Chapter 36.2: Director Zhao’s Ideological Progress

Instead of grabbing the blueprints immediately, he quickly washed a towel and wiped his face, neck, hands, and hair.

Lin Haiyang was baffled. “Fu Hang, what are you doing?”

Fu Hang didn’t have time to respond, hastily changed into a clean shirt, and walked out with the blueprints. Only when he reached the door did he slow his pace and walk out calmly.

Lin Haiyang: “…”

Why is this so strange?

Outside the courtyard, Zhao Ke was smiling while talking to Zhuang Lan.

When Zhuang Lan saw Fu Zhiqing approaching, she said goodbye to Zhao Ke and walked into the courtyard.

When Fu Hang saw Zhao Ke facing him, her smile from talking to Zhuang Lan disappeared immediately, which made him feel somewhat depressed.

Zhao Ke focused on business, took the blueprints, and discussed the labor fees with him: “Payment for the adobe bricks will be per piece, and the labor for building the house will follow the half-day wage for the commune’s bricklayers. Is that acceptable?”

The members had to go to work during the day, so the time they could work was before and after their shifts. Counting it as a full day’s pay would definitely be unfair. Setting it as half a day’s work was more reasonable.

Fu Hang had no objections.

Zhao Ke nodded, “Once I arrange the workers to start building, Fu Zhiqing can go supervise daily. If there are any issues, let me know at any time, and I’ll communicate with the members.”

“Alright.”

“Then that’s all for now.” Zhao Ke closed her notebook and left cleanly and decisively.

Fu Hang stood there, watching her figure disappear at the intersection, feeling a sense of irritation. They hadn’t even talked much…

When Zhao Ke returned home, Zhao Mian had already prepared lunch. Zhao Jianguo and Zhao Feng had also washed up, waiting for her to come back and eat.

Yu Xiulan asked, “Why are you back so late?”

Zhao Ke explained.

“The Team Leader and the others finally found someone to handle odd jobs.”

Zhao Ke paused her hand-washing briefly but continued as if nothing had happened.

In the afternoon, Zhao Ke went to the drying yard to inspect the adobe bricks.

Specialized tasks required expertise, so she had specifically consulted an elder who knew about house construction. The standard adobe bricks were recorded on one page, those that were not standard but still usable for other purposes on another, and the rejected ones were also noted down.

Then she took Fu Zhiqing’s blueprints to consult the elder again about how many more bricks would be needed. Zhao Ke selected three members who did a better job of making bricks and added special notes for them.

After work, Zhao Ke called most of the male members together. She first explained everything clearly to the brick-makers one by one and then instructed the three selected members to make up for the remaining bricks needed.

Since the weather was warm, the adobe bricks dried quickly, so there was plenty of time.

She then roughly selected one person from each household and assigned tasks based on their strengths: laying foundations, putting up beams, building walls, woodworking…

After finalizing the schedule and confirming there were no issues, she announced the dismissal.

At dinner, Zhao Ke was once again the last to return home. But this time, Comrade Yu Xiulan didn’t say anything about her and kept complaining about how someone had given her a hard time at another household today, sounding quite irritated.

Zhao Ke had spent the whole day running around and was a bit tired, so she didn’t respond much.

After dark, everyone in the family went back to their own rooms.

Lying on the kang, Yu Xiulan tossed and turned for a long time before getting up again.

Zhao Jianguo asked drowsily, “What are you up to?”

“Getting up to use the bathroom.”

Yu Xiulan’s “bathroom trip” ended up at Zhao Ke’s door. She knocked on the door, “Are you two asleep? Open the door for me.”

She called out several times before there was movement inside.

Zhao Mian opened the door and let her in.

Zhao Ke was lying on the kang, barely cracking her eyes open, looking lethargic, “Mom, can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

“I can’t sleep. I came over to chat.”

While saying this, Yu Xiulan had already taken off her shoes and climbed onto the kang.

Zhao Mian asked, “Mom, are you planning to sleep in this room tonight?”

“Sure, I’ll sleep right after we talk, saves the hassle.”

Zhao Mian rehung the door, took out a quilt from the kang cabinet, and quickly laid it out.

Zhao Ke’s eyelids drooped, “What do you want to talk about?”

Yu Xiulan sat cross-legged on the kang with the quilt covering her legs and asked, “There are quite a few kids in the brigade who are old enough but still not attending school. Do you have any ideas? Especially that Tian Guizhi, treating Xiao Yu like a little servant girl and not treating her well at all.”

