Ouyang Meihua cast a cold glance at Yan Xiaoni. Tian Jing had already told her about the affair between Zhang Fangcao and Li Weiguo. Yan Xiaoni was just a foolish woman being used by her husband.
Yan Xiaoni’s bones tensed. Had she offended this woman recently? Her children at home were all well-behaved.
“Niu San Niu’s mother, you should wash your mouth. How dare you speak ill of my little brother behind his back? I think you’re tired of living! Just wait, my little brother will be back soon. When he returns, don’t you dare grovel and lick his shoes.”
Niu Xiao Sao was so humiliated that her face turned red. “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t beg anyone from the Ouyang family.”
“Hmm, remember what you said today.”
Ouyang Meihua moved her feet, catching up with Tian Jing.
“You’re truly extravagant. Are you using your inner strength just for walking?”
Ouyang Meihua paid no mind to Tian Jing’s feigned sarcasm. “Should I shout to tell you to wait for me?”
Tian Jing smiled and shook her head. “Then you’d better not shout. They can hear you from Kuhe.”
Ouyang Meihua asked the question that concerned her. “Do you know the general content of today’s meeting?”
Tian Jing nodded. “I can guess some. Big Sister Niu heard Sister Dai mention that the production team audited their accounts yesterday afternoon.”
Ouyang Meihua was surprised. “Ah? Audited accounts? What are they doing?”
“The production team is probably changing its village. Hasn’t your uncle been transferred to a government agency?”
Ouyang Meihua immediately veered off-topic. “Speaking of my uncle, it’s all thanks to my cousin Zhengguo’s guidance. My little brother will be back soon, and he’ll come with my little brother to thank you.”
“It’s been three years, it’s about time he came back.”
If he didn’t come back soon, she wouldn’t know how to proceed.
Ouyang Meihua said with pride. “Yes, three years. He’s very powerful now. He said he’ll drive a car back. It doesn’t matter if the market loses out, he’ll come back and lead his brothers to venture out.”
“That’s good. Xiaohu and the others are his brothers. He can take them and be assured of their loyalty.”
“You don’t know what Niu San Niu’s mother just said… I told her not to lick my little brother’s shoes when he returns, and she got so angry that she blurted out that she would never beg anyone from the Ouyang family. I’ll see if she begs, being used as a pawn by Yan Xiaoni and not knowing anything.”
Tian Jing smiled and shook her head. “Why do you bicker with her? She’s brainless.”
Chatting and laughing, the three of them arrived at the open space outside the team office, where quite a few people were already seated.
Seeing Tian Jing, they all greeted her.
Tian Jing smiled and nodded in response, then found an empty spot with Niu Da Sao and Ouyang Meihua, set down stools, and waited.
As soon as they sat down, the loudspeaker sounded, urging those who hadn’t arrived yet. If they didn’t arrive within two minutes, they would forfeit any rights and obligations in the meeting.
At these words, the sound of running could be heard immediately.
After two minutes, Captain Ou, holding the loudspeaker, began to call out names. He was calling out the household heads, as one person per household was sufficient.
Captain Ou held the meeting entirely with a loudspeaker.
There were four items on the agenda.
First, watermelons are an economic crop and are considered agricultural crops. The commune will no longer purchase and sell them collectively. Anyone who wishes to plant them will not be obstructed by the commune, but they are not allowed to use the land designated for regular crops, as there is a quota for grain taxes.
Second, the old homesteads of the commune members will be purchased collectively. After purchase, the members will have the right to buy and sell these homesteads. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to be bought or sold, nor can they be passed down as ancestral property.
Third, the 0.3 mu of self-reserved land outside each member's door will also be purchased. After purchase, it will be considered the private land of the member, but the usage period will be fifty years. After fifty years, depending on the policies at that time, whether they will buy another fifty years of usage rights by paying, or how it will be handled, is currently unknown.
Fourth, the self-reserved land that each family reclaimed on the south side of the village road will be taken back collectively. The crops on this land will naturally belong to the person who planted them.
The land that is reclaimed will be sold as homesteads. Since the west side of Kusan cannot extend indefinitely, and the west is already hills, there is nowhere else to extend. Therefore, Kusan will follow other production teams and have homesteads in two, three, or four rows.
Families with male children can now purchase homesteads. They can discuss amongst themselves whether to buy the land in front of their own house or in front of someone else’s house, but someone else’s land in front of their house will have priority for purchase.
When purchasing homesteads, they can also purchase 0.3 mu of self-reserved land, with the same prices and rules as the old homesteads and old self-reserved land, all costing two hundred yuan.
New homesteads are currently tentatively planned for two rows. The middle row will face north, opposite the old homesteads.
The south row will face south. This means the new two rows of homesteads will have their back walls facing each other, with only a two-meter gap in between, to be used for toilets or small paths.
The self-reserved land will be in front of the houses. This means the middle row will be separated from the original old homesteads by the village road and their respective self-reserved land. The self-reserved land cannot be fenced into the yard but can be enclosed with a fence.
Damn it.
The commune members swore, their reclaimed self-reserved land was being taken back?
No, no, it wasn’t being taken back, it was to be purchased with money.
The field immediately became chaotic.
With the meeting held via loudspeaker, not only the commune members present heard it, but also those working in the fields who were not there.
Chen Suozhu, prompted by his grandfather, rushed over.
On the way, quite a few commune members were also running towards the team office.
The later arrivals almost tore Captain Ou apart.
Captain Ou shouted for quiet with the loudspeaker, but no one paid him any attention.
Seeing Captain Ou being pushed and shoved, Tian Jing nudged Ouyang Meihua.
Ouyang Meihua focused her qi and let out a roar, “Everyone be quiet!”
Immediately, the field fell silent.
Captain Ou quickly continued his speech. “Comrade members, the land has already been contracted to households. The production team is essentially defunct. Planned economy has been changed to market economy. We in Kusan also need to change. Today, if you don’t buy homesteads and self-reserved land, you’ll regret it later.”
Tian Jing stood up and declared, “Captain, I’ll buy. The three mu and four fen of land to the south of my house, I’ll buy it all. Because I still want to have a third child, even if my third child is a girl, I’ll buy her a homestead so that she has a place to stay when she visits her maternal home, so she won’t have no maternal home after her parents are gone.”
Captain Ou was stunned but quickly reacted. “It’s possible, but your three homesteads and self-reserved land only amount to 1.8 mu. After deducting paths and the village road, it’s about 1.95 mu. For the remainder, you can only buy at the price of two hundred yuan per 0.3 mu, with a usage period of fifty years.”
Tian Jing nodded. “We will accept whatever arrangements the production team makes. Our work points will be deducted this time, right?”
Mentioning work points, Captain Ou felt a bit stifled but had to endure it. “Deducted. All work points this time will be settled completely, including any debts to the production team. All purchases of homesteads and self-reserved land will not be on credit.”
At these words, the captain was almost mobbed.
Captain Ou shouted into the loudspeaker, “Do you still have any organizational discipline? If you’re not satisfied, you can get out of Kusan!”
This statement was even more effective than Ouyang Meihua’s shrewish roar.
Seeing everyone quiet down, Captain Ou shouted again, “Also, the cafeteria behind the team office and the two large courtyards of the educated youth dormitory, the dilapidated houses plus the courtyards are 0.6 mu, which will be sold as homesteads.”
Captain Ou was immediately bombarded by the commune members again.
It was so run-down, and it was behind the village and by the Ku River. Who would buy it?