Chapter 90: Fighting Heaven and Earth, Training Cohesion and Combat Strength
As soon as Qian Jin stepped into the shed office, he was surrounded by workers who swarmed in.

Someone knocked against the warehouse wall with an enamel pot, making a clanging sound that caused the red paint on the "Fire Prevention and Theft Prevention" slogan on the wall to fall off.

Deputy Foreman Kang Xinyan shouted:

"Comrades Xiao Qian and Xiao Wei have sharp eyes and have uncovered the capitalist tails and criminal black feet hiding in the belly of the fish. Shouldn't we give them a thumbs up?"

The workers laughed and applauded.

Hu Shunzi smiled motherly, patted their shoulders and said, "You are young pioneers who can catch the tail of capitalism. You have helped our team to gain recognition. If you can find some time to treat me, the captain, to dinner, it will not be a waste of my cultivation of you."

Wei Xiongtu stared at his mouth.

It is indeed a mouth, and it does speak human words.

Why can't I understand this logic?

Laoguai was still practical. He asked, "Did Section Chief Cui tell us when your regular salary will start?"

Qian Jin said, "It will be counted next month. This month I will receive the temporary worker's subsidy."

Lao Guai said happily, "Okay, I've been in our company for twenty years, and you two are the fastest-growing professionals I've ever seen."

Others are interested in bicycle pickup tickets.

They passed the red ticket around.

Compared with ordinary bicycle tickets, this ticket that can be directly exchanged for a bicycle is printed more beautifully.

There is a bicycle pattern on it, and on the back it is written 'This ticket can be exchanged for a Class A Phoenix bicycle before January 1978'.

The sun shone brightly, and the gold-stamped phoenix tail feathers on the ticket gleamed brightly. "It's even powdered."

Hu Shunzi treated Qian Jin like one of his own and was genuinely happy for the prize he had won:
"The Phoenix is ​​more solid than the Jiangmen you ride, but remember to weld on a rear seat—it'll be useful when you take your partner to the movies."

"Wow, it has an acceleration shaft!" Someone pointed enviously at the car pattern on the ticket.

Kang Xinxin asked Qian Jin: "Xiao Qian, you already have a bicycle, can you sell this ticket to me?"

Qian Jin saw that he didn't look like a good person, so he quickly said embarrassedly: "I don't actually have a bicycle, this bicycle belongs to my girlfriend!"

Hu Shunzi came up and put his arm around his neck and asked, "Are you dating? What a shame! I was going to introduce my sister to you."

Qian Jin looked up at his ugly face and thought to himself, "It's not a pity at all. I'm very lucky."

Wei Xiongtu asked, "Who is your girlfriend? When I asked you a few days ago, didn't you say you didn't have a partner?"

This is a bit of a sabotage.

However, considering that the other party had no emotional intelligence, Qian Jin explained without thinking: "It's Wei Qinghuan that I mentioned to you."

"We were already somewhat interested in each other, and didn't I perform a meritorious service the night before? She thought I had a strong mind and was capable, so she agreed to date me."

Others started to make a fuss again.

Some people even curled their lips: "It's because you have made great achievements and have a bright future..."

Someone else said: "Absolutely, you don't know women nowadays, they are very realistic..."

Qian Jin waved his hands and said, "That's absolutely not the case," and then he noticed that Wei Xiongtu's reaction was quite strange.

He looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated!
Lao Guai also noticed: "Xiao Wei, what's wrong with you? Just say whatever you want to say!"

Wei Xiongtu said somewhat awkwardly, "Exactly. I think we comrades are prejudiced against lesbians. Many lesbians are actually very nice."

"I know the lesbian Xiao Qian is talking about, because he told me about her situation before. I don't think she's that kind of person..."

Qian Jin stared at him intently.

According to fresh news, Wei Xiongtu took the initiative to ask to come to Jiagang after seeing his name appear on the list of porters in Jiagang!

