The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 284 Qian Jin Delivers Chainsaw, Commune Members Go to the Mountains

They returned the way they came, back to the foot of the newly terraced fields, and then Qian Jin dragged a sack off the vehicle:

"This place is full of books, and this time I brought you all useful books."

"These books are about techniques for growing vegetables in terraced fields. You'll definitely find them useful, since your terraced fields still need to be renovated."

"Then these books are about greenhouse vegetables, what to grow and how to grow them. You must study them carefully. These books are all treasures. They also contain some technical diagrams, all about how to grow fresh vegetables in winter..."

Zhou Tiezhen wiped the mud off his hands with his pants.

He opened it and looked at two pages before shaking his head: "Hey, I don't understand it."

Qian Jin was taken aback: "You're the brigade leader, how can you be illiterate?"

Zhou Tiezhen grinned: "Who says I can't read? I graduated from elementary school, how could I not know how to read?"

“But the things inside,” he looked at them again and shook his head, “are really incomprehensible.”

Zhou Gu picked up a book and read it intently: "Captain, you have to read this patiently. These books are really impressive. They must have been written by experts, right?"

"Look, look! People are talking about terraced fields for irrigation; it turns out that the irrigation canals require a specific structure..."

In terms of cultural knowledge, he was far superior to this rough-around-the-edges captain.

Despite having only read one book and a few pages, Zhou Gu, as an old intellectual, still discovered the immense power contained within it:
"Director Qian, this is truly a timely help; you always provide much-needed assistance to our brigade."

"Captain, we can't rely solely on experience to grow vegetables. Director Qian has provided us with scientific guidance."

Qian Jin said, "The important thing is these books on greenhouse construction and greenhouse cultivation. Your brigade should quickly select a group of educated young people to study the knowledge in these books."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tiezhen perked up: "Oh, I'll have to take a look. Are there any books on how to build vegetable greenhouses?"

Originally, they were supposed to start building the greenhouse this year, but while the basic materials such as wood, bricks, and tarpaulins were in place, the technology couldn't keep up.

They experimentally built two greenhouses, and both had various problems.

Ultimately, realizing their lack of expertise, they had no choice but to suspend the construction of the greenhouse project.

Now, professional knowledge has arrived!
Zhou Tiezhen smiled, patted the book, and said, "Great, great! With these, we feel much more confident."

"Don't worry, Director Qian. I, Lao Zhou, may not understand this, but I will definitely take a close look!"

"Not only should young people learn, but I, Old Zhou, also need to learn. Now I know that with reason you can go anywhere, and without reason you can't even take a step!"

Qian Jin was taken aback: "How did you come up with that? What does this have to do with whether it makes sense or not?"

Zhou Tiezhen laughed heartily: "Don't you listen to the radio? The 'li' in this context refers to physics, specifically science and engineering!"

"We must study! The radio emphasizes this three times a day, whether you're in agriculture or industry, you have to study!"

Qian Jin laughed as well: "That makes a lot of sense, we should all study it carefully."

Then he changed the subject, revealing another important purpose of his trip: "Captain Zhou, there's something I'd like to discuss with you. To be honest, I don't come here without a reason..."

"Hey, then hurry up and tell me what you want, what's our relationship? Why are you being so polite with me?" Zhou Tiezhen interrupted him directly.

Qian Jin, you're welcome.

Meeting Zhou Tiezhen's questioning gaze, the terraced fields clearly stated, "I spearheaded the establishment of a technical training school in the city, specializing in teaching practical skills such as agricultural machinery repair, basic electrical engineering, animal husbandry, and planting—basically, anything that farmers need!"

"The school is already set up, and there are just a few procedures left to complete. I plan to start classes after the New Year. It's free, and we'll provide food and lodging. We just want to train some useful talents for our rural areas!"

Zhou Tiezhen and Zhou Gu's eyes widened instantly.

