"It just so happens that Comrade Xu from our brigade works in the city and doesn't have time to take care of her family's private plot. Since this plot is close to yours, the brigade headquarters has decided that it will be temporarily assigned to your names. However, of the produce from this plot, you will have to give Comrade Xu 60% of the harvest, after all, it's her land! Do you understand?"
The people in the cowshed were almost stunned by this windfall.
Is there really such a good thing?
You should know that besides worrying about not having enough clothes and bedding for the winter, what they were even more worried about was the food problem.
They are not as good at working in the fields as rural people, and each person's daily tasks are almost impossible to complete.
Moreover, when they were sent down for reform, they didn't receive any work points at all. They had to do the most and most tiring work every day, but the brigade only needed to ensure that they didn't starve to death.
There are many ways to avoid starvation. The Tuanjie Brigade is considered relatively lenient. They eat black-faced wild vegetables and can still get about five or six tenths full.
I heard that in some impoverished brigades, people like them who were sent down for reform were fed only pig bran. Even that bran wasn't enough to fill them up; they were lucky if they could eat about 30% of what they were full.
They also had to do the most physically demanding work, and not only did they lack food and clothing, they were also criticized and struggled against every few days. Basically, people who were sent down to such brigades could not survive for more than a few months.
They are also worried about whether they have enough food to eat while they work every day.
What will they do after the autumn harvest when there's no more farm work to do?
They weren't from this brigade, so naturally they didn't have their own plots, and they didn't dare to cultivate them arbitrarily, for fear of being caught red-handed and having their actions escalated.
But the brigade leader said they should plant on Xu Ningyan's private plot, the one next to it, so at least they could get through the winter.
In an instant, everyone's eyes welled up with tears.
The elderly professor who was leading the group bowed deeply to the team leader in gratitude.
When the captain saw this former big capitalist and professor from Beijing bowing to him with such a humble attitude, he felt both proud and somewhat awkward.
He waved his hand and said, "Alright, I'm going to help Comrade Xu harvest the stuff from his private plot now. You guys can turn over the soil this afternoon and let it dry for a couple of days. We can still plant one last batch of sweet potatoes, and then harvest another batch in November."
As he spoke, he gestured for his third son to follow him.
The old professor, being so shrewd, immediately declared, "We'll go! We'll harvest it! Thank you to the brigade for trusting us and giving us this opportunity! Since we'll be farming this private plot for the time being, leave this small matter to us!"
With that, he waved his hand, and apart from the three women who stayed behind to cook, the rest of the people followed the brigade leader toward their private plot.
The captain looked satisfied; it seemed this city person was quite good at reading people's expressions.
If everyone is a smart person like that, knowing when to yield and when to be flexible, he could actually be more lenient with these people in the cowshed.
When they arrived at the edge of the private plot, Xu Ningyan was already busy.
Several baskets were placed at the edge of the field, containing half-picked cucumbers and some cowpeas.
They weren't surprised to see the captain arrive with his men.
He only greeted the captain and his third son, and acted as if he didn't see the old professor and his group.
The old professors didn't say anything, they silently went into their private plots, and without a word, they divided up the tasks.
With many people, things get done easily. With so many people, they harvested and packed all the vegetables from their private plot in less than an hour.
The crops and vines on the ground were all pulled up cleanly, leaving only a bare patch of land.
Xu Ningyan divided the picked vegetables in half: "Captain, Brother Sanxiong, could you please take these to Aunt Xie's house for me later?"
The brigade leader didn't ask any more questions. He and his third son each picked up a basket and left.
The old professors dawdled as they walked out of their private plots and went to the river to wash their hands and feet.
After the captain had walked away, they thanked Xu Ningyan together.
Xu Ningyan waved his hand: "No need to thank me, thank our brigade leader and the party secretary! Without their approval, I couldn't have helped you at all!"
After thinking for a moment, fearing that the old professor and the others might find the quilts unpleasant, he explained, "We originally had some better quilts, but the brigade leader said that if we give you the good stuff, you probably won't be able to keep it, and it might even cause gossip and become a handle against you!"
"No one else would want to keep this place because it's so dilapidated! Don't blame the captain and the others, it's all for your own good!"
The old professor was a shrewd and experienced person; he could see through all of this.
"Comrade Xu, don't worry, we're not ungrateful! We appreciate your kindness, the brigade leader's kindness, and the Party Secretary's kindness! We may not be able to do anything for you now, but if we have the chance in the future, we will definitely repay your kindness today!"
Those following the old professor also expressed their opinions.
Xu Ningyan had been waiting for these words, and without refusing, she readily nodded in agreement: "Alright! I believe you will be exonerated one day! I'll be waiting for that day, waiting for your repayment!"
The old professor and his friends were deeply shaken. From the time of the incident to their demotion, they had experienced too many blows, insults, and betrayals. Almost all their relatives and friends avoided them like the plague, wishing they could draw a line and never have any contact with them again.
They felt that the other party had no chance of making a comeback and were afraid of dragging them down with them.
After all this time, I am the first person to tell them that I believe they will be exonerated one day and that they will be able to repay the kindness they have received!
These words brought a glimmer of hope and color to their already numb and hopeless lives.
This also gave them the courage and strength to grit their teeth and persevere until that day...
Xu Ningyan was unaware that her words gave a glimmer of hope to the group of people who had already contemplated suicide, and they persevered until the day when the clouds parted and the moon shone brightly.
She casually divided the vegetables and fruits in the basket in half and gestured for the old professor and the others to take them back.
The old professors were too embarrassed to accept it and repeatedly refused.
Xu Ningyan pushed the basket directly in front of them: "I'm going back to the county town in the next day or two. I can't eat all this by myself! It'll just go bad if I keep it! Take it back! Consider it another favor you do for me, and you can repay me in the future!"
Since they had said so, the old professor and the others accepted it.
Back in the cowshed, they couldn't help but marvel at how Xu Ningyan was such a rare girl they had met—not only kind-hearted but also incredibly intelligent and rational.
However, the meticulous old professor recalled Xu Ningyan's behavior today, and then remembered what she said yesterday: if it were related to Xu Changfeng, she would absolutely not help them.
After thinking for a moment, he called Fang Zhe, who had a good relationship with Xu Changfeng, over and whispered a few words of advice to him.
Fang Zhe initially looked hesitant, but after the old professor said a few more words, he hesitated for a moment before nodding.
The brigade leader and his third son were carrying their belongings and walking back to the brigade, making sure no one was around.
Xu Sanxiong couldn't help but ask, "Dad, what's wrong with Siya? Is she estranged from Aunt Xie?"
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