In every household in Kushan Mountain, watermelon seedlings were planted in the three-fen land by the doorstep and the newly acquired homesteads. They hoped that this land, free from grain quotas, could yield greater value.
When Secretary Ji arrived, he saw someone squatting in every melon field, gazing at the watermelon seedlings under the scorching sun, unwilling to leave.
He didn't understand and asked Captain Ou.
Captain Ou gritted his teeth. He had tried to persuade them, but it was futile. "They all calculated that Li Zhengguo sold his watermelons for over ten thousand yuan last year, and with the money owed for the homestead, they now treat the watermelon seedlings like precious jewels, fearing they might be destroyed. They don't mind the sun, and even when the dew is heavy at night, they move their mats to sleep by the fields to guard them."
"Are they crazy?"
"Pretty much."
"No wonder you said the homesteads weren't selling well. So Li Zhengguo wasn't telling the truth? Did the villagers only figure this out after planting?"
"Some figured it out after pre-ordering the seedlings, but Tian Jing only allowed pre-orders, and only a single quantity, which tested their courage and determination."
"But then there's no need to guard the melon fields so strictly?"
"But there are over ten families that Tian Jing refused to sell seedlings to."
"Comrade Tian Jing isn't a stingy person, is she? Otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed to sell watermelon seedlings to everyone."
"There are too many reasons behind this. Li Aiguo is because... Zhang family is because... Li Erzuo's family is because... the Huang family is because..."
"Serves them right!"
Secretary Ji was furious. "Comrade Tian Jing has been holding back for the sake of supporting your work. She's right, it's a market economy now, and common prosperity is unrealistic. You can't demand anything from her using collective honor anymore."
"I understand."
While examining the homestead sales at the brigade headquarters, Secretary Ji pondered for a moment and said, "The homestead issue will be postponed until after September. Once the villagers sell their watermelons and have money in hand, they will surely buy more, so let's delay for another six months. The reform from brigade to village might also have to wait a while longer."
"Secretary Ji cares for the villagers, but the villagers don't understand."
Secretary Ji waved his hand. "It's okay, they'll understand sooner or later. They all know to follow Tian Jing and Li Zhengguo. As long as those two understand, it's fine."
"As for the mess hall and the educated youth point, apart from Tian Jing, probably no one else has the courage or the money to buy them. Go and ask Li Zhengguo and Tian Jing. If they don't want them, we'll demolish them and turn them back into farmland."
Captain Ou's hands clapped upon hearing Secretary Ji's words. "Wait, I might have been tricked again."
Secretary Ji was startled. "What is it?"
"Tian Jing requested two mu of land by the river. The land is between the river and the mess hall and the educated youth point. She definitely wants these two courtyards."
"Two mu of land?"
"Yes, and the Li family's work points..."
"Alas~" Secretary Ji sighed. "No matter what conditions Comrade Tian Jing proposes, you should agree. She has her own sense of fairness and won't go too far or give anyone leverage."
"For example, she only asked for two mu of land. If there are any problems with these two mu, she'll return them directly to the brigade, with little loss."
"And all her private property was bought with cash, so no one can hold anything against her, and you won't be in trouble either."
"The work points given to Doctor Yang were in exchange for the clinic's homestead. Unless someone is insane, they wouldn't take back the clinic and drive away the doctor."
Captain Ou shook his head. "No, I can't handle this. Since you're here, I'll go and call her."
"That's fine."
...
Upon hearing that Secretary Ji was looking for her, Tian Jing directly asked Captain Ou, "Why?"
"The mess hall and the educated youth point."
"Oh, alright, I'll bring the money later."
"Didn't you just finish borrowing? Li Jianguo borrowed two thousand yuan."
"We own a ten percent share in Ouyang Lei's business."
Grateful for Ouyang Lei's return this time, no one would be able to calculate how much money she had from now on.
Captain Ou was extremely envious. Ouyang Lei was already driving a Shanghai brand car, so ten percent must be a considerable amount.
...
Speaking face-to-face with Secretary Ji, Tian Jing was straightforward. "I want both the mess hall and the educated youth point, and the land between the two courtyards. I will have the right to use the land by the Kuku River."