Zhao Ke yawned, “Mom, this isn’t the first day you’ve known about this. Why didn’t you deal with it before?”

Yu Xiulan responded confidently, “Could I manage it? Besides, there were so many things in the Production Team, I didn’t have the time.”

“So what is it now? Can’t sit idle?” Zhao Ke said vaguely with her eyes closed, “And you always said my Jie has a laborious life by nature.”

Yu Xiulan affirmed, “You’re now the Women’s Director. Matters like literacy campaigns are your responsibility.”

Zhao Ke: “…”

Holding power and managing on the spot—Comrade Yu Xiulan really had a knack for this.

Yu Xiulan gave her a push, “Don’t sleep just yet.”

Zhao Ke sighed, “Mom~”

Yu Xiulan spoke seriously, “You’re a cadre in the Production Team. The work is hard, but with such vast rural areas, don’t they need knowledgeable educated youth like you to build them? You have to take on this responsibility.”

These slogans rolled off Comrade Yu Xiulan’s tongue with ease.

But the enthusiasm of educated youth going to the countryside to build rural areas had long since faded.

Moreover…

Zhao Ke rubbed her forehead, “This isn’t something that can be solved by persuasion. They simply don’t have money. Are you going to pay for the kids’ schooling? Even if you could sponsor one, what about the others? Can you sponsor them all?”

“That’s why you need to come up with a solution.”

Zhao Ke had no solutions. She pulled the quilt up and covered her head.

Yu Xiulan yanked the quilt back down and said sternly, “Comrade Zhao Ke, your attitude is very problematic. How can you work like this? As a member of the commune, I have the right to supervise you.”

Zhao Ke twitched her mouth, “…Mom, switching jobs has made you too wild. You’re really standing and talking without feeling the pain now.”

Yu Xiulan frowned, “Why are you so impatient?”

Zhao Ke: Staying up late to hold a meeting, who wouldn’t be irritable? She used to hate working overtime the most.

Feeling the need to clarify things with Comrade Yu Xiulan, Zhao Ke lifted the quilt, sat cross-legged face-to-face, and said, “I just plan to get through these three months peacefully. Mom, if you’re so invested, why not wait until after three months to handle it?”

Yu Xiulan didn’t speak for a long time.

At this moment, Zhao Mian finally made a small movement, gently nudging Zhao Ke.

Perhaps affected by the night’s emotions, Zhao Ke rested her elbows on her knees and hung her head slightly, “It’s not that I’m impatient; it’s just that sometimes it feels pretty pointless.”

Yu Xiulan suddenly covered her face with her hands and let out a heavy sigh.

Zhao Ke quickly lifted her head, “Mom, no need to cry, right?”

Zhao Mian immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulder to comfort her, “Mom, talk it out properly, don’t be upset.”

Yu Xiulan moved her hand to her nose and said muffledly, “I just eat a bit more rice than you, haven’t read as many books as you, or have a brain as sharp as yours. If I had the ability, why would I come to you for help…”

Zhao Ke: “Mom, don’t do this…”

“In the past, it was unstable, and we couldn’t even go to school if we wanted to. You were born in good times, grew up in spring’s breeze. I supported you through so much schooling, was it so you could just seek comfort?” Yu Xiulan’s tone grew heavier, “If everyone doesn’t work for the betterment, how will things improve?”

She was too forward-looking.

A woman in her forties still seemed full of passion.

Yu Xiulan changed the topic, “Why do you feel it’s pointless? I think it’s because deep down, you don’t approve.”

Zhao Ke remained silent.

Everyone lived their days mechanically, and just managing the small plot of land around them was already challenging enough.

Changing the world? That was a dream for kids.

When you grow up, you’ll understand. The world won’t change whether she’s there or not.

But in this era, people like Comrade Yu Xiulan seem to be especially common.

Can they really know what the future will be like? Clearly, they don’t, yet they still throw themselves entirely into “building.”

And Zhao Ke, who originally just wanted to “retire in peace”… has recently been forced to act on “emotions.”

Zhao Ke asked softly, “What do you want me to do?”

Yu Xiulan put down her hand and said sharply, “Since you’re a temple monk for a day, you should toll the bell for a day^[1]As a monk for today, toll today’s bell. Colloquialism- Live one day at a time and muddle through. It refers to being perfunctory in dealing with things and getting by. It also means being helpless … Continue reading. Now that you’re the Women’s Director, you need to take the Women’s Director’s matters to heart.”

Zhao Ke looked up, her tone sharp, “You weren’t crying?”

