Chapter 8 Chapter 2 People of the Mountain Town (1964)

a fourth building In the blink of an eye, it was the spring of 1964.In the spring of this year, it was windy and rainy, with frequent cold waves, and it was a season of mildew and rotten seedlings.On the bank of the Furong River, the only remaining old hibiscus tree bloomed at this time, but the saponin tree at the street corner, which was full of flowers every year, caught up with the year of the year, without a single flower.There was a lot of discussion in the town for a while, and it was not known whether it was the culprit or the good.According to the elders, they have seen the strange event of hibiscus tree blooming in spring three times: the first time was the plague in the second year of Xuantong, killing more than half of the town’s population, and the main culprit was the main culprit; the second time was the flood in the 22nd year of the Republic of China. , the town was flooded with water and turned into a fish pond, and it took half a month for the water to recede, which is the main disaster;As for the fact that the saponin tree does not bloom or bear bean sprouts, the elders also have a saying, saying that it is mainly filthy and the world is unfavorable.As for this year's hibiscus tree blooming in spring and saponin tree coming together in the new year, the fire will be in harmony, maybe it will be auspicious, maybe there will be unexpected misfortunes and fortunes for the people in the town, and so on.For a while, the people in the town were panicked, and the cats and dogs were uneasy.But after all, it has been thirteen or four years since Liberation, and it is not easy to find even a word tester on the fair, so some people go to Qin Shutian, a member of the five categories who "knows half of the things in the sky and knows everything on the earth" for advice.Qin Shutian pretended to be positive, as if he was more enlightened and progressive than the average members of the commune. Changes in the world, natural disasters, and the variation of vegetation and flowers are linked together, and various superstitious explanations have been made, and so on.

In the end, he quoted the teaching of the revolutionary teacher that "it is impossible to build communism in a country full of illiteracy" to persuade everyone to come to political classes in an attempt to raise his social status and show the superiority of his cultural knowledge , Belittling the ideological consciousness of the members and masses. However, some variations in nature often coincide with some major events in social life sooner or later.In late February, the Social Education Working Group of the County Party Committee entered Furong Town.The team leader was the female manager of the former state-owned restaurant.When Li Guoxiang came back, she dressed plainly and looked calm. She didn’t show up much for a few days. She lived on the stilted building of Wang Qiushe, a "poor peasant" family in the town, and learned from the land reform team in the past to "take root and connect".The residents of the mountain town have always respected the working comrades sent by their superiors.Regarding politics and the situation, he shows a kind of obstinate stupidity.The calm life like stagnant water, the old customs and customs, are like a long-lasting perspiration medicine, making them numb and dull.Even Gu Yanshan and Li Mangeng, who have seen the world, thought that the wheels of the bullock wheel of life would creak and turn as usual.Regarding Li Guoxiang's reappearance, even though they had a few dark clouds in their hearts, they didn't mind it very much.She is in the etic position, and she is in the main position.The gods came down and asked the Lord of the Land.They are the land lords of this town.No matter which fairy aunt or official head comes, it is probably difficult to do things outside the law.In addition to this period of time, Gu Yanshan distributed a batch of fine varieties of early rice for the grain station, and Li Mangeng was too busy for the spring plowing production of the brigade.

The fact that the working group moved into Wang Qiushe's stilted building has not yet become an important news in this town.The attention of the residents of this town is attracted by another matter: Hu Yuyin and his wife, who set up a rice tofu stand, are about to complete a new building.The new building distracted the hearts of the people and interfered with the movement.Hu Yuyin and his wife hired people to draw pictures, prepare materials, and hired carpenters and masons for the new building. They were busy all winter and spring, and they lost all their flesh.People rushing to the fair said that "Sister Furong" is thinner, but looks more fresh and fresh.Her old Huji Inn is very dilapidated, and she plans to build a new house and demolish it.New buildings are built on old

