Chapter 199
“These are some new products I came up with in my spare time. Manager Xiang, would you like to try them?” Song Nianchu said with a smile.
“You made them yourself?” Xiang Tianyi asked.
“Yes.”
Only after hearing that did Xiang Tianyi reach out to take them. He also cast a light glance at Designer Wu.
Designer Wu found it rather baffling. Why did that look feel like he was showing off?
What was he showing off?
His gift box was highly sought-after, while that bamboo basket of Xiang Tianyi’s looked practically worthless.
Of course, Designer Wu wasn’t about to say any of that out loud.
“All right, we’re leaving.” Xiang Tianyi accepted the items and did not linger. He turned and headed toward the entrance of the village.
As usual, Song Nianchu saw them off all the way to the village entrance. Only after their car had disappeared into the distance did she withdraw her gaze.
Song Nianchu happily made her way back into the village. However, before she reached the canning workshop, she saw Wu Zhenggui walking home with his head bowed dejectedly.
“Uncle Zhengui,” Song Nianchu called out.
“Chu.” Wu Zhenggui, who had been lost in thought with his head lowered, forced a smile when he heard her voice.
“Uncle Zhengui, weren’t you at a meeting today? Why are you back so soon? What was discussed at the meeting?” Song Nianchu asked.
At those words, the expression on Wu Zhenggui’s face became difficult to maintain.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Seeing him like that, Song Nianchu’s smile faded as well.
“The county held a meeting this time. They said a new project is about to begin, and every brigade has to send quite a few people to take part in the construction,” Wu Zhenggui said without hiding anything.
Song Nianchu knew something about this. In those days, everyone lived under a collective economy, and for many major construction projects, workers were assigned from various production brigades to help with the work.
Some were paid in work points, while others received a certain amount of wages. Generally speaking, the income was somewhat higher than what they could earn in their own brigade.
However, the work was also extremely tiring, and workers had to leave home. Sometimes, they did not even know when they would be able to return. As a result, many people were unwilling to participate in these large-scale collective projects.
But this was a task assigned from above. If too few people volunteered, the authorities might resort to drawing lots.
Song Nianchu’s expression darkened as well.
“Chu, our village has only just started to enjoy better days. Now they’re going to have us build another factory. Tell me, how many people will be willing to leave home and take part in this kind of collective project at a time like this?” Wu Zhenggui let out a long sigh.
“How many workers have we been assigned this time?” Song Nianchu asked.
“Three hundred.”
Three hundred?
That was no small number. Moreover, large-scale construction projects required young, strong laborers. The elderly and children did not qualify.
“What kind of project are we supposed to work on?” Song Nianchu asked.
“A dam, in the neighboring county.”
“Building a dam is also for the benefit of the people. Our area used to suffer frequent floods, but once the dam is built, flooding will be greatly reduced. And in the event of a drought, water can be released from the reservoir. It’s a good project that will benefit both the country and its people,” Song Nianchu said gently.
“I know. It’s just that working on a dam in another county will be extremely difficult.” How could Wu Zhenggui not understand that?
But people were selfish. If they could avoid leaving their hometown, they naturally wanted to stay.
“Here’s what we’ll do. Hold a brigade meeting this afternoon and tell everyone that those who volunteer to participate in the collective construction project will receive an additional subsidy of five yuan a month from the brigade,” Song Nianchu said after thinking it over.
“Five yuan?” Wu Zhenggui exclaimed in shock.
“Yes. I know it’s not much, but the factory hasn’t been built yet. Once it’s up and running and the brigade’s income increases, we can raise the subsidy as well,” Song Nianchu explained.
“I’m not saying it’s too little. I’m wondering whether it might be too much. Our village has only just begun to recover. If we provide another five yuan a month to each of the three hundred workers, that means an additional expense of fifteen hundred yuan every month.” By the end of his sentence, Wu Zhenggui’s eyelids were twitching.
Fifteen hundred yuan.
Their village had previously been unable to earn that much in an entire year.
“We can afford this expense for now. It won’t be a problem,” Song Nianchu said, not particularly worried.
“Why don’t we lower it a little more?” Wu Zhenggui was still concerned that the village might not be able to handle the expenditure.
“How about we go ask Accountant Mu to run the numbers?” Song Nianchu naturally understood what he was worried about.
“All right.” Wu Zhenggui nodded.
The two of them went straight to the village office and asked Mu Deyi to calculate the figures for them.
After finishing his calculations, Mu Deyi nodded at Wu Zhenggui.
“An additional monthly expense of fifteen hundred yuan won’t affect the village’s future development.”
“Are you really sure it won’t? What if the workshops end up going bankrupt because of this?” Wu Zhenggui still wasn’t completely reassured.
“How could they possibly go bankrupt? The village’s income has been increasing every month. We can easily afford the extra fifteen hundred yuan.” Mu Deyi sounded somewhat exasperated.
“Uncle Zhengui, Accountant Mu has already said it won’t be a problem, so there’s no need to worry. Besides, this is a major project that will benefit the country and its people. We ought to support the organization. We’ll earn the money back eventually,” Song Nianchu said gently.
“That’s true. We should support it. I’m just worried that the workshops we worked so hard to establish will go under because of this.” Wu Zhenggui was not someone lacking in political awareness.
But people could only think about helping others after they themselves had achieved a certain level of stability.
If they were starving every day and forced to tighten their belts, how could they spare any thought for anything else?
“You don’t need to worry about that, Village Chief. The factory is operating very well,” Mu Deyi said again.
“That’s good, then. I’ll hold a brigade meeting later and see how many people are willing to volunteer,” Wu Zhenggui said, finally relieved.
“All right.” Song Nianchu smiled and nodded.
That very afternoon, Wu Zhenggui held a brigade meeting.
He clearly explained the news from above, as well as the additional subsidy the brigade would provide.
The moment everyone heard that those who participated in the collective construction project would receive an extra subsidy, the crowd erupted into noisy discussion.
“Quiet! All of you, quiet down!” Wu Zhenggui hurriedly raised his hand to stop them.
Only then did the voices gradually die down.
“Brigade Chief, is the subsidy you mentioned really true? As long as we volunteer, we’ll receive five yuan every month?” someone called out.
“Yes. Five yuan a month,” Wu Zhenggui confirmed firmly.
“Then I’m signing up!” the man immediately declared.
“Me too! I’m signing up too!”
Once the first person had spoken, the others became much more enthusiastic.
Five yuan was an incredibly generous sum to farmers who could only scrape a living from the soil day after day.
If they worked away from home for half a year, they could save thirty yuan.
Thirty yuan was enough for their families to enjoy a lavish New Year celebration.
“Anyone who wants to sign up, come over here and register with me,” Song Nianchu said when she saw how enthusiastic everyone was.