Chapter 40: Moving House

  "Congratulations, Director Liu!"

  As soon as Liu Jincai stepped into the house, Liu Jun smiled and joked with him.

  After Long Tiejun left in the afternoon, Yan Yucheng continued to hold a division of labor meeting. Someone called Red Flag Commune and Zhang Mulin and several deputy directors heard this shocking news, one by one staring blankly. Later, after learning about the news, Zhou Ganshi and other young cadres who had always admired Liu Jinchang immediately rode their bicycles and rushed to report the good news at Liujiashan. The whole Liujiashan was boiling, and Ruan Bixiu, who had been staying at home for several days without going to work at Lianhua Commune due to anger, did not believe that such a good thing would happen.

  "Nonsense."

  Liu Jincai scolded his son with a smile in the corners of his eyebrows and eyes, instructing Ruan Bixiu to quickly arrange for the driver's accommodation.

  After the division of labor meeting, the sky had already darkened. Yan Yucheng's intention was to have Liu Jincan stay at the reception office for one night and return to Liujiashan to move house the next day. Liu Jincan politely declined, not wanting to go back to the reception office to relive the feeling of "isolation inspection". Yan Yucheng did not force him either.

  Now Liu Jincan is already the first deputy director of the county revolutionary committee, and Chen Songhua, the deputy director in charge of the office work of the county revolutionary committee, naturally wants to fawn on him. His backer Zheng Xingyun has been transferred out of Yanggu County, and it's likely that his own appointment as head of the county transportation bureau will also be scrapped. He immediately arranged for a Jeep to send Liu Jincan back to Liujia Mountain, and instructed the driver to spend the night in Liujia Mountain so that he could pick up Director Liu the next day and bring him back to the county seat to start work formally. After mixing in the government for so long, Chen Songhua still has some sense of how things are done.

  The driver followed Liu Jincai into the house, hurriedly smiling and saying: "Auntie, don't worry, it's still early..."

  The Jeep driver was also in his late twenties or early thirties, and he called Ruan Bixiu "Auntie" with a smooth tone, without any awkwardness.

  Once in office, seniority is immediately visible.

  Liu Jun originally wanted to tease a sentence, but swallowed it back. Being an "official" also has many taboos, after all, you can't really become a flying and arrogant, petty and cruel official, right? Like Xiaogao in "Water Margin", who was hated to death by others.

  The house was packed with people. Wu Bo Liu Jinwen, Qi Bo Liu Jinping and the captain of the Liu family mountain team Ruan Chengsheng had arrived early to wait for Liu Jinchang's return home.

  Curiosity is inherent in everyone.

  Apart from congratulating Liu Jincai, everyone wants to know how this trick was changed.

  But even Liu Jincai himself was a bit unclear. Although he had some guesses in his heart, how could he be sure? He is now one of the top figures in the county and also knows that randomly guessing the meaning of his superiors is a major taboo in officialdom, and it's not allowed to speak recklessly.

  Facing the eager eyes of Wu Ge and others, Liu Jincai could only vaguely mention the situation in Baozhou District Revolutionary Committee today. But for Liu Jinwen and his group, this was already enough. The first and second-in-command of the region, as well as a "big official" from the central government, personally met with Jincai, what an honor it was?

  Liu Jinwen nodded frequently, seeing Liu Jinchai show some fatigue, he stood up and called on everyone to return to their respective rooms.

  "Everyone go back, Jin Cai is tired after a whole day... Jin Cai, when are you moving to the county to live?"

  "The day after tomorrow..."

  "Driver inserted a sentence: 'Director Liu, Director Chen Songhua of the office has instructed that a truck will be sent to help you move tomorrow.'"

  "Alright, Jin Cai, when the car arrives, I'll get someone to help you move your things."

  "Thank you, Fifth Brother."

  "What's there to thank? These young folks are all your juniors, and they're still capable of exerting themselves, what's the need for thanks?"

  Liu Jinwen felt very comfortable seeing Liu Jincan still showing such respect for himself.

  After a brief commotion, the guests finally left, and the driver also went to Liu Jinwen's house to rest. The whole family sat down around the table, and Grandma smiled and brought up several bowls of noodles, each with a poached egg on top, sprinkled with a few pieces of green onion.

  Liu Jun picked up a strand of noodles, not hurrying to put it in his mouth, with a thoughtful expression.

  Liu Jincai affectionately patted his head and smiled: "Xiao Jun, what are you thinking about again?"

  "Dad, you said that Vice Director Wang, which unit in Beijing did he come from?"

  Deputy head of the Theoretical Dynamic Group of the Central Propaganda Department, named Qian Jianjun.

  Liu Jun racked his brains, seemingly having some impression. Several years later, in the early 1990s, this Vice Minister Qian would become the Provincial Party Secretary of a certain province in Central-South China. However, for now, it's not necessary to mention this to Liu Jincai, just let him keep this line open.

  "Dad, new official on duty, mind not muddled?"

  Liu Junxiu's face was smiling.

