He had worked hard to get this spot, not to benefit those city folk.
He wanted to be a worker, to become a city dweller, but he didn't want to be a sinner in the brigade.
If he lost the recruitment spot because of his actions, the others in the brigade would not let him off.
Thinking of this possibility, Su Huzhi was already sweating profusely in the cold weather!
If he had already secured the spot and could go to work in the city, he wouldn't have cared about anything else.
But at this moment, he had nothing, and in such a situation, becoming a sinner despised by everyone in the brigade meant he wouldn't even have a place to walk.
Li Changqing glanced at Su Huzhi, whose mouth was agape in surprise, and a cold smile flickered across his lips.
"I am willing to offer recruitment spots to your Hongxing Brigade because I see the people of Hongxing Brigade as simple and kind, but today, I feel I might have been mistaken."
A light sentence like this reached everyone's ears.
Some of the troublemakers flushed red.
Had they done something wrong?
But when faced with temptation, how many people could avoid making mistakes?
However, there were exceptions, like Liu Xiuying and Su Xiaoqin.
"Director Li, how can you speak like that? It's precisely because we are simple and honest people that we cannot stand by and watch someone deceive others and give the spots that rightfully belong to the brigade to just one family!" Liu Xiuying said righteously.
Her tone was forceful, as if by speaking this way, she could represent justice.
Liu Xiuying's words were not truly agreed upon by many.
"The capable should take it. Don't say Su Chuan's family only got two spots. If his family has the ability, even if they take all the spots, there's nothing wrong with it," Li Changqing said unapologetically.
"The Cake Factory is recruiting workers, not distributing welfare for your Hongxin Brigade!"
The crowd turned pale and red, not knowing what to say. Some even looked at Liu Xiuying with displeasure.
Soon, everyone turned their gaze to Su Changjiu, hoping he would step forward and speak for the commune members.
As long as these few spots could be retained, a few people in the brigade could go to the city to work, which would be beneficial to them.
But Su Changjiu said nothing, just stood there with his head bowed.
No one knew what he was thinking, or if he was reflecting on himself.
"Captain Su, Director Li is going to take away all the recruitment spots. What is your intention?" Director Qian said in a deep voice.
Su Changjiu finally looked up, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. Everyone understood the meaning in his eyes: disappointment!
"Director Qian, it is my fault! I have not paid enough attention to the education of the commune members, which has led to today's outcome."
Su Changjiu finally looked at Director Qian, but directly admitted his mistake.
What was going on?
The commune members looked at Su Changjiu with very strange expressions.
What did he mean by not paying enough attention to the education of the commune members?
They were all fine, what education did they need?
No, they did need education. If they hadn't all acted for their own selfish gain, how could things have come to this?
The old Su family got two spots, and they got them through their own abilities.
Director Qian, seeing the situation, already understood it clearly, but he couldn't say it!
"Do you know why Director Li kept these few people and rejected everyone else?"
Su Changjiu looked around, his expression unchanged.
Finally, he spoke, "Does anyone here know the reason why Director Li kept these few people?"
No one in the audience spoke. It was unclear if they truly didn't see, or if they saw and pretended not to.
The atmosphere fell silent, with no one speaking.
Finally, Su Xiaotian stepped forward. The soft little girl stood in front of everyone with grace, not at all like an eight or nine-year-old child.
The moment Su Xiaotian stepped forward, Director Qian was surprised.
This little girl was quite talented. Ordinary country girls would only lower their heads shyly when they saw people, or even hide away, let alone speak up voluntarily.
But this little girl not only stepped forward but also looked like she had something to say.
It was just unclear if the little girl truly knew.
He became more interested and smiled, saying, "Do you know why Director Li chose these five people and rejected the others?"
"Of course, I know!" Su Xiaotian said with immense pride, her bright little face full of smiles.
Liang Xiu's face changed, and she quickly said, "Xiaotian, don't be reckless!"
The little girl was spoiled, and dared to step forward at such a time!
"Mom, it's okay, I really know. Besides, I'm just a child. Even if I say something wrong, Director Qian won't mind."