Thinking about the situation of his sister and daughter that he had mentioned before, Qian Jin suddenly figured it out:

"Damn it! Lao Wei! How dare you lie to me!"

Wei Xiongtu said in surprise: "What did I lie to you about?"

Qian Jin suspected last time that Wei Xiongtu and Wei Qinghuan were siblings.

But Wei Xiongtu denied it at that time, and it was a very natural denial.

Because he gave Qian Jin the impression of being an "honest man" who "would not lie", Qian Jin believed him at the time.

But now look at it again -

He pulled Wei Xiongtu away and asked with gritted teeth:

"Wei Qinghuan is your sister!"

Wei Xiongtu laughed and said, "Didn't I tell you? My sister's name is..."

"Old Wei, I believe I am sincere and kind to you, and I treat you well without expecting anything in return. Why? Because I think you are upright, kind, and have no bad intentions." Qian Jin said coldly.

"I never thought you would lie to me. You know, there is no impenetrable wall in the world..."

Wei Xiongtu couldn't bear it any longer and said awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I lied to you about this."

"But this is the only thing I lied to you about!" he quickly added.

Qian Jin couldn't believe it: "You are really Wei Qinghuan's brother!"

Wei Xiongtu nodded.

Qian Jin looked at his appearance carefully.

His facial features don't look like Wei Qinghuan at all.

Wei Xiongtu explained: "It's all just a coincidence. In fact, I don't believe there are such coincidences."

"Xiaoqing and Tangyuan mentioned you. I can see that Xiaoqing has a crush on you. I'm worried that she'll meet the wrong person again."

"I went to receive my assignment the Sunday before last, and I saw your name and address on the list of temporary workers."

"So I thought this was a good opportunity given by God, a good opportunity for me to get closer to you and understand you..."

He was very cautious when talking about this: "I don't have any bad intentions, but as a brother, there are some things I have to check for my sister."

Qian Jin hugged him and asked with a smile: "Did I pass the test?"

Wei Xiongtu lowered his head in his arms.

I'm actually a little confused.

Qian Jin was anxious: "No, Lao Wei, am I not good enough to you?"

"You've been very good to me," Wei Xiongtu said, "even better than my parents."

Qian Jin waved his hand: "That's an exaggeration, but since you know I'm good to you, why..."

"You're a good person, and you're very good to me," Wei Xiongtu said frankly. "I'd really like to be your friend."

"But I feel like you're a little bit—to be honest, I can tell you're pretty amazing. You're the most amazing person I've ever met!"

"And I hope Xiaoqing can find an ordinary worker in the future and live a peaceful and ordinary life."

Qian Jin patted him on the shoulder and said, "I understand what you mean. I also understand your thoughts."

"Thank you." Wei Xiongtu smiled in surprise.

Qian Jin said, "You're welcome. Don't even think of that again."

Wei Xiongtu: (⊙⊙?)
Qian Jin said, "You were right just now. We are destined to be a family. That's why God arranged for us to meet by chance."

"I didn't say that, did I?" Wei Xiongtu asked.

Qian Jin continued, "From today on, you are my brother-in-law. Let's work hard and live a good life as a family!"

"That `s a deal!"

Wei Xiongtu suddenly felt like drawing his sword and looking around, feeling confused.

Qian Jin snorted, "I really can't tell, you're quite a liar. I thought I was good at judging people, but I ended up falling for you."

Wei Xiongtu explained: "That was a lie I prepared in advance."

"Because I won't lie. When I decided to be on the same team with you, I was worried that you might find out something was wrong at any moment."

"So I made up Wei Qinghua's name in advance, but I still didn't expect you to notice something was wrong so quickly."

Qian Jin asked, "Let's not talk about that. What did you mean when you said Teacher Wei had met the wrong person?"

Wei Xiongtu blushed immediately. "Xiaoqing had a male classmate who started pursuing her after he met her. Later, Xiaoqing felt that he was sincere and decided to date him."

"As a result, Xiaoqing went to the countryside, and he wanted to cut off all ties with her. Xiaoqing, don't be fooled by her gentleness, she actually has a very bad temper!"

