The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 283 Busy Reclaiming Land in Xiping, Terraced Fields Don Winter Clothes
As the truck entered the mountains, surprisingly few people looked up.

The commune members who were reclaiming the land were very enthusiastic, wielding hoes and pickaxes with their heads down, only concerned with their own small plot of land.

Qian Jin asked, "Is your area now operating under a contract system?"

Zhou Gu shook his head: "No, there's no contract responsibility system. Our brigade leader doesn't do it. He said that vegetable planting requires everyone's effort, especially the vegetable greenhouse project you asked us to undertake."

“This is something that can’t be done by one family alone; it requires the collective effort. So we won’t separate; we’ll continue to live a collective life.”

Qian Jin asked, "Is everyone's enthusiasm for work still good?"

Zhou Gu said, "No problem at all. We are all used to hard times. Now that we are working together to live a better life, we cherish this life. We work together and are united. Nobody is playing tricks on us."

Upon hearing this, Qian Jin stopped discussing the household responsibility system.

Heavy knocking sounds echoed across the wasteland.

"Keng! Keng! Keng!"

These sounds, carrying a dull yet resilient rhythm, echoed and collided in the empty, cold valley, creating a continuous roar.

Upon seeing this, Chen Shoujiang repeatedly exclaimed, "What a group of fine men!"

Qian Jin was also thrilled.

Winter clearing!
This is the most direct confrontation between human muscles and bones and the harshness of nature!
The truck didn't go to the brigade headquarters, but stopped directly at the bottom of the slope, and then the engine sound was swallowed up by the sound of clearing land.

Qian Jin and Zhou Gu jumped out of the car and trudged up the slope, their feet sinking into the soft, frozen soil and loose stones.

The closer you get to the reclaimed land, the more breathtaking the scene becomes.

The newly opened terraces are uneven in height and have jagged edges, exposing large areas of yellowish-brown soil.

Fresh soil, mixed with gravel and grass roots, was turned over in the ground, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding gray-white hillsides covered with withered grass and remnants of snow.

Those who came to reclaim the land were all sturdy, tough men.

Each swing of the pickaxe struck the clods of earth, which were frozen harder than stone, and could only chip away at a small piece.

So to clear land, one has to keep swinging the pickaxe and keep fighting.

The white breath exhaled by the commune members condensed in front of their faces and was quickly blown away by the wind, leaving a layer of white frost on everyone's eyebrows and hat brims.

Qian Jin's gaze swept across the crowd and quickly locked onto the tallest and most conspicuous figure.

Zhou Tiezhen is working alone on a slope with the steepest terrain and the thickest permafrost layer.

He took off his bulky cotton-padded coat and wore only a faded old single-layer military uniform.

Despite the freezing weather, his back and armpits were soaked with sweat, causing his polyester military uniform to cling tightly to his body, outlining his bulging muscles.

He gripped a long-handled pickaxe tightly in both hands. The pickaxe head was made of heavy wrought iron, gleaming with a cold, hard black luster in the cold winter.

He spread his legs, exerted force with his waist and abdomen, swung the heavy pickaxe high above his head, and then, with all his strength and a fierce momentum, slammed it hard onto the frozen ground beneath his feet!
"Keng——!"

A loud bang reached Qian Jin's ears, the sound almost making the soles of his feet go numb.

The hard frozen soil surface was only cracked open with a deep crack, and several fist-sized chunks of frozen soil were blown away by the huge impact.

Like a cannonball.

Qian Jin sighed as he watched.

That's incredible!

Zhou Tiezhen was so focused on his work that he didn't even notice Qian Jin and Zhou Gu's arrival.

After smashing a crack in the ground, the muscles in his arm tensed up like iron. The huge recoil from the previous pickaxe strike made his body sway, but he didn't stop. He pulled up the pickaxe and aimed it at the crack with an even more ferocious strike!
“Keng——!!”

This time the crack widened, and a clod of frozen soil the size of a washbasin was finally pried up and rolled down the hillside.

"Captain, look who's here!" Zhou Gu shouted at the top of his lungs.

Zhou Tiezhen turned around upon hearing the sound and wiped away his sweat.

When the wind blows, white steam rises from above.

Qian Jin waved and laughed at him.

