The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 357 On-the-spot assessment, on-the-spot recruitment, on-the-spot departure
The trucks arranged by the county took the grassroots cadres who came to the meeting back to the commune at breakneck speed.

The cadres of each production brigade and production team didn't even have time to go to the commune office for a drink of water. They immediately rode their bicycles back to their production teams and gathered the accountants, clerks, deputy team leaders, and even the group leaders to spill the news about the city's recruitment of workers, the resolution of household registration issues, and the monthly wage of 45 yuan like beans being scattered.

The news came like a bolt from the blue, causing an immediate uproar.

Inside the meeting room of the Xiaheyan production team, smoke filled the air as a group of heavy smokers, puffing on their pipes and tobacco pouches, discussed the matter in a cacophony that nearly lifted the roof off.

"My God, only 45 yuan a month? And they even handle household registration?!"

"Captain, this... this good thing can really happen to us?"

“I heard from my second child that college students are graduating this year, and the newspapers are offering similar conditions: the government will arrange a job, provide residency, and give them 45 yuan a month. Can farmers like us have that now?”

Captain Zhen, standing by the riverbank, slammed his hand on the table to quiet everyone down and then conveyed Qian Jin's demands in detail:

Applicants must be between 40 and 60 years old, possess excellent skills, be of reliable character, have over 20 years of experience, be able to work independently, be willing to mentor apprentices, and have a recommendation certificate from the brigade.

Finally, he emphasized with a stern face: "We have already agreed on a list in the meeting. We will mobilize people according to the list first. However, if there are any good mentors who have been missed, you can recommend them to give it a try."

"On-site assessment; those who pass stay, those who fail get out."

He also warned his subordinates: "The quota is limited. This matter is personally overseen by the city's Director Qian. Anyone who dares to cheat will have their application returned, and it will be a disgrace to our Daliushu Commune."

"You all know what kind of temper those leaders in our commune have. They're all hot-tempered. They're the ones who lost face, so they'll be punished soon."

"So everyone, keep your eyes open and bring out the real masters."

After the meeting, the cadres were so eager to get started that they immediately began running around the production teams.

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every field and farmhouse.

At this moment, the old carpenter Zhen Kailai was repairing an old wooden plow with his eldest son, Zhen Dalang, in the team's warehouse.

Zhen Kailai is almost sixty years old. His back is a little hunched from doing a lot of farm work, but his skills are still excellent.

He squinted as he carefully chiseled at the mortise and tenon joint of the plowshare, fine wood shavings falling down.

In addition, he had children early. His eldest son, Zhen Dalang, is already forty years old this year. He is strong, muscular and robust.

He was planing a newly replaced plowshare with a plane, his arm muscles bulging, and despite the cold weather, sweat was still dripping down his bronze neck.

Their team leader, Lao Shuan, burst in, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement: "Uncle Kailai, Dalang! Hurry up, stop fucking fixing it, a super good thing has fallen into your lap!"

Zhen Kailai didn't even look up, and slowly said, "What good news? Did a pie fall from the sky?"

"What a stroke of luck!" Old Shuan rushed over, gesturing excitedly. "They're hiring in the city—not the county town, but Haibin City, the city of Haibin!"

"We're hiring experienced carpenters and bricklayers. We'll help you get city residency, provide you with government-subsidized grain rations, and the monthly salary is 45 yuan per person. I heard there are also bonuses and welfare benefits..."

"Clap!"

The plane in Zhen Dalang's hand fell to the ground.

He stared wide-eyed and asked, "What? 45 yuan a month per person? And...and they even help us get a household registration in Haibin City? Team leader, are you kidding me?"

Zhen Kailai didn't believe this at all, and continued working:

"Old Shuan, stop teasing us. City residency? That's something we peasants can only dream of!"

"It's absolutely true!" Old Shuan stamped his feet anxiously. "The team leader said it himself. A big leader from the city came to recruit people in person. There are limited spots, and our team recommended you two."

"Who in the whole team doesn't know? You two are skilled and have good character. If you go to the city, you'll definitely bring honor to our production team and commune. Anyway, hurry up and report to the commune, or there won't be any spots left."