Qian Jin thought to himself, I've seen this before.

Wei Xiongtu continued, "Xiaoqing was furious when she returned to the city, so she went to him to seek justice."

"But this guy was afraid of ruining his reputation after meeting the daughter of a leader, so he quickly turned the tables and started ruining Xiaoqing's reputation everywhere, almost getting her expelled from night school!"

Hearing this, Qian Jin remembered that when he first met Wei Qinghuan, Wei Qinghuan said, "How can I have a reputation?"

It turned out to be this reason.

Qian Jin was filled with righteous indignation and said, "Watch me deal with him!"

Wei Xiongtu hurriedly stopped him: "Forget it, it's over. Don't be impulsive."

"Actually, I wasn't optimistic about them from the beginning. I don't like that guy. He looks like Luan Ping from 'Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy' and he wants to marry a fairy? Go marry his Siberian tiger!"

He has a special background and experience, and is very afraid of getting into trouble. As he just said, he just wants to live in peace.

Other workers came over and asked, "What are you two whispering about?"

Qian Jin said, "We're discussing how to celebrate your official promotion and want to treat you all to a meal."

The workers cheered.

Hu Shunzi patted him on the shoulder in a serious manner and said, "You're right. Treating temporary workers to a meal when they become regular employees is a fine tradition in our company."

"Or should we go to the State-Owned Hotel No. 2? Hehehehe."

In fact, he had only eaten at the State-Owned Restaurant No. 2 once in his life.

Qian Jin invited him to dinner last time.

Qian Jin shook his head. This was too high-profile. "The last time I invited you, Foreman Hu, to dinner, you ate up all my food and meat coupons."

"I'll use a different method this time, but don't worry, it's definitely going to be a blast!"

"Next week, just wait and see!"

Since Wei Xiongtu has not yet exposed the relationship between him and Qian Jin, Qian Jin did not mention this matter to Wei Qinghuan.

In the evening, Qian Jin brought back some sugar-roasted chestnuts.

Wei Qinghuan couldn't help but cheer when he saw it.

This was the first time Qian Jin saw her so happy. With his brother-in-law as an insider, he knew that Wei Qinghuan was already a piece of meat on his chopping board.

Still cooked meat.

"Little Tangyuan must be so happy. She loves sugar-roasted chestnuts the most?" she asked excitedly.

Qian Jin was furious: "That son of a bitch Wei Xiongtu! He tricked him again!"
But the facts proved that Wei Xiongtu was indeed an honest man.

Teacher Wei was talking about how much Tangyuan loved eating sugar-roasted chestnuts, while she was peeling the chestnuts and stuffing them into her mouth like a hamster...

Wei Xiongtu said that his sister was born in the year of the rat, and she likes to eat peanuts and melon seeds, especially sugar-roasted chestnuts.

Qian Jin knew how to satisfy Teacher Wei's appetite.

He guessed that Wei Qinghuan didn't like eating peanuts and melon seeds, nor did he like eating sugar-roasted chestnuts the most, but he had no choice at the moment.

She loves dried fruit!

Coincidentally, there are so many kinds of dried fruits from 27 years ago and they are really not worth much.

But it’s best to start with peanuts.

He had nothing to do this Sunday, so he told the labor commando team that they would go to the countryside to support agriculture together on Sunday.

No one had any objections.

Qian Jin sent Xu Weidong to the voting station, Zhou Yaozu to the Seventh Rubber Factory, and Wang Dong to the security department of the Sixth National Cotton Factory. He has become the god of the commando team!

Now he has absolute authority in the labor commando team.

After this operation to crack down on smugglers, the members were completely convinced of him.

Because everyone benefited from it:
There is news that considering the city’s public security issues and their collective merits, all members of the labor commando will be merged into the public security commando!

This made all the team members very excited and they were very grateful to Qian Jin.

They really should thank Qian Jin.

Because it's money that drives things forward.

