Return to 2001 to pursue dreams

After running around for several days, everyone, including Director Zhao, was exhausted and exhausted.

The living conditions of local people make everyone feel sad. Even Baldy Li, who usually speaks sourly, fell into deep self-blame. His sentence "Why don't you use tap water?" made him regretful. How can you empathize without being there?

The collar and cuffs of his clothes were completely black, and he couldn't take a hot bath for several days.

They were happy for the villages that had drilled wells, and the disappointed eyes of the people in those villages that couldn't drill water deeply hurt everyone's hearts.

After five days of tossing and going, Director Zhao decided to return. The reason he gave was that the purpose of this trip had been achieved, which was to show the people the water shortage situation in the west, rather than to solve the water problem, because this was not a short-term project. And everyone also needs a break.

We originally planned to go to Ningxia, but now that the leader has spoken, everyone can only obey.

Gao Hongda couldn't bear to see the loneliness in Chen Xiu's eyes. After biting ears with Lao Bi, Lao Bi nodded. The two people reported to Director Zhao: As classmates, we want to travel to Ningxia classmates together instead of going back with the large group.

Director Zhao nodded in agreement and told them to pay attention to safety and call directly if they needed help. Then he took out a film camera from the suitcase, handed it to Gao Hongda and said: "The young man's feelings for his family and country are worthy of praise. This camera has been with me for several years. Although it is not worth much, I will leave it to you as a prize! If you If you achieve great things in the future, don’t forget to give back to society and the country.”

I took a good shower and changed my clothes in a hotel in the provincial capital. The clothes I changed smelled of earth, and I could even find small lumps of earth in my pockets. After a night's rest, we boarded the train to Ningxia. All costs are borne by Gao Hongda.

Chen Xiu, Li Qin, Gao Hongda, Lao Bi and Baldy Li, who insisted on following, formed a group of five and set foot on Chen Xiu's hometown. It arrived the next morning.

Gao Hongda lives in Xuzhou, a city in northern Jiangsu. Compared with the prosperity of southern Jiangsu, although his city often appears in history books, it is not very good. The countryside is still very poor, but compared with the Ningxia countryside we see today , my hometown has simply become a paradise. The houses are low, the land is dry and barren, and the people live in poverty. Most of them rely on potatoes as their staple food. Even livestock are rarely seen because there is no water to feed them. The children's clothes are in rags and they are skinny, which is distressing.

Chen Xiu's family lives in a town, and the conditions are much better than in the village. At least they can use tap water, but the water supply is intermittent. Every household prepares super large plastic buckets to store precious water. When relatives from the countryside come to visit, it is considered a great gift to ask them to take back a bucket of water.

Chen Xiu’s father is the party secretary of the town and is a veteran. According to Chen Xiu, it was also thanks to his father's official position that he had the opportunity to study in Dongjiao Town. Although it was not a real capital city, it was at least close to it. His father also hoped that his daughter would have the opportunity. Walking out of this barren land, even if you have to leave your hometown, there is nothing in this poor place except family members.

The gatekeeper of the town government was very familiar with Chen Xiu and greeted them warmly and let them directly into the courtyard. It's hard to say it's a big yard. A low red brick wall surrounds a two-story dilapidated building, which is the office of the town leaders. What can distinguish it from private houses is the flagpole erected high in the yard, with the five-star red flag fluttering in the wind.

Chen Xiu's father received them warmly. In his shabby office, the wooden tables and chairs were a little better than those in Lao Zheng's office in the food factory, but only a little better. At least a leg would not be broken suddenly.

Knowing that they were visiting the people's water shortage situation, he bluntly introduced: "This town has a total of five brigades, ten natural villages, and a population of more than [-]. It is considered to have a relatively large population in the county. Most of the young people go out to work. Most of the people left behind are middle-aged and elderly people and children. The reason for the continuous outflow of people is because of the poor living environment. A few years ago, the county provided tap water to the town, but there was no financial support to lay the pipes to the village and leave it to the town itself. Solve it. As you can see, the town is also financially strapped. Even myself, including myself, cannot pay wages for three months. Let alone provide water to the village."

