Chapter 97: The Winter Vegetable Planting Brigade, Mayor Wei

Inside the county government cafeteria, Liu Dazhu sat before two high-ranking officials, his legs trembling slightly.

No one had mentioned the mayor would be here as well!

Secretary Wang gazed curiously at the large basket of mushrooms on the floor. “In the depths of winter, how did you manage to grow these mushrooms?”

Liu Dazhu replied with a smile, “They were cultivated using corn cobs.”

Secretary Wang exclaimed in surprise, “Corn cobs? How does that work?”

Liu Dazhu briefly explained Ming Dai’s mushroom cultivation process, finishing by rubbing his head and smiling sheepishly. “This method was devised by our village’s new educated youth. These vegetables and mushrooms, she grew them herself.”

Mayor Wei, intrigued, asked, “How did she come up with the idea to grow vegetables in winter?”

Liu Dazhu touched the tobacco pipe tucked at his waist. “First, they arrived late in the countryside, so they hadn’t opened up their own plots and didn’t have many vegetables to eat through the winter. Second, Comrade Ming wanted to help our village find a way to earn money so we could pay off our debts sooner.”

After hearing this, Secretary Wang felt a fondness for this Comrade Ming. “She’s a good comrade—this is the kind of educated youth who truly comes to help us farmers!”

Mayor Wei nodded. “That’s right. Did this Comrade Ming come with you?”

Liu Dazhu quickly nodded. “She’s here, just outside.”

Mayor Wei looked to Secretary Wang. “Secretary Wang, let’s invite this young comrade inside.”

Secretary Wang nodded, and someone ran out.

Soon, the back door opened, and Chef Zhou led a bespectacled young man to the carriage.

The young man looked around and asked, “Who is Comrade Ming?”

Upon hearing this, Ming Dai stepped down from the carriage. “Hello, comrade, I am Ming. Is there something you need?”

The young man hadn’t expected Comrade Ming to be such a young girl, barely fourteen or fifteen, and spoke with surprise. “You’re Comrade Ming?”

Ming Dai nodded helplessly. “I am.”

The young man quickly regained composure. “Ahem, hello, Comrade Ming. I am Cheng Xu, secretary to the county party committee. The mayor and secretary have some questions for you—please come with me.”

Ming Dai hadn’t expected the mayor to be present and was momentarily surprised, then nodded. She turned to discuss with Zhou Sinian, “Zhou Sinian, I’ll go inside for a bit. Will you wait here for me?”

Hearing Ming Dai was about to leave, Zhou Sinian immediately stopped what he was doing, stuffed the ball of yarn into his basket, slung it over his back, and got out to stand beside her, head lowered, watching her closely.

His actions made it clear: No, he wanted to follow.

Ming Dai had to keep persuading him, promising him plenty of tasty treats, but Zhou Sinian remained unmoved, even clinging to her basket.

Cheng Xu observed their interaction; his first impression was that the man was very tall, and second, his headscarf was strikingly red.

A grown man with a red headscarf, coupled with Ming Dai’s attitude toward him...

Cheng Xu realized this man might have mental issues.

As more minutes passed, he spoke up. “Perhaps let this comrade come along, and he can wait at the door?”

Unable to persuade the stubborn Zhou Sinian, Ming Dai could only nod. Under Liu Guoqiang’s envious gaze, she followed Cheng Xu through the back door.

They walked quickly and soon arrived at the cafeteria entrance.

Cheng Xu went in first to report, while Ming Dai tried to persuade Zhou Sinian to wait at the door.

“Look, I’ll just be over there—you can see me, and I’ll be out soon.”

As she negotiated, Cheng Xu was already explaining the situation to Secretary Wang.

Secretary Wang nodded, “It’s fine, we’ll wait. This comrade’s situation is special, it’s understandable.”

Mayor Wei was drawn by the conversation at the doorway and looked over following Secretary Wang’s gaze.

