Because Liu Xiuying suddenly started hitting Su Xiaoqin, the scene descended into chaos.
Su Xiaoqin ran out crying.
Su Xiaotian looked at the two of them, a cold smile playing on her lips.
Su Xiaoqin would likely return, and the Hongxin Brigade would probably not have any peaceful days.
However, these were not the immediate issues that needed to be addressed. The first priority was the matter of recruitment.
"Uncle Li, do you think I'm right?"
Su Xiaotian looked at Li Changqing with a smile.
"The little girl is not old, but she is very smart. I have indeed recorded everyone's performance."
"Among the many people from the Hongxin Brigade who participated in the assessment, only these five understood the importance of hygiene."
"Don't say 'unclean food won't hurt you.' Poor hygiene harms oneself and others. We are going to produce food, and if people get sick, no one can afford the compensation."
Li Changqing felt that he should be cautious with people from the countryside and not make such decisions based on personal preference.
"Director Li, you are absolutely right!" Su Changjiu said with great remorse. "Everyone has heard it, right? Director Li has made it very clear. Those who did not get hired should reflect on whether they have many shortcomings."
Everyone fell silent. Su Xiaotian watched, feeling anxious.
"Uncle Li, are you really planning not to recruit from our Hongxin Brigade?" Seeing that the adults were unreliable, Su Xiaotian could only approach Li Changqing with her most charming smile and ask.
Su Xiaotian was already a very cute little girl, and at this moment, she was deliberately acting cute and endearing, making her performance even better.
Seeing such a lovely little girl, Li Changqing's heart instantly melted.
He had a young daughter at home, whom he also found very cute. However, for some reason, compared to this little girl in front of him, his daughter seemed to be lacking a bit.
He wondered how the daughter of the Su family was raised to be so heartwarming.
His own daughter, who grew up in the city, was outshone by this little country girl.
It was no wonder Minister Chen liked this little girl so much.
With this thought, he smiled and said, "Little girl, do you have any opinions?"
Su Xiaotian immediately said, "I think most people in our Hongxin Brigade are good. Uncle Li shouldn't condemn the whole boat because of a few individuals."
"Oh?" Li Changqing asked curiously, "Really?"
Director Qian quickly stepped forward and said, "Director Li, what this little girl says makes sense. The Hongxin Brigade is the most honest brigade in our commune, and most of the people in this brigade are good."
"Of course, we don't rule out the existence of a few individuals who are not as good as the majority, but as the little girl said, we cannot condemn the whole boat because of a few individuals."
"As the commune director, I implore you to give the recruitment opportunity to the Hongxin Brigade. For us farming families, an opportunity to escape the rural life is not easy to come by!"
Director Qian speculated that Director Li did not really intend to withdraw the recruitment opportunity. After all, if he truly wanted to withdraw it, there would be no need for him to say all these things to the people of the Hongxin Brigade.
Director Li had stayed here for so long, clearly intending to give the Hongxin Brigade a chance.
However, Director Li likely needed a way to gracefully back down. Now that the little girl had provided that way, he would guide Director Li to take it.
As expected, Li Changqing smiled. After shaking hands with Director Qian, he said, "Director Qian, you are a good leader who truly considers the commune members."
"Not at all, it's all thanks to your willingness to support and care for the Hongxin Brigade!"
Director Qian actually felt quite regretful. It would be great if every brigade could have such a recruitment opportunity, but it was clearly impossible.
In the end, the five positions were decided based on the people Li Changqing favored.
The old Su family gained two more workers, and with Wang Xianghua's job at the chicken farm, all three daughters-in-law of the old Su family now had jobs.
This made the members of the Hongxin Brigade so envious their eyes turned red.
No matter whose family gained three workers at once, they would be envied and jealous.
But whether envious or jealous, everyone knew that this was not something that could be forced.
After all, when the opportunity presented itself, they did not cherish it themselves, so they could not blame others.
That evening, Grandma Su specially made a meal of noodles to celebrate the two daughters-in-law going to the city to work.
However, in reality, the three sons of the Su family were not in a good mood.
