"Brigade Commander Chen, this is the latest data." He Zudao put a thick stack of documents in front of Chen Ke while speaking. Chen Ke picked up the documents and read them quickly. This was a refugee investigation report. The handwriting was ugly, and the writing style was wordy. In Chen Ke's view, the standard question mode completely adopting vernacular was the biggest advantage of these manuscripts.

These refugee investigation reports had basically no literary value, but they were invaluable treasures in practical significance. The twenty-odd questions listed in the investigation report were divided into four categories: First, the origin of the refugee. Second, the refugee's family situation. Third, whom the refugee had begged for help. Fourth, why the refugee came to Fengtai County.

The leader of the investigation team was originally Zhang Xiuqing. At this critical juncture, Chen Ke had to boldly start promoting and using cadres. Since Zhang Xiuqing volunteered to undertake the work of the investigation team, Chen Ke handed the work over to Zhang Xiuqing. The result was indeed as Chen Ke expected; the plan proposed by Zhang Xiuqing simply failed to grasp the key point. In Zhang Xiuqing's view, investigating clearly how the refugees thought of coming to Fengtai County was the key. Not only that, Zhang Xiuqing actually formulated multiple sets of questioning strategies for different people. For the able-bodied, be gentler. For the elderly, youth, and women, the attitude should be stricter.

After this set of plans was shown to Chen Ke, Chen Ke's evaluation was just two words, "Bullshit!"

Zhang Xiuqing was unconvinced. He first asked Chen Ke, didn't Chen Ke mainly propose in the meeting to investigate clearly why refugees came to Fengtai County, and insist that blocking the refugees' communication channels to avoid more refugees coming to Fengtai County was the top priority?

Chen Ke almost wanted to curse. He said so much at the meeting; did Zhang Xiuqing only remember these few sentences? But Chen Ke held back. Now was not the time to waste precious time on restating meeting minutes. He sent someone to call He Zudao and asked He Zudao to write a set of questionnaires.

He Zudao was a few years younger than Zhang Xiuqing. After receiving this task, he pondered for a moment and wrote a new questionnaire. Except for not considering the category of whom the refugees had begged for help, the other three items were all as Chen Ke thought. Chen Ke finished explaining his opinion. Zhang Xiuqing looked blank, while He Zudao said nothing and directly added the point proposed by Chen Ke, and even perfected the specific details. The objects of begging for help were neighbors, clans, landlords, big households, and the government. These five categories. Chen Ke's only supplementary content was temples. Thus, this set of questionnaires was basically completed.

He Zudao's work was very busy. Seeing the questionnaire completed, He Zudao asked if he could leave. During the whole process, He Zudao didn't ask a single superfluous question. Chen Ke really didn't feel assured letting Zhang Xiuqing be responsible for this matter. He simply let He Zudao temporarily responsible for leading the questionnaire work. Do it for a day first, to set an example for Zhang Xiuqing.

After the first day of work ended, He Zudao brought back a thick stack of questionnaires. Chen Ke finished browsing and asked: "Zudao, asking Comrade Zhang Xiuqing to summarize the questionnaires, do you think he is competent?"

"Should... should... Probably not quite capable." He Zudao's answer was very hesitant. If it were before today, He Zudao should still have confidence in Zhang Xiuqing. But Zhang Xiuqing's performance today disappointed He Zudao greatly. Although He Zudao kept telling Zhang Xiuqing that the attitude should be gentle, Zhang Xiuqing's condescending attitude couldn't be changed no matter what. The refugees were now mostly from areas surrounding Fengtai, so young adults and old/weak/women each accounted for half. Regardless of who the questioning object was, He Zudao only asked the questions on the questionnaire. Speaking less, listening more. Only when the refugees were too emotional would He Zudao appease them according to the other party's emotions. The purpose was to get the questionnaire results better.

During Zhang Xiuqing's questioning, it was unknown if he did it intentionally, but the flavor of suppressing the refugees as a benefactor was really too blatant. Refugees were under the eaves and had to bow their heads. So on the surface, they cooperated, but the resistance emotion was already very obvious. Many refugees thought Zhang Xiuqing was going to drive them away, and some were scared into begging continuously. And facing the refugees' begging, Zhang Xiuqing seemed to enjoy it very much. He even had some tendency to deliberately make refugees beg him. Such practice made the questionnaire survey unable to proceed smoothly instead.

Even if He Zudao ordered Zhang Xiuqing to just read, whether it was eyes or tone, that condescending flavor could never be eliminated. Such practice also played a very bad leading role in the atmosphere of the investigation team.

So when Chen Ke asked if Zhang Xiuqing could summarize the questionnaires, He Zudao, who had always been extremely tolerant and kind, lost confidence. A day of questionnaires was indeed very tiring. A young man with vigorous energy like He Zudao couldn't bear it a bit. And Zhang Xiuqing's practice made his emotions relatively excited in the morning. By the afternoon, overly excited emotions triggered considerable fatigue. Zhang Xiuqing had already withered. Although this was a good thing, at least he was reading the questionnaire dryly, and that arrogance was much less. But this directly led to a very unserious work attitude. Zhang Xiuqing didn't raise many questions that should be pursued in detail. By evening, when the investigation came to an end, Zhang Xiuqing was already yawning continuously. He Zudao personally took the documents to report to Chen Ke. Zhang Xiuqing had already gone back to rest.

