Rebirth of Bayi Fishing and Hunting in the Northwest

After breakfast, Gu Xiaoxia sorted Li Long's clothes and said:
"I am also sitting in the audience. Those of you who are being honored should sit in the front rows, and we are in the back."

She straightened Li Long's clothes, smoothed out every wrinkle, and said with emotion:

"I never thought that I would enter the company before you, and then you would be commended before me. Actually, think about it, you have always been smarter than me in this regard and you see things more clearly than me. If you work in a government agency, you will definitely do better than me and get promoted faster."

"What are you thinking about?" Li Long touched her hair and said with a smile:

"You've been doing a good job. If you didn't do a good job, Director Wang wouldn't have transferred you to the Education Bureau, and you might have been a middle school teacher for the rest of your life. So, don't think too badly of yourself. If you think you're a bad person, then what will those who are still teaching in middle schools and those who haven't even become teachers say?"

Li Long knew that Gu Xiaoxia was actually quite strong-willed, and she was just stimulated by his sudden "progress", so she said that.

"Besides, other people may not know my situation, but you do. This is purely a coincidence. I never thought of asking for anything advanced. If I really have a choice, I don't need this advanced thing. Isn't it good for me to make my money easily? I can make dozens of dollars a day by hauling sand and cement..."

"Alright, alright, stop comforting me. You are an advanced person that others want but cannot get. If you say this to others, someone with ulterior motives will hear it and make a big fuss about it." Gu Xiaoxia knew that Li Long was comforting her, so she smiled and patted his chest and said:
"Okay, let's go."

The two of them went out together, pushing their bicycles. Li Long went directly to the County Cultural Palace Club, while Gu Xiaoxia had to go to work first, meet up with the people at work, and then go to the meeting.

Li Long arrived at the venue an hour in advance. There were already county government staff explaining the procedures to the people who were about to be honored. Among these people, Li Long was familiar with Ma Xiaoyan. When she saw Li Long, her eyes lit up and she immediately came over to explain the procedures to Li Long.

Because there were both advanced units and individuals being commended, first the advanced units and then the advanced individuals. Li Long and his colleagues sat in the second row in the middle. According to the order, Li Long was the second.

What surprised Li Long was that he also saw Ye Laya here. This intern broadcaster of the animal husbandry team was interviewing and writing something with a reporter holding a pen and paper. When she saw Li Long, she smiled and waved, but didn't dare to come over.

Then Li Long saw Director Wei also came, he was accepting the award on behalf of the unit. Usually, such an award-winning unit would send a deputy to come, the head of the unit would not usually go on stage. But the supply and marketing cooperative has received relatively few honors above the county level in the past two years, so Director Wei came to accept the award in person this time to express the importance the supply and marketing cooperative attaches to ethnic unity work.

Half an hour before the meeting, people from various organizations started to enter the venue, and Li Long and his colleagues were already seated. During the rehearsal for the award ceremony, he already knew that he would be given an honorary certificate and a radio.

Very good, an old ethnic teacher was very happy and kept saying:

"It's time to tell the children about the big things happening outside."

Li Long had just learned that this old ethnic teacher was a teacher in a primary school in a remote area. There was a serious shortage of teachers there, and he taught Chinese, mathematics, science, physical education and other subjects to two classes by himself.

The ethnic groups of the children in this rural school are very complex, including Han, Hui, Uyghur and Kazakh. The teachers usually rely on newspapers to help the children understand the outside world. Now that they have a radio, they can listen to more current affairs reports.

Li Long felt a little ashamed after hearing this. He felt that compared with this teacher, he was really not worthy of being awarded the title of Advanced Individual.

But after seeing another outstanding individual, he felt that he was good enough again. That person was a village ethnic affairs officer, who was commended this time for his good work in promoting ethnic unity and outstanding performance in resolving ethnic disputes.

Li Long vaguely remembered the disputes in their village. To be honest, the resolution process was quite biased and the people were relatively obedient at that time, so the matter was settled.

If this solution was adopted thirty or forty years later, he would probably be sent razor blades.

So Li Long felt that he was ready again.

In this fluctuating mood, the commendation meeting began. Ma County still attaches great importance to ethnic unity work. Both the county party committee and government officials attended the meeting and gave speeches. At that time, the meeting was still more pragmatic, formalism and bureaucracy were not so serious, and the speeches were very brief and very practical. Then came the commendation. In the relatively simple music, the first to be commended was the advanced unit. Director Wei received the certificate from the county leader with a red face.

There are no material rewards for advanced units, but this commendation will be recorded in the work report at the end of the year. Whether or not the unit is recognized as advanced at that time, this certificate will add points.

When Director Wei received the certificate, he chatted quietly with the deputy county magistrate who presented him the award, and then turned around to take a photo.

When it was Li Long's turn, less than 20 minutes had passed. Li Long couldn't help but sigh, "It's really efficient." If such efficiency were to be put into the future, it would win unanimous praise from the participants. But now, everyone is used to it.

Holding the certificate of honor and the portable radio, Li Long was thinking that he could send this radio to Halimu's home. Of course, he would have to buy another one that was similar and send it to Yushanjiang's home.

