Reborn in 1977

Chapter 461: Draining the Pond to Catch Fish

As mentioned before, for a period of time, starting from March 1969, most schools across the country adopted a spring enrollment and winter graduation system. Elementary school lasted 5 years, while junior and senior high schools were both 2 years, until 1974 when it reverted back.

However, as everyone knows, our motherland is vast and abundant. Well, it's not really about abundance, but mainly about its vastness, so the implementation wasn't uniform.

Firstly, regarding spring enrollment, some regions never changed at all. They continued to enroll in the autumn as if nothing had happened.

When the time came to switch back to autumn enrollment, for the same reason, while others were making a big fuss about it, some schools remained as stable as the earth, even continuing with spring enrollment into the early 1980s.

The key point is that the Education Commission didn't care! They accepted both spring and autumn enrollments!

It was that amazing.

Therefore, during the Down to the Countryside Movement in the 1970s, new educated youth were basically sent out twice a year, once in the spring and once in the autumn, corresponding to the students graduating in those two seasons, as well as a few who had graduated half a year earlier but were reluctant to leave.

Those who enrolled in the spring would normally go to the countryside in the first month of the lunar year, after the Spring Festival. It was freezing cold then, but they had to ride in open-top Liberation trucks to the countryside, which is enough to make anyone shed tears.

Those who enrolled in the autumn naturally left in July or August.

Wow, what incredible luck!

What time is July? It's the Double Rush season!

Going to the countryside meant losing a layer of skin first, which was even worse than braving the cold winds in the freezing weather.

Also, many people believe that the higher-ups initiated this movement to solve employment problems, which is putting the cart before the horse.

It's not that it had nothing to do with employment, but compared to the overall situation, this employment issue was insignificant.

What was the situation at the time? Internal and external troubles, with extreme shortages of strategic materials such as grain and rubber.

The vast rural areas producing these materials were generally backward, and there were large tracts of wasteland to be developed in the border and remote regions.

At the same time, the construction of the large and small Third Front also required a large number of logistical volunteers.

This led to a situation where there was a shortage of materials on one hand, and a large amount of land resources were idle, and the production efficiency of existing rural resources was low on the other.

Relying solely on the power of the state was far from enough to timely convert the resources of these places into materials and promote the improvement of rural productivity.

It just so happened that the first wave of newborns after the founding of the People's Republic of China had basically grown up.

After the founding of the country, with basic social stability and continuous improvement of medical conditions, the infant mortality rate was greatly reduced, bringing the first demographic dividend in the mid-1960s, more than a decade later.

So, the situation at the time was that rural and remote areas urgently needed human resources for in-depth development, while the country faced a contradiction between the urgent need for a large amount of grain, minerals, and other strategic materials, and the extremely backward human resources and technical conditions.

On the other hand, there was the growth of the first demographic dividend.

Coupled with the promotion of various factors, especially the loss of control of the "Games", this migration of nearly 20 million people, before and after, occurred.

So, in essence, this movement was about the higher-ups hoping that young students "with a certain level of knowledge" would go to backward areas to help local development.

The starting point was good, of course, but the final result is well known.

Let's get back to the topic.

In fact, given the current social situation, most areas have even stopped arranging educated youth graduates who have not continued their studies or found employment to work in teams. Even if there are still arrangements, the actions have slowed down significantly.

Therefore, from the autumn of 1977 to the spring of 1979, the overall number of people going to the countryside showed a stepped downward trend.

By the autumn of 1979, it was officially announced that the arrangement for educated youth to go to the countryside would be terminated.

Then, in January 1980, the higher-ups further decided to "completely abolish the educated youth settlements"!

From this moment on, the prelude to the return of educated youth to the city was truly opened.

Previously, the return of educated youth to the city required this condition or that qualification. Going to school, joining the army, and recruitment were the three most common paths.

Other methods, such as personal injury or illness, family injury, illness, or death, marrying to return to the city, or becoming an adopted son-in-law to return to the city… were all used.

