Chapter 342 Getting Rich
Having received the geological report, Ling Huanwu rushed to the county early the next morning with the report in her hand.
The official who received her frowned as he flipped through the report. "Developing tourism in the 1960s? This doesn't align with the policy of 'taking grain as the key link,' and besides, funding and manpower are problems."
Ling Huanwu was prepared and took out several sheets of drawing paper from her cloth bag.
That was a planning diagram she drew while staying up all night.
“Comrade, you see, the development of the geodesy does not require the use of farmland. When tourists come, they can stay in the villagers’ homes and eat fishermen’s meals. This will not interfere with farming and fishing, and it will also bring income to the village.”
"Moreover, our crystal cave is unique. It can be promoted as a 'new landscape for socialist construction,' letting more people know how wonderful our island is. Isn't that also contributing to the country?"
The officials were slightly moved by her tenacity and agreed to approve a small amount of support funds for the village, on the condition that "production should not be delayed and should be carried out by the villagers themselves."
Ling Huanwu felt helpless. If their Wantan Island had production projects, she wouldn't need to find ways to develop tourism.
Ling Huanwu ran back to the village with the approval document in her arms and handed it to Political Commissar Hao.
Since it was inconvenient for her to come forward herself, she could only ask Political Commissar Hao to promote the plan.
Although Political Commissar Hao felt it was not feasible, he had no choice but to try it as a last resort.
It's better than those stubborn villagers starving to death.
He held a large meeting at the threshing ground and posted the planning map on a wooden board.
"Those who want to join us, if they have the strength, we'll go up the mountain first to clean the crystal cave passages. The women who know how to sew will mend fishermen's cloth dolls as souvenirs, and the elderly will be responsible for teaching tourists how to weave fishing nets and dry fish. We'll be paid according to work points, the more you work, the more you earn!"
At first, many villagers hesitated.
Several old fishermen grumbled, "Why not weave perfectly good fishing nets and instead dig caves in the rocks? Isn't that just a waste of time?"
Ling Huanwu, disguised as a black-faced village woman, did not offer any explanation, but instead pretended to be a villager who agreed and took the lead in making a move.
Immediately afterward, the second aunt, who knew what was going on, also raised her hand to join in, picked up a hoe, and went up the mountain with her.
As a result, more and more people joined in climbing the mountain together.
After all, they are terrified of hunger now, so of course they have to seize any opportunity to make money immediately.
We arrived at the mountain.
The men used hoes and shovels to clear the rubble from the entrance to the cave.
Ling Huanwu had previously learned safety precautions from the geological team's technicians, and they nailed simple wooden ladders and oil lamps into the cave.
After returning home in the evening, she taught her second aunt some handicrafts suitable for sale, and asked her to teach the skillful little girls and aunts on the island.
So the women gathered in the courtyard of Second Aunt's house and made small ornaments from fishermen's dyed cloth.
She then went to the county supply and marketing cooperative and pleaded with them to help her sell the goods.
Two weeks later, the geode was opened for trial operation for the first time.
Ling Huanwu used the money in her spatial storage to personally invite workers from the county's supply and marketing cooperative, garment factory, and other large factories to visit the site for free.
He then instructed Political Commissar Hao to relay the message, specifically instructing the elderly to set up a fisherman's feast at the entrance of the cave.
There are steamed crabs, boiled sea snails, and dried fish that has been sun-dried until it smells delicious.
When tourists, exhausted from climbing the mountain path, enter the cool crystal cave and see the crystals on the stalactites gleaming under the oil lamp, and listen to Ling Huanwu, dressed as a village woman, tell the "story of waves and rocks," they can't help but marvel.
A worker from the county town said on the spot, "I'll bring my kids next time so they can see the 'underground rainbow' on our island."
The news of the trial opening spread, and because it was well received, more and more people came to Wantan Island to see the crystal caves.
Ling Huanwu then considered upgrading the service.
