The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 18: Shell Carving and Tractor Driver
The night enveloped the fishing village like a fishing net soaked in squid ink.

Liu Wangcai's five seaweed houses are brighter than the commune radio station.

Four gas lanterns were hung in a row on the beams of the house, and from time to time they would burst into flames, illuminating the golden certificate of "Advanced Production Team" on the wall so brightly that it was dazzling.

The dried salted fish hanging under the eaves swayed in the light, and along with the dried chilies tied with hemp ropes, they rustled in the sea breeze blowing through the hall.

There are three eight-immortal tables connected end to end in the main room.

Coarse porcelain bowls were stacked on the table, and a dozen blue-rimmed enamel pots were arranged in a circle around an aluminum thermos with the words "Grain Contributor" printed on it.

The yard was already filled with the fragrance, attracting several dogs from the fishing village to lick their mouths and run around.

While everyone was washing their faces, the dishes were placed on the table:

The plump clams, razor clams and scallops are placed in basins.

There is oyster and tofu soup in the ceramic pot.

The eggplant roasted with chili peppers has a strong aroma.

The fried peanuts are red and very tempting.

What attracted the commandos most was the large platters of luncheon meat and ham slices. The cut surfaces showed distinct chunks of meat, a delicacy that was hard to find even in the city.

The accountant came in from behind, carrying an aluminum lunch box filled with finger-sized shrimps.
"Today, our team is preparing for the autumn harvest, so we only sent one trawler out to sea. This is the fresh catch that just came off the boat. Our captain specifically didn't let the purchasing station take it away."

Liu Wangcai asked him to sit down and started distributing bottles of Erguotou to each of them.

People who had only seen liquor in large bottles were impressed by the exquisite small bottle.

They didn't know where the wine came from and thought it was bought by the production team.

Then she looked at Liu Wangcai, the accountant, and the women's director with surprise and admiration in her eyes:
"Your production team is really good. I've really been enlightened by coming here today. You can't even find wine like this in the city."

"The food is plentiful, with vegetables, meat, fresh produce, and dried goods. Awesome!"

"I think we've entered the primary stage of socialism here, haven't we?"

Country people are the most enthusiastic. They usually save some good things at home just to entertain guests and win their praise.

Liu Wangcai and other officials were delighted to hear the compliments, and their smiles were all over their faces as they spoke modestly: "We were afraid we hadn't entertained them well enough."

The commandos sitting around stared at the greasy luncheon meat and ham, drooling, but no one picked up their chopsticks first.

In front of Zhou Yaozu was a small red book called "Discipline and Precautions for Comrades Going to the Countryside."

Liu Wangcai unscrewed the wine bottle and poured it into the enamel jar.

His dark face flushed red, and he stood up to take the wine: "A warm welcome..."

The enameled pots clashed together.

The eight-immortals table shook, and the soup and water swayed, creating ripples.

The food is delicious and the wine is fragrant.

Both the host and the guests enjoyed the meal very much.

Liu Wangcai also turned on the radio at home to add to the fun. On the night radio, classic songs such as "Ode to Red Plum", "Hymn", and "Ode to Coral" were played one after another.

warmed with wine.

Suddenly, a few dark little heads popped out from both sides of the door.

The doll in patched pants was clinging to the door, staring at the greasy dishes on the table.

Qian Jin gave everyone two pieces of candy and said with a smile, "Work hard tomorrow and uncle will give you some candy as a reward."

The dolls ran out cheering.

The cadres of the production team looked at Qian Jin with even gentler eyes: This comrade is a good person, he respects us rural people.

After the meal, the commandos left with a burp.

Liu Wangcai happily went to the bedroom and took out a box to show Qian Jin.

It is full of shell carvings.

This is a traditional artwork of the fishermen in Haibin City. They do not carve paintings on shells, but use shells of various sizes to stick on wooden boards and cardboard to make paintings.

Qian Jin took a look.

There are sailboats, mountains and rivers, city walls of the capital, and so on.

They come in different sizes, the smallest is the size of a palm, and the largest is like a 21-inch screen.

Liu Wangcai explained: "Look, these shells are glued on, right? They don't use any modern glue or anything like that. They use old fish glue."

"Old craftsmen used to mix shark fins into the glue when they made it, but this skill is rare nowadays."

Liu Youniu, in a drunken mood, looked at the shell carving and said, "Uncle, do you have this at home? I heard from my father that you learned this craft when you were young?"

Liu Wangcai nodded: "I have learned it, but not completely. I don't even know how to boil fish maw, I only know how to dry it."

As he said this he pointed towards the door.

"These are the items left by my master. I have been holding them as a reminder."

When Qian Jin heard this, he was shocked: "That must have been years?"

"Forty or fifty years, yes." Liu Wangcai continued to nod.

Qian Jin hesitated and said, "What I have in my hand may not be able to exchange for any shell carving."

Liu Wangcai waved his hand generously: "Just watch and see what you said."

"If you treat us farmers as your friends, we farmers will not treat you unfairly. If you respect the farmers, they will not do anything that makes you look down on them!"

Qian Jin picked out a few palm-sized shell carvings and said, "Okay, uncle, I'll take these small items back first."

