The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 358 Pre-release benefits, craftsmen's heartfelt conversation

He explained it to Qian Jin in detail.

The old man was an old bricklayer named Zhang Houde, who was 66 years old this year. He was a well-known old craftsman in Zhangjiawang Brigade of Daliushu Commune.

Before liberation, this man was an apprentice at the famous Yutai Construction Company in the provincial capital. He worked with his master to repair churches and build Western-style buildings. His skill in "clear water wall" construction was well-known throughout the surrounding area.

Qian Jin asked in a low voice, "What is a 'clear water wall'?"

Zhang Houde hurriedly said, "The local saying here is that when building a wall, you don't need to plaster it; the brick joints will still be straight and beautiful."

Qian Jin was surprised.

You have such amazing skills?
The official continued, saying that the old man's family was poor, his wife was chronically ill, and his son was disabled, so they relied on his skills to supplement their income.

But in rural areas, every household is poor and can't afford to build a new house or even repair an old one. His skills are a waste of talent in the countryside.

Even if someone needs to repair or fix their house on a regular basis, they might at most treat the craftsman to a meal; they simply don't have the spare money to pay the laborers.

Despite Zhang Houde's exceptional skills, his family lived a life of hardship.

Hearing that he could move to the city to receive government-subsidized grain rations and a fixed salary was his only hope of changing his family's fate, so he came as soon as possible.

As it turned out, he arrived too late, and the militiamen stopped him when they saw that he was underage. In the end, the old man was desperate and squatted outside the commune government building crying, which is when the cadre ran into him.

The cadre said in a low voice, "Commander Qian, if you think highly of me, I'm willing to vouch for Master Zhang. His skills, his character, and his physique are all impeccable."

“The gable wall of our commune auditorium was built by him and his men in 55. It’s been so many years and there’s not a single crack. It’s very sturdy. So I think his situation is quite special, and I brought him here specifically to explain it to you.”

Qian Jin thought for a moment and asked, "Comrade, I remember your surname is Chang?"

The cadre said, "Yes, I live in Hai. I am the deputy captain of the militia brigade of Daliushu Commune. I am a soldier who was transferred from the army. I have been awarded a third-class merit and was wounded on the battlefield."

"I'm not saying this to brag, but to show that I'm not an unreliable person. I vouch for Master Zhang because I know he can do it, and he's the kind of person the city needs for its construction projects."

Then he looked at the old man and sighed: "He's just a bit old, but he's fine. He even came to build a meeting room for the commune in '79."

Qian Jin looked at Chang Zhuhai with great interest and asked, "How did you two get here?"

Chang Zhuhai said, "I brought him here on my bicycle."

Qian Jin asked, "Your leg doesn't look too good?"

Chang Zhuhai didn't understand why he was asking this, and awkwardly rubbed his right leg: "My knee was knocked off by a stray bullet, but it doesn't stop me from riding a bike."

Qian Jin then asked, "Do you want to work in the city? Don't be a militiaman in the commune anymore. I'll find you a job in my unit. How about that? It'll be a permanent position, and the benefits will definitely be much better."

He's the head of the Approval Commission now; it's too easy for him to just put a few people in the office.

However, he doesn't really intend to keep the permanent residents of Haikou in the Approval Committee.

This resident of Hai is a talented person.

He handled the chaotic situation decisively and bravely, and he is also empathetic and compassionate. He is decisive and responsible, which makes him a very good manager!

He was in dire need of this kind of talent in the Labor Assault Brigade.

So Qian Jin wanted to get him under his command to manage the assault team; he was sure he was suitable.

Moreover, he knew that the Labor Assault Brigade would definitely prosper in the future, and he would be able to stay in the sea as a manager. This future was much brighter than staying in the countryside.

Changzhu Hai unconsciously scratched his head.

I didn't intend to recommend myself.

At this moment, several bricklayers who had been selected and registered in the Daliushu Commune gathered around. They had all learned their craft from Zhang Houde to some extent.
“Master Zhang is my master, and he is also a good person. He is a good craftsman.”

“To be honest, Director Qian, Master Zhang isn’t my master, but my brother and I have both worked for him. He never held back when he worked and taught us both the trade. Please take him on as a student; he’s good at training apprentices…”

"Yes, Commander Qian, the three of us can vouch for him. If he can't do the heavy work, we'll do it for him. We promise it won't delay things..."

Qian Jin said, "Here's what we'll do, Master Zhang. I'll have someone assess your skills. Once you pass the test, we can discuss the rest."

Tears welled up in Zhang Houde's old eyes, and he quickly nodded, "No problem, no problem, just tell me what to do."

Qian Jin was more interested in Chang Zhuhai, as he believed that was the talent he truly needed: "Come work for me in the city. Trust me, and I'll definitely secure you a good future."

