Starting from 1950

Chapter 136 Supporting the Military and Giving Preferential Treatment to Families of Servicemen: Urban-Rural Mutual Assistance

Before long, the two arrived at Zhou Zheng's office.

Zhou Zhenggang poured tea into two teacups on the table. Seeing the two men come in, he pointed to two chairs and said with a smile, "You two, sit down first."

The office door closed gently behind me, shutting out the faint noise of donations coming from downstairs.

Wu Xinxue sat stiffly in the chair.

In contrast, Su Yang was quite casual. He leaned back in his chair with a nonchalant air, picked up his teacup, smelled it, and laughed, "Factory Director, you've even brought out this expensive tea that you usually wouldn't drink? Looks like you have some important instructions today!"

"You're the smartest kid around!"

Zhou Zheng laughed and said, "Then I won't keep you in suspense any longer."

After saying that, he didn't rush to get to the point. Instead, he went back behind his desk, picked up his enamel mug, took a sip of water, and lingered his gaze on the two men's faces.

Su Yang and his companion were completely bewildered by his gaze.

Zhou Zheng put down his enamel mug, his expression serious and solemn: "I just received a joint notice from the city and province! The higher authorities require all eligible government agencies, factories, and schools in Shenzhou to immediately mobilize and form highly capable 'Urban-Rural Mutual Assistance and Military Support and Families-of-Service Cultural Work Teams'!"

Upon hearing this, Su Yang and the other person immediately sat up straight.

"There are two core tasks," Zhou Zheng held up two fingers. "First, we must continue to undertake the task of providing comfort and support to rural families! Especially for families of martyrs and soldiers, and farmers who have sent laborers to support the front lines, the busy farming season is just around the corner, and rural labor is scarce. Many families of soldiers lack help and are facing difficulties. We, the workers, cadres, and students in the city, cannot just stand by and watch! We must go down and help with the work—spring planting, summer weeding, and autumn harvest—doing whatever we can! More importantly, we must use our cultural advantages to bring spiritual nourishment to the villagers and boost their morale!"

"Secondly," he emphasized, his gaze sweeping over the two men, "this is closely linked to the donation campaign! The cultural troupes' outreach efforts aren't just about voluntary labor and performances. They must cooperate in promoting the great call to donate airplanes and artillery to support the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea! Mobilize the rural areas—those with money should contribute money, and those with supplies should contribute supplies! At the same time, our city's factories and government agencies must also institutionalize and normalize this donation activity! It can't just be a passing fad! Like our workers' production competitions, we must make donating, increasing production, and saving to support the front lines a long-term, consistent task! As long as the fighting continues on the front lines, our support from the rear cannot be relaxed for a single day!"

The office fell silent for a moment.

While Wu Xinxue was still processing the information in Zhou Zheng's words, Su Yang asked a question.

"Factory manager, isn't this the publicity department's job? You could just talk to Section Chief Xu and my sister Xinxue, why drag me into this?"

"Stop trying to fool me!" Zhou Zheng glared at him and said, "Tell me yourself, how many days have you been busy since the New Year, and how many days have you been idle? The whole factory... no, the whole of Shenzhou is on high alert, and you're the only one slacking off."

Su Yang felt a pang of guilt upon hearing this.

After he was no longer needed on the front lines, he returned to his role as a pest control worker. However, as Xiaobai grew up, the rat infestation at the flour mill was no longer a problem for him, thanks to the rivalry between the two pets.

"You got 79 yuan in salary last month, right? A lot of workers are complaining because they see you just sitting around in the security office all day."

Zhou Zheng continued, "Moreover, your reputation has become so prominent in Tiexi District these past two years that many people have tried to emulate your slingshot skills, and various brother units have also added 'pest control' positions. Although their rat-catching skills are not as good as yours, their salaries are less than a third of yours."

Su Yang fell silent.

He knew about this.

In retrospect, it was all his fault for running the "rat extermination training course" back then.

He taught hundreds of apprentices, and after two years of hard training, many of them have made significant achievements in rat extermination work in their respective units.