The Zhen family father and son were indeed hardworking, but they were stubborn and didn't believe in such things.

Listen, is this human talk?

They give you a city household registration and a salary of 45 yuan per person. The father and son can make 90 yuan a month.
They only pay you a thousand yuan a year in salary alone?

Wouldn't it take ten years to become a millionaire?

Who can believe it!

You should know that there isn't a single household with ten thousand yuan in their entire commune yet!
As Lao Shuan was speaking, the warehouse door was pushed open again, and a lean, dark-skinned man with sharp eyes rushed in.

This is Zhen Kailai's apprentice, Zhen Daying. They are all villagers from the Xiaheyan production team and are relatives within five degrees of kinship.
“Master, junior brother, have you heard? The commune is recruiting people to work in the city. They'll help with household registration and pay 45 yuan a month. The brigade clerk just came to see me. He's my classmate and said it's a good idea.”

He ran here.

He was panting heavily from running, his face full of anticipation and anxiety.

The father and son looked at each other, both feeling uneasy.

This news is so tempting, it's like a dream!
Zhen Kailai finally stopped what he was doing, picked up his pipe, and asked, "Oh, the brigade clerk came to see you, then it must be true..."

"Hey, you two!" Old Shuan slapped his thigh angrily. "Was what I said a lie?"

Zhen Dalang glanced at him slowly and said, "You always tell jokes, but my son and I don't believe you."

"Let's go, let's go see the commune!" Old Shuan shoved the father and son.

Zhen Kailai finally made up his mind and put down his chisel.

He put on his overcoat and strode off towards the commune.

Several long tables were temporarily set up on the open space in front of the commune compound.

Qian Jin, Lao Wu, and the construction workers and engineers who had just arrived from the county sat behind the table.

At this moment, a long line formed in front of them, all of whom were craftsmen recommended by various brigades, including carpenters, bricklayers, and stonemasons, each with an expression of anticipation and nervousness on their faces.

Commune cadres and militia members are maintaining order.

The three members of the Zhen family were well-known in the area, especially Zhen Kailai, who was considered the founder of the Da Liu woodworking lineage.

Because he was kind-hearted and willing to take on apprentices, anyone who wanted to learn carpentry from him, as long as they were willing to work hard, even if their family was too poor to afford tuition, he would teach them some real skills.

Most of the carpenters queuing up were his apprentices, and they all made way for their master when they saw him arrive.

Upon seeing this, Qian Jin asked what was going on. Zhen Kailai was quite well-known in the commune, and a leader explained the situation.

At this moment, Zhen Kailai handed over the recommendation letters issued by the production team and the production brigade. Each letter was stamped with a red seal and read:

"Zhen Kailai, male, 59 years old, from Xiaheyan Production Team, is a carpenter with more than 40 years of experience. He is skilled and honest, and has participated in the construction of the commune auditorium and brigade warehouse."

"Zhen Dalang (his son), 41 years old, has been learning his craft from his father for thirty years. He is highly skilled and has participated in..."

"Zhen Daying, 45 years old, Zhen Kailai's apprentice, has studied his craft for 35 years, and is diligent and hardworking..."

Qian Jin carefully examined the letter of recommendation and then looked at the three men.

Zhen Kailai has a weathered face but a steady gaze; Zhen Dalang is strong and powerful; and Zhen Daying is full of energy.

He asked with some doubt, "Comrade Zhen Daying, are you 45 this year?"

Zhen Daying said nervously, "It's accurate, leader. This can't be faked. If you don't believe me, I can show you my household registration book. You can also ask around in my team. I was born three to five years ago..."

“Don’t be nervous,” Qian Jin laughed. “But what did your team leaders say about you having been learning the craft for thirty-five years? You started learning carpentry at the age of ten?”

Zhen Daying nodded: "Yeah, that's right. My father died early, and my family was poor. So my mother taught me to learn skills from my master. Back then, there was no liberation yet, and there were still landlords and rich people."