Zhou Tiezhen's mouth gaped open, and he burst into wild laughter:

"Holy crap! Director Qian!"

He practically roared it out; his voice was hoarse and distorted from excitement and exertion.

When the men clearing the land saw Qian Jin, they all came up to greet him: "Director Qian, you've arrived!"

"Director Qian, is the food in our brigade good? I have some chives at home, you have to take some back with you no matter what."

"Yes, the first cut of chives is absolutely delicious when used to make dumplings on New Year's Eve."

Zhou Tiezhen shoved the heavy iron pickaxe into the ground.

He didn't even bother to wipe his sweat, and rushed down the slope in three steps at a time, grabbing Qian Jin's hand tightly.

His hands were as rough as sandpaper, and his strength was astonishing; Qian Jin felt pain from his grip.

"Holy crap, Director Qian, what the hell? Why did you suddenly show up? Did you launch a surprise attack? Huh? You came in this freezing weather? Huh? Haha, why did you suddenly appear?"

Zhou Tiezhen was panting heavily, his eyes shining brightly. He looked Qian Jin up and down, his face full of disbelief.

Qian Jin felt a sharp pain from his grip, but he squeezed back harder.

Looking at the face before him, sculpted even darker and rougher by the cold wind and toil, and then at the thin shirt soaked with sweat and mud, he was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Zhou Tiezhen lacked the strategic vision and sharp mind of a leader, but he was indeed a tough guy.

He's always the one charging ahead; someone like him should be in the army!
Qian Jin draped his own military cotton-padded coat over him and said:

"I came here specifically to see you, to see the terraced fields of Xiping, Captain Zhou. You've worked so hard these past two years!"

Qian Jin's voice was filled with genuine respect as he pointed to the vast frozen construction site, "This place is even tougher to tackle than I imagined!"

"Hey!" Zhou Tiezhen grinned, revealing a set of strong but somewhat yellow teeth.

"What's so hard to crack? Haven't we all lived like this for generations? We live off the land, we rely on the mountains for food."

"Besides, we have to tackle this tough challenge. We must clear this slope before spring. It's the lifeblood of Xiping."

He pulled Qian Jin up the slope, avoiding the figures working hard: "Director Qian, you've come at the right time. Come on, let me show you our 'battlefield'!"

Qian Jin followed him up to the newly opened terraced fields.

The ground beneath our feet was frozen solid, making a crunching sound when we stepped on it.

He walked to the spot where Zhou Tiezhen had just fought, looked at the pickaxe deeply embedded in the frozen soil and the hard clods of earth piled up beside it, and bent down to try to pull out the long-handled iron pickaxe.

The wooden handle of the pickaxe was icy cold to the bone, and its weight far exceeded my expectations.

Qian Jin took a deep breath and used all his strength to barely pull the pickaxe out of the frozen soil.

He imitated Zhou Tiezhen, steadied himself, swung his pickaxe, and smashed it with all his might against a protruding patch of frozen soil.

"Keng!"

There was a crisp sound.

As the pickaxe struck the hard clod of earth, a tremendous recoil force surged from the handle, coursing through his arms like an electric current and shooting straight to his shoulders.

Qian Jin felt a sharp pain and numbness in the web of his hands, and the bones in his arms seemed to be vibrating. The pickaxe almost flew out of his hands.

Only a small corner of the frozen soil was smashed off, and the flying debris hit my face like pebbles, causing a sharp pain.

Qian Jin stumbled a step before regaining his balance.

He looked at his hand, which had turned red instantly, and then at the almost motionless patch of frozen ground on the ground, and could only shake his head with a wry smile:

"This is even harder than building the Great Wall. It must be so difficult for you, Captain Zhou, to make a living in these Xiping Mountains!"

He now personally experiences the sweat and tears behind each of these terraced fields.

The people of Xiping are remarkable.

They had a very hard time.

Zhou Tiezhen laughed heartily.

He took the pickaxe from Qian Jin's hand as easily as picking up a stick: "We're used to it. This is how farmers in the mountains live. Besides, we don't have anything else, just this strength."

“Director Qian, you are a leading cadre. In the army, you would be a commander. This job is not for you.”

"But I know you. It's not that you can't do this job, it's just that it's your first time and you don't have the skills. Haha, do you think clearing land is just about strength? Skills and experience are just as important!"