Secretary Ji didn't understand. "What do you mean by 'right to use'?"
"It means the land belongs to the collective, I won't buy or rent it, but I want to plant flowers and grass on it or place things to beautify the environment. You have no right to remove them or order me to move them. This is my right to use."
Secretary Ji was very interested. "You want to turn that land by the river into a park?"
"No, it's a private garden. Everyone can admire it and play there, but if I'm unhappy, or if something is damaged, or if someone says nonsense, I have the right to forbid that person and their family from playing there anymore."
Secretary Ji agreed. "Of course, you're paying to beautify the environment, why would we disagree?"
Tian Jing pressed for the important part. "What about the piece of land between the two courtyards?"
"What do you plan to use it for?"
"I want to build a large courtyard."
Secretary Ji smiled. A courtyard of over an mu would certainly be unique. "Then we'll sell it to you as a homestead, along with the rest. Are you satisfied?"
Tian Jing was also happy. "Very satisfied, thank you, Secretary Ji."
"You're welcome. With this season's watermelons, Kushan Mountain should be considered to have reached a moderately prosperous standard of living, shouldn't it?"
Tian Jing shook her head. "Not yet, it's just the beginning. My family is currently at that level, but since you mentioned watermelons, I'll share my thoughts."
Secretary Ji became serious. "Please speak."
"I restricted the number of watermelon seedlings the villagers could pre-order precisely to suppress the excessive saturation of the watermelon market."
"Everyone planted around the same time and will mature around the same time. If a large quantity is brought to market, and the sales volume is limited, what will happen? Will they sell at a lower price? Then who is cheating whom?"
"Watermelons have a ripening period and a shelf life. If they can't be sold, won't they rot in the fields? Even if they are all sold this year, what about next year? Will they increase the planting area?"
"They only see money and don't understand market issues. If I don't sell seedlings, they'll breed their own. Let's not even consider if they'll make a loss next year, what about next year's grain? Will they still need to eat?"
Secretary Ji nodded. "I understand your meaning. Captain Ou, restrict the planting area. Each family is only allowed to plant economic crops on three fen of land; the rest must be used for growing grain."
"Yes."
Tian Jing paid over nine hundred yuan and received the keys to the two courtyards, proof of homestead ownership, and proof of the right to use the land by the river. There were no land deeds, only certificates stamped with the production brigade's seal.
Having bought the mess hall and the educated youth point, Tian Jing was very happy. She planned to build a riverside villa in the future.
The brigade was also happy to have disposed of its two most troublesome assets.
The villagers, however, were unhappy. They had been eagerly calculating how much money they would earn from this year's watermelons and how much more they would plant next year, only to be informed that they were only allowed to plant on three fen of land next year.
This was cutting off their source of income, and they couldn't stand it.
The brigade office received numerous villagers daily, not to buy homesteads, but to complain about the brigade excessively interfering with their freedom.
Didn't they say that after contracting the land, as long as they paid the grain quota or money, there would be no interference?
Captain Ou was so angry that he cursed these people as ungrateful wretches. "Fine, if you don't listen to me, then don't come crying to me in the future. When the time comes, we'll collect the contract fees. There will be no delays, only mandatory enforcement."
After scolding them, he drove them away, and Captain Ou's chest heaved with anger.
Secretary Yang shook his head. "Guo Chang, don't worry too much. They'll understand when they suffer losses and get tricked."
Captain Ou sighed. "But I feel sorry for wasting a whole year for nothing. How much grain could have been grown?"
"Didn't you tell them that Li Liguo and Ouyang Meihua would take over Ouyang Lei's path? A small kindness can be forgotten, but a large one can breed resentment."
Captain Ou looked at the secretary suspiciously. "That's not right. Old Brother Yang's temper used to be different."
Secretary Yang took a puff of his cigarette and slowly exhaled before saying, "It used to be collective, but now it's individual farming. You need to learn to let go. After my two sons moved out, I hardly worried about them."
"Because you can't worry about everything. After sons, there are grandsons. The more you manage, the more you feel they're not good enough. But if you don't worry and don't let go, how can they grow up?"
Captain Ou slammed the table. "I understand. Let them fall and break their heads themselves."