“I trust you, Commander Qian. I’ve read a lot about you, some in the newspapers and some from other people. I trust you, but I…” He looked down at his right leg.

"Actually, I am a disabled person."

Qian Jin laughed and said, "You may be disabled, but you're definitely not crippled! If you trust me, then go back to your unit and tell your boss. I'll issue you a transfer order as soon as I get back to the city..."

"Can I ask what they want me to do?" Chang Zhuhai couldn't help but ask.

Qian Jin said, "Go sweep the floor and do chores first, then you'll be in charge of leading my team."

"Labor shock brigade!" Chang Zhuhai said subconsciously.

Qian Jin laughed: "Hey, you know I'm in charge of the labor shock brigade?"

Chang Zhuhai nodded: "Actually, I have a comrade who joined the labor shock brigade after he was demobilized and returned to the city. He is from Wutaishan Road. He said that he is very close to you and he admires you very much."

Qian Jin clapped his hands: "What a coincidence! The Taishan Road where I started my business is the neighboring road of your comrade-in-arms' Wutaishan Road."

"You guessed right. I'm going to put you in charge of some things in the labor shock brigade. If you're a talented person, you two will both be promoted to management and keep a good eye on those educated youth."

Chang Zhuhai was relieved and nodded emphatically: "Okay, whatever you say goes, Commander Qian."

Then he laughed happily: "Doing good deeds will be rewarded. I originally just felt sorry for Master Zhang and decided to bring him here to see if there were any special cases. But I became the special case myself."

Qian Jin remembered Zhang Houde's matter and went to see the test.

Old Wu gave him a test, nodding repeatedly at him: "This old master is really capable."

There were some red bricks and a bucket of mixed mortar on the open ground; these were the materials used to test the bricklayers.

Zhang Houde was still working at this time.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his arms covered in calluses and veins.

With one hand holding a trowel, he skillfully scooped up a lump of mortar and spread it evenly on the prepared bricks. Then, with his other hand, he picked up a new brick, pressed it firmly on with a "smack," and with a slight flick of his wrist, scraped away the excess mortar with the trowel.

The movements were fluid, precise, and swift.

Dozens of bricks had already been laid, with straight horizontal and vertical joints and full, even mortar, as if measured with a ruler.

Finally, he used the tip of the trowel to gently trace a groove in the brickwork, and a beautiful concave groove was instantly formed, clean and neat.

"Excellent craftsmanship!" Old Wu couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

Qian Jin nodded, having already made up his mind.

He walked up to Zhang Houde and said, "Master Zhang, I believe you have excellent skills, but you are indeed getting old."

The old man sighed.

Qian Jin smiled and said, "In that case, our construction team will still make an exception and hire you, but your position will be adjusted. You will not be assigned to the front line of bricklaying, but will instead serve as a technical advisor and quality inspector."

"You'll be responsible for training apprentices and checking the quality of the masonry work. Your salary will be paid according to the standard. But there's one condition: if your body can't handle it, you must tell us in time. Don't push yourself too hard."

Qian Jin was worried that something might happen to the old comrade at his construction site.

Good intentions may lead to bad outcomes.

Zhang Houde was a very emotional man. After listening to the story, he burst into tears and bowed deeply to Qian Jin.

Qian Jin helped him up and said with an awkward smile, "No need for a bow, thanking you is fine, I did make an exception for you."

Zhang Houde held his hand, his voice choked with emotion, and said, "Thank you, thank you, Commander Qian! I will definitely do my best. You asked me to mentor an apprentice, and I will teach him everything I know. I will make sure to train him well and also ensure the quality of our work..."

Qian Jin didn't really want to make an exception and hire someone.

Because once the bottom line is crossed, many things become impossible to accomplish.

If he makes an exception and hires one person, then ten people will want to be hired as well.

Sure enough, the news of Zhang Houde's exceptional recruitment spread like wildfire.

Those craftsmen who were not selected seemed to see a last glimmer of hope and rushed forward to plead for their lives.

Qian Jin adheres to his principles and politely declines most offers unless the applicant is exceptionally capable or met the criteria previously but was not contacted.

But at that moment, Ma Congli quietly pulled Qian Jin aside.

He was also a bricklayer.

Qian Jin guessed that he wanted to use his connections to get in. The two were quite close, and he couldn't refuse, so he preemptively said, "I've found you a good mentor. You'd better study hard after you get to the city..."

“Okay, okay,” Ma Congli readily agreed, then continued recklessly, “Commander Qian, I’d like to recommend someone to you, he’s a very capable person.”

Qian Jin looked at him speechlessly.

He chuckled and said, "You've tacitly agreed? Then let me introduce you."