Qian Jin discussed with Huang Yongtao to increase the number of staff in the security assault team, but they would not use the subsidies from the security office, and the subsidies would be provided by the neighborhood committee.

Huang Yongtao was very happy.

Now that the country's finances are tight, the subsidies for the public security commandos have always been the responsibility of the street security offices.

If the Taishan Road Residents Committee is willing to help the Public Security Bureau with money and increase the number of public security commandos, it will be a good thing for the Public Security Bureau:
The work pressure has been reduced a lot, and they don’t even have to work night shifts anymore. They can just send security commandos to be on duty.

The neighborhood committee was willing to provide this subsidy because Qian Jin had promised Wei Xiangmi that he would organize a small collective enterprise to generate at least 5000 yuan in revenue for the neighborhood committee every month!
Wei Xiangmi thought that if a small collective enterprise established with the labor assault team as the main body could generate 5,000 yuan in income for the neighborhood committee every month.

Then it would not be a big deal for the neighborhood committee to spend a few hundred dollars extra for them, and she, as the acting director, could make the final decision to agree to it.

In addition, once this small collective enterprise is established, it will have a greater significance for her:
She is now anxious to be promoted to the director of the neighborhood committee, but she is the director of women's affairs, so it is not so easy for her to get promoted.

However, if she makes achievements during her tenure as acting director, then she will naturally gain extra points in the eyes of her superiors and will be more likely to be promoted to the position of neighborhood committee director.

So Qian Jin easily pushed this matter forward.

The only problem now is how to set up a small collective enterprise that can generate several thousand yuan in monthly revenue.

This is related to the collective support for agriculture in rural areas.

The five agricultural support teams separated last time.

The whole brigade is together to support agriculture this time.

More than fifty people lined up early in the morning. White dew fell under the green eaves of the Liberation Army. Enamel pots and food were stuffed into the military green backpacks, and everyone had leggings on their trouser legs.

There was a bag tied to the back seat of the bicycle, containing rice, noodles, frozen meat and other supplies.

Qian Jin explained that the production team had asked him to exchange it on the black market: "This is not an aboveboard thing. If someone asks us on the way, we can just say that we are bringing supplies to the farmers on our way to the countryside to support agriculture."

"Don't mention this when you get to the production team. This involves a question of reasonable distribution. Let's not get involved and let the team work it out on their own."

The team members didn't think much about it and nodded yes.

Qian Jin specially invited Wei Xiangmi to mobilize.

Wei Xiangmi needs an opportunity to show herself.

To this end, she used her connections and specially invited a photographer from the Seaside Labor News to take pictures.

The weather is not good today, it's a bit cold.

Just a few days into November, the north wind had already swept across the Siberian plains and entered the land of China.

The street loudspeakers specially played the theme song of the movie "Spring Sprouts", "Workers and Peasants Are One Family".

Amidst the passionate melody, Wei Xiangmi mobilized people to go to the countryside and finally issued a command:
"Comrades, we must remember three iron laws in this agricultural support campaign—"

"Don't take a single needle or thread from the masses, don't be afraid of breaking a sweat when you work, and always follow the red flag with your thoughts!"

Qian Jin led the team in applause.

The team members clapped vigorously.

The photographer pressed the shutter and nodded to Wei Xiangmi.

Wei Xiangmi smiled happily, and looked at Qian Jin with a look of satisfaction.

More than fifty people and more than fifty bicycles started together.

This is quite grand.

Qian Jin was checking the situation on the roadside and called out to Wang Dong, "You have good stamina, stay at the back and finish it for me."

"Remember, no one can be left behind!"

Wang Dong is now completely convinced by him.

Hearing the order directed at him, he deliberately got out of the car, saluted, and shouted loudly: "Understood! No member of the labor commando team can be left behind! No one is allowed to fall behind!"

Xu Weidong, who also came to join the collective action, shook his liberation cap at him:

"Comrade, I will lead the main force ahead, and you will follow behind to cover the rear."

Wang Dong: "Get lost! You, a cat or a dog, dare to give me orders?"

