Era: I was a farmer at the foot of Yaoling Mountain

“Secretary Fang, why do I feel like you two have come here to escape disaster? I already know about your situation. Such a big thing has actually been spread around for a while now.”

The scope of the cooperation between Yaoling Agriculture and Qianjin Township far exceeded Fang Wei's imagination.

Land transfer is a long-standing and difficult problem, attracting widespread attention from all levels of society.

Yaoling Agriculture has in fact leased land from the vast majority of farmers in Qianjin Township, which cannot be completely circumvented by fabricating pretexts.

There are plenty of shrewd people these days; anyone can see through the trickery involved.

People like Wu Tianming support the transfer of collective land; otherwise, where would the ever-increasing number of migrant workers come from? Wouldn't they be liberated from the land?

"Let's not talk about this anymore. The investigation team is still in the village, so I came out to clear my head."

Fang Wei smiled and shook his head, then raised his glass and clinked it with the other person's.

Wu Tianming then realized that the other party had come out to lay low, so he changed the subject, and the atmosphere in the private room improved.

They chatted and drank, while Wu Tianming's wife and Pan Lianhua also laughed and talked. Everyone was disappointed that Master Sun hadn't come this time, but her health had improved significantly.

We have to thank Master Sun for this. When Mr. and Mrs. Wu Tianming went to Xinlin County for a trip, it was Master Sun who treated their illness.

"Secretary Fang, shall I show you around tomorrow?"

"No need for that. We drove here ourselves, so we're familiar with the routes. You can go ahead and do your thing."

Wu Tianming planned to accompany Fang Wei and Pan Lianhua to stroll around the city, but Fang Wei declined with a smile.

This wasn't his first time in Guangzhou, and he was familiar with the basic roads, so there was no need for him to bother others.

"Okay, let's get together again in a couple of days."

Wu Tianming didn't press them, and after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they went their separate ways.

Fang Wei and Pan Lianhua didn't rush back to the hotel, but instead strolled slowly down the street. This area wasn't far from their hotel; they hadn't driven there, so a leisurely walk would take them back.

Pan Lianhua never complained about the man's choice.

The family is well-off, their two children are both successful, and the man lets her do whatever he wants; she always stands silently behind him.

"This place is much more prosperous than our county, Lianhua. Would you like to settle down in a big city?"

Along the way, the air was filled with the warmth of everyday life.

Fang Wei turned to look at his wife and asked with a smile.

"It's nice to come here occasionally, but I'd rather not settle down. Big cities have a thousand advantages, but there's one problem: they're too crowded, and you can't breathe fresh air."

The road was congested with the sounds of cars, shouts, conversations, and arguments. Pan Lianhua felt more comfortable staying in the village.

Back at the hotel, the two washed up and went to sleep.

the next day.

Fang Wei and Pan Lianhua got up early and went to the park to exercise. After exercising, they went to a restaurant for morning tea.

You can't find this kind of food even in the county seat, let alone in the village. This is a characteristic of big cities: with a large population and a developed economy, the catering industry naturally flourishes.

Pan Lianhua really enjoyed the local snacks, her face beaming with satisfaction.

After finishing their morning tea, the two went to the clothing market for a big shopping spree. With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, everyone in the family needed new clothes.

The clothing selection here was dazzling, and Pan Lianhua was almost overwhelmed by the choices. By the time they returned to the hotel, the car was already full of clothes, pants, and shoes. The family of four, Sun Daoren, and Sister all received a set, and even the aunt who helped out at home had a set.

"Lotus, we still need to buy other things, and there's not enough room in the car, so I'll go and ship these things back."

Fang Wei then called the transportation company. The company had a lot of business in Guangzhou, including both cold chain and regular transportation. Fang Wei found some time to send the packed clothes over and asked them to help take them back to her hometown.

Next, the couple explored Guangzhou and its surrounding areas, enjoying the scenery and sampling various local delicacies.

Although Cantonese cuisine is lighter, it has a unique flavor, and Pan Lianhua quickly grew to like the dishes here. She especially loved seafood, and the two of them frequented many of Guangzhou's famous seafood restaurants.

Time flies.

Just as Fang Wei and his wife were enjoying their time in Guangzhou, the investigation team reluctantly came to a preliminary conclusion.

