Siheyuan: Five mouths waiting for food at the beginning

In 67, the Steel Rolling Mill Supervisory Committee was reorganized into a Revolutionary Committee, but the leadership team remained unchanged.

"Let's discuss this together. Should our steel mill focus on production or revolution?" Li Huaide said.

Deputy Director Wang spoke first. "This year, the Ministry of Industry has reduced our quota. This year's task can be completed in October in previous years. I suggest that we should focus on the revolution. There is a revolution going on outside now."

"I have also heard what Deputy Director Wang said. Not only has the quota for our factory been reduced, but the quotas for all other places are also being reduced.

But we can't give up production just because the quota has been reduced and the workload is low. You have also heard reports that the workers down below are making a big fuss.

The scale is getting bigger and bigger. If things continue like this, although the quota this year is smaller, I think it will be difficult to complete the task. My suggestion is to grasp the revolution and production, and do both well. "Deputy Director Chen said

"Yes, after I heard the report, I also went to the workshop to see that our workers are now not interested in work at all, and are only thinking about making revolution. Many people have been incited.

I think what Deputy Director Chen said is very necessary. We need to do both well. Otherwise, it will be difficult to complete this year's task," said Deputy Director Zhu.

"I agree too"

"Agree"

"Okay, since everyone agrees with what Deputy Director Chen said, then how should it be implemented? Deputy Director Chen, please tell us your ideas first," Li Huaide asked

"Okay, let me tell you my opinion. I have roughly summarized three points.

First, criticizing the workers who caused the disturbances can prevent the situation from escalating, serve as a warning to others, and establish the authority of our Revolutionary Committee.

Second, didn’t Mr. Zhao set up a supervisory group before? I think we can use it again now, with specific people in charge of specific tasks.

Third, we must pay close attention to ideological education. As the great man said, there are problems with ideology, and we must solve them at the root."

"How do we carry out ideological education? Should we set up a team?" asked Deputy Factory Director Zhu.

After much discussion, it was decided to conduct ideological education sessions for the entire factory every Saturday afternoon.

"Shanhe, I'm here to tell you something. Our Revolutionary Committee held a meeting today and decided to re-activate the supervisory group you established before. It will be under the Revolutionary Committee, and you will be the group leader. What do you think?" Li Huaide asked

"Brother Li, my dear brother, why do you always find things for me to do? I didn't join the Supervisory Committee when I was asked to join, and now I am working in the Supervisory Group. You know me well, I have no idea about power."

"Brother, do you know how many people are eyeing this position of supervisor? This position carries a lot of power. I fought hard to get it for you, and even gave you the right to appoint deputy supervisors. Why don't you understand my painstaking efforts?"

"Brother Li, I understand, but I really don't want to do this. My child is still young, my wife is pregnant, and the whole family is counting on me. I really don't have the energy to take care of this kind of thing. You should find someone else."

"Brother, you better do it, otherwise someone will say that you have a problem with your thinking, and you may even be criticized. Although I am the top leader, I don't have the final say. If I had known this, I would not have fought for you.

Now you just do it and set up the team as soon as possible, then find a deputy team leader and let the deputy team leader do the special things, what do you think?"

"Okay, this is the only way. But I won't take care of it. Find a replacement as soon as possible."

"I just can't understand why you have no ambition at such a young age. You're like a salted fish. If I were your age, with so many people helping me, I would at least be a department-level official. I'm so envious."

"I have another piece of news for you. The big boss has stepped down. The department is in chaos now. Old Yang has also stepped down. He said he will be assigned to our factory for reform. Do you think I should..."

"Forget it, Brother Li, give him a way out so that we can meet again someday. After all, he is our old leader. If you do that, it will not sound good if it gets out. Who knows, Old Yang might be able to make a comeback someday. You sow good seeds, and who knows, you might reap good fruits in the future."

"Okay, I'll listen to you. If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be fighting with Lao Yang. You became the boss so quickly and got promoted to a higher level. I'll be relying on you for the rest of my life."

"Brother Li, this is a win-win situation for us. Without your support, I can't do anything."

"Hahaha, yes, it's mutual benefit and win-win, mutual benefit and win-win, drink tea, drink tea"

Soon, under the high pressure of the inspection team, the strike in the factory was suppressed and the factory returned to its previous order.

"Huaide, Shanhe, I didn't expect you to come and see me. Others avoid me," Lao Yang said with emotion.

"Lao Yang, that's not true. You came from the steel mill. Although we had an unpleasant argument at first, it was a matter of position. I believe that anyone in our position would be like that.

You are temporarily out of power now, but it doesn't mean anything will happen in the future. Think positively and just think of it as going home. I have already arranged the work, and you just need to show up every day."

"Thank you, Wilder. To be honest, I was prepared to be criticized by you before I came here. Now it seems that I am not as good as you. If we were in the same position, I would definitely trample you down completely. I admire your broad-mindedness."

Li Huaide's face turned red when he was praised, because he had thought so before, so he could only cover it up by saying, "Let's drink, let's not talk about anything else, today we are just here to reminisce about the past."

The days went on steadily, and no one from the Ministry of Industry asked about the progress of Zhao Shanhe's invention.

Five years later, in 1972

"An Tong, take your brothers home for dinner," Qin Jingru called out at the door.

"An Rong, Daddy's sweetheart, call me Daddy," Zhao Shanhe said while holding the child.

"Brother, you are too partial. You barely held An Tong and An Chun when they were born, but when it was An Rong's turn, I never saw you put him down after you got home. They are all your children, why do you treat them differently?" Qin Jingru said

"How can they be the same? An Rong is the apple of my eye. How can those brats compare to her?"

In five years, Zhao Shanhe had another son and a daughter. His second son, Zhao Anchun, is over four years old, and his daughter, Zhao Anrong, is one year old.

"That's right, Shanhe, Jingru is right, you have to treat everyone equally. Who would spoil their daughter as much as you do and leave their son aside?" Aunt Chen also said

Zhao Shanhe was about to speak when Qin Jingru said, "Brother, are you going to say that a daughter is a father's little cotton-padded jacket again? You always use this sentence to perfunctorily deal with us."

“You know it but you still ask”

"Look at the mountains and lakes, how level they are in a bowl of water."

"He doesn't have a daughter, I don't know how much he envies me. If he had a daughter, she would spoil him even more than I do."

"Yes, yes, brother, I don't have a daughter, I envy you, but I have three sons, which is unique among the younger generation in our compound. Sha Zhu and Xu Damao want to have more sons, but they don't have any yet," Zhao Shanhu said.