Chapter 199: Great Steel Production

Chapter 199: Great Steel Production

Su Zhaozhao smiled at her words. "If I arrange this meeting for you, will you go? If you think it's a good match, I'll give them a reply."

Zhu Chunyan hesitated for a moment. "What does he look like?"

This was something Su Zhaozhao had to praise enthusiastically.

"He's incredibly handsome! Tall, strong, and well-built..."

Su Zhaozhao spouted off a string of compliments, and Zhu Chunyan's eyes lit up with excitement.

When she finished, Zhu Chunyan looked at her with a hint of suspicion. "Zhaozhao, are you exaggerating? My mom said that matchmakers can twist the truth; they can make the dead sound alive, and the ugly sound beautiful... Ow, ow!"

Before she could finish, Su Zhaozhao pinched her cheek. "Say that again!"

"Ah, Zhaozhao Jie, I didn't mean it, please let go..."

Su Zhaozhao released her. "So, are you going to meet him or not?"

"I'll meet him!"

"Aren't you afraid I'm deceiving you?"

Zhu Chunyan grinned awkwardly. "You definitely won't deceive me. I trust you!"

Su Zhaozhao rolled her eyes.

After finalizing things with Zhu Chunyan, Su Zhaozhao went back and directly approached Wang Chunhua.

"...When will Zhou Jianguo return?"

"He'll be back next month," Wang Chunhua said, thrilled. "Next month he'll be transferred back to the military district, so he'll have time to pursue relationships."

Su Zhaozhao nodded. "Perfect. Let's wait for Zhou Jianguo to return and then set up the meeting."

"Okay! If they hit it off, I'll give you a matchmaker's reward."

Su Zhaozhao laughed. "You really see me as a matchmaker now? No need for a reward. Just pour me an extra glass of wine at the wedding if they make it official."

"The matchmaker's wine must be offered. You're the matchmaker after all." Wang Chunhua also laughed.

Su Zhaozhao waved her hand. "Alright, I'm heading back now."

As Su Zhaozhao left the Zhou family's yard, she ran into Gu Xiang and Gu Nian coming back from outside.

"Where have you been?"

"We went to the small forest," Gu Nian said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "They've been cutting down trees over there; they're almost all gone!"

"Why are they cutting down the trees?"

Gu Xiang replied, "They said they need to turn them into charcoal to support the steel plant's production."

That explained why they were cutting down trees; the great steel production had begun.

Gu Heng had also received a new assignment and led his troops to the mountains for logging.

"How long will you be gone?"

"It's not clear yet. It depends on how many trees need to be chopped down. I'll come back every once in a while," said Lu Haoran.

"Alright, take care," said Su Zhaozhao as she prepared his belongings.

The supply and marketing cooperative had also received a new task: acquire large amounts of scrap iron.

Director Liu held a mobilization meeting for everyone.

"…We can't wait for the villagers to sell their scrap steel and iron to the acquisition station. We need to go to the countryside and collect it ourselves. The comrades at the acquisition station are too busy to handle everything. Our office comrades need to step up too. Starting tomorrow, one person from each department will stay on duty, and the rest of us will head to the countryside to collect scrap steel and iron."

The office staff looked at each other in silence.

The staff at the supply and marketing cooperative wasted no time scheduling shifts, and early the next morning, they split up and headed to the surrounding villages.

Su Zhaozhao was among the first group from the cooperative to go to the countryside to collect scrap iron. She was accompanied by Xiao Tang and Lu Haoran.

The three of them had two bicycles, and Lu Haoran, bearing a bit of the burden, rode with Xiao Tang.

The staff from the cooperative headed in four directions—east, south, west, and north—entering villages and asking locals along the way.

"Hey folks, anyone got some old scrap metal they want to sell? We’re from the supply and marketing coop, and we’re buying scrap metal for good money."

A villager looked at them and waved, saying he only had one iron pot. If he had more, he would have made another pot. There was no way he would sell it.

"You want to buy scrap iron?"

"Yes, we're buying. We’re from the supply and marketing coop."

"I have a broken iron pot. Do you want it?"

"If it’s made of iron, we’ll take it off your hands."

The cooperative’s scrap collection got off to a good start. By the end of the first day, Su Zhaozhao and her team had collected hundreds of pounds of scrap iron, and those who went to other areas had considerable success too.

However, the following days were less productive. After all, there were limits to how many places they could reach, and other communes had their own teams collecting scrap as well.

As time went on, they collected less and less scrap metal.

Xiao Tang pointed to a newly built kiln in the village and asked, "What is this for?"

