After leaving Li Xiangqian's office, Li Long paid another visit to Director Wei's office.
As expected, Director Wei was all smiles and poured Li Long some water himself.
"Xiao Li, our colleagues at the Prefectural Supply and Marketing Cooperative had nothing but praise for you this time. On a smaller scale, it shows how well our County Supply and Marketing Cooperative has done these past two years. On a larger scale, you've done our Autonomous Region's local industries proud!"
Li Long hadn't expected Director Wei to elevate the matter to such a level. Truly surprised, he accepted the water, still finding it a little hard to believe.
"Director, isn't that overstating it?"
"How is it overstating it? Think about it. We get heavy snow in Northern Xinjiang. Every year, we spend nearly half the year in snow and ice. Clearing snow is a top priority for every work unit.
"A workman must sharpen his tools before doing his job well. If the brooms are no good, how well can anyone clear the snow?
"A couple of years ago, we all used big brooms made from Achnatherum splendens. Honestly, the quality was hard to say. The good ones lasted two years; the bad ones lasted two days.
"Ever since you started overseeing the quality of these big brooms the year before last, the ones we use ourselves haven't shed a single stalk of Jiji grass while clearing snow in winter... Honestly, those big broom handles feel so good in your hands. Bamboo brooms are all ridges and corners. They hurt to hold..."
Director Wei grew so animated as he spoke that he even started quoting old sayings.
"Why didn't the leaders over at the Autonomous Region want to use big brooms? Because they'd had enough of them! These days, leaders have