The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 338 Dedicate your life and energy to humanity's most precious cause.

The young workers were intently monitoring various parameters, while Soviet technicians provided guidance and supervision.

Qian Jin personally oversaw the operation on-site.

As July drew to a close, the drilling team entered Gangouzi Commune.

It was already night, and the generator powered the tungsten halogen lamps, illuminating the construction site brightly.

People, with their families and the elderly and children in tow, gathered to watch the drilling rig drilling a deep well, and also to see the blue-eyed, big-nosed Russians.

As the drill bit reached the predetermined depth of the water-rich layer, the pressure gauge showed a familiar change.

A young worker turned on the loudspeaker to listen, and then nodded in satisfaction.

As the drill pipe was pulled out, a stream of clear groundwater mixed with mud gushed out of the borehole.

Once the mud was washed away, leaving only water, the crowd erupted in cheers once more.
"The water's coming out! The water's coming out in huge quantities!"

As before, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.

The villagers of Gan Gouzi rushed forward, eager to reach out and touch the hard-won clean water.

Seeing the gushing spring, many elderly people knelt on the ground, tears streaming down their faces, exclaiming, "Water! It's water! Thank God!"

"The crops in the field are saved! Thank goodness, the crops in the field are saved!"

Technicians from the Water Resources Bureau quickly took samples for testing, and the water quality was found to be excellent and met drinking water standards.

Another victory!

This greatly boosted the morale of the well-drilling team.

Today marks the first day that the deep well drilling command team is personally carrying out well drilling work. This well was drilled by the Chinese people themselves.

The young workers in the deep well drilling command team were happy with this result, as were Ivan and others:

"Ha, 100 jin of red sausage per person!"

Qian Jin nodded: "Don't worry, we Chinese are trustworthy, and we will definitely fulfill the conditions we promised!"

From then on, the deep well drilling command team was entirely responsible for drilling work by young workers. The team moved from one disaster-stricken area to another, following the drilling locations designated by the command's expert group.

While one drilling rig is drilling a well, another is drilling at a new location.

The roar of the drilling rig became the most beautiful melody in this thirsty summer in the coastal city.

Wells, some hundreds of meters deep, with clear, sweet water, have appeared in arid and water-scarce areas such as Hongshiya, Beilingzi, and Wangjiagou...

On the drought relief map, patches of deep red are turning into light red.

With the successful extraction of water from deep wells, the drinking water crisis that has plagued many remote areas has been fundamentally alleviated, and opportunities have been created for seedling protection and cultivation in farmland.

The villagers no longer had to trek over mountains to fetch water, the women no longer had to queue up at midnight to guard the water, and the children could go back to school soon.

The clear well water flowed through the villagers' own wheelbarrows into the water tanks, nourishing the livestock and poultry suffering from the drought and the few vegetable patches hastily planted in the small gardens in front of and behind their houses.

With the gradual rollout of drip irrigation equipment, large tracts of farmland have turned green.

Starting in August.

The drought has finally eased somewhat.

Dark clouds blew in from the sea. This time, there was no need for artificial rainmaking. After nightfall, a heavy rain fell accompanied by thunder and lightning, and it continued until dawn the next day, lasting intermittently for another day.

Many dried-up riverbeds have been refilled with water.

Now, the pink color on the drought relief map has decreased, and large areas of light green and even dark green have begun to appear!
The drought relief efforts are nearing their end.

August was another busy month, and as September arrived, the heavens finally began to show a sliver of mercy to the people.

September 7th corresponds to the 28th day of the seventh lunar month and the solar term White Dew.

Now that we've reached the White Dew solar term, it's truly autumn. In fact, autumn started a month ago.

However, the autumn heatwave in Haibin City is as fierce as ever, and the drought this year has made the weather hot and dry, so there is no autumn feeling after the start of autumn.

However, on the day of White Dew, the heavens took pity on us, and a light autumn rain began to fall from midnight.

The long-awaited coolness and abundant moisture finally descended upon this rural land that had been tormented by drought.

The rain was light but continuous, lasting from midnight until the evening of the next day, thoroughly irrigating the parched land.