He nearly leapt from his seat in shock.

Sinian?!

Although Zhou Sinian now wore a red headscarf, an army green coat, and stubbornly looked down at the young educated youth—his appearance was not typical—Mayor Wei could still recognize him.

It was Zhou Sinian!

How had he become like this?

Mayor Wei steadied himself and smiled. “It’s alright, let Comrade Ming bring him in.”

Secretary Wang nodded, and Cheng Xu ran to the door to let them both in.

Ming Dai thought for a moment, took out a piece of candy, peeled it, and stuffed it into Zhou Sinian’s mouth. “Don’t hit anyone, okay? We’ll leave after talking!”

She was joking, but if he hit a leader, their affairs would never be settled, and they might even end up eating free meals.

Zhou Sinian only wanted to follow Ming Dai—now with candy, he was even happier. He nodded obediently and followed her inside, sucking on the sweet.

Inside the cafeteria, Mayor Wei was astonished at Zhou Sinian’s compliance. Was Sinian recovered, or not?

Secretary Wang didn’t know Mayor Wei’s thoughts. Seeing Ming Dai, he smiled. “So you really are a young educated youth. Comrade, are you fifteen yet?”

Ming Dai smiled shyly. “I’ll be fifteen after the New Year, sixteen by lunar age. I’ve already graduated from high school.”

Secretary Wang nodded. Though the current policy required sixteen to go to the countryside, some families would make less-favored children take the place of cherished ones, and the educated youth office would turn a blind eye to meet quotas. It seemed Ming Dai was such a case.

But finishing high school at fourteen was rare—no wonder she could come up with winter vegetable cultivation; she was sharp.

“Come, Comrade Ming and this lady—er, gentleman, please have a seat.”

Ming Dai pulled Zhou Sinian to sit beside Liu Dazhu and Liu Qingmin, as instructed.

Mayor Wei quietly observed Zhou Sinian, watching him sit obediently and curiously glance at those across the table. When his eyes swept past Mayor Wei, they showed only curiosity and unfamiliarity—no recognition.

Mayor Wei felt disappointed; it seemed Zhou Sinian hadn’t recovered.

Secretary Wang began to ask Ming Dai about the details of winter vegetable cultivation.

Ming Dai explained the entire process of growing vegetables and mushrooms.

Zhou Sinian lost interest after a while, took out yarn and knitting needles from his basket, glanced at the focused Ming Dai on his left, then at the stiff Liu Dazhu and Liu Qingmin on his right. He handed each of them a ball of yarn and resumed knitting.

Mayor Wei was once again shocked, especially seeing Zhou Sinian knitting skillfully—he could barely bring himself to watch!

Liu Dazhu and Liu Qingmin regretted bringing the “madman” along, fearing the leaders might think they were just as crazy for knitting in front of them. Their political futures looked bleak!

“Leaders, after arriving in the countryside, I was moved by the simple customs and kind people of Liujiabai, so I resolved to put down roots here, to accept re-education from the lower-middle peasants, and to help build Liujiabai together! Because I want to stay long-term, I couldn’t bear to see the head and secretary graying from village debts, nor the villagers struggling all year to earn a little, unable to provide proper dowries and bride prices when marrying off their daughters or sons.

I thought, if our village could, as a collective, form a vegetable planting team during the idle winter months, supplying our produce to the county and even the city, then not only could we pay off our debts, but the villagers would get some money to improve their lives, and the commune wouldn’t need to subsidize us each year. Also, we could redeploy idle winter labor, preventing them from gathering to gamble and cause trouble, which burdens the commune.”

Her words struck a chord with Secretary Wang, who slapped the table. “Excellent! Very excellent! Comrade, your consciousness is extremely high—a true proletarian comrade!”

Ming Dai shyly touched her cheek. “It’s because the head, secretary, and villagers of Liujiabai have been so good to me that I wanted to do something to repay them.”

