With the situation clear, Director Ma let out a heavy breath. He would rather talk for hours using reason with the other brigades than confront people from the Marching Brigade.
Secretary He had to quit while he was ahead. "Director Ma, we will remember what you promised and you better be true to your words, or else, hmmp!"
Shen Miaomiao cheered up, then whipped the stick in her hand directly onto the wall. The harsh sound echoed within the room and the sturdy bamboo broke into pieces, scattering all over, and the impact not only peeled the paint, but also marked the wall.
"......."
Done showing their fist and arguing, they are now blatantly threatening.
Secretary He was satisfied with the show and turned his chin towards the director. "Don't take it to heart, Director Ma. We are not targeting you. We peasant farmers treat grains as life and even fought the evil invaders to protect the public grains."
"Yes. Yes. Don't worry Secretary He, I will explain to the higher-ups and convince them. There is indeed too much educated youth in the Marching Brigade, and adding more would be unreasonable so they would surely agree."
"Good. That's good. Director Ma is a genuine and reasonable cadre serving the public who understands us poor peasants." Secretary He sighed and switched to the water works after showing off the stick.
Crying that there weren't enough grains after working for the whole year, sobbing that they were cold in the winter and couldn't find food in the mountains, and that the rivers were frozen; that they have old, sick, weak, and young with no family to look after.
After expressing 'heartfelt' emotions, Secretary He also knows how to speak some good words for the director, truly following the experience of giving a stick and a carrot.
Secretary He felt like he successfully gave a full show while Director Ma stiffly smiled with no other choice.
"Niece! Let's go. It's just in time for lunch when we return to the brigade."
Shen Miaomiao picked up a few clumps of paper, pretentiously tried to organize them into a pile, and very carefully dropped them onto the table.
"Let me apologize to you, Director. My dearest uncle doesn't have the best temper and as a younger generation, I had to stand up for him so that he won't be bullied outside."
Meaning, our elders are unreasonable and there's nothing you can do about it.
"Oh, and Director Ma," Secretary He turned back around. "Remember the subsidies for every educated youth we received that we agreed on the last time."
After succeeding in their goals, the pair of old and young patted their butt and washed their hands off from the following matters.
The eight educated youth at this time were as timid as a mouse. Secretary He gave them a look and they obediently followed behind him. Even when he refused to let them in the cart and only allowed the baggage, no one asked for any reason and just did what they were told.
"Carry your satchels and just put in your luggage and sacks. Don't overload the cart. Our precious DaHuang can do more work than you and cannot be tired out by a bunch of drag."
Shen Miaomiao, as a person close to their age, showed them some face. "Don't worry, it's just around an hour of walking."
But that was for people who are used to walking. Look at these people's thin arms and legs; they will probably slow down a lot on the way.
True to their expectations, that was indeed the case.
Not even halfway on the road, Secretary He was forced by their terrible appearances to stop under a shady tree, and right then and there, they collectively collapsed.
Secretary He gave them a disdainful look.
"....."
"..."
".."
Buhuhuhu MOM!!!!
They gritted their teeth and didn't complain noisily but they were wailing on the inside!!
Aren't we enduring enough???
Huhuhu. Mom, take me home.
They just got out of a pickled bus and vomited everything in their stomach, and all of this was merely the beginning.
It's not like they wanted to come here. We just listen to people, no, they were forced, ok???
As children in the city, they possessed a natural sense of superiority and a subconscious contempt towards the country people, but these peasants were more awesome; they treated them with disdain before they even stretched out a finger.
There were only internal cries at first, but then some ended up sobbing with silent tears. Especially the five girls, if they weren't scared off by the destructive duo, they had long acted out their young ladies' temper.
Because Secretary He wanted to get rid of these hot potatoes as soon as possible, he didn't allow them to mourn for their father and mother for long and dragged them back to the village. If they still have time to cry, then they aren't tired enough.
As they neared the village, the new educated youths spotted a tall locust tree with stone benches underneath, then noticed the small stream with a wooden bridge when they came closer, and finally a magnificent brick and tile house right after the entrance.
"Don't look around, look at your feet!" Secretary He growled at their distracted faces, and Shen Miaomiao chimed in. "The water's not deep, just cold."
Secretary He glared at the troublesome ancestor. They just entered the village and she already wanted to tear off his stage.
Passing by the brick and tile house, Secretary He stopped at the gate and pointed, "This is the Brigade Headquarters. If you need something, find me here. As for your life problems, it's best not to have one."
After the brigade headquarters, next was the educated youth house. It was only a few steps away, with a sizable vegetable plot in between the two.
The educated youth house was enclosed by a low mud wall and a wooden gate. There are two thatch houses at the front; two wing houses facing each other, and a corridor in the middle serving as both the kitchen and firewood house.
In short, all materials used in construction are locally sourced and easily accessible; an authentic taste of the countryside, very rustic. Courtesy of, of course, our generous mountains.
"Brigade Secretary, you are here." A tanned young man in working clothes came out of the educated youth house to greet them.
Secretary He nodded in his direction and then introduced him to the new educated youths. "This is Gu Zhiqing, he's in charge of the educated youths and will help you make arrangements first. You can only take a leave for tomorrow, then start work the day after tomorrow. The village is busy with the autumn harvest and can't tolerate any slackers."
After that, Secretary He hurried off to the fields and didn't forget to grab Shen Miaomiao who was clearly dragging her feet to stay.