"I'm introducing Ma the carpenter who lives at the west end of our team, the stableman."

"Before liberation, he was conscripted to fight the Japanese invaders and served as a carpenter in the engineering battalion. Later, he ran away and came back."

"His skills are absolutely amazing, and he's a jack-of-all-trades. He's not only good at carpentry, but also proficient in bricklaying, plastering, and waterproofing. I learned my masonry skills from him at first."

"In addition, he can also do that, uh, he's the only one in our whole commune who can do it—oh, it's called concrete pouring."

"When our commune built the irrigation canal in 72, he was the one who led the team to set up the formwork and pour the concrete for that culvert. It was very sturdy and didn't leak at all. He was also a very good person, it's just that he had bad luck..."

He originally didn't intend to give Ma Congli face, but the words "concrete pouring" made his heart flutter.

This was indeed a technology that was extremely rare in rural areas at the time.

Even in the city, let alone in rural areas, the construction team he assembled didn't have anyone who knew how to pour concrete.

As the construction team expands and undertakes more complex projects in the future, skilled personnel with expertise in concrete technology are invaluable.

Qian Jin asked, "How does he know this skill?"

Ma Congli chuckled and said, "He learned it while fighting the Japanese. He built bunkers for fighting the Japanese and learned how to pour concrete and stuff."

"Where is he? Bring him here to see him," Qian Jin said, glancing at the sky.

They had already arrived at their last stop, Dawang Commune, so they had to send a car to pick them up.

The off-road vehicle sped by, and the stables were brought along.

This man looked to be in a similar condition to Zhang Houde, with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles, appearing to be in his sixties or seventies.

He was tall and thin, with a slight hunchback, and even in the freezing cold, he wore a patched old military uniform, his ears and hands covered in sores from the cold.

Upon seeing this, Qian Jin took off his cotton-padded coat and had Ma Congli put it on him.

Without thanking him, the stableman quickly backed away, keeping his head down and his eyes darting around, clearly displaying a humility and caution stemming from long-term repression.

Ma Congli held him down, put the cotton coat on him, and then said to Qian Jin with a smile, "He's like a dog jumping off a sedan chair—he doesn't know how to appreciate favors. Actually, he's really very capable."

“Our team and the brigade commune don’t usually dare to ask him for help, but when there are big jobs or important matters, we really have to rely on him. He has the ability.”

"And then there's the fact that he looks quite old, doesn't he? Actually, his age isn't beyond your expectations; he's under sixty!"

Qian Jin asked in surprise, "Comrade Ma Pengzi, you're not even 60?"

"Five, fifty-five or fifty-six," the stable boy mumbled.

Qian Jin didn't ask much about the past and directly asked him to demonstrate his skills on the spot.

Ma Pengzi picked up his tools and worked efficiently.

He first used an axe and saw to quickly process a wooden component with mortise and tenon joints, his movements precise and efficient.

Then he picked up a trowel and built a section of brick wall with skillful technique, no less than that of a professional bricklayer.

Qian Jin nodded repeatedly: "Hey, with such talent, why didn't your team recommend him? What about Ma Congfeng!"

Ma Congfeng was also a bricklayer. This guy quit his job as the production team leader and wanted to follow the team into the city.

Ma Congli pulled Qian Jin aside and explained on behalf of his brother: "My brother doesn't want to cause you any trouble. He was conscripted before Liberation—you know what I mean. I just think that you, Commander Qian, are the fairest in handling matters. You only look at people and nothing else, so I dare to tell you this."

At this point, the stable boy regained his confidence and asked, "We have cement, coarse aggregate, and fine aggregate here, but we're missing some admixtures. Do you want me to mix some concrete mix?"

Qian Jin said, "No need to mix it, don't waste the commune's cement. Tell me, what's the deal with mixing concrete?"

The stableman gave him a verbal explanation.

The lecture covered water-cement ratio and slump control, and mentioned terms like vibration compaction.

Qian Jin couldn't understand, but he was deeply shocked.

He then took the initiative to shake hands with Ma Pengzi: "Comrade Ma Pengzi, I have seen your skills, they are very good. The construction team needs talents like you."

Ma Pengzi suddenly looked up at him, then lowered his head and said forcefully, "I'm willing. I've been dreaming of going to the city."

He wanted to go somewhere where no one knew his past, because he believed he had great skills but couldn't use them and had always been frustrated and unfulfilled.

"Alright!" Qian Jin patted him on the shoulder. "Pack your things and get back with the group!"

Finally, he tallied up the list.

Later, eight more people were specially recruited.

One hundred and eight heroes!

To show their support for the city's work, the county government proactively sent trucks, both of which were packed full.
Although Qian Jin said that he would be provided with bedding and work protection supplies and other benefits when he went to the city.