Yu Xiulan quickly covered her mouth and pretended to sob twice.

Zhao Ke was speechless, “Stop pretending.”

Zhao Mian chuckled lightly.

Yu Xiulan coughed, slowly put down her hand, and said, “Anyway, as a commune member, I’ve reported the situation to you. You need to take it seriously.”

Zhao Ke flopped down flat, lying back, “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

Yu Xiulan stared at her for a while, didn’t push further, shuffled to the edge of the kang, and got off.

Zhao Mian asked, “Mom, didn’t you say you were sleeping here?”

“If I don’t go back, your dad will come looking for me.” Yu Xiulan slipped on her cloth shoes and walked out, “You get up and latch the door.”

Zhao Ke held her forehead while Zhao Mian diligently got up to latch the door.

Before Yu Xiulan went out, she reminded, “Pay attention, alright~”

Zhao Ke gave a perfunctory response.

Yu Xiulan returned to her room, brushed Zhao Jianguo’s obstructing arm aside, and climbed onto the kang.

Zhao Jianguo groggily opened his eyes, “Were you fertilizing the fields? Why were you gone so long?”

Yu Xiulan said, “I was tending the seedlings.”

Zhao Jianguo was confused, “Get some sleep.”

In the sisters’ room—

Zhao Mian, feeling her way in the dark, returned to the kang and asked, “What are you thinking?”

Zhao Ke rested an arm lightly over her eyes and only spoke after a long pause, “I’m thinking… I don’t seem suitable for this job…”

Not ambitious, no passion, not proactive…

But also stubborn and “emotional”…

Zhao Mian patted her head gently, “Don’t overthink in the middle of the night. Get some sleep, and think about it tomorrow.”

Zhao Ke nodded.

The next morning, Zhao Mian softly woke her up.

Zhao Ke had stayed up late thinking last night. Half-asleep, she squinted at her watch and asked, “Jie, why get up so early? What are we doing?”

Zhao Mian pulled her arm, “We’re going for a walk. The air outside is very fresh and helps clear the mind.”

Zhao Ke, half relying on her strength, got up, changed her clothes, and followed her out.

Zhao Mian led her on a slow, leisurely walk to the commune elementary school.

Children’s laughter and chatter were already coming from the school.

Zhao Ke raised her eyes, “Who’s at school so early?”

“Why not take a look?”

The two entered the school and saw a group of kids, including Shu Gen’er and Niu Xiaoqiang, playing Eagle and Chicks on the playground.

Shu Gen’er was the mother hen, protecting the chicks behind him. Niu Xiaoqiang was the eagle, circling Shu Gen’er and trying to find an opening to catch a chick.

The smile on Shu Gen’er’s face… was radiant.

He was genuinely happy.

Zhao Ke couldn’t help but smile.

Zhao Mian glanced at the smile on her face and then back at Shu Gen’er, “You just got momentarily stuck in your thoughts. In reality, if you don’t manage it, Uncle wouldn’t care about such ‘small matters’ either.”

“You’ve only been the Women’s Director for a little over a month. Of course, you can’t compare to Uncle’s prestige in the village. It’s normal not to have much influence yet.”

Zhao Mian smiled, “But didn’t you notice? Mom never used to discuss proper matters with you, but she came to you yesterday for a solution. Doesn’t that prove that you’ve already shown people you can handle things independently?”

Thinking about it, Zhao Ke realized it was true. Considering Comrade Yu Xiulan’s stubbornness, she must have done a lot of mental preparation before coming to her last night.

Zhao Mian’s smile was confident as she asked, “Are you going to manage Mom’s issue?”

“I will, but just now, I thought it over and realized I was heading in the wrong direction.”

Zhao Mian understood.

In front of Zhao Mian, Zhao Ke rarely showed a hint of awkwardness, “Last night, it was the late hour affecting my mood. I’m definitely not being melodramatic.”

Zhao Mian nodded gently, “You just haven’t found your footing yet. In my heart, you’ve always been the best.”

Her younger sister, always complaining about how bothersome and meaningless things were, had always been brave.

·

After their walk, the sisters returned home together.

Yu Xiulan sat in the main room drinking water.

Zhao Ke couldn’t stand seeing her so leisurely, turned on her heel, and went back to her room to pull out two first-year middle school textbooks from the desk. She hid them behind her back and strolled out slowly like an old lady.

Yu Xiulan gave her an extremely loving smile, “Quick, wash up and eat.”

