Chapter Eleven: The Breeze of Reform Blows Across the Land

  Tang Yi's report on the pilot reform of the canning factory was finally approved, and the county committee agreed to contract out the canning factory that had been losing money for years and was basically in a state of semi-work stoppage. Tang Yi has been busy visiting the workers of the canning factory in recent days, listening to their ideas.

  The sun was warm in the afternoon, and the whole town was bathed in peaceful sunlight. However, Tang Yi's heart felt heavy as he walked out of Wang Ercheng's house. He thought of Wang Ercheng's tear-stained face, his melancholy as he smoked silently, and the children crying on the kang. Tang Yi sighed - the factory had been withholding wages for several months, and the basic livelihoods of these workers who relied on commodity grain were no longer guaranteed. The canning factory's problems had become urgent and needed to be solved immediately.

  Chen Ke followed behind him, her eyes red, and at the age of eighteen, she was in a sensitive age, infected by the gloomy atmosphere, and began to wipe away tears as soon as she left Wang Ercheng's house.

  Tang Yi glared at her: "What are you crying about? If everyone was like you, how would we get any work done? What our party cadres should be doing is finding a way to help the cannery shake off its current losses!" After scolding her for a few sentences, he felt a shock in his heart - oh heavens, how dare I lecture my aunt!

  Chen Ke wiped away tears, choking with sobs: "Secretary Tang, you said... contracting out the canning factory... really... will it really work? Contracting or not contracting, aren't they all the same people?"

  Tang Yi furrowed his brow and said, "How can they be the same? Firstly, contracting out is not a fixed salary set by the state, which can increase workers' enthusiasm for work. Secondly, it concerns the personal interests of contractors, who will definitely think of ways to improve efficiency, rather than being like factory directors in the past who were state cadres and most valued superficial achievements."

  "This is also why I asked those who intentionally bid for the canning factory to write a business plan, I want to see how they will think of ways to increase efficiency. We'll select the best ones later."

  Entranced by what she was hearing, Chen Ke gradually stopped crying and asked with some skepticism: "But... but how can we improve the efficiency of the canning factory? I just can't think of a way..."

  Tang Yi laughed and nodded at Chen Ke's delicate little nose, saying: "There are still many ways to do it! For example, if I were the factory director, what would I do? First of all, I would improve the varieties of canned goods. The canned goods in our factory are too few, just hawthorn, apple and pear. We don't have the technical conditions to upgrade, but we can start with the variety of canned goods for now! Think about it, why can't those silver ears on the mountain be processed into canned goods?"

  "Silver ear cans?" Chen Ke shook his head and said: "Is... is that delicious?"

  "Silver ear lotus seed porridge, these are all high-end, silver ear is originally suitable for making desserts, of course, if made into canned goods, it's still necessary to add it to the fruit, assorted canned goods, play a role in adding a touch, can't be a full bottle of just silver ear!"

  "Now that the living standards of the people have gradually improved, they are no longer satisfied with just having enough to eat and wear, and their demands for non-staple foods are getting higher and higher. If we deeply process the silver ear mushrooms, on the one hand, it can increase the income of mountain villagers, and on the other hand, it can enhance the competitiveness of the canned food factory. Why not do it?"

  As she listened to Tang Yi's lengthy monologue, Chen Ke gradually fell into deep thought. Looking at this spirited and confident young secretary, she felt a little perplexed. The more time she spent with him, the farther away he seemed. Why did every difficult problem seem so simple in his hands? Everything could be solved easily, and his casual remarks would make her think for a long time. Was this what they called "attainment" in books?

  "Little comrade! Don't admire me too much!" Tang Yi chuckled and patted Chen Ke's head, and in front of Chen Ke, Tang Yi could occasionally put down his guard and reveal a bit of pride. Perhaps because in Tang Yi's subconscious mind, Chen Ke was the person closest to him.

  "Stinky beauty..." Chen Ke muttered under her breath, but deep down, she knew that she had already irrevocably developed a crush on him.

  The two of them chatted and laughed as they walked until they reached the entrance to the alley leading to the town government, just about to walk in when someone behind them called out: "Secretary Tang?"

  Tang Yi turned around and saw a man in his thirties walking out of the small shop not far away, with a big white face, wearing the gray uniform that rural cadres often wear. After seeing Tang Yi's appearance, he was surprised and ran over to shake hands with him enthusiastically, saying: "Secretary Tang, it's really you, it's great, I've finally waited for you!"

  Tang Yi recognized him, the director of the canning factory Liu Jia Shun, who was said to be a distant relative of the town secretary Liu Da Zhong. At that time, the canning factory belonged to a state-owned enterprise, and the director also belonged to the national cadre system, a division-level cadre.

  Liu Jia Shun warmly shook hands with Tang Yi, pulling his hand as if they were close friends. "Secretary Tang, I've been wanting to find you for a long time," he said. "I have some things to discuss with you, do you have time tonight? Come over and sit down." Without waiting for Tang Yi's response, he continued: "I know you're busy, but today no matter what, you must take out some time to visit my humble abode. I have a lot of things to talk to you about, all official business, all official business!"

  Tang Yi smiled and said: "What's so busy about me? Alright, I'll definitely be there tonight!"

  As Liu Jia Shun left with an excited face, Tang Yi turned to Chen Ke and said: "Are you free tonight? Let's go to his house as guests!"

  Chen Ke was stunned, although he nodded in agreement, but he didn't know what kind of trick Tang Yi had up his sleeve.

