As a veteran party member with 40 years of party experience and the party secretary of a local state-owned coal mine, Cao Xinli strives to maintain the dignity and authority of a leader at all times. However, this dignity and authority could no longer be maintained until the evening of 10 July, and Cao Xin made a great determination to feed the more than 8,000 workers, and finally cheekily opened his mouth to his second son, Cao Wucheng, who he usually despised the most, and wanted Cao Wucheng's joint company to borrow several hundred thousand yuan to buy grain from the mine, so as to prevent the mine's big canteen from being shut down.

In order to avoid possible greater embarrassment, Cao Xinli did not go to Cao Wucheng's office of the joint company in Pingchuan City, nor did he go to the mine party committee, but called Cao Wucheng and his so-called secretary Ma Haohao to his home to talk. When talking, Cao Xinli asked Ma with heavy makeup to avoid it, but Cao Wucheng didn't follow it, saying that Ma Haohao was not an outsider, and was actually the daughter-in-law of the Cao family, so there was no need to hide anything from her.

This made Cao Xinli very angry. Which daughter-in-law of the Cao family is Ma Hao? Cao Wucheng's daughter-in-law is Yuan Jing, and Ma Hao is Cao Wucheng's concubine at best. However, tonight is not good to be true with Cao Wucheng, people are poor and short-sighted, and they know that Cao Wucheng is demonstrating to him, so they can only close their eyes and swallow this breath first.

Under the dim light of the fifteen-watt light bulb, Lao Tzu, who was the secretary of the party committee of the mine, choked and said to the son of the general manager of the leather bag company: "Wucheng, you know, it is not your father's responsibility that our Shengli Coal Mine has come to this point at all. This medium-sized coal mine of more than 8,000 people was built in the first century. At that time, everything was bragging, and it was only a political account, not an economic account. Obviously, there is not much coal to be mined, but they insist on setting up a headquarters and engaging in a general battle. As a result, not much coal was mined, and a lot of people were left behind, and to this day, they are in a desperate situation. In the first half of this year, our mine was almost out of production, and most of the more than 8,000 workers were only paid living expenses, 60 yuan per worker per month. How can you live with this living expenses? Our party committee tried in every possible way to organize the change of production to save itself, and borrowed money from everywhere, so that we could barely open a temporary gang in the big canteen, and fold the living expenses into meal tickets and distribute them to the workers, so that the workers and their immediate family members could eat in the canteen together. ”

Cao Wucheng didn't know Cao Xinli's intention to borrow money from him on behalf of the mine at this time, so he smiled at Cao Xinli and said: "Isn't it very good, let go of your belly to eat, it's a bit communist." ”

Cao Xinli smiled bitterly and said, "Wucheng, I don't have the heart to quarrel or joke with you." Don't interject yet, listen to me, okay? Yesterday, Section Chief Wang of the General Affairs Section came to me and told me that there was no money for rice and vegetables to last for three days in the mine, and the situation was quite serious. As soon as the news spread, the workers' mood was very unstable, and if they couldn't do it, they really had to go to the municipal party committee and the city to petition collectively. ”

Cao Wucheng said: "Then you are looking for the city, Guo Huaiqiu, and my eldest brother." Isn't my eldest brother, the deputy mayor, in charge of industry? Eat dry rice for nothing?! ”

Cao Xinli blushed and explained: "The guaranteed loan given to us by the city to help ourselves through production is already more than 30 million yuan, and the bank is no longer willing to give us a penny loan. The money promised to lend us by several places has not yet arrived, and I want to think about it, so I have to take out the more than 30,000 yuan of savings in our family for emergency purposes first, and I also want to ask your joint company to temporarily lend 100,000 or 200,000 yuan to the mine, even if I beg you as a father. ”

Cao Wucheng was stunned, pondered for a while, and then paused and shouted, "Dad, what are you kidding?!" Why did you think of borrowing money from my non-professional leather bag company? Wouldn't it be shabby and shameful for you to lend me money from a leather bag company in a state-owned coal mine? ”

