Chapter 515: Don't take yourself too seriously

After breakfast, Gu Xiaoxia tidied Li Long's clothes, saying as she did so:

"I'll be sitting in the audience too. You people receiving commendations should be sitting in the first few rows; we'll be in the back."

She smoothed out Li Long's clothes, flattening every wrinkle, and said with emotion:

"I really didn't expect that I would enter the unit before you, and yet you would be commended before me. Actually, when you think about it, you've always been smarter than me in this regard, and you see things more clearly. If you were working in a government unit, you would definitely do better and get promoted faster than me."

"What are you thinking about?" Li Long stroked her hair and said with a smile:

"You've always been doing quite well. If you weren't doing well, your Bureau Chief Wang wouldn't have transferred you to the Education Bureau; you might have just been a teacher in a middle school for your whole life. So, don't think of yourself as inferior. If you were inferior, then what about those who are still teaching in middle schools, or those who didn't even manage to become teachers?"

Li Long knew that Gu Xiaoxia actually had a rather competitive nature, but she had just been stimulated by his sudden "progress," which was why she said that.

"Besides, you know my situation better than anyone, don't you? This is purely a coincidence; I never even thought about wanting to be an 'advanced individual.' If I really had a choice, I'd rather not have this commendation. Wouldn't it be better if I could just easily go and earn my money? I can still earn a few dozen yuan a day hauling sand and cement..."

"Alright, alright, no need to comfort me. Others want this commendation but can't get it. If you say that out loud and someone with ulterior motives hears it, they'll start making a big deal out of it again." Gu Xiaoxia knew Li Long was comforting her, so she smiled and patted his chest, saying:

"Alright, let's go."

The two of them pushed their bicycles out the door together. Li Long went straight to the County Cultural Palace Club, while Gu Xiaoxia had to go to her unit first to meet up with her colleagues before going to the meeting.

Li Long arrived at the venue an hour early. County government personnel were already explaining the procedures to those about to be commended. Among these people, Li Long only recognized Ma Xiao Yan. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she immediately walked over to start explaining the procedures to him.

Because there were both advanced units and advanced individuals being commended, it started with the advanced units, followed by the advanced individuals. Li Long and the others were sitting in the second row in the middle. Following the order, Li Long was the second person.

What surprised Li Long a little was that he also saw Ye Laya here. This intern broadcaster from the livestock team was following a reporter with paper and pen, conducting an interview and writing things down. Seeing Li Long, she waved with a smile but didn't dare to come over.

Subsequently, Li Long saw that Wei Zhuren had also arrived; he was there to accept the award on behalf of the unit. Under normal circumstances, such units would send a deputy to accept the award, and the head of the unit would generally not go up on stage. But the Supply and Marketing Cooperative had received few honors above the county level in the past two years, so Wei Zhuren came to accept the award in person this time to express the cooperative's emphasis on ethnic unity work.

Half an hour before the meeting, units arrived one after another to organize their personnel to enter. Li Long and the others were already seated. During the rehearsal for receiving the award, he already knew that this time they would be given an honorary certificate and a radio for each individual.

It was very good. An elderly ethnic teacher was quite happy and kept saying:

"Now I can let the children listen to the major events happening outside."

Li Long had just learned that this elderly ethnic teacher was a teacher at a primary school in a remote area. The teaching staff there was severely insufficient, and he taught Chinese, math, nature, physical education, and other courses for two classes all by himself.

The ethnic composition of the children in this village school was very complex, including Han, Hui, Uyghur, and Kazakh. The teacher usually relied on newspapers to help the children understand the world outside. Now that they had a radio, they could listen to more current affairs reports.

Li Long felt a bit ashamed after hearing this. He felt that compared to this teacher, he really didn't deserve to take this "advanced individual" title.

However, after seeing another advanced individual, he felt he was worthy again. That was a township ethnic affairs officer. The reason for being commended this time was that the ethnic unity propaganda work was done well, and he had performed outstandingly in resolving ethnic disputes.

Li Long vaguely remembered those few disputes in their township. To be honest, the resolution process was quite biased, but at that time, the common people were also relatively obedient, so the matter was settled.