However, adhering to the idea of ​​"traveling with less money but more resources," the simple farmers still brought along what they could carry from home:

Patched quilts, cotton-padded clothes and shoes, bundles and boxes, and eating utensils wrapped in cloth. Some people also had a bag of cornbread in a urea bag.

Filled with anticipation for city life and excitement for their new jobs, they boarded a truck bound for the coastal city, seeing off by the commune cadres.

It's also about driving towards the future.

Qian Jin also saw the future: the construction team was finally born under the policy breakthrough and strict procedures, and now it finally has a solid technical framework.

The truck drove over the bumpy dirt road and onto the smooth asphalt road.

Rows of brick and tile houses, Soviet-style office buildings, and factory chimneys belching white smoke gradually appeared on both sides of the road. As night fell, streetlights came on...

All of this was both unfamiliar and novel to the craftsmen who had lived in the countryside for many years.

They clung to the side of the carriage, greedily gazing at the scenery outside the window, their faces filled with excitement.

At this point, I felt neither uneasy nor nervous.

After all, it wasn't just one person going to the city; it was a group of villagers going to the city, and Qian Jin's off-road vehicle was leading the way.

Ma Congli jokingly shouted from inside the car, "Doesn't this look like a military vehicle? The officers are in cars leading the way, and we soldiers are crammed full of soldiers in the back?"

"There are no guns."

"But we have quite a lot of equipment, including bedding and dry rations..."

The truck eventually stopped at the training school.

There are dormitories with beds inside.

The artisans jumped off the vehicle somewhat nervously, curiously looking around at their new surroundings.

Qian Jin called ahead and arranged for Xu Weidong to bring some team members to help with the dormitory assignments.

He then led his men to open the storeroom, which contained plenty of bedding and welfare supplies—things he had previously bought and prepared for the main force.

The school dormitories are simple, but clean and tidy.

Red brick floor, whitewashed walls.

Each room is about 20 square meters, with wooden bunk beds placed against the wall. They are all made of solid wood and are absolutely sturdy. The dormitory only has a passageway in the middle.

A brand-new straw mat was laid on the bed, and several rows of clothes hooks were nailed to the wall.

Although it was crowded, it was much better than the large dormitory-style rooms in the countryside they had imagined!
"This bed is brand new! Hey, it's a pine bed, so sturdy!"

"Hey Dad, you live downstairs from me. Don't climb up here because your legs aren't strong enough..."

"This place is much better than our home. We even have a house with electric lights now..."

"Upstairs and downstairs, electric lights and telephones, now we have electric lights..."

Qian Jin returned and said, "There's also a telephone, in the principal's office up ahead. If anyone has an emergency at home, they can call the commune."

The artisans' faces lit up with excited smiles.

After they had settled their luggage, Qian Jin gathered everyone in the open space in front of the dormitory:

"Comrades, once we're in the city, we're part of the construction team. The team won't treat you unfairly!"

"I'll say it again: I will definitely keep my promises, but!"

"You must meet the demands I, Qian Jin, make, or don't blame me for being ruthless and purging you from now on!"

"Alright, everyone has had a long journey, so I won't emphasize too many things today. Just don't fight, don't urinate or spit anywhere, okay?"

The crowd shouted all at once:

"Approved."

"Anyone who does that is a dog."

Qian Jin nodded and beckoned them to the storeroom: "Come on, let's go distribute the welfare items."

Xu Weidong and his team began distributing the supplies in an orderly manner.

All of these are great stuff, and Xu Weidong was envious: "Brother Qian, where did you get so many sleeping bags? They're really nice, can you get me one too?"

Qian Jin glanced at him sideways: "You're coming to stay here too? You're going to work on the construction team too? You're prepared to live a life of hardship?"

Xu Weidong thought for a moment.

He still couldn't let go of his beautiful wife who was about to enter his home.

The rolled-up warm sleeping bag was indeed a good thing; the farmers had never seen anything like it before. It was only after a few veteran craftsmen opened it up that they figured it out:
"Oh, this is a sleeping bag. When I was in the army, I heard from officers that those pampered soldiers in the US used these, they were really nice..."

"Absolutely great, so thick and warm. Feel it, isn't it soft?"

"Are you really giving them to us? Will you deduct it from our wages? This stuff is so nice, brand new! We've never used brand new bedding in our lives, and now we get a whole set!"

Holding a thick, brand-new cotton sleeping bag, many people still didn't know how to use it.
"Is it a quilt or a mattress? It looks like a cotton sack."

The experienced craftsman instructed his companion: "Open it up, and crawl all the way inside..."

"Oh, I see, it's like rolling into a warm bed!" The craftsmen suddenly realized.

