"Simply put, it boils down to two things!"
Zhou Dashan held up two fingers.
"First, everyone can contract land and be responsible for their own profits and losses!"
"Secondly, and most importantly, the brigade work point system is officially abolished starting today!"
These words were like a thunderclap dropped on a calm lake!
The crowd erupted in chaos!
"What? Work points are being canceled?"
"Township head, this won't do! Without work points, what will my whole family eat and drink?"
"That's right! Our Zhangjia Village is all mountains, with so little farmland. How much land can each household get? Isn't this going to drive people to their deaths?!"
Panic and anger spread rapidly, and despair filled the villagers' faces.
Zhang Cheng's brows furrowed instantly.
His heart sank, and he instantly understood the crux of the problem.
This policy is a tremendous boon for the sparsely populated northern region.
For the densely populated and mountainous regions of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, especially given the current lack of supporting industries, this is nothing short of a disaster.
A family of seven or eight might end up with only one or two acres of barren mountain land.
What should we plant to feed a large family?
This is not liberating productive forces at all.
This is a radical solution!
Hearing the villagers' almost out-of-control shouting, Township Head Zhou's face darkened, and he said sternly, "What are you shouting about! This is national policy and the city's decision! For your sake, the city leaders have suppressed this policy for many years! Now that Funing City wants to develop and progress, do you want to keep holding us back? Besides, you are all able-bodied people. Can't you survive without government subsidies?"
He then dropped another seemingly positive piece of news: "And another thing! The city has decided to temporarily abolish grain coupons! From now on, you can buy things as long as you have money! Folks, the city leaders have taken a huge risk to make this convenient for you!"
Zhang Cheng was speechless.
Slap me in the face, then give me a sweet treat that's practically worthless.
That official jargon was delivered with unparalleled skill.
"Township Chief! With the sudden cancellation of work points, we really can't survive!" The old village chief's face was as bitter as bitter herbs. Last winter had just passed, and every household's grain reserves were almost gone. They were all counting on earning work points in the spring.
"Old Gui!" Zhou Dashan scolded, "You're the village head, how can you lead the way in saying such discouraging things? I've already said that you're exempt from food coupons, you can go out of the village to find work! With all your strength, you're not going to starve to death, are you?"
Zhang Cheng's brows furrowed even more.
He felt that the city leaders were acting too hastily.
Reform is a good thing, but such a one-size-fits-all approach, without considering the actual situation, is bound to cause problems.
The old village chief was speechless after being scolded, and cursed inwardly: It's easy to say, but where can we find work in the surrounding villages?
"Alright! It's settled then!" Zhou Dashan waved his hand impatiently, patted the old village chief on the shoulder, and softened his tone. "Tomorrow, the township will send people to measure the fields, and then the land will be allocated according to the household registration... I still have to go to Qiandian Village, so I'll be going now!"
After saying that, he turned to look at Zhang Cheng, his face instantly filled with a kind smile again.
"Mr. Zhang, if you have any needs, feel free to come to the township government to find me anytime, and I will definitely do my best to help you!"
"Thank you, Mayor Zhou."
"You're welcome! Take good care of yourself and get well soon. I'll be going now! The doctor from the clinic will be there shortly!"
After saying this, Zhou Dashan, along with three cadres, strode away amidst the angry, bewildered, and desperate gazes of the villagers.
As soon as he left, the oppressive atmosphere completely erupted.
"We're doomed... How are we supposed to survive this...?"
"I was hoping to earn more work points this year so I could buy my kid an electric fan... Now it's all over..."
"Village chief, what should we do? We can't live like this anymore!"
All eyes eventually focused on one person.
The old village chief's lips trembled as he finally looked at the rattan chair, his voice shaking slightly, as if he had grasped at the last straw.
"Er Gouzi... what do you think we should do about this?"
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