Cao Xinli sighed again and again: "Don't say these words again, even if I scolded you in the past, don't worry about me at this time." You are always the son of a miner, and you can't watch the more than 8,000 fathers and brothers in the mine go hungry, right? You can't watch your dad make things difficult, can you? ”

Cao Wucheng's eyelids rolled: "What is it difficult for you to do?" I think you brought it on yourself. You're sixty-one, you should have retired a long time ago, what are you doing with all this? If the workers really want to go to the sit-in demonstration, you let them go, and let Guo Huaiqiu and Mayor Cao deal with it. ”

Cao Xinli endured his anger and said, "Wu Cheng, this is not good!" I am an old party member, as long as I don't retire for a day, and become the party secretary of Shengli Coal Mine for one day, I have to bear the responsibility for the party for one day. I promised the municipal party committee and your eldest brother that with me, Cao Xinli, the secretary of the party committee of the mine, the workers of the Shengli Coal Mine would not be on the streets. ”

Cao Wucheng squeezed his eyes at the horse and said with a smile: "Okay, are you convinced?" There are still such Bolsheviks who are loyal to the party, and my son is one. ”

Ma Hao couldn't hold back a smile and tried hard to say seriously: "It's really rare, Mr. Cao, I think, if we really have money, let's lend some to Secretary Cao." ”

Cao Wucheng didn't do it, slapped his hand, and said to the horse: "Okay, don't be a good person here, okay?" It's not that you don't know, how much money do we have in our account? Besides, isn't our money also borrowed at high interest rates? Thirty percent of them dare to use the victory coal mine? ”

Cao Xinli was a little unconvinced: "What? 30% p.a.? Isn't this usury?! ”

Ma Hao nodded and said very seriously: "We have also borrowed 40% of the loan sharks, and we borrowed 1.2 million last year." ”

Cao Xinli said angrily: "It's really reliable, with a high interest rate of 40 percent, what else can I do to save myself!" ”

Cao Wucheng said: "Yes, I persuaded you to lend me 30% of the money in the mine, but you didn't do it, and scolded me for deceiving you." Now you see, which of your self-help projects has been successful? Quartz stone can't be sold, and tiles from tile factories can't be sold. ”

Cao Xinli was stunned: "How do you know so clearly about the things in our mine?" ”

Cao Wucheng smiled: "What am I eating?" In a commodity society, is it okay if the information is not effective? Like your state-owned enterprises, they are lying in the arms of the country, eating a big pot of rice in a daze, how can there be hope for the great cause of our reform and opening up? ! ”

Cao Xinli said: "I think, if you are deceiving everywhere like you, there is no hope for our reform and opening up!" In any case, we create value just by producing. What value have you created by going back and forth?! ”

Cao Wucheng waved his hand again and again: "Let's not argue, don't argue, this time it's your old man looking for me, not me looking for your old man, what do you say!" I'll help you borrow a high-interest loan, and you can't afford it; You have to bear the responsibility of the Bolsheviks, how to solve this problem, you can speak. ”

Cao Xinli didn't know what to say for a while.

Ma Hao is like a roundworm in Cao Wucheng's stomach, and he has figured out Cao Wucheng's thoughts, so he said: "Secretary Cao, I think, you can make some articles on quartz stones and tiles, and sell them at a loss, as long as the price is right, our joint company can help you contact it." ”

Sure enough, Cao Wucheng was playing the idea of quartz stone and tiles, and as soon as Ma Hao's words fell, he picked up and said: "The market economy has the law of the market economy." Dad, you know very well that it is impossible for me to lend you 100,000 or 200,000 yuan at high interest. Do you think that's good? If you give me more than 300 tons of quartz stone and all the tiles, won't the problem be solved? ”

Cao Xinli asked suspiciously: "These quartz stones and tiles can't be sold by our state-owned enterprises, so your leather bag company can sell them?" ”

Ma smiled well: "Secretary Cao, let's talk to you like this, there is nothing that can't be sold in our joint company." Last year, we bought a batch of rotten yellow croaker that had been frozen for eight years, and we didn't sell it anyway?! Our Mr. Cao is very capable......"

