Chapter 1344
I made these dumplings just for this dish of vinegar.
In late June, Zhao Shijie completed the first phase of the project construction supervision and prepared to return to Wucheng for vacation.
Li Long kept his promise and took him into the mountains to hunt, mainly for mushrooms, all kinds of mushrooms.
Morel mushrooms were already out of season, and although Zhao Shijie really wanted to get some, there weren't any available.
Fortunately, although there were no morel mushrooms, there were plenty of black tiger paw mushrooms, and in large quantities. The two of them quickly filled most of a sack in the ravine.
There were so many that Zhao Shijie thought these mushrooms were neither tasty nor valuable.
After Li Long explained it to him in detail, Zhao Shijie, half-believing and half-doubting, prepared to take it back to his family to try.
The two of them didn't go to Halim's place this time; they had a picnic in the mountains at noon, eating naan, canned food, and drinking the water they brought.
Li Long also took him to dig up some Codonopsis pilosula roots—although the roots weren't very plump at this time, they were as thick as a child's arm because of the good harvest, and they looked impressive.
There are only a few good things in the mountains. By the afternoon, Zhao Shijie was satisfied and went back with Li Long. Li Long even thought of giving him a nice piece of Mahe jade, but Zhao Shijie refused it outright.
"I have no problem with mushrooms and ginseng, these things can be easily found in the mountains. I didn't expect the resources in the mountains to be so abundant, and I could get so many things in one trip."
But this jade is different. If I take this, that would be bribery, so don't get me into trouble.
After he said that, Li Long stopped talking about giving it away. He hadn't expected Zhao Shijie to be so principled.
That evening, Zhao Shijie delivered most of the mushrooms to Lao Ma's place so that everyone could eat them together, while he kept a small portion in his dormitory to dry, planning to take it back the next day.
He also told Li Long that he was worried the mushrooms he was carrying would get infested with bugs in the next day or two, but Li Long assured him they wouldn't and told him not to worry.
The next morning, Li Long came to pick him up and handed him a small package. He opened it and saw that it contained dried morel mushrooms.
“Our purchasing station only buys this. This is this year’s stock. This dried goods weigh less than a kilogram, which isn’t much. It’s not a bribe, so don’t worry,” Li Long said half-jokingly.
Zhao Shijie smiled and put it away.
Li Long originally intended to take him directly to Wucheng, but Zhao Shijie stopped him, saying that he could take a bus back from the bus station and return in late August.
Actually, Li Long meant that it was fine if he didn't come back. After all, Li Long had already said that if there wasn't enough money to repair the canal, he would make up the difference himself.
Even if Zhao Shijie comes over in late August, it will only be to supervise the repair of the main canal. Li Long is thinking that he can just lead those people to do the work himself.
Zhao Shijie said that even if there wasn't enough money, as the supervisor, he was still responsible for the construction project, so he would still come.
Li Long didn't try to persuade him; he just let him be.
After dropping Zhao Shijie off at the bus station and watching him buy a ticket and board the bus, Li Long drove to the county hospital.
In the medical affairs office of the county hospital, Director Wu Xinfang adjusted her glasses after listening to Li Long's idea and said:
“Comrade Li Long, I admire your actions of getting rich and benefiting the village, but some of the projects you mentioned are beyond the capabilities of our county hospital.”
"Can't finish it? How is that possible?" Li Long asked, somewhat surprised.
The items he proposed were, in his view, routine items for physical examinations in later generations, items that township health centers could have completed in the era of universal physical examinations.
Moreover, these tests are nothing special; they are nothing more than routine blood tests, routine urine tests, liver function tests, and screenings for certain diseases, such as electrocardiograms, chest X-rays, and abdominal ultrasounds.
It's perfectly normal.
"But our hospital really can't meet the requirements you mentioned."
Let me put it this way: we usually do physical examinations for students and new recruits, but we don't have as many tests as you're describing. To meet all these requirements and have so many people examined at the same time, we'd need to go to Shicheng No. 2 Hospital at least.
"Shicheng No. 2 Hospital?" Li Long was somewhat surprised. "Is it necessary?"
