My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 34 Slogans
Liang Guizhen was secretly overjoyed, but she still said, "Why did you bring so much stuff again? We can't possibly finish it all if we leave it at home."

She was clearly making a face of reproach and refusal, but her hands were already outstretched to take it, leaving Chen Ling speechless for a moment.

Little did he know, Wang Jusheng, who was standing behind him, was even more speechless upon hearing this.

He felt a little uncomfortable because he knew that the vegetables Chen Ling had sent last time had all been delivered to his second son's house by his mother.

"Hey, it's nothing valuable. If you and Uncle Wu like it, I'll bring more next time."

Chen Ling said with a smile.

He wouldn't have said those insincere words if Wang Jusheng hadn't been there with him.

"Oh dear, you're always going to the county town, you have a higher standard than the people in our village. You're saying these vegetables in the greenhouse are worthless, what else is valuable?"

"Do we have to eat meat and fish every day?"

Even the county magistrate doesn't get this kind of treatment.

Liang Guizhen took the vegetables from Chen Ling's hand and said happily.

Chen Ling and Wang Jusheng didn't react much to these words, but the villagers standing not far away outside were in an uproar.

Goodness, no wonder there are green vegetables in early spring, they're grown in greenhouses.

Everyone knows about greenhouses; they've been heavily supported by government policies in the past two years. The village loudspeakers announce it every day—it's a high-end product.

This lazybones is more ruthless than anyone else when it comes to squandering money. He eats greenhouse vegetables every day and even gives them away as gifts.

How much wealth did his father leave him enough for him to squander?

"Aunt Guizhen is right, but I see there are quite a few people in the yard, where are we taking this donkey?"

Chen Ling glanced at the small courtyard and asked.

"I'll take the wealth and honor; if not, drive the donkey to my house first."

Wang Jusheng leaned his bicycle against the wall and said.

"Oh right, boss, I almost forgot about you!"

"Never mind the donkey for now. Director Qin from the township family planning office needs to see you. He's been waiting for you at home for a while. Go in and see him."

Liang Guizhen suddenly spoke up at this moment.

"Director Qin from the Family Planning Office? What does she want with me?"

Wang Jusheng felt something was off, so he headed home.

Just then, Qin Qiumei and Wang Xiuhua, the women's director of Chenwangzhuang, came out and met each other.

"As soon as I heard your voice, I knew you were back, college student. Director Qin and I have been waiting for you for ages. If you hadn't come back, we would have gone to the fields to call you!"

Upon meeting, Wang Xiuhua greeted him with a smile.

"Is it urgent, Director Qin? What's the matter?"

Wang Jusheng asked.

"It's not that we're in a rush, it's just that the township leaders said this year's family planning slogans are not up to standard. They're the same old ones, and they won't be effective in promoting family planning. They told us to come up with something new..."

"Comrade Jusheng, you are highly knowledgeable. We would like to ask you for your help and give us some advice."

Qin Qiumei spoke up.

This young woman looks quite striking today.

She was dressed in a black women's suit and trousers, with a white shirt underneath and black high heels, looking like a public official.

Her originally cool and pretty face looked exceptionally radiant and charming against this slightly androgynous outfit.

In particular, her jet-black hair was tied back into a lively ponytail, which highlighted her beautiful, snow-white neck and two round, small earlobes.

This attire gave her an air of nobility that was hard to find in a country person.

The villagers, young and old, were instantly stunned.

Damn it, this family planning woman is too beautiful.

I heard she's Dongmei's older sister, how come they look so different!
If Dongmei looked like that, Wang Chunyuan wouldn't have had to stay in the countryside and never go home.

Wang Jusheng was also momentarily impressed by the family planning office director, then gave an awkward smile: "I'm just a vocational college graduate, not even a junior college graduate. It's been almost ten years since I graduated, and I've forgotten most of what I learned. I don't think I can help Director Qin much."

"Comrade Jusheng is too modest. I heard from the village chief that you were one of the top students in Chinese back then, and you were a member of the literary society in college. If you can't help us, who else can we turn to?"

"You probably don't know, but we came to find you because the township leaders recommended you. They said that in the entire Changle Township, Comrade Jusheng, you are the most educated person!"

"You're the right person to come to us."

Qin Qiumei smiled faintly and praised.

"Hey, the boss is just giving me face. I'm actually just a little bit educated, nothing special."

Wang Jusheng quickly waved his hand, but couldn't help but smile broadly.

Wow, even the township leaders praised me. Looks like I have no choice but to show off my skills today.

"Jusheng, stop being modest. I think no one else can do it except you. Quickly help us think of some slogans."

Wang Xiuhua gently patted Wang Jusheng twice and urged him with a smile.

"Okay, I'll think of a few, but I don't know if they'll meet your requirements..."

Wang Jusheng grinned.

I was feeling a little smug when I suddenly realized that someone was missing from behind me after I finished speaking.