"If I know carpentry, I can go and herd sheep for landlords, because if I know carpentry, I can repair sheep pens..."

"Can you repair houses?" Qian Jin asked, this was the key question.

"Yes!" Zhen Kailai straightened his back and said in a loud voice, "Building new houses, repairing old houses, installing doors and windows, making beams and pillars, I can do it all!"

The commune cadres knew why the city wanted people, so they made a point of explaining: "This time there was a heavy snowfall, and the snow was quite severe here too. Some houses had their roofs collapse, and the men went to repair them."

Zhen Daying said, "That's right, it was the heavy snow on New Year's Day, wasn't it?"

"The roof of Old Diaotou's house in our team collapsed on one side. It was my father and his two sons who, along with other people, managed to repair it in half a day using readily available wood and straw mats. Now we live there just fine."

"Let's take a look at the craftsmanship here." Qian Jin pointed to the wood and tools piled up on the open ground next to him.

However, the tools were simple: a saw, a plane, a chisel, and an axe.

Zhen Dalang carried a wooden box on his shoulder and brought his own tools.

Without saying a word, Zhen Kailai picked up a piece of pine wood, drew a straight line with an ink line, picked up a large saw, and with a few "sizzling" cuts, the saw cut was as straight as if it had been cut.

Zhen Dalang picked up a plane and pushed it a few times on a cedar plank. The shavings rolled out like snowflakes, and the surface of the plank became as smooth as a mirror in an instant.

Zhen Daying then picked up a chisel and hammer, and with a few taps on a piece of wood, he carved out a square mortise with clean, neat edges.

The three of them worked together and quickly made a stool.

Zhen Daying wiped the sawdust off with his sleeve: "Boss, sit down and try it, it's sure to be sturdy."

Qian Jin nodded.

The three men moved swiftly and skillfully, clearly seasoned veterans who had worked for many years.

The people queuing around were stunned and exclaimed in admiration.

Some people felt guilty and started to move to the back of the line.

The construction engineer sent by the county government's civil affairs department nodded, his eyes showing approval: "The three of them are really skilled. It's a pity that our unit doesn't have enough staff, and we can't recruit people from the countryside, otherwise—sigh!"

He felt a headache coming on when he thought about the new employees at his company who were replacing his retired parents.

Qian Jin nodded: "You three have passed."

The three of them were overjoyed.

But Zhen Dalang still asked cautiously, "Boss, that household registration and salary that my Uncle Dashuan mentioned, will you really resolve it? 45 yuan? My son and I are owed 90 yuan!"

He emphasized again: "Two people, you have to pay my father and son 90 yuan a month!"

Qian Jin laughed.

What a genuine man.

The commune cadre maintaining order nearby quickly interjected: "What do you mean by that? This is Commander Qian Jin from the city's drought relief headquarters. You should thank him for any harvest you have this fall."

"Who doesn't know that Commander Qian keeps his word? Would he lie to you?"

"Commander Qian?!" Zhen Kailai was suddenly shocked.

He had heard of that name.

Heroes in the fight against drought.

Despite being a cadre from the city's supply and marketing cooperative, he came to Anguo County, where the drought was most severe, and went to the countryside every day to help dig wells, teach techniques, and even blast rain from the ground.

Nowadays, people have no entertainment, so they like to spread rumors and they especially like to mythologize certain figures.

Thanks to the power of word-of-mouth, Qian Jin's reputation is now even more widespread in the rural areas of Anguo County than in Haibin City.

In the hearts of ordinary people, he is definitely a well-known and capable official who gets things done.

The doubts in the three people's hearts vanished instantly.

Zhen Daying chuckled and said, "Oh? You're Commander Qian? People say Commander Qian is like Erlang Shen, with an eyeball on his forehead, a natural ability to see where the water is underground?"

Qian Jin was stunned.

Is there such a thing?
He picked up a piece of sawdust, stuck it on his forehead, smiled, and said, "Now I have it."

The people around him laughed, which made them feel better about him, and they were less nervous around him.

Because they could tell that the leader was amiable and easy to talk to.