Director Qian heard this and laughed heartily, "Alright, little girl, tell us. If you say it well, I'll give you a reward. If you say it poorly, I won't give you a reward!"
There were other children present. Hearing Director Qian say he would give a reward, they were envious.
However, they didn't understand the rest of his words and certainly wouldn't dare to step forward rashly.
Most commune members didn't believe that Su Xiaotian, a little girl, could understand the thoughts of important people, but since Su Xiaotian had spoken, they didn't mind listening.
Only the people from the old Su family became increasingly nervous, fearing that Su Xiaotian would say something wrong and cause trouble.
"Because my mom, my second aunt, and a few others of them know how to be hygienic!"
The crisp voice rang out in the classroom without any reservation.
Everyone heard it clearly.
Hygienic?
All the commune members were stunned at that moment. What did that mean?
They still had to be hygienic to get a job?
But looking at Su Xiaotian's demeanor, she didn't seem to be joking at all.
It was as if this was the real answer.
"Xiaotian, what do you mean by that?" someone couldn't help but ask.
"Director Qian, could you please look at these test papers first, and then I'll speak, okay?" Su Xiaotian suddenly took a few test papers and handed them to Director Qian.
The people in the brigade were already questioning the test papers of Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying. This issue needed to be resolved first.
Director Qian did not open the test papers directly. Instead, he looked around, examining everyone.
"Do you trust me? If you do, I will look at these papers. If you don't, then I won't bother."
After saying this, Director Qian added, whether intentionally or not, "After all, it doesn't matter whether these papers are looked at or not."
Everyone then remembered that Director Li had already said that the recruitment spots would be recalled.
"Director Qian, of course, we trust you!"
It was unclear who started it, but suddenly everyone began to express their trust in Director Qian.
"Although these papers are not written well, for recruiting workers and not for secretarial work, they are sufficient," Director Qian said very conscientiously.
In rural areas, although literate, these people clearly did not possess much knowledge.
Su Hu was targeting Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying. He didn't believe that two housewives could answer the papers.
"Director Qian, please look at the papers of Qi Liangying and Liang Xiu. Did they really answer them all?"
As Su Huzhi said this, he was already filled with anxiety.
He had a premonition that things might go wrong today.
Director Qian took out two papers from the pile and looked at them for a long time.
"Although these two papers are not the best, and the handwriting is not beautiful, they are all answered correctly, and they even offered their own opinions, which is very rare."
Everyone looked at Director Qian in surprise.
Was Director Qian lying? But as the director of the commune, there was no need for him to lie.
"Captain Su, I didn't expect that the women comrades in your brigade could have such a level of education!"
This was complete praise, but to some people, these words meant something entirely different.
Su Xiaoqin tightly clenched her hands, her fingertips turning white, but the anger in her heart could not be suppressed!
No, she didn't want to see this outcome.
What she couldn't have, others definitely couldn't have, especially the people from the old Su family.
Even if these spots were all taken back, she wouldn't care.
"Director Qian, perhaps the exam questions were leaked beforehand. People who have never studied might have such results."
Su Xiaoqin was now disregarding everything, only thinking of ruining the future of Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying.
"In my opinion, even if such questions were leaked in advance, if someone truly doesn't know how to read or write, they still wouldn't be able to answer. Little girl, your idea is very dangerous!" Director Qian saw Su Xiaoqin and felt she looked familiar, but couldn't recall where he had seen her.
"I don't believe it! If I were given the answers in advance, I could definitely answer them."
Someone suddenly uttered this voice.
Su Changjiu didn't expect that at this point, the people in the brigade were still making a fuss.
He glanced in the direction of the voice and said with disdain, "Then I'll say a sentence, and you write it!"
There was no pleasant tone in Su Changjiu's words.
With the spots already gone, why were they still making trouble?
Were their brains broken?
The person mumbled, not daring to meet Su Changjiu's gaze, and didn't speak again.
She could speak, but she couldn't write.
