The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 659: Butler!!!
While the "HuaXin Electronics Group" was vigorously promoting construction and recruiting talents in Yubao County Special Economic Zone, the company's chairman Liu Bencheng quietly withdrew and personally led a consolation convoy consisting of more than a dozen heavy trucks, loaded with carefully prepared daily necessities, and drove to a military base in the Yangcheng District.

This convoy stretching for hundreds of meters is particularly eye-catching. Each truck is draped with a red banner with the words "The Army and the People Are as Close as Fish and Water", shining brightly in the sun.

The purpose of Liu Bencheng's visit was to express cordial greetings to the local officers and soldiers on behalf of "Huaxin Electronics Group".

This not only continues the fine tradition of the Liu family business for more than 20 years, but also demonstrates the social responsibility of private enterprises to care about national defense and the officers and soldiers.

Over the years, wherever the Liu Group does business, visiting and comforting the officers and soldiers stationed there has become an unshakable routine.

From frontier outposts to coastal bases, from the coldest months of winter to the hottest months of summer, the friendship between the military and the people remains as warm as ever.

During this visit, Liu Bencheng personally checked the material procurement list to ensure that every item of comfort could meet the actual needs of the officers and soldiers.

Liu Shudong, Chairman of Huaxin Electronics Group, and his delegation were warmly received by the garrison leaders.

At the garrison base, Liu Shudong and others observed the officers and soldiers' daily military training on site, and were invited to have lunch with the officers and soldiers in the company canteen, experiencing firsthand the "big pot meal" unique to the military camp.

After the visit, Liu Shudong politely declined the follow-up itinerary arranged by the garrison leaders and instead requested to go to a certain company to visit his nephew.

The garrison leaders then learned that Liu Shudong's second purpose of this trip to the military camp was to visit his relatives in the army.

The Liu family is a prosperous family. The children have been carefully cultivated by the family since childhood, and many outstanding talents have emerged in the political, business, academic and military circles.

Inspired by the example of their family elder Liu Zhiye, joining the army to serve the country and becoming an excellent soldier has become a lofty ideal that many of the Liu family's children have cherished since childhood.

Among the new generation of young talents of the Liu family, Liu Xiaodong's performance even impressed his great-grandfather Liu Zhiye.

One year, summer.

"Report to the platoon leader, new recruit Li Jianjun requests to see you!"

Liu Xiaodong was sweating profusely as he sorted out files. When he looked up, he saw squad leader Wang Guoqiang standing at the door with a tall and thin young man.

The cicadas outside the window kept chirping, and waves of heat poured into the house.

Their camp was built in the 1960s. Mottled concrete walls can be seen everywhere. The old-fashioned ceiling fans squeak around, but they can't blow away the sticky summer air.

At that time, Liu Xiaodong had just graduated from the military academy and became a platoon leader. He was thinking all day about how to lead a model platoon.

On the day when the new recruits joined the company, Liu Xiaodong ironed his military uniform and stood under the old lush ginkgo tree in the barracks to greet them.

The sun made the concrete floor hot. Ten recruits stood in a row, standing straight.

Liu Xiaodong noticed Li Jianjun at first sight. Unlike other recruits who looked around, he stared firmly ahead, exuding a stubborn spirit.

"What do you want from me?" Liu Xiaodong asked as he put down the stack of yellowed files.

"Report to the platoon leader, I would like to ask you to keep my salary for me." Li Jianjun's voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

Liu Xiaodong was stunned when he heard this.

These days, as soon as the soldiers get their pay, they run to the canteen, and buying a bottle of soda and a few popsicles is the most common thing they do.

I have never seen anyone voluntarily ask to keep their salary.

"What's the matter? Are you afraid that you can't protect your wallet?" Liu Xiaodong joked with a smile.

"Platoon leader, I want to save all the money and not spend a single cent." The young man's eyes were so firm that Liu Xiaodong was shocked.

In this way, Li Jianjun became the most special soldier in the platoon.

These days, soldiers’ allowances are only forty or fifty yuan.

But life was simple and things in the convenience store were cheap, with popsicles costing five cents each and soda costing thirty cents a bottle, so it didn't cost much for everyone to have a meal together.

But Li Jianjun, when he got his salary at the end of every month, would directly give the money to Liu Xiaodong for safekeeping and was reluctant to even buy him a popsicle.

No matter how hot the weather is, just drink a few sips of boiled water.

