RBCT Chapter 68 Siege in the Mountains
Chapter 68 Siege in the Mountains
"If your prediction is accurate, then it's a testament to your mastery of human relationships..."
After praising Chen Tuo, Hong Ye squeezed a few times to give him some perks before getting up to straighten his clothes.
"Good, you're taking the initiative now. I only get inspiration when you take the initiative. Love poems should be unrestrained, not too subtle!"
After coaxing Hong Ye a bit, Chen Tuo put on his overcoat and left the gatehouse.
Just as he guessed, Xiao Kai, the head of the logistics department of the Forestry Bureau, was already standing outside the gate of the educated youth settlement as soon as he stepped out.
"Chen, you're doing well, aren't you? I've come to bring you some coal..."
Although Sun Changkui arranged for coal to be delivered to the educated youth settlement, Xiao Kai didn't need to escort the truck.
His purpose in coming was similar to Hong Ye's; he also learned that Chen Tuo's article would be published in Longjiang Literature and Art Publishing House.
Just as Xiao Kai was about to use the pretense of delivering coal to chat with Chen Tuo, Hong Ye, who had already tidied herself up, stood prettily at the door and greeted him.
"Section Chief Xiao!"
"Hey... isn't this the poet Hong Ye? Talking with Chen, the educated youth?"
Xiao Kai's slightly teasing greeting made Hong Ye blush.
But this person is different from Chu Maolin and Wu Laowai; he is considered a young talent in the Songling Forest Area.
Hong Ye had previously considered getting to know this Section Chief Xiao, but he had been indifferent to her.
"Yes! Chen Tuo is teaching me how to write poetry!"
"That's great! I'll deliver coal to Chen, the educated youth. Is there anything he needs or lacks?"
Xiao Kai knew perfectly well what Hong Yelai's purpose was in visiting the Xiaoyangqi educated youth settlement.
Although this chubby girl has a spendthrift mouth, she hasn't been a complete glutton over the years.
Not only did it develop a healthy, oily red and white complexion, but it also grew more and more vigorous.
However, Hong Ye, with her large physique, was not Xiao Kai's ideal type.
"He was only wearing a padded jacket and trousers!"
"Then we've got the same idea. I brought him a few large pairs of riding breeches."
With Hong Ye's help, Xiao Kai picked up the bundle of clothing at his feet, which contained several sets of cavalry uniforms.
To the west of the pine forest lies the grassland, which is also a cold region. It was customary to directly supply the forest area with the supplies discarded by the cavalry.
The supplies that could be intercepted by the Forestry Bureau's Logistics Department were not only scarce but also of absolutely high quality.
"Section Chief Xiao, wasn't that already changed?"
Knowing that Xiao Kaili always had something in mind when he asked for favors, but not knowing what he was asking for, Chen Tuo didn't dare to accept any benefits indiscriminately.
"I couldn't find suitable cover-ups or jackets for Curry before, so I checked several times before finally finding a few suitable ones for you..."
The more goodwill Xiao Kai showed, the more wary Chen Tuo became of his demands.
Chen Tuo gave the poem to Hong Ye because he felt he could win her over.
How do you handle someone like Xiao Kai?
Between men, it's mostly a competitive relationship; it's hard to truly connect with someone who isn't a childhood friend.
Even childhood friends can't easily maintain a long-term relationship.
Compared to women, men who know each other well are more likely to stab each other in the back, and each stab can be fatal.
"The ones we replaced before are enough, so I won't cause any more trouble for the Forestry Bureau..."
If Chen Tuo had simply reached out and taken it, Xiao Kai would have looked down on him.
He was able to find excuses, just as Hong Ye said, this Chen educated youth was very worldly-wise.
"Chen Zhiqing, let's go inside and talk. It's freezing cold today. Let Old Zhang unload the coal for you first."
Only after Xiao Kai reminded him did Chen Tuo notice the footprints Hong Ye had left outside the gatehouse.
Last night's heavy snowfall covered the mountains and forests with a blanket several centimeters thick.
Given the current mechanical conditions and the temperature in Songling, this snow will likely not completely melt until late spring or early summer next year.
"Section Chief Xiao, come inside and warm up. Why don't you have lunch here?"
Opening the gate to the educated youth settlement, Chen Tuo invited Xiao Kai inside to warm himself by the fire. He also pointed to the camp pot covered by snow, which contained stewed bear offal.
"Okay! I'll eat here then!"
Xiao Kai was being impolite, partly to get closer to Chen Tuo.
He also treated the educated youth at the educated youth settlement as his teachers.
