After returning to Ningcheng, Liu Yan immediately called Li Tong.

After listening to Liu Yan's report on the phone, Li Tong pondered for a moment and said: "The county finance can't provide a penny, let alone the Chang'an Commune, don't even think about it!

At this point, we are riding a tiger and it’s hard to get off, so we have to resort to local methods.”

"Secretary Li, what's a simple way? A way to make money?"

"If I had a way to make money, it wouldn't be your turn, Liu Yan, because there would already be a crowd of people waiting in line behind me.

We don’t have any money, but we have a lot of people. Although Yuqing County is short of money, it is not short of people.”

"There are a lot of people? Are you referring to the educated youth who have returned to the city? Secretary Li, they have to pay wages! We can't let those unemployed young people work in vain, right?!

According to the total labor planned for the road project, less than one-tenth of the salary budget for contract personnel at the county labor bureau will be available at that time, and the rest will have to be paid temporarily."

Li Tong said in a deep voice: "I have thought about it. We can mobilize all the party members, cadres and Communist Youth League members of the Yuqing County Party Committee and County Government agencies, as well as the Chang'an Commune agencies..."

Liu Yan couldn't help but interrupt Li Tong: "What do you mean..."

Li Tong said slowly on the other end of the phone: "All leading cadres took the lead and gave up their weekend rest time to participate in voluntary labor in highway construction.

If necessary, staff can be arranged to take turns every week and take one day off to work..."

Liu Yan exclaimed: "Ah! Voluntary labor?! This..."

"What is this? What's wrong? Have you forgotten your roots? Think about that during those ten years and the 1950s, was there still little voluntary labor for all the people in China?

It is not only voluntary labor for party members and cadres, but also voluntary labor for all people, and it is done day and night from morning to night.

Not to mention government agencies, even teachers and students from primary and secondary schools actively participated.

Still remember how the People’s Square in Huaining City was built?

Under the leadership of leaders at all levels of the Huaining Prefectural Committee, in nearly a year, relying on the voluntary labor of all people in various units and schools in Huaining..."

Liu Yan, who was reborn into this world, had never participated in voluntary labor although he had gone to the mountains and countryside.

But he had heard that from the 1950s to the 1970s, there were many vigorous voluntary labor programs across the country.

The nature of the Arbor Day voluntary labor in the previous life was completely different. It lasted for several months, half a year, and no one was paid...

Hearing what Li Tong said, Liu Yan suddenly said: "Secretary Li, don't talk about it. It seems that this is the only way at the moment."

"I will report this matter to Secretary Liu and County Magistrate Gao as soon as possible.

I will come up with a solution for the mobilization work here in the county.

It’s up to you to organize the Chang’an Commune!”

"This road is related to Chang'an Commune, so there is no problem. Moreover, once the county leaders take action, Secretary Wang and Director Wei will definitely not be able to sit still, and all the party members and cadres of the commune will have to personally fight..."

…

From Yuqing County to Chang'an Commune, based on the original mechanical farming road, in accordance with the principle of protecting surrounding vegetation, and the county road standard planning with minimum investment, the total construction length is approximately 68 kilometers.

Twenty days after Liu Yan returned to Chang'an Commune from Ningcheng, construction officially started!

…

The second night after Liu Yan and Fan Lili returned to Ningcheng from Yanjing, Qin Lu called Liu Yan's home at Ningcheng Medical University, and the person who answered the phone was Shi Yuhua.

"Aunt Yuhua, this is Xiaolu, are Xiaoyan and Lili at home?"

"Xiao Lu! They are here, how are your parents?"

"Both of them are fine, Aunt Yuhua. Xiaoning is with me now. She wants to say a few words to you. After that, please give Xiaoyan the phone. I have something to say to him."

…

After talking to Liu Ning for a while, Shi Yuhua gave the phone to Liu Yan.

Liu Yan answered the phone: "Sister, are you looking for me? It's been less than two days since I left Yanjing. What can I do?"

"Xiao Yan, listen, Xiang Ran will go to Jiangning Province to take up his post tomorrow morning."

"The job is..."

"Deputy Minister of the Organization Department of the Jiangning Provincial Committee."

"It was still undecided in Yanjing two days ago..."