The Anguo County drought relief command center is brightly lit day and night, and passersby are always in a hurry. Now, it finally exudes a rare sense of ease.

It's almost time to leave work, but the rain is still pattering outside the window.

This isn't considered noise these days; it's pop music that sounds better than any other song.

Good news keeps coming.

After receiving a weather forecast from the provincial meteorological bureau, Zhong Jianxin, beaming with joy, went to find Qian Jin:
"Deputy Commander Qian, according to the forecast briefings sent by the provincial and municipal meteorological units, there will be one or two more rainfalls in the next week, and some areas of Anguo County will even experience a heavy rain..."

"Oh, good news." Qian Jin took the report and looked at it with a big smile on his face.

The command post's phone was still ringing frequently, but it was no longer an urgent call for help; instead, it was mostly reports from various communes that they were safe and sound, and good news.

The clerk at the hydrological office received several data reporting calls from reservoirs, then compiled a water level monitoring report for Anguo County Reservoir and handed it to Qian Jin.

More good news.

The arrow on the water level monitoring report no longer represents a hopeless, continuous decline, but rather a halt to the fall and a rebound.

As these good news spread, the communications officers, when answering the phone, showed rare smiles on their faces and in their tone of voice. Their voices, no longer shouting like they were in battle, became much more relaxed and gentle.

Another call came in, and the operator said, "Yes, please issue the notification—oh, to notify Special Commissioner Qian Jin to return to the city? Understood, understood, it's an order from headquarters, asking him to return to the city immediately to report for duty..."

"Okay, okay, do you need Deputy Commander Qian to take the call? Okay, okay, I'll pass on the command post's notification to Deputy Commander Qian immediately. Understood, okay, I will definitely urge him to hand over his work as soon as possible..."

"Okay, okay, thank you for your concern, leader. We're not tired! It's what we should do!"

The microphone was put down, and the operator reported the notification sent by the command center to Qian Jin.

Qian Jin overheard a few words, looked up and said, "The handover of work, and then I'll leave as soon as possible, right?"

The operator nodded and verbally relayed the notification to him.

The command post gradually fell silent.

Liu Changgui, Zhong Jianxin, and other leading cadres all looked at Qian Jin.

Qian Jin also looked at them.

He fought hard in Anguo County for not just three or five days, but for two or three months.

Although he occasionally had to go to the countryside to handle some minor matters at Xiamapo, the main work was still done in the command post.

He gets along very well with the county's leaders and cadres; they've developed a camaraderie.

The two looked at each other, and the atmosphere gradually turned somewhat sad.

Qian Jin chuckled and said, "Comrades, how about we sing a song for our comrades?"

Everyone laughed in agreement.

Zhong Jianxin sighed, "All good things must come to an end. We knew you were going back to the city, we all knew that, but we didn't expect this day to come so soon."

An official from the agricultural sector nodded and said, "Yes, I thought we would have to wait until after the autumn harvest to go back."

Qian Jin said, "To be honest, I thought I would have to wait until after the autumn harvest to see how things were before going back, but the command headquarters issued a transfer order."

He handed his work documents to Liu Changgui: "I'm entrusting the follow-up drought relief work in Anguo County, especially the maintenance of deep wells, the allocation of new water sources, and the field management of replanted crops after the disaster, to you all!"

"Commander Liu, you know I don't like to use official jargon, but I still have to say this now—the responsibility is heavy, but you are experienced and I believe you can definitely shoulder it!"

After taking the documents, Liu Changgui shook hands with him tightly, his voice tinged with emotion: "Commander Qian, you...you're leaving already? I think it's a bit too hasty."

“You like to be realistic, so I’ll be realistic too today. The success of Anguo County’s drought relief work today is all thanks to you.”

Qian Jin laughed and said, "What are you talking about? It depends on everyone! It's the power of the collective, the power of the team!"

"Come on, let's hand over the work. Actually, there's not much to hand over. We usually make decisions together in the command post."

He looked at everyone, took a deep breath, and gave a sad smile: "Then let me say something first."

