Chapter 348: Yang Qing Came Out

Yang Qing's nonsense makes it clear to everyone that he's talking nonsense, yet there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Because he presents his nonsense in a very reasonable way.

For now it hasn't reached the point where one is punished for one's words, but of course in a few years that might change.

Moreover, because in 1962 the role of intellectuals was affirmed, those intellectuals who liked to spout nonsense and were suppressed in 1956 lifted their heads again.

Various opinions in society also became more complicated.

Yang Qing also happened to be active during this relatively tolerant period.

(Otherwise, Lou Banche wouldn't have waited until he was harmed before starting to flee.)

After re-examining Yang Qing's bonus and finances, those detaining him had no choice but to revisit the matter of Yang Qing.

"196 yuan, compared to his contributions, is not much—still less than what Ge Hongtao gets."

"Plus his salary isn't much either."

"Detaining him on the charge of embezzling collective assets seems unreasonable."

They face pressure from the street office, the Agricultural Machinery Factory, the military, the city authorities, and even some higher-ups who appreciate Yang Qing.

This puts them in a bit of a bind.

They have marshaled such great force just to send Yang Qing away, because only then can they intervene in the Agricultural Machinery Factory.

The scheme Yang Qing pulled off at year‑end was incredibly effective, directly winning people's hearts.

This makes the Agricultural Machinery Factory even harder to deal with than Honghai.

"He also made huge contributions to foreign trade."

"The Import/Export Company is also putting great pressure on us; they're preparing to take personnel."

"Take personnel?"

Faced with the dilemma, the people seemed to have an inspiration.

"The higher-ups say it's inappropriate?"

"Meaning, they still have objections to everything Yang Qing is doing now."

"Can we look for an opportunity from this angle?"

"You mean, using the Import/Export Company to transfer Yang Qing away? Preferably out of the capital?"

"That way, on the Honghai and Agricultural Machinery Factory sides, without Yang Qing obstructing things, it would be much easier for us."

As they said this, everyone's eyes lit up.

The higher-ups are opposed to Yang Qing, they have their own schemes in the middle, and coupled with Yang Qing's bold recklessness, the city authorities are not too pleased either.

Yang Qing now only has influence at the grassroots level, which makes him easier to handle.

Plus the Import/Export Company is tempting him from the side.

They felt that things had suddenly gone smoothly.

Since we can't kill him, we just need to kick him out of the way.

"Then we'll spend the coming year pushing this, so no one can find fault."

Yang Qing had no idea about all these twists and turns; he simply felt his judgment was correct and that he had succeeded.

The matter was settled, the person came out, and the person was intimidated.

Faced with someone as reckless as himself who can cause trouble, for the sake of the bigger picture, the best approach would be to sweep him out the door, away from the center of power.

Best to dump him in the south.

Next year he will fully push forward cooperation with the Xinhui Agricultural Machinery Factory to export tractors to Southeast Asia.

He'll see whether they'll send him over there to take full responsibility for this.

1965, 1965—he doesn't have much time left.

Staying away from the vortex center is something he must do.

If this plot fails, he'll take Lou Banche's route; if that route through Lou Banche doesn't work, he'll take the path of fleeing.

One year next year will be enough for him to obtain samples of documents for heading south.

Using the pretext of visiting Chen Hong's family, he'll go straight south.

If an accident occurs midway, let Chen Hong report him, so as to protect his whole family.

That was also considered standard procedure back then.

Someone like him isn't a big shot, so he probably won't be closely watched; at most he'd be sent down to a rural cowshed, relying on the incense ties of the Workers-Peasants Cooperation Demonstration Village of Qinjiacun that he set up.

He probably won't suffer too much mistreatment.

At least he should be able to survive.

Yang Qing reorganized his plot, felt there weren't too many loopholes, and then let out a deep sigh of relief.

Returning home, Chen Hong embraced him and cried for half a day.

At night she tossed him about until he was a mess, only then did she vent her anger.

"Chen Xueru and Xu Huizhen came over, people from the Agricultural Machinery Factory came over, folks from Qinjiacun came over, folks from Honghai came over—they all pitched in."

"Oh, and the deaf old lady also helped."

"He Yuzhu and his wife also came over."

Yang Qing hadn't realized that, without noticing, he had built such a large network.

No wonder he got out so quickly—it turns out many people helped.

Yang Qing lay limp on the meat cushion, his words revealing worry.

"Wife, what do you think the future will be like?"

Chen Hong sensed the tremor in his tone and also thought he had been frightened.

"As long as you don't mess around, there shouldn't be any trouble; just gradually withdraw from the Agricultural Machinery Factory—I've told you before, don't stick your neck out, don't stick your neck out."

Even if there is trouble, you don't need to be afraid; as long as you remember that our family has made great contributions, I guarantee your life will be fine.

No, we'll just go back to Chen Family Gully; it's not that complicated there.

Yang Qing still said worriedly.

Next year, the People's Commune's joint operation will completely end, and the bourgeoisie will be formally and completely eliminated.

But there is still a group, people like us, who used to be ….

Won't we be very conspicuous, like a pustule on a person's face?

Not only are they an eyesore, but they also occasionally disgust people; wouldn't they make people want to get rid of them as soon as possible?

Yang Qing's words pierced deep into Chen Hong's heart, making her whole body tremble.

This is something she never imagined, yet it is naked and unavoidable, a problem she must face.

In the 1956 rectification campaign, how many people became bad elements……

Who can guarantee there won't be a next time?

Especially when facing the world's two giants attacking from both sides, stability becomes especially important.

Think about how public opinion is becoming more and more complicated……

(In recent years, many opportunists have appeared: the things Gu Ning did initially, and many inappropriate remarks; some places have even seen the emergence of the 'big contract' system, which can be seen as a backlash, especially in many schools: actually engaging in academia itself is independent, and many people have their own unique views.)

Chen Hong had heard of many things over the years in Jingcheng, and she also understood that Yang Qing's worries were not unfounded.

"Honey, let's go back to Chen Family Gully."

"We won't stay in the city."

Too scary.

Thinking and thinking, Chen Hong started to cry.

She had already been frightened by Yang Qing's arrest, her spirit hadn't recovered, and now Yang Qing scared her again.

A little bit of a breakdown.

Yang Qing saw that he had gone too far, and hurried to comfort her.

"Good girl, don't cry, don't cry, I was just talking nonsense, it's not true."

Is going back to Chen Family Village useful?

They have urban household registration, their grain rations are in Jingcheng; leaving Jingcheng would mean starving to death.

Go to the countryside and rob people of their grain rations?

Without pressure from above, who would accept it?

Don't you know you're just a girl from Qin Family Village?

One girl, bringing along a whole family—how much grain would that take? And this isn't just for one year, but for many years.

Chen Hong thought too simply.

Villagers whose interests have been harmed probably won't treat them well.