  Ruan Bixiu scolded: "This child, how dare you speak to your father like that? No respect for elders!"

  Liu Jincai was slightly taken aback, but he had increasingly stopped treating this son as an ordinary kid. Every time he discussed something with Mr. Zhou and Yan Yuchen, Liu Jun either didn't speak up or spoke with almost absolute certainty.

  "Has the deputy head of the county revolutionary committee been assigned?"

  Liu Jincai had not yet replied when Ruan Bixiu asked strangely: "Little Jun, you're just a kid, how do you know these things?"

  "Heh heh, every day I follow Mr. Zhou to read books, when there's nothing to do, he tells me these things, saying that after Dad becomes an official, the more I know, the more I can help."

  Liu Jun lied casually, without even blushing.

  Ruan Bixiu smiled and said: "Mr. Zhou is not a god, how can he be sure that your father will definitely become a high-ranking official?"

  "Isn't Mr. Zhou a god? He's only been transferred as an administrative cadre for over a year, and he's already risen to the position of second-in-command in Xiangyang County. In a few more years, our family will probably have to move to Baozhou City."

  "Mind your own business, kid."

  Liu Jincai's eyes widened slightly, but he couldn't hide the hint of complacency on his face.

  "In the county deputy director division of labor, I am mainly responsible for propaganda work."

  Liu Jun nodded: "That's right."

  "What's going on? Didn't Zheng Xingyun also get transferred, who is in charge of organization and personnel now?"

  Ruan Bixiu has been an administrative cadre for a much longer time than Liu Jincheng, so she knows which department holds the most power.

  "Director Yan is temporarily in charge. This division of labor is designated by the region."

  Liu Jun smiled and said: "In my opinion, at present, there is no work in Xiangyang County that is more important than political propaganda."

  Liu Jinchai nodded.

  His and Yan Yucheng's promotion this time, without a doubt, was due to the influence of those three articles. Without the "Three Old Articles" on seeking truth from facts, he would not have become the deputy director of the county revolutionary committee.

  "Dad, this time, relying on just three articles, you and Yan Bo have been promoted to such an important position. It's not just a reward for past achievements. The collision of the two ideological systems is already inevitable, and you two famous theorists can't let the top lose face, you must work hard to perform."

  Now that it's been said, Liu Jun didn't care about anything anymore and insisted on making things clear.

  "This is also what Mr. Zhou taught you?"

  Liu Jun gave his mother a pair of white eyes: "Mom, you're underestimating your son too much, right? Who needs others to teach him? Just use your brain a bit more."

  Ruan Bixiu was both angry and amused.

  "Oh, your wings have hardened, dare to speak to mom like that? Be careful or I'll spank you."

  Liu Jun wasn't afraid of this at all. In his memories of two lifetimes, his mother hadn't even dared to lift a finger against him.

  ……

  The next morning, a Liberation-brand large truck sent by the county revolutionary committee office drove into Liujiashan with a loud noise. Several sturdy young men jumped out of the car and said that Director Chen had ordered them to come and help Director Liu move house.

  Ruan Bixiu suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

  There are many things, but not many can be put on the stage. They are all old-fashioned household items, which can be considered good quality in the countryside, but once moved into the county revolutionary committee's courtyard, they really look shabby.

  Liu Jinchai was quite calm. At that time, most cadres were honest and upright, and what was called corruption was just a few chickens or a few catties of meat.

  Liu Jinwen had already summoned a dozen young men from the ancestral hall to wait in formation.

  Many hands make light work, everyone shouted together, and in less than an hour everything was loaded onto the truck.

  "Dad, Mom, why don't you just move with us to the county seat? Jincai and I both have to go to work, and there's no one to take care of the kids."

  Last night, Ruan Bixiu did the work that her grandparents had been wanting to do for a long time. However, the two elderly people found it hard to leave their hometown and were also worried about their younger brother-in-law, so they shook their heads and refused, saying that they were not used to city life and preferred to live freely in the countryside.

  Now Ruan Bixiu couldn't help but bring up old matters again.

  "Go ahead first, we'll come and see you later," said Grandpa with a smile.

  Grandma wiped away her tears and hugged Liu Jun tightly, kissing him again and again. Only then did she reluctantly watch as everyone got into the jeep.

  The villagers of Liu's family came to see him off, and some relatives who were closer to the clan even brought eggs and cured meat. Liu Jincai thanked them one by one, saying that he appreciated their kind intentions, but he was determined not to accept anything.

  When the jeep started slowly, more than 200 people of all ages came to see them off. Through the window, looking at familiar and simple faces, even the strong willow Jincai couldn't help but redden his eyes. The three sisters cried out loud.

  Liu Jun was also very reluctant in his heart, but at the age of 40, he had long forgotten what it's like to cry.

  I remember that in my previous life, I left Liujia Mountain to study in the county town when I was seven years old. Later on, during winter and summer vacations, although Dad and Mom were busy with work, my siblings and I would still return to Liujia Mountain for a short stay.