There was no disdain in his tone, only the pride and understanding unique to laborers.

Qian Jin shook his numb hands without saying anything more.

Zhou Tiezhen led him uphill: "I told you not to come here to work. Come on, let's go up and see this land we've reclaimed."

"Let's go see our terraced vegetable gardens now!"

Looking out from a high vantage point, most of the vegetation in the mountains and fields had already withered, leaving only withered yellow grass stems shivering in the cold wind.

At the edge of the terraced fields, old trees stand tall from time to time, their gnarled branches twisted and intertwined, having shed their last leaves, making them appear even more desolate.

Qian Jin wrapped his heavy coat tighter around himself and followed Zhou Tiezhen to inspect the reclaimed land before moving on to nearby farmland.

Members of the cooperative were also busy working in the fields.

Even in winter, it doesn't stop.

The land was turned over and over again, and the crisp, piercing air was filled with the putrid smell of withered grass roots and frozen soil that had been turned up.

"Oh, it's Director Qian! Thank you for thinking of us in this cold weather." A loud voice pierced through the cold wind.

The members of this terraced field are led by Zhou Chao, the captain of the second production team. Qian Jin had dealt with them before, and he had helped when they came to Xiping for inspection and when they were setting up Shuangdaidian.

Zhou Chao was dressed much like the other commune members, wearing a thick cotton-padded coat with dark patches on the cuffs and shoulders, and an old felt hat on his head. His cheeks, exposed under the hat brim, were black and red from the cold wind and etched with wrinkles from the frost.

He respected Qian Jin very much because Qian Jin had previously acquired a batch of antiques from Zhou Tiezhen, including many items from the Second Team.

Later, Qian Jin sent the money and tickets to the mall for pricing and then returned them. At that time, the members of the second team received a lot of money, and Zhou Chao's family received more than a thousand yuan.

In those impoverished times, his family suddenly became wealthy, which made him respect Qian Jin even more.

Upon seeing Qian Jin arrive, he strode to greet him, extending his large, rough hand, as coarse as old tree bark, from afar, waiting to shake hands with Qian Jin.

Qian Jin also extended his hand:
"I missed our comrades from the Zhou family, so I came to visit and see our terraced fields. You're all busy working in the dead of winter?"

“We have to get busy then,” Zhou Chao laughed. “We can’t wait until spring when it’s time to plant vegetables to get busy, or it will be too late.”

Qian Jin's gaze went over his shoulder and landed on a vast area of ​​terraced fields built along the mountainside in front of him.

He was slightly stunned at just one glance.

The last time I came here, this place was a desolate and wild wheat field. The wheat was sparse, the rocks were jagged, and everything looked dilapidated and desolate.

However, what appeared before him at this moment was a completely different scene, bursting forth with a vibrant life rarely seen in winter!
In short, this mountain range has been skillfully tamed by human hands.

One can see terraced fields upon terraced fields, like giant steps, spreading out neatly and orderly along the natural slope of the mountain, reaching up to the mountainside.

The edges of each terrace are built solidly with stones of various sizes quarried from the mountains, mixed with locally sourced loess, forming sturdy retaining walls.

These stone and earthen ridges are like rough and solid borders embroidered on the earth. The terraced fields are flat and exceptionally wide.

The weeds and shrubs that had covered the land had been cleared away, revealing large swaths of dark brown, carefully tilled soil.

Most of the fields were covered with a thin layer of snow that had not yet completely melted, like a soft white blanket.

In some terraced fields that are sheltered from the wind, sunny, and located at lower elevations, the snow has completely melted, and the moist soil is steaming with a faint earthy aroma under the sunlight.

What's even more striking is that in the terraced fields near the foot of the mountain, which are relatively sheltered from the wind, large areas of greenery are visible!

Zhou Tiezhen brought money to see this green space.

He went down first, followed closely by Qian Jin. When they got closer, they could see that it was rows and rows of Chinese cabbages.

The Chinese cabbage is a good variety, and it is still growing very well in the cold winter. Although the outer layer of the large rosette-shaped leaves is a bit wilted and yellowed, the center part still stubbornly presents a deep dark green color.