"Manyuan's wife, come up and write a few characters, and I'll give you all the answers on this paper." Su Changjiu directly called out her name.
Manyuan's wife dared not step forward, wishing she could hide behind someone else.
Seeing that the commotion had reached its peak, Director Qian didn't want to continue the fuss and began to speak.
"Alright, let's get back to the point. Little girl, it's your turn to tell us why Director Li chose these five people from so many!"
"When they were kneading the dough, they didn't touch it directly. Instead, they washed their hands, checked if the basin was clean, and then started kneading the dough."
When Su Xiaotian said this, the commune members recalled that it was indeed so.
"What does that represent?" someone said indignantly.
It was just kneading dough, why be so particular?
"Exactly. If it's not clean, you won't get sick. What's wrong with not washing your hands?"
Su Xiaotian looked at the two people who had spoken. They were truly unreasonable.
"Director Li, is that right?" Su Xiaotian asked Li Changqing with a smile.
Li Changqing nodded, "Yes, little girl, your observation skills are very strong!"
"I washed my hands at home before coming, so my hands are clean." At this moment, someone raised another objection.
Su Xiaotian looked at him and the dough he had taken out, her smile becoming even brighter.
"This is the dough you kneaded, right? Look, what color is my second aunt's dough, and what color is this lump of dough?"
The dough was almost black. How dare he claim to have come after washing his hands?
"Not only did you not wash your hands, but you also scratched your feet while kneading the dough, and some people picked their noses," Su Xiaotian said with a smile.
Before these words were spoken, the onlookers didn't feel anything. But when Su Xiaotian said them, everyone's expression changed.
Scratching their feet and picking their noses while kneading dough. If such people were actually hired at the Cake Factory, who knew what other strange things they might do while making cakes.
Su Xiaoqin stepped forward and said, "I didn't scratch my feet or pick my nose when I was kneading the dough."
"You indeed didn't scratch your feet or pick your nose," Director Li said.
A smile appeared on Su Xiaoqin's lips. She hadn't done those things, so why was she rejected?
"My kneading was also fine. The dough was smooth and elastic," Su Xiaoqin continued.
"Your kneading is indeed good. It's obvious you've done this a lot!" Director Li replied accommodatingly.
Su Xiaoqin became even more smug. She met all the requirements, so why was she rejected?
No, she refused to accept this outcome. No matter what, she had to fight for it.
"If Director Li takes back all the spots, I have nothing to say. But if these five spots still belong to the Hongxin Brigade, I believe I have the right to claim one!" Su Xiaoqin said this with a very firm attitude.
She had been in the county town for so long, following Xiang Hong. She hadn't learned much else, but she had learned to be firm.
"You spat in the dough when you were kneading it."
Although it was only for a brief moment, Li Changqing saw it clearly.
He was stunned at the time. This young girl was efficient, but why did she spit in the dough? How could others eat it?
Su Xiaoqin clearly hadn't expected her small action to be seen by Li Changqing.
Spitting in the dough was a subconscious action for her.
She had started learning to knead dough and cook from the age of six and had been doing it for several years.
Because whenever her family made white noodles, they were for the male children, and had nothing to do with her.
Feeling resentful, she found ways to vent her unhappiness.
From the first time she spat in the dough, she became addicted and couldn't stop.
When she was kneading dough today, she hadn't intended to spit, but subconsciously, she spat out a mouthful.
"You little bitch, did you spit in our food when you cooked for us before?" Liu Xiuying yelled, rushing towards Su Xiaoqin and slapping her with her palm as big as a fan.
The thought that she had eaten a lot of noodles that might have been mixed with Su Xiaoqin's spit made her feel terrible.
She had to slap her a few times to vent her disgust.
"You little bitch, how dare you ruin good white flour! I'll beat you to death, I'll beat you to death!"
Liu Xiuying's combat power was not weak, especially when facing Su Xiaoqin, she was incredibly fierce.
Su Xiaoqin was used to being beaten. She thought that after being in the county town for so long, she would be stronger, but she didn't expect that when it really came down to it, she could only endure the beating!