"Comrades, thank you for your cooperation with my work and your tolerance towards me these days. I especially thank you for being willing to carry out my arrangements. We will have wild vegetable soup for lunch."

The crowd immediately began to chatter:
"Commander Qian, please don't say that..."

"A train runs fast because of its locomotive..."

"Actually, the wild vegetable soup is quite delicious—but I'm getting a bit tired of drinking it every day..."

Qian Jin shook hands with each of the staff members at the command post.

We've all been working side-by-side for many days, and we know each other well, so parting ways now is truly bittersweet.

Zhong Jianxin stopped Qian Jin: "Commander Qian, what do you mean by this? Are you planning to leave tonight?"

Qian Jin laughed and said, "If we don't leave today, we'll leave tomorrow. After all, there's nothing worth handing over."

“We can’t leave today anyway. Look, it’s almost dark. We have to eat before we go,” Zhong Jianxin said.

Liu Changgui also said, "It's still raining outside, and the road is slippery in the dark. You absolutely must not walk there."

Other cadres said:
"Let's have a meal together tonight. To be honest, we've never treated Commander Qian to a proper meal after leading us through such a tough battle."

"Yes, we have to eat. If we leave without even having a decent meal, we'll feel bad. If word gets out, our colleagues in other units will laugh at us."

Qian Jin looked outside and saw that it was indeed getting dark. In the hazy rain, the light bulbs in the offices across the street were emitting a dim yellow light.

"Commander Qian, please stay for a meal!" the clerks began extending invitations.

"Yes, Commander Qian, it's just one meal!"

Many people agreed.

Actually, Qian Jin wasn't afraid of the dark and slippery roads at all. He was eager to get home, mainly because he missed his lovely wife...

As a strong and healthy young man, he really missed his wife terribly after being separated from her for two or three months.

But he knew he couldn't leave tonight.

Looking at these familiar faces, listening to their invitations to stay, and feeling the genuine affection of my comrades, I simply couldn't bring myself to refuse.

When Liu Changgui saw him hesitate, he knew that he really had the idea of ​​running away.

So he quickly grabbed Qian Jin's wrist and said, "Commander Qian, you absolutely have to eat this meal."

"It has nothing to do with whether it tastes good or not. It is a farewell ceremony between our comrades who fought side by side, and it is also an acknowledgment of the contributions made to you by our comrades and the land of Anguo County!"

Having said that, Qian Jin could only say, "We definitely have to have this meal, but please keep it simple and don't be extravagant. We're still fighting the drought, and everyone's having a tough time."

"Don't worry about that, we can't afford to be extravagant with our current conditions." Liu Changgui and Zhong Jianxin exchanged a glance, their faces breaking into smiles.

The leader in charge of logistics immediately headed out: "I'll go to the canteen to find Lao Zhao and Lao Xu and have them bring out their best skills to send off Commander Qian!"

Qian Jin quickly said, "Don't do that. No fancy dishes or meat. Let's just have a meal together."

"Besides, the drought relief work is still ongoing, so drinking is not allowed—okay, one bottle of beer per person!"

It would be really inappropriate not to drink at a farewell banquet.

The logistics manager smiled and agreed, then quickly ran out.

Liu Changgui glanced at the sky and said, "It's time to get off work. Commander Qian, why don't you come with me to the canteen and keep an eye on things? We really can't hold a big banquet at this time."

Qian Jin said, "Okay, I'll go take a look."

After he left, Zhong Jianxin said, "Old Liu, how could you say that? Although Commander Qian..."

“I need to move him out of the command post as soon as possible, and then we need to call the comrades below. Commander Qian has been here for so many days, and he has spent more time running around below than in the command post. He is leaving, can we not tell the comrades below?” Liu Changgui interrupted him.

After saying that, he picked up the crank telephone on the table, cranked it a few times, and connected it to the switchboard: "Hello, switchboard, connect me to Xiaowangzhuang Commune... Yes! Quick! It's urgent!"

Zhong Jianxin, in perfect unison, picked up another telephone and started dialing: "Hello, switchboard? Connect to Daliushu Commune! Beilingzi too..."