"It seems to be for firing a kiln…"

"It's a steel-smelting furnace!" The production team leader happily explained.

"A steel-smelting furnace? Su Zhaozhao couldn’t believe her eyes. Can that thing actually make steel?"

"Yes! Our production team is going to smelt steel too. You don’t need to come collect scrap iron anymore. We’re keeping it all to smelt our own steel."

Back at the coop, everyone was buzzing about it—seems like other teams were starting to smelt their own steel.

Because of this, the coop’s scrap metal collection efforts were put on hold.

Just when everyone thought things would return to normal, Director Liu called another meeting.

"The folks in the communes and production teams are stepping up to help with the country’s steel production. Our supply and marketing cooperative can't fall behind."

"We've already supported them. We've collected and submitted quite a bit of scrap iron over this period."

"It’s still not enough—we’ve got to keep pushing forward," said Director Liu.

"How to support? Are they going to ask us to build a steel furnace in the co-op?" someone asked.

Deputy Director Hu said, "The communes around us have established people's canteens. To focus on production, people no longer eat at home and have turned in their food and kitchenware. I think we can also hand over our pots to support steel production!"

Everyone looked at each other in disbelief. They were different from the communes; what would they use to cook if they gave away their pots?

"Everyone should eat at the canteen," Deputy Director Hu said.

There was a lot of discussion in the office.

"What will happen to my child if I eat at the canteen? Should I transfer the food to the unit so my child can eat at the canteen too?"

"Exactly, we don't live in the same village as those in the communes. I'd have to run to the unit every day just to eat."

"I don't think it will work, at least not in a unit like ours."

It had to work, not just for the co-op, but for everyone.

Wang Chunhua was at the machinery factory, and her grain relations had already been completely transferred. Starting this month, the unit no longer issued food coupons or meat coupons. The grain supply for each person was now collectively managed. Employees now ate at the canteen.

"You can eat all you want, and sometimes there’s even meat—big chunks of braised pork that are really filling! I wouldn't dare to eat like this at home," Wang Chunhua said.

"Some people take leftovers home, and no one says anything. The grain production has skyrocketed, so everyone thinks there will be an endless supply of food. People nowadays don't know what frugality is."

Seeing others take leftovers home, Wang Chunhua started doing the same.

"I slice the buns and dry them for storage. I dry the leftover rice too, nothing goes to waste."

Su Zhaozhao also started eating three meals a day at the canteen. Gu Xiang and Gu Nian did the same. They ate at school during school days and went to the canteen during public holidays. It was free, no money or coupons required.

Supplies were no longer issued to them.

Initially, some found eating at the canteen every day inconvenient, but after a few meals, they loved it.

With full bellies every day, how could they not be happy?

They were so happy they wanted to jump up!

With so much food eaten, most people who had doubts about the grain production dispelled their doubts.

If there wasn't enough food, would they dare to eat so much?

Su Zhaozhao ate and drank as much as she could, trying not to waste a single grain.

...

Not only did communes and production brigades build steel furnaces, but government units and factories in various industries also started to build them.

All over the country, various kinds of steel furnaces popped up like mushrooms after rain.

Newspaper reports shifted focus from high grain yields to large-scale steel production.

Su Zhaozhao followed Director Liu to a branch meeting.

At the meeting, someone proposed the idea of building a steel furnace.

Director Ren firmly rejected the proposal.

"Steelmaking is a highly technical job! It requires mastering various complex processes and skills to transform raw materials into high-quality steel. This requires workers who not only have solid professional knowledge but also extensive practical experience. We don't have such talents in our co-op, nor do we have the conditions like a steel plant."

"We can learn by doing, using traditional methods to make steel."

Director Ren still didn't agree, considering it too reckless.

Su Zhaozhao originally thought it was just a minor issue, but within a couple of days,�she heard that Director Ren had been reported.

"Why? What's the reason?"

Director Liu looked outside the door and said in a low voice, "They claim he's conservative and has a 'rightist' inclination."

Su Zhaozhao: "..."

This is seriously messed up!

"Is Director Ren okay?"

Director Liu shook his head. "It's uncertain at the moment; they're investigating, but it shouldn't be a major problem. Xiao Su, from now on, when attending branch office meetings, watch your words."

Su Zhaozhao nodded. "Director, please take me to fewer meetings at the branch office in the future."

Things are still better at our supply and marketing cooperative. Director Liu and Deputy Director Hu frequently clashed, but no one has ever reported anyone.

Director Liu tapped her shoulder. "No slacking off."

All she wanted was to take it easy.

Exiting Director Liu's office, Su Zhaozhao couldn't help but release a long sigh.

