Chapter 414: The atmosphere outside the Ping'an Industrial Zone
After arranging the work for Chen Kan and Zhang Ying, Yu Ye took two guards to walk around the industrial zone. Even though it was almost the end of the year, all the factories were still busy.
Some are building, some are starting projects, and we are very busy.
There were some business-minded small vendors in Ping'an County who were hawking their wares on the edge of the industrial zone. Some were selling hot tea, hot wontons, and fried cakes, and some were even selling snacks.
There is already a sense of prosperity here.
After Zhao Gang came back from the rear hospital, he took over some of Deputy Commander Xing Zhiguo's work regarding Ping'an County. Zhao Gang led the entire security department to review Ping'an County.
Just like combing a tree, every person in the county was combed through. Anyone with a questionable identity would be immediately interrogated and relocated to other areas of the base.
From now on, everyone entering the city must keep a record, and the Ping'an Industrial Zone will be designated as a military restricted area. Ordinary people are absolutely not allowed to enter without special documents.
As a political commissar, Zhao Gang's professionalism is unquestionable. With the previous case of Zhu Ziming, the entire team responsible for security dare not take it lightly.
As the importance of Liaoyuan Arsenal became more and more prominent, the leaders of the headquarters would personally inquire about the security issues of Ping'an Industrial Zone every now and then, and Zhao Gang did not dare to be negligent in any way.
Yu Ye walked on the streets of Ping'an Industrial Zone with his guards. He recognized Lao Zhao's work very much and was considering whether he could let Zhao Gang train a successor. After all, the security work of the nuclear industrial town in the future would also need to be handed over to Zhao Gang.
When he walked to the edge of Ping'an Industrial Zone, he saw an old man carrying a stove on his shoulder selling wontons. Yu Ye had an idea and planned to buy a bowl of wontons, but he was stopped by the guards unexpectedly.
"Minister, the political commissar has given us an order that you are not allowed to eat anything from outside. If you want to eat, go back to the regiment headquarters and ask squad leader Lao Hong to make it for you."
The guard stood directly in front of Yu Ye, blocking his way.
Yu Ye: “…”
Yu Ye opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but after thinking about it, he gave up. Now Yu Ye’s life does not just belong to him, but also to the entire China.
Yu Ye decided not to eat the wontons and took a step forward to go out for a walk.
The guard stopped Yu Ye again.
"What? I can't even go out for a walk?" Yu Ye was a little helpless.
"The Minister, the Political Commissar, and the Brigade Commander have all issued instructions, saying that..."
Halfway through his words, the guard's voice gradually became lower, as if he didn't dare to tell Yu Ye in front of him what the two leaders had said.
"Tell me, what did Lao Zhao and the brigade commander tell you?"
"Minister, the political commissar said that if you leave the industrial zone without a large force accompanying you, we will bring you back directly.
The brigade commander said, if you go out rashly, let us break your legs."
After the guard said this, he lowered his head and didn't dare to look at Yu Ye's expression.
After hearing this, Yu Ye's mouth twitched. This was really cruel, but Yu Ye did not object to it. When he became a top military expert, he had such awareness. After all, there were too many military experts who were assassinated in history.
"Then I won't go out, okay? I'll chat with you, it shouldn't be a problem."
Yu Ye paused, then stood outside the sentry post and chatted with the old man selling wontons.
"Uncle, tomorrow is New Year's Eve, why are you still selling wontons here today?"
The old man saw what Yu Ye had just done with the guards. Although he couldn't hear clearly what Yu Ye said to the guards, he guessed from their actions that Yu Ye was a high-ranking officer in the independent regiment.
"Sir! No, comrade, look at what you said. If I don't come out to sell wontons, what will these factory workers eat?
Our industrial zone is now booming, and wages are paid every day. As an old man, I am envious.
If I were 20 years younger, I would definitely sign up to work there."
The old man was obviously familiar with the communication habits between the Independent Regiment and ordinary people, and was also very familiar with the situation in the Ping'an Industrial Zone.
"Uncle, is your wonton business doing well?"
"Comrade, to be honest with you, I have lived for nearly sixty years. I started selling wontons in Ping'an County when I was fifteen, and it was during this period that I lived the most peaceful life.
Don't worry about any military officer coming to ask me for money, you Eighth Route Army must stay here all the time."
"Uncle, you are not just saying nice things to me because I am here, right?"
"Hey, young man, how can you say that? I am a very honest man and never lie to anyone!" As he said this, the old man became a little impatient.
After he finished speaking, the old man felt that he had spoken out of turn. He said that the senior officer of the independent regiment was a young man. What if he got angry and wanted to dismantle his stall?
Fortunately, Yu Ye didn't seem angry and calmed down again.
Yu Ye chuckled twice and didn't say anything.
"Uncle, give me a few bowls of these wontons. I'll take them back for my comrades."
Yu Ye smelled the fragrance and thought about bringing a few bowls back for Zhang Ying and the others.
"Okay, comrade, wait a minute, I'll serve it to you right away. How many bowls do you want?"
"Give me 10 bowls. Let us borrow your bowl and we'll return it to you when we're done."
As he spoke, Yu Ye rummaged into his pocket, took out a few border tickets and motioned the guard to pass them to the old man.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm here every day. Just return the bowls to me when you're done eating." After the old man selling wontons finished cooking the wontons, he took the border ticket handed over by the guard and put it into his pocket without any hesitation.
Ok?
Are border area votes so widely recognized among the people?
"Uncle, don't you even take a look at this banknote? I heard that copper coins and dollars are used outside. Aren't you worried about holding this paper bill in your hand?"
"Why worry? District notes are now hard currency. Although it says on your notes that 10 cents can be exchanged for one dollar, now people outside are exchanging 90 cents for one dollar.
So, I have taken advantage of you.”
The old man used a strainer to stir the wontons in the pot while talking to Yu Ye with a smile.
"Comrade, you may not know that the strong young men who are building and working in the factories are issued Border Region Tickets every day. Now the shops opened by your arsenal only accept Border Region Tickets, and the goods are in short supply.
It's just that your recruitment requirements are too high. I have a nephew. Can you help me get him to work in your factory?"
The old man suddenly remembered something and wanted to help his nephew find a partner.
Yu Ye laughed it off, neither saying yes nor no. He asked the guard to bring a few bowls of wontons and went home.
The old man was left with a look of regret.
After turning the corner, Yu Ye whispered to the guard, "Go and remind the political commissar that we must keep a close eye on the vendors at our door and arrange for a few of our hidden comrades to lurk among them.
A lot of information in the military-industrial system is leaked through these small vendors.
But we can’t just cut it off, we still have to give these people some way to survive.”