The thick leaf stalks stood upright and resilient. Qian Jin reached out and pinched them, and cool juice gushed out.

Looking at the cabbages, Zhou Chao said with a smug look on his face, "These cabbages are great! Director Qian, have you ever tried them? Haha, these cabbages are famous in my Yuezhou County now, they're called Xiping Kaiguolan!"

"Other people's cabbages need to be boiled or stewed until they're soft, but this cabbage? You just put it in the pot and turn on the heat a couple of times, and when you lift the lid, it's already soft and tastes sweet..."

"Alright, don't you even think about where these cabbage seeds came from? What are you showing off to Director Qian for?" Zhou Tiezhen interrupted him with a smile.

Zhou Chao clapped his hands: "I've been showing off for so long that I've forgotten the well-digger while enjoying the benefits. I shouldn't have done that, I really shouldn't have!"

In the adjacent field, there were plump green radishes.

Half of its body was buried in the soil, and the exposed bluish-white skin was frozen smooth and shiny. Although the tassels on top were withered and curled, they still stubbornly pointed to the sky.

In the distance, there is a patch of spinach that has been overwintering.

The leaves are not large, but they are densely packed together, presenting a deep, rich green that is so intense it seems to melt away, like a splash of dark green oil paint on frozen soil.

Zhou Tiezhen takes great care of this spinach field, and has designated people to manage it.
"This stuff is really precious now. Only the canteens of factories and enterprises in the county can afford it. Just with this spinach, our brigade can have a prosperous year!"

Qian Jin nodded: "Okay, that's good."

The cold wind continued to swirl and howl in the empty mountain valley, stinging one's cheeks.

But the terraced fields before us, with their distinct layers and orderly arrangement, and the tenacious greenery that pierces through the desolation, have torn open a hopeful gap in the curtain of winter.

A vibrant, upward-striving vitality, incongruous with its surroundings, quietly sprouted on this meticulously cultivated land.

“Don’t stop, it’s too cold today. Director Qian, let’s keep going. I’ll show you over there!” Zhou Tiezhen waved his hand and took the lead on the ridge of the field.

Qian Jin tried it out, and the earthen embankment under his feet became exceptionally hard and stable after being trampled.

Clearly, a great deal of effort was put into this.

The two walked one after the other along the narrow but exceptionally sturdy earthen path between the terraced fields.

Zhou Tiezhen pointed out directions as he walked.

His rough fingers, like a conductor's baton, precisely traced the "battlefield" before him, a battlefield he and his fellow villagers had built with their own hands:
"Director Qian, look over there."

He pointed to another terraced field near the foot of the mountain, which offered the best wind protection and was currently where Chinese cabbages were growing tenaciously.
"I'm currently growing cabbage on this land. Hehe, the soil is good, so I plan to plant spring cucumbers as the first crop this spring. It's a sunny slope with plenty of sunshine, and the windbreak wall is high and retains water well!"

“You’re an expert at growing vegetables, so I won’t say much, you understand. Cucumber seedlings are most vulnerable to late spring frosts, and this plot of land is perfect!”

Qian Jin nodded: "Yes, spring cucumbers are only valuable if they are grown well."

"Especially now that reform and opening up have begun, the city's farmers' markets will definitely allow you farmers to set up stalls. You can contract a stall to sell vegetables from Xiping and try to make a name for yourself in the city."

These words persuaded Zhou Tiezhen.

He asked excitedly, "Really? Will the government allow us farmers to go to the city to do business in the future?"

Qian Jin said, "Yes, it doesn't even have to be in the name of the collective; it can be in the name of an individual."

Zhou Tiezhen was dumbfounded. He glared at him and said, "Director Qian, it's not that I don't believe you, but what you're saying..."

Qian Jin was too lazy to explain and said, "We'll see. Besides, I can guarantee you this. If the city's farmers' market doesn't allow you to do business there, come find me. We're planning to set up a rural market, and I'll reserve a stall for you then!"

Zhou Tiezhen was immediately filled with enthusiasm: "Great! Director Qian, you're awesome! I, Old Zhou, will follow you from now on!"

"Don't worry, Director Qian, the vegetables from Xiping are excellent. We'll definitely not let you down in the future, and we'll definitely not make you feel ashamed!"