If this method of resolution were used thirty or forty years later, he would probably have been sent razor blades by people.

So Li Long felt he was worthy again.

Amidst this fluctuating state of mind, the commendation meeting began. Maxian County still attached great importance to ethnic unity work. Both the county party and government leaders attended the meeting and gave speeches respectively. At this time, the meeting was still relatively pragmatic; formalism and bureaucracy were not yet so serious. The speeches were all very short and substantial, followed by the commendations. In the relatively monotonous music, the advanced units were commended first. Wei Zhuren, with a glowing face, accepted the certificate from the county leader.

The advanced units did not have material rewards, but this commendation would be recorded in the year-end work report. When deciding whether to get the "advanced" title at that time, this certificate would add points.

When Wei Zhuren received the certificate, he also chatted in a low voice with the deputy county magistrate who presented the award to him, and then turned around to take a photo.

By the time it was Li Long and the others' turn, less than twenty minutes had passed. Li Long couldn't help but sigh that the efficiency was really high. If such efficiency were placed in later generations, it would win unanimous praise from the attendees. It was just that at this time, everyone was accustomed to it.

Holding the honorary certificate and clutching the portable radio, Li Long was thinking that this radio could be sent to Halimu's home later. Of course, he would have to buy another one that was about the same and send it to Yushanjiang's home.

He had received the honor himself, so the items could just be placed in their two homes. He would also buy some batteries and send them over, at least to let the two families have something to pass the time.

Even now, Li Long still felt that receiving this honor was purely an accident and coincidence for him, and not because he had done things particularly well. In his interactions with Halimu, Yushanjiang, and other herdsmen, Li Long actually felt that he was always the one taking advantage, the kind that could never be repaid.

Of course, it was also possible that in the eyes of Halimu and Yushanjiang, they were the ones taking advantage; this was unclear. Some things could not be fully measured by money or price. This was a kind of bond, and it was estimated that it would never be untied in this lifetime.

The award ceremony ended, the county leader gave a speech, and the host announced the adjournment. Those who received the awards followed the county leader to leave first and go to the county guesthouse for a meal. Because some people from remote areas had come the day before and stayed directly at the county guesthouse, the county would host a sumptuous lunch before they left today to reward them.

This was the procedure, and Li Long also had to participate. Of course, it was also for exchanges. The vast majority of those commended were truly doing very well in this regard and were typical examples that could truly stand the test.

Only then did Ye Laya come over to meet Li Long. She whispered to Li Long that the county had already received a notice that Li Long had been awarded the Autonomous Region's Ethnic Unity Advanced Individual and would go to Wucheng in a few days to attend the commendation meeting.

Li Long's scalp felt a bit numb. Wasn't this just tossing people around?

With just his little bit of deeds, was he qualified to attend the Autonomous Region's commendation? Was this a mistake?

Because he had something on his mind, Li Long didn't find this lunch, which was considered very sumptuous, to be tasty.

When they were almost finished eating, Wei Zhuren saw that Li Long had something on his mind, so he called him over to ask about the situation.

"I heard that it's possible for me to go and attend the Autonomous Region's commendation meeting." Li Long said with a frown, "This... I feel a bit unable to bear it."

"Really?" Wei Zhuren hadn't received this news yet, and he asked with some surprise, "Is it true or false?"

"The broadcaster from the livestock team was seconded to the county propaganda department. She said it, the county has already received the notice, and maybe in five days the Autonomous Region will hold the commendation... What virtue or ability do I have!"

"Hey, Little Li, this is something others can't get even if they beg for it, and you still want to push it away! Go boldly! Our cooperative is your backing! Go back this afternoon and draw the travel and accommodation expenses from the cooperative; I'll approve fifty yuan for you. This is a great thing... Our cooperative hasn't been commended by the Autonomous Region for five years, no, ten years! You are the first one in these ten years! Hmm, I'll arrange this matter when I go back this afternoon. Little Li, are you still insisting on being a temporary worker?"

Looking at that expression, as long as Li Long nodded, Wei Zhuren could dig out a formal position for Li Long right now.

"Director, my laid-back nature is only suitable for being a temporary worker. If you let me do a formal job, we wouldn't be able to get this honor either." Li Long said hurriedly; he didn't want that establishment position.

