Starting from 1950

Zhou Zheng frowned, not immediately giving his opinion. He stared intently at Su Yang: "Su Yang! Explain your reasons! Why is it feasible? How can you guarantee quality and efficiency?"

He had one more thing he didn't say: how to ensure that the flour sent out could be cooked by the citizens and then returned.

Faced with a torrent of questions, Su Yang remained completely calm. He walked to the center of the conference room, his gaze intense:

"Reason 1: What is the core technology of stir-fried noodles? It's even heating, frying until golden brown and crispy, neither raw nor burnt! The proportions of the mixed ingredients prepared in our factory are fixed. When ordinary people use small pots and stoves at home, it's actually easier for them to control the heat. We just need to explain the stir-frying process and the problems that may be encountered to them in detail, and there won't be any major mistakes."

"Reason Two: I know what everyone is most worried about? It's nothing more than the fear that someone will take the flour home and not return it. I can't assume there aren't bad people among the masses, but with newspapers and radio broadcasting this in turn during this period, we should trust the propaganda department's ability to do its job. At worst, we can prepare a few thousand kilograms of flour as backup."

Su Yang paused for a moment, then emphasized:

"Distinguished leaders, please don't forget what the millions of people of Shenzhou have done during this time. They sewed cotton-padded clothes, made military shoes, and donated money and supplies—every time they did it with all their might. Entrusting them with the task of cooking fried noodles is entrusting them with our trust! Our soldiers come from the people, and I believe that for the soldiers on the front lines, the people will put in even more effort than we do! Would a mother cook carelessly for her child? Would she cut back on her child's rations? No! They would certainly not cook for their 'children' on the front lines!"

Su Yang finished speaking in one breath, his chest rising and falling slightly.

A different kind of silence fell over the meeting room. The expressions on everyone's faces were no longer those of despair and death, but rather of deep thought and deliberation.

After pondering for a moment, many people felt that although Su Yang's method was risky, it was not impossible.

But no one agreed, and of course, no one objected either.

Everyone was just secretly observing the factory manager's expression.

Zhou Zheng glanced at Su Yang, then at the others, his sharp eyes growing brighter and brighter.

He slammed his hand on the table:

"Having served in the military, I know that the power of the people is as vast as the ocean! Today, I will use this ocean to accomplish this task of transporting 100,000 jin!"

He turned to the crowd and said decisively, "That's it! If anything goes wrong, I, Zhou Zheng, will take full responsibility! I'll accept it even if it costs me my head! Now, split up and get to work!"

"Zhang Zhenguo, Yu Feng! Take the entire security department and prepare the distribution site! Notify the militia reserve team to assemble and stand by!"

"Liu Mancang! Contact the Tiexi District Trade Union immediately! Send out our plan and requests! Request their full support! Tell them this is a support mission, it's extremely urgent!"

"Wang Cui! Take all the experienced stir-fry chefs and immediately create the simplest stir-fry noodle process flowchart! Whether it's mimeographed or handwritten, the more the better!"

"Xu Hongyan!" Zhou Zheng looked at the head of the publicity department. "Your publicity department should write a speech right away! Read it to the people later, so they understand the significance of their participation!"

As Zhou Zheng issued his orders, the entire Limin Flour Factory, a machine already operating at overcapacity, instantly unleashed even more astonishing energy!

Everyone seemed to have been given a shot of adrenaline and began to take action!

The 20 large pots in the two workshops were still running, but after leaving enough manpower, everyone else started to package the flour.

Bags of snow-white flour, corn flour, and soybean flour were quickly moved to the packaging area.

Five jin, ten jin, twenty jin...

Once the bags of various sizes were filled, they were immediately loaded onto trucks and transported away.

......

A makeshift platform was temporarily erected at Tiexi Square.

Many locals thought it was a propaganda department from some organization putting on a show and stopped to watch.

Then, several men in military uniforms carrying guns escorted a truck over and began piling up bags of various sizes on the open space next to the platform.