He then moved his finger to a larger, slightly higher terraced field next to him: "That place is planted with green beans around the Qingming Festival, a large area of ​​green beans."

"Green beans like warm temperatures. This plot of land gets very sunny in the spring. The trellises are all ready. We're just waiting for the seeds to sprout and for the seedlings to climb the trellises!"

His gaze swept over the next level of terraced fields, now covered with a thin layer of snow:
“The higher floors are higher and windier, but they have more soil moisture. I’m thinking of planting a crop of bok choy and rapeseed after the ground thaws in the spring. These things grow quickly, especially the baby bok choy you got for our team, it’s absolutely amazing!”

Qian Jin nodded.

From planting the seeds to harvesting the four-week-old bok choy, it takes a total of 28 days, making it a very popular cash crop in rural areas in the 21st century.

“Once it gets really hot,” Zhou Tiezhen continued enthusiastically as he explained his plans.

His finger traced a few terraced fields higher up, offering a panoramic view and letting the mountain breeze blow through them:
"I'm thinking of planting eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes on those few sunny plots. These plants love the sun and can withstand the wind!"

His plan was clear and concise; which plot of land was suitable for what to plant and when to plant it had become a blueprint, a blueprint already drawn up in his mind.

Now, the blueprint is slowly unfolding through his mouth to Qian Jin.

This certainty and foresight made Qian Jin nod in approval.

He also underestimated Zhou Tiezhen.

This brigade leader was quite capable; he was very attentive to farm work and knew exactly when and how to plant what.

That's amazing.

“And this, Director Qian, come and take a look.” Zhou Tiezhen walked to the edge of a terraced field that was clearly newly opened up.

The stones on the retaining wall here still look very new, and there are no crops in the field. The soil has been deeply turned over, giving it a deep black color.

He bent down, grabbed a handful of soil from the edge of the field, rubbed it in his hands, and a satisfied look appeared on his dark face.
"This is all new land that we organized everyone to carve out, one pickaxe at a time, before winter when the ground wasn't frozen too deep."

"Don't be fooled by the fact that many parts of this land are frozen as hard as rocks now. It's okay, we're tougher than that. We'll turn it over twice in the spring, and then we're sure to grow good seedlings."

"The newly planted reeds need to be nurtured, right?" Qian Jin asked. "Should I get you some imported fertilizer?"

Zhou Tiezhen was overjoyed: "Can you get it? Hey, crops are like flowers, all thanks to manure; vegetables are like flowers, all thanks to fertilizer."

"If you can get your hands on it, that would be great!"

Then he revealed his plan: "Even if we can't get it, it's okay, our brigade has already tidied up this area."

“This place has been thoroughly tilled this winter, and well-rotted grass, sheep manure, and chicken manure have been buried underneath.”

"We'll turn it over again in the spring and let it dry in the sun for a month or two. I guarantee it'll be a fertile plot of land! We'll prepare to plant pumpkins and winter melons—those big eaters—in the summer!"

Qian Jin squatted down and also grabbed a handful of soil.

It's quite hard.

The cold, hard clods of soil felt heavy in my hand, carrying the chill of winter, but I could clearly feel the softness deep within the soil, nourished by organic fertilizer.

"What about these vegetables in winter?" Qian Jin's gaze fell again on the few plots of green swaying in the cold wind, especially the dark green Chinese cabbages and the pale green radishes.

"How do you protect yourselves from the wind?"

Zhou Tiezhen grinned: "The wind is fierce in winter, so we'll just have to come up with some old-fashioned ways to block it!"

He led Qian Jin to one of the terraced fields planted with Chinese cabbages and carefully pointed out the details:

“Chief Qian, look at this terrain. This piece of land is located in a sheltered spot at the bend of the mountain, so the wind is already 30% weaker.”

He pointed to the outer side of the terraced fields, the side facing the wind:
"Look here, we specially widened and raised this earthen embankment by half a meter. The embankment alone wasn't solid enough, so we also planted old corn stalks harvested in the fall, bundled them up tightly, and inserted them diagonally into the embankment with the roots down and the tips outwards!"

Qian Jin looked closely.

Sure enough, outside the stone and earthen embankment, countless bundles of withered and dry corn stalks were densely packed together.