"Alright, since you insist, let's put that aside for now. Once this matter is settled, our cooperative is going to hold a 'Learn from You' activity. Don't be in a hurry, this must be done. Not to mention the cooperative, I guess after the Autonomous Region's commendation is over, the county will also hold such activities, so you have to adapt.

Of course, you can continue doing whatever you were doing before; our cooperative will give you the greatest freedom. You just need to make good use of your strengths. I remember Old Li said that the few big jobs you took for our cooperative were all completed quite well. This is your strong point, and in the future, the cooperative will try its best to prioritize you for such jobs..."

After Wei Zhuren learned that Li Long was about to be commended by the Autonomous Region, his emotions immediately became excited. He gave Li Long many promises, which made Li Long feel that this commendation was actually quite good.

It was just that he was truly a bit fearful and trembling; after all, he felt that the little bit of things he had done were really not qualified to receive this "advanced individual" title. After lunch, Li Long went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and told Li Xiangqian about the matter. Li Xiangqian had the same expression and emotion as Wei Zhuren, excited and happy. He had the same performance as Wei Zhuren, telling Li Long to draw money and seriously go to attend the Autonomous Region's commendation:

"In the county, this set of clothes is fine, but it absolutely won't do in the Autonomous Region! Go and change into a set of clothes, new clothes! I know you have money, you must make a new set of clothes, a Zhongshan suit, a white shirt, and you also have to buy a pair of new leather shoes. If you are reluctant to buy them, my procurement department will reimburse you!

You are attending an important meeting at the Autonomous Region level, representing our cooperative. To put it bluntly, you are representing our county! If you go over like this, the county leaders won't be able to save face!"

Feeling that Li Xiangqian was even more excited than himself, Li Long's emotions calmed down instead. Changing clothes is just changing clothes. The financial staff knew he had come and took the initiative to run over to draw his travel expenses for him. Actually, Li Long felt that if he really went to the Autonomous Region to attend the meeting, they should arrange a place to stay and arrange meals.

But Li Long would not refuse the enthusiasm of the cooperative. Although he was a temporary worker, he ultimately had a collective and an organization. Now that the organization was considering things so thoroughly for him, if he didn't appreciate it, to put it bluntly, it would be called not knowing what's good for him.

Actually, he felt that the old teacher was more qualified than him to receive the Autonomous Region's commendation. However, it should be that the influence was not as great as his, so the one being commended by the Autonomous Region was himself.

Li Long drew the travel expenses from the finance department, left the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and went to the department store to buy clothes.

Making clothes was actually in time. But at the moment, it was also the busy farming season. Letting his sister-in-law make clothes was obviously a waste of her time, so Li Long felt it was better to just go and buy them directly.

The department store now had ready-made clothes for sale. Li Long went and bought a set of blue cloth Zhongshan suits and a white shirt—at the moment, whether it was Wucheng or Maxian, it was not as hot as in later generations, and wearing a Zhongshan suit in May was not impossible.

Actually, Li Long wanted to wear casual shoes, but there were none for sale at this time; it was either leather shoes or rubber shoes, so he just bought a pair of leather shoes.

The place selling clothes had people who could barely lock the edges of the trousers. Li Long went to have them measured and had the trouser edges locked. He took them and left the building, returning to the courtyard.

!.

When Gu Xiaoxia came back, Li Long told her about this matter.

"Really? That's great!" Gu Xiaoxia was also overjoyed, "Then I have to prepare well for you, you have to change into a new set of clothes..."

Alright, everyone had the same opinion, all telling him to change into a new set of clothes. Obviously, except for himself, everyone else who knew he was about to go to the Autonomous Region to accept the commendation thought he must wear new clothes.

"I've already bought the clothes." Li Long took out a set of new clothes to show Gu Xiaoxia, "Now I'm just waiting for the specific notice. By the way, our cooperative also drew travel expenses for me, according to the standard of a middle-level cadre."

"Your cooperative attaches great importance to it, but this is also as it should be." Gu Xiaoxia said with a smile, "If it were our unit, the leaders would attach even more importance to it, and they would also go to help you prepare possible speeches, as well as what to answer when you might be interviewed by reporters when accepting the commendation, etc."