Gradually, some people in the platoon began to murmur: "This Li Jianjun is too stingy. He can't even bear to give a popsicle."

"That's right. Last time we had a dinner together, he didn't come even when we asked him to. He was like a piece of wood the whole day."

Even Wang Guoqiang said to Liu Xiaodong: "Platoon leader, we can't go on like this. Comradeship is so important."

Liu Xiaodong also felt that there was something wrong with Li Jianjun.

The most important thing in the army is unity, but he keeps himself closed off all day long, which is not a good thing.

When checking the shop at night, Liu Xiaodong accidentally found a photo under Li Jianjun's pillow.

It was a girl wearing glasses and a washed-out school uniform, standing in front of a blackboard with words "Congratulations on your good results in the college entrance examination" written all over it.

On the back of the photo was neatly written “Sister Li Xiaohe’s high school graduation photo.”

The photos are all worn out and I look at them often.

The girl had pretty features and looked 70% like Li Jianjun.

"Is this your sister?" Liu Xiaodong asked casually.

Li Jianjun nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes: "She is so smart. From childhood to adulthood, she has always been the first." As he said this, a rare smile appeared on his face.

As he was speaking, the public phone in the duty room suddenly rang.

It was a call from Li Jianjun’s hometown, saying that his father suddenly fell seriously ill while working in a coal mine and was sent to the county hospital.

His mother's suppressed crying came from the other end of the phone, and Li Jianjun's hands were shaking.

"Platoon leader, can I take a leave and go back to have a look?" His voice was choked with sobs.

Liu Xiaodong approved the leave without saying a word, and even asked the squad leader Wang Guoqiang to accompany him back.

Their company is located in the mountainous area, and it is not easy to get to the county town. They have to take a tractor for half a day and then take two buses.

When they came back, Wang Guoqiang secretly told Liu Xiaodong: "Platoon leader, Li Jianjun's family is really in trouble. His father is a coal miner and has silicosis;

His mother took care of a few acres of thin land, growing corn and sweet potatoes, which she could earn a few hundred yuan in a good year.

The most difficult thing is that his sister just got admitted to a key university, and the tuition alone is 4,000 to 5,000 yuan, and the whole family depends on his salary subsidy."

Now Liu Xiaodong finally understood why Li Jianjun was so thrifty.

It is not easy to go to college these days. One year's tuition is equivalent to half a year's salary of an ordinary worker.

During his break time, Li Jianjun would sit by the bed and write letters.

His handwriting is not beautiful, it is crooked, but he always writes very carefully.

Sometimes my eyes turn red while I’m writing.

But what really moved Liu Xiaodong was yet to come.

That night Liu Xiaodong was on duty with a copy of Renren Daily in his hand when squad leader Wang Guoqiang came running over with a few soldiers.

They were all Li Jianjun's comrades-in-arms and fellow villagers from other classes, and they knew the difficulties his family was facing.

"Platoon leader, we have discussed and decided to help Jianjun." Wang Guoqiang took out a crumpled stack of money from his pocket and said, "Everyone saved up their pocket money and collected more than 3,000 yuan."

Looking at the money in the soldiers' hands, Liu Xiaodong felt warm in his heart.

You know, they themselves are not rich, and some even have to send money home for support.

But at this moment, no one said anything and took out their own money.

The next morning, Liu Xiaodong called Li Jianjun to the duty room and said, "Jianjun, this is a gift from everyone. Take it."

Li Jianjun stood there in a daze, his eyes red: "Platoon leader, this... this won't do."

"It doesn't matter what. We are a collective. It is natural for comrades to help each other." Liu Xiaodong patted his shoulder. "It's not easy for your sister to be admitted to a key university. It's also our duty as comrades to help.

Besides, when your sister graduates and becomes successful, it won't matter if you don't pay her back, right?"

After this incident, Li Jianjun seemed like a different person.

He trained harder and loved to chat and laugh with his comrades during breaks. Whenever he encountered a problem, he would take the initiative to help without being asked.

Even the smiles on my face increased.

On the day his sister's admission letter arrived, Li Jianjun went to the logistics department to borrow a large iron pot and, for the first time ever, treated the entire platoon to a meal of noodles.

Although it was just ordinary plain noodles, everyone said it was the most delicious meal they had ever had.

As the end of the year was approaching and the evaluation for outstanding soldiers was approaching, Li Jianjun was passed unanimously.