These bundles of straw stand like rows of silent guards, leaning closely against each other to form a thick, almost waist-high straw "windbreak."

The biting north wind blows in and crashes against this resilient straw wall. Most of the wind force is buffered, dissipated, and diverted, leaving only a few weak, softened gusts that manage to slip through and gently stir the vegetable leaves in the field.

“The method is simple, but it works!” Zhou Tiezhen said with pride. “In addition, I added a thick layer of soil to these cabbages and radishes before winter, so the roots are well protected—look at it.”

He parted the slightly frostbitten outer leaves of a large Chinese cabbage, revealing the tightly wrapped, tender, white-green heart inside:
"It won't freeze, no problem at all. It might not look as good in the spring, but it'll be enough for our own consumption and to meet our quotas. It won't be a problem at all! With this bit of green to keep us warm, the commune members feel comforted!"

"And that plot of land was covered with a plastic film, hehe, it's full of living things inside. We planted garlic, and in the spring the garlic sprouts will come out, then the fresh garlic will come out, and the fresh garlic will be dried, right?"

"These are all top-quality, valuable items!"

Qian Jin carefully examined the simple yet exceptionally practical straw windbreak wall, then looked at the vegetables in the field that were still thriving in the cold wind, and was filled with emotion.

This simple wisdom is the culmination of thousands of years of farmers' struggle against nature and their demands for sustenance from the land, and it is full of admirable vitality.

The two continued climbing upwards until they reached the middle of the terraced fields.

The view here is much wider, offering a panoramic view of almost the entire terraced vegetable field area.

The biting wind howled, making their cotton-padded coats rustle and their cheeks sting.

But standing at this height, the view is even more breathtaking.

The terraced fields, like giant steps, unfold orderly on the gray-brown mountains in winter, one step at a time, from near to far and from low to high.

The sturdy stone and earthen ridges outline clear and strong lines.

Most of the fields were covered with a thin layer of snow, which shimmered with a hazy gray-white hue in the bleak afternoon sun.

In those sheltered, sunny low-lying areas, clusters of deep, dark green and pale blue stubbornly pierce the monotony of winter, like emeralds and white jade inlaid on a huge silver-gray canvas.

Scattered figures can be seen on the ridges of the fields.

Several commune members, dressed in bulky cotton-padded coats, were wielding heavy picks or shovels, vigorously striking the edges of the frozen paddy field ridges.

They need to remove the loose, frozen soil from the winter and fill and reinforce it with freshly dug wet soil and stones.

Others pushed wheelbarrows loaded with dark brown farmyard manure freshly taken from compost pits.

The fertilizer was still slightly warm. After it cooled down, they carefully moved along the paths between the fields, pushing the fertilizer to the designated plots, and then used shovels to evenly spread it on the terraced fields that were temporarily fallow and were in preparation for spring planting.

The rich, earthy aroma, unique to fermented livestock manure, permeated the cold air, carrying a sense of grounded satisfaction from working hard for a bountiful year ahead.

"Director Qian, look over there." Zhou Tiezhen said loudly, his face full of hope for the future, as he faced the wind.

He pointed firmly to the terraced fields beneath his feet, the land to which he had poured his heart and soul, his smile brighter than the sunshine:

"Spring is here, we're just waiting for spring! Hehe, once the ice melts, the snow disappears, and the earth's energy rises, hmm, these terraced fields will be a lush green and a golden yellow!"

"With those good seeds you gave us, Xiping will no longer be a poor mountain village where we can only grow grain, rely on the weather for our livelihood, and eventually go hungry!"

Standing in the biting mountain wind, Qian Jin looked at the land before him, where life was being nurtured amidst the harsh cold, and felt both moved and gratified.

OK!

He gazed at the various production teams not far away, and in the distance, he could vaguely see an old man basking in the sun against the south wall, and hear a few barks of dogs and the sounds of children playing.

It's freezing cold.

Xiping Production Brigade has completely changed, its old appearance has been transformed into a new one!
He waved with satisfaction: "Good, Brigade Leader Zhou, congratulations and best wishes to you. I hope you can take advantage of the opportunity of reform and opening up to develop into a benchmark production brigade in Yuezhou County and even Haibin City!"

"Now come with me, I'm here to give your vegetable farming business a boost!"

(End of this chapter)