If letting Zhang Xiuqing summarize the intelligence overnight, He Zudao really had no confidence. Chen Ke said clearly at the meeting that the investigation work was important material for the external expansion the People's Party was about to carry out. Zhang Xiuqing already had problems in questioning. If he didn't put his heart into the summary work again, the entire set of data would have major deviations. He Zudao really dared not let Zhang Xiuqing make mistakes again.

He Zudao was originally a very upright and gentle young man. Asking him to speak ill of others behind their backs, he really couldn't do it either.

Chen Ke knew He Zudao too well. He Zudao could be said to be an apprentice brought out by Chen Ke single-handedly. In this more than a year, seeing He Zudao grow up with his own eyes, Chen Ke felt very gratified. Among the comrades Chen Ke regarded very highly, Hua Xiongmao, Qi Huishen, You Gou—these people were naturally enthusiastic and very serious in doing things. Their current growth relied more on themselves. Chen Tianhua and Shang Yuan had enough achievements before meeting Chen Ke; their ability to take charge of a department alone was even more logical. But more than a year ago, He Zudao was just a frail youth, looking like he couldn't have much achievement. Now he had faintly become the number one among the People's Party political commissars. Chen Ke spent a lot of effort on He Zudao. Watching He Zudao's growth, Chen Ke not only learned a lot of experience from He Zudao's growth but also had a sense of satisfaction. Like the joy and expectation felt by a simple old farmer watching his carefully planted crops grow sturdily.

He Zudao had a weaker temperament and dared not evaluate comrades; this was his shortcoming. Even He Zudao dared not vouch for Zhang Xiuqing, showing that Zhang Xiuqing was really not good. Chen Ke's brows had frowned. "Zudao, you observe today who can lead the task of the investigation team. Your work is busy; I can only give you tomorrow one day. You observe carefully for a day for me. Who can lead this team, who can do the basic work. Moreover, don't do anything else tonight. Select the comrades you think can do this work. Transfer these people to you early tomorrow morning."

"Brigade Commander Chen, this isn't good, right," He Zudao was somewhat hesitant.

"What's not good? You don't need to be afraid of Comrade Zhang Xiuqing getting angry. We are doing work now. If he can't do this job well, we'll change him to a job he can be competent in. There is nothing to be angry about. This is not doing something behind Zhang Xiuqing's back against him. You choose people boldly," Chen Ke said.

Hearing Chen Ke's words, a person immediately emerged in He Zudao's mind. If he could work with that person, the work could definitely be done well, and He Zudao would feel very happy.

Looking at the look of longing and expectation that couldn't help emerging on He Zudao's face, Chen Ke couldn't help laughing, "Don't have designs on your Sister You Gou; the work on her side absolutely can't let her go."

Having his mind spoken out by Chen Ke, He Zudao's face turned red immediately. Looking at He Zudao's appearance of being at a loss, Chen Ke couldn't help laughing loudly. "Zudao, how about this? Wait until the end of next year, when we have development here. I'll find a chance to talk to your Sister You Gou."

"No, no. Absolutely not." He Zudao waved his hands repeatedly in embarrassment, "I am not worthy of Sister You Gou."

"Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense. Hurry up and select people for me," Chen Ke urged.

He Zudao thought for a while and asked: "Some soldiers can do it, but they recognize few characters. I'm afraid they still can't do recording."

"This is not a problem. Let those who can do recording be assistants to these soldiers. Asking questions won't do, but doing recording should be fine, right? If they can't even do recording well, all go farm for me." Chen Ke said seriously, "This matter is left to you, Zudao, to arrange. In short, the investigation work must be done well. The information must be accurate. If this matter is not finished, you can't go back to do other things."

Hearing Chen Ke's words, He Zudao didn't look anxious at all. He nodded very seriously, "I will work hard."

Chen Ke knew He Zudao's work was busy now, but facing such a very tricky job as investigation, He Zudao didn't show any performance of stalling with other work. On the contrary, he wanted to do this job well wholeheartedly. Chen Ke was very satisfied with this. He stood up and patted He Zudao's shoulder, "Zudao, when I was the same age as you, I was far inferior to you. Maintain the current state and work hard."

He Zudao nodded, "Brigade Commander Chen, is there anything else?"

"No more, you go get busy," Chen Ke answered.

He Zudao saluted Chen Ke. After Chen Ke returned the salute, He Zudao turned and went out.

*Really a good child.* Chen Ke thought. But a few seconds later, Chen Ke suddenly thought of another thing. It is 1906 now. According to the normal lifespan of that era, when Chen Ke was born, He Zudao would have already passed away. This "good child" remark was really a bit nondescript.

Chen Ke sat back on his stool. Only then did he discover that the stack of documents just now was piled in front of him. He Zudao still made a mistake and forgot to take this stack of documents away. Sighing, Chen Ke pondered for a moment and asked someone to call Umekawa Kamiyoshi. The work in the breeding farm was not too busy now. Comrade Umekawa could be temporarily borrowed to do some paperwork.

Sure enough, as Chen Ke thought, Umekawa Kamiyoshi finished listening to Chen Ke's instructions, pulled a stool without saying a word, sat opposite Chen Ke, and began to work.

When the People's Party and the newly built Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army (*Zhonghua Gong Nong Geming Jun*), which were already tense enough, began to operate with higher speed and efficiency, many comrades who could originally undertake certain work showed fatigue, while another part of comrades began to show brilliance. And more comrades who originally didn't have the opportunity to undertake more and more important work also faced new opportunities.

The result led by such changes, except for Chen Ke and a few people, most people didn't anticipate the future outcome. It could be said that the most organized and disciplined political group in the whole of China, the People's Party, was marching along its own track.