  This farewell is different from before, and the beautiful prospect of going to Yangxian City as a "courtyard" has alleviated some of the sorrow.

  The truck arrived at the county revolutionary committee's courtyard, it was almost noon.

  The county revolutionary committee's compound was located in Yangguang Town, Qingshan Ridge. At that time, it belonged to a relatively remote area. Yangguang Town is not big, with a horizontal distance of no more than four miles, and is a typical small town in an inland province. The personnel are relatively dense, and the relatively prosperous areas are the old city districts that existed before liberation. However, the streets in the old city are narrow, and the buildings are disorderly. In 1953, when the county was established, the county committee and government compound could not be built on the old street, so it was built on Qingshan Ridge in the northwest corner. Due to the slow pace of economic development, the construction of the county town was also seriously delayed. Over the past few decades, except for the construction of some government department office buildings near Qingshan Ridge, commercial areas were still concentrated in the old street area. The surrounding area of Qingshan Ridge appears relatively deserted.

  However, the courtyard of the county revolutionary committee has basically maintained its original appearance as Qing Shan Ridge, with lush trees and birds flying about, giving it a flavor of a secluded paradise, which is quite suitable for living.

  The head and deputy head of the county revolutionary committee all lived in the Standing Committee Courtyard.

  The so-called Chang Wei Yuan, of course, is not a villa, but a three-story dormitory building with two buildings. Each unit has three rooms and one living room, with a living area of about 90 square meters, equipped with a bathroom and kitchen. If placed in the 1990s or later, such housing would be unacceptable to urban white-collar workers. However, at that time, houses with indoor kitchens and bathrooms were unique to Xiangyang County, with no other branches.

  The ordinary dormitory building of the county revolutionary committee's compound was a typical tube-shaped building, with two or three kitchens and toilets shared by all households on one floor. The corridors were piled high with coal balls and miscellaneous items, dirty and disorderly.

  By the early 21st century, in slightly better towns, such tube-shaped buildings had almost become relics.

  Yan Yucheng and Liu Jincan took office in Xiangyang County at the same time, and the work of the original 124 leaders of Xiangyang County was also settled. Wang Benqing was appointed as the director of the Industrial Bureau of Baozhou Area, Zheng Xingyun was appointed as the deputy director of the Office of the Revolutionary Committee, although the actual power is not comparable to that in Xiangyang County at that time. Considering that this transfer has a somewhat demotion meaning, such an arrangement can be barely accepted. Cui Xiuhuo was even more miserable, being transferred to the deputy director of the Regional Sanitation and Epidemic Prevention Station (enjoying the treatment of deputy county team), with a very obvious demotion meaning.

  Things happened suddenly, and several households had not yet had time to move. Therefore, Yan Yucheng and his father were temporarily arranged in the No. 2 dormitory building behind. Although it is similar to the No. 1 dormitory building in terms of lighting and usable area, the meaning is different.

  Chen Songhua explained again that once Director Wang and his family move out, he will immediately arrange for Directors Yan and Liu to move into Building No. 1.

  Yan Yucheng's home was in the county town, so it was convenient to move. According to Yan Yucheng's intention, there was no hurry to move, and it would not be too late to move after Wang Benqing and others left. However, his wife Xie Ying was determined not to agree, and insisted on moving immediately. The sudden arrival of wealth had made Xie Ying somewhat impatient. In these small matters, Yan Yucheng had always followed his wife's temperament, so he did not stop her either.

  When Liu Jincai and his family arrived, their home had already been basically settled.

  Moving to the county revolutionary committee's compound, Liu Jun hoped for an independent room. Walking up to the second floor of Unit 3, he realized it wouldn't be easy. The three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment was meant for Ruan Bixiu and her husband in one room, Second Sister and Third Sister in another, with Liu Jun sharing a room with Big Sister. Big Sister was turning seventeen this year, considered an adult. Ruan Bixiu thought she could take care of Liu Jun on her behalf.

  Alas, with a 40-year-old mindset, I live in the same room as my elder sister, which is really inconvenient.

  "Mom, I want to live in a room by myself."

  No matter how difficult it is, bring it up first and then talk about it.

  "No way. You won't even cover yourself with a quilt when you sleep at night, I'm worried."

  "Who said? I've never kicked a quilt."

  "No way is no way. You and Hua Zi live together."

  Liu Jun's eyes rolled around, and he turned his head to say to his dad: "Dad, I'm going to study English tonight, and Russian too. Big sister is about to take the college entrance exam, and we'll influence each other if we live together."

  Liu Jincai looked at his son, and Liu Jun hastily showed a pleading expression.

  "Alright. I think it's okay. Let Huazi, Yezhi and Xiaoyan live in one room, the girls' dormitory is also convenient, just set up a bunk bed."

  Liu Jincan thought for a moment and said to Ruan Bixiu.

  Perhaps it was because Liu Jincai had become the deputy director of the county revolutionary committee, Ruan Bixiu took care of his face and hesitated for a moment before reluctantly nodding her head.

  Haha, it's really great! Liu Jun was so happy that he almost jumped up.