And when leaving, they had to beg their parents and grandparents to stamp the documents again.

But on the day the educated youth settlements were abolished, well, nothing was needed. The official seal was hung outside the commune office with a rope, and those who wanted to return could stamp it themselves.

There were very few who didn't want to return to the city… indeed, there were people who didn't want to return to the city, but they were a very small minority.

What should be done with these people?

Sorry, the educated youth settlements have been abolished, and the houses will naturally be taken over by the production team as public property. Please take care of your own accommodation, and the educated youth fields will also be taken back.

Unless you can find someone from the team to marry, someone to take you in, even if you want to stay, you will be forced back to the city!

In the past, those who wanted to leave were not allowed to leave, but now those who want to stay are resolutely not allowed to stay.

Alas, it's that amazing.

The above is the background of the educated youth who are about to come to Lujiawan again.

…

On the high bank of the pond on the east side of the 6th team of Lujiawan, Chen Fan kicked off a twig of miscellaneous wood, built a crossbar to sit on, crossed his legs, lit a cigarette, looked at the busy figures below, and exhaled a puff of smoke. His worried expression was like that of a melancholy old farmer.

Next to him, Captain Yang and the other two followed suit, but they couldn't break thick wood, and thin wood couldn't bear their weight, so they had to find a piece of rotten wood to sit on.

Fortunately, it's winter now, otherwise Chen Fan would be really afraid that bugs would suddenly crawl out from under their butts.

Secretary Yang smoked, frowning tightly, "In the past, it's not that there were no educated youth who voluntarily went to the countryside, and there were quite a few, but that was all ten years ago. This year is good, and some people are rushing to come down. Hmph, it's really seeing a ghost."

Accountant Liu chewed on his self-rolled cigarette, but didn't light it, "If you ask me, something abnormal must be afoot!"

Keeper Huang sat on the other side, his eyes fixed on the bottom, "Did I need you to say that?!"

Accountant Liu smacked his lips, beckoned to Captain Yang, "Old Yang, lend me a light."

Captain Yang handed over the pipe, and said unhappily, "Your family's income this year is at least two thousand, and you can't even bear to part with a match. Do you still want to build a new house?!"

Accountant Liu didn't care, put the cigarette to the fire to light it, puffed twice, then returned the pipe, grinning, "Spend what should be spent, save what should be saved."

Although the bonus hasn't started yet this year, it's almost the same, and the income situation is already almost calculated.

The previous projects were nothing, although this year was a bumper harvest, he used his abacus for three days, repeatedly calculated several times, and finally came to a conclusion.

This year, the traditional project part, a strong laborer can get about 120 yuan, almost half more than last year.

But compared to this year's new sideline, that's far from enough.

He doesn't care about other people's families, he just calculates his own family's. The income mainly comes from several parts.

The first is traditional projects such as growing grain, raising pigs, and raising fish, which is the 120 yuan bonus for strong laborers. His family of 7, the total work points calculated, the income should be around 700 yuan.

The second is household breeding, which is not calculated according to individuals, but according to households.

Liu Accountant calculated this very clearly. He earned a little over 1,000 yuan from raising chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits. This is even before the rabbits have started to be sold on a large scale, otherwise the income could be doubled.

The third part is the part-time income from the pottery factory and decoration team of the team's sideline company. Since it's only a few months, the money is not much, just over 400 yuan.

The last part is the sideline bonus from the team and the brigade.

For example, in the breeding industry, the brigade purchases chickens, ducks, and geese, and gives them to the members to raise. The money from selling them is deducted from the cost of seedlings, veterinary drugs, and feed, and the profit is 60% for the breeders, 20% for the team, and 20% for the brigade.

The breeders get their own money, so naturally they put it in their pockets, and the team and the brigade's money, in addition to a part used for public expenses, if there is a surplus, it will also be taken out for bonuses.

All of the above income, except for the pottery factory, decoration and construction team that get wages and bonuses, and the household breeding income, the others will be converted into the total work points of the whole team, and then the bonus will be distributed according to the value of the work points obtained by each person.