But who knew that an accident happened at this time. His sister suddenly got acute appendicitis at school and needed surgery immediately.

Li Jianjun sent all the money he had saved back without saying a word.

But the surgery fee and hospitalization fee added together were still not enough.

At this time, platoon leader Liu Xiaodong stood up again and took out all his wages.

When other comrades learned about this, they also spontaneously raised money, and even Lao Wang from the kitchen squad took out his private savings.

"What are you doing?" Li Jianjun said with red eyes, "I already owe you so much."

"Come on, we are all comrades-in-arms. Your sister is our sister." Liu Xiaodong interrupted him with a smile, "If you keep nagging, we will be angry."

Standing outside the hospital's operating room, Li Jianjun choked up and said, "I will remember this love for the rest of my life."

The operation was very successful.

After his sister recovered, she wrote a thank-you letter to the entire platoon.

The handwriting was so beautiful and neat, and you could tell that it took a lot of thought.

The letter said that when she graduated, she must become a good teacher and pass on this kindness.

After this incident, the newly-graduated military academy Liu Xiaodong quickly established a deep friendship with all the soldiers in the platoon.

This young platoon leader, who may be younger than many soldiers, has won the trust and respect of the entire platoon with his brotherly responsibility.

The soldiers admired this "young platoon leader" from the bottom of their hearts who was both principled and humane.

Liu Xiaodong also gained a lot from this experience. He deeply realized that the art of leading troops is far from being summarized by those dogmas in books, but a profound knowledge that needs to be constantly explored in practice.

We must maintain the dignity of a soldier and be strict on the training ground;
We must also care about the soldiers' well-being as if they were our own brothers, and stand up and take responsibility at critical moments.

He gradually realized that an excellent leader must learn to think from the soldiers' perspective - think what the soldiers think and be concerned about what the soldiers are concerned about.

We must not only be good enforcers of discipline, but also be close friends of the soldiers.

If Liu Zhiye knew about Liu Xiaodong's idea, he would definitely be very pleased, because that was exactly the kind of logistical work he was doing.

It’s just that one is facing the entire platoon of soldiers, while the other is thinking about all the grassroots officers and soldiers.

The logistics work of this army is actually about taking care of food and clothing. Quartermaster workers have had a "good reputation" since ancient times - grain and fodder officers.

Although the work is complicated, it is related to the combat effectiveness of the troops, because "man is iron and food is steel, and you will be hungry if you don't eat a meal."

During Liu Zhiye's tenure, it coincided with one of the most difficult periods for the army's life support in peacetime, but it was also one of the most successful periods for military supplies work.

After the reform and opening up, the local economy developed rapidly and the people's living standards improved rapidly. In order to take into account the overall situation of reform and opening up and economic construction, the army practiced "thrifty living".

Therefore, the issue of funding supply and demand has become a long-standing problem for all departments.

For example, a few years ago, the standard food allowance for soldiers in a first-class area and a first-class kitchen was 3.25 yuan per person per day, which was roughly enough for morning tea and a plate of chicken feet in the developed Guangdong Province.

The most recent impression Liu Zhiye had was that one time he went to the grassroots level again.

Upon learning of this situation, a supply officer at a certain communications station actually waited until the market closed every day to collect "disposal goods" in order to save money.

For a moment, Liu Zhiye was deeply touched.

In response to this situation, he led the headquarters to work hard on both increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.

A series of positive and effective measures have been taken to ensure that the living standards of grassroots officers and soldiers remain stable and increase despite a large gap in standards and rising prices.

The goal of "strong guarantee" was achieved and the completion of various combat readiness training tasks at the grassroots level was ensured.

First, we should conduct investigation and research well, and strive to tilt towards “protecting livelihood”.

Liu Zhiye would go to the grassroots to conduct investigations and research with the working group almost every year. Yi Yuanchao, as the director of the food management department in charge of the troops, would always accompany him to the grassroots.

Go to the company mess hall, pig sty and vegetable garden to understand the living standards of officers and soldiers and their opinions on supply guarantee;
Visit local vegetable markets and urban survey departments to learn about market prices and local residents’ living standards.

Then write a report to the headquarters, and strive to allocate limited funds to the living security of officers and soldiers.

In this way, since 1994, the food allowance standard for grassroots soldiers has increased by 78.5% this year. This year, the first-class kitchen in the first-class area has reached 8 yuan per person per day.

Liu Zhiye’s second measure was to focus on the construction of the “vegetable basket” project and provide production subsidies for living.

