Someone once joked in a crosstalk performance that the Party branch secretary in a rural area is the lowest-ranking leader in the country.

This may seem like a joke, but upon closer examination, you'll realize, "Hmm, it's actually quite true."

It is the lowest level, but it is also a leader and a level of governance organization in the country.

No matter what, the Lijiapo Brigade could not escape the political struggles of certain factions. In fact, because of Lijiapo's outstanding position, it was even more likely to become a target for some people to attack their opponents.

This is also why Li Xiangdong sighed: "We just want to develop our own business well, but what about other people? Why can't they stand to see us doing well?"

Sighing won't help; we still have to get things done.

Without a mobile phone, it's impossible to contact Wang Jianguo. To correctly understand the relevant policies, one can only contact other people.

Li Xiangdong met with He Guang, the director of the county party committee office, in the evening.

After some time apart, He Guang's complexion was dull, and he was noticeably lacking in energy.

Li Xiangdong met Liu Junbo and He Guang through them. Liu and He were colleagues and good friends.

"Brother Guang, I bought some Daoxiangcun pastries when I sent Brother Junbo and my fourth sister to study in Yanjing. I brought two jin for you and your sister-in-law."

Li Xiangdong handed the two cardboard boxes to He Guang.

He Guang didn't stand on ceremony with him. "It's not cheap, is it? Your sister-in-law has been quite picky lately, and she's been craving sesame oil pastries."

He Guang's wife is pregnant; she's already over four months along.

"Oh dear, I should have bought more. I'm going to Bincheng in a couple of days. The Guishunzhai jujube paste with white skin in Bincheng is also delicious."

"What are you going to Bincheng for? To sell shrimp?"

"Yeah, all the fish and shrimp in the base are ready to be harvested."

Even though he was at home, He Guang looked around and whispered, "Xiang Dong, even if you don't come to see me today, I'll make time to come see you tomorrow. Before Secretary Jianguo left, he told me to tell you to be careful."

What exactly is going on?

"County Chief Xiong just came down directly from the province. His backing is unfathomable. He went to your brigade on his very first day here."

Li Xiangdong's pupils contracted; it was precisely when he wasn't home.

"After he inspected your brigade, he came back and held a leadership meeting. The topic was whether or not a local tyrant should be allowed to exist!"

"Local tyrant?"

"They say the food and lodging in your village are better than those of the workers and cadres, especially you. You've even built a courtyard house that used to house landlords. Even a county magistrate like him doesn't live as spaciously as you. That's not normal!"

"Who says I can't live in a more spacious house than the county magistrate?!"

Who says we farmers are inherently inferior?!

Who says we have to watch others eat, and we have to stand while they sit?!

Who said it's a sin for us to enjoy the benefits that workers and cadres don't?!

Li Xiangdong suddenly erupted, firing off four questions in quick succession. He Guang had never seen Li Xiangdong so openly express his emotions before.

"Oh, don't be angry. He's not just targeting you guys. He's been giving us a hard time every day! It's all meetings and shifts. Look at me, I've lost several pounds in the last few days!"

He Guang comforted Li Xiangdong and also complained a bit himself.

I really can't stand this new county magistrate anymore. He's not old, but he acts like a big shot. He speaks in such an affected manner every day that it makes me sick.

Li Xiangdong snorted coldly and said, word by word, "Whoever tries to take away our Lijiapo's livelihood, I'll smash their cooking pot!"

After obtaining the relevant policies from He Guang, Li Xiangdong did not linger and immediately took his leave to go home.

After seeing Li Xiangdong to the door, He Guang's wife sat in the living room, wearing a coat. "Xiangdong's gone?"

"I'm leaving. Why are you up again?"

"I can't sleep. Ugh, we've only had a few days of peace and quiet, and now this is happening again!"

"At worst, I'll quit this office director position and become a regular staff member in a rural town. That way, he won't be able to bother me."

He Guang helped his wife walk towards the bedroom, saying, "We'll deal with whatever comes our way, just wait and see!"

...

Lijiapo Brigade.

In the morning, Li Xiangdong held a meeting with his team members and heads of various industries.

In the afternoon, a loudspeaker announced that all villagers should stop working and production. Regardless of age or gender, except for newborn babies and those who were bedridden, everyone came to the brigade headquarters for a general meeting.

At the meeting, Li Jin first briefly explained the significance of the pilot program to disband production teams and the deployment requirements from higher authorities, and then asked everyone to vote.

The crowd below fell silent. They looked at each other, exchanged glances, and then a young man shouted, "We don't agree to the division!"

This was like a fuse; one person spoke, and a hundred echoed, with everyone shouting, "No separation!"

"What's there to divide? We've only had enough to eat for two years, and people are already jealous? Would you be happy if you forced us to beg for food?"

"Exactly! We shouldn't split it up. If we do, these industries won't be ours to enjoy!"

Although these words are harsh, they really resonate with most people!

Everyone has their own judgment; everyone knows how Li Jiapo became rich!

All these ideas for making money came from Li Xiangdong, and he also paved the way to make money!

Besides, each of the profitable industries now has its own person in charge. If the production teams are really disbanded, these industries will not fall into the hands of us ordinary people!

Now we can all eat meat together, but if the production team is disbanded and we go it alone, haha, I'm afraid I won't even be able to get a sip of soup!

This is the most basic wisdom of ordinary people; they have a clear understanding of things that involve their own interests!

Just like the state-owned enterprise reform decades later, the only change was that the state and collective ownership were transformed into individual ownership, and the workers who were once masters of their own affairs became workers for certain families.

Based on this, everyone unanimously agreed not to disband the production team, and signed the meeting minutes with their bright red fingerprints.

The next day, Li Xiangdong accompanied Li Jin and Wang Zhenbo to deliver the meeting minutes, which had been stamped with their fingerprints, to the commune.

When Yu Wengang saw the three large characters "Disagree" in regular script above, his eyebrows twitched.

He still had a good relationship with the Li family father and son, so he gently put the meeting minutes aside and said, "We're not outsiders. To be honest, disbanding the production team will only benefit you two. Why do you have to go against the higher-ups?"

These are heartfelt words. If it were Li Xiangdong in his previous life, he would probably think the same way, but things are different in this life.

Faced with the stubborn father and son, Yu Wengang had no choice but to send them, along with the meeting minutes, to County Magistrate Xiong Bingwen.

County Chief Xiong was a very burly man with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He sat in his seat, casually glanced at the meeting minutes covered with bright red handprints, and tapped his fingers on the table.

"Is this how you explain the work assigned by your superiors?"