Qian Jin solemnly said to the three men and the crowd in line, "Don't worry, everyone. The household registration is specially approved by the city. It will be processed after you enter the city and pass the assessment."

"The base salary is 45 yuan. If you do well, there will be bonuses and benefits! What exactly are the benefits...?"

He pointed to his attire: "See what I'm wearing? A cotton hat, a cotton overcoat, cotton boots—you all have them! And plenty of work gloves too!"

"In addition, everyone is given a cotton sleeping bag—basically a combination mattress and blanket. If you work hard, the company will even provide tools..."

"How am I supposed to eat and sleep?" someone shouted.

Qian Jin said, "We live in the dormitory and eat in the canteen. They provide warmth and food!"

"We'll have three meals a day, with guaranteed meat, and an egg in the morning! We'll also be provided with a meal of refined grains every day!"

"Meat every day? And refined grains too?" Zhen Daying's eyes widened like copper bells, and he almost drooled.

In the production team, people could only eat meat a few times a year.

Fine grains were a rare commodity, only used during festivals like the New Year to make dumplings and buns. On ordinary days, people would exchange a little and save it for when relatives came to visit. Zhen Kailai winked after hearing this and said, "Commander Qian, you...you're a living saint! Not only are you helping us with the drought relief, but you've also found a way for my family to survive. Don't worry, my man will definitely do his best. Anyone who tries to cheat or shirk their duty, I'll break their wrists!"

Carpenters earn their living through their craft, and having their wrist or neck severed is the ultimate punishment.

The three were hired on the spot.

This news, coupled with Qian Jin's personal promise of generous treatment, was like pouring a bucket of cold water into boiling oil, instantly igniting an uproar throughout the entire commune compound.

The artisans queuing behind them were completely thrilled.

"Did you hear that? We have meat and refined grains every day!"

"They even issued new cotton-padded coats and new tools, the kind that the leaders wear!"

"Pick me! Pick me! My skills are better than his!"

"I can build walls fast and straight! Let me try!"

The people in line were all recommended.

These people are on the list.

In addition, to prevent the officials from engaging in any underhanded tactics, Qian Jin allowed the craftsmen to sign up themselves.

Choose the best of the best.

As word spread throughout the commune, more and more craftsmen came, and those with some skills wanted to give it a try.

Gradually, the crowd began to stir.

The people in front of them finally got a chance to shine, and they kept trying their best to perform.

The people behind were pushing and shoving forward, eager to show off their skills as soon as possible.

Several hot-tempered craftsmen got into a heated argument over who should go first, their faces turning red with anger.

"I was here first, why are you cutting in line? Why are you ahead of me?"

"Bullshit! I was in line first, I just went to pee!"

"Your skills aren't up to par, so don't waste money and time!"

"You're the one who's no good! Whether I'm good or not is none of your business! You're getting all anxious before Commander Qian even gave the order—it's like the emperor isn't worried but the eunuch is—if you're not convinced, let's have a go!"

Pushing and shoving, shouting and cursing.

These days, fighting is commonplace in the countryside.

In particular, those queuing up are mostly craftsmen. They are often strong and healthy, and they usually have many people begging them for work, so they tend to have a bad temper.

There were too many people, and when one person started arguing, the others joined in, and the situation was about to get out of control.

When a few men started pushing and shoving, the scene completely spiraled out of control.

Several militiamen maintaining order rushed forward, physically separating the two sides in the conflict and sternly reprimanding them:
"What are you doing! Stop it, all of you! If you keep causing trouble, get out!"

"Stop it, stop it!"

Qian Jin's face darkened, and he slammed his fist on the table: "Quiet down, all of you!"

As a result, someone was knocked to the ground, got up, and started throwing punches.

The commune leaders were still courageous.

A burly man in his thirties with a scarred face took a rifle from a militiaman, cocked it, and fired a shot into the sky.

The deafening sound immediately silenced everyone.

Qian Jin clicked his tongue in surprise.

Grassroots work is tough; it really requires a lot of hard work.

As the leader walked forward, Qian Jin noticed that he had a limp.