I've got the honor myself, so I'll leave the things at their homes. I'll buy some more batteries and send them over, so that at least the two families can have something to entertain themselves.

Even now, Li Long still feels that this honor is purely an accident and coincidence, not because of how well he did things. In his interactions with Halimu, Yushanjiang and other herders, Li Long actually feels that he is always taking advantage of them, and he can never repay them.

Of course, it is also possible that in the eyes of Halimu and Yushanjiang, they are taking advantage, it is hard to say. Some things cannot be fully measured by money. This is a kind of bond that I guess I can't break in this lifetime.

After the award ceremony, the county leaders gave a speech, and the host announced the adjournment of the meeting. The award recipients followed the county leaders and left first to have dinner at the county guesthouse. Because some people from remote areas came the day before and stayed directly at the county guesthouse, the county would treat them to a sumptuous lunch as a reward before they left today.

This is a procedure, and Li Long must also participate, and of course they are also communicating. The vast majority of those who were commended really did very well in this regard and are truly typical examples that can stand the test.

It was at this time that Ye Laya came over to meet Li Long. She whispered to Li Long that the county had received a notice that Li Long had been awarded the title of Advanced Individual for National Unity in the Autonomous Region and would go to Wucheng in a few days to attend a commendation meeting.

Li Long's scalp felt a little numb. Isn't this just tormenting him?
With just these few achievements, am I qualified to be recognized by the autonomous region? Is this a mistake?
Because he was worried, Li Long did not enjoy this seemingly sumptuous lunch.

When they were almost done eating, Director Wei noticed that Li Long was worried, so he called him over to ask about the situation.

"I heard that I might be allowed to attend the commendation meeting of the autonomous region." Li Long frowned and said, "This... I think it's a bit too much for me to bear."

"Really?" Director Wei hadn't received the news yet, so he asked in surprise, "Is it true?"

"The broadcaster from the animal husbandry team was seconded to the county propaganda department. She said that the county has received a notice and the autonomous region may commend her in five days... How can I be so worthy of this!"

"Hey, Xiao Li, you want to push away something that others can't even ask for! Go boldly! Our commune is your backer! When you go back this afternoon, I'll approve 50 yuan for your travel expenses and accommodation. This is a great thing... Our commune hasn't been commended by the autonomous region for five years, no, ten years! You are the first one in these ten years! Well, I'll arrange this matter when I go back this afternoon. Xiao Li, are you still insisting on being a temporary worker?"

It seems that as long as Li Long nods, Director Wei can immediately come up with a formal job title for Li Long.

"Director, my casual personality makes me suitable for a temporary job. If you ask me to do a formal job, I won't be able to get this honor." Li Long said hurriedly. He didn't want that position.

"Okay, since you insist, let's put that aside for now. Once this is finalized, our commune will organize an activity to learn from you. Don't worry, this must be done. Not only the commune, but also the county will probably organize such an activity after the autonomous region commends you, so you have to adapt.

Of course, you can do whatever you want in the future. Our company will give you the greatest freedom. You just need to make good use of your strengths. I remember Lao Li said that you completed the tasks well in the big jobs you took for our company. This is your strong point. In the future, the company will try its best to let you complete such jobs... "

When Director Wei learned that Li Long was about to be commended by the autonomous region, he immediately became excited. He made a lot of promises to Li Long, which made Li Long feel that this commendation was actually a good thing.

But he was really a little terrified. After all, what he had done was not enough for him to be awarded the title of Advanced Individual. After lunch, Li Long went to the supply and marketing cooperative and told Li Xiangqian about the matter. Li Xiangqian had the same expression and emotion as Director Wei, excited and happy. He behaved the same way as Director Wei, asking Li Long to withdraw money and seriously participate in the commendation of the autonomous region:
"Your clothes are fine in the county, but they won't do for the autonomous region! Go change into new clothes! I know you have money, so you must make a new set of clothes, a Zhongshan suit, a white shirt, and a pair of new leather shoes. If you are reluctant to buy them, I will reimburse you from the purchasing department!

You are attending an important meeting at the autonomous region level, representing our commune. To put it bluntly, you are representing our county! If you go there like this, the county leaders will be embarrassed!"

Feeling that Li Xiangqian was more excited than himself, Li Long calmed down. He just changed his clothes. The financial staff knew he was coming and took the initiative to pay his travel expenses. In fact, Li Long thought that if he really went to the autonomous region to attend the meeting, they should be able to arrange accommodation and meals.

But Li Long would not refuse the enthusiasm of the company. Although he was a temporary worker, he was still a member of the collective and the organization. Now that the organization has taken such good care of him, if he does not appreciate it, it would be considered as ungrateful.

In fact, he felt that the old teacher was more qualified to receive the commendation from the autonomous region than himself. However, the influence was probably not as great as his, so he was the one commended by the autonomous region.

Li Long received the travel expenses from the finance department, left the supply and marketing cooperative, and went to the department store to buy clothes.

There was still time to make clothes, but it was the busy farming season, and asking his sister-in-law to make clothes for him would be a waste of her time, so Li Long thought it would be better to just buy them.