Once the call connected, the two leaders began to convey information:
"Hey! Old Li from Xiaowangzhuang? This is Liu Changgui... Yes! Oh, it's so late, isn't there some urgent work—well, it is urgent, I have something to tell you! Commander Qian Jin is leaving, yes, the city command headquarters has issued a transfer order!"

"He's going back to the city first thing tomorrow morning... Yes! Back to command post..."

"Okay, okay, I got it! Good! We'll try to stop him tomorrow!"

The same message was quickly transmitted to all the grassroots areas in Anguo County that had telephone access via two telephones.

By the time the money came in, the phone calls were already finished.

Liu Changgui and Zhong Jianxin were studying the work notebook he had left behind, asking questions whenever they didn't understand something.

The farewell banquet was held in the cafeteria.

The city government canteen is usually quite good. It normally serves three meals a day, but now that the disaster is so severe that people can't get enough to eat, it has been changed to only serving breakfast and lunch, and it is closed in the evening.

The cafeteria was serving special meals tonight, and when Qian Jin and the others went in, the food was already laid out on the table.

There weren't many dishes—four dishes and a soup—this was the result of Qian Jin's earlier discussion with the chef at the canteen.

The largest portion of the four dishes was cold mung bean jelly, which is the most popular dish in the seaside city during the summer.

It's cheap and affordable, and it's refreshing and helps to relieve internal heat. People eat this at home too, so when the chef was announcing the menu, Qian Jin reserved this dish first.

The city government's cooks are very skilled; even a simple cold noodle dish looks completely different in their hands compared to what you'd get at a farmer's house.

The mung bean jelly is cut into wide strips, which are crystal clear.

It's topped with blanched tender spinach, finely shredded carrots and cucumbers, and torn black fungus, then the soul of the dish is poured over it.

The secret to this dish lies in the sauce.

Qian Jin and the others took their seats, and the chubby chef came out with a smile, placing minced garlic, dried chili peppers, sesame seeds, and other seasonings on the dishes, then pouring hot oil over them with a sizzling sound. Instantly, the high temperature released a rich, complex aroma, with the fragrance of garlic, vinegar, and oil mingling with the freshness of the vegetables, filling their nostrils.

Liu Changgui picked up his chopsticks and stirred it, only to find a thick layer of pig's head meat underneath.

He immediately smiled and said, "Okay, Lao Xu, you've put in a lot of effort."

The chubby chef chuckled, "I just stumbled upon this. Isn't this a gift from God? You can't just leave this pig's head meat lying around. It'll spoil if you don't store it properly. You guys are going to have to finish it off tonight."

A plate of steaming hot flatbread, like the kind of steamed buns served in a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), was brought out from the kitchen.

Each palm-sized flatbread was baked until golden brown, and when cut open from the side, a pure wheat aroma wafted out.

This can be considered both a staple food and a side dish, and it is also a local specialty.

Anguo County was poor, and the people couldn't afford meat. This kind of pancake wasn't for stuffing meat; it was for stuffing vegetables.

Among these dishes, the most upscale is called Egg Sauce, which is made by frying lard in oil and then stir-frying it with sweet bean sauce, chopped green onions, and eggs until fragrant.

There's now a plate of egg sauce and a plate of stir-fried pickled vegetable shreds with lard on the table, both of which are hearty dishes for stuffing into steamed buns.

The most substantial dish was a chicken braised in a rich broth.

The chicken was marinated in advance with Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, soy sauce and a little sugar, and then simmered slowly in a large iron pot over a wood fire for a long time until the bones were soft and the meat was tender.

Although Qian Jin didn't want to eat chicken, duck, fish, or meat, this roast chicken was a standard dish served to guests at the county government canteen and was available year-round.

Seeing the plump roast chicken, everyone at the table swallowed hard.

These days, farmers are having a hard time, and leaders are having a tough time too. It's been a while since anyone has seen such pure meat.

Especially since I had just eaten a bowl of stewed wild vegetables at noon.

That stuff was really awful and not filling at all. Everyone was hungry by then, and the aroma of meat filled the air, causing several people's stomachs to rumble.

