Chapter 39 Divide the land
As the first rays of sunlight shone through the morning, villagers from Shangzhuang Village had already arrived at the village brigade headquarters in groups of three or four, ready to start today's meeting.

In fact, according to the original intention of the team leader Zhao Xigui, the land contract responsibility system should be implemented only when there is no farming work in winter. However, some recent events have brought this process forward.

On the one hand, by the time of autumn sowing, the management of the production team had become somewhat loose, and the members had basically no enthusiasm for work. Including the cadres in the team, they were all calculating their own retreat, and no one was willing to continue working hard for the collective.

As for the ordinary members, they also felt the impending spring breeze of reform and changed their past cowardly attitude when facing the cadres. Even some members who seemed obedient before straightened their backs and refused to listen to the team leader's orders, and had no enthusiasm for work.

In fact, this cannot be blamed on the members. Since last year, Zhao Xigui, the team leader, has been staying at home all day and has not gone out. The deputy team leader is also his relative, and he is even more unwilling to worry about it. He just wants to do his job well, so much so that the grass in the field is taller than the crops, and the members below are just idling away their time.

Seeing that the brigade was about to fail in its autumn sowing this year, team leader Zhao Xigui had no choice but to start the division process ahead of schedule.

Xu Qiang also took leave from the factory early in the morning and returned to the village. The team leader Gao Bo was a little unhappy about this, but Xu Qiang didn't care about his happiness at all and left before six o'clock.

In addition to the team leader Zhao Xigui and several village cadres, there were also two leaders who were said to be from higher levels who came specifically to supervise the division of the property.

"The spring breeze of reform is blowing everywhere. Recently, our brigade has also received instructions from our superiors. From today on, we will officially implement the household contract responsibility system..."

At this time, Zhao Xigui first made an opening speech, and then handed the microphone to the two leaders sitting next to him, who explained the policy issues in detail.

The two town leaders who came to supervise the division of the Shangzhuang Village Brigade this time were the deputy town mayor and the other the director of the Land Management Office.

Many towns and villages these days have the so-called "seven stations and eight institutes". These units are actually the dispatched agencies of the relevant superior departments at the township level.

The seven stations, including the agricultural technology station, agricultural machinery station, animal husbandry and veterinary station, family planning service station, cultural broadcasting station, seed station, and food station, are all considered township-affiliated business stations.

The eight offices are: police station, land management office, judicial office, post and telecommunications office, substation, local tax office, national tax office, and industrial and commercial office. These are the branches of county-level departments in townships.

There are also two very important departments, namely the supply and marketing cooperative and the credit cooperative. For example, Wang Zhong, director of the town supply and marketing cooperative, is also a "superior leader" in the eyes of village cadres, and a very important one at that. After all, compared with other departments, the supply and marketing cooperative controls most of the villagers' food, clothing, housing and transportation.

"Hello, fellow members..."

The first person to speak was Deputy Town Mayor Yan Zhenguo, who first publicized and explained a large number of documents from higher authorities to help the masses understand the situation. He then talked about the good situation after the land reforms in various parts of the country, hoping that all the villagers present would actively cooperate.

Deputy Town Mayor Yan spoke slowly, but when it came to Director Gao Lei of the Land Management Office, his tone became excited.

"...We just want to promote the spirit of the policy and eradicate the lazy weeds. The land must be divided among households, and everyone must show their magical powers. It doesn't matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it can catch mice, it is a good cat! Now the superiors are advocating and encouraging everyone to do everything possible to get rich quickly..."

After hearing the speech from the leader, the situation on the spot suddenly became like heaven and hell.

Many people had blank looks on their faces, completely bewildered, like teenagers who suddenly lost their parents and instantly became helpless orphans. Some people were in tears and sobbing, and some even cried out to the sky, stamped their feet, beat their chests, and sobbed loudly.

Although many people were looking forward to this day, when it really came, the feeling of helplessness was really hard to accept. As for another group of people, they applauded fiercely, with uncontrollable joy on their faces.

At this time, Xu Qiang and his mother were sitting in the back row. He had a blank expression on his face throughout the whole process, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Compared with other villagers, Xu Qiang was not interested in land distribution. After all, even if he was allocated good land, he would definitely not plant it. His only focus was on the two horse-drawn carriages of the team.

As for Liu Jun, he sat next to Xu Qiang. His brows were furrowed throughout the whole process, and he looked like he was worried about something.

After the leader finished speaking, the next procedure was for all members to discuss the land distribution plan, vote by raising their hands, and the minority obeys the majority to determine the clauses of the plan, and the timekeepers recorded them one by one.

Just as most villagers had expected, the land was divided by drawing lots. All the fields were divided into several portions according to the number of members. Each portion of land was also paired with some livestock and other animals. Good land was paired with bad livestock, and bad land was paired with good livestock, in order to achieve as much balance as possible.

As for the two horse-drawn carriages in the village, the land they are used on is basically the farthest and worst fields in the village. It is usually difficult to water them, and this is also the price to pay for getting good livestock.

However, at this time, Xu Qiang discovered that his name was not on the list of members at all!
"Why is my name not on the list of members to be allocated land?"

Xu Qiang ignored the town leaders sitting next to him and spoke loudly to the timekeeper.

"You work in the factory and no longer participate in the brigade's labor, so you can't participate in the land distribution this time, but your mother can participate in the lottery."

The timekeeper Zhao Zhiqiang is the cousin of the team leader Zhao Xigui. Seeing Xu Qiang questioning, he immediately spoke with confidence.

"Although I work in a factory, I am still a farmer in our village. I don't have a city hukou yet. You don't even give me land. Am I still a farmer? Does this comply with national regulations?"

"You..." Zhao Zhiqiang was speechless after hearing Xu Qiang's words, so he looked at Zhao Xigui who was sitting next to him for help.

When it comes to quarreling, Xu Qiang is not afraid of anyone. He was a master of public speaking in middle school. Moreover, he now has reasons and evidence, and he doesn't fall for the team leaders' nonsense at all.

"What's the matter? You get paid in the factory, and you want to share the village's land. You're dreaming." Zhao Xigui sneered, and then said, "Other villages have the same rule. Those who work in the factory but don't contribute to the team are not eligible for a share of the land!"

"Xiao Qiang, forget it..." At this time, mother Zhang Fenglan quietly pulled her son's arm and said softly with a worried look on her face.

"I'm not eligible for a share of the land?" Xu Qiang was also furious at this time. He shook off his mother's hand and pointed at the list of people who had drawn lots on the table. He said loudly, "The town leaders are here today. Let's ask everyone to judge. We are all temporary workers in the factory. Why can your three sons participate in the drawing of lots but I can't? When have the three of them ever worked for the team? "

"You!!" When Zhao Xigui heard Xu Qiang say this, his face suddenly turned blue and red.

The two leaders present immediately came over, and other members, including Zhao Xigui’s three sons, also stood up!
(End of this chapter)