Beautiful beauties in the 80s courtyard

Chapter 452 She Has Her Own Reasons

Although they are all workers, and can be trained to work in a food factory, even with training, you can't do it without talent.

Fan Xiaoyu praised her: "There are orders for this kind of thing in Nanyang. You're really amazing. You can make it up even if you've never seen it before."

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoman felt as if she were dreaming.

On the way, Lu Qiaoge told her about setting up a branch factory and asked if she was interested in joining. He said that if she joined, he would help her get worker benefits, and if she wanted to go further, there would be opportunities.

And the chances are very high.

She understood the meaning behind Lu Qiaoge's words immediately upon hearing them.

But she didn't dare to think about it at all, not even about the workers' treatment.

I even felt like I was dreaming.

When we went to see Shao Le and Shao Yonggang, it seemed they were also unaware.

And so they followed him to the brigade headquarters.

At that moment, I felt a bit dazed and lightheaded as I walked.

Although I was somewhat prepared, this progress is just too fast.

The Lunar New Year is almost here, and we'll still have a holiday, but I'm afraid we'll have to wait until spring.

So shouldn't we go back and study it first before making a decision?

But she didn't know what to say. Just then, Lu Qiaoge asked Lao Jiang with a smile, "Captain, did you know that our food factory also has an arts and crafts factory?"

"I know, I know. By the way, don't you make straw handicrafts? I heard they're all exported, so do you think people would...would they even want these corn husks?"
There are many *Zingiber mioga* plants around our village, and we harvested a lot in the fall. This year, the villagers have benefited greatly thanks to your food factory.

Captain Jiang was somewhat agitated and seemed incoherent, but he spoke from the heart.

Lu Qiaoge said with a smile, "Manshan Commune has provided great support to our military factory, so we should naturally give back. This is what we should do."

Captain Jiang tentatively asked, "Director Lu, what are your plans now?"

Lu Qiaoge pondered for a moment and said, "The crafts factory is planning to open a branch factory."

Captain Jiang asked in surprise, "Opening a branch factory? Your arts and crafts factory is also opening a branch factory?"

"Yes, and I'd like to set up a branch factory in our Manshan Commune. However, before opening the factory, we need to set up a training class. I just talked to Zhao Xiaoman. She learned her corn husk weaving skills from Grandma Huang, a recipient of the Five Guarantees in your village. I plan to hire Grandma Huang as a consultant, but considering that Grandma Huang is old and has difficulty traveling, it would be best to set up the training class in your Wagouzi Brigade. I just wanted to ask if there are any difficulties with the venue. If there are any difficulties, I won't mention your brigade and will ask Director Zhu to make other arrangements."

Lu Qiaoge didn't pause or deliberately keep people in suspense; she directly stated her plan.

The content is limited, but it is impactful enough.

Especially Captain Jiang, who was dumbfounded.

First, they built a branch factory, and then they set up a training class in their small, run-down village.

Um... um...

They have no money or possessions, but they have plenty of land.

Without a second thought, Captain Jiang agreed: "I'm sure there won't be any problem here. The old canteen is next door, and it's not small. We won't be afraid of the cold in winter. We have a ground heating system; we can start it now and it'll be warm in no time..."

Why would you refuse such a good thing? That would be crazy.

If we really held a training course here, all the skilled craftsmen in the entire commune would come. What an honor that would be! It would also be something we could brag about later.

Moreover, being in a good position gives him an advantage; he can learn to weave corn husks from the villagers, including his own wife, and perhaps he too will be noticed by Lu Qiaoge, just like Zhao Xiaoman.

He couldn't help but look at Zhao Xiaoman with envy.

Is this the beginning of a turnaround?
Since Captain Jiang was fully supportive, Lu Qiaoge said, "Captain Jiang, if you agree, come with us to the commune now. We'll discuss the specific implementation methods with Director Zhu and the others, and try to get the branch factory built as soon as possible."

Captain Jiang was overjoyed; he was going to the commune with them—that would be incredibly prestigious! But he calmed himself down, suppressing his excitement, and said, "How about we have lunch before we leave?"

Zhao Xiaoman excitedly invited, "Come to my house for dinner, I'll make dumplings for you."

Then he added, "I make it with pickled cabbage and fried dough sticks, I guarantee it will be delicious."

This is genuine.

She really wished she could come to her house for a meal.

Lu Qiaoge smiled and shook her head: "No, let's go to the commune first."

Before going there, Lu Qiaoge planned to visit Grandma Huang's house.

Shao's father and Shao Yonggang did not go; they took their two children to the brigade headquarters.

Qin Hengzhi naturally followed.

However, he did not go inside.

All the houses in the entire Wagouzi brigade were dilapidated and old, including Grandma Huang's house.

Grandma Huang has no children and is a recipient of the five guarantees in the village. Although her house doesn't have much, it is very clean and the room is not cold. There is warmth coming from the stove. The old lady is sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) wrapped in a quilt, twisting rope. This is castor bean, which can be split into ropes. There is a lot of this in Northeast China, and many people use it to make shoe soles.

Grandma Huang thought it was the commune leaders coming to visit her, since the commune had come a few days ago.
Captain Jiang breathed a sigh of relief. Actually, he wasn't paying much attention to Grandma Huang. It was mainly because Zhao Xiaoman was taking care of her. Although the old lady had difficulty walking, she wasn't completely unable to do anything.

As long as he doesn't deduct from the old lady's food rations and allowances, he'll consider himself to have done his best.

But before entering the house, my initially excited heart suddenly became uneasy.

Although the officers at the military factory couldn't interfere with his work, he would be utterly humiliated if they saw the old lady looking unwell.

But in my heart, I still thought that Zhao Xiaoman wasn't an ungrateful person. Even if she didn't come to visit every day, it was pretty much the same.

It shouldn't be too bad, right?

Then he went inside, and Captain Jiang was relieved.

The meal was prepared and the kang (heated brick bed) was heated; it was done very early this morning.

Today is her wedding day, and Zhao Xiaoman should come to visit Grandma Huang.

Very good, very good. Zhao Xiaoman did a good job and didn't embarrass him.

After learning the purpose of their visit, Grandma Huang looked at Xiaoman with affection and readily agreed, "Alright, alright, as long as you don't mind, I'll do anything."

She is an elderly woman living alone, without children. The only reason she has survived to this day is because the government has taken care of her, except for Xiaoman.

This is also a favor.

Lu Qiaoge said with a smile, "How could we dare to complain? We're overjoyed."

The room was too small. The old lady was happy, but also a little reserved.

The old lady was very skillful; the stitches on the shoe soles next to her were so even, they looked just like they were made by a machine.

Lu Qiaoge spoke a few kind words to the old lady, praised her a few times, and then led the way out of the house.

Zhao Xiaoman stayed behind, her eyes sparkling as she nodded vigorously at the old lady. Grandma Huang nodded along with her, then smiled and gestured for her to hurry up and follow.

Captain Jiang breathed a sigh of relief.

I thought to myself, I can't slack off anymore.

(End of this chapter)