Cao Wucheng glared at Ma Hao fiercely, and Ma Hao stopped talking with good interest.

However, it was too late, Cao Xinli's strings of class struggle tightened, and he looked at Cao Wucheng in a daze and asked, "Boy, aren't you trying to deceive me?" ”

Cao Wucheng said: "Where is this? I pay the deposit first and then pull the goods, how can I deceive you? It's not for you to pay for my stuff. ”

Cao Xinli was still skeptical, thought for a while and said, "Then I'll discuss it with Mine Chief Xiao and reply to you tomorrow." ”

Just as he was saying this, Sun Dalin, the captain of the team, came running in the dark, panting and said to Cao Xinli: "Secretary Cao, it's broken, it's broken, everyone is gathering in the old coal yard, and more than a dozen trucks have come out, and they want to enter Pingchuan at night." ”

The worst fears have happened! Cao Xinli's face suddenly turned pale, his voice was hoarse, and he asked anxiously, "Does Mine Chief Xiao know?" ”

Sun Dalin said: "Mine Chief Xiao has asked the people of the security department to close all three mine gates, and he is now doing the work of a worker in the old coal yard. ”

Cao Xin stood up and left: "Go and have a look." ”

Cao Wucheng hurriedly said: "Dad, don't go, those anxious workers will beat you!" ”

Cao Xinli didn't seem to hear it, so he walked out of the door with three feet and two steps, and went to the old coal yard in the mine.

The old coal yard is in shambles. There were more than 1,000 people surrounding more than a dozen trucks and two broken buses, waiting to get on the buses and head for Pingchuan City. A broken passenger car full of people at the top of the line was already on fire, tentatively driving slowly. Xiao Yuejin, the young mine manager, stopped in front of the car with several cadres from the mine office, and was forced to retreat as the broken bus moved forward, while loudly persuading something.

Cao Xinli was anxious when he saw this situation. He knew that as long as the leading bus opened the passage, more than a dozen cars behind would rush out, and the three closed mine gates would not stop them at all. As soon as the first workers were sent into the city at night, the group visit sit-in became a reality. As the secretary of the party committee, he was derelict in his duties, and he was unable to give an account to the city party committee.

Without thinking too much, Cao Xinli pushed away the crowd in front of him, rushed to the broken bus in three steps and two steps, stopped the broken bus, and shouted with all his might: "Stop, stop for me!" If you have anything to say, you can talk to me, the secretary of the party committee of the mine! ”

I don't know if the driver in the car didn't hear it, or the driver deliberately went against Cao Xinli, the bus still didn't stop, the engine roared, and it was still moving forward. Cao Xinli grabbed the body with both hands, and half of his body gradually sank under the body.

Xiao Yuejin, the mine manager next to him, and a group of people in the office all screamed.

Amid the screams of the crowd, the bus finally stopped.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to park, Cao Xinli asked Xiao Yuejin and the comrades in the office to help, trembling his thin body, climbed onto the roof of the bus, and was stunned for a long time before saying the first sentence to the workers: "Comrades, we are industrial workers and the leading class of the country, no matter how difficult it is, we can't disgrace the country!" ”

As soon as Cao Xinli finished saying this, someone in the crowd immediately shouted and scolded:

"! If the industrial workers can't even eat, won't the country be afraid of losing face? ”

"Really, we still lead the class, we can't even lead our own belly!"

"Go, go, let's not listen to Secretary Cao, he is too young, it's useless to say anything. Let's go to the municipal party committee, go to Guo Huaiqiu, and ask our secretary Guo, does socialism protect the rights of laborers? Is Socialism Flourishing and Hunger to Death? I can't even eat in a big canteen, is this still socialism? ”

Cao Xinli was really sad in his heart, what the workers said below was actually what he wanted to say. He has been in the party for 40 years, and the party secretary has also been the party secretary for 18 years. He never imagined that in the end, the state-owned enterprises under the socialist system would not even be able to control the stomachs of the workers. What's going on? Could it be that the purpose of reform and opening up is to make unkind and unrighteous people like Tian Dadao and Cao Wucheng rich, and to make the workers of state-owned enterprises hungry?

