Chapter Forty-Four: That Name Sounds a Bit Worrying

"We need to speed up and think of a solution. Every year, demobilized soldiers return—can they all simply be placed in small rural factories?"

Chen Jingcheng sighed as he spoke. Their work was far from easy these days.

"Then let's set up more factories!" Yu Aiguo said. "What the tenth production team can do, can't the other teams do? Burning lime doesn't require rocket science, does it?"

Yu Aiguo continued, "The technology isn't complicated; there are even detailed records in books. But even so, very few people actually know how. Those who do are the current beneficiaries—are they going to teach anyone else?"

Chen Jingcheng said once more, "The villagers need houses now, which naturally creates a huge demand for building materials. We still need to figure something out in this direction."

"It's difficult. I've found a few people and even ran some tests, but it just won't work."

"Things that look so simple on the surface turn out to be riddled with trouble and obstacles once you actually try to do them!"

Yu Aiguo sighed as well. He hadn't visited the Xiaohe production team in the past few days precisely because they had mobilized some people, but those people simply couldn't deliver!

There was no helping it. For decades, industry and commerce had been suppressed, and now that restrictions were being lifted to develop the collective economy on a large scale, the transition had become somewhat difficult.

Chen Jingcheng said helplessly, "That technician from the tenth production team actually has some capability. I wonder if he can continue to expand his scale?"

Yu Aiguo smiled. "That much is certain. Even if he doesn't want to, the people in his village will push him to do it!"

"Then let's see what he's capable of first. As long as he's willing to work, we'll support him!" Chen Jingcheng declared.

The domestic situation had truly changed. Across all levels, a consensus was gradually forming: the people could no longer continue living through hardship.

It was not just about enduring hardship no longer being an option; people deserved happiness!

This required officials at all levels to brainstorm and take practical action.

Yet, a large group of them—educated and experienced—found themselves unable to provide a livelihood for a few workers?

They were barely able to sustain themselves either; otherwise, why would the commune be considering opening yet another coal kiln?

"Do whatever you think needs to be done, and don't let those people interfere. The environment has changed now. The higher up you go, the more urgent the push is."

"If you understood the bigger picture, you'd know that the little things we're doing right now are nothing at all to the leadership above!"

Yu Aiguo let out a breath of relief. He stood up and said, "Understood. I'll go issue the notice."

Returning to his office, Yu Aiguo pulled out a stack of letter paper pre-printed with recruitment notices.

He called in a clerk and instructed him to distribute them—these were preparations he had made long ago.

Meanwhile, in the various production teams surrounding the Hongqi Commune, people were hunkering down against the winter cold with worried expressions.

Zhao Erwa was a member of the third production team of the Red Flag Brigade, right near the Hongqi Commune. He had been demobilized and returned home this summer.

He had suffered severe injuries on the southern battlefield and had no choice but to be discharged.

He had been back for half a year, but the job assignment promised from above had never materialized.

There was no helping it, either; the injury was to his foot, which had ended up amputated.

He truly hadn't expected that a simple foot injury sustained while carrying out a mission over there would eventually turn into something so grave.

At the time, while on a reconnaissance mission at the front line, his combat boots had been pierced by bamboo stakes sharpened by locals, running straight through the top of his foot.

Because medical conditions were lacking at the time, and the mission took a long time to complete, treatment had been delayed.

By the time he finished the mission and returned, amputation was the only option left.

Without a foot, naturally, he could no longer remain a soldier.

However, he had never imagined how difficult things would be after returning home.

He had served as a soldier for nine years, and even considered himself lucky in his final year when he was promoted to a volunteer soldier upon transfer!

Transferred soldiers were guaranteed job assignments, but rural soldiers could only return to the countryside. At best, the commune would help arrange some work, and even the city level was out of reach.

Without a job, one could only exhaust their savings by sitting around.

He did have a little money in his hands right now, but it vanished in the blink of an eye!

His family had many siblings, and because he had been away in the military for so long, he had never been able to look after them.

Therefore, his previous allowances and later wages as a volunteer soldier had all been mailed home to be spent, leaving virtually nothing behind.

Though he had brought back a considerable amount of demobilization pay and disability allowances this time, money didn't last long!

His brothers at home needed to get married, and his several nephews needed to go to school.

His parents were getting older, their health was poor, and they needed medicine.

Furthermore, because he had returned home to recuperate shortly after his amputation, convalescence naturally required proper nutrition.

Combined with the toll taken on his body by frontline combat, he needed to eat well to recover.