  ……

  The Liu family's small farmhouse was very clean, with three red-tiled houses, a neatly cemented courtyard, the east house was a bedroom and also a living room for guests, pink ceramic tiles, white ceiling, glass tea table, long sofa, decorated very elegantly, in rural areas at that time it was definitely a refined family.

  Looking at the 20-inch color TV on the TV cabinet in the corner of the sofa, Tang Yi smiled and said: "Director Liu is rushing to become a small well-off ahead of schedule!"

  The table was filled with steaming hot dishes, including braised pork belly, stewed mushrooms and meat, white-cut chicken, steamed fish, and so on. At that time, rural areas didn't care about delicate dishes, when entertaining guests, the more abundant the chicken, duck, fish, and meat, the better.

  Chen Ke changed into a pink sporty casual outfit, wearing a pair of elegant white tourist shoes, and her beauty was even more radiant with youthful vitality.

  Liu Jiashun saw Chen Ke and didn't show any surprise, now he was even more enthusiastic in greeting the two to sit down. When he heard Tang Yi's teasing, Liu Jiashun smiled and said: "What are you talking about? Now our rural life is getting better, I reckon that within a year or two, every household will be able to afford a color TV!"

  The wine was Jian Nan Chun, Tang Yi didn't have much capacity for liquor, just a slight taste, not wanting to drink too much. Liu Jia Shun called his wife in and had her keep Tang Yi company for a few cups. Liu's wife looked quite decent, with some charm, sitting next to Tang Yi urging him to drink, occasionally brushing against him, but Tang Yi didn't think much of it. Chen Ke, however, grew angrier the more she watched, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance.

  After three rounds of wine, Liu Jiashun slowly brought the topic to the point, holding his wine cup and toasted Tang Yi a cup, saying: "Secretary Tang, I heard that the person in charge of the canned food factory contract will be decided in a few days?"

  Tang Yi nodded slightly, and Liu Jia Shun hesitated: "That... can I take over the contract?" As he spoke, he looked at Tang Yi's expression. Liu's wife seemed to have had a bit too much to drink, her small face flushed red, adding a touch of charm to her otherwise ordinary appearance. She leaned in close to Tang Yi, her legs pressed tightly against his, and smiled flirtatiously: "Secretary Tang, the thing that worries me most is that canning factory. If you ask me, it's just a hassle that doesn't pay off. He just won't listen! You tell me, isn't this just someone born to be a worrywart?"

  Tang Yi smiled and said to Liu Jia Shun, "Director Liu wants to take over the canning factory? That's a great thing! I'm all for it! You're an old hand at the canning factory, you know how to reform the old system and tap into its potential! To be honest, I've been worried about who would take over as the new director. It seems like there isn't anyone in our town that we can really trust. How about this? You write a proposal too, and I'll take a look!"

  Liu's family relaxed, his daughter-in-law smiled like a flower, frequently offering Tang Yi wine, Chen Ke was furious, making the bowls and plates clatter, Tang Yi still didn't know better and said: "Little Chen, look at you, you're already drunk, this matter on the wine table is far more inferior than your sister-in-law!" Liu's daughter-in-law giggled uncontrollably.

  Sent Tang Yi and Chen Ke to the door, saw them off in the distance, and returned home. Liu Jia Shun's face suddenly turned cold, "slap" on his wife's buttocks was a loud slap, scolding: "Damn it, I told you to persuade him to drink, but I think you're really into it! You like that little white face so much?"

  Liu's wife smiled and said, "You're jealous, aren't you? Let me tell you, Secretary Tang is indeed much better than you. If he really took a liking to me, I'd be happy to be his mistress."

  Liu Jia Shun's anger was about to erupt again, but he was already being held around the neck by his wife, her hands moving under his body, and she cooed: "You, what are you eating vinegar for? I'm all doing it for you..." Looking at his wife's seductive appearance, Liu Jia Shun's anger suddenly vanished without a trace...

  Out of the Liu's house, Tang Yi and Chen Ke walked silently, with the bright moon hanging in the sky, casting a clear glow. In the hazy moonlight, the town was faintly visible, with an added hint of serenity.

  After walking for a while, Chen Ke couldn't help but say in an ill-tempered tone: "Look at her... like that, and she still thinks she's so pretty."

  Tang Yi "heh" laughed and said: "Yes, who can compare to our little Chen's beauty? Eldest Miss Chen Ke is the number one beauty of Chenjia Village, no, she's the number one beauty of Yanshan County!"

  Chen Ke's face turned red, but she immediately pouted and said: "Secretary Tang, are you really going to hand over the canning factory to Liu Jiashun? Can...can he do a good job?"

  Tang Yi smiled and said: "When did I say that I would give the canning factory to him?"

  "But isn't what you said at the dinner table a promise?" Chen Ke said discontentedly, indeed, many things on the dinner table were unspoken.

  Tang Yi smiled and said, "Let's take a look at his plan first! As for just now? I didn't promise him anything, how he thinks is his business, what's it to me? He invites me to eat a few pieces of meat, finds a fat woman to disgust me a few times, and I owe him? Doesn't he think about it, how much good fortune does he have to sit at the same table with the number one beauty of Yan Mountain? Calculating it, the favor he owes me is the real deal!" Tang Yi had drunk some wine and was getting excited, and being next to Chen Ke, couldn't help but crack a joke. Chen Ke heard it and let out a snort of laughter, feeling happy in her heart, the resentment from earlier had long flown away to Java.