Era: 1962, the rise of vocabulary and related terms

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

The first day of November has finally arrived.

Yesterday, everyone in the Purchasing Department 3 gathered together, whether they were in the countryside or lying at home, they all came to the department to report for duty.

A dozen or so people were discussing how to achieve a fourfold increase in the purchase quota.

Even Sun Yongkai, as the section chief, lowered himself to discuss the matter with everyone.

The difference between 4 jin of grain and 21 jin of coal is not something one person can solve. If he can't do it, he won't be able to bear the consequences himself.

Once you lose your job, it's not easy to make a comeback; you can only do it once, not twice.

Everyone discussed and came up with some results.

Although Yan Xiao had just arrived, he could drink a lot and had taken on some social obligations.

At the same time, the factory also released a batch of materials that could be exchanged for steel scrap.

"This is a good thing." Yan Xiao was overjoyed to hear that scrap steel had been released.

Early this morning, after clocking in at Keli, he planned to head to the countryside.

"Xiao Yan, wait!" Just as he was about to leave, Sun Yongkai suddenly called out to him.

"Sun Ke, what can I do for you?"

"It's nothing, are you going to the countryside?"

"Yes, Sun Ke, isn't the factory releasing scrap steel? I'm planning to go back to my hometown to talk to everyone and see if they'd be willing to barter for it with grain."

Seeing Yan Xiao's eagerness to return to his hometown, Sun Yongkai was very pleased: "Good job, lad! You don't forget to give back to your hometown when something good happens. That's what we purchasing agents should do."

"Our town isn't close to your brigade, how do you plan to get there?"

"It's still early, there should be a bus going down there. I'll take you down on the bus," Yan Xiao said directly.

"Tsk! Taking the bus is such a hassle, you have to wait for it." Sun Yongkai objected, "How about this, we have a spare bicycle in our department, you can use it for now."

"Huh? Is that possible?" Yan Xiao asked in surprise.

"What do you mean, 'can I'm okay'? If I say it's okay, then it's okay!" Sun Yongkai said confidently, taking out a bunch of keys from his pocket. "These are the bicycle keys, take them."

"Thank you, Section Chief Sun, you've really helped me a lot!" Yan Xiao eagerly took the keys.

No wonder he was anxious; these past few days he'd had to walk everywhere, he was simply too exhausted to go anywhere.

With a bicycle, it's convenient to go anywhere.

"Don't mention it. You'd better keep a close eye on this bicycle. You'll be responsible if it gets stolen."

"Don't worry, Sun Ke, even if something happens to me, the bicycle can't be damaged," Yan Xiao assured him.

"Alright, go ahead and get busy. The bicycle is in the corner downstairs. Just try the key and you'll find it."

"Thank you, Sun Ke, I'll go right away." Yan Xiao said, and left without waiting.

Sun Yongkai watched his retreating figure and nodded: "I refuse to believe that a bicycle can't keep Yan Xiao in check. Zong Changyi, you're still too green compared to me. You think you can steal my man with this?"

Sun Yongkai was able to give the bicycle to Yan Xiao because in the past few days, the people in the Fourth Section had been jumping around, taking advantage of the time when Xu Chunwang wasn't watching, to go find Yan Xiao.

The purpose is self-evident: to poach people.

Yan Xiao would never agree to it, but he still made sure that Sun Yongkai and Xu Chunwang saw him meeting with the Fourth Division, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

If he hadn't done that, Sun Yongkai might not have been willing to take out his bicycle just to win him over.

All I can say is—well done!

"Let's go!" After trying several bike locks, Yan Xiao finally found a bicycle with a compatible key, immediately pedaled off, and headed straight back to Red Star Commune.

"Today is a good day; all my wishes will come true..."

Yan Xiao hummed a little tune, feeling very happy.

Good things have been happening one after another these past two days. Yesterday, I finalized the location for his procurement, and today I received a bicycle.

Several villages are located on the same route as my hometown, Hongxing Commune, so I can go back there when I go to the countryside in the future.

Red Star Commune was a well-known prime location, so it was impossible to give it all to Yan Xiao, but giving it to one of his hometown brigades was still possible.

This team was originally Zhang Fan's territory, but he saw Yan Xiao being mentioned repeatedly at yesterday's meeting and praised for his high alcohol tolerance. Yan Xiao helped the purchasing department complete two tasks as soon as he arrived.

Considering that she would need his help in the future, and with Sun Yongkai's "mediation," she was given two more villages as compensation. In the end, she would not lose money but rather make a profit.

......

Less than an hour.

