Chapter 76: Jiang Weiyi also catches the mangling bug
Shen Lingning took the document and the bronze medal, looked at them carefully, and his eyes were calm.
She did not indulge in the fear of the attack. Instead, she carefully put away the bronze medal, then picked up the document and looked at Zhou Weiguo with burning eyes:
"Weiguo, I'm relieved that the attack case is under investigation by the organization. Right now, there is something more important that I want to do."
She pushed the document in front of Zhou Weiguo and pointed her finger at the title - "Several Opinions on Encouraging Collective Land Reclamation and Development of Sideline Production (Trial Implementation)".
"I want to contract the abandoned tea plantation on the back mountain."
Zhou Weiguo raised his eyebrows, a little surprised, but he didn't object: "Have you thought about it? That place is full of rocks and has been abandoned for almost twenty years."
"I've thought it through!"
Shen Lingning said firmly, "They can even take root in cracks in rocks. Back in my hometown in southern Shanxi, I've seen good crops grown on even worse land. That mountain faces the sun, and I've seen the soil. If we improve it, it can work! Plant tea! I'm confident!"
She paused, lowering her voice with an unquestionable confidence.
"Besides, I need this. Not only for our family, but also for us to gain a firm foothold in Songtaogou and let Fubao live a good life. Relying solely on godfather's support is not a long-term solution."
Zhou Weiguo was shocked when he saw the ambitious light flashing in his wife's eyes, which was different from the usual calm light.
He didn't hesitate and nodded heavily: "Okay! I support you! I'll help you clear the obstacles!"
Zhou Weiguo took this very seriously.
He went to the regiment headquarters and consulted local comrades.
After returning, he frowned slightly: "The situation is a bit complicated."
Shen Lingning's heart sank, but he didn't give up: "Is there no possibility at all? It's just sitting there in the barren mountain."
"It's not completely impossible."
Zhou Weiguo lowered his voice and said, "I've heard that if it's a collective reclamation, the results are distributed collectively, or if it's used as a pretext to support military construction and improve the lives of officers and soldiers, the higher-ups might turn a blind eye.
The key is that it cannot be contracted out in a private capacity, so the risk can be shared and it becomes a collective undertaking.”
Shen Lingning understood immediately. She pondered for a moment, her eyes slightly brightening: "What if... I organize the military families to open up wasteland together in the name of the Family Committee?
"Is it possible that part of the tea produced is given to the military canteen, and part can be handled by the family committee, with the money or supplies earned being used to improve the lives of all the family members? Does this count as a collective effort? Can it reduce risks?"
Zhou Weiguo looked at her with admiration in his eyes: "This is a good idea! 'Military and civilians are one family', 'Family members support the construction of the troops', it's a good name! As long as it doesn't involve large-scale trading in the early stages, and we produce and consume it ourselves, there won't be any problems.
The key is to convince the majority of the family committee members to agree and be willing to contribute."
This involves specific operations and human relationships.
Shen Lingning knew that this was not easy, but it was the most feasible path at present.
The couple began to act separately. Zhou Weiguo was responsible for continuing to find out the bottom line of the policy and reporting to the regiment when necessary, seeking the tacit approval or even support of his superiors, all in the name of improving the lives of officers and soldiers.
Shen Lingning began to infiltrate this idea intentionally or unintentionally in the family compound.
She no longer just talked to Aunt Sun, but mentioned it with worry when everyone was chatting: "Seeing the children growing up day by day, relying only on the men's allowances and food coupons, life is very tight.
It would be great if our family could have a proper job, even if it was hard work, to bring in some income for the family."
She would turn the topic to the barren mountain again: "That mountain behind is so big, it's a shame to leave it barren. If it can bloom, even if we don't grow tea, we can grow some drought-resistant fruits or medicinal herbs. We can't eat them all ourselves, can you think of a way to do that?"
Previously, Aunt Sun had told many people, both openly and secretly, that the barren mountains could actually be used for good, and some were interested.
Shen Lingning spoke vaguely at this time, focusing on guiding others to think for themselves, coupled with the foreshadowing of Aunt Sun before.
Sure enough, some family members who were living in financial difficulty, such as Liu Jinfeng, were moved: "That's right! If it really works, I wouldn't mind a little bit of fatigue!"
But there are also those who pour cold water on the situation, like the old lady next door: "Huh, that's easy to say, but is it really that easy to open up new land? You work yourself to death and end up starving?
Don't tell me some people just want to show off and drag everyone else into it!"
Shen Lingning didn't argue with her, but just smiled: "Aunt is right, it is indeed difficult. So I just thought about it."
She took a step back to advance, and at the same time changed everyone's mind in another way.
——
On the riverbank, Shen Lingning rolled up his trouser legs and stepped barefoot in the cool river water.
The afternoon sun made the water surface slightly warm, but the stones at the bottom of the river still hurt her feet. She bent down, held her breath, and gently turned over a blue-black stone.
Two crayfish jumped out from below with their claws and teeth bared. She was quick-eyed and quick-handed, and accurately grabbed their carapaces from behind and threw them into the old wooden barrel at her feet.
The bucket was already half full, and the dark red shells collided with each other, making a crisp rustling sound.
Fubao sat on a big rock under the shade of a tree on the shore, his little feet slapping the water and his eyes staring at the bucket.
The methods were all taught by Fubao, and she is a very good executor.
It also made her more curious about the future of the motherland. Fubao said that this man-eating insect would sell for dozens of dollars per plate in future generations!
Oh my God, I can’t even imagine it!
Shen Lingning smiled, and beads of sweat slid down his forehead.
No one wants this thing, so it's easy to catch, but it's hard to deal with. But she has a plan in mind.
These days, she comes here to catch fish every few days, and each time she doesn't catch much, just half a bucket.
After returning home, I took great pains to clean it, and then stir-fried it with the limited seasonings at home: dried chili peppers, garlic, ginger slices, and coarse salt.
The overbearing and strong fragrance could always drift out of the yard, making the children from the neighborhood cling to the door frame and swallow their saliva.
She was also generous. After cooking, she would always send a bowl to Aunt Sun's family, a bowl to Liu Jinfeng's family, and a few to a few other families who were relatively friendly with her or had greedy children to try.
"Sister-in-law, this is something I fished out of the river. It's worthless. I made it casually to give it to the child as a snack to sharpen his teeth."
"Auntie, try it, don't be disgusted."
The attitude is humble and the reason is sufficient - let the children try something new.
The people who received it were hesitant at first, but the taste was so tempting that the children couldn't stop eating it.
After tasting it, the adults were also surprised that this "man-snapping bug" could be so delicious.
This inexpensive but thoughtfully prepared food can bring people closer together better than anything else.
"Oh, Fu Bao's mother, you are so skillful!"
"This smells amazing! It's even better than meat!"
"Thank you for always thinking of our boy."
Not only children eat it, but adults also can't get enough of it.
The wind direction in the family compound has quietly changed...
Those who used to gossip and laugh at jokes behind his back, now smile more sincerely when they see Shen Lingning.
Even the old lady next door, although she still insisted on "making trouble", once Shen Lingning "happened" to fry an extra bowl for Fubao to send over, her family closed the door and ate it the fastest.
However, this harmonious scene deeply hurt Jiang Weiyi.
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