Qian Jin also provided them with a hot water bottle.

This is a regular dark red rubber hot water bottle, a classic model with a screw cap. It became more common in the 1990s, but in 1981 it was definitely a high-end item, taking center stage in department stores during winter, and rarely seen in rural areas.

In rural areas, people need to keep warm at night, so they basically carry a bottle with a dripping tub for heating.

"Fill it with hot water at night, stuff it in your blankets, and you'll stay warm all night," a member of the commando team demonstrated, adding, "Be careful not to get burned, this stuff gets really hot."

The artisans took turns looking at it, finding it rare and unusual.

The cotton-padded coat with a fleece collar is both warm and practical, and the trousers are thick cotton-padded trousers. The two are a set, and both are printed with the four large characters "Labor is Glorious".

In addition, each person receives a set of warm, non-slip water boots and a cotton hat with ear flaps.

Qian Jin even prepared toiletries for them:
An enamel basin with the Double Happiness logo, a matching enamel mug, a white towel, a bar of Lighthouse soap, a tube of Zhonghua toothpaste, and a toothbrush.

These are not products from the mall; they were all purchased by Qian Jin through connections.

He shouted to the group, "Everyone needs to pay attention to hygiene! The city is different from the countryside; you have to take good care of your personal hygiene." "Washing your face, brushing your teeth, and washing your hair—these are all daily necessities!"

Ma Congli asked, "Huh? You have to wash your hair every day? Won't you catch a cold in this freezing weather?"

Ma Congfeng kicked him from behind: "You're so delicate."

Qian Jin said, "How could you catch a cold if you dry your hair indoors and wear a cotton hat when you go out?"

The other craftsmen nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, yes."

"We'll do whatever Commander Qian says."

"From now on, don't call me Commander Qian, call me General Manager Qian, or Captain Qian!"

Now, whatever Qian Jin says, they all agree and agree.

Because they gave so much, it's wonderful!
The craftsmen looked at the welfare items they were holding, each one brand new and practical, things that were rarely seen even at weddings in rural areas. They could hardly believe their eyes.

Especially the complete outfit, from hat to shoes, is something many people have never worn in their entire lives—thick and new clothes.

And this is work uniform.

For farmers, having a set of work clothes, just like urban workers with stable jobs, is something to be very proud of.

In the 21st century, even a full set of anti-static pilot's suit can't compare!

The men of the Zhen family were overjoyed to be together.

Most people were chattering away.

Ma Pengzi silently put on his cotton hat, lowered his earmuffs, and a warm feeling instantly enveloped his ears. He let out a long sigh of relief.

After the welfare items were distributed, an even bigger surprise was yet to come.

Qian Jin had someone push over a flatbed cart covered with a tarpaulin.

"Open it!"

Xu Weidong gave the order.

The canvas was lifted.

Below, brand-new tools are neatly stacked and categorized according to job type.

Over at the carpentry section, there were brand-new frame saws, large and small saws, and several planes in a row.

Zhen Daying picked it up and gestured, saying, "Long plane, medium plane, short plane—Master, what is this?"

"That's called a wire planer, it's really complete," Zhen Kailai exclaimed.

He picked up a set of chisels and examined them.

There are about ten of them: flat-mouthed, slanted-mouthed, round-mouthed, and semi-circular-mouthed.

Other tools include axes, woodworking hammers, ink lines, squares, measuring tapes, etc.

A wide variety of products are available, with a complete range of models and sizes.

The bricklayers had a lot of tools, including gleaming trowels of various sizes, trowels, presses, mortar boards, plumb bobs, straightedges, brick clamps...

Ma Congfeng picked up a two-meter-long ruler and exclaimed in shock, "City people have such good tools! Dali, take a look, this thing, hey, it's made of iron!"

“This is called aluminum alloy,” Ma Pengzi said. “It’s not iron; it’s lighter but just as strong and durable.”

Ma Congfeng nodded in realization.

He reached out and tried it, then laughed, "It's lighter."

In addition, there are heavy tools such as sledgehammers, chisels, crowbars, picks, and shovels.

Qian Jin even prepared pipe wrenches, wrenches, screwdrivers, electrician's knives, and voltage testers.

In short, the foundation for the construction team has been laid.

Ma Congli came up, rubbing his nose, and asked, "Mr. Qian, is all of this stuff?"

“These are all prepared for everyone,” Qian Jin said loudly. “They are issued to you by the construction team. They are your tools of the trade. They are not for public use. Each group gets one set, which is shared within the group.”

"So everyone should cherish and keep these things safe. These aren't things you can just buy anywhere. They were specially approved by the city government to support our construction team's work. Each one is for a specific purpose..."

The artisans were thrilled.