The chubby chef was quite pleased with himself: "How about it? Isn't this roast chicken impressive? Ladies and gentlemen, to be honest, when I was reducing the sauce, I added extra soy sauce and rock sugar. This made the sauce the thickest and brightest, clinging to the boneless chicken. It looks absolutely delicious."

The leaders nodded in agreement.

This braised chicken in old broth is glossy and fragrant; it truly is a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

The last dish was tofu with scallions.

Zhong Jianxin smiled when he saw it: "This dish is good, it's in line with Commander Qian's style, he's completely honest and straightforward."

The leaders all nodded in agreement.

This is the truth.

After Qian Jin arrived in Anguo County, he truly lived up to the saying "clean hands and a clear conscience." He kept going to the countryside, not only refusing to eat the farmers' food, but also trying every means to get grain from the city to subsidize the farmers' food.

This matter had already spread throughout Anguo County, and the locals all had the same reaction when the money came in.

Give a thumbs up.

The soup is dumpling soup.

This autumn rain brought a touch of chill and desolation, just the right time to have a hot bowl of dumpling soup to ward off the cold.

Green beer bottles were lined up in a row, one bottle for each person, and Qian Jin personally delivered the extra money to the kitchen.
"One bottle of beer per person is the agreed rule, and no one is allowed to drink more."

The beer bottle cap was opened, and a rich foam oozed out.

Liu Changgui asked Qian Jin to say a few words, and Qian Jin said, "I can see that everyone is hungry. Well then, let's make it clear that no one should be polite or offer any food. We'll all eat our own food—let's eat!"

As he spoke, he took the lead and picked up a braised chicken with his chopsticks.

Upon seeing this, everyone burst into laughter, and after drinking a beer, they also vigorously ate the roast chicken.

Roast chicken is delicious these days.

There are no broiler chickens or fast-grown chickens; they are all genuine free-range chickens and small, native-type chickens.

The roasted chicken, simmered in a rich broth over high heat, has soft, tender skin, succulent meat, and even the bones are cooked until they're soft. Some leaders even chewed up the chicken bones and swallowed them whole.

Although Qian Jin said he would only eat his own food, others couldn't actually do that.

Zhong Jianxin personally ladled him a bowl of dumpling soup.

The dough balls in this noodle soup are handmade. The master chef has a strong hand, so the dough balls are all about the same size and have a very chewy texture.

The soup is topped with chopped scallions, a few bright green spinach leaves, and of course, an egg.

The beautiful egg drop soup is not the essence; the essence is the soup base.

Qian Jin took a sip and exclaimed, "Hmm, delicious! It even has a meaty aroma! Did they add white pepper powder? Hmm, the flavor is just right."

"It definitely has some meaty flavor because it's made with pork bone broth," someone explained with a laugh.

Qian Jin nodded repeatedly.

This dumpling soup is savory, piping hot, and a sip in the misty autumn rain is both warming and comforting.

Scallion and tofu salad is a must-try; it's simple, refreshing, and perfect for cutting through the richness of roast chicken.

Liu Changgui urged Qian Jin to try the flatbread with egg and sauce: "I've heard that people in Shaanxi love roujiamo (meat sandwich). Although we don't have meat here, the flatbread with egg and sauce is just as delicious. Commander Qian, you should try it. It's a specialty of Anguo County!"

Qian Jin added egg sauce to the pancake. At this time, the pancake was still hot and crispy. One bite revealed a crispy exterior and a soft interior, with a savory and appetizing flavor. It could be a main dish or a side dish with rice.

First, they ate a lot, and then everyone ate something to fill their stomachs.

Then Liu Changgui raised his beer glass and gestured, "Commander Qian, shall we go it alone? I'll go first."

"You like to tell the truth, and I like to tell the truth too. Compared to your city, our county is poorly equipped and doesn't have much of a good stuff. Tonight, we'll have a farewell banquet..."

"If you're talking about that, I'm not drinking with you anymore," Qian Jin waved his hand.