“Unless you plan to simplify some procedures and eliminate some testing items,” Director Wu said. “Actually, we would also like to take on this project, since we can actually get paid after the testing is completed.”
Director Wu's words were very practical, and Li Long understood what she meant. Although he wanted to make money, he couldn't abandon his bottom line principles; if he couldn't do something, he couldn't do it, and he wouldn't try to fool people.
"Alright, I'll go ask at the Second Hospital," Li Long said. "Thank you, Director Wu."
As Li Long left the medical department, he saw Hu Qinghe's wife's back as she walked out. She was carrying a lunchbox and hurriedly walking into the hospital, probably to deliver food to Hu Qinghe.
Li Long hesitated for a moment, then didn't go to see Hu Qinghe. He already knew that Captain Xu Chengjun had given the more than two thousand yuan they had raised to Hu Qinghe, so his medical treatment wouldn't be a problem for the time being.
Moreover, because Hu Qinghe's lung cancer was discovered relatively early, it is not as complicated to treat, so his current situation is relatively optimistic.
Li Long drove to Shicheng No. 2 Hospital and talked to the hospital leaders about the matter. After discussion, the hospital leaders decided that as long as Li Long brought more than 100 people, they could set aside a weekend to give these people physical examinations. As for the items, they would do it according to Li Long's suggestion.
Of course, the premise is that these people must be told that they cannot eat breakfast or drink water, otherwise many projects cannot be carried out.
Li Long noted down these precautions, paid a partial deposit, and would settle the rest after the specific number of people had undergone medical examinations and the statistics were compiled.
All that's left is to go back and inform the villagers.
The vast majority of people in the village already knew about this, and most of them were grateful for what Li Long had done.
After all, everyone in the village knew about Hu Qinghe's situation, and most families donated money, some more and some less, but they all did their part.
Nobody wants to be enjoying their increasingly better days when they suddenly fall ill; that would be a real hassle.
Of course, some elderly people hold onto old ideas. Since they don't feel unwell now, they don't want to get checked. They wonder if the disease found is a real illness or just the hospital coaxing them into paying money.
There aren't many people like this. Some of their children will try to persuade them, since it's a free medical check-up, and they might as well get it done.
If they can't be persuaded, they'll just give up and the children will go for the check-up themselves. In some cases, the children will even be persuaded by their parents not to go for the check-up, lest they discover some serious illness and be scammed out of their money.
After all, Li Long said the check-up would be free, but he didn't say the medical treatment would be free. Did the Li family only pay 100 yuan for Hu Qinghe's illness? That's about the same as what the team leader's family paid; they didn't pay more.
Inside Zhang's store, Ma Jinbao drank some cheap liquor and said:
"The Li family is so powerful that they even offer free medical checkups to everyone. There must be something fishy going on here."
"What's the trick?" Zhang Dazui asked, leaning on the counter.
The team now has three stores. This one is the oldest and most popular, but it's quite far from the other two residential areas, where people already have their own shops.
Moreover, the shopkeepers in the western residential area have started barbecuing in their own yards, setting up tables, and they can play cards and mahjong under the grape trellis.
This is quite attractive, so people from the western settlements no longer come here.
And gradually, some people who like to play cards in these two settlements will also go there to play, even if it means walking nearly a kilometer.
Fortunately, regular customers like Ma Jinbao who love to drink like to come here, and some people who love to hear gossip also come here often, so the place is still quite popular.
Ma Jinbao finished the last few drops of wine in his glass, still a little reluctant to leave. He tilted his head back, turned the glass upside down, and poured the rest into his mouth until not a single drop could be drunk. Then he licked his lips and said:
"People do this kind of thing either for fame or for money. The Li family is not short of money, so they are after fame."
I bet there will be TV reporters coming to interview the team, and there will definitely be some at the hospital as well.
I'm putting it this way: if he doesn't invite me, I won't get in the car. I've also made it clear that he'll be very polite in this situation!
"You're just bragging," someone scoffed. "They invited you? Would the Li family stoop so low? Don't you think too highly of yourself?"