Mayor Wei gave Ming Dai a meaningful look. “Your suggestion is no small matter. If it succeeds, it will solve one of Secretary Wang’s major problems.”

Secretary Wang smiled at her, liking her more with every glance.

Achievements delivered to his doorstep—how could he refuse?

Ming Dai understood: the plan to form the winter vegetable planting team was set!

She feigned youthful boldness, imitating Zhou Sinian’s bright-eyed look, and gazed at Mayor Wei and Secretary Wang. “Could you help connect us with the city and county government cafeterias, so they buy our vegetables?”

Liu Dazhu and Liu Qingmin looked at Mayor Wei and Secretary Wang with fervent hope.

Secretary Wang not only wasn’t annoyed by Ming Dai’s opportunism, he admired it. “You’re sharp, comrade—you seize the moment well. I can recommend you to the county, but whether they buy depends on the quality of your produce.”

Mayor Wei smiled, evidently agreeing.

Ming Dai glanced at Liu Dazhu, who quickly promised, “Don’t worry, leaders! We’ll grow the best vegetables!”

Secretary Wang laughed heartily. “Good! I’ll call your commune later—the initial funds for vegetable planting will come from the commune, and you can repay them after you profit.”

This solved Liujiabai’s funding problem. Liu Dazhu and Liu Qingmin beamed, looking at Ming Dai as if she were a treasure.

Secretary Wang pointed at the vegetables. “We can’t take these for free. Name your price, and the cafeteria will reimburse you.”

Liu Dazhu remembered the prices Ming Dai set and hesitated, but encouraged by her, he spoke up.

“Secretary, Comrade Ming worked hard to grow these vegetables—the fires had to be kept burning continuously, and we used charcoal, so the vegetables are pricier than usual.”

Secretary Wang and Mayor Wei nodded; supply and demand made sense.

“Chives and yellow chives are one yuan a pound; mushrooms, fifty cents a pound.”

He looked nervously at the leaders, and Ming Dai was unsure if they’d accept the price.

Secretary Wang was silent—the prices were higher than expected.

Mayor Wei thought for a moment and said, “This year, these prices are fine. But if you have a large supply next year, prices must drop.”

Liu Dazhu nodded vigorously. “Certainly!”

Secretary Wang recalled the dumplings he’d just eaten. “Alright. How much is left? We can start supplying the county government.”

Liu Dazhu looked to Ming Dai, who answered, “Before the New Year, we can supply another batch of chives and yellow chives, ten to twelve pounds each. Mushrooms can be supplied periodically—about a hundred pounds per batch, and two or three more batches.”

Secretary Wang nodded. “Good, bring them all to the county government. Let’s improve everyone’s meals before the New Year. Cheng Xu, take them to fill out the paperwork later.”

The Liujiabai group grinned happily; Zhou Sinian, seeing Ming Dai’s beautiful smile, curved his lips as well.

Mayor Wei raised an eyebrow and said, “Since you’ve come all this way, stay overnight. This afternoon, there’s a leadership study session—Liu Dazhu and Secretary Liu can attend.”

Liu Dazhu’s face flushed; he never imagined such an opportunity would come to him. Even commune directors rarely attended such sessions.

Though called a study session, it was more a gathering for leaders to network—a prime chance to build connections.

Liu Qingmin was thrilled, forgetting his usual composure and that they’d already stayed one night.

With the matter settled, Secretary Wang and Mayor Wei went off to their meeting, leaving Cheng Xu to host the group.

Before leaving, Mayor Wei gave a meaningful look at Zhou Sinian knitting, signaling his secretary.

Once their figures vanished, Zhou Sinian finally looked up toward Mayor Wei’s departing direction, only reacting when Ming Dai urged him to pack up.

After a busy morning, they returned to the guesthouse, this time accompanied by Cheng Xu, who reimbursed their room fees.

Liu Dazhu breathed a sigh of relief at the three keys handed over.

He dared not share a room with the “madman”—his face still hurt!