More than fifty young men pedaled their bikes hard.

The thin cotton-padded work coat was wrinkled by the cold wind, and the enamel pot jingled against the car.

Their breath condensed into white smoke in the morning mist, like a train starting to move.

The bicycle team rushed to the commune.

Liu Youyu and his men were waiting for them - Qian Jin called Gao Ming, the director of the commune's security office, and asked Gao Ming to inform Liu Wangcai about this matter.

News travels fast in rural areas.

Many people stood by the roadside, their hands folded, watching the excitement. Seeing more than fifty young people arriving with their hair sweating, they also felt like they were just watching a foreign spectacle:
"It's been years since workers have come to our village on their own initiative. Where are these workers from? They're so highly conscious!"

Liu Youyu and Liu Jiashui brought a basket of roasted sweet potatoes on their bicycles.

There was a thick blanket in the basket. When I opened it, hot steam came out.

"Come on, comrades, take a break, drink some water and eat some roasted sweet potatoes before we set off again!"

These roasted sweet potatoes are stewed in a pile of firewood ashes. The skin is charred black, but when you tear it open, you can see the red and yellow flesh. The sticky and sweet sweet potato oil oozes out without even having to be squeezed.

Qian Jin said, "Comrades, these are the winter food that the villagers in the production team saved by eating frugally. Now they are sent to us. We can't be stingy with our efforts today!"

"The saline-alkali land in the production team is waiting for us to be transformed. Winter wheat is about to be planted. We must work hard today!"

Lou Xiaoguang, who was carrying his erhu on his back, shouted, "Don't worry, Captain! We're playing 'Spring Arrives Early in the Commune' on this erhu. It's guaranteed to make the saline-alkali land bloom with red flowers!"

Liu Youyu chuckled and said, "Leader Qian, the winter wheat was planted last month and it's already sprouting."

Qian Jin was embarrassed.

I accidentally exposed my ignorance!
I ate roasted sweet potatoes and drank water.

The team continues on its way.

After driving along the road for a while, Qian Jin saw the figure of the old captain appear on the gray coastline in the distance.

Liu Wangcai led the members to wait for a long time. The Liberation shoes on his feet were stained with mud, and he held a copper pipe in his hand, and the sparks flickered in the howling north wind.

Seeing the large group of bicycles approaching, the dark and thin old man wrapped himself in a coarse cloth coat, with a straw rope around his waist to create a slender waistline, and quickly walked forward to shake hands with Qian Jin.

He looked at the many young people and greeted them repeatedly, then said, "I'm afraid those comrades from the city are freezing their chins off! It's really unpleasant. The sea breeze was so cold last night that it could have blown through three layers of cotton!"

"Captain Liu, working people are not afraid of the cold!" Zhou Yaozu shook hands with him.

The last time he came, he was the captain of the second team, and he was responsible for dealing with the production team leaders.

Liu Wangcai shook hands with him vigorously, looked at the labor badge on his chest and said happily:
"Captain Zhou, are you entering the state-owned factory?"

Zhou Yaozu smiled happily, revealing his white teeth.

Xu Weidong pretended to be carelessly adjusting his blue uniform, but a militiaman saw him and asked him:

"Why are you wearing this leather? I remember that the group wearing this leather captured the leader."

These words left Xu Weidong speechless.

He faltered in his explanation, and the young militiaman replied, "Forgetting history means betraying the revolution..."

Xu Weidong was completely speechless and quickly took off his clothes.

Qian Jin pointed at him and shouted, "Everyone, learn from Comrade Xu Weidong! He's ready to take off his clothes and armor, roll up his sleeves and do a great job!"

"Come on, take off your armor, take off your armor!"

Liu Wangcai discussed work with him:
"Let's get the comrades to prepare the land today. My team's land is almost ready. There are still more than 20 acres left. You can finish it today."

After hearing this, the team members who had been to the countryside and done farm work knew that the production team had been busy in advance and had only left them with a little farm work as a token of their appreciation.