"Is this noodles?"

"Could it be that they're distributing food?"

These days, food is life, and the onlookers immediately became agitated.

If it weren't for the armed soldiers nearby, some people might have started to grab the gun.

Wu Xinxue took a megaphone onto the stage, and her voice, choked with emotion yet incredibly firm, pierced through the biting cold wind and resounded throughout Tiexi Square:

"Fellow villagers of Shenzhou! Brothers and sisters! We are from Limin State-owned Flour Factory! It's an emergency! Our soldiers are fighting a bloody battle against an enemy armed to the teeth on the front lines in the freezing cold! They are short of food and clothing and desperately need a life-saving ration! Our factory has limited production capacity, and we only have less than 48 hours left to complete the task of producing 100,000 jin of fried noodles!"

The people below, who had initially thought it was a free distribution of food, were shocked. The scene fell silent, and everyone stared at Wu Xinxue.

"We earnestly appeal to the people of the city to lend a helping hand! Families who are able, please collect five kilograms of prepared raw flour here! Take it home and cook it using your own pots and stoves, following the simple method we provide! After cooking and cooling, return it here before noon tomorrow! Every serving of qualified fried noodles is a bullet fired at the enemy! It is a hope for saving the lives of our soldiers! Take action! For the front lines! For victory!"

The scene was quiet for a moment, then the crowd began to stir.

But the people weren't rushing to grab the flour; instead, they came up to ask about the details.

The comrades from the publicity department took the opportunity to unfurl the hastily made, somewhat crude banner.

"Give us five catties of fresh noodles, stir-fry them with utmost enthusiasm! Send them to the soldiers on the front lines, to protect our nation and its peace!"

The comrades waiting by the distribution station began explaining the "Simple Flowchart for Homemade Fried Noodles," which still smelled of fresh ink.

As most people figured out what had happened, Wang Cui and the others in charge of distributing the food were instantly surrounded by a crowd.

"Give me a five-pound bag! My pot is small, but I guarantee it'll cook perfectly!"

"Comrade! There are five of us in my family, and we can all handle it. Could you give me two bags?"

"I'm the liaison officer for the front street. We've organized twenty households. Could you distribute more to me?"

"I'm the leader of our school's Young Pioneers group! We want to help grandpas and grandmas wear the red scarves so they can cook them!"

......

Not far away, Su Yang, Zhou Zheng, and Zhang Zhenguo stood together.

Watching a truckload of flour sell out in less than half an hour, Zhang Zhenguo said with a wry smile, "I hope we made the right decision."

Zhou Zheng didn't say anything, but just looked seriously at the people who ran away after getting the flour.

"I think we should release 6 jin!" Su Yang suddenly said.

"What? Are you crazy? Our factory can roast over 5 jin by itself!" Zhang Zhenguo exclaimed in surprise.

Su Yang explained to him earnestly, "After the people finish frying the noodles and bring them back, we still need to inspect them. If any are not up to standard, we have to rework them. We need to allow some time for that."

Zhou Zheng lowered his head and remained silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh. He knew that now there was no other way but to go down this path. He waved his hand and said, "Zhenguo, go back and urge them to do as Su Yang said!"

.......

It gradually got dark.

The lights in Tiexi Square stubbornly shone in the cold winter night, like stars that refused to go out.

People spontaneously formed a queue that stretched into the darkness, its length unknown.

As soon as the trucks from Limin Flour Factory arrived, bags of freshly mixed flour were immediately snapped up.

The militiamen from the security department, along with district trade union cadres and street activists who rushed to the scene, formed a temporary team. Originally intended to maintain order, they found themselves out of a position to do so and began serving hot water to the people in line.

Wu Xinxue's hoarse yet powerful voice, coming through the loudspeaker, was still repeating the key points of making fried noodles and the time requirements for returning them over and over again.

The cold wind blew on people's faces, which were red from the cold, but it could not extinguish the warmth that welled up from the bottom of their hearts.