That's truly astonishing!
The city is setting up training courses, which are free of charge and include room and board, in order to cultivate farmers' literacy to help them build and develop rural areas.

This kind of thing would have been unthinkable in the past.

Even now, even if they know that the country is focusing on developing science and culture in this decade, they wouldn't have believed it if Qian Jin hadn't said those words.

How can such a good thing happen!
But if Qian Jin says it, then there's no problem.

Director Qian always cares about farmers and is always wholeheartedly dedicated to doing good deeds for rural areas!
No matter how he thought about it, Zhou Gu was a little stunned by this sudden windfall: "No, no money? Food and lodging included? Director Zhou, you're going to set up a school to teach us farmers real skills?"

“Yes, to teach real skills, you need good students. I require them to learn quickly and be able to apply what they learn immediately!” Qian Jin answered confidently, his tone resolute.

“I think that if Xiping wants to develop, and if our Haibin City’s rural areas want to develop, then people are the key.”

"Just reading books isn't enough—look, I've brought quite a lot of books here, but how much comprehension do you need to become self-taught just by reading? In this case, I think you need a teacher to guide you step by step!"

"The school is newly established, and there are few teachers and poor teaching staff. It is impossible to teach all aspects, so I will teach two aspects first: scientific chicken raising and vegetable greenhouses."

"After the New Year, could your brigade organize a group of quick-witted, intelligent young men and women who are genuinely eager to learn skills and not afraid of hardship, and send them to my school in the city? The first batch of places is limited, but Xiping is the first place that comes to mind!"

"Yes! Absolutely!" Zhou Tiezhen was so excited that his face turned red, and he almost jumped up.

He punched his thigh with his fist and said, "Director Qian, don't worry, what Xiping has in abundance is young people who are willing to put in the effort and want to learn skills."

"I'll go back and pick the best people, and I'll definitely send them to you after the New Year!"

He patted his chest and assured them, his voice so loud it drowned out the mountain wind.

Qian Jin was very satisfied with Zhou Tiezhen's heartfelt support and promise.

Although this guy is not very bright and has a low level of education, he is truly dedicated to serving the people, and he is open-minded and not conservative, understanding the importance of cultural knowledge.

Qian Jin smiled and then brought up the last, and most pressing, difficulty:
"Captain Zhou, I'm relieved to hear that. However, there's still a headache at the school right now."

He rubbed his hands together, a little embarrassed, and said, "The school has just opened, and everything needs to be rebuilt. You see, the school buildings need wood for renovation. We need wood everywhere, for desks and chairs, door and window frames, bookshelves, and so on."

"With the reform and opening up, the country is focused on development in every aspect. Timber has become a scarce commodity. You can buy it in the city, but it's expensive, and you need quotas, which is very troublesome..."

Before Qian Jin could finish speaking, Zhou Tiezhen suddenly waved his hand and said, "Don't say anything more, Director Qian. What you're saying is like spitting in my face and slapping our Zhou family in the face."

"Whatever you need, as long as we have it, don't hold back, absolutely don't hold back, just give me the order! Give Xiping the order!"

“If it weren’t for you, the Xiping Production Brigade would be so poor that we wouldn’t even be able to afford steamed buns for the New Year. I, Lao Zhou, am not an ungrateful person. I, Lao Zhou, and my family all know who brought good days to our brigade!”

Qian Jin laughed and said, "Alright, alright, then I won't be polite..."

"You shouldn't be so polite! Damn it, being polite to us is practically insulting us!" Zhou Tiezhen was still indignant. "You have to be punished. You'll be punished with three cups of wine at noon today!"

Zhou Gu nodded with a smile: "That's right, Director Qian, your school is short of timber? Hey! You should have said so earlier, there was no need to make this trip, it's nothing!"

Zhou Tiezhen turned around, facing the vast, silent, snow-covered forest behind him.

He took a deep breath, his chest bulging, and then with all his might, he shouted towards the silent mountains: "Comrades, Director Qian is short of wood for his school. He's come to our house. What should we do?"

