"Yo…Captain is here? "Hurry up and sit in the house…" Xie Wen strolled into Aunt Wang's house.
The rural areas in the northwest region still carried on the title of 'production team' during the reform and opening up period. Therefore, when Aunt Wang addressed Xie Wen as " Captain," she would normally be the team leader. There were a total of thirteen groups in Zhangzhai Village.
Xie Wen was in group eight. In the village, no one called the " team leader " team leader, and it was the " team leader " that continued from that period. The so-called captain was the leader of the entire eight groups of villagers, the official with the most power.
Xie Wen's lips cracked into a bright smile. She took the stool from Aunt Wang and sat down in the mud house.
It was late autumn, and the busy autumn had passed. The small living room of the mud house was covered with golden corn…each of them looked like gold. This was the lifeblood of farmers. Food was the most important thing for the people. As the main grain of the northwest region, corn was especially important.
According to the current prices, the price of a catty of corn was one yuan. If the yield of one mu of land was good, it could reach 500 kilograms. During the period of the Great Leap Forward, Zhangzhai Village had produced an influential figure. People called him Zhang Sanfeng. He was the first person to achieve a yield of 10,000 catties per mu during that period.
Of course, this Zhang Sanfeng was not the Zhang Sanfeng of the Yuan Dynasty. The two could not be mentioned in the same breath.
A thousand catties per mu was equivalent to a thousand yuan. However, other than the seeds, fertilizer, labor, watering, and other input. After half a year, the net profit of one mu of land was less than 500 yuan. Fortunately, the country had come up with many favorable policies for farmers. For example, fertilizer subsidies and food subsidies.
In the first five years, every family had to hand over a certain amount of grain when it was harvest season. As the country became rich and powerful, the leaders also understood the fundamentals of the country. China was a large agricultural country. No matter what, they could not give up on agriculture, nor did they dare to give up.
Fortunately, Zhangzhai Village was quite large. After the implementation of the grain field responsibility system, each person could be allocated two mu of land. Aunt Wang's family had a total of six people, which was 12 Mu of land, plus the private plot. There were also 15 acres.
However, as the branches and leaves of the family spread out, there were only five mu of land left when it was distributed to Aunt Wang's family. In a year, he could earn 5,000 yuan. In addition, Aunt Wang was diligent and usually did odd jobs. He could fall a little.
However, this was only the income and not the expenditure. Aunt Wang had a son and a daughter. The son was seventeen this year and was in high school. The annual tuition fee was 2,000 yuan. Fortunately, Aunt Wang's son, Wang Kui, was more hardworking and knew that his family was in a difficult situation. He studied hard and received a first-class scholarship every year. It could also be considered as reducing a certain burden for Aunt Wang.
His youngest daughter, Wang Cui-er, was twelve years old this year and was preparing to enter junior high school. He wasn't worried about that, because middle school was now compulsory. He only needed to pay some miscellaneous money, so there was not much of a burden. The only thing was Aunt Wang's mother-in-law. He was already in his sixties, and his body relied on tonics and medicine to prolong his life. This was another huge expense. Although the village gave some subsidies every year, it was simply a drop in the bucket and did not help.
Ever since Aunt Wang's husband had passed away, Uncle Zhong had been helping the poor family day after day. However, it was just that the heart was willing but the strength was insufficient. After all, Uncle Zhong had his own family to support.
Aunt Wang was less than forty years old this year, but her hair was already beginning to turn white. Her face was covered in wrinkles, and her eyes were deeply sunken. However, it was bright and spirited. There was a will in it, a kind of persistence towards life.
" Aunt Wang, you don't have to be busy…" Xie Wen saw Aunt Wang go to pour him water and hurriedly said,""I came today because of Third Brother.”
Looking at the 23-year-old team leader in front of her, Aunt Wang was slightly stunned. Then, a troubled expression appeared on his face. "Captain…" he said bitterly.
"Sister-in-law, call me Ah Wen!" Xie Wen said with a smile.
"Sigh…what a sin!" Aunt Wang let out a long sigh and then slowly said,"The corn has just been produced, but the merchants who collect the corn dislike the humidity…They are unwilling to pay for it…Can you tell the higher-ups that the fine will be paid a month later?”
The county family planning bureau handed the matter of collecting the fine to the team leader, Xie Wen. Therefore, Aunt Wang thought that Xie Wenlai was here to collect the fine. So he begged him with soft words.
Xie Wen smiled and shook his head." Sister-in-law, you misunderstood. The Family Planning Bureau did set a date for me!" However, I also know about your family's current situation. This time, he came to discuss a solution to this matter! Third Brother couldn't go on like this. He had three sons. The eldest was only three years old and had just learned how to run. Now, Second Brother wanted milk powder…and he had another little one! This was not a solution. Third Brother's family and even Sister-in-law's family would be dragged down!”
He took out a pack of Monkey King cigarettes from his pocket and lit one. After taking a deep breath, Xie Wen said,""For now, I have to think of a way to get the best of both worlds. Settle this matter!"
Aunt Wang was stunned, and a hint of joy appeared on her face. "A Wen, do you have a good idea?"”