Next door to Huji Inn, the foundation of the house was bought by the landlord Wang Qiushe.It is said that after Wang Qiushe spent two hundred yuan on the land, he regretted it a little: it was sold cheaply, and Li Guigui and his wife at least took advantage of him by one hundred yuan.Even if he ate rice tofu on credit for more than two years, one hundred yuan is a thousand bowls! Oh my god, a thousand bowls! Wang Qiushe couldn't hold so much even in the intestines and stomachs of a horse.It can be seen that the businessmen are fishing for big fish with a long line, and they are playing iron abacus... But now, no matter whether you regret it or not, the new house has been built, with all the blue bricks and tiles, and the white mortar and powder walls.The main wall facing the street is built into a foreign-style archway, painted with cement, and divided into rectangular blocks, giving people a solemn sense of integrity.There are two dual-purpose glass windows for doors and windows on the upper floor. Between the two doors and windows is a long corridor balcony, which is decorated with rhombus patterns.Downstairs are bluestone steps and red lacquered gates.A rotating "bull's eye" brass lock is embedded in the door panel.This building can be said to be both native and foreign, and a combination of Chinese and Western.On Qingshiban Street in Furong Town, it is comparable to the department stores, Nanhuo stores, and restaurants on the street, in the street, and at the end of the street. It stands tall above its old and dilapidated neighbors. It can be called the fourth place in the town It is a large building, and it is privately owned! The scaffolding has not been completely dismantled, and the residents of this town are watching, evaluating, and sighing every day.Comrade Li Guoxiang, the leader of the social education working group, also came to watch it a few times among the crowd, and wrote down a few "reactions from the masses" in his small notebook:

"Saving money is like picking soil with a needle. Unexpectedly, selling rice and tofu can make a huge profit and build a big house!" "It's more grand than the Maoyuan company before liberation, and more pompous than Haitong Salt Company!" "A person can't get rich without windfall, and a horse can't get fat without night grass... If there is no one worth three thousand and two thousand, I'm afraid I won't be able to take over this building." "Li Guigui, a butcher, was born as a murderer, and married into the Hu family. I don't know who has accumulated virtue!"

"Hu Yuyin is really the number one card for women in this town. She is silent, and the money has not been deposited in the bank. I don't know which old brick it is stuck in..." The new house was completed, and the dilapidated old inn hadn't been demolished yet, when an old hibiscus tree bloomed on the bank of the Furong River in spring, Hu Yuyin decided to hold a banquet of ten tables to make a rush.Too It is a kind of reward for the elders of the neighbors and the master mud carpenter.She first went to consult her righteous brother Man Geng.The brigade secretary neither nodded nor shook his head.Hu Yuyin understands that this is called "acquiescence" by the leaders.Then, she went door-to-door, inviting everyone from Director Lao Gu, Director of the Taxation Office, Director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Accountant of the Credit Society, Heads of Department Stores, Nanhuo, Food and Beverage Units, and some good neighbors.Most of them agreed with their mouths, and there were also a few who evaded with excuses.She also specially invited Li Guoxiang, the leader of the social education work group who was not friendly with her, and two team members.Li Guoxiang was polite, saying "Okay, okay", saying that the work team is new, the exercise has not yet started, and it is not easy to go to the wedding banquet. I am afraid that I will violate the discipline of the social education staff, but I will definitely go to the new building in the future. Go and have a look, sit and talk about family idleness.Li Guoxiang's status is indeed different this time, and he treats people differently, and his level of speaking and doing things is also different.Seeing her kindness, Hu Yuyin felt relieved and grateful.

On the first day of March, as soon as the sky was bright, crackling firecrackers sounded at the door of the new building. There were five hundred, one thousand, two thousand firecrackers, which woke up Furong Town.The red lacquered gate is open, and there is a pair of eye-catching couplets on red paper and golden characters.Shanglian: Hard-working couples make social bonuses.The second line: People in mountain towns add to the scenery of the People's Commune.Henglian: live and work in peace and contentment.Needless to say, this couplet was written by Qin Shutian. Throughout the morning, relatives, friends, neighbors, and fellow hawkers came to "Congratulate and Congratulate", and there was an endless stream of people who gave framed plaques, "red envelopes" and set off firecrackers.On the bluestone slabs at the entrance of the new building, red, green and green firecrackers and confetti were scattered like flowers.There is a festive smell of gunpowder smoke, wine and meat all over the street.At noon, all the guests arrived, and more than ten tables of banquets were set up in the new building and the old shop, and the two halls were full of excitement.Director Lao Gu, Party Secretary Man Geng, Director of the Taxation Office, Director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and other important figures in the town took the chief positions.