Only then did Li Long react; that was also true. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative didn't mention it, perhaps because they didn't have experience in this area, or perhaps they didn't think it was important.

Fortunately, Li Long felt that if he really encountered such a scene, he could handle it himself.

Regarding Li Long's feeling that he might not be qualified to attend this meeting, Gu Xiaoxia had her own understanding:

"Since the Autonomous Region has decided to commend you, they naturally have their reasons. Sometimes it's not about how many specific things have been done; the main thing they might be looking at is the guiding role."

At this time, Li Long had to admit that Gu Xiaoxia, who had entered the government unit and become a state cadre, saw things more accurately than he did.

Yes, just like that tomb-guarding veteran in Qiaerma, and Principal Zhang in the girls' school. In fact, there were many people behind them who were silently paying efforts, and the work done and the role played by some people might be even greater than his, but the media pushed them out to introduce them to the broad masses, paying more attention to a guiding role.

Similar to Xu Sanduo.

Accepting the commendation at this time, it should be the same meaning, right?

Amidst various speculations, the next day, the Supply and Marketing Cooperative officially received the notice from the county that Li Long would attend the Autonomous Region's Ethnic Unity Education Month Commendation Meeting as an advanced individual to accept the commendation.

The county specially sent people from the propaganda department to issue this notice and emphasized the importance of this commendation to the leaders of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Li Long arrived at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative in the morning; this was a rare time he went to work on time. The person who came from the propaganda department was a deputy minister, bringing Ma Xiao Yan, the propaganda officer Li Long was familiar with.

Just as Gu Xiaoxia guessed, the purpose of the county propaganda department coming over had two points: one was to issue the notice, and the other was to standardize the content Li Long might say when accepting interviews. Anyway, in his words, it had to carry a bit of the county's meaning in propaganda and education.

Li Long remembered those words they said.

The day before the meeting in the Autonomous Region, Li Long set off from Maxian County and took a shuttle bus to Wucheng. After getting off at the Bayi Guesthouse, he transferred to a bus to the Autonomous Region Cadre Guesthouse. The organizers of the commendation meeting here had arranged rooms for them, the award recipients.

After signing in and getting the room card, before entering the room, Li Long saw the reporter from the Autonomous Region Daily, the main promoter who allowed him to come to this meeting to accept the commendation, Zhang Xin Hua.

"Comrade Little Li, you're here." Zhang Xin Hua was very happy and enthusiastic when he saw Li Long, and he came over to chat with Li Long.

Only then did Li Long know why he felt that the things he did were not particularly heavy in weight, yet he could come here to attend the meeting.

"Because of that sentence of yours, that sentence has very significant meaning for our Autonomous Region's ethnic unity work. The leaders said that a person who can say such words must have a high ideological awareness, and the role that can be played will also be very great. You will find in the future that that sentence will really be used in all directions of ethnic unity."

Li Long was the first person in this lifetime to say such words, and Zhang Xin Hua, as an eyewitness who heard the birth of this sentence, also published this sentence directly in the Autonomous Region Daily and made it known to people. The two of them would also benefit in all aspects because of this sentence in the future.

This is a later story, not to be mentioned.

Li Long entered his room. This was a standard double room, and another attendee would stay with him. At present, the other party hadn't come yet. Li Long saw two handbags placed on the table, with two stacks of meeting materials on top of the handbags.

The handbags were very exquisite, and Li Long guessed that this should be a gift for every award recipient, which could be taken away after the meeting. He opened the bag and saw that there were fountain pens and notebooks inside; the preparations were very complete.

Coming to attend the Autonomous Region's meeting was indeed better than being in the county; the treatment was high, and there were many things that could be taken back.

Sounds of talking came from outside, and then the door was pushed open. An ethnic minority man in his forties wearing a flower hat walked in.

Seeing Li Long, that person was stunned for a moment, and then took the initiative to greet Li Long:

"Adashi, hello, hello! My name is Ayidaxi, from Aksu."

"My name is Li Long, from Maxian." Li Long stood up hurriedly to shake hands with the other party, "Very happy to meet you."

This was his roommate for the next two days. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 516 =====