Like children seeing a favorite toy, they swarmed around it and began to examine it.
"This plane is great, so light, and the steel blade is excellent!"

"Master, look at this trowel, it's so thick! Try it on, see if it's comfortable to hold?"

"This is a spirit level? Master, is this the spirit level you were talking about? Look, there are air bubbles inside. Oh, you use these air bubbles to check if the level is right?"

"Wow, I've never used such a good gadget in my life. The government is really great..."

The taciturn stableman always cherished his 2-meter-long aluminum alloy ruler; with it, leveling the walls became much easier.

The night grew deeper, and a cold wind began to blow.

Qian Jin supervised the process, having the craftsmen form groups and choose group leaders, then select team leaders from among the group leaders, and finally collect the tools from their respective groups.

Zhou Yixing from the People's Canteen arrived and asked Qian Jin, "Mr. Qian, when is lunch served?"

The artisans had been starving, their stomachs practically touching their backs, and they'd been waiting for those words.

Qian Jin said, "Let's eat now. Everyone go back to your dorms to eat—and remember, be mindful of hygiene."

"Ma Congli, go boil some water, we'll use it to wash the dishes and chopsticks later."

Ma Congli said casually, "Hey, Mr. Qian, don't waste hot water. We country folk aren't that delicate. We'll just use cold water."

Qian Jin said, "You don't understand our local cuisine. It's very oily, and you can't wash it clean with cold water."

Ma Congli laughed: "President Qian, you don't understand us peasants, Sun. Hehe, just you wait and see, there won't be any profit left in our bowls!"

The team leaders organized the workers, and hundreds of craftsmen lined up with their newly issued enamel bowls and teacups.

A tricycle loaded with a large insulated container was pushed over; the lid was opened, and steam rose from it, releasing a fragrant aroma.

The person in front peered out and exclaimed excitedly, "Pork stew with vermicelli! I see the pork! Such huge chunks..."

"Yes, pork belly, I see it, it's so fatty..."

The team members serving the food vigorously stirred the mixture with large spoons, striving to ensure that the vegetables, meat, and vermicelli were evenly distributed.

Qian Jin nodded, and a large spoonful of oily cabbage, pork, and vermicelli stew was poured into the enamel mug.

The staple food is steamed buns, large steamed buns made from a mixture of wheat flour and cornmeal.

The steamed buns were soft and fluffy, and the men's eyes lit up when they saw them.

But what really makes my mouth water is the master chef's stewed pork, cabbage, and glass noodles.

The slices of pork, with their perfect balance of lean and fat, were translucent; the cabbage, soaked in broth, was tender and delicious; and the glass noodles were smooth, oily, and fragrant.

When it was Ma Congli's turn, he swallowed hard and said, "Comrade, please give me a spoonful of soup. My brothers all love rice soaked in soup."

“You’re really shrewd,” Zhen Daying said from behind him.

This soup is excellent; it has oil floating on the surface and is even more flavorful than the braised cabbage and pork soup my family used to make for Chinese New Year.

Each person had a bowl of vegetables and two large white steamed buns weighing two and a half ounces each.

Many people were so hungry that they didn't bother going back to their dorms; they just found a place to squat down and eat.

Take a bite of the big steamed bun; it's soft, fluffy, and full of the aroma of wheat.

Another bite of cabbage and glass noodles, and the person eating it beamed with joy: "It smells so good! How come this cabbage is stewed to be so fragrant?"

Xu Weidong laughed and said, "It must smell delicious. This is stewed by a master chef in a restaurant. Do you think it's something your wife at home would just casually stew?"

"Is this food from a restaurant?" Zhao Shunzi, the foreman of the carpentry team, asked in surprise.

Qian Jin said, "That's right, our team has its own restaurant, so you'll basically be eating out every day from now on!"

The group of people were so shocked they were speechless.

Eat out every day!
Eat at restaurants every day!
To be honest, even the production team cadres couldn't imagine such a life. No, even the commune cadres at most ate in the canteen every day, let alone in restaurants.
Ma Congfeng winked at his cousin: "See? I told you I was right not to be the team leader!"

Xiamapo is a production brigade with a large population, but it is too poor. Ma Congfeng, as the brigade leader, has to subsidize those poor members. Otherwise, they would all be just horses, and he couldn't live with himself.

Zhou Yixing exclaimed, "There are also pickled vegetables here, and soup, seaweed and egg drop soup with oil and dried shrimp floating on top!"

Ma Pengzi asked hesitantly, "Could you...could you give me some pickled vegetables? I like salty food, I...I eat salty food."

One of the team members immediately put a large chopstick of pickled vegetables on his plate.

Mixed with sesame oil and shredded scallions, then stir-fried with shredded dumplings.