" It's not a good idea…" Xie Wen said,"" Last month, I followed the director of the town to recruit businessmen and met a middle-aged businessman in the city…" Xie Wen slowly told him his thoughts.
One cigarette was extinguished. Then, Xie Wen took out another one, but he didn't light it. Looking at Aunt Wang's pale face, Xie Wen sighed. He was a little disappointed. Just as Uncle Zhong said, Aunt Wang was unwilling to do so.
Think about it, if one had the ability to raise a child, who would give their own child to someone else to raise? When the child fell to the ground, it was like a piece of meat that had fallen from one's body. Who wouldn't feel heartache?
Xie Wen stood up and turned to leave. Just as she was about to step out of the door, Aunt Wang's voice sounded.
"A Wen…he, are you sure that person will treat the child well?”Aunt Wang's voice was filled with worry. Even if the child was not her biological child. However, blood was thicker than water. After all, they were still related by blood.
Xie Wen turned his head and smiled. He nodded and said,"Sister-in-law, that person is a good person!”
After receiving Xie Wen's affirmative reply, Aunt Wang seemed to have made up her mind. He gritted his teeth and said,"Alright!" Let's do as you say, Captain! Sorry to trouble you…"
At this moment, the setting sun slowly revealed its red glow. The western sky seemed to be draped with a new coat.
"The setting sun is infinitely beautiful, but it's nearing dusk! Who said that the dream of youth was only misty and misty!”Xie Wen exhaled a mouthful of smoke. Along the way, many villagers greeted him. Xie Wendu smiled as he responded to each of them. It could be seen that Xie Wen was still more liked by others.
In the beginning, none of the villagers were willing to let Xie Wen be the team leader. However, due to Uncle Zhong's high prestige, they agreed. A year passed quickly. The villagers of the eight groups gradually felt a sense of familiarity and even admiration for this young team leader.
"A Wen…I heard that the mayor brought you to the city a few days ago? Is there some big policy?”In the village, a few elders sat in a circle. Each of them was holding an ancient-style tobacco pipe in their hands. Inside was the so-called longevity cigarette!
The villagers had their own methods to extend their lives. And this tobacco was especially popular among the older people. Even some old women imitated those old men and started smoking. Zhangzhai Village, thirteen village groups. Each village group had a few Longevity Elders.
And many of those old people smoked all year round. The growing conditions of tobacco were very picky. It had to be a mixture of black soil and white sand, and it had to be fertilized. The fertilizer was not the kind produced by the chemical plant, but human and animal feces…
" Third Master, Grandpa Wang…" Xie Wen greeted them one by one. He was very respectful to these elders. After all, respecting the old and loving the young was a Chinese virtue!
After a slight pause, Xie Wen continued,"This time, Mayor Li and a few of our village group representatives are going to the city to discuss some policies…As for what policies, it's a secret for now! When the time comes, I'll give you a big surprise!”
" Haha..." Old Man Wang laughed loudly and pointed his pipe at Xie Wen."You little brat, are you trying to be eye-catching? As long as it's something useful to our village, you can do it boldly! Even if you did something wrong, no one would blame you!”
"Right, right, right…We're old…Compared to when we were the captain of the production team, you're much stronger than me…At that time, we could only follow the prescribed steps. The organization said that the yield of this piece of land was 100 catties.”Old Man Zhang added.
Xie Wen blushed and said,"Grandpa Zhang, how dare I compare myself to you!" I heard from Uncle Zhong that you were the number one leader of the entire six villages and one hundred groups…Back then, if it wasn't for your wise leadership, I'm afraid…"
Hearing Xie Wen narrate his own story, Old Man Zhang's face revealed a hint of arrogance. She couldn't help but like Xie Wen even more.
"A Wen, you're in your twenties now, right? However, you can't tell his age from his delicate appearance…Oh right, Accountant Li from the neighboring village has a daughter who just came back from a job in the big city to visit her family. I heard that she's looking for a son-in-law in the surrounding village…"
Hearing this, Xie Wen's expression changed slightly. He hurriedly waved his hand and said,"Third Grandpa, Accountant Li's daughter came back from Beijing. She's someone who has seen the world! How could she be interested in a poor kid like me! Besides…Accountant Li only had one precious daughter who wanted to continue the Li family's legacy, so naturally, she had to choose someone who would do the opposite!”
"Uncle Zhong is getting old now, and Big Brother is also serving in the capital. He might not come back even once in a few years!" I still have to help plant the crops…"
"So what? It's not like you can't come back and help out after you marry into the family! Accountant Li was also an open-minded person…He wouldn't fuss over such a small matter!”Third Grandpa laughed.
Third Grandpa's tone changed slightly. He looked deeply at Xie Wen and thought," Ah Wen's accent seems to be similar to that girl from Accountant Li's house…Could it be…" A Soft Smile thought that her thoughts were a little ridiculous and stopped thinking about it.
After chatting with these elders for about an hour, the sky had already darkened. Stars appeared in the sky, and a bright moon hung high in the sky, shining brightly. The entire sky had become its stage.
In front of a house in the distance, a delicate figure was looking over…
" Brother Wen, it's time to eat…" Her voice was like an oriole, yet also like a silver bell, crisp and pleasant to the ear.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]