Chapter 17: Talent and Work Allocation

“I knew this batch of sent-down youth would cause trouble again.”

Not far around the corner, Yang Jinghua, director of the Sent-Down Youth Office at the farm, was whispering complaints to Guo Changjiang, head of the farm’s Labor and Personnel Department.

“These young people are getting harder to manage. Every day they’re complaining about the poor living conditions and bad food. But they don’t even consider how much work they’ve done, or could do,” Yang Jinghua said with a worried frown—he was genuinely distressed.

Yet these youths couldn’t be scolded or punished harshly, especially the young women. If anything serious happened to them, they would definitely report it to higher authorities.

Of course, since Red Star Farm was managed by the Corps, it wasn’t as chaotic as other places.

But perhaps because of this, more and more of them were resisting discipline.

There were hundreds, even thousands of sent-down youths, each with their own small cliques, even organizing youth exchange meetings to oppose the authorities.

Yang Jinghua’s hair was turning white from worry lately.

“Old Guo, since we’re comrades in arms, give me some advice. If this goes on, I might quit in frustration ahead of time.”

“What are you talking about?” Guo Changjiang shot an annoyed glance at his old comrade, then turned his gaze back to the eight youths standing by the bulletin board in the square.

This batch of sent-down youth was slightly older in age.

Guo Changjiang had reviewed their files; most had come down from the capital city and clearly couldn’t handle heavy labor.

But this was a farm. Although it didn’t require logging like the forestry farms, the daily work was still strenuous. They had to plow, sow, manage fields, harvest and dry crops, raise livestock, build and maintain the farm.

Guo Changjiang felt a headache coming on just thinking about it.

However…

“Don’t worry yet. You’ll like this batch,” Guo Changjiang said, his eyes settling on the most upright and handsome young man, Fang Yinnian. “At least one person you’ll definitely like.”

“I don’t like anyone,” Yang Jinghua said irritably at the sight of the youth.

“Oh?” Guo Changjiang suppressed a smile, walking toward the bulletin board. “If that’s the case, don’t blame me if I don’t lend you anyone.”

“After all, you’ve always complained about the Mechanical Repair Factory’s little Zhang, how his skills are lacking, and how the motors in the youth dorm keep breaking down…”

“Wait, hold on!” Yang Jinghua grabbed Guo Changjiang’s arm, laughing angrily. “You sly old fox, you’ve found talent?”

“That can’t be right. Didn’t you say you couldn’t get any skilled electromechanical personnel? You’ve filed reports several times and all were rejected.”

Yang Jinghua suddenly realized and took another look at the youths.

Out of the four young women, he barely glanced, then his eyes landed on three young men huddled together.

His gaze swept over the three, finally settling on the gentle-looking Huang Jianshen.

“That guy wearing the imitation military cap—is he the skilled one? He looks alright, like an office worker. Will he be able to manage? Don’t let him turn out like the second little Zhang.”

“Who said it was him? The tallest one, standing by…???” Guo Changjiang’s expression froze for a moment, especially seeing Fang Yinnian rest his hand on a young woman’s head in a teasing way, which puzzled him greatly.

But as a leader used to all kinds of scenes, he looked away, pretending not to see. “The one standing next to the prettiest girl—that’s the one.”

Yang Jinghua was speechless.

“Are you sure?”

The voice was raised, drawing the attention of the youths, Fang Yinnian included, and the hot-tempered Mu Wanwan, who turned their heads.

“Calm down,” Guo Changjiang hurried to the bulletin board. “You must be the new sent-down youth. I’m Guo Changjiang, head of Labor and Personnel at the farm.”

He pointed to Yang Jinghua. “This is Director Yang, responsible for your Youth Office. Report your names, and later Director Yang will have you fill out forms…”

Guo Changjiang glanced at Fang Yinnian. “Write down your skills. The day after tomorrow, comrades will assign your work.”

“Work starts the day after tomorrow?” Wu Siqi protested, “That’s so soon.”

Huang Jian stepped forward with a gentle smile. “Hello, leaders. I want to ask if the assignments will be based on what we write as our skills? I’m better at literary work.”

Peng Zhaoliang blinked, a bit worried but also straightforward. “What if we don’t have any particular skills?”

Mu Wanwan raised her hand excitedly. “Can I plant flowers, trees, or crops?”

Guo Changjiang and Yang Jinghua exchanged looks. This batch was stubborn.

But stubborn or not, among these people, aside from Fang Yinnian, the most surprising was Mu Wanwan, who looked least capable of farm work.

Yang Jinghua curiously asked, “What’s your name?”

“Mu Wanwan. I can plant flowers, trees, and crops.”

“Are you sure?” Yang Jinghua looked at her delicate, pale face and slender limbs that didn’t look made for hard labor. “Have you worked on a farm before?”

“Of course!” Mu Wanwan puffed out her chest. If this place allowed supernatural powers, she’d show the leaders exactly how she worked the land.

Though she couldn’t demonstrate now, Mu Wanwan wasn’t afraid—her original self had worked at a planting farm. Even if only in an administrative role, it was still a planting farm, so she definitely knew her way around!

If not, she had to!

“Don’t believe me? Ask Fang Yinnian,” Mu Wanwan suddenly pulled him forward. “Quick, tell the leaders I used to work at a planting farm and know how to plant.”

I think what you really know is how to pull weeds.

Fang Yinnian groaned again.

Did this girl even realize that planting farm work, especially clerical jobs, was very different from the farm’s long hours of physical labor?

“Leaders, don’t listen to her. She used to work at a planting farm—”

“Director Guo! Director Guo, help!”

“The power plant! The power plant’s generator exploded—”

“What!” Guo Changjiang grabbed the young assistant who came running over, nearly stumbling, and shouted, “Say that again!”

A generator explosion at the power plant was a serious matter. Without electricity, the farm’s grain and oil processing plants, building materials plants, and other departments needing power would all stop working.

That was no ordinary loss!

“Where’s little Zhang? Old Zhang and Luo Dalai?” Guo Changjiang grabbed the assistant Guo Letian, rushing toward the power plant. “Have you found anyone?”

Usually, the farm’s instruments and equipment repairs were handled by the Mechanical Repair Factory under the Industrial Department. The master technicians there were Old Zhang, Zhang Shuren, and Luo Dalai.

Small problems could be handled by apprentices like little Zhang, but big issues required these master technicians.

“I couldn’t find them!” Guo Letian was nearly in tears, running and wiping his eyes. He couldn’t imagine what the farm would be like without power.

“I heard from the repair factory’s little Li that Old Zhang and Old Luo took little Zhang to the county town to repair a tractor.”

“Ridiculous! Don’t they know a master technician should stay on site?”

Guo Letian was crying as he ran. “How was I supposed to know? Director Guo, what do we do now? Didn’t you say new talent had arrived? Where are they?”

Guo Changjiang suddenly slammed on the brakes.

Right.

This time, a great talent had arrived with the sent-down youth!

How had he forgotten?