Chen Chen asked cautiously, "Captain, how long do you plan to stay in the countryside? They're sending you so much money from Beijing because they want you to go back as soon as possible, you know that..."
People back in Beijing hoped the team leader would give some money to his sister-in-law and divorce her, but he dared not say it.
Rong Zhaonan: "Hmm, so what?"
Chen Chen had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "It's just... I'm afraid if you don't go back to the capital, they won't send you money anymore."
By then, where will we find the money to give to our sister-in-law?
Rong Zhaonan casually stubbed out his cigarette: "Then tell them I'll be back soon."
Chen Chen was taken aback: "Huh? Really?"
But he couldn't tell that the captain didn't seem to want to go back.
Rong Zhaonan raised an eyebrow slowly and deliberately: "It's fake, a scam to swindle money."
Chen Chen choked on his saliva: "Cough cough... cough cough cough..."
Captain!! This is outrageous!!!
You're a brilliant and capable captain! How can you so brazenly utter such shameless words about swindling money?
But why is it that this captain, who's so ruthless and doesn't even blink when he's being a scoundrel, is also so cool!
"This...this isn't appropriate, is it? There will always be a time when we can't keep up the act," Chen Chen said cautiously.
The old leader is the captain's biological father. It might work if he fooled him a few times, but he would be exposed if he did it too many times. The old leader is no fool for being able to return to his current position after being exonerated and even rise to a higher level.
Rong Zhaonan casually fastened the buttons on his loosened cuffs: "If the old man asks, just answer like this. As for when he won't give it to you, we'll see."
He paused, then said indifferently, "Back then, he didn't think it was inappropriate for me to take the blame for his beloved youngest son."
Chen Chen fell silent, clenching his fists.
The entire brigade knew how much the captain had suffered back then.
The hero, who had just completed an extremely dangerous mission, almost died at the border, but was forced by his own father to leave the team and be sent to the countryside while injured, where he suffered all kinds of scorn and humiliation.
Even a clay figure has some temper, let alone the captain, who appears aloof and indifferent but is actually as unruly as an eagle.
"Alright, let's go back. I don't think we'll stay in the village for too long." Rong Zhaonan patted Chen Chen on the shoulder, his expression calm.
Chen Chen was taken aback: "Huh? Not staying in the village? Where is the team leader going?"
Rong Zhaonan slightly curved the corners of his lips, seemingly with hidden interest: "We'll see."
That cunning short-legged rabbit should have reached an agreement with the village secretary by now, right?
...
"Xiao Ning, I've changed a few names on the list of people Man Hua was drafting to participate in the mountain produce trade. I've selected sixteen households from the village. Do you have any objections?"
The old Party Secretary puffed on his water pipe as he smiled and said to Ning Yuan.
"Oh dear, didn't you see Xiaoning just came back from working in the fields, all sweaty? What's the rush? Quickly drink some egg and brown sugar water, Auntie specially made it for you!"
Aunt Fang, who was standing nearby, kindly handed Ning Yuan some brown sugar and egg water.
This is a privilege usually reserved for the former Party Secretary; even his grandson and son rarely get to enjoy it.
Ke Ningyuan earned more than 30 yuan in one morning with Manhua last weekend, and also negotiated to supply mountain products to the county public security bureau and hospital canteen.
This utterly shocked and impressed their entire family.
Ning Yuan thanked them politely and accepted the egg and brown sugar water. She had worked in the fields all day and was really tired and hungry!
She drank her egg and sugar water while looking at the list.
As she looked around, she gave her advice: "Uncle, you can gradually develop experience in hunting and gathering mountain goods, but those who participate in trading must be honest people and keep their mouths shut!"
"Don't worry, when I select people, I prioritize those who are tight-lipped, honest, and hardworking. The higher-ups can't know about the business dealings, but those of us involved below must be aware of them!" The old Party Secretary nodded.
Although there are now documents in Beijing authorizing the opening up of the market economy, there are still no official documents regarding private business transactions, making confidentiality especially important.
If discovered, it's a crime punishable by imprisonment for speculation and profiteering!
The old Party Secretary thought for a moment, then added earnestly, "We keep this business a secret from our superiors, but not from our subordinates. If anything goes wrong, we will never implicate you! We'll just say that we did it ourselves!"
Ning Yuan was stunned when she heard the old Party Secretary's words. "Keep it from above, but not from below..." The old Party Secretary's words were exactly the same as what the production team leader of Xiaogang Village in Fengyang County, Anhui Province, had said back then.
Xiaogang Village was the first village to secretly try to distribute land to individual households, and in October 1979, which was this autumn, it ushered in a super bumper harvest.
Looking into the old Party Secretary's resolute eyes, Ning Yuan felt a surge of warmth in her heart and blurted out, "Uncle, how about, besides doing business with mountain products, we try dividing the land and implementing the household responsibility system?"