"I don't know the exact value, but how about I give you a can of luncheon meat each?"

"I'll have someone appraise it when we get back to the city. If this shell carving is valuable, I'll give you some extra money."

Liu Youniu spoke up for him: "Xiao Qian is trustworthy. Jiaqing's job in the city was obtained by Youguang in exchange for Xiao Qian's gold." "At the time, Youguang was also worried that Xiao Qian was a scammer, but Xiao Qian persuaded the neighborhood committee director to get Jiaqing a job on their street construction team!"

Liu Wangcai was shocked to hear the news.

They only knew that Liu Youguang used gold to exchange his son's job and household registration, but they didn't know who handled it.

Now that he knew that Qian Jin was responsible for this matter, Liu Wangcai was even more respectful of his abilities and connections.

That was the agreement between the two parties.

A good night's sleep.

At dawn, the rooster crows.

The production team became busy.

The commandos also stood up and started to make a fire and cook.

Qian went in and out to take a look.

A thin mist rose in the fishing village in the morning, and smoke mixed with the mist floated in the air.

The corn was placed in the threshing floor and people started shelling it early in the morning.

The old cow of the production team was driven out after chewing grass and was about to go to the field.

Slowly, a red morning glow appeared in the eastern sky.

Don’t go out when there is morning glow, but travel the world when there is evening glow.

There are indeed storms ahead.

This increased the members' sense of urgency.

Half labor is used as full labor, full labor is used as strong labor, and one labor is even split into two.

The sun came out and the temperature was high. The scorching sunlight shining on the wounds cut by corn leaves was unbearable.

When Qian Jin saw the supply and marketing cooperative selling popsicles, he contributed two bottles of fruit powder to make iced drinks.

This time I made pineapple juice.

It is sour, sweet and cool, quenches thirst and relieves summer heat.

The members drank something new again.

Among them, only those who had gone south to the waters of Fujian and Zhejiang to participate in the fishing battle had eaten pineapples. Most people had only heard of this fruit and now tasted it for the first time.

But after drinking pineapple water, I feel even more hot and unbearable!
In order to prevent the wind and rain from blowing down the corn stalks and leaving the corn cobs in the mud and water, Liu Wangcai decided to concentrate manpower on the two tasks of picking corn cobs and cutting corn stalks.

As a result, there were fewer people transporting the corn, and the corn cobs and stalks piled up in piles at the edge of the field.

During the break, Qian Jin looked at the oxcart and the wheelbarrow and shook his head: "It would be much better if we had a tricycle or a tractor. It would definitely be much more efficient."

"The commune's agricultural machinery station has tractors," Liu Youyu sighed, "but no one in our team knows how to drive one."

Qian Jin stood up when he heard it and said, "I can do it!"

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone around was shocked.

The crowd got excited.

Xu Weidong said, "Hey, Comrade Qian Jin, we advanced workers always have the same skills. I have also learned to drive a tractor. How about we work together?"

Zhu Tao asked worriedly, "Old Xu, are you capable? I remember you weren't able to drive a tractor, but only worked as a tractor apprentice."

Xu Weidong laughed heartily. "What are you talking about? If not learning to drive a tractor, what else should a tractor apprentice learn? Should he learn to haul garbage?"

Zhu Tao said, "The commune we went to had two tractors."

"There are five tractor drivers, so there must be fifty of you apprentices. You wouldn't even be able to touch a tractor for ten days or half a month..."

"With Lao Qian, the tractor driver, here, what is there to be afraid of? I will be his co-pilot." Xu Weidong was full of confidence.

Qian Jin felt that something might have gone wrong:

Is driving a tractor a complicated job? Or are tractors these days just not what I know them to be?

Open the bow without turning back the arrow.

They have already drawn the pie, and the members are just waiting to eat it.

Liu Wangcai approved a note to transport a barrel of diesel from the warehouse, and then Liu Youyu led the way and they headed straight for the commune.

Arriving at the commune and entering the agricultural machinery station, the first thing I saw was sixteen large red characters on the screen wall:

Take grain as the key link and develop in an all-round way; bring machinery to the countryside to ensure production.

Liu Youyu handed over the production team's letter of introduction and application with ease: "Old Zhao, are there any spare tractors at the station?"

Old Zhao, the farm machinery keeper, smacked his lips and said, "The only thing left is the gas guzzler, but someone's watching it now. If they can drive it away, I'll be left with nothing."

Led by him, they went to the parking lot, where three or four people were circling a tractor.

Standing in front of this tractor.

Qian Jin was stunned.

You call a tank a tractor?
"The Dongfanghong-75 crawler tractor, although it is old, it is a good worker. With 75 horsepower, it can pull the same amount of goods as two hundred of you members!" said Lao Zhao.

Qian Jin reached out and touched the track.

The thick track iron blocks are two fingers thick.

Who named it Iron Ox?
Calling it the Iron Rhino is an insult to it!

It should be called Iron Dinosaur!
Xu Weidong patted him and said, "Master Qian, come on, okay?"

Qian Jin's scalp tingled: "Go on? Who goes on who? I go on it? That's not fun!"

Fortunately, he had experience driving a crawler bulldozer, otherwise he would have turned around and left without even trying!
(End of this chapter)