Chapter 121: Chen Hong's Might

The afternoon of the second day.

Director Wang brought several agricultural experts; to be precise, it was one expert with three students.

A group of women from the courtyard house immediately gathered around, because they had been placed in Zheng Changgui's house.

That upset people, especially Er Da Ye, who was having Liu Guang Qi apply for those two rooms as preparation for marriage.

If Liu Guang Qi hadn't been dithering, the matter might have been settled long ago.

Er Dama stepped forward first.

"Director Wang, didn't our Liu Guang Qi already apply for those two rooms?"

"He's waiting to use them for marriage!"

Director Wang had never received any application, and these are Mechanical Factory houses, not to be allocated by the Jiedao or the steel mill.

"It's Liu's family; these are Mechanical Factory houses, not for our Jiedao office to allocate, nor for the steel mill to allocate."

"Who lives there? That's the Mechanical Factory's matter, and these few are only staying temporarily."

Er Dama was first disappointed by the words, then let out a sigh of relief.

Although their method was wrong, the house hasn't been allocated yet, so it's still possible.

"We misunderstood the Director; what are these people here for? How long is the temporary stay?"

Director Wang glanced at her, did not answer her question, and instead spoke to the crowd.

"Since you all have come, let me tell you a bit."

"Chen Hong has been appointed by our Jiedao office as the specialist for household planting, and your Siheyuan has been listed by the district government as a household farm trial site."

"From now on, any planting issues within the Siheyuan must go through Chen Hong's review."

"How to do planting must be guided by several experts."

"Private construction, private building, and private planting are strictly prohibited."

"Especially Yan Fu Gui's family, the Yan family; when Yan Fu Gui returns, tell him that if he doesn't cooperate with Chen Hong's work, San Da Ye should stop as well."

"Leading the chaos, what does it look like?"

San Da Ma felt a bit aggrieved by the words; we are the elderly women who learned later.

"Um, Director, my old Yan saw Chen Hong doing it this way at home, so we followed suit."

Chen Hong, hearing the voice, flashed out from behind, only a half step behind Director Wang, and hadn't expected San Da Ma to pull her onto her back.

San Da Ma could push onto her, but she could not push onto the elderly woman.

"San Da Ma, the backyard's ownership belongs to our family; we plant a few vegetables at home, no problem, right?"

Yi Da Ma coughed once; among the women, she is a leader.

"Chen Hong, this is no longer acceptable; the land is collective, notions of yours and mine are a matter of enlightenment."

Everyone in the courtyard envies Yang's vegetable garden; hearing Yi Da Ma's words, they all expressed agreement.

"Indeed, in the countryside the land is collective."

"Chen Hong, as a Jiedao cadre, your enlightenment is insufficient; isn't this just taking more for yourself?"

"Yes, yes, Director, let Yi Da Ye handle this; Chen Hong is still too young."

The crowd's words imply they don't want Chen Hong to be the frontman; they are familiar with dividing Yang's affairs, and Yi Da Ye can perfectly accomplish the task.

Chen Hong chuckled, having already drafted a plan in her mind to deal with these shameless ones.

"Director, supposedly our family had seven rooms, but now only three remain."

"My husband says those houses were destroyed and demolished by a mob; when they were torn down, our family's furniture was quite complete."

"There were several pull-out beds."

"Many pieces of furniture were made of rosewood."

"Director, I want to report to the police; under the bright day and clear sky, such a crime occurred—are there still laws, are there still officials?"

"Also, the building materials from our demolished houses, I heard they are all good timber."

"Valuable."

No one in the courtyard expected her to turn the tables later.

If this keeps turning, they won't be able to get away with it.

Yang Qing was once an orphan with no background or status; now Chen Hong is of the Martyr's Family and a cadre.

"This..."

"That..."

San Da Ma spoke first: "I think this matter should still listen to Chen Hong."

"Yi Da Ye still has to work, where does he have time to manage this?"

"Exactly, we still have to rely on Chen Hong for this."

"I support Chen Hong."

"I also support Chen Hong."

Yi Da Ma didn't expect that she had already become a general, yet Chen Hong still turned the tables on her.

"Um, Chen Hong, you're not wrong; that land is someone's residence, different from a courtyard, haha…"

Director Wang waited until Chen Hong had settled these people, then stepped forward to preside.

"Regarding Yang Qing's family vegetable garden, the Jiedao plans as follows."

"The small courtyard they now live in is theirs; the original foundation location of the back house also belongs to the Yang family."

"However, the other four front courtyards will be included in the allocation."

"The Yang family will no longer participate in the allocation; do you have any objections?"

With this division, it's clear Director Wang favors the Yang family, but they have sufficient reasons and leverage; disagreement is not possible.

"No objections, let's do it that way."

Gu Ning said: "Being able to grow vegetables is already far better than others; why trouble ourselves further, we must be content."

"Yes, yes, this distribution is very fair."

Director Wang nodded and continued.

"There are now two proposals: the first follows the rural model, the courtyard space belongs to the collective, and the harvest is divided according to each person's contribution. The second is a reasonable allocation, each household manages itself; whoever plants it, it belongs to them. Which basis do you think is appropriate?"

"Let's just divide it; it's only a little, no need to mobilize everyone, use labor division, and still need someone to supervise, it's not workable."

"Exactly, exactly."

Director Wang nodded.

"Alright, since everyone thinks dividing is good, let's discuss how to divide."

"Should we divide by household or by population?"

"Of course by household," (the one from the smaller family said).

"Of course by population," (the one from the larger family said).

The two parties started arguing.

Two old women, basking in the sun, watched the commotion.

"When there are many people, matters multiply."

The old woman said with emotion.

The deaf old woman nodded.

"Isn't that right? There was clearly not much, they wouldn't even glance at it normally, now it's turned into a lucrative venture, making them red‑faced and frantic."

"By the way, young lady, the vegetables you painstakingly grew in the courtyard were given to others by Director Wang in just a few words; do you have any thoughts?"

The old woman smiled broadly.

"I just can't stand seeing the land empty; it doesn't matter who plants it."

"However, later when we divide, if you want the backyard, the vegetables I grew, I'll give them to you."

The deaf old woman was delighted to hear that.

"Alright, I accept your generosity."

"If you don't mind, I can also consider the rest for you?"

The old woman chuckled.

"We really need someone like you, someone honest and decent, so those nonsense things won't disturb our sisters' peace."

The deaf old woman nodded.

"Alright, I'll take the matter onto myself."