The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 85 Decision on the Handling of Comrade Zhang Hongbo
Lu Xun said: There is no love or hate in the world without reason.

Of course this may not be what Lu Xun said.

But Lu Xun certainly knew that in reality, no one goes crazy for no reason.

The first person to clearly understand that Wang Fang was throwing a tantrum was Master Yang from the grocery store.

At dawn on the 5th, Master Yang braved the morning chill and went to the small blackboard outside the door to copy the food restrictions for that day.

As a result, he saw a jeep parked in front of the neighborhood committee. Someone posted something on the bulletin board, and then the car drove away.

In order to maintain social stability, the state now prohibits any person or any organization from posting large newspapers indiscriminately.

Master Yang was very aware and worried that someone might cause trouble, so he grabbed a meat cleaver and ran to see what was going on.

The north wind blew dead leaves across the bulletin board, and glue mixed with the remaining label "Serve the People" stuck a report with a big red seal on the wall.

The dawn in the east illuminated the top line of characters:
Regarding the decision on the handling of Comrade Zhang Hongbo, former director of the Taishan Road Community Residents Committee!
Master Yang's eyes widened, and he quickly ran back and shouted to his colleagues: "Xiao Ma, Xiao Ma, hurry to the neighborhood committee, something big has happened!"

Soon, the words "something big has happened" spread throughout the residential communities along with the late autumn sea breeze.

The neighborhood committee was crowded with residents.

Someone relayed the result: "Zhang Hongbo was fired and will go to jail!"

The crowd went wild: "Make way, the people in front have finished watching, please make way, the people behind haven't seen it yet."

"Which elder brother with higher consciousness can help read the Decision?"

"The elder brothers with high consciousness don't miss you, but you younger brothers with low consciousness can't just rely on the elder brothers for your glory!"

There was a rustling of grass behind us.

Old Zhou, who was working the boiler, spat and said, "I should have told you this bastard was dirty!"

The discussion continued:
"Goodness! That thief Zhang Hongbo embezzled so many industrial coupons!"

"Not only that, last year my wife had surgery and wanted to buy some brown sugar to replenish her blood. She asked him to issue a certificate, and that bastard even took ten kilograms of food coupons!"

"Look below! It's not just Zhang Hongbo, but also his wife, Wang Fang! Wang Fang was convicted of knowing the crime but failing to report it and harboring a criminal. She was also fired from her job!"

Master Wang, who lives in the same building as Zhang Hongbo, said, "No wonder, no wonder. I saw her leaving early this morning, and the second button of her work clothes was undone..."

"Have you seen her?" someone asked.

Master Wang angrily said, "What nonsense are you imagining! That's the key area that the supply and marketing cooperative employees check each other's appearance every day before going to work!"

But no one listened to his explanation, and the news spread:
"Master Wang said Wang Fang left home early this morning in disheveled clothes..."

"Master Wang said Wang Fang returned to her parents' home early this morning in disheveled clothes..."

"Master Wang saw Wang Fang returning to her parents' home this morning naked..."

During the years that Zhang Hongbo served as director, he had control over the street's recruitment forms and relief grain.

His family lives a good life.

Wang Fang usually explains it by saying "both spouses work, more benefits", but the residents don't believe it at all and think the couple is corrupt.

Now that the organization has made a conclusion, the two of them immediately replaced Du Daozui and became the new dung beetles on the Taishan Road.

Families whose children returned to the city and were unemployed accused him of being all-powerful, saying that last year their family had a job opening but Zhang Hongbo "snatched it away":
"I cried until my voice was hoarse in his office, but he turned out to be heartless and instead accused me of destroying unity..."

Wang Dong rushed forward and pushed his way to the front. Upon hearing this, he turned around and said, "Hey, hey, hey, it says here that we will accept reports from the revolutionary masses from now on."

"Comrades, we must redress our grievances and avenge our grievances. We cannot let these two go!"

Many people are clamoring to report.

Not many people actually take action.

Everyone was shouting, and various news spread among the shouting:
Wang Fang used to work as an accountant at the supply and marketing cooperative, but she quit because she was caught falsifying accounts.

The tickets issued by the street every year were insufficient because they were withheld, and bundles of food and cloth coupons were locked in Zhang's chest of drawers.

The Zhang family swelters in the sun on their windowsill all year round, and the sausages are fatter than those in a meat processing plant.

When Qian Jin finally left the house, he heard a piece of news: "A court car drove to our building in the middle of the night, searched Zhang Hongbo's house, and found two sacks of stolen money..."

Mrs. Li, who lived on the first floor, smiled when she saw him and said, "Xiao Qian, you are great! You are a good young man who has the courage to fight against criminal forces. Well done!"

The others nodded: "The country needs talents like you to build socialism!"