"My father initially wanted him to go to a prefecture-level city in Jiangning Province, but later he considered that he lacked experience in working locally.

In the end, I decided to work for a period of time in the deputy position of the department I was familiar with."

"Will Li Zixuan come too?"

"Yes, Li Zixuan has been transferred from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation to the Jiangning Provincial Science and Technology Bureau. We will go together tomorrow."

"What about the child? Come together too? Or should he leave it at her grandma's house in Yanjing?"

"Let's go together. Ningcheng No. 1 Middle School and Yanjing No. 4 Middle School have already completed the transfer procedures for Fang Shumin."

Liu Yan paused and asked, "Sister, please tell Xiang Ran and the others about my situation."

"I've said it all! Tonight, my parents are practicing it at home for Xiang Ran's family, and Xiao Ning also participated.

Their family has just left. I think you are probably still in Ningcheng at this moment, so I will tell you quickly so that you can be mentally prepared.

If you are in Ningcheng these two days, you'd better take the time to visit their home."

"Okay, please help me find out their address in Ningcheng and see when they are free in the past two days. Lili and I will go visit them.

It just so happens that there is a clothing project in Ningcheng that we are cooperating with Huaining. I want to participate in the business negotiations with the partner and will stay for two more days."

"Okay! You wait for my news tomorrow. It's best if you two can meet each other this time. Otherwise, once you go to the county, you don't know how long it will take."

"I thought so too..."

Putting down the phone, Liu Yan said to Lily: "My sister called and said that Xiang Ran's job in Jiangning Province has been decided and he will be appointed as deputy director of the Organization Department of the Jiangning Provincial Committee. The family will arrive in Ningcheng tomorrow.

Let's stay in Ningcheng for the next two days, wait for her news, and meet Fang Ranjian."

"Sister, what you have said here means that Xiangran also wants to meet you, or this is your father's intention.

After all, Xiangran has just arrived here and is not familiar with the situation in Jiangning Province. At this time, he needs to know some information from you."

"I'll call Secretary Pei and Secretary Li right now and tell them we'll be back in Huaining in two days..."

"Didn't you just call yesterday to talk about the garment factory?

Let's wait until tomorrow. After receiving a call from my sister and confirming the time to meet with Xiangran, I will call them again..."

…

The next night, on the third floor of a unit building in the Jiangning Provincial Party Committee compound.

It was Fang Shumin who opened the door. When she saw Liu Yan and Fan Lili, she exclaimed: "Brother Liu Yan, sister Lili, please come in quickly! Mom and dad are packing their luggage in the living room."

"Xiao Min, this is a small gift from my brother and sister. I hope you like it." With that, Fan Lili handed Fang Shumin a box.

"What a beautiful box, oh! It's a VCR!" Fang Shumin said in surprise.

"Do you like Xiao Min?" Fan Lili asked.

"I like it! I like it so much!"

"This is for Xiao Min to learn English. There are also a few boxes of English tapes here." With that, Fan Lili took out a few boxes of tapes from her bag and handed them to Fang Shumin.

Fang Shumin took the tape: "Thank you, brother and sister, come and sit in the living room!"

At this time, Fang Ran and Li Zixuan walked into the living room while wiping their hands.

"Sorry, the checked luggage has just arrived. The room is in a mess and there is no place to stay. Knowing that you two were coming, we quickly vacated the living room." Li Zixuan said.

"Uncle Fang, Aunt Li, I'm sorry to disturb you." Liu Yan said quickly.

"I heard from Xiaolu that you can only stay in Ningcheng for two days. We are all a family, so don't be polite. Come and sit on the sofa." Xiangran continued.

"Dad, Mom, look, this is the VCR and the English tape that my brother and sister gave me." Fang Shumin raised the box in her hand.

"Thank you brother and sister?"

Fang Shumin nodded.

"Okay! Xiao Min goes to her room while her parents talk to her brothers and sisters." Li Zixuan said to Fang Shumin.

Fang Shumin pouted: "I don't! I want to listen to my brother and sister."

"Xiao Min, my parents are discussing work with my brothers and sisters. You go to your room and pack your things..." Li Zixuan continued.

Fang Shumin pouted, nodded, and walked to the back room.
Chapter completed!