Gao Hongda asked: "Uncle Chen, what is the main source of income for the people in our town?"

Secretary Chen replied: "It's wolfberry. The quality of our wolfberry is very good, but the sales are very problematic."

Gao Hongda felt a little helpless. He currently did not have the ability to help sell wolfberry, so he asked: "If every village is connected to running water, how much will it cost at least?"

Secretary Chen held out five fingers and frowned and said: "The material cost alone is half a million, including more than [-] kilometers of water pipes and various valves, not counting construction costs. That's it, it's just repairing every detail." The village entrance. However, even if it is built to the village entrance, it is not bad. Our entire county’s annual fiscal revenue is less than [-] yuan, all relying on state support. It is not as good as a village in an eastern city, such as Huaxi Village."

Baldy Li smacked his lips and said, "This can't be compared. Huaxi Village's fiscal revenue in one month is as much as that of Ningxia Province in one year. Your county is really not as good as our town in Henan..." Seeing that he was starting to make the same old habit again, Lao Bi hurriedly Kick him and the guy shuts up immediately.

Gao Hongda thought for a moment, patted his chest and said, "Our company will pay for this!"

Secretary Chen stood up very excitedly and asked: "You, what is your company?"

Chen Xiu replied: "Classmate Xiaogao runs a canteen and an Internet cafe!"

Secretary Chen sat down again in disappointment and sighed: "Then your income is not high, so don't drag you down!"

Gao Hongda pretended to be mysterious and said: "Have you forgotten that our school also has two school-run enterprises?"

Baldy Li said disdainfully: "Director Zhao is not here. Are you good at what you say?"

Lao Bi, who had been silent for the whole time, took over and said, "Don't worry, what he said is good! Secretary Chen can help contact the installation team and material procurement!"

Secretary Chen rubbed his hands excitedly and said excitedly: "Thank you so much, I want to send you the banner!" Then he suddenly remembered something and continued: "You can just provide the pipes. For other work, we will organize the people in the town to help!"

Then he ran out and came back after a while and said: "Okay, I have arranged for the secretary to notify the village cadres one by one to come to a meeting in the afternoon to arrange tasks. You can follow Chen Xiu for a walk here in the afternoon."

Gao Hongda waved his hand and said: "We will order the pipes in the afternoon. I understand this. Just find a few technicians in your town to survey the lines in the afternoon."

Secretary Chen immediately agreed to lend the town's public motorcycle to Gao Hongda, and asked Chen Xiu to lead the way to the county supply market to find suppliers.

It's still very cold in Ningxia in early spring. Even wearing a cotton coat can't block the cold wind that pours into the body, let alone driving a motorcycle. But it was Chen Xiu who drove the motorcycle. Although this girl looked weak, she was very skilled at driving a motorcycle. Unfortunately, Gao Hongda could only sit in the back seat and let the girl drive him. He had no choice but to drive a motorcycle. You can ask him to drive a semi-trailer, but he can't handle this thing with two legs covered with iron.

I felt awkward sitting in the back seat of a girl. I didn't know where to put my hands, and I was really embarrassed to hold her waist. Don’t they all say: A man’s head, a woman’s waist, if you’re not a lover, don’t do it. In the end, Chen Xiu generously took his hand and put it on her waist, yelling: "Don't be so fake, the clothes are so thick, what's the point of being embarrassed? You're a big man!"

Unfortunately, what she didn't expect was that the guy behind her was naturally afraid of motorcycles. As soon as the car started moving, he couldn't help but hug her waist, making the situation extremely embarrassing. Father Chen frowned and thought: "Does this boy have something to do with his daughter? Otherwise, why would he be willing to travel thousands of kilometers to throw money at us? Does he want to please me? This is completely unnecessary, I think That's great, young man! I agreed and will give them my household registration book when I get back!"