Rebirth of Bayi Fishing and Hunting in the Northwest

Buying a tractor is not that difficult. Although it takes some time to drive it back, it is just a waste of time.

When he returned to the big yard, he met another person who came from the Corps to buy a harvester. Li Long's yard did not have enough harvesters, so he had to let the farm machinery operator from the Corps company take the harvesters away. Xie Yundong took one away, but Liang Dacheng did not.

Li Long promised him that he would send him one in a few days, but Liang Dacheng did not agree and said that he would drive a tractor over to pick it up in two days and there was no need for Li Long to send it, which would be troublesome.

Originally, they wanted to keep two people for dinner, but someone bought a harvester and the plan fell through. Xie Yundong and Liang Dacheng were so excited about their new "big toys" that they didn't want to keep them and just wanted to go home quickly.

When the two tractors rumbled back to Team 4 one after the other, although some people in a small circle already knew about it, the brand new tractors still aroused the envy of many people when they drove back to the yard.

When the villagers learned that Li Long had helped buy these two tractors, and that they would be equipped with harvesters and would go to other townships to harvest wheat and make money, their true reactions revealed their true colors.

In fact, the few people who followed Li Long to form the gangs had the hope of becoming like Xie Yundong and Liang Dacheng.

When the tractor drove back to the yard, Liang Dacheng's parents started to wipe the car with water, even though the tractor had just been turned off and the car body was still very hot.

He couldn’t stop it. Liang Dacheng couldn’t stop it at all.

At Yang Hua's house, he sat on a small stool, smoking a cigarette, and no one knew what he was thinking about.

The wife sat on the doorstep, untangling the tangled hemp ropes and muttering:

"The Xie family and the Liang family both have tractors. If our Yongqiang hadn't been a worker, he would definitely be able to drive a tractor today."

"What's the point of driving a tractor? Working in the fields all day long, feeling comfortable under the scorching sun? Yongqiang is a worker, he eats commercial grains, how many people in our team can be like him?" Yang Hua retorted, "Why didn't you say anything when others envied Yongqiang for eating commercial grains?"

"Well... that's not much money you can make, only forty or fifty yuan a month. How many years will it take before you can buy a tractor?" Yang Yongqiang's mother said unconvinced.

"I can't make much money yet. Forty or fifty yuan is not a lot of money, right? You've had a good life in the past two years. Don't you remember that we couldn't even save ten yuan in a year?

If it weren't for Li Xiaolong who brought money-making jobs to the team every year, would we have lived such a good life? Just imagine how Yongqiang's uncle's family lived! They couldn't even afford a bicycle... That's enough!"

Mother Yang stopped talking.

Yes, in the past two years, Team 4 has three or four opportunities to make big money a year. As long as they work honestly, even if their relationship with Li Long is average, each family can make a thousand yuan a year.

What about the villagers in other teams? Although they have all been allocated land to households and have also implemented land contracting, it is still a bit difficult to make a fortune directly from the land given the current prices of agricultural products.

Although it is much better than before the household contract responsibility system, people can have enough to eat, the whole family can eat fine grains, and they can save some money by the end of the year.

But the most you can get is about 100 to 80 yuan, and 200 to 300 yuan is considered a lot.

Those who could afford to buy a tractor either had accumulated some wealth in the past or, like Li Jianguo, started breeding and became professional farmers as soon as the reform began.

Why did Team 4 plant cotton on nearly 10,000 acres of land thirty or forty years later? Wasn't it because growing grain didn't make money?

Even if the corn yield was one ton per mu, the price at that time would be quite high, which seems quite high now, at two yuan per kilogram. With this calculation, one mu of land would only earn more than two thousand yuan.

At that time, the land had been transformed and all was drip-irrigated. The income of 2,000 yuan was just enough to cover the cost of farming. And this was when the land was owned by the owner, not contracted. Otherwise, the contracting fee would be unaffordable.

Therefore, they can only grow cash crops. One acre of drip-irrigated cotton can yield 400 to 500 kilograms. The state's protective price for one kilogram is between six and seven yuan, so even if the cost of growing cotton is higher, at least there is profit.

As for wheat, that was out of the question. In the later generations, almost all the land in Ma County was drip-irrigated, and the yield of 400 kilograms of wheat per mu was only three or four yuan in the market, which was a definite loss.