Many organizations have now canceled the 800 yuan reward for each rat caught and replaced it with a fixed salary for pest control workers.

Even Su Yang himself knew that in the Limin Flour Factory residential compound alone, several families had copied Su Yang's slingshot and made one for their children. Now, those children were doing a pretty good job of catching rats in the compound.

Thinking of this, Su Yang felt somewhat helpless, thinking to himself that he never expected to encounter an unemployment crisis in this era.

Wu Xinxue had been secretly observing Su Yang. Seeing his dejected expression, she wanted to say a few words of comfort, but she hesitated to speak because Zhou Zheng was present.

Zhou Zheng sighed and said earnestly, "Su Yang, you can't just sit around doing nothing as a pest control officer. You've made so many contributions on the battlefield, you need to step up your game!"

Su Yang, who was still a little sad, couldn't help but secretly roll her eyes when she heard his words.

Every time Zhou Zheng tries to persuade him to do something, he does it like this, spouting a whole bunch of grand principles.

Seeing that Su Yang still hadn't given a response, Zhou Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Wu Xinxue: "Xinxue, you're actually 15 years old this year, right?"

Although Wu Xinxue didn't know why the factory manager brought this up, she still answered honestly, "Yes, factory manager."

Zhou Zheng laughed and said, "You'll be able to join the Party in three more years. But you have a high level of political awareness and have always performed outstandingly in your work in the propaganda department. I think you can definitely become a candidate Party member next year."

"real!"

Wu Xinxue's eyes lit up instantly. As a member of the propaganda department, she certainly knew what it meant to become a candidate member.

Su Yang suddenly realized something and looked at Zhou Zheng in disbelief.

I thought to myself, "Old Zhou, you're a former political commissar in the army, why are you playing these tricks on me?"

Zhou Zheng ignored Su Yang's gaze and continued, "Xin Xue, you've been working as an announcer in the propaganda department all this time, your work experience is too limited. Here's what we'll do: you lead a team to the countryside for a few months of training, and then I'll transfer you back. At that time, your section chief Xu and I will be your recommenders and nominate you as a candidate for Party member."

"A few months? It'll take that long?"

Wu Xinxue was taken aback upon hearing this, and couldn't help but look at Su Yang. After a moment, she gritted her teeth and decided to tell Zhou Zheng that she didn't want to go.

Su Yang reached out to stop her, then looked helplessly at Zhou Zheng, "Alright, Factory Manager, stop beating around the bush, I'm willing to go!"

Zhou Zheng chuckled inwardly, thinking to himself, "I can't handle this lazy brat?"

"Ahem! This time, the trip to the countryside will last anywhere from a month to half a year, and we'll be visiting remote villages. Security is of paramount importance!" Zhou Zheng said, looking at Su Yang.

"You're a skilled fighter, quick-witted, and experienced guy. Especially with Xiaobai and Xiaoyu by your side, you'll be even more effective in this rural environment. You'll be in charge of the team's security, supply transport, and the occasional task of hunting wild game to improve our meals! You'll also serve as the deputy captain, assisting Xinxue!"

Wu Xinxue stood up excitedly, her cheeks flushed: "I guarantee I'll complete the mission! Factory manager, I'll immediately draft a plan and select team members!"

"Good! That's the spirit I want!" Zhou Zheng was very satisfied with her reaction.

"Yes, factory manager." Su Yang nodded resignedly.

Security work and hunting are still within his comfort zone.

"Excellent!" Zhou Zheng slammed his hand on the table. "Without further ado! Xinxue, go to the broadcasting room right now and convey the spirit of this notice and the factory's decision to all employees! Encourage those with artistic talents and good physical condition to sign up enthusiastically! Our Limin Factory should be the first to set an example and show our brother units in Shenzhou what to do!"

"Understood!" Wu Xinxue and Su Yang replied in unison.

An hour later, the news resounded throughout the flour mill through Wu Xinxue's clear and passionate voice.

The workers, who had just calmed down from the fervor of the donations, were immediately ignited by this new news.