Liu Changgui laughed and said, "Then I'll go straight to the toast. This first toast is on behalf of all the comrades at the Anguo County Command Post!"

"Thank you for leading us through the toughest days!"

Qian Jin picked up his glass, and said with a touch of emotion, "Time flies, comrades. As I said before, thank you all!"

"Besides, Anguo County is where it is today because everyone worked together. I, Qian Jin, just did what I was supposed to do! Come on, I'll do it!"

Everyone raised their glasses, and the enamel mugs clinked together, making a crisp sound.

The atmosphere gradually became more lively.

Everyone vied to give money, pour wine, and serve food.

"Commander Qian, try this cold mung bean jelly; it's our canteen's specialty!"

Qian Jin took a bite.

The jelly noodles are smooth and refreshing, the vegetables are crisp and tender, the sauce is perfectly balanced between sour and salty, and the garlic flavor is rich and intense – it's very appetizing and delicious.
"Mmm, delicious! This cold dish is really well made!"

"This baked flatbread is delicious. Try it with pickled vegetables. Don't be fooled by the fact that it doesn't have meat; it's very fragrant." Someone else handed over a flatbread that had been split open and filled with glistening shredded pickled vegetables.

Qian Jin waved his hand: "I've already eaten one."

"That one has egg sauce in it, this one has pickled vegetable shreds in it. Try it, it tastes different," the crowd urged.

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Qian Jin had no choice but to accept the food and continue eating.

Pickled vegetable sandwiches are also delicious.

The main reason is that the flour is baked, resulting in a rich and pure wheat aroma.

This flour is stone-ground; it smells wonderful.

As for the stir-fried pickled vegetable shreds, they are oily, salty, and fragrant, with a savory and spicy flavor that gets better with every bite.

"Give me a piece of chicken! Commander Qian, this chicken has been stewing all afternoon, it'll be tender and juicy!"

"Yes, it smells delicious and is very tender. Excellent craftsmanship, truly excellent craftsmanship."

"Have some tofu. The tofu in our county is delicious. Money is on your side, so you should eat more..."

"Hehe, I love tofu..."

Everyone ate and chatted.

They talked about the dangers of digging the well, the various troubles encountered on the water delivery route, and the ecstatic joy of seeing the crops turn green again after the rain...

Laughter, sighs, and clinking glasses mingled together.

The entire table of food was devoured, even a large bowl of hot dumpling soup was completely eaten.

With doors and windows open, autumn rain brings a cool breeze.

Everyone ate until their foreheads were sweating and their stomachs felt warm.

A table full of delicious food dispelled the chill of the night and eased the sorrow of parting.

Qian Jin stayed in the dormitory for one night. The next day, not wanting to experience the sorrow of parting again, he wanted to leave quietly.

As a result, the SUV ran out of gas, and he couldn't move.

Driver Xiao Sun explained helplessly, "When a truck ran out of fuel, Commander Liu siphoned off the fuel from my truck."

Qian Jin said, "Then let's wait for the oil depot to open, fill up the tank, and set off."

There were no gas stations in the entire coastal city back then.

Private individuals do not own cars; all vehicles belong to collectives or work units. To refuel, drivers go to government-run fuel depots.

Anguo County is relatively poor and underdeveloped. There is only one oil depot in the entire county. This oil depot is quite domineering. It is a two-story building that has been converted. The upper floor stores oil and the lower floor refuels the oil. The daily supply is limited.

Qian Jin had no choice but to go to the command post to say goodbye to his old comrades.

When he arrived at the command post, he was stunned.

The playground outside was packed with people.

The autumn rain stopped last night.

The air was slightly cool after the rain, filled with a unique freshness characteristic of the agricultural era.

There were still water droplets on the branches and leaves of the roadside plants, and the trouser legs and cuffs of these people were wet, obviously soaked by water droplets.

“Commander Qian…” Ma Congli burst out from the crowd, pouncing on him like a hungry tiger and grabbing his arm. “You’re so unfair! How could you just leave like that? Why didn’t you tell us guys at Xiamapo? Do you think we’re all poor guys?”