But the troublesome craftsmen seemed quite afraid of him, and when they saw him approaching, they all backed away.

The leader, his face stern, said, "What do you want? Trying to cause trouble? Huh?!"

"Commander Qian is a benefactor of our Great Willow Tree. Aren't you ashamed to cause trouble in front of him?!"

For a moment, no one spoke.

Taking advantage of the quiet, Qian Jin coughed and shouted angrily, "What's all the noise about?! What's all the fighting about?!"

At the same time, his gaze swept over the troublemakers with lightning speed, "With your kind of attitude, you think you can come to the city to be workers? You think you can earn 45 yuan a month? Dream on!"

"Who was involved in the attack? Turn them over here!"

The militiamen immediately pushed those who had started the fight, especially those who were fighting, out of the ranks.

Qian Jin said with a gloomy face, "He has a bad temper, is unruly, and has no sense of discipline!"

“I, Qian Jin, would never hire people like you! The construction team would never hire you either! Now! Immediately! Go home! No matter who recommended you, no matter what your abilities are, you are disqualified!”

One of the men was dissatisfied and shouted, "He hit me first..."

Qian Jin said sternly, "I emphasized this a long time ago: anyone who cuts in line or causes trouble must report it to me, and I will handle the problem. No fighting is allowed on your own!"

"And what was the result? Did you follow my orders?"

"If you don't obey orders, get out!"

The craftsmen were dumbfounded, and wilted like eggplants hit by frost.

With a wave of his hand, the commune cadres pushed the people out.

The scene was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.

Qian Jin looked around the room and said in a loud voice, "Comrades, I know you all want to go to the city and live a better life, but our construction brigade is not a vegetable market, much less a bandit stronghold. It's not a place where just anyone with a loud voice or the strongest strength can get in!"

"What we need are skilled craftsmen who are reliable, disciplined, and hardworking, not troublemakers!"

"We are there to provide services to the citizens, not to beat and kick them!"

He picked up a document and held it high:

"Look carefully, from now on, the construction team will have rules and discipline!"

"I'll reiterate a few points. First, technical skills must be top-notch. We'll conduct an on-site assessment, and anyone who cheats will be immediately dismissed!"

"Secondly, they must be reliable, disciplined, and obedient to management!"

"Fighting, brawling, drunken disorderly conduct, theft, and cheating—once discovered, a warning! A second time, bonuses withheld! A third time, expulsion! Return to one's place of origin, and household registration cancelled!"

Old Wu whispered to him, "Director Qian, we also need to implement a 'joint guarantee system.' This is a method I used to use when managing farmer technicians working on the river, and it worked very well!"

Qian Jin asked him how to set it up, and Lao Wu quickly wrote on a piece of paper while explaining:
“Craftsmen from the same village, team, or who know each other can voluntarily form a guarantee group. Each group consists of three to five people, and they must guarantee each other’s skills and character.”

"If someone in the group violates discipline, fails the technical assessment, or is found to have character issues, the guarantor will also bear joint liability. At best, bonuses will be withheld; at worst, wages will be deducted. In the case of the river crossing project, this will affect the work record of the entire group!"

Qian Jin understood immediately: "The Qin Dynasty's system of collective punishment!"

Old Wu nodded with a sinister smile:
"If someone can't get into the guarantee group, it means there's something wrong with that person. I don't need to elaborate, do I?"

A commune cadre who was listening in asked, "What if it's a group of problematic people who got together? What if they formed a small guarantee group?"

Old Wu said, "Isn't this perfect? ​​Let's clear them out together!"

Qian Jin thought the idea was good and put it into practice on the spot.

Then the stone was thrown at the dog, which barked.

These words immediately caused an uproar.

Mutual guarantees? And liability too? These rules are too strict!

"Quiet!" Qian Jin shouted. "If you think it's too strict, then don't come. The construction team needs a cohesive group that can supervise each other and make progress together, not a disorganized mess!"

"Those who are unwilling to accept a guarantee can leave now!"

He asked the Zhen family members who were the first to pass the assessment, "Are the three of you willing to form a guarantee group?"