The department store now sells ready-made clothes. Li Long went and bought a blue cloth Zhongshan suit and a white shirt. In fact, at the moment, neither Wucheng nor Mayan County was as hot as in later times, so it was not impossible to wear a Zhongshan suit in May.

In fact, Li Long wanted to wear casual shoes, but they were not for sale at that time. The only shoes were either leather shoes or rubber shoes, so he bought a pair of leather shoes.

Some clothes shops would barely hem trousers, so Li Long went to get measured, had the hems locked, and then left the building and returned to the yard.

When Gu Xiaoxia came back, Li Long told her about this matter.

"Really? That's great!" Gu Xiaoxia was also very happy, "Then I have to prepare something well for you, you have to change into new clothes..."

Well, everyone had the same opinion, that he should change into new clothes. Apparently, except for himself, everyone else who knew that he was going to the autonomous region to receive an award thought that he had to wear new clothes.

"I've already bought the clothes." Li Long took out a new set of clothes and showed it to Gu Xiaoxia. "Now I just have to wait for the specific notice. By the way, our company also paid me travel expenses, according to the standard for middle-level cadres."

"Your company attaches great importance to it, but it's only natural." Gu Xiaoxia said with a smile, "If it were our company, the leaders would pay more attention to it and help you prepare for possible speeches, as well as what to answer when you are interviewed by reporters during the commendation ceremony, etc."

Li Long finally realized that this was true. I don't know if the supply and marketing cooperative had no experience in this area or they just didn't think it was important, so they didn't mention it.

Fortunately, Li Long felt that if he really encountered such a situation, he would be able to handle it.

Gu Xiaoxia understands Li Long's feeling that he may not be qualified to attend this meeting:

"Since the autonomous region has decided to commend you, they must have their reasons. Sometimes it's not about how much you have done, but the guiding role you play."

At this time, Li Long had to admit that Gu Xiaoxia, who had entered the government as a state cadre, was more accurate than himself in this regard.

Yes, just like the old soldier guarding the grave in Qiaoerma and Principal Zhang of the girls' school. In fact, there are also many people working silently behind them. The work done by some people may have a greater impact than his, but the media promotes them to the general public, focusing more on their guiding role.

Similar to Xu Sanduo.

Accepting the commendation at this time should mean something.

Amidst all the speculation, the next day, the supply and marketing cooperative officially received a notice from the county that Li Long was recognized as an advanced individual and was honored at the autonomous region's 10th National Unity Education Month Commendation Conference.

The county specially sent someone from the propaganda department to deliver this notice and emphasized the importance of this commendation to the leaders of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Li Long arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative in the morning. It was a rare time for him to go to work on time. A deputy director from the propaganda department came with Ma Xiaoyan, a propaganda officer that Li Long was familiar with.

It was similar to what Gu Xiaoxia guessed. The county propaganda department came here for two purposes. One was to issue a notice, and the other was to standardize the content that Li Long might say during the interview. Anyway, his words had to carry some meaning of the county's propaganda and education.

Li Long remembered what they said.

The day before the meeting of the autonomous region, Li Long set out from Ma County and took a bus to Wucheng. After getting off at the Bayi Guesthouse, he took a bus to the Autonomous Region Cadre Guesthouse. The organizers of the commendation meeting here arranged rooms for these commended people.

After signing in and receiving the room card, before entering the room, Li Long saw a reporter from the Autonomous Region Daily, Zhang Xinhua, the main driving force behind his attendance at this conference.

"Comrade Li, you're here." Zhang Xinhua was very happy and enthusiastic to see Li Long, and came over to chat with Li Long.

Only then did Li Long understand why he felt that what he did was not particularly important, but was able to come here to attend the meeting.

"Because your words are of great significance to the ethnic unity work in our autonomous region. The leaders said that people who can say such words must have high ideological awareness and can play a great role. You will find that those words can really be used in all aspects of ethnic unity."

Li Long was the first person to say such words in this life, and Zhang Xinhua, as an eyewitness who heard these words come out, published them directly in the Autonomous Region Daily and made them known to the people. Both of them will benefit from this sentence in various ways in the future.

This is something to forget.

Li Long entered his room, which was a standard double room. There would be another participant living with him, but the other party had not arrived yet. Li Long saw two briefcases on the table, with two stacks of meeting materials on top of the bags.

The bag was very exquisite. Li Long guessed that it was given to each honoree and could be taken away after the meeting. He opened the bag and saw a pen and a notebook inside. It was very well prepared.

It is better to attend the meeting of the autonomous region than to stay in the county. The salary is higher and you can bring more things back.

There were voices outside, then the door was pushed open, and a minority man in his forties wearing a flowery hat walked in.

Seeing Li Long, the man was stunned for a moment, then took the initiative to greet Li Long:

"Hello, Adasi! My name is Aidasi, and I'm from Aksu."

"My name is Li Long, and I'm from Ma County." Li Long quickly stood up and shook hands with the other party. "Nice to meet you."

This is my roommate for the past two days. (End of this chapter)