Originally, only a small number of people knew that Qian Jin took the lead in reporting Zhang Hongbo.

Wang Fang made a scene last night, and now the whole neighborhood knows about it.

Qian went into the neighborhood committee office and looked at it.

At this time, there were still many people watching "The Decision", but when they saw him coming, they all made way for him and greeted him.

Qian Jin responded politely and stood in front of the bulletin board to read it.

These days, the people are the masters of the country, and many units respect the people's right to know. This "Decision" clearly states Zhang Hongbo's criminal issues.

He resold factory recruitment quotas on the street, forged certificates for educated youth going to the countryside for profit, misappropriated various materials from the neighborhood committee for resale, and abused his power to bully progressive young women...

Wei Xiangmi came to see him, called him into the office and said, "Should we go visit Director Zhang?"

"I've inquired about it. He might be sent to the Northwest to plant trees. If we don't see him again, I'm afraid we won't see him again in this lifetime."

Qian Jincai won't go there.

How busy he is!
That's not a reason.

He didn't even go to work that day. The organization called him away along with three other young people from the labor commando team.

The four people were taken to an office and their identities were confirmed. One of them gave them a letter of introduction, and then the four of them went to a certain unit to find their leader.

Qian Jin realized that he was going to the State-Owned Sixth Cotton Mill's Political Work Section to see Section Chief Cheng Bingfeng, and guessed what was going on:

The fact that Zhang Hongbo replaced his recruitment quota was exposed, and the organization compensated him after investigation.

This was what he expected to happen when he reported Zhang Hongbo.

The other three had no foresight.

They had all waited in line for the recruitment quota, but Zhang Hongbo did not give it to them, and the relevant units did not reveal any information, so they did not know about the substitution and did not know the unit or job that was being substituted.

Now that they saw a factory wanted to recruit them, the three of them were so excited that tears welled up in their eyes:

"Captain Qian, I'm going to the Fourth Transport Company..."

"I have to go to the stone factory..."

"I went to the feed factory to look for their political officer..."

Qian Jin reassured them: "Comrades, calm down first. Things are still unclear, but the situation is clear now."

"Let's split up and meet our respective leaders. Remember to be reasonable and polite, but don't rush to agree to their arrangements."

"Just tell them you need to go home and discuss this with your parents and family. Then we'll work together as a team to secure the best interests for you!"

The three young men nodded vigorously. Zheng Chunqiu, the young man who was going to the Fourth Transport Company, said, "Captain Qian, we're so lucky to have you. You're the backbone of the team!"

Qian Jin patted him on the shoulder and said, "That's too polite. You call me captain, so I must do my job as a captain."

"Especially remember this for you: if you're assigned any odd jobs, don't agree to them. Just say you'll come back to discuss it."

"Also, tell your boss that you have good driver friends who are willing to be your mentors and teach you how to drive!"

Zheng Chunqiu reacted and asked in disbelief, "You want to arrange for me to be the driver? That's impossible!"

"I guess I'm going to be a decorator!"

It's normal for him to have this reaction.

It was only after Qian Jin had dinner with Qiao Jinbu and others recently that he understood why drivers have a high status in today's society and why no one dares to offend them but instead tries to curry favor with them.

From the founding of the People's Republic of China to the present 77 years, it has been extremely difficult for ordinary people to become a car driver!

The common people privately said that they would not even accept a fortune of gold if the horn blew or a county magistrate turned the wheel.

why?
Because being a driver is now a profession, the threshold is particularly high and it is a special type of job.

There are no 4S stores or repair shops throughout cities and towns at present, but the quality of cars is poor and they break down easily.

So drivers must first learn to repair a car before learning to drive it.

After learning to drive a car, you need to take a driving test.

These days, there is a strict political review for getting a driver's license. After passing the review, it needs approval from the unit leader, which is very complicated.

Qiao Jinbu once asked Qian Jin if he wanted to be his driver.

In fact, this is a way of repaying.

In this day and age, if one wants to be a driver, one usually has to work as a loader for a few years in a large fleet or transport company. Zheng Chunqiu has this awareness and just told Qian Jin that he probably will be a loader.

In his opinion, being a loader is also a good job.

Drivers usually choose their apprentices from among the hardworking decorators, and will only take in those they like.

First learn to repair a car and then drive it. After passing the driving test, you have to work as a co-driver for the master for two years before you can become an apprentice.

Qian Jin was overwhelmed after hearing this process, which shows how difficult it is.

He didn't want to be an apprentice. He thought that after the reform and opening up, the policy of taking the driver's license test would be relaxed, so he could take the test and buy a car.

Zheng Chunqiu never dared to dream that he could become a driver apprentice.

Qian Jin helped him choose this path, and he was very happy, while the other two were very envious.

