Xu Erba stood at the door of the women's camp of the Insurance Regiment's reclamation brigade and craned his neck to look at the gate. The people who came in and out of the gate of the camp were women, and Xu Erba's eyes were dazzled. It's not that he's lustful by nature, it's because he hasn't seen the person he was looking forward to for a long time, and the woman in his memory is still fifteen or sixteen years old, and now that person is twenty-one years old.

The place where the men were waiting was quite far from the entrance of the camp, and there was a white ash box in which all the men who came to see the women's camp had to stand and wait. It's not just Xu Erba who stretched his neck to look, but there are also many people with him. It was the rule for men to wait here, and after the floods, everyone's houses were basically gone, and camps lacking building materials could not provide any houses with walls, but they were all uniform dwellings supported by wooden poles with straw roofs. And for the sake of public security, the bunk placement is very smooth. First, it is to avoid unnecessary trouble, and second, it is to facilitate political propaganda. That's why the camp was built where men and women lived separately. On weekdays, everyone is busy with work, and the husband and wife talk at the door and go back to rest separately. These days are on vacation, and everyone in the family wants to reunite. So the number of people waiting here is not ordinary.

"It takes so long to wait for your daughter-in-law, what kind of rules are these?" Someone complained.

This immediately led to other quips, "Why don't you take the lead now, and we'll follow behind?" When he said this, he immediately caused a burst of laughter from the people around him.

"Fart! Do you have the courage to follow me? The one who was laughed at immediately blushed and ridiculed him. The rules of the insurance regiment are large, and anyone who trespasses on the women's camp is severely punished. And in this kind of disaster year, women actually face more dangers than men, although it takes a little effort to see their daughters-in-law and their families, but men actually know that it is better for women to live in groups. And these days, everyone has repeatedly asked their female relatives, and they all know that there are no men in the women's camp. While they would love to have free access to the women's camp, the men don't want men other than themselves to come and go freely to the women's camp. So there are some complaints, but everyone can accept this discipline.

Xu Erba is a fresh face, but the local people in Fengtai County rarely go out of the village. Now people everywhere live together, and it is the norm to have a new face. And Xu Erba is now wearing the blue uniform of the army, plus his rough but not calloused hands. It doesn't look much different from the others.

"It's getting cold day by day, and we may not be able to live in a straw shed for long without a house." Since waiting is inevitable, everyone simply chats.

"yes. What the hell is going on in this unit? I think the troops still live in the same grass hut as we do. I asked the people in the army, but they didn't hear anything. Tens of thousands of us went to live in Yuezhangji, and we couldn't live there. ”

"I heard that all the officials went to live in the county seat?" Someone seems to be "well-informed".

"In the past few days, I have often seen that Brigade Commander Hua and He Zudao, the political commissar, all of whom came out of the camp of the army. I don't think I moved them all. ”

"Then why haven't I seen Brigadier Chen Ke in the past few days. He must have returned to the county seat. ”

Xu Erba listened to everyone's words becoming more and more unruly, and he felt disgusted in his heart. Although Chen Ke lives in the county seat, he knows how busy he is with his daily work. These days, Chen Ke led the team during morning exercises, Chen Ke gave lectures during party classes, and Chen Ke had to talk to these new comrades in the evening. I wake up early every day and stay up all night. Compared with this hardship, although the accommodation conditions of these people in the reclamation brigade are not very good, at least they can sleep when it is dark, and they still have to wake up early in the morning. Compared with the two, Chen Ke obviously paid more.

The people around noticed Xu Erba's clothes, and saw Xu Erba's frown, and the clever one no longer continued the topic.

"Brother, you're from the army." Someone came over to set closely.

"I'm in the army."

"Then did the unit talk about the house?" The people immediately asked questions about what they were most concerned about.

Hearing this, Xu Erba paused slightly. He also really knows about the house. In Xu Erba's opinion, the people who came this time were really hidden dragons and crouching tigers. With Qin Tongren's efforts, more than 70 people came from Beijing alone, all of whom were technicians from the Tianjin Manufacturing Bureau in the past. Although the first group of people gathered in Beijing remembered the benefits of Chen Ke's opening of the honeycomb coal factory, before the honeycomb coal yard collapsed, everyone had accumulated a lot of money, so not many of those technicians came. Qin Tongren is quite appealing, and among the people who came, there were more than 50 engineers and technicians from the Tianjin Machinery Bureau.

This time, five steam engines ordered by Chen Ke from the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau were transported. The day after Qin Tongren got off the ship, he began to be responsible for installing and debugging these equipment. Because the people in the honeycomb coal yard have enough experience in molds, Xu Erba knows that the first project is mechanical brick making. The People's Party has its own kiln firing team, and the firing of red bricks has long been completed. Because Xu Erba's level was low, he failed to enter the R&D department, but was sent to training.