The stable boy sniffed it, and a look of surprise appeared on his usually expressionless face: "Hey, it's mixed with sesame oil?"

Zhou Yixing nodded: "Yes, you used a pound of sesame oil in the pickled vegetables for this meal!"

In fact, for a meal for more than 100 people, one pound of sesame oil is not much; ten people wouldn't even get an ounce.

But for rural areas where meat and oil are scarce, a pound of sesame oil is a truly staggering amount.

The group immediately lined up again: "Get some pickled vegetables for my brothers too, pickled vegetable shreds mixed with sesame oil, delicious!"

"Eat without worry, the food here is all-you-can-eat, and you can ask for more if you're still hungry," Zhou Yixing said generously.

Qian Jin shooed people to the dormitory: "Don't squat outside in this freezing weather, or you'll catch a cold. Let me tell you, eat well and sleep well, because we'll be working tomorrow, so you all have to work hard!"

Ma Congfeng, the leader of the bricklayers' team, stood up and said, "Boss Qian, if you treat us country bumpkins like human beings, we won't play dumb or act like cowards. Just watch. Damn it, tomorrow you all have to work your butts off!"

Ma Congli shouted, "That's right! As long as we don't die, we'll fight to the death!"

A group of men shouted "Bravo!" in unison.

This is why Qian Jin chooses honest people.

Some people will take your kindness for granted and even become more demanding and arrogant.

Some people remember your kindness and will repay even the smallest favor with the greatest gratitude.

Qian Jin waved his hand: "Alright, everyone go eat. After you finish eating, have two bowls of hot soup."

"You've definitely never tried the seaweed and egg drop soup at this restaurant!"

Anguo County is almost the farthest place from the sea among all the districts and counties under the jurisdiction of Haibin City, and it has no seaweed at all.

The craftsmen entered the dormitory and gathered in small groups.

Looking at the real slices of meat in their bowls and smelling the long-lost aroma of meat, many of them were reluctant to eat the meat.

One person kept sighing, "My wife has suffered with me. We've been married for over ten years, and she's never eaten meat so freely. It's not right for me to eat it all by myself."

"Then bring your wife over, and I'll let her sleep in my bed."

"Where do you sleep?"

"I sleep in my own bed, where else would I sleep..."

The dirty jokes started immediately.

For these rough men, if good food and drinks can't be paired with good wine, then they have to be paired with bawdy jokes!
However, today they mainly focused on attacking the food in the pot.

In rural areas, white flour steamed buns are a rare treat.

Not to mention the juicy, oily stew cooked in a big pot.

At first, someone would tell a dirty joke to make people laugh, but gradually no one spoke, and there was only the sound of people wolfing down their food.

Because everyone has figured it out.

The food is plentiful, but they've eaten so many steamed buns and vegetables. Do they really expect to go begging for more?
Isn't that shameless?
Therefore, the food is served in fixed quantities. Whoever finishes first can get another serving, while those who eat slowly have to wait to drink soup.

Pairs of chopsticks flew up and picked up slices of meat, cabbage, and vermicelli, stuffing them into their mouths. The men chewed heartily, their faces beaming with satisfaction.

Some people were reluctant to eat the vegetables, so they broke open their steamed buns and dipped them in the soup in the bowl, or ate them with pickled vegetables, intending to save the vegetables for later that evening.

Zhang Houde was the master craftsman, and several people surrounded him, all of whom were his apprentices.

When someone saw him eating only steamed buns, they asked him why. He vaguely replied, "These steamed buns are sweet, and it's delicious to eat just steamed buns."

The apprentices were filial, and they picked out pieces of meat for him, saying, "Master, eat some meat! We need to work hard tomorrow, and we'll have the energy to do that!"

They knew that Zhang Houde was reluctant to eat it and wanted to freeze it to save for when he went home or when a fellow villager went home, so that his family could take it back to eat.

In fact, isn't that what they think too?

But I can't stay, because I don't know when I can go back.

The stable was occupied by himself.

Therefore, he can eat without worry.

He was sitting in a corner, head down, eating silently.

He picked up a piece of meat, looked at it again and again before putting it in his mouth, savoring the greasy texture and aroma.

He hadn't enjoyed himself like this in so many years.

It seems like I've never enjoyed this kind of life since I can remember.

It wasn't just the delicious food or the warm clothes; for him, the important thing was being treated as a human being.

Qian Jin gave him the position of technical team leader. He currently has no subordinates, but it is said that more than ten people will come to learn from him tomorrow.

He was very grateful to Qian Jin.

He had never seen a cadre like this before.

Qian Jin is now going from dormitory to dormitory with a bowl in his hand:
"How's it going? Is it delicious?"

"Would you like some chili? Garlic? We have garlic. You have a good palate. Eating meat without garlic is like missing half the flavor."

