Situated on a vast flatland between the continuous mountain range, the Marching Brigade's outer perimeter roughly bordered the large river that ran across the whole region. One of its tributaries and a few small streams flow around their valley. In addition to having an abundance of resources from land and water, which made others jealous, their fields are also quite fertile, and their grain output has consistently been the best among the brigades under the county seat.
And being in the northeast, there's only one main harvest season, which is also just right to train someone's prodigal children and not be too tired from working all year round.
Moreover, the most advantageous aspect that truly made the higher-ups concerned was the routes and roads of the Marching Brigade, as well as its prime location. The Red Flag Commune is close to the county seat, and the Marching Brigade is the nearest brigade under their commune. Also, according to the other locals, there's a walking trail in the Marching Brigade that leads directly to the county seat.
On top of all of that, a well-known rumour circulated that there's a road that connects to their provincial capital from the Marching Brigade!
In this case, being sent down from the city to the countryside is just like being sent to the next neighborhood.
Unfortunately for the people with intentions, the Marching Brigade, previously known as the Shen Jia Village, is very fierce, very xenophobic, and the presence of the clan is strong!
They live so close to the town, yet they all pretend like they are on a secluded mountain and act like bandits! This bunch of stubborn hard bones!
The higher-ups only care that it will be easier for their brats to visit home while plating them in gold and putting all the pressure on him to insert them in the Marching Brigade. Sadly for him, being a cadre means he has to meet people and give some face; he really can't do anything about it!
He, Director Ma, was just a sacrificial lamb thrown to face these wolves.
"You gave me eight young children who obviously can't work enough to feed themselves and would have to compete with us poor farmers for food and grains! If that isn't oppression, then what is it?! Wanting to give away the hard work grain of our farmers to outsiders, isn't that the same as occupying the lands?!"
Director Ma was like an ant in a hot pot. These people really can't be offended. A scholar can't fight with soldiers, much less with bandits.
"Comrade He, please don't speak angry words." Director Ma had the desire to cry but no tears. "We will give you an explanation. Definitely."
Secretary He sneered. "What explanation? There are already fifteen educated youth in our village, and none of them can work! Every grain distribution, year! After! Year! They always had to borrow grains! You give me these thin children, and that's already more than twenty dragging oil bottles! Even my bamboo stick is tougher than them! You want to bully our poor peasants by giving us these burdens, no way!"
More than twenty was certainly too much. Among the brigades under the Red Flag Commune, they have the largest number of educated youth.
"How about this, in the next batch of educated youth, we won't assign any to the Marching Brigade."
"Director Ma, don't blame me for turning my face. You gave me all these educated youths, which add up to more than twenty of them; that's the same amount as three generations living together."
"Next t-two batch.."
"A whole three generations living together, and we have to house them, keep an eye on them at work and daily life, and worry that these ignorant kids will be lost in the mountains or drown in the river; worry whether they can survive in the winter, and worry that we will be blamed. If we didn't know, the villagers would think you sent us a whole three generations of capitalists to exploit and enslave us."
The educated youths assigned to the Marching Brigade were already as quiet as a quail, but the fire kept spreading to them and grew fiercer and fiercer.
With their pale faces, churning stomachs, and acid stink on their body, these miserable young people felt a strong retreat in their hearts.
Not only were they disliked, they were being labeled.
Forget about the strong will in their blood; they are really scared right now.
"Third batch! In the next three batches of educated youth, there won't be any assigned to the Marching Brigade! That's all! Seriously, I can't promise more."
"Can you decide on this?"
"Really! Really."
Secretary He stared at Director Ma. His eyes expressed, 'If you can decide on this from the beginning, then what is this list of trash doing?'
"I can't do anything with this batch of educated youth. Their household registration was already transferred, and the list was decided and… and the captains of the other brigades…" Director Ma turned to the window,"... already left."
"...."
"...."
Those bastards run away!
Secretary He and Director Ma both gritted their teeth. Shen Miaomiao held the bamboo stick and bent over laughing.
Ooopppsss, the captains and secretaries of other brigades were indeed experienced. They scattered at the first sound of commotion like frightened birds. They grabbed the assigned educated youth to their brigade and didn't even stop to watch the show.
Good news: only the Marching Brigade made trouble, and the others were active in receiving their educated youth.
Bad news: only the Marching Brigade made trouble, and just the two villagers from them were destructive enough. One has a tough fist and the other a tough mouth; a deadly combination.