Ma Jinbao glanced sideways at the speaker and sneered, "You little brat, what do you know! It's not that I take myself seriously, it's just that these newly rich people take their reputation too seriously. Just you wait and see!"
Some people scoffed at Ma Jinbao's words, while others were skeptical.
Just then, the team's loudspeaker blared, and everyone in the store ran out to listen.
"...Listen up, everyone. On the morning of June 30th, don't eat breakfast. Adults and children, go to the intersections of your respective residential areas and wait for Li Long to come with a car to take you to Shicheng No. 2 Hospital for a physical examination."
Remember, don't eat, drink, or urinate. Adults should tell the children to hold it in; they can eat and urinate after the checkup. This checkup is free; you don't need to spend any money. After the checkup, Li Long will treat everyone to a meal of noodles. Come back after you eat.
Don't worry, everyone. I will arrange for militiamen to patrol the three residential areas to keep out thieves. No one's belongings will be stolen.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft, just one more thing: on June 30th, which is next Sunday, Li Long will be taking the whole village to Shicheng No. 2 Hospital for checkups. Everyone remember not to eat, drink, or urinate in the morning..."
Upon hearing that they would be going to the Second People's Hospital of Shicheng for a check-up, some people were tempted. When they heard that Li Long would also provide a meal, some people were even more tempted.
After all, Shicheng No. 2 Hospital has a good reputation and is much better than the county hospital.
The fact that they only provide a meal of noodles is enough to attract many elderly people who originally didn't want to go, making them feel that it's worth a visit.
Some people might not imagine that even ten years from now, there will still be people in the village who have never been to the county town to eat mixed noodles.
Ma Jinbao also heard what Xu Chengjun said over the loudspeaker. His face turned a little red, whether from drinking too much or feeling that he had spoken too confidently earlier, he didn't know.
The young man he had just called "Gagaowa" sneered:
"Old Ma, didn't you say you'd only go if I begged you? It's a free bowl of noodles, and there's even a car to take you to Shicheng Second Hospital. Are you coming or not?"
"Well, I've already said it: if you don't beg me, I definitely won't go!" Ma Jinbao declared defiantly. Just then, Boss Gu walked over carrying a bottle of vinegar, and Ma Jinbao hurriedly asked:
"Old Gu, shouldn't your Er Mao be released by now? Where is he?"
Everyone's attention was successfully diverted, and they immediately looked at Boss Gu who had come over to buy vinegar.
“Er Mao,” Gu Laoda said with a hint of embarrassment, “he went to his cousin’s place in Shicheng. It’s easier to find work there. He earns two hundred yuan a month, which is fine.”
After saying that, he hurriedly went to the counter and told Zhang Dazui to quickly fill a bottle of vinegar, saying that he had run out of his own vinegar.
Old Master Gu fled as if he were escaping, but his heart was far from at peace.
In fact, Gu Ermao was released last year. After he was released, he did not return to the team. Instead, his eldest brother arranged for him to go to the production and construction corps where his cousin's family lived. He paid to get in as a worker, which basically meant farming.
These days, some employees of the Production and Construction Corps look down on local people because, although they also farm, they are, after all, employees who receive retirement pensions when they reach retirement age.
Some locals also look down on the Corps because the Corps members mostly live in remote areas. Apart from Shicheng, a city within the Corps, they live far from any city.
Moreover, the corps was basically located on land borrowed from the local people, which was not officially their own. The local people felt that their land was not theirs, and the place they were in was a desolate, godforsaken place, so they looked down on it.
There was a sense of mutual dislike, since at that time, most ordinary people did not know the strategic significance of the Production and Construction Corps.
Gu Ermao's reputation is already ruined in the fourth team. If he goes back to the fourth team, he'll have a hard time finding a partner.
Boss Gu had no other choice but to take this path. After all, Gu Er Mao had been an apprentice with a driver and had some skills—as for whether he still had them, Boss Gu didn't want to think about it.
He thought that if Gu Ermao stayed there honestly for two years, he could save some money and use his connections to get him into the mechanized farming team. That way, having a skill would make things easier for him, and he could earn more money.