"Team Leader Ma, why are you eating alone?"

He finally sat down next to the stable and said, "You've trained so many apprentices, they're all your comrades. Forget about the past, from now on our team will be judged by skill and character."

"If you're skilled and have good character, you're the one for our team!"

He gave a thumbs-up to the stable.

Ma Congli also sat down, chuckling, "Mr. Qian, will you be my host from now on?"

Qian Jin said, "Don't worry, I can't say that there will be meat at every meal, but there will be fine grains every day, and you can eat your fill."

"But like I said, I need to see how well everyone works, right? If they do a good job, well, our food will definitely be good, and the benefits will be better. If they don't do a good job..."

He shrugged.

Everyone shouted, "You definitely did a great job!"

Qian Jin laughed and said, "That's good, haha. Don't try to fool me with that old cod-labor, communal-eating mentality from now on. We'll still eat from the same pot, but the work will be quantified!"

All the team leaders stated that they would definitely lead their teams well.

The food was eaten up.

Even the seaweed and egg drop soup was swept clean.

Very normal.

Where have they ever tasted such delicious hot soup?
Qian Jin settled them in and then left by car.

To save electricity, the craftsmen filled rubber water bags with hot water, stuffed them into the quilts, and then crawled inside and turned off the lights.

The bed was warm and cozy, and my body felt warm and cozy after a good meal.

But no one could sleep; people across from each other, and those in beds above and below, were all talking:

"Dad, this city is really different!"

Zhen Dalang touched the thick mattress beneath him and exclaimed with emotion, "This quilt, this hot water bottle, and those new tools—Boss Qian really keeps his word!"

“Yes!” Zhen Kailai leaned against the headboard, smoking his pipe.

Amidst the swirling smoke, the old man's gaze was distant: "I've lived for over fifty years, and this is the first time someone has taken me so seriously."

"They're giving us such good things and providing such good food. If we don't work hard, how can we face them and our own conscience?"

"Master, do you really think we can settle down in this city? Can Boss Qian really help us get our household registration?" Zhen Daying was still a little incredulous.

"Boss Qian said it in front of so many people, how could it be false?" Zhen Dalang said quickly. "He keeps his word. As long as we work hard and show off our skills, we'll definitely be able to stay!"

In the next dormitory, Ma Pengzi silently wiped his washbasin with an old towel he had brought.
The new washbasin was enamel, and he dared not rub it too hard for fear of scratching it.

Old Li, the bricklayer who lived in the same room, came over and asked, "Old Ma, what are you thinking about?"

The stable boy looked up and smiled, "It's nothing."

Old Li handed him a rolled-up cigarette, then looked out the window: "I heard the sea isn't far from here? Let's go see the sea together."

"Sigh, I'm fifty-one this year, and I've never even seen what the ocean looks like."

"You know, if my wife knew that I got so many good things on my first day in the city, and even got to eat meat, she would be ecstatic."

He's a chatterbox, very talkative, and once he starts talking, he never stops.

Ma Pengzi, on the other hand, was a quiet type. He enjoyed listening to him and would respond with a nod or a smile.

He certainly gave Old Li plenty of emotional support, chattering on and on.

Zhang Houde, wearing his clothes, came over to ask for a light.

Old Li immediately changed the subject to him:

"Old Zhang, at your age, you've come across such a good thing. Boss Qian is making an exception to hire you because he values ​​your skills!"

“Yes!” Zhang Houde rubbed his newly issued cotton work clothes. “My old bones, sigh, 45 a month, sigh…”

His voice choked up again.

“I’m thinking you need to bring out all your best skills and train your apprentices well. Mr. Qian wants you to oversee the quality? You’d better keep a tight grip on it and not let Mr. Qian down,” Old Li added.

Zhang Houde nodded solemnly: "That's for sure."

Ma Pengzi, who had been silent all along, suddenly said, "If Boss Qian thinks highly of our skills, then we have to make a difference. I've met city people before, and they look down on us country folk."

“Especially the craftsmen in the city look down on our skills, so this time we have to do a good job and let those craftsmen from the state-owned factories see that we craftsmen from the countryside are just as good!”

Old Li: "Old Ma is right!"

Outside the window, the city lights streamed through the clear glass, brighter than the moonlight in the countryside.

The sounds of bicycle bells and car horns could be heard from time to time, a stark contrast to the quiet of the countryside at night.

Inside the dormitory, snoring could be heard everywhere.

But many craftsmen couldn't sleep.

The rubber water bags radiated continuous heat inside the blankets, warming their bodies and their hearts.

They don't say many polite words, but they all have a feeling:

My own fate, and even my family's fate, have been rewritten today!

(End of this chapter)