In addition, all collective sideline income is in the hands of the brigade. Although the water tower will be built this year and additional sideline investments will be made, the remaining amount is not a small number. If this money is distributed…

Liu Accountant has secretly calculated it several times. At the very least, the family's income this year will be above 3,000!

Even 4,000 yuan is not impossible, depending on how much money is left in the brigade.

Really, he's been laughing in his dreams these two days.

Especially when he dreamed that his family had built a big house, and it was the same building as Teacher Chen's, he couldn't close his mouth from laughing.

4,000 yuan!

A big building!

By the way, should it be called a villa?

Keeper Huang next to him looked at his appearance and couldn't help but move a little to the side, and said to Captain Yang, "This guy is daydreaming again."

Accountant Liu came back to his senses, quickly adjusted his expression, coughed, "What daydreaming, I'm considering what Xiao Chen said."

He turned his head to look at Chen Fan in a serious manner, and asked, "In the past, those educated youths couldn't be driven here with a whip, but this year they are actively running here, and they are still coming from the prefectural committee. I guess, there is no other reason, it must be coming for you."

Chen Fan took off his hat, scratched his head, and sighed faintly, "I certainly know this, the problem is how to deal with it."

After getting the news from Jiang Tiantian yesterday, he communicated with Secretary Yang in a timely manner, and Secretary Yang immediately ran to the commune to inquire about the situation.

Lujiawan finally managed to do a good job in construction and live a good life, and there is also this great god Chen Fan living here, and the days will definitely get better and better in the future.

As a result, the higher-ups still want to arrange educated youths to come at this time. What does this mean?

Picking peaches?

Later, after communicating with Secretary Qian of the commune, sure enough.

According to the old rules, even if people were to be sent to Lujiawan, only "our own people" from Nanhug Commune would be sent. At most, one or two special youths like Jiang Lili would be received each year.

But just two days ago, the county had already greeted him. The Lujiawan educated youth settlement could receive 16 educated youths. The county educated youth office decided to be merciful and leave 4 for Nanhug Commune, and the other 12 places were divided equally between the county and the prefectural committee?!

Yes, the quota for educated youths arranged for Lu Jia has been determined. There are 6 from the prefectural committee, 6 from the county, and 4 reserved for Nanhug Commune.

However, the specific list hasn't been finalized yet. Otherwise, the procedures would have already begun, and all the educated youth would be stationed here in a month.

Moreover, this group of educated youth has one thing in common: they are all recent graduates who have just taken the college entrance examination... This is as obvious as Sima Zhao's ambition!

The general public may not be aware, but which leader in the relevant units doesn't know that Lujiawan had a major upset this year? A mere production team actually produced 23 students who were admitted to key universities!

Dig deeper, and, oh, it turns out they were all taught by Teacher Chen?!

With this in mind, this series of actions becomes very understandable.

Moreover, many people now know that Lujiawan has turned from a century-old underachiever and has gotten rid of the days of relying entirely on the weather. They have not only bought a lot of agricultural machinery, but their side businesses are also booming. They have meat in their bowls every two to three days. Their lives are even better than those of city dwellers.

So, going to Lujiawan to work in the countryside, as long as you can handle farm work, is not suffering at all. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that you're going to enjoy yourself!

But those are just other people's wishful thinking, regardless of whether Lujiawan, especially Chen Fan, is willing or not.

Lujiawan is naturally unwilling. Secretary Yang even slammed the table in front of Commune Secretary Qian, saying that Teacher Chen was originally a cadre from the health department who volunteered to Lujiawan to guide health work, including guiding the students in their studies, which was also his voluntary labor.

Why should those educated youths from privileged families come to take advantage of Lujiawan?

However, Secretary Qian had no choice. This was a decision made by the county's educated youth office, and he could only obey. What else could he do?

Of course, the four slots in his hands also made him willing to facilitate this matter, but such things are not to be spoken of to outsiders.

As for Chen Fan, he was even more unwilling.

