

"All models will be based on the Taishan Road Study Room in Haibin City. If you don't know about the Taishan Road Study Room, you can inquire about it. It is a successful self-study model."

"I will contact the Taishan Road Neighborhood Committee to provide everyone with books, stationery, and even exam papers and questions for review. As long as everyone is willing to study, they will definitely be able to learn..."

Louder cheers erupted.

Many people from the commune came to watch.

Li Weiguo and others were also in the crowd. They watched Qian Jin standing among the educated youth, talking eloquently and receiving cheers, and remained silent.

Even the commune leaders panicked and went in to ask Qian Jin, "What about the lost work hours?"

"If we only get half a day off every other day, how will the other members view this issue? What if all the young members say they want to take the college entrance exam? What then?"

Qian Jin said loudly, "If there's a problem, solve it. Don't think 'don't do it' just because you're wondering 'how to do it'."

"This matter is very simple. Our goal is to protect and support students taking the college entrance examination and to provide convenient conditions for the country to select talents, not to give them time to slack off."

"Therefore, everyone who wants to come to the study room has to sign a work guarantee. Those who can get into university after the college entrance examination will go to university, and those who cannot get into university will have to make up for the labor hours they owe for the next month."

"In addition, everyone from the study room must pass a simple test and be at least capable of taking the college entrance examination before they can enter the study room. It can't be that anyone can just come in if they want to!"

He called Zhou Xiaofang and several other leaders to the front and listed out the conditions one by one.

The young men nodded excitedly: "That's fine, I can agree on behalf of our brigade."

They were already very satisfied with having a study room open 24 hours a day.

As a result, the commune even provided them with exam papers and invited teachers, which was an unexpected bonus.

Although they don't have half a day of study time every day, since the study room is open 24 hours a day, they can just come and study for a longer period of time in the evening.

They can even study all night and work in the fields during the day.

When you're out on the ground, you can slack off and do nothing.

Anyway, it's all part of a large collective effort!

(End of this chapter)