Qian Jin is not just here for formalities.

He said, "Captain Liu, if you have any work to do, just tell us. We are ready for a tough fight!"

Liu Wangcai laughed: "That's the job..."

In order to expose his ignorance once again, Qian Jin pushed out Wang Dong, who has been very popular recently:

"Wang Baowei, it's been years since you returned to the city. I want to test whether you've forgotten what you learned in the countryside."

"Besides tilling the land, what other work do you think the production team has to do at this time of year?"

Wang Dong said cheerfully, "The leaves have fallen, the branches have withered, and the weather has turned cold. Now the production team has to cut down oak trees and store wood for the winter."

"In late autumn, our farmers are busy storing water for the winter and transporting manure. It's time to store water and transport manure!"

Qian Jin said: "Okay, let's follow these four tasks today!"

"Prepare the land! Cut wood! Store water! Transport fertilizer!"

"The ground preparation team, follow me!" Xu Weidong spoke first, with a military water bottle swinging on his waist, as if he was carrying a box gun.

The saline-alkali land in front of me was a vast expanse of white, as if it was sprinkled with coarse salt, and a few withered and yellow weeds were shivering in the cold wind.

Twenty young men swung their shovels, using the sharp blades to split the compacted earth, causing their knuckles to go numb from the shock.

"This soil is harder than iron!" Zhu Tao shook his numb palm in shock.

Wang Dong is very active now.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his hairy black arms, and said fiercely, "I'm a soldier of the people. Today, even if it's pig iron, I'll peel off a layer of iron foam!"

A woman came over carrying a coarse earthenware jar: "Add some oyster shell powder. This is a method passed down by the older generation. It will make the ground softer when you prepare it."

The grayish-white powder was scattered into the ditch. Qian Jin scratched his head but couldn't figure out the principle behind it.

He said to Lou Xiaoguang, "Come, go to the ridge of the field and play a song to cheer up the comrades!"

This cannot be achieved by relying on external forces, but still depends on their subjective initiative.

Lou Xiaoguang took out his erhu and sat on the ground, shaking it as if he had been struck by a cigarette.

The old piano sounded humming in the sea breeze, and the tune of "All Members Are Sunflowers" mixed with the sound of shovels, hoes and pickaxes hitting each other, and dust was flying all over the place.

Some people were dissatisfied: "Guang, come up with something intense, you are singing a requiem for the salt marshes!"

Qian Jin said, "Just sing a requiem. Once you've given it peace, you can use a shovel and hoe to perform a Caesarean section."

As everyone laughed, someone actually dug out a nest of voles:
"Hey, hey, hey, hurry up and look for it, there must be food in there!"

"Catch the field mouse! It's not a rat. Field mice are edible. Roast them over a fire and they'll make oil!"

Zhou Yaozu pulled a Red Flag magazine from his bag and asked, "Would you like to read the article 'Dazhai's Battle Against Heaven and Earth' to the comrades?"

Wang Dong waved his hand: "Forget it, listening to articles is not as good as listening to music. That's all our comrades have realized."

Zhou Yaozu was good-tempered. Upon hearing this, he put away the magazine, picked up the pickaxe handle and started working hard.

The saline-alkali land spreads out into grayish-white wrinkles in the sunlight, and the cracked lines on the surface are like the dry back of an old man's hand.

The mountains in the distance lay low under the lead-gray sky, their outlines blurred by the salty mist, like a pool of molten iron solidified on the horizon.

As the wind blew past, it kicked up fine salt dust, which rustled on the burnt brown camel thorn and dyed the last few curled leaves frosty white.

Qian Jin straightened up and scanned the scene.

Distant mountains and nearby sea.

The ground is gray and the sky is blue.

Farm work is very tiring, but this kind of scene, this kind of atmosphere, and this kind of work can indeed cultivate a person's enthusiasm for life!
The cohesion and combat effectiveness that a day of sweating collective labor can increase for the team cannot be matched by holding a ten-day meeting!
(End of this chapter)