The men clearing land around them burst into laughter upon hearing this, and one young man shouted at the top of his lungs:

"There are plenty of them in the back mountain!!"

Such roars rang out one after another.

Very warm.

Zhou Tiezhen asked Qian Jin, "Since you're in a hurry to start a school, and you drove here in a truck, wouldn't it be best if you could take a truckload of timber back with you?"

Qian Jin nodded.

Zhou Tiezhen shouted to the men who were clearing land, "Comrades! We're not doing this anymore! We're not clearing land today!"

"Director Qian has given the order: he needs timber! Comrades! Everyone, exchange your pickaxe handles for axes! Go to the warehouse and get your axes! Everyone, get out of the mountains and start logging!"

Zhou Gu pondered, "Poplar wood is used for doors and windows because it's sturdy, and pine wood is used for tables and chairs because it's a good omen..."

The young men and strong men quickly formed a group, packed up their shovels, hoes, and pickaxe handles, and then marched in a dense mass toward the brigade headquarters.

When Qian Jin arrived with Zhou Tiezhen, several gleaming, sharp-edged axes appeared in their hands.

Zhou Tiezhen snatched an axe, raised it high, and the blade flashed a blinding glint in the bleak winter sunlight.

"Erniu, Gousheng, Zhuzi!"

Zhou Tiezhen's eyes flashed like lightning as he quickly scanned the several strong young men around him: "You three, take axes and large saws. The rest of you, take ropes. Come on, follow me up the mountain now!"

Qian Jin stopped him: "No rush, no rush..."

"Not in a hurry yet, haha, Director Qian, are you planning to stay at our team's place tonight?" Zhou Tiezhen interrupted him, habitually revealing a hearty smile.

"You don't know, cutting down trees is hard work, requires skill, and is quite time-consuming."

"Because you not only have to cut down trees, but also cut off all the small branches and twigs, and carry them out of the mountains. This job takes up a lot of time!"

Qian Jin said, "I know, what I mean is, sharpening the axe won't delay the work of chopping wood!"

He waved to Chen Shoujiang.

The truck drove up.

Then Qian Jin climbed onto the train carriage and first threw down stacks of plastic sheets:
"These are special fabrics for building greenhouses later. You can use them first, but it definitely won't be enough. I'll buy more for you later."

"And this, too."

The plastic sheet was cold; after he finished moving it, he rubbed his hands together and breathed on them to warm them.

It was cold, and his breath instantly turned into a puff of white mist. After his palms warmed up, he laid out several long wooden crates and handed them out one by one.
"Guess what good stuff I brought this time?"

"What is this?" Zhou Tiezhen asked, puzzled.

He looked at the long wooden box with a puzzled expression.

The box was painted in a grassy green, a color unique to the supply and marketing system, like old grass leaves that had cooled down in the mountains.

Qian Jin waved: "Open it and take a look."

"I won't keep you in suspense any longer. This is a new batch of chainsaws allocated by the province, and I've heard their performance is top-notch."

“I set this off for you early this morning. I thought that Xiping Mountain is high and the forests are thick, and the burden of logging and reforestation is heavy, so I set it off for you.”

"We need wood to run a school these days, so I brought it with me."

These words were like hot oil being poured into a pot of cold water. Zhu Zi and Er Niu, two impatient men, had already untied the ropes and started unloading the boxes.

The heavy wooden crate landed on the frozen, hard ground with a dull thud.

Biaozi was holding a machete, intending to chop tree branches later. Upon hearing this, he inserted the blade into the gap in the wooden box's sealing board, pried it open with force, and sawdust flew everywhere.

Seeing this, Zhou Tiezhen kicked him to the ground: "You son of a bitch, you're just wasting good stuff!"

He went to the warehouse and brought out two gleaming screwdrivers: "Use these, don't waste things!"

The box was haphazardly opened.

