The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 9 My First Close Contact with the Neighborhood Committee

In order to allow Liu Jiaqing to join the neighborhood committee construction team smoothly, Liu Youniu took half a day off to help.

Before going to the neighborhood committee, he deliberately took out the Dacron shirt that was hidden in the bottom of the box.

The circle of sweat and alkali on the collar of my shirt looks like the corner of Lop Nur and cannot be washed off.

On the way, he reminded Liu Jiaqing: "The street factory is different from our production team. There they emphasize 'three checks and five observations'."

"Check class background, check consciousness, check three generations of poor peasants; check work attitude, political performance, check..."

"Let me first tell you about the situation of the neighborhood committee," said Qian Jin.

In his own life memory, the neighborhood committees in the city had little presence. They only showed up during the three-year epidemic when they organized nucleic acid tests.

But Liu Youniu told him that since the founding of the People's Republic of China until now, in 77, neighborhood committees have many responsibilities and great power:
They were responsible for issuing coupons such as food coupons, cloth coupons, and meat coupons; they had to register the outsiders in the neighborhood and organize night patrols.

They usually have to organize residents to take turns checking each household's fire prevention and theft prevention conditions and household hygiene conditions every day.

They also have to mediate family disputes and neighborhood disputes on their own or in groups.

Then starting from the 1960s, they also had a very broad authority, which was to mobilize young people of working age among the residents to go to the countryside and arrange jobs for educated youth who returned to the city in accordance with the policy!

"The neighborhood committee has several street-level factories and small collective enterprises. Returning educated youth are generally assigned to these places. For example, this time, your brother Qian was assigned to a construction team."

"In addition, they can also be assigned to work as salespersons or stockists in street food stores, vegetable markets, and daily necessities stores..."

Hearing Liu Youniu's words, Qian Jin was surprised: "Can I be arranged to be a salesperson?"

Being a salesperson is a good job these days.

Liu Youniu said, "Yes, but it needs to be approved by the Youth League Office—this job is the most sought-after."

We arrived at the neighborhood committee, which is in an old building.

Moss grew at the base of the wall, there was a sycamore tree in front, and several wooden windows were open, letting out the crisp sound of abacus beads and people talking.

Some people are organizing residents to perform cultural and artistic programs. In half a month, it will be the birthday of our motherland.

As soon as they entered the door, the sound of accordion "A New Look of the Motherland" came from the corridor.

"Don't talk later, I'll talk to Comrade Xiao Qian." Liu Youniu still had the mentality of a farmer. He felt pressured as if he was going to see an official.

Liu Jiaqing felt even more pressured. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the army green bag. Before entering the door, he rubbed his Liberation shoes hard on a rough stone.

The most indifferent one was Qian Jin.

He now has the material purchase and sales certificate in his hand, which is awesome.

Zhang Hongbo is the director and has a separate office.

There are people doing business inside.

Through the corner of the glass window that was not covered by the newspaper, Qian Jin saw someone nodding and bowing.

Director Zhang was casually drawing a five-pointed star with the tea stains on the edge of an enamel pot, while a tin kettle was steaming wisps of white steam at his feet...

After the people inside came out, the three of them went in.

The office is very clean and has a faint smell of mothballs.

The old desk fan swayed, making the red flag on the desk flutter.

There are many photos on the wall. In several photos, the younger Director Zhang has a red flower as big as a bowl pinned on his chest.

Director Zhang was very happy to see the money coming in.

But Director Zhang didn't like it when he saw Qian Jin coming with two people.

Liu Youniu plucked up the courage to go up and pretend to be a big shot. He laughed dryly and took out a pack of Hongshuangxi cigarettes. The brand new cigarette box was printed with the words "Class struggle, effective at the first sight".

He went straight to the point and told Liu Jiaqing that Qian Jin had given his job to him.

Zhang Hongbo pushed the cigarette away.

He squinted at the three of them and said, "What do you think the street construction team is? A shelter? A vegetable market? What nonsense..."

The long speech begins.

First, tell them that this is not feasible from a policy perspective.

They were also criticized for their reckless behavior from an ideological perspective.

Then we have to notify the street police station to deal with the three people and see if there is any inside information.

Liu Youniu was so scared that sweat broke out on his forehead.

Liu Jiaqing almost collapsed to the ground.

Qian Jin rolled his eyes wildly.

He pushed the two stupid teammates out of the door and poured water for Zhang Hongbo first.

Zhang Hongbo wanted to refuse.

As soon as the money fell into his hand, a small box with beautiful packaging fell on his desk.

There is a watch in the long box.

This watch is simple in style but not shabby.

The dial is crystal clear and has a textured feel.

In addition to the hands, there is also a calendar.

The innovation in classic design immediately attracted Zhang Hongbo's attention.

Qian Jin opened the box and handed the watch to the other party, allowing him to experience its excellence personally.

In the heat of early autumn, the solid stainless steel watchband brings a refreshing coolness.

It adopts the double-press butterfly buckle design that is rare nowadays, and the watch strap has been polished layer by layer and is so bright that it can be used as a mirror.

Zhang Hongbo couldn't help swallowing. Haibin City was a big city, and he had been to even bigger cities like Shanghai and Beijing, but he had never seen such a high-end watch.

Of course this is normal. Qian Jin just bought this watch last night in 27 years and spent a full 45 yuan!
The mature and steady Zhang Hongbo turned into an impulsive rookie. He couldn't help but ask first: "Comrade Xiao Qian, this, this, this..."