Zhen Daying and Zhen Dalang looked at the old man.

Zhen Kailai stepped forward and said, "Not only do my men dare to vouch for each other, but as an experienced craftsman, I also dare to vouch for a few more people..."

He looked at the people in the group and pointed: "Wang Bao, Triangle Eyes, Er Mazi, and Zhang Dajiao, these four are my apprentices. I know their skills and temperaments very well. They are all good laborers in their forties, and they are more capable than me!"

Qian Jin waved his hand: "The four of you will pass the test directly, but if something goes wrong, your master will be in trouble too!"

A burly man with a pockmarked face stepped forward excitedly and said, "My master guaranteed my brothers that no matter what kind of ordeal we face in the city, my brothers will go through fire and water without hesitation, right?"

The other three were also burly men, and they all agreed.

The crowd in line quieted down, their eyes filled with envy as they looked at the four people.

They looked at each other, whispered among themselves, and then began to think of ways to form a guarantee team.

Although the rules are strict, they also give people peace of mind.

Nobody wants to be spoiled by a single bad apple.

Qian Jin said, "Alright, I haven't finished explaining the rules yet."

"You've mentioned three points already? Then here's the fourth!"

He continued, "All recruits will undergo a verification period. Don't think that you can get a household registration just because you've entered the city. No way!"

"Let me tell you, during the verification period, the team's experienced workers will conduct strict assessments."

"Those who fail the assessment due to substandard skills, poor work attitude, or weak safety awareness will be sent back to their place of origin! Their household registration and employment will be revoked! There will be no leniency!"

"Fifth, the promised benefits are all in black and white." Qian Jin pointed to the document. "Once you enter the city, you will sign a contract immediately, which will clearly state your salary and benefits. Everything I, Qian Jin, have promised will be provided! I, Qian Jin, keep my word!"

"But the premise is that you also have to abide by the contract! Follow the rules! And do your job well!"

With a loud voice and a series of exclamations, Qian Jin used his tone to express his emphasis on discipline.

Iron discipline, clear rewards and punishments, coupled with his resounding promises and unquestionable authority, finally calmed the restless crowd completely.

The fervor on the artisans' faces gradually faded. They now understood that this opportunity to enter the city was not a windfall, but something that needed to be earned through genuine skill, good character, and strict adherence to the rules.

"Does anyone else have a question?" Qian Jin asked in a deep voice.

"No problem!" Zhen Kailai was the first to answer loudly. He tugged at his son and apprentice, "The seven of us will vouch for each other! We promise to follow the rules and do our jobs well!"

“We’ll vouch for you too.” Other craftsmen responded one after another, and began to look for trustworthy people to form a guarantee group.

The storm was quelled by Qian Jin's iron-fisted rule-making.

In this way, the selection of craftsmen in Daliushu Commune can be carried out in a more standardized and orderly atmosphere.

For each transaction, Qian Jin signs a document.

Then, some were happy while others were sad.

The selected artisans beamed with barely suppressed excitement and anticipation.

These are real benefits. Now you can work in the city, get a city household registration, and enjoy salary and benefits, which is even better than passing the imperial examination in ancient times.

Those craftsmen who were not selected could only return home dejectedly.

After finishing his business at Daliushu Commune, Qian Jin hurried to Qianzhai Commune.

The craftsmen were already waiting, ready to be put to the test.

The three communes steadily gathered a hundred craftsmen.

It was very efficient, but it required Qian Jin to have a thorough understanding of the situation in each commune.

After Qian Jin checked the list, he prepared to leave with his men. However, an old man with gray hair and wearing a patched cotton-padded coat approached him and pleaded desperately:
"Commander Qian, you're a good person, please have mercy on me. My old man's skills are really good, it's just that I'm getting old..."

The man who brought the old man over was a cadre from Daliushu. Qian Jin had a deep and good impression of this cadre; it was he who fired his gun in time to stop the chaos when the craftsmen were fighting.

The cadre said in a low voice, "Commander Qian, let me report to you on the situation. It's not that I want to use connections, it's just that his situation is rather complicated..."

(End of this chapter)