He was staying in Lujiawan to enjoy himself. Who the hell would want to be a 'volunteer teacher'?

Who does he even know among those people?!

He helps Lujiawan to lay his own foundation. To say nothing else, the fact that Secretary Yang dares to run to the commune and slam the table with Secretary Qian is the result of his efforts.

And now he has finally made it through. Why bother painstakingly guiding those educated youths?

It's completely unnecessary!

At this time, Captain Yang suddenly said, "Accepting educated youth is a mandatory task. We definitely can't refuse it, but..."

As he spoke, he raised his head and chuckled, "We can't afford to offend them, but we can always avoid them, right? Later, I'll have people clear out the educated youth residence. All the things you're raising will be moved to the team's livestock shed. We won't be near them.

Later, we'll still be the same as before, treating these educated youths with respect but keeping them at a distance, not asking and not caring. Except for assigning tasks, we won't have any contact with them at other times. After a long time, they will give up their thoughts, and maybe they will all leave."

The warehouse keeper Huang was about to nod, but the accountant Liu next to him said in a low voice, "Old Yang, have you thought about it? Those who can get a spot to come here must be from cadre families. What if we offend them by doing this?"

Captain Yang hesitated for a moment, then spread his hands, "Then what do you say we should do?"

Accountant Liu shrank his neck and didn't say anything.

Chen Fan looked at them, and couldn't help but feel a little bitter in his heart.

In fact, strictly speaking, the production team at this time was relatively independent, and there was very little interference from higher-level units. On the contrary, the commune level had a greater influence on the production team because it involved resource allocation issues.

So here comes the problem: the production team can ignore the prefectural committee and the county, but the commune can't.

As the saying goes, each level suppresses the level below it, and being constrained comes from this.

Even if Chen Fan has extensive connections, he is not omnipotent.

If it only concerns himself, he wouldn't care even if he had to confront them head-on. But if it involves the collective, he can only play it safe.

Of course, the situation may not be that bad, but he has always been cautious, especially good at 'judging others by his own standards', so he considers problems from the worst possible perspective.

This is the only way to be prepared for a rainy day.

After a brief silence, Chen Fan had a plan in his mind, "Well, I have a solution."

Captain Yang and the other two looked at him together.

Chen Fan said as he thought, "The livestock raised in the educated youth residence are all quite temperamental. If they are pulled to the team's livestock shed, I'm afraid it will cause trouble."

Hearing this, the three of them actually nodded in unison.

For some reason, they suddenly thought of the time when they were showing a movie, and a group of livestock tortured the thief half to death.

And that little mare, don't even think about touching her. Even if you get close to her, she will glare at you, ready to kick at any time. Who can control her if she is placed in the livestock shed?!

Chen Fan was still talking, "Isn't there a forest behind my house? Under the forest is the place where our members used to get soil to build houses,"

As he spoke, he raised his head to look at the three of them and smiled, "Now, no one should be building earthen-walled houses anymore, right?"

The three of them shook their heads together, and Accountant Liu chuckled, "This year, the team's income is so high, and each household can get at least a thousand yuan. Who still cares about earthen-walled houses?!"

Chen Fan nodded and continued, "Then let's find our renovation team to help clear out that place and build a livestock shed. Later, we'll move all the livestock over there."

When he said this, he didn't even use a tone of discussion, he just decided it directly.

Captain Yang and the other two had no objections.

He said without hesitation, "Okay, anyway, no one wants that place, and it's not suitable for growing crops. We'll just build a shed for you."

Accountant Liu smacked his lips twice, "Later, I'll revise the land deed for you and include the back slope in it."

At that time, the team approved Chen Fan's land for building a house and also approved a two-mu yard, which was the front half of the earth slope. Now, with this addition, the back half of the earth slope is also allocated to him, which is not two mu, but probably more than four mu.

But as Captain Yang said, no one wants that place at all, and no one in the team will have any objection to allocating it to Chen Fan as a yard.