The more you plant, the more you lose. There is nothing you can do about it.

Although there are subsidies for good varieties of seeds and wheat, unless large grain growers study those subsidies thoroughly, they will only lose money.

In his previous life, Li Long had never studied how those big households made money from subsidies until he became ill. How should I put it? Some good policies will never be promoted to ordinary people.

Therefore, Yang Hua was still quite clear-headed and knew that it was actually quite good for Yang Yongqiang to be a worker in the city.

But he actually envied those families who bought tractors. After all, tractors are not only loud and impressive, but can also pull more things than horse and donkey carts. Moreover, they only use oil and do not need to be taken care of. In winter, they can be covered with something and will not move. In the spring, they can be filled with water and oil, cranked, and still run.

How good.

But I can’t tell this to my wife, because if I do, I’ll have to blame Yongqiang.

In fact, Yang Yongqiang felt a little regretful when he came back for the Chinese New Year this time.

After all, when I worked with Li Long before, I could earn dozens of yuan a day, but now it takes a month. And the work of the construction and installation company is also very tiring and not easy.

Life in the city is certainly wonderful, but after staying there for a long time, you will realize that you need money to have all those wonderful things. At present, he only has so little money a month, and he has to save money to buy a house and get married, so his quality of life has declined a lot.

But there's no point in regretting. I've already become a formal employee and it's impossible to leave whenever I want.

And if he wanted to express such thoughts, he would be scolded.

Although almost every family in the fourth team now earns more money than a worker earns in a year, more people still hope to become people who eat commercial grain, and this seems to have become a kind of obsession.

In their view, eating commercial grain is not only about living in the city, but more importantly, it means they will receive a monthly pension after retirement, which is secure.

Farmers only have land as a guarantee. When they can't work anymore, where do they get money? Do they look at their children's wishes?

No one can imagine what life will be like in forty or fifty years, we can only imagine it based on our current life.

That night, many people in Team 4 couldn't sleep.

What surprised Li Jianguo was that someone came to his house the next day and wanted to borrow money.

The person who came to borrow money was Jiang Huaizhou, who had led the village together with Li Jianguo and Gu Boyuan. His hometown was in the province next to Li Jianguo's, and he had two sons and a daughter.

The eldest son is now just 30 years old. He is married and has children, but he has not divided the family business. He has simply built a row of small houses next to the gate on the west side of his yard.

My second son has joined the army. He is currently a volunteer soldier and has not returned yet. I don’t know if he can stay.

Jiang Huaizhou came here to borrow money to buy a tractor for his eldest son.

"How much do you want to borrow?" Li Jianguo asked, "How much do you have yourself?"

"In the past two years, I have saved a few thousand yuan by following Xiaolong," Jiang Huaizhou spoke casually to Li Jianguo, "Just lend me three thousand yuan, and I'll find someone to make up the rest."

"I can't lend it to you." Li Jianguo spread his hands. "I don't have any money. If you want to borrow three or five hundred, I can still scrape it together. But you asked for three thousand, where can I get it from?"
Besides, it’s spring time and we’re going to have to spend money to buy fertilizers and seeds. I don’t have any.”

"How can there be no money?" Jiang Huaizhou said in disbelief, "Your Xiaolong bought two tractors for the Xie and Liang families, that's 10,000 yuan, how can there be no money?"

"That's Xiaolong's money. Don't you know that Xiaolong has split up and moved on?" Li Jianguo was not angry. After all, they had been together for a long time. He explained slowly, "Besides, Xiaolong spent all the money on buying tractors to set up this small cooperative. If he still has money to buy tractors, then won't the others who follow him buy one?"

"Who else are there?" Jiang Huaizhou couldn't help but ask.

"Then Xiao Jia doesn't count?" Li Jianguo said slowly, "He has also been with Xiaolong for a long time. And what about Yang Hua? Yongqiang has been with Xiaolong for even longer. If he really has money, he should help the Yang family buy one, right?"

Li Jianguo's words were very clear. Even if he had money to lend, it was Li Long's business. If Li Long wanted to borrow money to buy a tractor, it would also depend on how close or distant the relationship was.

Jiang Huaizhou and Li Jianguo have a good relationship, but it is only a good relationship because they came from the same batch. They can drink together during the New Year, and chat together to recall the hardships in the past and talk about how good life is now.

That's it.