He just realized the importance of learning a little late; by the time Xiao Kai understood the importance of studying, the other educated youth had already returned to the city.
While they were making a campfire together, Xiao Kai also took the opportunity to test the depth of this educated youth, Chen Tuo.
At the previous educated youth settlement, everyone was a high school or college student, so Xiao Kai didn't think much of Chen Tuo, who was even younger.
Therefore, Xiao Kai, who frequently visited the educated youth settlement, had almost no interaction with Chen Tuo and had hardly ever seen him.
"Chen, you really plan to stay in Songling? This old, run-down place is freezing cold for seven months in winter, and spends three or four months in mud and water in summer and autumn, with mosquitoes and flies swarming for two or three months. When is there even a single good month?"
Xiao Kai participated in the work during the flood.
Therefore, he was able to make a living in the past few years.
The infrastructure in Kelin District is basically completed and production is on track. Although it is in logistics, the work is not easy.
Wei Juncheng, Chu Mingshan, Sun Changkui, and even Xiao Kai's father's generation, were just logging in the Xingan Mountains at that time.
Find a suitable mountain area, and after the snow falls in winter, lower the felled timber down the mountain along the icy gully. That job isn't difficult.
Later, when they started building roads, dividing up the mountain areas, and assigning mountain numbers, the work became much more difficult.
Later, forest clearing and afforestation were added, making the work even more difficult.
Production is now on track, and we'll be busy with production for the next seven months of winter.
After winter, autumn and summer arrived, and there was still other work to be done, which made young Xiao Kai feel very uncomfortable.
The population of Songling consists of mountain hunters and a small number of semi-native inhabitants, including Wu Laowai.
Ninety-nine percent of the population were either forestry workers, railway soldiers, or relatives and friends who came to join them during the flood.
Most of the group worked as permanent employees, while those who came to Songling to stay with relatives worked as temporary employees.
Whether they are permanent or temporary workers, forestry workers have a decent income, and the supply in Songling is also quite good.
However, Songling, with its sparse population and abundant land, is quite isolated and has almost no entertainment options.
In Xiao Kai's eyes, the best form of entertainment in the forest area might be having children, but he has yet to find a suitable partner to marry.
Therefore, the Songling Forestry Bureau, with its excellent working conditions and benefits, became his cage, a cage he never wanted to escape from.
However, Songling Forestry Bureau was a unit that was transferred to the forestry division as a whole, so its promotion channels were different from those outside.
If the older generation hasn't finished passing away, it won't be easy for the younger one to leave as well.
Xiao Kai estimated that if he wanted to leave Songling, he would either have to be transferred by the higher-level forestry bureau or work his way up to the position of farm director or secretary, and then rise through the ranks.
But if you want to become the farm manager or the party secretary, don't even think about it for less than ten years.
"well enough……"
Xiao Kai opened up immediately, but Chen Tuo didn't respond.
He clearly understood Section Chief Xiao's intentions; he simply wanted guidance.
But when people get along, unless they are parents or siblings, how can they have so many heartfelt words?
"Good? Chen, once the novelty wears off, it won't be good anymore, it'll be torture!"
Chen Tuo didn't confide in Xiao Kai, which didn't surprise him. He simply pointed to the distant North Mountain and asked bluntly:
"Chen Zhiqing, how can I leave Songling within this system as soon as possible?"
From security guard at the Forestry Bureau to head of the logistics department, Xiao Kai followed the advice of the other educated youth at the educated youth settlement, focusing on learning, working hard, and building connections.
Now, the same question has been escalated. When asked to Chen Tuo, Xiao Kai only wanted an answer.
"Section Chief Xiao, I'd like to borrow a few books from the Forestry Bureau library."
"That's easy, I've got that in charge! I'll have Old Zhang bring you a few boxes of books that don't need to be returned in a bit."
After promising some benefits, Xiao Kai took out a wooden box from inside his coat.
"Chen, the educated youth, has a small cigar from the Hailin Cigarette Factory. It's fermented with medicinal herbs, and it doesn't make you cough when you smoke it. It was given to me by someone when I was delivering packaging timber in Hailin."
After receiving the handmade wooden box from Xiao Kai, Chen Tuo gave him some advice.
"Songling is like a walled city; some want to get out, and some want to get in. Hasn't Section Chief Xiao already gotten out?"
"Chen Zhiqing, do you mean I should go and do fieldwork?"
"That's right! If you could get promoted, would you still be coming here to find me? If you can't get promoted, you can only go out on official business. Is there anything wrong with that...?"