Frankly, their conclusions are untenable because there are no witness testimonies or any solid evidence. These conclusions simply cannot withstand the test of time, but the pressure from above was too great, forcing them to do so.

The investigation team first determined that the cooperation project between Yaoling Agriculture and Qianjin Township was illegal, and that it was a land transfer demonstration through various methods. They recommended terminating the project.

However, they couldn't pin the blame on Fang Wei for knowingly committing a crime, because he didn't admit it and there was no corroborating evidence. They could only conclude that the current situation was caused by the regional document.

Local authorities also have something to say: the province has issued an order to promote [Nan Dou 333] and requires a guaranteed supply of seeds. However, Yaoling Agriculture doesn't have enough land. What can they do?
We can only resort to alternative methods.

The investigation team proposed to remove the person in question from their post and to issue a public reprimand to the relevant departments for their actions.

Fang Wei and Pan Lianhua were living a carefree life in Guangzhou, but they maintained close contact with the company. He would make at least one phone call tomorrow to keep track of the investigation team's movements.

"Secretary, the preliminary findings of the investigation have been submitted, and the official findings should be released soon."

Cai Tong was also paying attention to this matter. As soon as the investigation team submitted its report, he notified Fang Wei.

Fang Wei knew she should go back; in any case, this matter was coming to an end.

He and Pan Lianhua stayed in Guangzhou for quite some time. When they returned home, there were still only three days left until New Year's Day.

At this time, Cai Tong and several other company executives were at the cooperative, waiting for the final investigation results to be released.

"Mr. Cai, is everyone's mood stable?"

That evening, Fang Wei had dinner with Cai Tong and others at the cafeteria after returning home.

"Everyone's emotions weren't affected much, but we were all very worried that if our company's cooperation project with Qianjin Township was halted, we would lose 6 mu of dry land, which would cause a lot of trouble for future soybean breeding."

Since the responsibility did not fall on Yaoling Agriculture, Cai Tong and others had nothing to be afraid of.

However, the biggest concern is that the cooperation project with Qianjin Township will definitely be terminated, and the company's development will be hampered.

"Who can say for sure what will happen in the future? At worst, we can redistribute the planting area, plant a little of everything, and supply whatever we can."

Fang Wei smiled and waved his hand, not really bothered by the project being halted.

Everyone thought he was trying to express a silent protest in this way, but that's not really the case. Because land transfer will be liberalized in the future, and if you have the ability, you can lease 100 million acres of land without anyone interfering. He is confident in his abilities, not just giving up.

"Secretary Fang, you guys are having such a carefree time, while I'm worried sick! May I ask for a drink?"

Not long after everyone sat down, Liu Fendou from Qianjin Township suddenly walked in.

He heard that Fang Wei had returned from out of town, so he thought he would talk to her, but when he got there, no one was home; they said they were eating in the cafeteria.

So Liu Fendou came over, saying polite words as he sat down next to Fang Wei.

"Secretary Liu, if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. What do you have to worry about? Come on, let me toast you."

Fang Wei then clinked glasses with Liu Fendou, knowing full well what the other was worried about.

Qianjin Township has just tasted the benefits of its cooperation with Yaoling Agriculture, which is more profitable than farming on their own. Crucially, many farmers also gain job opportunities, with wages and bonuses providing a substantial income.

This was a good development model for a not-so-wealthy town, but now it's being called off.

"I just don't understand why some people have to nitpick over something that is supposed to be a great thing for the country and its people?"

After a few drinks, Liu Fendou felt the effects of the alcohol and couldn't help but start complaining.

Having worked in both urban and rural areas for over a decade, this was the first time I saw hope in the eyes of farmers in my hometown, but that hope was about to be extinguished.

He was genuinely saddened, and even argued with members of the investigation team several times.

But it was no use; he couldn't change the outcome, which is why he came to Fang Wei for help.

"Let me tell you why, because the policy doesn't allow it! But policies aren't static; they change with the times, so there's no need to be too pessimistic."

Fang Wei knew the answer, but she couldn't say it directly.

So he offered a few roundabout words of advice, essentially implying that there was still a chance for things to turn around.

Liu Fendou was skeptical, but Cai Tong's eyes lit up; she felt there was more to Fang's words than met the eye. No wonder he seemed so calm; he probably had some inside information.

