frightfiction Chapter 104: 5 mu of irrigated land and 5 mu of dry land, 55 parts
Chapter 104: 5 mu of irrigated land and 5 mu of dry land, 55 parts
The production team leader received an official document and began to implement the household contract responsibility system outlined in the previous meeting.
"Everyone should divide the land among themselves, and each household should cultivate it independently."
Last time, when farm tools were distributed at the meeting, the villagers discussed it amicably. But this time, when it came to which family would get which plot of land, they started arguing endlessly.
The Sun and Lu families were arguing the most. After the land allocation was adjusted, the Lu family received five mu of irrigated land and eight mu of dry land. How could the Lu family be competent? They had more people; why did they receive less land than the Sun family, and even more, dry land?
The Sun family was arguing because they were a hunting gang and needed to go into the mountains to hunt in the spring and autumn, so they didn't have enough able-bodied people to work in the fields.
The village was suddenly divided into two factions. Families with able-bodied members and those allocated good land were overjoyed, knowing they could become wealthy through their own hard work. However, families lacking sufficient labor and those allocated poor land were embroiled in heated arguments.
At first, the brigade leader, Yang Dezheng, was able to persuade everyone from house to house, but eventually he himself was also pushed into the situation, and a conflict almost broke out. The production team leader didn't explain much, only saying that it was a decision from higher authorities that had to be followed.
But policies are rigid and must be implemented, so we have no choice but to implement them.
The arguing villagers and the defeated rooster all hung their heads in silence. The eldest son of the Li family represented the family at the meeting, and the room was full. The eldest daughter-in-law was also there, while the second son, his wife, and Song Lanhua could only sit in the corner listening.
Song Lanhua remembered the location her son had mentioned last time. She used his connections to get into the production brigade's hand-weaving group and became good friends with the group leader, Sister Li. Song Lanhua was a gentle person, but she was quick-witted when necessary. She often interacted with Sister Li, becoming good friends with her, and through her connections, she got the land Li Ju'an had mentioned.
Sister Li hesitated at first; many villagers were asking for plots of land in good locations, and she couldn't make the decision herself. But when she heard Song Lanhua mention a plot of land in a remote ravine in the mountains, which no one in the village cared about, she realized that Song Lanhua was offering it. She even considered persuading Song Lanhua to choose a plot closer to the village, but Song Lanhua brought over six free-range eggs, leaving Sister Li speechless, and she immediately helped her out.
Therefore, the land allocated to the Li family consisted of five mu of irrigated land and five mu of dry land.
When the old man heard that of the 10 mu of land, only five mu were usable, and the other five mu were far away, dry land, and remote, taking a long time to get in.
He and his aunt immediately objected. The aunt looked at Song Lanhua and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, you work in the weaving group, and Ju'an is always running around in the mountains. Who in your family has time to work in the fields? Why don't you give your family the land in this mountain valley?"
The second uncle and his wife also had their eyes on five acres of prime land. This land was irrigated, which immediately piqued their interest. After all, it was their land, and if they cultivated it well, the harvest would be theirs.
Second Aunt was full of energy, planning to plant wheat for the first year and use diammonium phosphate fertilizer. She said excitedly, "Sisters-in-law, let's divide it among the three families. Our family will lose a little and take 3 mu of irrigated land. You can divide the rest among yourselves."
The old woman was indignant and said in surprise, "What kind of talk is this? You took 3 mu of water for irrigation, so why should we take dry land? Why shouldn't we be the ones to lose out and take 3 mu of water for irrigation?"
Both families were vying for the five mu of well-located irrigated land, but no one wanted the five mu of dry land in a remote location.
The village committee has considerable power in land allocation and management, which can lead to problems during the land registration process. Land in remote, unwanted locations that remains uncultivated for years can be illegally seized by the village committee, and even if land compensation is offered, the amount is often far below the actual value of the land.
Thinking this through, the old man made a decision and shouted, "Stop arguing. We can't let the village committee take advantage of our own land. The dry land will go to my third brother's family, and the five mu of irrigated land will be split equally between our two families. It's perfectly fair."
When the family members spoke, the eldest aunt and the second aunt glared at each other, neither willing to yield, and neither dared to utter a sound. Song Lanhua naturally wouldn't say anything; her son's original intention was to take the land in the mountain valley, so she kept quiet and listened weakly, appearing as if she were being bullied.
The Li family received 10 mu of land. Uncle, Second Uncle, Li Ju'an's family divided the land behind closed doors, and Li Ju'an received five mu of land.
When he rushed into the village, the production team meeting had just ended. The production team leader read out the official document and the land allocation regulations with a blank expression, and then left the village, leaving the commune members and villagers making a noisy commotion.
He went back to the Li family home, carefully put down the Peony brand black and white television, and then went to find his mother, Song Lanhua.
He laughed after hearing this, gave a thumbs up and said, "Mom, you're the best! You took it down so easily."
Only then did Song Lanhua, the mother, put away her gentle demeanor and smile at her son, saying, "Our son is capable, and as his mother, I certainly can't hold you back. When it's time to step forward, you have to step forward. Don't worry, son, with your mother here, you can rest assured."
A mother who can single-handedly support her family and raise two children cannot possibly be as fragile as she appears. She has a clear understanding of right and wrong. With mother and children working together, the Li family will surely prosper.
The Li family installed a black and white television!
First, Aunt Zhang's son next door brought her a television. Now, Li Ju'an has brought a television to the Li family.
Originally, the villagers would flock to Zhang's house to watch TV, but now that the production team meeting was over, they all rushed to Li's house to see what was going on.
Back then, having a television set was a big deal!
In those days, there was no cable TV; antennas had to be installed on the roof or outdoors to receive programs. Li Ju'an used iron pipes to support the antenna and then connected it to the television set with a feeder cable. However, due to the antenna's orientation, snow appeared on the screen at different heights, affecting the viewing experience. He rotated the antenna, and at a certain angle, suddenly the snow disappeared.
The villagers gathered at the doorway erupted in excited cheers. The screen was playing the Indian film "The Tramp." A large crowd had gathered around the 9-inch black-and-white television, and people were also present by the kang (heated brick bed) and in the corners. Some villagers who arrived late could only watch by leaning against the doorframe.
The old man of the Lu family had wanted to buy a TV for a long time, but thought it was too expensive. He was even thinking of "crowdfunding" a TV with several families so they could take turns watching it every two weeks.
Unexpectedly, Zhang's son brought over a television first, and then Li Ju'an brought one as well. He turned to look for Lu Zhiqiang and Lu Jinyang.
Lu Zhiqiang had disappeared somewhere again. Lu Jinyang moved closer to the TV and placed a magnifying glass in front of it, hoping to make it easier for Lu Wenqian to see. However, the image was distorted. He then fiddled with a colored plastic film, pretending to watch "color" TV to cheer up his sister Lu Wenqian.
Looking at his disappointing descendants, and then at the warm relationship between Li Ju'an, his mother Song Lanhua, and his sister Li Xiao, the old patriarch of the Lu family sighed, called Lu Jinyang over, and angrily asked, "Where has your brother run off to again?"
Before Lu Jinyang could find an excuse, Lu Wenqian obediently spoke up and told the truth: "Brother Zhiqiang was startled by something when he went into the mountains. When I just went out, I saw Second Aunt stuffing a kitchen knife under Brother Zhiqiang's pillow."
The old master of the Lu family frowned.
Why would you stuff a kitchen knife in there?