After arranging the livestock, no, it was arranging the educated youth residence, Chen Fan continued, "We all know the purpose of their coming here. If it were before, I would have taught them, anyway, it was just a matter of convenience, but now it's not possible."

Before he could finish speaking, the warehouse keeper Huang next to him curled his lips and said, "Of course it's not possible now. Look how busy you are now, the health department, the machinery factory, Lujiawan, and so many cooked food stores. These places are enough to make you dizzy. Where do you have time to take care of those people?"

Chen Fan couldn't help but smile when he heard this.

Not bad, not bad, it seems that Huang Ying and the others are keeping their mouths shut. My image as a hardworking person has also been established.

Then he coughed lightly, "Oh, don't mention this. It's all for serving the people, it should be, it should be."

Captain Yang and the other two looked at each other and couldn't help but shudder.

Especially the warehouse keeper Huang, who silently reflected in his heart, did I talk too much? Secretary Yang only asked to say this in front of outsiders, not in front of Little Chen.

Well, I'll pay attention next time.

In a happy mood, Chen Fan took out the filtered-cigarette Zhonghua he had swiped from the machinery factory and handed one to each of them.

The warehouse keeper Huang took the cigarette, and his eyes lit up. Then he and Captain Yang and Accountant Liu looked at each other, and the three of them nodded almost imperceptibly, reaching some kind of tacit understanding.

Chen Fan took out a lighter and lit the cigarette, and continued, "No matter what, people are coming with a purpose. If they are not satisfied, even if we serve them well, they will not be happy.

But, it is impossible for me to teach them, so I have an idea."

He turned to look at Captain Yang, "Like this, build another small house inside the educated youth residence. When the house is built, go find Secretary Yang and bring back two sets of college entrance examination review materials kept in the brigade's study room and put them in.

Then, when they come, aren't Yang Zhijun and the others still here? There are still more than half a months before they go to school to register. Use this time to give them some lectures.

In this way, it will be almost over."

He smiled, "Lujiawan will do its best, and they won't be able to say anything. If there are any other problems, just push it on me."

If it weren't for taking care of Lujiawan, let alone people from the prefectural committee and the county, even if people from the province came, he would still not give them face.

It's just that the policy of educated youth going to the countryside hasn't changed yet, so they can take advantage of the general trend, otherwise, even this bit of advantage will not be given to them!

After listening to Chen Fan's words, Captain Yang and the others felt that this method was not bad.

After all, they are people from above, and it is better not to offend them if possible. So it was decided.

The four people smoked cigarettes on the high ridge, and the pond below became more and more lively.

It has been snowing these two days, and most of the task of digging the embankment has been completed, with only a little finishing work left. The brigade did not arrange to continue digging the embankment, but decided to wait for the snow to stop before finishing it.

The various teams were not idle, and took advantage of these two days of free time to seize the time to do their own things.

Today, the work arranged by Captain Yang and the others for the 6th team was to drain the pond and catch fish.

Next to the pond, a water pump was already in place.

Captain Yang saw that dozens of people were holding fishing nets in good positions, so he patted his butt and stood up, raising his right hand high, "Is the machine ready?"

"It's ready."

Captain Yang waved his hand, "Pump water."

With the roar of the machine, a thick stream of water spewed out from the water pipe and fell into the ditch next to it.

There was also a large fishing net where the water column fell, and from time to time you could see fish struggling in the net, which were all pumped over with the water column.

Chen Fan also stood up at this time, looking up and smiling, "This year's fish are not bad."

Captain Yang couldn't close his mouth with a smile, "Oh, it's almost the same, isn't it the same every year."

Chen Fan grinned and laughed, hey, the tail is still up.

Accompanied by the roar of the machine, the water level in the pond quickly dropped, and fish were jumping and jumping in the water.

When the water level dropped to a certain level, Captain Yang waved his hand again, "Go into the water and start scooping."

As soon as the voice fell, dozens of commune members wearing waterproof clothing walked down with fishing nets, and after a while, they pulled out nets of big fish.