Throughout China's long history, non-agricultural household registration has always been considered superior to agricultural household registration.
People with non-agricultural household registration eat "commodity grain" and receive government subsidies. They also have an advantage in recruitment that agricultural household registration cannot match.
Until the late 1990s, it was very popular to change agricultural household registration to non-agricultural household registration, a process known as "agricultural to non-agricultural conversion".
Of course, changing from rural to urban status isn't easy. For example, it took Li Xiangdong's daughter three thousand yuan to get her child's rural-to-urban status changed, in addition to pulling strings.
Three thousand yuan in the 1990s is not the same as three thousand yuan after inflation. You should know that at that time, construction workers could earn ten yuan a day.
"The 'three levies and five unified payments' refer to the three types of miscellaneous funds retained by the village for farmland irrigation construction and support for the 'five guarantees' households. The 'five unified payments' refer to the five unified payments made to the commune, including education surcharges, family planning fees, militia training fees, rural road construction fees, and preferential treatment fees. These are also what we farmers should pay. The country is poor, so we suffer a bit, but the country will not forget us old farmers once it is built up."
Li Jin explained to Li Xiangdong that he was a veteran Party member and knew a lot about the country. During the period when the country was poor and backward, a generation had to make sacrifices.
Compared to the older generation who sacrificed themselves for the revolution, what difference does it make if we just tighten our stomachs?
Li Xiangdong remained silent.
Later generations online say that each generation has its own way of fighting the war.
First came the bloodshed of wartime, then the hard work and dedication of difficult years, and even in peaceful and prosperous times, we still face numerous external sanctions and unpredictable events.
Every Chinese person has been fighting silently, never admitting defeat, never bowing their head, allowing Chinese civilization to continue to this day.
The father and son were both feeling heavy-hearted for a moment, and neither of them spoke for a long time.
"Alright, this isn't something a little kid like you can worry about or understand. Just focus on your studies. If you can get a perfect score, your mother and I will be incredibly grateful."
Li Jin couldn't help but chuckle when he saw his second son looking so worried.
Li Xiangdong thought about his terrible math grades and chuckled sheepishly, "Dad, I may not be good at math, but I can make money!"
“Making money this way for the rest of your life is a small step. You need to broaden your horizons. If you can be recommended to a worker-peasant-soldier university, you can not only change your household registration to non-agricultural status, but the state will also assign you a job. That’s the right path, like your uncle, to work for the state.” Li Jin said earnestly.
At that time, the college entrance examination had not yet been reinstated, and students were recommended to attend worker-peasant-soldier universities. Li Xiangdong's uncle, Li Song, was one of those recommended students.
"Even if we can't make money from this for the rest of our lives, at least it can greatly alleviate the food and clothing difficulties of our villagers now."
Li Xiangdong decided to start talking to his father about his blueprint and plans.
"Dad, do you know what this is?"
Li Xiangdong plucked a small yellow wildflower from the edge of the field.
"Dandelions! They're edible when they're young, and we add them to our vegetable pancakes." Li Jin said, puzzled.
"This plant is scientifically called dandelion. Besides its edible leaves, the root is also a medicinal herb that can clear heat, reduce swelling, and dissipate nodules. Dad, I know Director Yan of the Guangming Pharmaceutical Factory in our county. He needs a lot of Chinese herbal medicine, and the Rehmannia glutinosa I dug up was sent there. Uncle Yan gave me a book that introduces various Chinese herbal medicines. Many inconspicuous wild grasses and flowers are actually Chinese herbal medicines! They can all be sold for money!"
"You mean everyone in our village goes out to dig up wild vegetables to sell for money? Aren't you afraid that if others find out, they'll dig up all the rehmannia root and you won't have any money left to earn?"
“I used to be afraid, but I’m not anymore. If only our family earns money to eat meat, we always have to do it secretly. People who don’t know us might think we stole it, robbed it, or embezzled it! If everyone can eat meat, wouldn’t we be entering communism ahead of time?”
Li Xiangdong smiled and longed for the life of the whole village eating meat together.
"Besides, we're not asking the whole village to dig it up; that would lead to its extinction sooner or later."
"Not dig? What should we do then?" Li Jin looked curiously at his second son, who kept bringing him little surprises.
“Let’s plant! Our village can grow Chinese medicinal herbs, let’s start with Rehmannia glutinosa!” Li Xiangdong said enthusiastically.
"Dad, how about we build a traditional Chinese medicine herb base in Lijiapo Brigade?"
"Impossible!" Li Jin refused outright. "All the fertile land in the village must be used to grow grain. If even a single plot of land is left uncultivated, the people will have less food to eat. Besides, where will the grain tax and the three levies and five taxes come from?"
"I don't want your fertile land, I just want the drainage ditches and the field ridges on both sides!" Li Xiangdong had already planned it out.
"Even the most difficult-to-grow fields and corners are fine. You can send people to dig up Rehmannia glutinosa by the river and plant it in these places. Water and fertilize it frequently, and the Rehmannia glutinosa will definitely grow quickly. Even if it's not as expensive as wild Rehmannia glutinosa, it can still sell for a good price."
"Once the rehmannia root is sold and the villagers have made money, they'll trust you. Then we can expand the scale and plant other Chinese medicinal herbs, like angelica, scutellaria, and bupleurum! With more planted herbs, we can build a medicinal herb drying room and a deep processing plant. Only when the village has money can the villagers live a good life. When the big river is full, the small rivers flow; when the big river is dry, the small rivers run dry!"
Listening to his son's enthusiastic words and radiant face, Li Jin felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
"Well said! When the big river is full, the tributaries flow dry; when the big river is low, the tributaries dry up!"
"So, you agree?" Li Xiangdong didn't expect to be able to persuade his father so easily.
"This matter is not in a hurry. What you said is just a general idea. I still need to discuss the specific arrangements with your accountant uncle. What are the policy regulations, how to allocate land for planting medicinal herbs, who will plant them, and how to calculate the payment? These are all things that need to be carefully considered."
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