Everyone looked at Xu Erba's appearance of wanting to speak and stopping, and they knew that Xu Erba knew something inside. The crowd immediately gathered around, "Brother, say whatever you have." Brother definitely remembers you well. ”

"Yes, brother of the troops, tell us about it. You see, it's going to be freezing soon, and how can you do without a house to live in? ”

Some people even sang a high-pitched song, "Our insurance group is our people's team, what can't we say to our people?" ”

"Yes, yes! Brother, seeing that you have an extraordinary appearance, you must be an official, you can talk about it. Some people began to buckle Xu Erba's high hat. In fact, although Xu Erba was wearing a military uniform, he did not have any class badges. It's certainly not a big official. Many people can see this, but Xu Erba looked young, so the top hat immediately buckled him.

Seeing the people surrounding him with stars and moons, and good words flocking from all directions, he immediately felt a little fluttering, and although the insurance group emphasized discipline, it didn't say that the brick making machine could not be said. Xu Erba coughed twice with a smile on his face, everyone knew that this young soldier was going to speak, and they all immediately quieted down.

"Uh-huh!" Xu Erba cleared his throat, "I don't know when the house will be built, but I got a set of brick making machines here, and I think it should be very soon." ”

"Brick making machine? What is this, brother. "People don't understand this new term at all.

"It's a brick-making machine. A machine can produce tens of thousands of bricks in a day. Xu Erba said proudly.

"Can you make tens of thousands of bricks a day? Are you kidding? A middle-aged man couldn't help but laugh. Even if you are a good brick maker, it is remarkable to be able to make hundreds of bricks a day. Making tens of thousands of bricks a day is simply a fantasy.

"That's not necessarily, it depends on how many people are used." A different view was made.

After listening to everyone's words, Xu Erba's face showed a pretend and profound smile unique to boasters, "A machine only uses more than 20 people, and it can make tens of thousands of bricks a day." ”

"What?" Hearing this, both the proponents and opponents were taken aback. These words were completely beyond their imagination. A house can only use a few thousand bricks, and if the house is not good, a thousand bricks will not be used. If you can produce 50,000 bricks a day, that means that you can build 50 houses in a day. If you calculate it this way, it will only be a month, and you will be able to live in a new house......

When everyone was stunned by the news, a young female voice suddenly came from joy, "Sure enough, it's Erba, when did you come back?" ”

Hearing this familiar voice, Xu Erba hurriedly turned his head. I saw a young woman of medium stature standing on the periphery of the gray line, she was wearing a blue military uniform, a blue army soft hat, and she had the short cheek-length hair that is now unique to female civil servants in Fengtai County. The appearance is not beautiful, but the high nose bridge, high forehead, and lips are pursed vigorously, giving people a rather tough feeling. This is a woman, it is Ren Qiying who Xu Erba thinks about for a long time.

Xu Erba couldn't care about playing with others anymore, he squeezed through the crowd, rushed to Ren Qiying in three steps and two steps, stood in front of Ren Qiying, looking his childhood sweetheart up and down, Xu Erba was already at a loss. He stammered, "I'm ......, I only came back a few days ago." ”

Everyone never expected that the person Xu Erba wanted to see was actually Ren Qiying, who was already well-known in Fengtai County. Everyone was quite surprised, even the person who originally pretended to be flattering, now looked at Xu Erba's eyes and really had some sincere admiration.

Ren Qiying noticed everyone's gaze, "Erba, let's go for a walk together." After speaking, Ren Qiying took the lead in the direction of the uninhabited field. Xu Erba answered, and followed behind Ren Qiying. Looking at Xu Erba, who followed Ren Qiying away like a wagging tail and begging for mercy, everyone, you and I look at you, I look at you, and I don't know what to say.

Suddenly, someone suddenly realized "oh", and everyone's eyes immediately turned back to this brother. "I said, why is this person so familiar? Isn't he the son of the landlord's family who was admitted to Xiucai? It was Xu Erba who studied with Mr. Ren. ”

After saying this, no matter whether they have seen Xu Erba or not, they immediately remembered that there was indeed such a talent.

"No wonder he knows so much. Is it really impossible to make a brick machine? ”

"The insurance group actually recruited talents?"

"Didn't you say that Xu Xiucai went to Beijing?"

Speculation and imagination immediately began to circulate through the crowd.

I can re-meet my childhood friend with my childhood friend.,Especially the person who I've been thinking about for a long time.。 Xu Erba had long forgotten what he had just said. He tried to look serious, but soon he couldn't help himself and grinned.

