"Wei Guo, I'm not foolish, and I believe no one here is. With so much grain gone, our Shenjiaba Village will have no food next year. Instead of finding a way to live, should we just wait to starve to death? If you all don't dare, then I have nothing more to say. I'll find a way to ensure my family doesn't go hungry. If you don't want to starve next year, then find a way to live. I heard that in Fengyang, some villages have already divided the land among households. The more you plant, the more you get. After paying the public grain, the rest is yours."
Chen Yang's words were like a thunderclap, shocking even Shen Fu Guo, who pulled out a clump of his own beard in surprise. Such words were dangerous to speak at that time; they could cost one's life.
"You kid, don't spout nonsense! We'll hold a collective meeting after the rain stops to discuss the grain situation. As for the second harvest, it's not impossible. I'll report our village's situation to the commune, and they won't abandon us." Shen Fu Guo pulled Chen Yang behind him. He had previously looked down on Chen Yang, this lazy educated youth, but today his performance and sense of responsibility had made Shen Fu Guo see him in a new light. Therefore, he naturally had to protect Chen Yang; after all, Chen Yang was thinking of the entire Shenjiaba Village.
"Old Branch Secretary, don't worry. No one is to spread rumors about today's events. This is a matter of life and death for our entire village. Anyone who dares to accuse us behind our backs will face my wrath." Not only Shen Fu Guo protected Chen Yang, but the old hunter Tu Tian Zong, who had been quiet until now, also spoke with firm resolve, his hawk-like eyes sweeping across the crowd in the drying ground. If the Old Branch Secretary held the most authority in Shenjiaba Village, then Old Man Tu held a different kind of authority. Although he wasn't surnamed Shen, his seniority in Shenjiaba Village was considerable, and even Shen Fu Guo was junior to him. In those days, seniority in rural areas carried weight. Moreover, Old Man Tu was a master hunter and had trained many disciples. Most of the village men had been indirectly guided by him and respected this elder.
With the two most authoritative men in the village openly showing their approval of Chen Yang, not only the villagers but also Liu Mao Sheng and Zheng Wei Guo were stunned.
"Old Branch Secretary, Master Tu, Chen Yang was a bit of a scoundrel before, but if he hadn't warned us just now, our village would have suffered even greater losses. We are not ungrateful people, and Chen Yang was thinking of all of us. We are not foolish." The men of the village patted their chests and spoke. From this moment on, everyone's gaze towards Chen Yang shifted slightly, with a hint of respect.
The rain lasted for a full three hours. Everyone stood in the rain for the entire three hours. Except for the women and children, no man dared to leave. The makeshift granary was unstable. If the rain intensified and the mud washed away, losing a granary of grain, thousands of catties, was unthinkable. No one dared to take that risk.
"It's still bloody sunny." "Damn sky, you're playing with me!" A few men cursed angrily when the heavy rain stopped and the sun actually came out. Losing half their grain left no one feeling good.
"The grain is gone, but the people must remain safe. Reinforce the stakes, and everyone go back and change into dry clothes. We'll dry the grain again when the ground is dry. Once this batch of grain is in the collective's granary, we'll hold a meeting to discuss further." Shen Fu Guo made the final decision. Everyone checked the makeshift granary and gradually headed home. After enduring the rain for so long, even the young and strong men couldn't stand it.
"You kid, you really dare to speak. Do you still want to go back to the city?" Zheng Wei Guo punched Chen Yang. Chen Yang was grateful to Zheng Wei Guo. Zheng Wei Guo was the first to speak up for him, and his willingness to protect him in such a critical situation showed he truly considered him a brother.
"Wei Guo, have you ever thought about what going back to the city would achieve?" "For people like us, with no skills and no diplomas, what can we do back in the city? Do you think they'll arrange jobs for us?" Chen Yang looked at him. Zheng Wei Guo, who had been about to joke around, suddenly froze. Not only him, but Liu Mao Sheng was also taken aback. They only thought of returning to the city, but they hadn't considered what they would face afterward. Yes, after these years in the countryside, they hadn't learned anything except farming. Those who could stay in the city all had connections, while those without had already been sent down to the countryside like them. Upon returning, how would they find opportunities for work?
"Chen Yang, don't make sarcastic remarks. We're not like you, capable of passing the college entrance exams." "But returning to the city is better than staying in the countryside, facing the soil and the sky your whole life. I don't want my son to deal with mud his whole life." In those days, most city dwellers had a natural sense of superiority because they ate state-subsidized grain and were supported by the state, unlike farmers who had to toil in the dirt. Shen Wei Guo was no exception.
"Wei Guo, if you can find a job back in the city, then that's another matter. But if you can't find a job, as a grown man, will you expect to live off your parents' rations and be supported by them?" "Here in the countryside, with land, you at least have food to eat. I'm not lying, Xiaogang Village has indeed implemented household contract responsibility. If you truly take charge yourself, let alone anything else, you can earn enough to feed your family. Back in the city, without a job, can you support yourself?" Chen Yang looked at Zheng Wei Guo. In his previous life, Zheng Wei Guo and Liu Mao Sheng hadn't had a very smooth life after returning to the city. Zheng Wei Guo's brother had taken over his father's position at the factory, and his entire family was crammed into a small attic in the factory dormitory. His sister-in-law already disliked the cramped conditions. Zheng Wei Guo couldn't find a job after returning and had to eat with his brother and sister-in-law daily. His sister-in-law constantly made sarcastic remarks, and the family argued constantly. Liu Mao Sheng wasn't much better. He remained unemployed and eventually his maternal grandfather pulled strings to get him a temporary job sweeping streets. Liu Mao Sheng, who always cared about his reputation, swept streets with his face covered by a cloth, only to be exposed and ridiculed by childhood playmates. Unable to bear it, he beat the person up and lost his temporary job. Since he had been reborn, Chen Yang wanted to help these two companions who had come down to the countryside with him. More importantly, Chen Yang knew Liu Mao Sheng and Zheng Wei Guo well. He intended to start a big business in the future and couldn't possibly have no trustworthy subordinates.
"This..." "Yangzi, do you have some other connections?" Zheng Wei Guo was stunned by Chen Yang's question. Liu Mao Sheng, on the other hand, grabbed Chen Yang's hand, clearly agreeing with Chen Yang's viewpoint. They were sent to the countryside precisely because they couldn't stay in the city. Would they find jobs if they returned? Setting aside those who remained in the city, even among those returning, there were likely many with connections. The disparity between his family and others was something Liu Mao Sheng understood clearly.
"Yes, Chen Yang, you're always so clever. Please guide your brothers." Zheng Wei Guo also looked at Chen Yang anxiously. Seeing their anxious faces, Chen Yang's lips curled into a slight smile.
"If I tell you, you might get scared."