Li Jianguo was at least a former high school student, and he liked reading, so he had both theoretical and practical experience. Gu Boyuan was a college student, so his theoretical level was even different.

Li Jianguo and Gu Boyuan have a better relationship because they can talk to each other and have their own opinions.

It’s normal to have a quarrel occasionally. As the Prime Minister said, we should seek common ground while reserving differences.

When I told Jiang Huaizhou this, he didn't understand and said nonchalantly:
"That's different. How can we brothers compare with them? As the eldest brother, can't you just say it?"

"That's hard to say." Li Jianguo immediately waved his hand, "We're married and separated, so I can't be his head of the family. Besides, Xiaolong is more capable than me now, so why should I be his head of the family?"

Liang Yuemei, who was busy in front of the stove with a basin in her hand, looked at Li Jianguo and wanted to laugh.

Everyone admits that Li Long is more capable than Li Jianguo.

But it would be a lie to say that Li Long didn't listen to Li Jianguo.

She believed that as long as Li Jianguo asked, Li Long would definitely lend the money and would not ask for reasons. But Li Jianguo would not cause trouble for Li Long. Being a big brother is to protect the younger siblings from wind and rain, not to cause trouble for them.

You, Old Jiang, know that you have to save face and ask others for mercy for your son. Then the same goes for Li Jianguo. You used to raise your younger brother Li Long as your son. If you now save face and ask Li Long to lend money to others, you cannot cause trouble for him.

Jiang Huaizhou left with a disappointed look on his face.

After he left, Li Qingxia asked Li Jianguo:

"What's the relationship? If it's really a close relationship, I still have some money here, so there's no need to alarm Xiaolong..."

"Bullshit." Du Chunfang was sitting on the side spinning wool. The wool was brought back from the mountains by Li Long. It was a tedious job. She had to wash away the dirt in the wool, twist it into thread, dye it, and then set it aside.

"I haven't seen him come over during the Chinese New Year. How can he be close? Who on the same team doesn't come over to wish everyone a happy new year? If I haven't seen him, then he's not a close relative."

"What I said is right!" Liang Yuemei didn't expect her mother-in-law to be so sharp-eyed when she usually looked after everything. "It's just that when we first started working in the team, there were only a few of them. As for the relationship, it was just average."

Li Jianguo didn't say anything, but he agreed.

Relationships are built through getting along. Jiang Huaizhou and his friends did come together at the beginning and had the experience of starting a business together. But later on, they rarely sat together and chatted.

Even if Lu Yingming from next door came to borrow money, Li Jianguo would consider it carefully, after all, they have a good relationship.

Two more groups of people came to borrow money in the past two days, but they were all sent away by Li Jianguo.

Later, everyone in the team also knew that the Li family would not lend money, and the matter was let go.

As for what people say about the Li family behind their backs, Li Jianguo and his team didn't care. Who doesn't get talked about behind their backs? Just live your own life.

Besides, it was spring and time to prepare for sowing. In addition to grain and oil crops, we also had to plant 20 mu of melons, which was no easy task. Just sowing would take several days.

Li Qingxia rarely went to Xiaohaizi to surf the Internet. He held a jukebox in his hand and tried it in the vegetable garden from time to time.

Du Chunfang couldn't stand it and directly confronted him:

"If you have nothing else to do, you can take this sowing tool and go to the front yard to plant some vegetables in Xiaolong's family's garden."

Li Qingxia chuckled and actually went there.

Before planting vegetable fields in spring, the land needs to be plowed over again, raked flat, and then divided into plots for planting.

For vegetables that were planted last year and can still grow this year, such as leeks, celery, etc., you have to leave the land for them.

Right now the soil moisture in the fields is insufficient and the ground temperature has not risen yet, so the land cannot be used for planting.

But the vegetable garden can already be used.

By this time, Li Long had already pulled two harvesters into the large yard, while his men were in the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Let me tell you, the provincial cooperative has changed its leadership this time. Director Qian is still the deputy director, but he is basically in charge of the overall situation. It is said that the director has taken up a higher position. Although he has not left yet, he has already established connections with the Corps."

Li Xiangqian said this to Li Long in secret.

He was happy, and also happy for Li Long.

Director Qian has a close relationship with Li Xiangqian, and now he also has a good relationship with Li Long. With him in charge of the work at the state cooperative, both of them will be better off.

