"When did you get back from the capital?" Lin Dongsheng asked with a beaming smile. His look at Hua Qingqing was even kinder than before.
After all, this young lady was not only the savior of his granddaughter but also the most promising student from their Five - Star Production Brigade! Being the top student in the commune middle school was nothing. She was the number one in the entire Nan County. Teacher Song had said that in the future, Hua Qingqing would surely get into college. She was a college - bound talent!
"I got back a few days ago. I've been busy with something and didn't have time to visit you. I brought some things from the capital. I'll give them to Xiaohong later."
Lin Dongsheng grinned from ear to ear, looking extremely proud. Just look! Just look! Even when the number one student in Nan County was being polite, she sounded so nice.
"Don't rush. Aren't you about to start school soon? Teacher Song asked me before when you'd be back to collect your bonus."
Hua Qingqing slapped her forehead. "I totally forgot about this!"
Since she got back to Nan County, she had been busy with the factory business and completely forgotten that there was a bonus for getting the first place in the exam. Principal Song had said at the beginning that the money came from the school, the commune, and the county. All in all, it was quite a sum.
However, that wasn't the most important thing now. Hua Qingqing looked at Lin Dongsheng with an even warmer smile.
"Uncle Lin, come here. I want to talk to you about something."
"What is it? No need to be so polite with Uncle Lin. Just tell me."
Hua Qingqing looked around, then led Lin Dongsheng under a tree. She lowered her voice, afraid that others might overhear.
"What's going on?"
"Uncle, this is a big deal. It's something beneficial to our brigade. We have to be careful not to let others hear."
Seeing her so mysterious and confident, Lin Dongsheng's curiosity was piqued.
"What on earth is it?"
Hua Qingqing gave him a deep look and stopped beating around the bush. "Uncle, haven't you heard the news? Our Red Flag Commune is going to set up a factory!"
Just this one sentence made Lin Dongsheng's eyes pop wide open. He hurriedly asked.
"Really?"
"Where did you hear this news?"
Hua Qingqing replied, "Don't worry about where I heard it. I guarantee the news is true. Just now, I saw someone go to the old abandoned machinery factory. They said they planned to rent it and open a private factory."
"Private factory?"
Lin Dongsheng, whose face had flushed with excitement, calmed down a bit after hearing the last part. He thought to himself that if it were a state - owned factory, he would surely have heard the news. It wasn't that he looked down on private factories, but the previous examples were still fresh in his memory. Who knew how long a private factory could last? Moreover, it might not even be able to start up... He didn't want to get his hopes up for nothing again.
Alas! Thinking of the past, the wrinkles on Lin Dongsheng's dark face deepened, and there seemed to be a touch of regret in his expression.
Hua Qingqing said, "Uncle Lin, you're getting discouraged too quickly. The policies have changed a lot. The country is developing and also supports our development. You don't know that in the capital, the big trading markets are filled with people every morning. It's extremely lively. Who cares about these things?"
"Besides, you have to strive for it to see the fruits of success. If you don't have any hope from the start, aren't you just pushing the opportunity away?"
"That abandoned machinery factory is also very close to the Victory Commune. If you don't take the initiative, they'll be the ones to reap the benefits!"
To show her urgency, Hua Qingqing stomped her feet hard twice.
As Lin Dongsheng listened, he got a bit fired up. Anyway, they couldn't just give the opportunity to the neighboring commune! Even if it was a private factory, it was still a factory!
"Where are those people?"
Hua Qingqing shook her head regretfully. "They've already left."
"Left?!" Lin Dongsheng was shocked, as if the big fat goose in front of him had suddenly disappeared.
"Don't be in a hurry. Although they left, I'm still here. I came here just for this. When those two left, I heard their conversation. One of them is from the county, and I know he's a tailor. But..."
Lin Dongsheng asked, "But what? Oh, Qingqing, don't keep me in suspense."
Seeing that he had taken the bait, Hua Qingqing finally told him everything.
"But those two can't find someone who can make the decision to rent the factory for a while. I thought that since the factory is close to our Red Flag Commune, I came to tell you. If our Red Flag Commune can help them with this, half of the factory's employees will surely come from our Red Flag Commune!"
Lin Dongsheng kept praising, "Sure enough, the mind of the top student works fast!"
Hua Qingqing glanced at him. She knew that this matter was almost a sure thing, but she decided to add another push.
"Well, what's the use of a fast - working mind? Uncle Lin, you have to take action. You have to discuss it with the leaders and cadres quickly and make a decision early. Otherwise, if they go to the neighboring commune, won't we end up with nothing? We'll just be watching them enjoy the benefits."
Lin Dongsheng nodded repeatedly. "You're right. We have to take the lead. Uncle won't talk to you anymore. Be careful on your way back."
With that, he disappeared at the gate in a flash.
Hua Qingqing obediently replied with an "um", waved her hand, and a faint smile played on her lips as if she was hiding her achievements and fame.
Hehe. Such a great opportunity couldn't be just for one commune. Of course, everyone should get involved. There was motivation only when there was competition!
On her way back, Hua Qingqing specifically went to Principal Song's house to collect the bonus.
Early the next morning, Hua Qingqing rushed to the county. She told Zhou Cai about what happened yesterday and asked him to go to the Red Flag Commune to discuss the matter later. Then she went to the Victory Commune with Yang Wang.
The same method worked in the Victory Commune too. At least it wasn't as chaotic as the day before.
Yang Wang didn't even have much of a chance to show his skills today. He stood there like a bodyguard, looking stupid as he watched Hua Qingqing talk. She made everyone's blood boil with her words. Then she changed the topic and brought up the Red Flag Commune next door. This really stimulated the cadres of the Victory Commune. They were so eager that they almost volunteered to clean up the abandoned factory on the spot!
Yang Wang looked at the sky and thought, This is just too much!
Fortunately, Hua Qingqing wasn't that crazy to really ask them to work for free. She asked the Victory Commune to find ten people, paying each of them two yuan to clean the inside of the factory and trim the flowers and grass outside. Even so, the Victory Commune was so grateful that they saw them off.
The matter was resolved more smoothly than expected.
However, by the time all the certificates were obtained, the factory equipment was ready, and the materials sent by the Guang family siblings from the capital arrived - Hua Qingqing was almost two weeks into the new semester.
The knowledge of senior one was not difficult for Hua Qingqing. She had already previewed up to the senior three level in advance. Due to being busy with the factory business during this period, her progress had been delayed a lot. She planned to ask the teacher later if she could skip a grade. She wouldn't do such a thing right at the beginning of the semester.
It was okay when she was in the commune middle school. All those kids only thought about what was for lunch in the cafeteria every day. Since she entered high school, her title of being the first in the Nan County high - school entrance exam not only won her the teacher's favor but also attracted the attention of her classmates.