The smell of brand-new machinery, mixed with the rich aroma of engine oil, rushed out and assaulted the nostrils of everyone present, instantly overpowering the earthy smell of cow dung and wood ash.

Inside the box, the grass-green chainsaw body gleamed with a calm, cold light, the steel teeth of the saw chain were gleaming and sharp, and the intricate metal structural components exuded a strange yet powerful sense of strength.

Zhu Zi gasped and couldn't help but let out a "heh".

Biaozi's eyes lit up, and he reached out to touch it.

As the captain, Zhou Tiezhen was more composed. He squatted down and first carefully touched the cold machine body, then touched the cold wall of the large barrel of special engine oil next to him.

My fingertip brushed across it, leaving a few indistinct oil marks.

Qian Jin skillfully picked up a chainsaw and said, "What's the use of just looking? Let's take it out and put it to the test."

"Now that you, Accountant Zhou, are in charge of the cooperative store, no one will dare to withhold diesel fuel from your brigade, right?"

Zhou Gu laughed and said, "It's long gone. Everything is fair and just now. All the bad habits that Ma Defu had when he was in power are gone!"

Qian Jin said, "Then why don't you hurry up and get the diesel fuel? This chainsaw runs on diesel fuel!"

Zhou Gu had never seen a chainsaw before, so he quickly said, "Okay, okay, I'll go to the brigade headquarters and get a barrel of diesel right away."

When the diesel fuel arrived, Qian Jin deftly mixed the engine oil and diesel fuel according to the prescribed ratio and poured it into the fuel tank, his movements as smooth as flowing water.

Then, he gripped the starter handle, spread his legs firmly, and thrust his upper body forward with all his might—

"Tap tap tap... tap tap tap... woo!"

A series of violent and crisp engine roars, like thunderclaps from a clear sky, suddenly exploded in front of the warehouse.

The sound, with its metallic roar and tearing quality, startled several sparrows in the haystacks near the threshing ground, causing them to flutter and dart into the gray sky.

A plume of pale blue smoke, carrying a strong oily smell, suddenly billowed out, choking Gou Sheng, who was standing closest to it, causing him to take two steps back.

He raised his hand to cover his mouth and coughed, but his eyes remained fixed on the machine in Qian Jin's hand that was emitting a terrifying roar.

This is too much of a commotion.

The old men who had been hiding by the fire in the brigade's double-agent shop came out when they heard the noise. They looked around from afar, their faces filled with surprise and a hint of fear.

This thing is louder than a tractor!
"Captain Zhou, why don't you try it out first?" Qian Jin turned off the chainsaw and handed it to Zhou Tiezhen, who was already itching to try it out.

At the same time, he solemnly instructed those around him: "Remember this, everyone: never point a chainsaw at anyone. If you want to exchange a chainsaw for someone else, you must turn it off!"

"These two rules are ironclad, and no one is allowed to cross them!"

A group of strong young men nodded repeatedly.

Qian Jin still warned them, "Don't just give me a perfunctory answer. This thing is very powerful and can kill people easily, so you must remember what I'm saying!"

Biaozi shouted, "I've got it!"

"This thing can never be pointed at anyone, nor—oh, I mean, it can't be given to anyone while it's on; you have to turn it off before you can give it to anyone!"

Qian Jin nodded.

Zhou Tiezhen took the heavy steel monster and, imitating Qian Jin's posture, pulled hard on the starting rope with all his might.

The first attempt failed; the machine only whirred twice before giving up.

Qian Jin instructed him: "Don't use so much force. Take it easy. This is just a tool. Just pull it once."

Laughter erupted from all around.

Zhou Tiezhen glared at the crowd, then took a deep breath and unleashed a second burst of power—"Whoosh!!!"

The machine instantly erupted with a fierce roar.

The tremendous vibration traveled through the cold steel to his muscular arm, making his hand go numb and almost causing him to drop it.