Turning around, I saw that Chen Ling had already walked outside the door, clearly preparing to go home.

"Fugui, you're not allowed to leave."

"You promised to come to my house tonight and cook a meal so your sister-in-law can try your cooking. Why are you trying to sneak away without saying a word?"

"It's alright if you run away, but I'm in big trouble. Your sister-in-law still remembers the debt from that drunken night. If you don't show off your skills, she'll definitely think I'm fooling her and she'll make a scene!"

Chen Ling stopped helplessly, turned around and said, "Why don't you help them come up with a slogan first? I'm going to your house tonight, so I have to go back and tell my wife first."

"No, you can't leave!"

"I'll call Susu over with you in a bit. Do you want Susu to eat alone at home tonight?"

Wang Jusheng walked over, pulled Chen Ling back, and pressed him down onto a small stool in the yard.

“I’ve been eating at your house every day for the past few days, so I’m definitely having a meal at my place today. You can sit here and wait for a bit, I’ll go call Susu later.”

This scene was witnessed by those around them, who were all amazed.

I wondered when these two became so close.

Even Jusheng and his brother Juxiang have never been this enthusiastic.

Qin Qiumei stood to the side, her eyes also filled with surprise. She lived at her younger sister's house and didn't go out much, but it was close to Chen Ling's house, and her younger sister was always cursing and swearing.

I knew there were outsiders at Chen Ling's house these days, but I never expected that person would be Wang Jusheng.

I really can't figure out how these two got together.

"Director Qin, I'll go inside to get paper and pen. Please wait a moment."

Lost in thought, he heard Wang Jusheng say something, and then he quickly took out paper and pen and started writing and drawing.

Wang Jusheng was indeed learned; in no time, he wrote more than ten slogans promoting family planning.

After it was written, Qin Qiumei took it and looked at it. The paper read:

1. Controlling population size benefits the country and its people, while improving population quality strengthens the nation and enriches families.

2. We attach importance to family planning to promote development and focus on people's livelihood to seek harmony.

3. Family planning can improve the quality of the population and is a basic national policy that concerns the happiness of every family.

4. For the happiness of future generations, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to family planning.

……

After reading through more than ten slogans, Qin Qiumei couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly.

"Comrade Jusheng, could you revise it again?"

"These slogans are new, and your writing is quite good, but they just sound a bit awkward when you read them aloud..."

"Huh? Feeling awkward?"

"I don't find anything awkward about it when I read it!" Wang Jusheng scratched his head, puzzled.

"If you don't feel awkward, it's because you're highly educated. How can we peasants compare to you college students?"

Wang Xiuhua said with a smile from the side.

"Then I'll think of a few more..."

Wang Jusheng bit his pen and wrote a few more slogans.

When Qin Qiumei looked at it, it still wasn't ideal.

To be considerate of Wang Jusheng's feelings, Qin Qiumei spoke quite tactfully.

“The slogans written by Comrade Jusheng would be absolutely top-notch if placed in a city or a provincial capital.”

"But in our rural areas, it's not quite suitable. The people there aren't very well-educated and can't understand these slogans, so they don't have any propaganda effect."

This put Wang Jusheng, who had originally wanted to show off his skills, in a dilemma. He racked his brains but couldn't come up with any good ideas.

As darkness fell, Wang Laishun's family members gradually left, leaving only Chen Ling sitting on a small stool under the tree.

Bored, I teased Wang Laishun's tabby cat.

Wang Jusheng was frustrated and annoyed when he saw Chen Ling leisurely petting the cat. He shouted indignantly, "Fugui, come over here and help me think of something! I'm racking my brains, and you're still playing with the cat. You're not being loyal at all!"

"Come on, I'm not as well-educated as you, I can't handle these high-sounding things."

Chen Ling stood up, stretched, and said.

Wang Xiuhua then stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Why don't we think about it another day, Jusheng? You and Fugui go back for dinner. There's no rush. It's getting late, and I need to take Director Qin home..."

"and many more!"

Unexpectedly, Qin Qiumei suddenly reached out and interrupted Wang Xiuhua, saying:
"I was just about to say something about taking things too seriously, but I couldn't put it into words. Chen Fugui really hit the nail on the head."

"The slogans that Comrade Jusheng just wrote are all very good, but they are a bit too political. Ordinary people like us won't listen to these kinds of things, so they won't achieve the desired propaganda effect."

“We need to think of something simple that farmers can understand.”

Wang Jusheng was taken aback, then smiled wryly and said, "This has stumped me. I'm really good at writing policy slogans."

"What do you mean? Don't make a big deal out of it?"

"So you want slogans that are easy to understand and relatable to the general public?"

Chen Ling said from the side.

"Yeah!"

Qin Qiumei's eyes lit up immediately, "It's so easy to understand, and what you said about it being down-to-earth is such a perfect description!"

