Chapter 290: The Dilemma of Rural Self-Destruction

Others saw this and all cooperated; for a moment, the table was filled with sobbing.

Yang Qing felt unable to bear watching this.

He quickly tried to comfort them.

"Everyone, everyone, it's all in the past, it's all in the past, from now on things will only get better."

Zhou Wei shouted.

"Director Yang, how could it get better? We rely on the sky for our food—how could it get better?"

"Moreover, the land is only this much, yet our population keeps growing."

"We're not getting better; we'll only get more miserable."

"I'm afraid that in just a few years, many of our children won't even be able to afford clothes and will have to go bare-bottomed."

"In a few more years, forget tractors—we might not even be able to afford a single hoe."

"Besides, I heard the city's population is also growing; to feed all these people, where will the grain come from?"

"It'll have to be taken from our mouths—how can we go on living like this?"

"We can't survive, we can't survive."

Qin Bing: "Wuwu, it's too tragic."

Qin Cheng: "I dare not even think about it—just thinking about it keeps me awake night after night."

Ma Xianglin: "We might only be able to grow sweet potatoes and corn from now on; other crops won't feed these people."

This is indeed a vicious cycle.

Ten years of turmoil are just the manifestation of this unsolvable vicious cycle; we can only first adopt this method to increase revenue and cut expenditure—on one hand, nationwide large-scale land reclamation; on the other hand, a large transfer of urban population to the countryside.

Later came the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and mechanized wells, solving the problem of relying on the sky for food; new breeding techniques like hybrid rice solved the yield problem.

Plus the opening up of grain imports.

Only then was the food problem truly resolved.

According to data, from the 1980s to 2020, the surface water of the North China Plain directly subsided by over a hundred meters.

Previously, digging a few meters with an iron drill would yield a well; later, using a Well Drilling Machine to drill over a hundred meters still produced no water.

So these people's worries are justified.

Yang Qing tried to persuade them.

"People who are alive always have a way out."

"The Agricultural Technology Station is promoting new technology; you can actively respond to its call."

"The state is also addressing drought and flood issues; in the coming years, it should vigorously develop water conservancy projects—then you can dig low-lying areas into lakes, which can appropriately regulate flood and drought."

Zhou Wei immediately objected.

"That won't work—we already have little land; how can we dig lakes? Isn't that just making things harder for us?"

Yang Qing looked at him helplessly.

"We can grow lotus roots in the lake—can't lotus roots be eaten? Or lotus seeds? We can also grow fox nuts, which are good, as well as water caltrop, water celery, and trapas..."

"If you don't like these, can't the lake raise fish? Aren't fish valuable? Or can't they be eaten?"

"Moreover, with lake water regulation, there will be water in drought and drainage in flood."

"How much grain could this save?"

"People should look to the long term."

"Don't just focus on the present."

Several people turned to him at once—this person truly has genuine talent and learning.

However, Zhou Wei has no intention of letting him off.

"Will this solve our predicament? You know we're very fertile—every family has several children."

"In a few decades, there will only be more people."

This guy left Yang Qing speechless.

In the end, he still spoke frankly.

"Trying to feed an infinite population with limited land is almost impossible."

"But our country has little land, while the rest of the world has land that cannot be used up."

Ma Xianglin was struck by what Bret said.

"You mean, go seize it?"

Yang Qing rolled his eyes.

"Trade goods for it—what's there to seize? Does war cost nothing? Or does it kill no one?"

"We are pacifists; don't keep thinking about fighting and killing all day."

"I mean, we trade goods."

"Like bicycles—one bicycle costs two hundred, equivalent to a year's hard work on five or six mu of land. And bicycles, once production is opened, can be made in thousands per day easily—how much land would a single factory have to match your farming?"

"This is why we vigorously develop industry."

"The value is high, and the raw materials for producing these goods are not from farmland; they come from land that cannot grow grain."

Qin Delu was so angry he couldn't breathe, slumping down.

"Hey, what does this have to do with us? We can't do anything about it."

Yang Qing chuckled.

"Those who lack foresight will have near-term worries; dreams must exist—what if they come true?"

Several people instantly became interested.

"Director Yang, tell us."

Yang Qing picked up a piece of meat and threw it into his mouth.

He said slowly and deliberately.

"Rome wasn't built in a day."

"First, if you want to develop industry, you need workers, right?"

"Where do workers come from? You must liberate the peasants' hands, that is, use more machines; wherever machines can be used, you don't need people."

"That would free up a lot of people."

"Those freed-up people are the workers."

"What would these people do?"

"They could produce things within their capability."

"For example, washboards, pestles, rolling pins, cutting boards, woven goods, and so on..."

"Anyway, they are everyday items, not expensive, cheap."

"If the commune produces these things, wouldn't the commune support them?"

"If you think this isn't enough, I have another way to show you."

"Our Agricultural Machinery Factory can give you the orders for the wooden handles of farm tools."

"Just have your commune sign a mutual assistance agreement with our factory."

"If that still isn't enough for you to tinker with, in the Long-term Rental project we needed a lot of bricks, we begged everywhere for them; you could also set up a brick factory."

"Honghai Real Estate Company will buy them; even if you don't sell to Honghai Real Estate Company, you can also sell them in the surrounding area."

Yang Qing also didn't hide anything; he said everything that should and shouldn't be said.

Anyway, for him, the bigger Qinjiacun's ambitions, the greater the demand for agricultural equipment.

If they really made money, the market for tractors would also open up.

The best customers are those who benefit each other, mutually advantageous.

Several people, after hearing Yang Qing's words, glanced at each other.

Even Zhou Wei felt moved.

Qin Delu gave Zhou Wei a look, and the two made an excuse to go out.

Yang Qing and the remaining people started eating and drinking.

Another night passed.

Qin Huairu was very careful, hardly contacting Yang Qing at all.

She also knew that before the matter was settled, she couldn't let anyone catch her in a compromising position.

Yang Qing lingering without leaving was the best situation.

Qin's father and mother, seeing Qin Huairu not leaving, couldn't help but urge her.

"Huairu, you should go back."

"Someone needs to look after the children at home, and taking leave costs money anyway."

"If you don't work for a day, that's a dollar gone."

"We two have nothing to accompany; we can eat and drink well."

"Your older brother, older sister, younger brother—they've all started families, so you don't need to worry."