Ren Qiying turned her head to look at Xu Erba's stupid face, and couldn't help laughing. "I thought you'd come back, but I didn't expect it to be the same as I thought."

Xu Erba, who is now less than five IQ, still smirked after hearing this, and only after a while did he remember to ask, "What did you think of?" ”

"I won't tell you." Ren Qiying replied with a smile. To be honest, looking at Xu Erba's cheerful puppy-like expression, Ren Qiying just wanted to laugh in her heart.

Seeing this smile that he had been accustomed to since childhood, Xu Erba suddenly felt that he could finally speak smoothly, and he didn't consult Ren Qiying to think of anything, and blurted out the words in his heart, "I've missed you for the past few years!" I missed you every day when I was in Beijing. ”

"Really?" Ren Qiying smiled, "If you miss me, you won't even write a letter." ”

Hearing this, Xu Erba's happy mood immediately fell from the peak to the bottom, and the smile immediately froze on his face. "I, I didn't make a name for myself in Beijing. When I left, I said that I had to be famous before I came to see you. ”

"Haha, you remember that." Ren Qiying smiled quite happily, "I didn't expect you to be so stupid then, but it's still the same now." ”

"Huh?" When Xu Erba heard this, he felt that his heart plummeted, and he was despised by Ren Qiying again. Although he has been despised by Ren Qiying since he was a child, whether it is learning or writing, he is not as good as Ren Qiying as a woman. But since Xu Erba had an indescribable feeling for his teacher's daughter in his heart, what Xu Erba couldn't accept the most was Ren Qiying's contempt. This is what happened when Xu Erba went to Beijing in the hope of breaking out of the situation. At that time, Xu Erba had a tragic face, and swore to Ren Qiying: "I will do something big in Beijing." ”

Xu Erba remembered it very clearly, Ren Qiying looked at Xu Erba with a puzzled look for a while, and then sighed, "You are too stupid." What Xu Erba couldn't forget was the regretful look on Ren Qiying's face. In his opinion, this is a wordless denial of himself. But the truth is exactly as Ren Qiying "predicted". Xu Erba, who once thought that he was a talent and had some connections in the Beiyang Army, was not able to do the big career he imagined at all. I didn't even manage to save a few of them.

The most ridiculous thing is that most of the savings Xu Erba brought home this time were earned by working in the honeycomb coal factory run by Chen Ke. I thought that after coming back this time, I would be a figure in the People's Party. But I didn't expect Ren Qiying to be already a cadre of the People's Party. This time is earlier than myself. Hearing Ren Qiying say that she was stupid again, Xu Erba felt that the world had collapsed. Thinking of his uselessness, he wanted to find a crack in the ground and get into it immediately. Fang Cai's happy mood flew out of the nine clouds at this time.

Xu 280,000, who was in a depressed mood, did not expect what the result of his speech among the people would be triggered. After separating from Ren Qiying in a depressed mood, the next morning, Xu Erba was listlessly listening to the party class, and he didn't listen to the content of the course. During the break in the courseware, Xu Erba was about to drink some water when he was called away by a People's Party cadre who came in from outside, and under the leadership of the cadre, the two entered Chen Ke's office. As soon as I entered the door, I saw that Qin Tongren was also inside. Chen Ke is now the leader of the People's Party, Qin Tongren is the leader of high technology, and the two leaders are not so good-looking and waiting for Xu Erba, which really startled him.

"Comrade Xu Erba, I want to ask what you said to the people yesterday?" Chen Ke asked.

"Huh?" After separating from Ren Qiying yesterday, Xu Erba has been depressed, and when Chen Ke asked like this, he couldn't remember what he had said to others yesterday. Under Chen Ke's cold gaze and Qin Tongren's unique cold gaze when he was angry, although it was late autumn, Xu Erba felt that sweat began to break out on his back immediately.

I finally remembered what I had said, and then stammered and reported it. Xu Erba felt that his mind was in a mess, and he was completely unsure whether he said something like that. The more anxious he was, the more unclear he became, and in the end, not only behind his back, but also on Xu Erba's head, he began to sweat.

Chen Ke waved his hand, "Comrade Xu Erba, let's do this today." I will say one thing to you, no matter who asks about the BJP in the future, you should not say anything unless the order allows you to say it. Remember? ”

Although he didn't know what trouble he had caused, Chen Ke's words had a meaning that disobedience was absolutely not allowed. Xu Erba nodded hurriedly, "I remember." ”

"You can go back to class first." Chen Ke said.

Waiting for Xu Erba to leave tremblingly, Chen Ke asked, "Mr. Qin, how is the matter with the brick machine?" When will it be operational? ”

"The preliminarily adjusted production line can already be put into trial operation, according to the current mold, it can produce 70,000 bricks per day, and the firing depends on Miss You's efforts."