Zhao Ke returned Comrade Yu Xiulan’s smile, “Mom, what you said last night was truly right. I really feel sorry that you didn’t have the chance to read more books before.”

Yu Xiulan waved her hand dismissively, “What’s the point of saying that? It’s all in the past.”

The mother and daughter were excessively polite to each other.

Zhao Feng felt uneasy and leaned over to Zhao Jianguo, whispering, “Are they sick? Why are they acting so weird?”

Zhao Jianguo glanced at his wife and daughter and said to his silly son, “Eat your meal, don’t ask questions.”

Zhao Mian noticed the books behind Zhao Ke’s back, smiled, and shook her head before going out to fetch bowls and chopsticks.

Meanwhile, in the main room, the mother and daughter were all smiles for a while until Zhao Ke brought out the textbooks from behind her back, smiling brightly, “Mom, opportunities can be created. I’d be delighted to help you improve in my free time.”

Yu Xiulan’s face stiffened, “What are you doing? I’m already this old.”

“Live and learn,” Zhao Ke said earnestly, “Mom, you’ve been so responsible as a teacher. I’m really moved. Since you’re ringing the bell as long as you’re a monk, for the sake of the children, you need to keep learning.”

Yu Xiulan: “…”

Zhao Feng’s hand trembled, almost spilling the bowl of food, and he bent over to dodge the mother-daughter exchange.

Yu Xiulan vented her frustration at him, “Stand up straight! Sneaking around like you’re stealing sparrows.”

Zhao Feng immediately straightened his back.

Outside, Zhao Jianguo, holding a bowl of food, thought for a moment, turned back to the kitchen to start over, and even stopped his eldest daughter.

When Zhao Feng came back out, Zhao Jianguo handed him bowls and chopsticks.

Zhao Feng had no choice but to carefully step into the main room, under his mother’s frustrated gaze.

Yu Xiulan kept trying to find excuses to reject the textbooks.

Zhao Ke said, “Mom, didn’t you tell me to come up with a solution? I’ve thought of one, but I need your support.”

To Yu Xiulan, this sounded like a threat. She wanted to lose her temper but held back, snatched the books, and glared at her, “Fine!”

Zhao Ke held out her hand, “Then give me the household money.”

Yu Xiulan’s face instantly turned green, clutching her pocket protectively, “What do you need money for?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to eliminate illiteracy?” Zhao Ke replied seriously, “We have to solve the problem at its root step by step. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pay you back.”

“You’re serious?” Yu Xiulan’s grip loosened a little, just slightly.

Zhao Ke nodded firmly.

Money was as dear to Yu Xiulan as life itself. She had to ask clearly, “What exactly are you planning to do?”

Zhao Ke kept it a mystery, “I have to discuss it with the team first. It might not even work out. I’ll let you know later.”

Yu Xiulan couldn’t take a step away and asked again, “How much do you need?”

“However much you have, just round it up and give it to me.”

“Why do you sound so demanding…”

Zhao Ke urged, “Mom, I’m solving the problem here. As the mother of the Women’s Director, you need to have progressive thinking.”

Yu Xiulan rolled her eyes dramatically, “Stop using words to poke fun at me.”

The money, which had just warmed her pocket, was now about to be taken away. Yu Xiulan was heartbroken, grumbling endlessly as she trudged into the room.

Zhao Jianguo and Zhao Feng peeked in from outside, then called Zhao Mian to come inside with them to sit around the table and wait for Comrade Yu Xiulan to come out and start the meal.

A few minutes later, Yu Xiulan came out holding a wooden box, reluctantly handing it over, “Here.”

Zhao Ke reached for it, but Yu Xiulan’s grip was tight.

“Mom…”

Yu Xiulan closed her eyes and let go, “Take it, take it, just don’t wave it around in front of me.”

Zhao Ke got up and carried it back to her room.

Yu Xiulan watched her back, her gaze filled with pain.

The other three Zhao family members, seeing her like this, all stifled their laughter.

When Zhao Ke came back, she specifically brewed two big mugs of calming tea, handing one to Comrade Yu Xiulan.

Yu Xiulan didn’t want to take it, but also couldn’t not take it. Her mood was terrible, “Are you trying to mock me?”

“Mom, you’re so irritable you’re about to blow the roof off.”

Zhao Ke pushed the mug into her hand, smiling.

Isn’t it just eliminating illiteracy?

Isn’t it just being the Women’s Director?

Zhao Ke raised her mug and clinked it against her mother’s, “Done.”

Kang Cupboard