However, Cao Xinli dared to think like this, but he didn't dare to say so. As the secretary of the party committee of the mine, if he follows the words of the workers, he will make a mistake in the direction and line.

So, as soon as the shouting of the people stopped, Cao Xinli grabbed the question of the big canteen and said loudly: "Who said that we can't even eat in the big canteen?" Who says we're going to go hungry? This is a rumor! Now, on behalf of the Party Committee of the mine, I would like to assure the comrades that if the problem of the Shengli Mine is not solved for a day, the big canteen will be opened for a day, and no comrade will be hungry! Never! ”

As soon as he said this, it was a lot quieter below.

Cao Xinli sighed and said: "Comrades, you also know that the municipal party committee and the municipal ** are not ignorant of the predicament we are facing, nor are they abandoned, for more than half a year, the appropriation loan has been given to us 30 million, and the production conversion arrangement has been going on. Just this morning, Wu Mingxiong, deputy secretary of the city party committee, also said that we must work with all quarters to gradually resolve problems left over from history under the premise that conditions permit. If you don't listen to my persuasion today, you must go to the municipal party committee and the city to meditate, then I will also make a statement on behalf of the mine party committee: bear the consequences! The party committee of the mine should take into account your behavior when arranging work in the future! ”

As soon as these words were said, the mood of the workers was suppressed, and for a time there was silence in the old coal yard.

At this time, Xiao Yuejin, the mine manager, climbed onto the roof of the car, and took advantage of the favorable opportunity when the situation had been controlled, and gave an order with a black face: "I also announce here: At dawn, after breakfast in the big canteen, all units must organize everyone to study, and they must be named, and the list of those who are absent without reason will be reported to the mine party committee." If you don't participate in tomorrow's study and go to the door of the municipal party committee to meditate, you will find your own way out in the future, and the mine will no longer be responsible for your affairs! ”

What the laid-off workers are most worried about is their own way out, and they know very well in their hearts: they can make trouble with the city party committee, but they cannot make trouble with the mine party committee. In the future work arrangement, it is not the municipal party committee that will decide their fate, but the mine party committee. Therefore, as soon as Xiao Yuejin's words fell, many people had already left automatically, and those who did not leave could not muster the courage to rush out of the mine gate.

Cao Xinli breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a pleasant face: "Comrades, tonight's matter, I think it's okay to end here?" Everyone's feelings, mine manager Xiao and I can understand. Therefore, the mine party committee will not investigate tonight's incident, and only hopes that this kind of thing will not happen again. I still say the same thing, we are industrial workers, no matter how difficult it is, we can't disgrace the country! ”

Let the driver drive the truck and bus back to the garage, persuade all the workers in the old coal yard to disperse, the sky is already dark.

In the empty old coal yard, the exhausted Cao Xinli said to Xiao Yuejin: "Mine Chief Xiao, you still have to work hard, go and negotiate with Cao Wucheng immediately." This Mr. Cao promised to buy our backlog of quartz stones and tiles. ”

Xiao Yuejin looked surprised: "Really? No wonder you dare to say that the big cafeteria won't close?! ”

Cao Xinli smiled bitterly: "Looking for this Mr. Cao for help, I really went to the doctor in a hurry." You must be careful when negotiating with him, you must not be fooled by him. He has a lot of tricks like a profiteer, and an old guy like me can't fight him. ”

Xiao Yuejin said: "Secretary Cao, don't think too badly about business, he always has to make money in business, we just need to settle our own accounts." ”