His family felt deep pity for him and racked their brains to buy him nutritional supplements.

Could he actually swallow these tonics by himself? For instance, old hen soup or big bone broth—could he drink them while watching his wife, children, parents, and brothers look on?

Of course, none of that would have mattered if he had a job; then, what he ate would be eaten without guilt.

Yet now, he was disabled, and finding a job was terribly difficult.

Consequently, mealtime every day had become the most agonizing moment of for him!

Thinking of his family's situation, Zhao Erwa could not help but sigh heavily.

Perhaps hearing the commotion from his side, Zhao Erwa's father walked over.

"Erwa, sitting here daydreaming again? When you have time, lean on your crutches and go outside to catch some sun. The doctor said it's good for your health!"

"I know!" Zhao Erwa collected himself, thinking he might as well go out for a stroll.

Even if it was somewhat unbearable to endure the gazes of others, it was still better than staying at home and worrying his family.

"Don't worry, and don't fret. Didn't we manage just fine before, when you weren't home?"

As he reached the doorway, Zhao Erwa heard his father's comforting words.

Without a word, Zhao Erwa slowly leaned on his crutches and stepped out of the house.

The moment he crossed the threshold, he saw his wife hurrying back!

Seeing the joyful expression on his wife's face, Zhao Erwa felt a mild headache coming on.

Sure enough, catching sight of her husband, Li Guizhi's slightly pale face broke into a triumphant smile.

"Darling, look what I found!"

"A snakehead fish? This big?"

Zhao Erwa looked in astonishment at the fish inside the basket; this kind of black fish was not commonly seen locally.

"I knew my husband is the most well-informed. I heard this was brought all the way back from Sichuan Province." Li Guizhi looked even prouder.

Zhao Erwa scratched his head—he couldn't keep this wife anymore!

To make sure he could eat a decent meal, she had started squandering their wealth endlessly!

If Zhao Erwa had known about the Northwest Hammer King, he certainly would have remarked: *Even though I know you're doing this out of pity for me, I still have to hammer you for this!*

Sighing, Zhao Erwa waved a hand and said, "I'm going out to catch some sun!"

"Come back a bit early at noon, we're having fish!"

Zhang Guizhi didn't mind his attitude in the least as she smilingly walked into the house.

Moments later, his father's exclamation of surprise drifted out from inside, making Zhao Erwa feel even more miserable.

What kind of condition was their family in? They were eating a chicken every few days.

This time was even worse—she had actually gotten a long-distance truck driver to bring back a large black fish all the way from Sichuan. They truly weren't planning on living a normal life anymore!

This sort of lifestyle had been going on for half a year.

If it weren't for the fact that ration tickets were required to buy anything in this era, his family's meager savings would have been squandered away long ago!

He was too lazy to lecture them anymore, because his family simply wouldn't listen.

At this moment, he actually felt a bit envious of some of his fellow soldiers. He had heard that in their families, brothers and sisters would practically beat each other bloody over eight or ten yuan.

Those people's siblings, and even their parents, never gave a thought to the soldiers' feelings, constantly bickering over mere pennies and cents.

Zhao Erwa found himself wishing his family could be a little more selfish—that way, they could at least retain some foundation for the household!

Shaking his head, Zhao Erwa felt he was being somewhat ridiculous and overly sentimental.

If family members weren't united, lacked familial affection, and cared only about money, what meaning would there be in living like that?

Thinking of how well his family treated him, Zhao Erwa smiled helplessly.

"Zhao Erwa! Zhao Erwa, hurry home! Someone has brought you a recruitment notice!"

Just as Zhao Erwa was walking slowly along, he heard one of his paternal cousins calling out to him.

"What?" Zhao Erwa thought he had misheard.

"You've been assigned a job! I heard it's even an cadre position, and the salary isn't low!" his cousin ran over, wearing an expression of pure envy.

Zhao Erwa froze. A job assignment, really?

Yet after the initial wave of joy, anxiety set in.

Missing a foot, what kind of work could he possibly handle?

"Brother, do you know where I've been assigned?" Zhao Erwa asked anxiously.

"Don't worry, even though it's a small kiln factory, you're getting a cadre post."

Zhao Erwa picked up his pace and soon made it back home.

Snatching the notice from his father's tightly clenched hand, he looked down: *The Lime Kiln Factory of the Tenth Production Team, Dahe Brigade?*

The name was somewhat worrisome, but the salary and benefits listed at the bottom were indeed not low.