The four people separated and the money went into the No. 6 National Cotton Mill.

The place where his nominal father devoted his life.

This factory is located in the west district of the city, a famous old factory area.

As a large factory, it has multiple factory areas. The outer walls of the main factory area are made of red bricks, which have faded. They are now painted white and have red slogans written on them.

The sawtooth roofs in the factory are undulating, and the textile workshops need lighting, so glass skylights are inserted diagonally.

Even without entering the workshop, you can feel that it must be sunny and bright inside.

Entering the common iron fence gate, there are screen walls on both sides of the main gate, with vermilion slogans painted on them: "Work hard, do it quickly, efficiently and economically."

Qian Jin was just about to take a good look at the factory when a car leaving the factory honked at him.

The cotton mill has a dedicated freight channel and a transport team that he is familiar with.

The cart driver bent his back to pull the cotton bales, the truck tires rolled over the bumpy road, and the huge factory was noisy and full of fiery passion.

The power of the college entrance examination permeates the entire society, and relatively closed factories are no exception.

The most eye-catching words on the bulletin boards and blackboards are "Resumption of College Entrance Examination".

The "Opinions of the State Council on Admissions Work" is posted on the wall outside the guard room.

The black lead type printed on the white newspaper blurred the edges in the midday sun, like tadpoles swimming into a free pond.

Qian Jin parked the car under the newspaper, and the sycamore leaves swirled into the wheels.

The old man in the woolen hat in the guard room squinted his eyes and looked at him: "The Political Work Department is on the east end of the third floor. What do you want to see Chief Li?"

Qian Jin showed him the letter of introduction, and the old man waved his hand to let him into the factory, and then he leisurely drank his tea.

I found the Political Work Department office and saw brightly painted slogans in the corridor, such as "Sailing on the sea depends on the helmsman, and carrying out the revolution depends on the leader's ideas" and "Always follow the Party".

There were several desks in the office, but no one was there. Only Section Chief Cheng Bingfeng was writing furiously.

Qian Jin knocked on the door. He looked up from the pile of documents. Jasmine tea was steaming in the enamel pot.

"Comrade, who are you?"

"My name is Qian Jin." Qian Jin showed the letter of introduction again.

Cheng Bingfeng didn't even look at the letter of introduction. He came up, shook Qian Jin's hand, and asked him to sit down. He was very friendly and enthusiastic.

He took off his glasses, revealing deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and said, "Comrade Xiao Qian, the organization wants to apologize to you..."

After reviewing his work and criticizing the criminal acts of the relevant personnel, he read out a "Decision on Restoring Comrade Qian Jin's Employment Qualifications," and then said:
"According to the organization's guidance and our investigation and evidence collection, the factory has decided to return the job opportunity that belongs to you!"

Qian Jin gave a wry smile and said, "Section Chief Cheng, I thank you, the organization, and all the leaders for your care and concern, but I have already joined the Supply and Marketing Cooperative!"

"I know about this. The factory has investigated your situation." Cheng Bingfeng tapped the photo of advanced producers from 76 on the glass plate with his pen. "But the situation is different."

"Yes, our unit can't compare with the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, but you are a specially approved capped indicator by the factory party committee!"

"You're a temporary worker in the warehouse transportation department at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, 'working in lieu of work,' right?"

Qian Jin nodded silently: "Chief Cheng, you have more social experience and work experience than me. I believe it's right to listen to you."

"But I can't quit this temporary job!"

"I'm not afraid that you'll look down on me. Actually, this job I got wasn't done legitimately, but it wasn't easy!"

He told the story he had made up on the way:
After he returned to the city, he learned that he could not go to the No. 6 National Cotton Mill where he was supposed to take over. He became depressed and his girlfriend broke up with him. He even wanted to commit suicide at one point.

An older man named Wang Dong from the same street rescued him. After learning about his situation, he resolutely gave up the porter job that should have belonged to him.
"I can leave the port and come to the factory right now, but Brother Wang Dong's sacrifice will be in vain!"

"So I'm wondering if this job opportunity offered to me by the organization and factory leaders is acceptable?"

Cheng Bingfeng understood what he meant: "Give it to Wang Dong?"

Qian Jin nodded heavily. "I think repaying even a drop of kindness with a spring of gratitude is an excellent virtue in our Party and our traditional culture."

"As the saying goes, when you drink water, you should always remember the person who dug the well. I am still alive and have received the care from the organization and factory leaders. I have to thank Brother Wang Dong from our neighborhood."

Cheng Bingfeng was in a dilemma: "I can't make the decision on this matter. Please wait, I need to report the situation to the leaders of the Ministry of Labor and the factory leaders in charge and get their opinions."

(End of this chapter)