Cao Xinli said very seriously: "My son, I know, you have to think of him badly, this is called the heart of defense." I'll put this word here: You, Mine Manager Xiao, have the ability to get more money out of his hands, and I bow to you on behalf of the more than 8,000 workers of Shengli Coal Mine to thank you. If you are really deviated by this kid, I will let everyone come to your house to start a gang! ”

Xiao Yuejin smiled: "Okay, okay, your old secretary doesn't recognize his six relatives, then I don't recognize him as an old classmate, how can I talk to him, how can I talk to him." Don't worry, I'll give him a ghost who doesn't see the devil and doesn't hang the strings, and he won't be fooled again. ”

Unexpectedly, when Cao Xinli led Xiao Yuejin back to his house, he found that the Santana that Cao Wucheng drove over was gone, and Cao Wucheng and Ma Haohao were also gone. Liu Fengzhu, his wife, said that Cao Wucheng and Ma Haohao had returned to Pingchuan City, and left a message before leaving, saying that if Shengli Coal Mine really wanted to deal with the batch of stinky goods that could not be shaken off, they would go to the United Company to talk to him in detail.

As soon as Cao Xinli heard this, he was angry, his son was not in front of him, and he couldn't find his son angry, so he shouted at his wife: "Why do you call the stinky thing that can't be shaken off?" These quartz stones, ceramic tiles are the first batch of products in our mine, embodying the hard work of our miners, if it is not for the fire eyebrows, Lao Tzu will not deal with him! ”

Xiao Yuejin persuaded: "Old secretary, don't be angry, don't be angry, Wu Cheng is talking about the jargon in the business field, and what can't be sold is called a stinky thing." Shaking his head, he said with a wry smile, "I regret it when I think about it, I knew that these quartz stones and tiles we produced were not marketable, so it was really better to use this conversion fund to do business." ”

Cao Xinli was even more angry: "You are talking nonsense, if we produce, we will create value!" ”

Xiao Yuejin said: "What is the value? I calculated, even if the quartz stone and tiles produced by our masters are marketable, they are all sold at the market price, and they are still losing money when the interest on the loan is included. Nearly 2,000 workers in the quartz stone factory and tile factory not only did not create value, but also paid us a net loss of nearly 200,000 yuan! ”

Cao Xinli was speechless.

Xiao Yuejin hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Old secretary, I wanted to tell you some things a long time ago, but I am afraid that you will not listen to you, but you will be angry with me, so I have endured it." ”

Cao Xinli said with a heavy heart: "It's all come to this point, what else can't you say?" You say it, it doesn't matter if it's light or heavy. ”

Xiao Yuejin said at this time: "Old secretary, we can't blame the city for everything, and we can't blame history for everything, we are also responsible!" We have reached this point in the mine, and we still eat a big pot of rice with peace of mind, and we don't study the market, how can this work? If this continues, the city will give us another 30 million, and we will eat all of them, and we will still not be able to live! ”

Cao Xinli no longer expected that Xiao Yuejin, the mine manager he had brought up, would say such things bluntly.

Xiao Yuejin continued: "Passively waiting for the city to be resettled is not an option. There are difficulties in the city! In the case of such an economic downturn, who can save whom? Therefore, I thought, first solve everyone's eating problem, and in the next step, we really have to sit down and have a good meeting and seriously clean up our work ideas. We can't just think about being the president of the maintenance committee, we must not only maintain but also develop, and let everyone see hope. Otherwise, there is a real chance that the workers will take to the streets. ”

Cao Xinli was stunned for a while, then finally nodded and said, "Okay, I accept your suggestion." ”

On this morning, when Xiao Yuejin went to the city to negotiate with Cao Wucheng of the United Company in a broken jeep on the mine, Cao Xinli was exhausted and fell ill all of a sudden. Lying in the humble ward of the mining hospital, Cao Xinli's heart was dripping blood. He couldn't help but ask himself over and over again: What's wrong? Could it be that he, the conscientious secretary of the mine party committee, really can't keep up with the current era of reform and opening up? Is there something wrong with him, or is there something wrong with the era itself?