After Qian Jin arrived in Anguo County, he went to various rural areas and visited all the villages in the county several times. Naturally, he could recognize all the familiar faces in front of him.

They were either commune leaders or production team cadres, as well as some clan elders from large local families.

He patted Ma Congli on the back and said helplessly, "How did you know about this? Who notified you? Was it Commander Liu or the others?"

“Never mind who notified you, Commander Qian, are you really planning to sneak away?” An old man came up and shook his hand.

The old man's hands were as rough as old tree bark; he was a man who had spent his whole life working in the fields.

In his other hand, he carried a small bundle, which, when opened, revealed another bundle inside. Unfolding it layer by layer, he finally uncovered a dozen or so still-warm eggs.
“We’re all poor people in Zhao Village, Daliushu. We don’t have anything good at home. My daughter-in-law has saved up a few eggs. Take them with you for breakfast on the road.”

"Last time you came to our big willow tree to check the water situation, we invited you to stay for dinner, but you absolutely refused. You can't refuse again this time..."

“Commander Qian, we from Xiaolizhuang also have a little something to offer…” A middle-aged man squeezed forward, carrying a heavy willow basket filled with eggs and golden egg pancakes.

Qian Jin was deeply moved, his heart was filled with passion, and his eyes reddened.

He waved his hand and went up to shake hands with each of them: "No, comrades, what are you doing? I'm going back to the city to report on my work, not being exiled to the frontier or exiled to Lingnan—oh, that's not right, Lingnan is still a good place now."

"In short, I'm going to the city to enjoy myself. I'm very happy and even feel bad that you came to see me off. If you brought me gifts, I would be unhappy and wouldn't even want to see you!"

"all in all……"

"Oh dear, there's nothing of value here," a commune cadre exclaimed.

Others chimed in:
"Exactly! It's our own apples from our own fields, our own pears from our own trees. If you refuse the money, it's considered disrespectful to farmers..."

“Our brigade didn’t spend any money to buy anything. Last night I told the members of our brigade that you were going back to the city to become an official, and they insisted that I bring you some dates from our brigade. It’s been a dry year, so these dates are sweet…”

“Commander Qian, please take this with you. Everyone knows the city has plenty of supplies. But this is all from the hearts of us farmers. It's not all for you; it's for all the leaders at our command headquarters. The leaders have worked so hard…”

"Really, I'm ninety-one this year. When I was a child, Emperor Guangxu was still in charge of the country. In the past ninety years, there have been countless droughts and floods, but none of them have been as good as this year. There was a drought, but not only did no one die of thirst, but even the crops in the fields didn't die of thirst. You officials are doing a good job..."

Qian Jin was surrounded, surrounded by voices from all directions.

He bowed repeatedly in all directions, and couldn't help but shed tears in all directions.

Drought relief work is indeed tiring.

But everyone should be able to accomplish something worth talking about in their lifetime.

Drought relief is something like this.

At that moment, Qian Jin personally experienced that famous line from "How the Steel Was Tempered":
The most precious thing a person has is life. Life comes only once. Therefore, a person should live their life in such a way that when they look back on their past, they will not regret wasting their years, nor be ashamed of having accomplished nothing; so that when they die, they can say, "I have dedicated my whole life and all my energy to the most precious cause of mankind—the struggle for the liberation of mankind."

Qian Jin had known these words for many years, but only today did he truly grasp their meaning.

To use a future internet buzzword

The two most important values ​​a person needs in life are material value and emotional value.

Just ask.

What kind of emotional value can compare to the sincere support and gratitude of the cadres and members of all the communes and even production teams in the county?

The sounds from the crowd continued:
"Commander Qian, you can't just leave like this..."

"Boss, are you coming back? Are you coming to my Gujiatun again? You didn't get to try the fish from my reservoir last time you came, you should definitely try it next time..."

"Leader, when will you come visit Zhanggezhuang again? We really owe you a lot; that hundred-meter-deep well in our brigade has saved so many lives..."

"Comrade, you must accept this small token of my appreciation. Dried locust flowers aren't worth much; take them home and steep them in water to drink—they're sweet..."

(End of this chapter)