In early 1996, he proposed a three-year plan for building the grassroots "vegetable basket" project, held several telephone conferences on grassroots agricultural and sideline production, and mobilized it widely.

In mid-November of that year, "J Newspaper" published a long report on a quarter of its page titled "Putting Production Profits into Soldiers' Bowls".

It reflects that the agricultural and sideline production of the troops in Yangcheng District produces 120 grams of pork per person per day on average, and the self-sufficiency rate reaches 92%;
The province produces 800 grams of self-sufficient vegetables, with a self-sufficiency rate of 96.5%; the average production subsidy for meals reaches 1.5 yuan per person per day.

In February last year, when the Yangcheng region held a summary and commendation meeting for the "vegetable basket" project, all six chief officials of the region who were at home attended.

The regional chief gave instructions, and Liu Zhiye also attended the meeting to provide guidance and give a speech. This was an unprecedented level of importance.

Liu Zhiye’s third idea is to build a grassroots non-staple food production base and life service center to supply low-cost and high-quality staple and non-staple foods to grassroots companies.

The focus of the army's "vegetable basket" project is to strengthen the company's agricultural and sideline production, improve the company's self-sufficiency in meat and vegetables, and improve the officers and soldiers' meals through "standards plus subsidies."

At the same time, we will build grassroots non-staple food production bases to provide the company with cheap meat, poultry, eggs and storable vegetables through large-scale production.

The Life Service Center has two main functions: first, it purchases non-staple food in bulk from the market, allowing the company to enjoy the difference between wholesale and retail prices;
The second is to process soy products, bread, cakes, noodles and other foods, and supply them to the company at the cost price of raw materials, saving the company's food expenses.

In recent years, departments at all levels have invested tens of millions of yuan each year in the construction of "bases" and "centers".

What impressed Yi Yuanchao the most was that on the first day of work after the Spring Festival in 1995, Lao Lin from the Logistics Department of the Yangcheng Region came to their department to work on-site.

Lao Lin said: "The key point of logistics work is to 'protect life'. If production and life are well managed, half of the logistics work is done."

Liu Zhiye immediately decided to take out 1000 million yuan from the headquarters' flexible financial resources that year and provide it to Yangcheng to help them solve production and living problems at the grassroots level.

The Yangcheng District used this money to invest in the construction of 20 brigade and regiment non-staple food production bases and 20 life service centers.

Liu Zhiye also grew up step by step from a grassroots soldier to where he is today. He knows well how difficult it is at the grassroots level.

One year, he conveyed the instructions from headquarters at a military supply meeting: "I eat a boiled egg every morning, and I feel it is good for my health. Can all officers and soldiers eat an egg every morning?"

The meeting was attended by logistics leaders from all major regions, who discussed together how to implement the issues.

The discussion was very lively, with some people asking whether it was okay to stir-fry it or whether it had to be boiled.
Some people ask whether we must eat eggs. Do duck eggs, goose eggs, and quail eggs count as eggs?

...Finally, a consensus was reached to ensure that every grassroots soldier could have a boiled egg for breakfast every day, and this would be implemented as a "hard indicator" for the army's food support.

Liu Zhiye concluded by saying: “We must manage and use the standard food allowance well to reduce ‘leakage’.

The focus is to implement the five food management systems issued by the headquarters, including ordering menus, daily supply consumption registration, kitchen duty and kitchen assistants, publishing food accounts, and food hygiene, and use the system to plug various loopholes. "

As one of Liu Zhiye's assistants, Yi Yuanchao spent more than a year conducting a follow-up investigation on the management of surplus food expenses in more than a dozen units.

The results showed that it was very common for surplus food expenses in some units to be squeezed and misappropriated. In some units, the surplus food expenses that were squeezed and misappropriated or could not be taken out accounted for 25.6%, and in a few units, the proportion was more than half, and in some units, even all of it was occupied. This seriously affected the enthusiasm of grassroots units to improve and save food.

To this end, Yi Yuanchao also wrote an article entitled "Manage and Use Food Expenses Well" and published it in "J Newspaper".

This phenomenon, of course, also attracted the great attention and concern of Liu Zhiye and the headquarters.

Liu Zhiye immediately convened a departmental meeting: "Have you read Comrade Yi Yuanchao's report..." He asked to organize an investigation immediately to effectively safeguard the interests of the grassroots.

(End of this chapter)