Qin Qiumei was quite surprised. She never expected that this lazy bum with the worst reputation in Chenwangzhuang would be able to hit the nail on the head every time.

This impressed her, so she asked, "You understand the requirements, so could you help us think of two?"

"Yes, Fugui, since you understand the requirements, why don't you think of a couple of ideas for Director Qin and the others?"

"Brother, my mind is a complete mess right now, I can't think of anything!"

Wang Jusheng also said.

"Okay, I'll name a few, see if they're okay with you."

Chen Ling nodded, recalling another part of her life.

Let's call it a past life for now.

Those family planning slogans that left a deep impression on me—I saw them way too many times back then.

"Fewer births, better births, a lifetime of happiness—is that a good idea?"

Chen Ling tried asking.

"Fewer births, better births, a lifetime of happiness..."

Qin Qiumei muttered a few words to herself, her round, pretty eyes suddenly widening.

"Great, that's perfect."

"They perfectly meet the requirements. Comrade Fugui, could you think of a few more?"

Good heavens, so he's become a wealthy and noble comrade?

Chen Ling chuckled and continued, "If people in mountainous areas want to get rich, they should have fewer children and plant more trees... If they don't plant trees when they should, their houses will collapse; if they don't migrate when they should, their houses will be demolished and their cattle taken away..."

"If the crops are too dense, the seedlings will be thin and small; if there are too many children, they will be difficult to raise well."

"Newlyweds entering their bridal chamber should not forget family planning."

"..."

Chen Ling rattled off more than a dozen names before stopping to ask, "So, are these usable? If not, I'll think of a few more."

The others were stunned after hearing this.

Qin Qiumei was especially surprised and delighted, nodding excitedly, her pale face flushed.

"It works, it works perfectly, and not only does it work, it's surprisingly good, it couldn't be better!"

What Chen Ling said was not only novel but also catchy, making it more suitable for rural areas than the slogans Wang Jusheng had come up with.

It could even be promoted throughout the county, which would be of great help to her work.

"Comrade Fugui, thank you so much, you've been a great help to us."

Qin Qiumei was completely impressed with Chen Ling and even took the initiative to extend her slender, white hand to shake his.

"It's nothing. Family planning is a basic national policy, and it's only right that we do our part."

Chen Ling smiled politely, but found the young woman's hands to be icy cold, as if they had no temperature, so he quickly let go.

Wang Xiuhua, the women's director, was watching from the side and was quite shocked. She thought to herself that she hadn't realized this lazy man had such abilities. Even Jusheng couldn't come up with a slogan, but he actually did. This was remarkable.

"You, Fugui, you have so many ideas, but you didn't help me at all. You were just deliberately trying to make a fool of me."

At this moment, Wang Jusheng stood up, angrily punched Chen Ling, and laughed and cursed.

Chen Ling glanced at him. "Who's laughing at you? I saw the new slogans in the village all about implementing certain policies and family planning concepts. I thought they were going to come up with some kind of high-sounding stuff, but I don't know anything about that. It's getting late. Didn't you say you were going to your house to cook? Are we still going?"

"Go ahead, wait until I get in the car, then we'll go to your house and pick up Susu."

"Director Qin and Sister-in-law Xiuhua should come along too. Fugui's cooking is excellent; you'll never forget it after just one meal."

Wang Jusheng greeted them.

"No, no, it's getting dark, I have to go back and cook for my wife."

Wang Xiuhua waved her hand and said.

Qin Qiumei also politely declined, but despite her refusal, she couldn't help but think of the fragrance she had smelled almost every day during her stay at her sister's house.

Feeling a bit hungry, she then left with Wang Xiuhua.

"Alright, they're gone. You can ride my bike and pick up Susu. I'll go back and get your things ready first."

Wang Jusheng pushed the bicycle in front of Chen Ling and said.

"No need to call Susu anymore, let's just go to your house. There are two little babies at your house, one of whom is still breastfeeding. It's fine for us to go during the day, but it's inconvenient for too many strangers to come at night."

Chen Ling shook his head.

"That's true. I'll call you during the day next time I'm free."

Wang Jusheng said with a smile.

He then put the peanuts that his mother, Liang Guizhen, had left behind the door on the back seat of the car, and walked out with Chen Ling.

Seeing Chen Ling looking at him strangely, he laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "My mother and father don't like peanuts. There are only a few of us in the whole family, so it's just our family that eats them. Don't be offended."

Chen Ling smiled and realized that Liang Guizhen thought peanuts were less valuable than vegetables.

"But I should buy a donkey or a cow, otherwise I'll have to borrow one from them and I'll inevitably have to send things to Jusheng's mother, which makes me feel uncomfortable."

Chen Ling thought to himself as the two arrived at Wang Jusheng's house.

As soon as they opened the door and stepped inside, they heard a loud "bang" that startled them. They quickly went in to see what had happened.

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(End of this chapter)