Otherwise, the other party wouldn't be so calm.

"Secretary, will the policy prohibiting land transfer be relaxed?"

Cai Tong quickly asked a question, then looked at Fang Wei expectantly.

"I didn't say anything specific, I just said anything is possible. Come on, let's not talk about these unhappy things anymore, everyone raise your glasses and drink!"

Fang Wei didn't say much, then raised his glass and drank a glass of wine with everyone.

Liu Fendou was no pushover either; he gleaned something from Fang Wei and Cai Tong's conversation. He felt he'd made the right decision to come tonight, otherwise, how would he have known such explosive news?

It seems that the government will change its policy of prohibiting land transfer; if not completely liberalized, at least it will be loosened.

If that's the case, then there's still a chance for cooperation between Qianjin Township and Yaoling Agriculture, and it seems that the matter hasn't reached a dead end.

“Yes, yes, Secretary Fang is right, anything is possible! If things really get really tough, I’ll have them set up the Qianjin Township Cooperative and then bring their land to Yaoling Agriculture. Then nobody can do anything about it.”

Liu Fendou was not a reckless man; he had actually come up with a plan.

If the cooperative project is terminated, he will encourage everyone to establish the Qianjin Township Agricultural Cooperative and pursue a collective economy. Then, cooperating with Yaoling Agriculture under the name of the cooperative will be legal and legitimate.

Things are so complicated these days; it's really a clash between old and new ideas. Only when everyone breaks free from the shackles of ownership can reform and opening up continue to move forward.

Therefore, Fang Wei was never pessimistic. Given the general trend, some minor inconsistencies in the details were insignificant.

"Sure, sure, we'll see after the Spring Festival."

Fang Wei chuckled, and the group continued to toast and drink, gradually improving everyone's mood.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Fang Wei had someone send Liu Fendou back.

Liu Fendou usually has a good alcohol tolerance, but today he was preoccupied with worries and accidentally drank too much.

The next day.

Fang Wei met with the head of the investigation team, and the two chatted about various things, having a rare and harmonious conversation.

"Secretary Fang, the higher-ups have approved the investigation team's conclusions and will not punish Yaoling Agriculture. However, your cooperative project with Qianjin Township must be terminated, and you should find another way to cultivate high-quality soybean varieties on the land."

The two talked for more than half an hour before the team leader finally presented the official investigation findings.

This conclusion is neither good nor bad, and the matter ends here.

Fang Wei smiled after reading it, saying nothing. Indeed, there wasn't much to say; this conclusion would soon become worthless. He wondered if the investigation team members would be quite frustrated.
Of course, he had no personal grudges against these people, and they probably wouldn't have any further contact with him in the future.

After the team leader delivered the official investigation findings to Yaoling Agriculture and Qianjin Township, he led the investigation team members to leave Xinlin County.

A week later.

The release of the No. 1 document for the new year has caused a stir in many places.

The document announces a complete liberalization of the transfer of privately contracted land, allowing subcontracting or other forms of cooperation. In simpler terms, farmers can directly lease land from them, with the lease term following the farmer's contract period.

In this way, the previous conclusions of the investigation team become meaningless.

Cai Tong, representing Yaoling Agriculture and Qianjin Township, re-signed the land lease contract, which was essentially the same thing with little change in content.

Things that were illegal in the past are now legal and reasonable. The world is so strange.

Subsequently, Yaoling Agriculture held a production planning meeting in the provincial capital. In addition to discussing the production plan for the new year, the company also discussed its development plan under the new circumstances.

“Secretary, we should vigorously promote the Qianjin Township model, transforming the fragmented, small-scale farming model into an intensive production model. This will not only generate revenue for the company but also help farmers become wealthy.”

Cai Tong comes from a rural background and has a certain sentimentality.

He considers issues not only from an economic perspective, but also from a social perspective.

"I think what General Manager Cai said is right. Helping farmers increase their income is also one of our tasks. Comrades, we are a purely collective enterprise, so we should think about things this way."

Fang Wei agreed with Cai Tong's idea and immediately offered his support.

However, he also cautioned everyone that expansion should be carried out within their capabilities, avoiding a rush into things, and instead proceeding steadily and surely, step by step. (End of Chapter)