Chapter 98: Straight to Heaven's Ear

"And regarding activity discipline, I have five points to emphasize."

Under the students' gaze, Du Runsheng said slowly, "First, research work should be detailed rather than coarse; all figures must be meticulous. For example, when investigating grain yield per mu, it must be accurate to two decimal places."

"Second, analysis must be rigorous. You are all professionally trained; you must use your expertise to analyze phenomena, not rely solely on everyday intuition and experience."

"Third, do not interfere with local work. Whether we subjectively think something is right or wrong, we must not comment, let alone intervene. Just understand, record, and analyze."

"Fourth, pay attention to how you interact with the local villagers. The local government has already covered meals and lodging; you may help the villagers when you have time, but avoid economic transactions to prevent unclear disputes."

"Fifth, in the research report, opinions must be voiced from the standpoint of the Communist Party and the People. Bold suggestions are welcome, but the stance must not deviate."

Du Runsheng explained all the requirements clearly in just a few short sentences.

Xu Yuexin and the others nodded, indicating they would definitely comply and actively engage in the research.

After a journey of two days and two nights, the research team arrived in Huizhou.

At that time, Huizhou had not yet been renamed Huangshan; it was still an agricultural region.

According to the local agricultural official who received them, Huizhou, like other parts of Anhui Province, has fully completed Contracting Production to Households.

Currently, the major difficulty locally is some Collective Assets that are hard to divide, such as forests and orchards.

During the People's Commune era, the Production Team would assign staff to tend these places; part of the output went to the state, and part was shared equally among the members.

After Contracting Production to Households, the People's Commune entered a countdown to dissolution, and the forests and orchards fell into an unmonitored state, causing output to drop sharply.

Locally, handling such assets is a headache; the once‑popular fragrant snack has become a hot‑potato.

Xu Yuexin, Du Runsheng and the others, upon hearing this, already understood the key research direction ahead.

After a meal at the Prefectural Party Committee Guesthouse, the research team split off in different directions according to their destinations.

Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao's squad took a bus to Niubei Commune, then rode an ox‑cart to the final research destination, Niuji Squad.

Niuji Squad is situated at the foot of Huangshan; the terrain is rugged and vegetation dense, even ox‑carts struggle to enter.

After disembarking from the ox‑cart, the research team trekked through a forest path before finally reaching the village.

The village's houses are mainly thatched huts; most members are ragged, their eyes numb, revealing how impoverished their past lives were.

The squad had long received notice that personnel would come for research, and they cleaned the Ancestral Hall, Squad Headquarters and other sites spotless for the team's lodging.

After a brief meeting with the squad leader, everyone decided that all male members would stay in the Ancestral Hall, and female members in the Squad Headquarters.

Since the two places are not far apart, it is convenient for members of the same team to run over and discuss work.

Xu Yuexin first set down his luggage, then picked up several pieces of pre‑prepared ginger and a jar of brown sugar and headed to the Squad Headquarters.

Inside the Squad Headquarters, Chen Qiaoqiao was spreading a blanket on the bed, while a layer of moisture clung to the floor.

In the southern winter, the standout feature is the damp cold.

"You rest, I'll make the bed for you."

Xu Yuexin sat on the bedside and said, "Store the ginger and brown sugar, then bring them later to brew soup for everyone; it will dispel cold and dampness."

"You think of everything."

"I'll go boil it right now."

Chen Qiaoqiao took the ginger and brown sugar, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

At that moment, the girl on the adjacent bed said, "Qiao Qiao, your husband is really thoughtful."

Another girl added, "Indeed, if my husband could be like that, it would be great."

Among the classes of '77 and '78, many university students married before enrollment; Chen Qiaoqiao also told her teammates on the bus that they were married.

After Chen Qiaoqiao stepped away, Xu Yuexin helped her tidy the bedding and arrange her luggage; shortly after, she returned carrying a pot of ginger brown‑sugar soup.

Everyone gathered around the table to share the soup; after drinking, they felt warm and no longer sensed the damp cold.

When the other girls went to wash dishes, Xu Yuexin and Chen Qiaoqiao walked outside the Squad Headquarters and talked about family matters.

"I haven't been in touch with my sister for several days,"

Chen Qiaoqiao, full of longing, said, "I don't even know how she's been these past two days."

"Not a big issue. I sent her a telegram when I was in the People's Commune."

"In a couple of days I'll have time to check her reply telegram."

Xu Yuexin, more concerned than Chen Qiaoqiao about Da Yizi, had already figured out on the train how to contact her later.

"You are still the more thoughtful one."

Chen Qiaoqiao looped her arm around Xu Yuexin and asked, "Do you have any thoughts about this research?"

"Not yet; I need to see the results first,"

Xu Yuexin replied honestly, noting that he firmly remembered that without research one has no right to speak.

Early the next morning, Xu Yuexin's research team formed pairs and went to the fields to begin work.

Team members specializing in economics were responsible for asking members about recent grain yields, economic income and expenditure indicators, and for recording data and conducting simple analysis.

Most students of these cohorts have experience with queue‑jumping; their questions are plain and get to the heart of the matter.