However, last autumn, Gu Ermao got into trouble again.
As mentioned earlier, when farming in the Production and Construction Corps, the company was basically responsible for distributing all expenses in the spring. In the autumn, all the harvest would be brought to the regiment for unified sale, and the workers would be paid after deducting expenses.
Gu Ermao hadn't seen any money for a year and couldn't stand it. During the autumn harvest, he secretly took some corn from the field to sell at the local grain station to get some cash, but he was caught red-handed by the militia of the company.
As a result, he was discharged from the company, and Gu Laoda's cousin was also implicated and had to pay a lot of money.
Gu Ermao was too ashamed to go home, so he left a note for his uncle, saying that he was going to try his luck in Koukou and would never come back until he made something of himself.
When others asked, Mr. Gu naturally didn't have the face to tell the truth.
However, what he didn't know was that after he left, the matter was exposed—someone in the team had a relative in his cousin's company, and people already knew about it, but no one had said anything.
Now that Ma Jinbao brought it up, Gu Laoda didn't tell the truth to save face. As soon as he left, the quick-tongued villager told the truth.
"I see. Well, Gu Ermao... hehe, it's not easy for him out there," Ma Jinbao said with a smile.
He was watching others make fools of themselves, while others were waiting to see him make fools of himself.
At Xu Chengjun's house, after he finished making the notification, he asked Li Long, "How many cars have you prepared?"
"Six trucks," Li Long said. "Then our family cars will come along, and that should be enough."
"The team has over 300 people, so we might have to squeeze in," Xu Chengjun said after doing some calculations.
Li Long smiled and said, "It's impossible for everyone to go. I think a hundred or two hundred people will be at most. I'm not forcing anyone to come because I've done a good deed. It would be great if they could come, but it's okay if they can't."
Xu Chengjun sighed and said, "Indeed, you did a great thing, and everyone should appreciate it. It's just that I'm afraid some people won't understand and will think you're just trying to save face for yourself... Sigh."
Li Long smiled and said nothing more. He had a clear conscience, and he hadn't even notified the TV station about it; he just wanted to do something practical for the village.
However, his silence didn't mean others wouldn't. At Shicheng No. 2 Hospital, someone had already told a friend who worked at a TV station about it. As a result, the TV station immediately sent people to verify with the hospital. After confirming that it was true, they immediately assembled a film crew, planning to shoot a news report on the day of the physical examination.
Li Long left the team leader's house and drove to Liang Wenyu's house.
Liang Wenyu and Liang Donglou were maintaining the tractor together. Li Long drove the car into the yard, got out, and found that the Dongfanghong 75 tractor looked brand new, with almost no rust.
"Little Long's here." Liang Donglou stood up and wiped his hands as he saw Li Long arrive. "You haven't been here for a while."
"I've been a bit busy lately." Li Long smiled somewhat awkwardly. Just then, Chen Xiuzhu came out of the vegetable garden carrying a basket of vegetables. Seeing Li Long, she smiled and said:
"Xiaolong's here! Perfect timing. I'll make two dishes, and you guys can have a couple of drinks."
Li Long was about to refuse when Liang Wenyu interrupted him: "I heard you set up an experimental field and now you've started a drip irrigation project. I don't understand it. Can you explain it to me?"
Liang Wenyu is now very humble in front of Li Long and is working hard to learn new knowledge.
Li Long briefly explained it to him, but Liang Wenyu wanted to ask more questions. Liang Donglou interrupted him, saying that Li Long must have come for something, and that they should talk about the important matter first.
Li Long then mentioned the physical examination. According to his idea, he wanted Liang Donglou's family, including Liang Donglou's second sister's family, to go for a physical examination together, including the children.
Liang Wenyu agreed without hesitation; for him, this was a good thing.
Liang Donglou waved his hand and said, "What's the point of getting checked? Why waste money? If Wenyu wants to go, then she can go. We won't go. We're perfectly healthy, what's the point of going?"