"Director Zhang, this watch of yours is really nice." Qian Jin continued, reaching out and putting it directly on Zhang Hongbo's wrist. "Wow, it really suits you."

The bracelet has an outstanding texture and is contoured to fit the wrist perfectly.

Zhang Hongbo suppressed his inner greed and said, "Don't, don't try that, Comrade Xiao Qian, you can't sugarcoat it, ahem."

I can't bring myself to say the warning!

In recent years, people with formal jobs like to wear a good watch.

The last time he visited his family, Qian Jin noticed that he was wearing an old watch, so yesterday he knew what he should use to get through today:
"Director Zhang, I'm very aware of your care for me and I'm extremely grateful, but I'm not in good health and really not suitable for joining the construction team..."

"Comrade Liu Jiaqing outside is very suitable. We all know how hard it is to prevent floods during the dog days of summer, right? Comrade Liu Jiaqing has been building reservoirs in their commune for eight years..."

"Director Zhang, please help me no matter what!"

Zhang Hongbo tapped the table with the pen cap.

When you stretch your wrist to reveal the watch, the artificial sapphire mirror is particularly dazzling in the morning sunlight.

Finally, Zhang Hongbo pulled up his sleeve to cover his watch and said, "Let those two comrades come in."

After the worried Liu Youniu and the terrified Liu Jiaqing came in.

Zhang Hongbo took out a red-headed document from a folder titled "Regulations on the Resettlement of Educated Youth Returning to the City in Haibin City" and showed it to the two of them:

"According to regulations, our subdistrict-run enterprises can only accept educated youth, and only educated youth are qualified to work there."

"But Comrade Xiao Qian reported Comrade Liu Jiaqing's difficult situation to me and said he would give his job qualification to Comrade Liu Jiaqing."

"This makes me feel very emotional. Comrade Xiao Qian has been tempered in the vast world for eight years. His awareness makes an old comrade like me feel ashamed. He eats and lives with the peasant comrades, and it is obvious that they really do have feelings for each other as proletarians..."

After a long and righteous speech, he finally asked, "Did Comrade Liu Jiaqing bring his certificate of being a poor and lower-middle peasant? The kind with the red stamp of the brigade?"

"I brought it, I brought it." Liu Youniu took out the necessary materials from the Celtics bag in Liu Jiaqing's arms.

Zhang Hongbo then asked Liu Jiaqing, "Can you read? What's your educational level?"

Liu Jiaqing said nervously: "Junior high school, the education that I didn't finish junior high school."

Just as he was about to show a surprised expression, Zhang Hongbo rolled his eyes at him after hearing what he said and handed him a "Data Form for Unemployed Youth": "Fill it all out. If you don't know what to fill in, ask me."

He handed Qian Jin a "Voluntary Relinquishment of Neighborhood Committee Work Placement Statement": "Follow this format, fill it out, sign, and put your fingerprints on it."

"I'm telling you, I'm going to stamp it for you later. Once the red stamp is on, you won't be able to regret it."

Qian Jin said he understood and finished writing the instructions smoothly.

Wait until Liu Jiaqing finished filling out the form.

Zhang Hongbo tore up the registration certificate given to Qian Jin and issued another one to Liu Jiaqing.

His pen moved quickly across the sheets of paper.

Finally, he took out a steel stamp from a locked drawer and said, "Liu Jiaqing, go back and prepare today. You will officially start work tomorrow. Come to me to get your work clothes."

The moment the steel stamp was pressed down heavily, the table made a dull sound, startling the sparrows outside the window and causing them to fly up.

Liu Jiaqing swallowed hard and looked out, and saw a Phoenix brand bicycle passing by on the road not far from the window.

A metal dustpan with the word "prize" printed on it was tied to the back seat of the bicycle. There were potholes on the road, and the dustpan threw out a few corn kernels during the bumps.

No one cared and the bicycle sped away.

For some reason, this reminded him of the scene last winter when his family went to the production team to borrow grain.

At that time, the sack was shaking and corn kernels fell to the ground, exactly the same as the scene outside the window.

The difference was that his father squatted on the ground and picked up the food grains one by one.

After receiving the registration certificate and looking at his photo and name on it, he thought to himself: My father shouldn't have to do this anymore in the future.

Liu Youniu was overjoyed and kept thanking him.

Zhang Hongbo smiled and waved to signal the three to go out.

Money can't come in or go out.

Zhang Hongbo wondered, "Is there anything else?"

Qian Jin smiled and said, "There's just one more thing, Director Zhang. I heard the neighborhood committee is planning to take back my house and give it to my neighbor."

Zhang Hongbo immediately said, "Who are you listening to? This is totally untrue!"

Then he frowned again: "But you gave up your job, so you can't get your household registration, and the house..."

"Hi, Director Zhang, please help me." Qian Jin took out a small bag from his pocket and handed it to him.

This time things are simple.

A watch cloth and watch cleaning liquid.

Among them, the surface cleaning cloth is a fine fiber polishing cloth.

Very soft and delicate.

Zhang Hongbo didn't hesitate this time and swept it directly into the drawer: "Then you can live here without worry."

Qian Jin pressed on: "I can't let it go. My household registration is in the countryside..."

They are all thousand-year-old foxes, there is no need to play "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio".

Zhang Hongbo looked at his beloved watch and said helplessly, "Okay, okay, don't say anymore. I understand. I'll help you get everything done!"

(End of this chapter)