Collecting mountain produce can be done during rest periods, with everyone taking turns going up the mountain. However, farming and delivering grain to the state are daily necessities. Why not combine them?
According to historical progress, in about half a year, Xiaogang Village will have a bumper harvest, and the news will make the news, which will make the land distribution to individual households one of the national policies.
There may be risks now, but it's worth a try!
The old Party Secretary was taken aback. Hua Zi, Man Hua, and his eldest son Da Tian all looked at each other in bewilderment.
Doing business is one thing, but trying to secretly divide up public land is another?
“Dad, this won’t do. Dividing the land and contracting production to individual households is too risky and too radical. What if we get arrested…” Da Tian, who was also a grassroots cadre in the commune, was terrified when he heard this.
But the old Party Secretary raised his hand, solemnly signaling Ning Yuan to continue: "Don't say anything, listen to what Xiao Ning has to say!"
Ning Yuan blinked her big eyes and earnestly explained her plan.
There's nothing else to learn, just learn from Xiaogang Village in Yangfeng County, Anhui Province.
In 1978, eighteen farmers in Xiaogang Village, led by their team leader, risked signing a contract guarantee.
The three main points are: first, to distribute land to individual households to motivate farmers to cultivate the land;
Second, we will no longer ask the state for money or food, and will no longer eat from the same pot.
Third, if cadres go to jail for this, commune members guarantee to raise their children until they are 18 years old.
“My idea is that since all sixteen of us are trustworthy, and doing business privately is risky anyway, and dividing the land among households is also risky, let’s just do it together! A lot of lice don’t itch, a lot of debts don’t worry!”
Ning Yuan spoke crisply and fluently, but she was also a little nervous.
She wasn't sure if the old Party Secretary would agree, but most of the people in Sitang Village were simple and honest. If the village became prosperous, they would trust her even more!
She wants to go into business in the future, and she needs a reliable, trustworthy, and adventurous person like herself!
The old Party Secretary remained silent for a long time this time, but Manhua's eyes lit up. She had personally witnessed Ning Yuan's abilities and wanted to work with Ning Yuan.
But everyone else was uneasy.
Ning Yuan wasn't in a hurry, so she slowly ate her brown sugar and egg soup while waiting for the old Party Secretary's reply.
The old Party Secretary finished smoking a whole pipe of hookah before raising his old eyes, gritting his teeth fiercely: "Let's do it! I'll lead the drafting of this contract guarantee. Just like you said about Xiaogang Village, even if I go to jail, it will absolutely not implicate you, Xiao Ning!!"
Ning Yatou is going to entrust the business of selling mountain products to his family to lead. There's no reason for them to take on the risks after paving the way.
"Father! Are you crazy?" Da Tian couldn't help but stand up, wanting to object.
"You can object if you want, just pretend you don't know anything about it. Your father and your brother have been arrested. Just remember to take care of your brother's child and your mother with other people!" The old Party Secretary interrupted Da Tian decisively.
For the sake of the villagers' future, he had to take a risk at least once in his life!
Da Tian stopped talking; no one could object to his father's decision.
And so the matter was settled. Everyone present was on tenterhooks, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Ning Yuan was the only one who breathed a sigh of relief. If the old Party Secretary was willing to support it, then the matter could be accomplished.
"Uncle, there's something else I need to do. I need to find a school in the county to study at and get my student registration so I can take this year's college entrance exam," Ning Yuan said slowly again.
This also means that she needs to take time off work to study and can no longer stay in the village.
As soon as the request was made, the old Party Secretary frowned: "To find a school to attend, you need a recommendation letter from the brigade. I'll figure that out. But, Xiao Ning, whether the county schools will accept you or not, that's something I can't do."
Ning Yuan smiled and said, "Don't worry about that, I'll figure it out myself."
She had already been planning what gift to prepare and asked Zhang Er and Sister Zhang to help her contact the school, as the county guesthouse had a lot of acquaintances there.
There's always a chance to find a school that's willing to take her in. If not, she can just supply mountain products to the school's staff canteen first!
The old Party Secretary frowned slightly: "But your husband... Dr. Rong's household registration is in the village, so he can't come to the city with you."
Students from the village can attend school in the county town if they have a school registration, but people from the village cannot stay in the city indefinitely if they do not have a city household registration.
Without a letter of introduction, finding a place to stay is a huge problem.
Ning Yuan hesitated: "Then let him stay in the countryside?"
Or, let Boss Rong be a left-behind child in the countryside for once, supporting her career development; that wouldn't be shameful.
“That won’t do. Dr. Rong is all alone in the countryside. What if that sly female spy comes again?” Manhua was the first to object.
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