"Going to the countryside to work? Helping military families? That's a good thing!"

"An arts troupe? I knew how to do the Yangko dance when I was young, can I sign up?"

"Promoting donations? Yes! Rural folks need to know the country is calling for donations too!"

"Xiao Su is going too? That's a sure thing! With him there, we're not afraid of any Beast Agents!"

"Salary will still be paid during rural assignments? Is that even possible?"

The registration area was even busier than the donation area.

There were young female workers in the workshop who had loud voices and loved to sing, older workers who could play drums and gongs, workers who could write and draw slogans, and even a few young workers who knew some martial arts.

The urban-rural divide is not yet fully established.

On the contrary, because the country had just been liberated and every farmer had been allocated land, many city dwellers envied the countryside.

Of course, employees of units in Shenzhou that implement the "eight-level wage system" are not included in this category.

Outside of Northeast China, in most other cities across the country, because many factories and shops have not yet been publicly-privately operated, urban residents' incomes are not high, and many even run back to the countryside from the city to request land to farm.

However, the employees of Limin Flour Factory have been on edge for the past six months, and now that there is an opportunity for "paid travel," many of them want to join in the fun.

Because the time spent in the countryside would be very long, Wu Xinxue and Su Yang discussed it and decided to eliminate all those with families.

In just two days, the "Urban-Rural Mutual Assistance and Military Support Cultural Troupe" of Limin Flour Factory was established.

There are 8 people in total. Wu Xinxue is the captain and Su Yang is the vice captain.

In addition to Wu Xinxue, the publicity department also has four female colleagues who were newly hired in the past two or three months due to the expansion of the Limin Flour Factory. They are all around eighteen or nineteen years old.

The factory clinic sent a nurse who knew some basic medical knowledge. She could not only ensure the health of the team members, but also treat minor illnesses such as headaches and fevers for the villagers.

A woman in her early twenties came to the logistics department and was put in charge of managing the arts troupe's supplies.

It was only after confirming the personnel that Su Yang realized that, apart from him, everyone else on this trip to the countryside was a woman.

Of course, there are also Xiaoyu and Xiaobai.

Safety is the most important issue when going to the countryside.

Although Su Yang was the only security guard, the other comrades were not helpless.

Since the start of the war, every employee at the Limin Flour Factory has practiced shooting by firing several bullets every month.

Wu Xinxue and six other female comrades skillfully picked and chose in the security department's warehouse, and finally each of them selected a Mauser pistol.

As for Su Yang, he took his Mosin-Nagant and 1911 from his backpack.

Speaking of which, he had only recharged the Time Badge once before. Later, when the monthly card expired, Su Yang was pleasantly surprised to find that even without the monthly card, the second pet slot he had activated and the 100 cubic meter backpack space he had unlocked were still usable.

However, the experience bar is locked again, and I can no longer gain experience without purchasing a monthly card.

"Su Yang, how about I prepare 1000 rounds of bullets for you?" Yu Feng personally carried a box of bullets weighing more than 20 kilograms into the back of the truck.

Su Yang laughed and said, "No need for so much, we're not going to war."

"It's better to be prepared. With so many female comrades going to such a remote place, we can't be careless," Yu Feng said seriously.

"Alright."

Su Yang nodded, though he didn't really take this trip to the countryside to heart.

In the past few months, he and Luo Pojun exchanged letters several times. Each time, the letters were accompanied by Mosin-Nagant bullets and 1911 bullets. He had nearly 2000 rounds of these two types of bullets in total, which were now lying in his backpack space.

With so many bullets, and relying on his marksmanship, along with Xiaoyu and Xiaobai, Su Yang would dare to take on even a bandit group of no more than a hundred people.

"Sister Guo, move the gongs, drums, and red silk to the very back of the carriage."

Wu Xinxue had already taken on the role of team leader and was directing several female staff members from the publicity department to move performance props. Seeing Su Yang idly standing aside, she couldn't help but speak up and give him instructions.

"Su Yang! You're strong, carry these bags of grain and cooking utensils upstairs."

"They're here!"