Chapter 26: The Forest of Stone and Light

Back then, the introduction mentioned the chief of procurement at the textile factory, so if nothing was out of the ordinary, the leader Lu Dayou referred to must have been this person.

Xiao Weiguo didn’t rush over but stood at a distance, observing the situation first.

He saw the procurement leader in a Zhongshan suit talking to a villager carrying a shoulder pole. The villager showed him the contents on the pole, but the procurement leader shook his head, ending the conversation.

Seeing that he couldn't learn much from afar, Xiao Weiguo decided to approach the leader and speak directly, to find out exactly what the requirements were.

“Hello, comrade. Are you the procurement leader from the textile factory? I was introduced by Lu Dayou. I heard your factory is recruiting temporary workers in procurement. I’d like to know what the requirements are,” Xiao Weiguo said to the man in the Zhongshan suit.

“Hello, comrade. My name is Shi Guanglin, head of Group Three in the Procurement Department of the First Textile Factory. Recruiting temporary workers isn’t out of the question. Due to a large number of new hires, the factory’s logistics are under immense pressure. However, being a temporary worker in procurement is not easy. Young man, do you have any stable supply channels for materials?” Shi Guanglin replied.

As he spoke, Shi Guanglin took a pack of Da Qianmen cigarettes from his pocket, drew one, and handed it to Xiao Weiguo.

Xiao Weiguo quickly accepted it, while Shi Guanglin took one himself, lit it, and leaned against the supply and marketing cooperative’s doorpost.

“Sir, I can fish. May I ask what the requirements are for fishing? I’ll do my best to meet them,” Xiao Weiguo said.

“Fish, is it? Here’s the deal: if you can provide a thousand jin of live fish within three days, I’ll give you a temporary worker’s spot under my group. How about it? But there’s a condition: it must be done by your own effort, not with the help of your brigade. How does that sound, young man?” Shi Guanglin replied, though in his heart he thought this youth in front of him didn’t stand a chance. Many had tried over the past two weeks, but none had met his expectations.

Xiao Weiguo had expected it to be difficult, but not this challenging. Still, it made sense; working in the capital was a rare opportunity, not easily attained.

“Don’t worry, sir; I’ll make sure to complete the task. Also, my name is Xiao Weiguo, from Xiao Family Village. I guarantee I won’t seek the brigade’s help. By the way, where should I deliver the fish for inspection?” Xiao Weiguo asked.

“Just bring them to the warehouse at the supply and marketing cooperative. I’ll be there these days. Whenever you catch fish, bring them over, and I’ll keep a tally. Also, I’ll provide you with a letter proving you’re assisting me in collecting materials. When the three days are up, I’ll handle negotiations with your brigade and make sure the money for the fish is paid to them, so it’s an official transaction,” Shi Guanglin replied. “As for how much your brigade gives you, that’s not my concern.”

It seemed that procurement officers no longer dared to transact privately; everything had to go through official channels with the brigade and the commune.

“Don’t worry, sir. All I want is a temporary job position, and I’ll be satisfied,” Xiao Weiguo replied.

Shi Guanglin watched Xiao Weiguo leave, not taking him too seriously. After all, the required quantity was significant. If this young man named Xiao Weiguo could manage it, there was no harm in giving him a temporary job. The procurement department was under tremendous strain lately; even the section chief was nearly bedridden from exhaustion.

He himself needed the quota for temporary workers—if the supplies were delivered, he could have ten if he wanted. The prerequisite was getting the goods into the factory.

And they needed meat. Everyone knew this year’s grain harvest was abundant, so by next year, the supply of meat should also be ample, as plenty of grain meant more livestock could be raised. The challenge was making it through this half-year.

As for intercepting goods meant for the supply and marketing cooperative at its entrance, Shi Guanglin thought, if you have the right connections, you can do the same.

Xiao Weiguo was unaware that Shi Guanglin had little confidence in him; he, however, was quite confident in himself.

On his way back, Xiao Weiguo calculated how he could manage to catch a thousand jin of fish in three days.

Judging by his previous experience, exhausting himself for half a day only brought in a little over a hundred jin. At that rate, he’d never make it.

Clearly, he couldn’t fish in the small Qu River; he’d need to try the big river or a large lake for a chance.

He’d also need a large fishing net to improve his catch. Xiao Weiguo remembered that the brigade’s warehouse had a fishing net, though it had been unused for a long time. He could borrow it from the brigade.

With the letter of assistance from Shi Guanglin, the brigade would likely lend it to him.

Upon returning to the brigade, Xiao Weiguo didn’t even go home but headed straight to the brigade committee’s office, seeking out the highest-ranking leader, the brigade’s deputy secretary, Zhang Dahai.

The old Xiao Family Village, now known as the Xiao Family Brigade, wasn’t composed entirely of people surnamed Xiao. During the wartime chaos, many outsiders had moved in, though the Xiao family still formed the majority.

When he arrived, he found Zhang Dahai wasn’t in the office, so Xiao Weiguo went to the blast furnace site. There, beside a towering furnace, he saw Zhang Dahai feeding wood into the fire.

Coal was in short supply, so they had to make do with wood.

“Uncle Dahai, I have something to discuss with you,” Xiao Weiguo called out.

“Weiguo, is it? Speak up, I’m busy,” Zhang Dahai replied, not keen on talking to this young fellow, who, unmarried and yet to start a career, was viewed by everyone as just a kid.

“Uncle, I’d like to borrow the brigade’s fishing net…” Xiao Weiguo concisely explained the situation to the busy Zhang Dahai.

Hearing this, Zhang Dahai finally gave him a proper look. “Well, well, you’ve got connections with a major factory in the capital and they want your help. That’s impressive. But you’re not allowed to skip work tomorrow. If you do, I’ll dock your work points, you rascal!” Zhang Dahai thought Xiao Weiguo was just finding an excuse to avoid labor.

Xiao Weiguo quickly handed over the letter from Shi Guanglin.

After reading it, Zhang Dahai took the matter seriously, realizing Xiao Weiguo was telling the truth.

“You’re not thinking of going to the city to become a temporary worker too, are you?” Zhang Dahai asked. Recently, many young villagers had tried or already become temporary workers at the capital’s factories through various means, mostly doing heavy labor, such as at the steel mill. Some factories had even contacted the commune, requesting them to organize temporary worker selections.

City production was booming, far more advanced than the commune’s primitive steel-making efforts.

However, a temporary post as a procurement officer was truly rare.

“Uncle Dahai, you’re amazing! That leader said if I catch enough fish to satisfy him, he’ll let me into the city as a procurement temp. And the money from selling the fish will be paid directly to the brigade as an official transaction, with the brigade being the seller,” Xiao Weiguo explained.