Wang Mingjun welcomed Li Long into company headquarters, and Big Old Chen arrived soon afterward.
The company's political instructor, Zheng Xiangyang, came with him. Li Long had not met him on his previous visit.
Zheng Xiangyang looked every bit the political instructor. He was around thirty, with center-parted hair shaved close at the temples, glasses, and a fountain pen clipped in his breast pocket-the picture of an intellectual.
"Our political instructor graduated from Beiting Teachers' College. He originally taught at division headquarters, but the regimental leaders liked his reports and borrowed him. After working at regimental headquarters for a while, he came here as political instructor," Wang Mingjun explained. "An intellectual, knows a lot, and a first-rate writer too. He gets several articles into Corps Daily every year!"
Zheng Xiangyang smiled, shook Li Long's hand, and said:
"Oh, no, the company commander is flattering me. I just enjoy writing... You're Comrade Li Long, right? I read an article about you in Xinjiang Autonomous Region Daily. Very impressive! A model for getting prosperous!"
"Not just a model-this time he's brought us a way to prosper!" Wang Mingjun said with a laugh. "Comrade Li Long says he'll buy big brooms from our company. As long as they meet the standard, he'll pay three yuan fifty each. Three fifty, Old Zheng! This is work we can do!"
Zheng Xiangyang did not immediately agree. After pouring Li Long some water and asking detailed questions about making the big brooms, he said:
"Company commander, should we ask regimental headquarters for approval before doing this? Does it comply with the policies and regulations for our Corps companies?"
"Haha, political instructor, don't worry about that. I looked into it long ago, and I've discussed it with the regimental leaders several times when I went there for meetings.