While their wives becoming workers might be a good thing, they just felt uncomfortable.
It felt as if their dignity as men had been challenged.
Their wives earning money in the city while they stayed at home felt wrong in their hearts.
Su Xiaotian seemed to have noticed her father's thoughts and snuggled up next to Su Laosan.
"Xiaotian, why are you here with Dad today?" Su Laosan, though feeling dejected, was very pleased when his obedient daughter came to his side.
He gently stroked his daughter's soft hair, his eyes and brows filled with smiles.
"Dad, Mom is going to be a worker, are you unhappy?"
Su Laosan sighed, but said, "I'm happy. Your mother is going to be a worker in the city, and she'll have a salary from now on. Our family's life will be a little better."
The old Su family had been poor for so many years; they were truly afraid of poverty.
He just felt that it was too useless for women to earn money and support the family while men stayed at home. That was all.
"Dad, you'll have opportunities to earn money in the future too. But this time it's to the chicken cake factory, and it's not good for a grown man like you to go."
Su Laosan was surprised that his daughter could say such reasonable words.
Although these words were not entirely logical, they did have some meaning.
"Xiaotian, do you think Dad will have a chance to be a worker in the future?" Su Laosan's eyes were practically shining.
Before, he was satisfied with his life, but that was because his wife was not a worker.
Now, he had a thought: he wanted to be a worker like his wife.
Su Xiaotian couldn't help but smile. Her father was really cute. Why was he thinking about being a worker? Being a worker wasn't that great. In another decade or so, being a worker wouldn't be a guaranteed job.
"Dad, who can say for sure about the future? I just feel that you definitely won't be farming in the countryside your whole life."
Although his daughter hadn't said anything explicitly, Su Laosan's mood visibly improved.
Liang Xiu also sensed her husband's dissatisfaction. When they returned to the room that night, the couple had to talk a bit and communicate.
Su Laosan recounted what Su Xiaotian had said and remarked, "Xiaotian has comforted me. I've also figured it out now. It doesn't matter whether you go to be a worker or farm at home; it's all the same."
"Actually, I don't really want to go. If I go to the city, the family here won't be taken care of," Liang Xiu said hesitantly.
"It's okay, isn't Mother still here? If you go to the city, you can focus on your work."
"Mother is not young anymore. She should be enjoying her old age, but none of us three daughters-in-law can take care of the family as much as we should. I feel uncomfortable about that too."
Su Laosan thought that his wife was about to say she wouldn't go.
However, Su Laosan did not hear Liang Xiu say that she wouldn't go to the city to be a worker.
After saying all this, Liang Xiu's tone shifted.
"But after thinking about it, I think I still have to go. Given the current situation of the family, with the children growing up. Shou Wen will need to get married in a few years, followed by Ci Liang, and then the others. If we don't have some working capital, what will we do then?"
Reality was the most serious problem. Su Laosan immediately felt deflated. His wife was right; if the family had no working capital, life would ultimately not be good, especially in a couple of years when the children would all be getting married.
"Wife, it's alright. You go. Aren't we still here? The children are grown up and can help out."
Hearing her husband's agreement, Liang Xiu felt much more at ease.
She was actually a traditional woman and was perfectly content with taking care of her husband and children at home.
This time, she just wanted to try. She originally thought there would be no opportunity, but unexpectedly, she succeeded by chance.
"Tian'er's father, thank you."
"We're husband and wife, why be so polite? It's just that from now on, I'll be alone at home guarding it. What will I do if I miss you?"
Su Laosan's eyes were filled with affection as he spoke.
Liang Xiu felt a little embarrassed by his fiery gaze.
"Look at you, the children are so old, why are you still saying such things?"
The second branch of the Su family said roughly the same things as the third branch, but ultimately, Su Lao Er also agreed to his wife becoming a worker in the city.
Grandma Su was very open-minded. With two daughters-in-law going together, they could at least look out for each other, which was much better than going alone.
Three days later, the two daughters-in-law of the Su family, along with three other people from the brigade, reported to the chicken cake factory in the county town.