"Did you pay New Year's greetings to Director Qian?" Li Xiangqian suddenly asked.

"No," Li Long shook his head, "I don't think it's appropriate for me to go."

"What's inappropriate about this? This kind of relationship needs to be frequent. You can't expect that leather will always work." Li Xiangqian still hopes that Li Long and Director Qian can have a closer relationship. "After all, he is the leader, you have to take the initiative to express your opinion."

From this point of view, Li Xiangqian is really good to his friends and people he has a good relationship with.

Li Long smiled and didn't respond.

Seeing that Li Long was a bit of a blockhead, Li Xiangqian felt a bit disappointed with him. Well, when he talked to Director Qian privately on the phone, he would say a few good words for this guy.

During the Chinese New Year, he made a special trip to the state to pay New Year's greetings to Director Qian. The things he brought were much better than the welfare benefits provided by the state.

Of course, the main thing is the thought. Director Qian, at this point, would he still care about that little thing?

Li Xiangqian didn't tell Li Long this, but changed the subject.

"What's the situation in the mountains? Can we go in? The director has been asking about it these past two days."

"It will take a few more days," Li Long shook his head. "It's melted here, but the mountains are still muddy. The ice and snow on the shady slopes haven't melted yet. We're going to dig ditches there, and it's hard to dig if it's not melted completely. It's hard to work in this muddy place."

"Then wait a little longer." Li Xiangqian nodded. Anyway, he was not in a hurry about this matter. It was Director Wei who was in a hurry. "Go and tell the director later."

Li Long got up and went to find Director Wei.

After listening to what Li Long said, Director Wei just told him to just keep an eye on that place from time to time, and to notify them in advance when work could start so that the company could make preparations.

Li Long could feel that after all these days, Director Wei was still very persistent and concerned about this matter.

That's good.

Then I went to the Education Bureau to pick up Gu Xiaoxia.

Gu Xiaoxia's belly already looked very big at this time, as if there was a basin in her lower abdomen.

I have been to the county hospital for examination and it was confirmed that they are twins.

Before Li Long told his family about this news, Gu Boyuan knew about it.

I dare not say it, for fear of the evil spirits. In his previous life, Li Long experienced too many similar metaphysical things, so he is more cautious in this life.

Gu Boyuan was obviously a little dissatisfied that Li Long did not tell his relatives about this news. Fortunately, Gu Xiaoxia agreed. She smiled and said:
"When the baby is born, I'll give my parents-in-law, my eldest brother and his wife a surprise!"

"Surprise? Surprised?" Although Gu Boyuan was dissatisfied, there was nothing he could do since his daughter had spoken.

The matter was settled, and Li Long went back and forth to pick up Gu Xiaoxia, becoming even more dedicated.

After all, he was already in a state of severe illness. A slight fall or bump could be fatal.

Gu Boyuan was satisfied with the fact that Li Long picked up and dropped off Gu Xiaoxia every day, but on the surface he still reprimanded Li Long, asking him not to spoil his wife.

After all, these days, there are many people who are still working a few days before giving birth, let alone seven or eight months.

Li Long didn't care about so much. He took care of his own wife. He didn't understand this in the first half of his previous life. Later, when smart phones became popular, he saw many pregnant women getting into accidents due to carelessness or accidents on their phones, so it was better to be careful.

Gu Xiaoxia therefore joked that she was now a national treasure.

Sister Yang has been cooking more attentively during this period, and she asks Gu Xiaoxia what she wants to eat every day. Of course, this is also after asking for Li Long's opinion.

Sister Yang was very envious of Gu Xiaoxia for this. Han Fang's father also cared about her at the beginning, but to be honest, he was far inferior to Li Long.

Although Gu Boyuan complained verbally, he was still very pleased in his heart that he had made the right choice of son-in-law.

In the next half month, Li Long was relatively idle. In addition to planting things in the flower field and vegetable garden, he would be busy when someone came to buy a harvester.

The frequency of buying harvesters is slower than before, and one can be sold every three to five days, so Li Long is not in such a hurry to buy a harvester.

Of course, the on-site training is still attentive and guaranteed to teach you until you learn it.

After all, the car is taken away for dozens or hundreds of kilometers, and if they really encounter any problems, it will be troublesome to find them.

The days passed one by one, and soon it was April.

The snow in the mountains has also melted. (End of this chapter)