A thatched shed was set up at the entrance of the cave, and seaweed and kelp that the villagers had dried in previous years were placed there.
We applied to the county government to build a simple road to facilitate bicycles and tractors going up the mountain.
Later, the village's idle old houses were converted into "fishermen's inns" so that tourists could stay and watch the sunrise over the sea.
When it came time to tally up the accounts at the end of the year, the villagers who had participated in the tourism development were all overjoyed.
He earned more work points by selling souvenirs, providing meals, and working as a tour guide than he did by fishing.
The old fishermen touched the money they had just received and apologized to Political Commissar Hao, saying embarrassedly, "Commissar, we old men were narrow-minded. Next year, I'll have my son work for you too!"
More and more people surrounded Political Commissar Hao, showering him with compliments and words of gratitude.
Commissar Hao looked a little embarrassed at Ling Huanwu, whose face was covered in ash in the corner, and was filled with emotion. He never expected that the tourism industry would actually develop.
Actually, these villagers should be thanking her.
That evening, Ling Huanwu stood at the entrance of the crystal cave, watching tourists carry oil lamps into the cave.
In the fishing village at the foot of the mountain, smoke billowed from every chimney, and the aroma of fishermen's meals wafted from afar.
The wind on the mountaintop ruffled her hair, and Ling Huanwu breathed a long sigh of relief. Her fellow villagers no longer had to leave their homes and move away.
The tide on Wantan Island is finally rising slowly, heading towards a better future.
＊
A year has passed.
Island tourism has taken off, with tourists flocking to the island every day.
The villagers have all moved into their newly built houses, and the higher authorities have not mentioned the relocation again.
Ling Huanwu and her daughter Xiao Nianjiu lived in the family compound disguised as ordinary military wives.
My days are filled with small, busy moments.
I helped the aunties design island-themed pendants and souvenir shirts, and I came up with humorous and novel explanations for the tour guides.
In her spare time, she would always take Nianjiu, who had just learned to walk, all over the crystal cave. Every corner held her hopes for Zhou Jiuzhen, who had been missing for nearly two years.
In the midst of ordinary times, the longing never ceases.
That day, Ling Huanwu had just brought Nianjiu home.
A group of people wearing red armbands blocked the entrance.
Without saying a word, they twisted Ling Huanwu's hands behind her back.
Xiao Nianjiu was thrown to the ground and cried her heart out.
The women in the residential compound came out upon hearing the commotion and rushed forward to stop it.
Aunt Liu, who happened to be looking for Ling Huanwu, rushed up and punched the red armband, shouting "Release her!" but was violently pushed to the ground.
Ignoring everyone's attempts to stop her, the woman in red armbands led Ling Huanwu toward the dock.
The villagers rushed over upon hearing the news, surrounding the roadside and scolding them, "You brats! It's one thing to arbitrarily arrest people in the city, but you dare to cause trouble in the countryside!"
Faced with the accusations, a man in a red armband suddenly splashed a bucket of cold water on Ling Huanwu's face.
Water droplets slid down, revealing her originally bright but slightly haggard face.
"The military wife and widow in this family compound is actually Battalion Commander Zhou's wife!"
Someone in the crowd exclaimed, and the villagers immediately fell silent.
The earlier sounds of obstruction gradually faded away.
Seeing this, the woman in red armbands immediately raised her voice, "She's not only the daughter of a capitalist, but she also used underhanded tactics to cause our fellow villagers to lose their loved ones! We're acting on behalf of Heaven!"
Political Commissar Hao, who arrived at the scene, tried to stop them, but was instead reprimanded by several men who were old enough to be his sons.
After several unsuccessful attempts to persuade him, he had no choice but to let them go.
Because he had just received news that the situation had suddenly changed and the island's tourism industry might be shut down, he had no power to confront the Red Armband.
On the dock, only Aunt Liu held Nian Jiu, who was crying sobbing, and chased after the departing ship. She watched Ling Huanwu being forced onto the ship, stamping her feet anxiously, tears streaming down her face.
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