Yan Xiao then rode back to the brigade, even faster than when he had taken a donkey cart.

As November arrives, everyone is preparing for hibernation, and there aren't many people out and about.

"Go directly to the captain."

Ring ring—

Yan Xiao rang the bell and headed towards the residence of Captain Ye Xingguo.

"Sigh, Yan is back."

"Why are you back again? Is something the matter?"

Upon seeing Yan Xiao return, the others outside greeted him.

"Something came up, good news." Yan Xiao replied with a smile, "Where's Uncle Ye? I need to talk to him about something."

"Captain, he should be at home. I didn't see him this morning. Go check on him first."

"Okay! Thanks!" Yan Xiao headed straight for Captain Ye Xing's home.

Ye Xingguo was resting at home.

"Xiao Yan, what brings you back? Didn't you just come by a few days ago?" Ye Xingguo was lying on the kang smoking a pipe when he saw him return and immediately got up.

"Uncle Ye, I've come back with good news," Yan Xiao said, getting straight to the point.

"Oh? What good news?" Ye Xingguo's eyelids, which had been drooping, widened this time, and he sat up instead of lying down.

"Here's the thing, the factory released a batch of steel scrap, and I was thinking that the brigade usually lacks farm tools and iron pots, so I thought I'd take advantage of this opportunity to get a batch for everyone."

"Hmm!" Upon hearing the words "steel scrap," Ye Xingguo's eyes widened. "Really? Is this news guaranteed to be true?"

"It's true, absolutely no lie." Yan Xiao's affirmative expression dispelled many of Ye Xingguo's doubts.

"If that's really the case, that would be wonderful. In the past, the scrap steel that the factory sent over was only enough for the production of the brigade, and there wasn't much else that could be used."

Every year, the steel rolling mill sends out a batch of steel scrap, a small amount, mainly to ensure agricultural production.

If you want extra, you have to bribe the delivery driver, but it won't be much more.

Since the communal canteens were abolished a few years ago and people started cooking at home again, some families still don't have iron pots and use ceramic pots for cooking. Others have broken iron pots that they can't be repaired.

However, the steel scrap we see today is not "steel scrap" in the modern sense. This scrap can be used to handcraft utensils such as iron pots.

Fortunately, the brigade still had several large steelmaking furnaces, which were perfect for forging iron pots.

In short, there are quite a few problems.

"The brigade can never have too much of this steel scrap. How much can you get?"

Yan Xiao replied, "I can get as much as the brigade needs; it all depends on how much the brigade requires."

Yan Xiao's confident words, on the contrary, made Ye Xingguo wary.

"I'm afraid it's not that easy. Tell me, what are the conditions for wanting this steel scrap?"

"Hehe, you can't hide it from Uncle Ye." Yan Xiao chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "To tell you the truth, the steel mill plans to use these steel scraps to exchange for grain."

"As expected." Ye Xingguo chuckled, took a puff of his pipe, and said, "I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. But it's good that you have the intention. You thought of the brigade when something good happened, and you didn't let down the oath you made that day."

"Since this is your first time coming down here, as the team leader, I will naturally support your work. I won't say much else, but I can still decide whether or not to take the 50 kilograms of scrap steel."

"Thank you for your support, Uncle Ye," Yan Xiao said gratefully.

"Hehe, don't be too happy yet. What others say is up to you. This 50 jin of scrap steel is also necessary from the perspective of the brigade."

"As for what everyone thinks, you'll have to figure that out yourself."

"With Uncle Ye's initial support, I am very confident now," Yan Xiao said confidently.

"Hehe, don't speak too soon!" Ye Xingguo didn't say much, but his tone clearly showed disbelief.

Since we need food, we naturally need to find out everyone's situation.

"By the way, Uncle Ye, how much grain does everyone have right now?"

Ye Xingguo glanced at Yan Xiao, took a puff of his pipe, and then slowly said, "Ever since you came to the city, our brigade has also opened the granaries to distribute grain, but only a portion of it."

"Right now, families with many members should have about 100 to 200 jin of grain stored up, while families with fewer members should have about 60 to 70 jin. The brigade keeps track of how much grain is distributed."

After experiencing famine, the brigade handed over the grain to the grain station and commune according to regulations. Everyone wanted to keep the remaining grain in their hands so they could have a safe place to live.

Ye Xingguo understood everyone's concerns. While Yan Xiao was busy with drinking parties and social engagements, he opened the granary and released some grain to ensure that everyone had enough food for the winter.

"Understood." Now that he knew everyone's background, Yan Xiao nodded. Things would be much easier from now on.

He took Yan Xiao to the brigade's canteen.