The production line driven by four steam engines can only produce 70,000 bricks a day, and Qin Tongren, who has rich experience in honeycomb coal production, is still engaged in this production line. Chen Ke really didn't know what to say. But it's remarkable to be so efficient in these years. This time it was not only the technicians of the Tianjin Machinery Bureau who came. Qi Huishen also recruited some technical personnel in Shanghai. Among them are international students who have graduated from architecture in Japan. At the end of 1905, Japan began to restrict the revolutionary activities of foreign students, so many people left Japan in anger. Some of these people could not find jobs or "revolutionary comrades" after returning to China, so they simply stayed in Shanghai and had nowhere to go. Qi Huishen gathered these people together and arranged for them to teach at Shanghai Renxin Medical College. When he came this time, he brought a group of people who were engaged in technology.

Someone has the skills, and Chen Ke's pre-designed large-scale house construction work can finally begin.

Qin Tongren looked at Chen Ke silently calculating something in his heart, and he suddenly said, "Mr. Chen, I have something I want to ask you. ”

"Huh? Please speak. Chen Ke hurriedly responded.

Qin Tongren asked solemnly: "Mr. Chen, I admire you very much for understanding the thoughts of the people. But I always feel that after you build this house, the people will be able to move in immediately without hard work. I'm worried that it will create this kind of culture among the people. The people need to be skilled. After the people have moved in, if you force the people to pay for their houses, it will be a thousand difficulties. Mr. Chan certainly wouldn't do that. So I have to talk about a charter. ”

"Huh?" Chen Kewan never imagined that Qin Tongren would say this. Seriously, Chen Ke is still a little impressed that Qin Tongren, who is engaged in technology, can put forward such a point of view politically. At least with the change of comrades of the People's Party, many people will certainly not realize this. But Chen Ke did not support Qin Tongren's view at all. "Mr. Qin, I'm not actually worried about the fact that the people are moving in plainly. First, how much farm work the people have done in the process of self-help these days, these jobs are not ordinary hardships. Second, the people of this house look at it for nothing, not only if I don't come back, but it is even more impossible for others to want it. As long as the people regard these houses as their homes, then they will also regard the BJP as their own. What's more, when building a house, these people will also contribute. However, what Mr. Qin said is also very right, the people can't be allowed to get this house for nothing. This winter we will involve the people in the construction of water conservancy, and as long as they do enough work, the house will be theirs. ”

"Huh?" This time it was Qin Tongren's turn to be surprised. He really didn't expect that Chen Ke would really give the house to the people like this. In these years, houses are not cheap, he has seen residential areas designed by the People's Party, the kind of red brick houses are not small in size or scale, and each household is a separate courtyard. And most importantly, there is a running water system and a septic system in this design. Even if the price of goods in Anhui is not as good as in Beijing, the most conservative calculation is that such a farmhouse courtyard in Fengtai County is worth more than a dozen taels of silver. A peasant is frugal and frugal, and he is afraid that he will not be able to get the money for such a house for a few years. Chen Ke just asked the people to participate in the construction of water conservancy in winter, and the house was given to the people in vain. Qin Tongren really couldn't understand this approach.

Chen Ke said with a smile: "Mr. Qin, it started when the People's Party arrived in Fengtai County. We all do it first and then we speak. We don't want to dominate the people. The program of the people's revolution is to let the people know that with our People's Party, everyone can live a better life thanks to the new system. It is absolutely impossible to say such things by mouth. Only when you have done things first will the people believe in you. Moreover, the people themselves are involved in the labor, and it cannot be said that they have gone to the house for nothing. Many of the sons and daughters of these people are fighting in our army. Without these immediate results, how can we convince the fighters that our BJP is fighting for the people? ”

Qin Tongren looked at Chen Ke dumbfounded, and after a long while, he asked, "Then why did Mr. Chen ask Xu Erba?" ”

Chen Ke smiled: "I'm afraid that he will say too many empty words." Since he just said about the brick making machine, it is not a problem. ”

Seeing that Qin Tongren was completely speechless, Chen Ke smiled and said, "By the way, Mr. Qin, I didn't invite you over this time for Xu Erba's business. I want Mr. Qin to help, you have to take the lead. Personally lead the technicians to participate in the labor of building the house. It's not about directing labor, it's about working with everyone. If I personally order this matter, it will only make everyone unhappy, and if Mr. Qin can personally take the lead, I think everyone will have nothing to say. ”

Qin Tongren was already speechless by Chen Ke's point of view, and after listening to Chen Ke's "request", he stayed in his seat with his mouth open.