For example, Yi Gang wonders how much growth difference there is between pigs fed with bran versus those fed with pig grass. He also asks whether buying bran from the nearby Grain Station is cost‑effective if they want to raise two more pigs. Tu Guangzhao focuses on grassroots financial inclusion; he asked a villager who runs a blacksmith workshop whether applying for a loan from the Rural Credit Cooperative would lead him to expand his current production scale.

In addition, an agriculture‑specialized member is collecting soil samples, while a water‑resources specialist is inspecting the operation and maintenance of local small water‑works.

As a Chinese major, Xu Yuexin's main duty is textual recording, though he feels that someone from another discipline could do the job as well.

The students are responsible for gathering information; Du Runsheng listens nearby, occasionally nodding and sometimes correcting the way and angle of their questions.

Xu Yuexin hunched over, scribbling diligently, faithfully playing the recorder role.

"So, what impressions do you have after listening?"

Du Runsheng, standing beside him, smiled and asked, "The results are pleasing, yet there is still room for further improvement."

"Be more specific."

"Contracting Production to Households has raised grain output, effectively solving people's basic food needs. Moreover, if additional measures are taken, perhaps farmers could become prosperous."

"Tell me, what measures could be taken?"

Strengthen the work of the grassroots Agricultural Technology Station, promote scientific farming, and guide farmers in cultivation. As for side businesses, we can go further and break out of the current self‑sufficiency cycle.

Continue.

Take animal husbandry as an example of a side business. At present, most members raise pigs using rice bran they produce themselves and harvested pig grass.

Because of insufficient feed, each household can basically raise only one pig, which isn't even enough for their own consumption.

I wonder if the Grain Station could set up a dedicated sales channel for rice bran and wheat bran aimed at the countryside, lower the prices, provide farmers with cheap feed, and expand the scale of husbandry?

The Grain Station is a big operation; a little rice bran or wheat bran means nothing to them, yet it can be a huge help to farmers, improving their lives and leading them toward prosperity.

Broadly speaking, this is industry feeding back into agriculture, driving rural development.

Xu Yuexin recorded the discussion as he spoke.

Hmm, well said.

Shows an ability to draw analogies.

Du Runsheng nodded and said, "If you have ideas later, speak up promptly."

The team's research report will be handed to you.

An assignment this important, and you give it to yourself?

You should know that this report can reach the ears of Heaven.

"Alright, I'll try to put together a few preliminary drafts here."

Xu Yuexin finished recording, closed his notebook, and, holding back excitement, said.

In the next few days, the small team focused mainly on researching the production and daily lives of farm households.

After finishing the individual side, everyone's focus shifted to Collective Assets.

This was also the rural work difficulty they learned about when they first arrived at the Prefectural Party Committee Guesthouse.

During the following ten‑plus days, Xu Yuexin and his teammates, led by Du Runsheng, trekked over mountains daily to investigate the operation of Production Team orchards and forests and to understand the causes of the current situation.

Everyone rose early and worked late; they went out for research by day, returned at night to write summaries, and no one was idle.

In this regard, Xu Yuexin especially admired Du Runsheng. Though nearing seventy, he still leads by example, running up the mountains with everyone, vividly embodying what it means to have a grand demeanor and to be a peerless national talent.

On the night before departure, everyone organized all research notes on Collective Assets and held an internal meeting for discussion.

The goal of the discussion was to produce a final investigation report, which, after Du Runsheng's review and revision, would be sent to Hai Li for the leadership's decision‑making.

"The contradictions are obvious. When the Production Team can no longer dispatch people to convene as before, the collective orchards and forests quickly fall into decline."

"Moreover, the steep mountainous terrain makes it hard to parcel out like flat land, preventing the confirmation of Collective Assets rights and making it impossible to hand them over to individual farm households for operation."

"Difficult!"

Yi Gang furrowed his brows and said.

Everyone present wore solemn expressions; they understood that this was not a problem faced by just one village or one area.

"If we can solve this problem, the farmers' wallets will swell."

Du Runsheng murmured.

Xu Yuexin nodded in agreement and joined everyone in contemplation.

As Du Lao said, if the rural collective economy is developed well, countless farmers will benefit.

This is definitely a major proposition worth pondering!

In the Ancestral Hall, everyone was deep in thought, occasionally someone picking up a pen to write or sketch on paper.

As time passed, a gradually maturing plan emerged in Xu Yuexin's mind.

He looked around, saw no one willing to speak, and then opened his mouth.

"Everyone, let me throw out a brick to attract jade."

"Old Xu, you have a solution? Speak quickly."

Yi Gang urged, and everyone turned their gaze toward Xu Yuexin.

"In my view, it's not necessary to physically divide Collective Assets; an Equity Division would suffice."

"Based on each household's population, directly allocate them a proportion of the total assets of the orchards and forests."

"Then pool the Collective Assets of each village together, establish a Collective Company to operate them."

"The company's decision‑making power belongs to representatives of each township. To reduce operating costs, the company will not set up dedicated positions for orchard or forest management; instead, grassroots Agricultural Technology Station staff will manage them part‑time, receiving allowances each year based on profits."

"The Agricultural Technology staff have the expertise; I trust they can do a good job."

"Moreover, this can also solve the funding shortage of the grassroots Agricultural Technology Station."

"This is a somewhat immature idea of mine; I ask Du Lao and all of you to correct it."

Having said that, Xu Yuexin looked at the people present.

He clearly felt that when he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room changed.

(End of Chapter)