This production meeting, in which Zhou Changsheng participated, was particularly large-scale. Apart from Lin Ye, who had to go to work, everyone else was summoned to the threshing ground.

Lu Wanqing, holding Zhao Xiaolan's hand, also came over to watch out of curiosity.

A special platform was set up in the threshing ground, where several brigade cadres and leaders sent by the commune sat.

Zhou Changsheng was right next to him.

In just a few days, his hair turned gray and his beard became unshaven. Although he was only in his fifties, he looked like a decrepit old man.

Surprisingly, however, he was not under strict surveillance as usual, but was sitting peacefully in a chair.

Perhaps he received preferential treatment because of his age?

People didn't show him any leniency just because the commune treated him well. In particular, some of the older people who had worked diligently all their lives wanted to curse him to death.

Soon, the conference officially began.

Yu Guanghui, holding a megaphone, began to speak: "Fellow villagers, please calm down and don't target Zhou Changsheng..."

Yu Guanghui spoke in official jargon for a long time, but the crowd didn't buy it and became even more agitated than before.

Zhou Changsheng abused his power for personal gain, took advantage of public resources, and even stole grain. Such actions are unforgivable under any circumstances.

Seeing the crowd's agitation, Wang Guangming took the megaphone from Yu Guanghui, clapped it twice, and said loudly, "Fellow villagers, listen to me. The main purpose of this meeting is not to target Comrade Zhou Changsheng, but to discuss with you how to increase your income."

Wang Guangming's words immediately attracted everyone's attention, and everyone eagerly awaited what earth-shattering things he would say next. After all, the Victory Brigade had always relied solely on rice for sustenance.

"I won't keep you in suspense any longer. I believe you all benefited from selling grain after the autumn harvest. Would you like to increase your income by doing some side jobs?" Wang Guangming continued.

His words were quite persuasive, and many people began to wave their hands and shout, "Great! We'll do anything to increase our income!"

With everyone's support, Wang Guangming became even more confident and shared his plan.

The plan is roughly divided into three points: First, take advantage of the period around the Spring Festival, before spring sowing, to prepare all 28 mu of riverbank land, remove weeds, and plow the soil all over.

Secondly, next spring, some rice paddies closer to the river will begin cooperating with farms to raise hairy crabs. Poultry farming will be liberalized, meaning that from now on, any household can raise as many chickens or pigs as they want, without quantity restrictions, and they won't have to pay half to the production brigade. Sales will be handled centrally by the production brigade.

Third, able-bodied men in the brigade who know a little about painting, masonry, and carpentry will be formed into a temporary engineering team. If there is any work, they can suspend their work shifts to earn wages for the project.

After hearing Wang Guangming's words, everyone was stunned for a moment. There were too many measures at once, and they couldn't digest them all.

"Captain Wang, I'd like to ask, we've tried to develop that riverbank area before, but nothing grows except grass!" someone suddenly raised their hand and said, which drew a lot of agreement from the others.

They phrased it euphemistically, but the subtext was, "We've lived here for decades, and you've only been here a few days? Nobody knows that riverbank better than us."

Wang Guangming reached out and pressed down, then said with a smile, "Speaking of this, we have to thank Lin Ye and Lu Wanqing. They developed the fertilizer, improved the soil, and revitalized that riverbank. Now, they are willing to provide fertilizer, only needing to give 20% of their harvest as a reward."

When Lin Ye and Lu Wanqing were mentioned, no one had any objections. After all, the sweet potatoes and rice grown in their fields were better than any other crop grown in the surrounding brigades. It turned out that it was the effect of chemical fertilizers!

With that problem solved, a new one arose. Someone jokingly asked, "The team is raising hairy crabs, so can everyone eat them?"

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.

Lin Ye's family raises hairy crabs, and countless people are envious but can't get to eat them. Now that the whole village is raising them, if they still can't get to eat them, then no one will be motivated to raise them anymore.

Wang Guangming hadn't thought about that yet. With over a hundred people on the team, it was definitely unrealistic to let them eat whatever they wanted.

"We'll look into this issue later. Don't worry, as long as we put in the effort, we'll definitely reap the rewards," he could only say.

Everyone asked many more questions. What was usually a meeting where we only listened to the leaders' speeches had now turned into a large discussion, bustling with noise and excitement.

It was almost noon, and seeing that everyone had asked their questions and given their answers, Yu Guanghui gestured for everyone to be quiet and concluded, "Alright, this meeting is about to end. We will actively move forward with our work afterward, so please cooperate."

Even after the conference ended, people's enthusiasm seemed to have just been ignited, and they gathered in small groups to discuss the new captain's new plans.

Most people responded positively and expressed their support, but there were also some discordant voices.

He Shujuan is a typical example. Last time she asked Lu Wanqing for fertilizer but failed. This time Lu Wanqing gave the fertilizer to the whole brigade. If she hadn't been given any, she would definitely have rebelled.

In any case, if she doesn't get any benefits, this initiative won't be promoted.

Soon, Wang Guangming sent Yang Hui with a joint letter advocating for the development of the riverbank, and asked everyone to sign it.

After all, giving 20% ​​of the harvest to Lin Ye's family is not something that can be done with a simple promise; it requires the signatures and fingerprints of all team members.

Things progressed fairly smoothly. Each household sent a representative to sign, and soon the joint letter was covered with names and fingerprints.

Wang Guangming was already discussing how to calculate work points for weeding when Yang Hui came to him with a distressed expression, holding a joint letter. "Captain Wang, we've run into two troublemakers, the Xu family and Lin Jianguo. They absolutely refuse to sign. The men in the family haven't said anything, but those two aunties are so fierce, they almost ate me alive!"

Yang Hui is known for her efficiency and resourcefulness; the fact that even she couldn't handle them shows just how despicable He Shujuan and Wang Xiuqin's behavior was.

Wang Guangming had no choice but to take Yu Guanghui to the two families by the river to persuade them.

“If it weren’t for the fact that I gave Lin Ye my three-plus mu of riverbank land when we divided the family property, would he have made so much money? Unless he gives me half of what he earns, I won’t sign this document!” Wang Xiuqin said this with her arms crossed, without even blushing.

He Shujuan also declared, "Why won't you give me fertilizer for my land? If you won't give it to me, then confiscate the riverbank land and Lin Ye's land too!"

Well, it's like these two have conspired together to take advantage of Lin Ye!