Li Long laughed and said, "You should still get checked out. Uncle Donglou, I know you studied medicine, but I've also heard the saying, 'A doctor can't cure himself.' This kind of thing is just a precaution. It's best if nothing happens, but it's good to be prepared if something does."
Chen Xiuzhu came out carrying a teapot and teacups. After hearing Li Long's words, she also said, "We're too old, so let's not go. It's too much trouble."
Li Long took the teacup, took a sip, and said, "It's no trouble at all. I'll drive over and pick you up. I have plenty of cars and can transport a lot of people."
Upon hearing that Hu Qinghe had lung cancer, he immediately recalled his previous life, in which Liang Donglou died of lung cancer two years later.
By then it was already in the late stage. If you think about it, it might be in the early stage now, or it might just be showing signs. So, an examination is necessary.
To be selfish, Li Longcai made all the dumplings for the village's health check-up because of Liang Donglou's vinegar.
Of course, this time he planned to make it bigger, not only the villagers, but also Halim's family, Yushanjiang's family, and the workers from his factories would all go for physical examinations, making it an annual routine.
Consider it a small perk.
When Liang Donglou heard Li Long say this, he found it hard to refuse. In the end, both elders agreed to go for a medical check-up.
Li Long also told them some precautions and asked them to prepare in advance.
Li Long also told Liang Wenyu about leveling the land, saying that after the cotton harvest at the end of the year, he would gather tractors to level the land for the cooperative.
If Liang Wenyu is free at that time, he can drive a tractor over there. The cost of leveling over a thousand acres of land is not a small amount.
Liang Wenyu was naturally delighted and immediately agreed. According to Li Long's timeline, the land would have been almost completely plowed by then, and leveling the land would be like having an extra job, which would earn them a lot more money.
The next day, Li Long went to the fourth team and told his older brother about it.
When Liang Yuemei heard from Li Long that he had persuaded her father to get a medical check-up, she smiled and said, "It's fortunate that it was Xiaolong who persuaded him. If it were us, Dad might not have agreed."
Li Jianguo nodded: "Yes, Uncle is still a bit stubborn and has his own opinions. But Xiaolong is a step below us, so it's really hard for Uncle to refuse him."
They didn't know what would happen in the future, but they thought it was a good thing to have a physical examination, at least to know their physical condition in advance and to deal with any problems in time.
That same day, Li Long notified the families of Halimu, Yushanjiang, Talihar, and Bek, since the school was almost closed for the holidays anyway, and the children could just go with the check-up.
During dinner, Li Qingxia heard Li Long say that he was preparing to send six trucks to pick up the villagers, and couldn't help but say:
"Six trucks aren't enough. Our team has over three hundred people. Besides, we don't have that many trucks."
Li Long laughed and said, "That's enough, that's more than enough. Not everyone in the team will necessarily appreciate our help. I think sending a hundred or so is about right."
As for the truck, it should arrive in the next couple of days.
Two days later, on Thursday, Liu Gaolou arrived with a long convoy of cars.
This convoy was longer than ever before, consisting of four Kamaz heavy trucks, four high-horsepower wheeled tractors, three trucks carrying hides, two trucks carrying antelope horns, and ten trucks carrying luxury cars, all led by Liu Gaolou's Mercedes-Benz to the purchasing station.
The huge backyard of the recycling station was almost too big to fit all the vehicles; they couldn't even turn around properly.
Li Long was worried about the large amount of supplies. He thought it would take a whole day just to count them, but Liu Gaolou said that his second uncle said there was no need to count them, just a rough number would be enough, since they were exchanging canned goods and sugar, and they should do it according to the agreement.
Li Long knew he had gotten a great deal, but he still wanted Liu Gaolou to stay a few days longer so he could borrow the trucks.
Liu Gaolou naturally had no objections and went to the guesthouse to have some fun.
I'm happy to get some rest.
On Sunday morning, June 30th, two trucks carrying workers from the cannery, purchasing station, and dried meat processing workshop had already gone to Shicheng No. 2 Hospital. Six trucks, led by Liang Shuangcheng, arrived at Team 4.
He wasn't sure how many people he could attract today. (End of Chapter)