Before the banquet started, Hu Yuyin, who was flushed but tired, pulled Man Geng and said, "I don't drink at all, and Gui Gui is a person who doesn't see occasions and shows up in public. If you have a lot of money, give it to me." The girl is the master, and advises Director Gu and the others to have a few more drinks. In a lifetime, it is rare to be so lively twice..." "Don't worry, don't worry, this time, I'll be the first to get you 'Northern soldiers' drunk!"" Epilepsy Qin also came to help, he has high grades, I plan to Thank him. "Hu Yuyin said thoughtfully. "Yes, yes, Qin Zhizi will be included in a separate volume. "In addition, Brother Man Geng, after moving into the new building, the old house was demolished. Gui Gui and I want to adopt a baby, and then please ask the brigade to be the master..." "Oh, sister, are you happy today?" Are you full? Are you finished yet? The table is waiting for me...

Yes, Hu Yuyin didn't eat or drink. Hearing the congratulations from the neighbors and seeing the smiling faces, she was full of joy and passed out drunk. "Northern Soldier" Gu Yanshan was in high spirits today. After drinking the first round of wine, under the urging of Li Mangeng, secretary of the party branch of the brigade, he stood up with a wine glass and delivered an impromptu speech.He spoke pure northern dialect without any local accent.On all formal and serious occasions, he insisted on speaking the northern dialect, as if to show the importance of the content. "Comrades! Today, we are all as happy as the master to celebrate the completion of this new building! An ordinary working couple, relying on their own hands and saving money, can build such a new building, which shows that What's the problem? Labor can make you rich and improve your life. We don't want to live a miserable life, we want to live a happy life. This is the superiority of the socialist system and the wisdom of the leadership of the Communist Party! Fish, you should think of the first point. The second point is that we all live in the same town. What attitude should we have towards this new building and its owner? Is it envy or jealousy? Are they in line, or stand aside and gossip? I think we should follow them and learn from this hardworking couple. Of course, we don’t want everyone to set up a stall to sell rice tofu. There are many ways to develop collective production and family sideline business The third point, don’t we often talk about building socialism and entering communism? I think in a communist society, you can’t wait until you sit, and no one will give you your hands. It’s not enough to eat...I think about communism, in our Furong town, can we first come up with some specific standards, every household builds a new building like this except for food, clothes and clothes, and it’s more expensive than this one. Buildings must be built well, high, and magnificent! We will gradually replace the thatched-roof adobe-brick houses, cedar bark houses, crooked stilted buildings, and old shops with blackened and moldy doors in our town. Upstairs and downstairs, electric lights and telephones! Then, on both sides of Qingshiban Street in Furong Town, there will be only new buildings crowded one after another, just like a neat and beautiful street in a big city..."

Because it was not at the meeting place, everyone responded to the toast of the "Northern Soldiers" not with warm applause, but with laughter, applause, and the clinking of cups and cups.Of course, there are also a small number of people who murmur in their hearts, this old valley, after two glasses of wine, just started talking? Every family lives in a new house and lives a good life, is communism? But now the rumors from above are very tight, as if Class struggle is the foundation of revolution and the path to communism. Then came down, the director of the town tax office also raised his glass and said a few words.When he proposed to wish the owner of the new building an early son and a prosperous family, he received full applause and applause.

The wine is home-made miscellaneous grain shochu, which is easy to import and has stamina.The dishes are ten bowls of chicken, duck, fish and meat.Lao Gu and Li Mangeng came to enjoy themselves and drink happily. There were also careful people who watched from the sidelines, Wang Qiushe, the owner of the hanging house, for the first time did not participate in this occasion, and came to the waiter to help and enjoy the feast.It's kind of an anomaly.Is it Wang Qiushe who feels sorry for the land he sold at a "cheap price" and doesn't want to see others build a new house on the piece of victory that originally belonged to him? Or is the social education working group living in his stilted building, Now he has become a celebrity again, as a "root", assisting the working group in busy sports, grasping the center, really can't get away? There is also a worrying guess, that is, maybe he has heard some news and touched it. What kind of limelight has raised awareness and vigilance.