Haruki still had one more announcement to make.
"Tomorrow morning, when the sun rises, I hope everyone, at least one representative from each household, will come to this square!"
After Haruki finished speaking, confusion appeared on everyone's faces.
"Come back here? For what?"
"Is there anything else left to do?"
"I don't know."
"But comrade Haruki must have his reasons for saying so."
"That's true."
...
The square was abuzz with discussion.
Haruki's powerful voice rang out, answering everyone's questions. "Tomorrow, we will hold the first Workers' Representative Conference of our Nibi no Utsu in this square!"
"Workers' Representative Conference?" Everyone looked at each other, puzzled.
Haruki's gaze swept across the crowd, and he nodded solemnly. "Yes! The Workers' Representative Conference!"
After everyone quieted down, he spoke, "We now have homes, we have land, and our lives will only get better. However, there are inevitably disputes between neighbors, public hygiene needs to be maintained, collective safety needs to be upheld, and the elderly, weak, and isolated need assistance."
"These fragmented matters, yet crucial to the personal interests of every comrade, need to be resolved by the comrades themselves."
"Our affairs, we decide!"
"Our problems, we solve!"
"Therefore, at tomorrow's meeting, we will hold an election!"
"From all the comrades of Nibi no Utsu, we will elect excellent comrades who are fair, warm-hearted, and willing to serve everyone, to form a Workers' Consultative Council!"
No one had ever heard such novel terms. For a moment, they were all stunned. They looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.
Haruki, of course, knew they didn't understand the meaning of the term.
Before explaining to these people, he had to emphasize one fact first.
"They are not officials and certainly not people who ride roughshod over comrades!"
Haruki paused, then solemnly stated the core point, "They are the public servants of the comrades. They are the attendants who serve all of us."
"Their power is granted by all of us for the convenience of getting things done."
"Their responsibilities are to help us mediate disputes, to organize us to maintain hygiene, to assist in distributing collective resources, and to reflect our difficulties and opinions."
"They have no special privileges, only more hardship and dedication."
"If they do not perform well, act unfairly, or put on airs of an official, we can remove them and replace them at any time through the conference."
"Everyone, tell me, is this good or not?"
It's too good!
So good that everyone couldn't believe it.
Is this real?
But thinking that the person who had proposed this method was Haruki, they felt it was normal. Only Haruki could come up with such a good idea. Only Haruki truly thought for them.
After a brief silence, there was a chorus of agreement that exploded like a thunderclap.
"Good!"
"Too good! It should be like this!"
"We'll choose ourselves! Trustworthy ones!"
"Serve... serve the comrades..."
Everyone felt a warm current surge through their bodies.
This was an unprecedented and novel experience.
Looking at the flushed faces below, red with excitement and anticipation, Haruki smiled with satisfaction.
The seeds of socialism had taken root in this land, in the hearts of these people.
Haruki cleared his throat and once again showed his very approachable smile.
"Alright! Comrades!"
"Everyone, go back!"
Haruki waved at the people below who were still reluctant to leave, his voice much gentler.
"Go back to your homes! Get a good night's sleep!"
"Tomorrow morning, gather in the square, and together we will personally elect the comrades who will serve us, and together we will discuss our own future!"
Everyone's faces were beaming with joyous smiles.
They looked back at Haruki on the high platform every few steps, their eyes filled with trust and gratitude.
Thinking of the Workers' Representative Conference to be held tomorrow, everyone's hearts were filled with excitement and exhilaration.
...
"I can't believe it!"
As he lay in bed, preparing to sleep, Haruki suddenly heard Yahiko's voice.
Konan nodded in agreement. "Yes. We've changed the lives of so many people. We're about to change the entire Nibi no Utsu."
Haruki glanced in Konan's direction. Tomorrow, he must suggest that Konan sleep in her own room. They were all grown up, and it couldn't go on like this forever.
Konan was a girl after all. There are differences between men and women.
Yahiko was also nearing puberty. They couldn't keep sleeping together forever.
Inappropriate.
Problematic conduct.
Must be corrected.
"Haruki, it's because of you. It's you who led us to achieve all of this." Yahiko looked at Haruki, his gaze burning.
Haruki closed his eyes and said, "It's all of us who achieved all of this together."
Yahiko was stunned, his lips curled up. "You're right. It's the result of all of us working together."
Yahiko also closed his eyes.
Tomorrow will definitely be a beautiful day.