Su Xiaotian found it a little difficult to adapt to her mother's absence, but with her brothers accompanying her, the difference was not too significant.
To prevent Su Xiaotian from missing her mother, her brothers took her to the mountains to look for treasures.
Although they said they were looking for treasures, the brothers knew very well that as long as Xiaotian went to the mountains, all the good things in the mountains would be waiting for Xiaotian.
As expected, when they came down the mountain that day, they were still laden with goods.
However, the little ones did not know that Su Xiaotian had obtained even better treasures.
Su Xiaotian could now communicate with the trees on the mountain, and many good things buried on the mountain could not be hidden from Su Xiaotian.
Therefore, guided by the trees, Su Xiaotian secretly hid a lot of good things behind her brothers' backs.
She hid them in a place only she knew, and even asked several large trees to help hide them, ensuring that no one else could find them.
The Su siblings went up the mountain for three consecutive days, and each time they came down, their baskets were heavy.
Even Chi Yiyuan's basket was heavy.
Others didn't notice, but Su Xiaoqin, who had been constantly watching Su Xiaotian, did.
She was envious and jealous of this.
For the past two days since her return, she had been beaten and scolded, and she was not even fed. Why could a "black five category" child living in a cowshed eat, while she, a poor and lower-middle peasant, could not?
She was unwilling, but she dared not return to the city without becoming a worker, so she could only hide here secretly.
However, seeing Su Xiaoqin living well, and the "black five category" child living well, made her uncomfortable, both mentally and physically. She was determined to set everything right.
Su Xiaoqin began to secretly observe Su Xiaotian and the others.
She thought she was being very secretive, but in reality, Su Xiaotian had known since she started secretly observing them.
How did she know?
Why even ask? Naturally, the trees told her.
Su Xiaotian was very annoyed by Su Xiaoqin's secret observation, but she didn't want to conflict with Su Xiaoqin for the time being, so she was very frustrated.
Why didn't this person know she was unwelcome? Why did she have to stand in her own yard? What was that stuff stuck to her shoes, so dirty? This yard was waiting for rainwater.
Liu Xiaohua had already decided to clean the yard thoroughly later, so as not to let that dirt fall into the cellar.
"I heard that Auntie has cadres from the township visiting, so I came to look for you." Li Yuhai's gaze fell on Hu Xiaoning and Wu Xiaohu, as if he was trying to figure out which of them was in charge.
Hu Xiaoning did not want to talk to this person, but now that he was looking at them, she knew that this entanglement was unavoidable today.
Wu Xiaohu had already taken a step towards the house, completely withdrawing from Li Yuhai's line of sight.
Hu Xiaoning could only ask helplessly, "What do you need us for?"
"It's not a big deal, I just want to ask if there's any relief money recently. My life is almost unbearable. You people in the government can't just watch me starve, can you?"
Hu Xiaoning frowned. "You're so young, why don't you think about earning money yourself and instead scheme here, relying on relief? Aren't you ashamed?"
Because Hu Xiaoning had felt very uncomfortable when she heard his previous words, she naturally couldn't say anything nice at this moment.
"What kind of talk is that, child? I'm older than you, why don't you know how to respect people?" Li Yuhai said angrily. "I've been working at the township government for several years, and I've never heard any cadre speak as harshly as you do."
"If you want to hear nice words, you have to see if you deserve to hear them. Tell me, at your age, can't you do anything outside? Can't you earn money to support yourself? Why do you have to beg with your hands outstretched?"
"Work? Doesn't work require effort? My mother dotes on me and never let me do any work since I was young. Can I do that outside work?" After saying that, his eyes rolled, and he suddenly said, "Or, can you help me find a good job? I don't have many requirements, just sitting in an office every day, looking at computers, newspapers, and the like. I don't ask for too much salary, just four or five thousand yuan a month."
Hu Xiaoning was stunned. This was not a lot? Four or five thousand? And just drinking tea and reading newspapers? Why didn't he just go and rob someone? Did he really think he was someone important?
As for Li Yuhai's mention of looking at computers, Hu Xiaoning ignored it. Could someone like him even recognize the characters on a computer?