Back at the Purchasing and Sales Department, Section Chief Xie said, "Did the director talk to you about it?"

"Did you know about it too, Section Chief?"

Section Chief Xie nodded, "Just keep it to yourself and don't spread the word."

"I won't."

After work, Su Zhaozhao got her meal at the canteen and was planning to take it home to eat.

Approaching her home, she saw an elderly woman sitting under a tree at the crossroads, wiping away tears. She thought about it and still walked over.

"Ma'am, do you need any help?"

The old lady waved her hand and wiped her nose, "Honey, don't worry about me. I'm just feeling down and need to sit here for a bit."

Just then, Wang Chunhua came back, carrying a few steamed buns.

"Don't worry about her; she's been crying here for two days. Let's head back, and I'll fill you in."

Wang Chunhua pulled Su Zhaozhao away.

"Do you know who she is?"

"Yeah, she’s a local villager. She used to come to this intersection to sell veggies."

Su Zhaozhao then asked, "So why is she crying? And why did she come all the way here to cry?"

"Her big iron pot got smashed."

"Ah?"

"That's what happened. She's upset about the iron pot but didn't want the villagers to know, so she came to the intersection to cry."

Su Zhaozhao felt a tightness in her throat.

When Gu Xiang and Gu Nian came back from school, they told her something else.

"The teacher said that from now on, we'll only have half-day classes, with lessons in the morning and labor in the afternoon."

"Doing what?"

"Going to the river to dig for iron sand."

Su Zhaozhao: "..."

It wasn't just students like Gu Xiang who had to do this; Su Zhaozhao and her colleagues were in the same boat. They had to do their office work in the evening to free up time during the day to support the great cause of steel production!

After morning classes and lunch, the students grabbed their household's winnowing baskets and followed their teacher to the river, skipping their afternoon nap.

As they walked, they sang, which Su Zhaozhao and the others could hear from far away.

When the students reached the spot, the adults made sure they didn’t go into the river.

The adults shoveled the river mud and sand, and the students collected it in their baskets, swirling them in the water—just like how Su Zhaozhao had seen gold panning on TV.

Except this was iron sand.

By the end of the day, the group of adults and children had managed to dig out over a hundred pounds of iron sand.

When Gu Heng returned home, he found the door locked tight.

He hadn’t brought his keys and was about to sneak in again when he heard someone shout.

"Dad!"

He turned around, and—Whoa!

He was startled!

The three of them had their pant legs rolled up to their knees, straw hats on their heads, winnowing baskets in their hands, and mud splatters all over them, their pant legs wet.

Su Zhaozhao pouted, on the verge of crying.

The man had also lost weight and gotten darker; he must have suffered a lot in the mountains too.

She sniffled, "Why are you back?"

Before he could answer, she asked, "Didn't you say you'd come back every once in a while? It's been so long!"

Gu Heng looked at her red eyes. "The task is heavy. I'll be leaving again after two days. What about you guys?"

"Digging for iron sand, of course. Didn't you go by the river on your way back?"

Gu Heng shook his head; he had gotten off at the intersection and came straight home.

Gu Xiang opened the door, and Gu Heng headed to the kitchen to heat water for their baths.

Su Zhaozhao came to the kitchen door, "No need to fuss. The bathhouse has been open every day lately. Let's take our clothes and go wash there."

Gu Heng put down the kettle and only then realized that a cooking pot was missing from the house.

"Is the pot broken?"

Su Zhaozhao pursed her lips, "It's not broken. It was turned in for the assignment."

Gu Heng understood immediately.

Su Zhaozhao had submitted less. Some of her coworkers were more zealous and had handed in almost everything at home that contained iron.

They even turned in the house lock.

Of course, there were also people like Su Zhaozhao who just completed the task as required.

The family went to the bathhouse, had dinner at the cafeteria, and strolled back slowly.

Gu Xiang and Gu Nian asked him about chopping down trees while walking.

Gu Heng patiently explained.

When they got home, Su Zhaozhao pulled out the unfinished work to finish.

Gu Heng didn't disturb her until he heard her put away the files.

"Time to clean up."

Su Zhaozhao gave him a look and headed out to brush her teeth.

When she came back in, Gu Heng pulled her into his arms.

"Miss me?"

Su Zhaozhao nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck, initiating a kiss.

She missed him—really missed him.

Gu Heng held her tightly.

They stayed up late into the night, only stopping around midnight.

After cleaning up, Gu Heng got back into bed and held her, "Are you tired?"

Exhausted, she weakly nodded against his chest.

So exhausted. Truly done.