He exclaimed in shock, "This thing is truly a murder weapon! Damn, whoever uses it, be careful!"

The roadside was lined with trees.

Several trees have died, but it doesn't bother us, so we haven't dealt with it.

Now they have become experimental subjects for chainsaws.

Under Qian Jin's direction, Zhou Tiezhen walked to a dead tree. He hunched over, his feet digging into the frozen ground like nails, and then pressed the sharp guide plate of the chainsaw against the old elm trunk.

The steel saw chain made a frightening sound as soon as it touched the dry, hard, dead wood.

"Sizzle—creak—"

A piercing, teeth-grinding metallic scraping and gnawing sound erupted.

Then countless wood chips and powders sprayed out wildly, like an enraged swarm of bees.

A mountain breeze blew by, and wood chips filled the air in a yellowish-white dust cloud, causing several young people nearby to sneeze.

Biaozi watched as the saw chain effortlessly tore through the dry, hard bark and bit into the solid wood, quickly creating a deep groove in the tree trunk. The feeling was a hundred times more efficient than using a wood-chopping knife.

He stamped his foot and shouted, "Captain, call me over to have some fun!"

Zhou Tiezhen completely ignored him.

The fierceness and drive of a mountain man in the captain's blood were completely ignited, and he pressed the chainsaw down even harder.

With a few sharp "crack" sounds, a tree as thick as Qian Jin's thigh was cut down...

Qian Jin quickly shouted, "Close it first!"

Zhou Tiezhen turned off the chainsaw, and he quickly pulled Zhou Tiezhen back. The dead wood made a dull snapping sound, quickly tilted and smashed to the ground, kicking up a large cloud of dust.

Immediately, a chorus of suppressed gasps and murmurs of amazement rose from the surrounding area.

"My goodness!" Gou Sheng exclaimed, his mouth agape as he looked at the tree trunk that had been neatly felled. "How much effort did this save us? Old Huai might not have been able to cut it in two hours with this cut."

Old Huai was recognized as the best axe wielder in their team.

Zhou Gu walked straight to the broken section without saying a word.

His rough, large hands stroked the saw marks left by Zhou Tiezhen; the cuts were so smooth and delicate, the texture clearly visible.

Then he looked back at the chainsaw in Qian Jin's hand and exclaimed, "This thing is amazing!"

Zhou Tiezhen said, "It's really amazing. I didn't use it well the first time, damn it. Next time I'll have more experience and I can cut it faster and better."

"The key is to take it off at the very end. I've been working hard the whole time, and I should cut three-quarters of it off. Then I can just kick the rest of the trunk off!"

As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed Qian Jin's hand tightly, shaking it violently without warning.

"Director Qian, this is truly a godsend for Xiping. We have nothing more to say. If your unit needs wood in the future, just say the word."

"Whether it's building warehouses, installing doors and windows, or firewood for firing kilns, as long as you give the word, all the men of Xiping, young and old, will be up in the mountains and risk their lives to chop enough for you!"

"I, Zhou Tiezhen, swear on my word and I mean what I say!"

Qian Jin laughed.

Zhou Tiezhen glared at him: "What's wrong? You don't believe me?"

Qian Jin quickly explained, "How could that be? How could I not believe you? I don't know about others, but I know your character, Captain Zhou. You are known for being honest and upright, and you always keep your word."

"I'm laughing because you're thinking too simply, aren't you? You may be enthusiastic, but rules are rules. Wood isn't weeds; this mountain belongs to the nation, and these trees belong to the community!"

He patted Zhou Tiezhen's hand, which was trembling slightly with excitement, reassuringly, then withdrew his hand and looked at Zhou Gu.

He was in charge of all policy-related work in the brigade.

In the Xiping Brigade, he was a living, breathing linchpin when it came to rules and regulations.

Zhou Tiezhen is in charge of production.

"Old Gu," Qian Jin turned and asked, "how should the forests in these mountains be felled according to policy? Does the brigade usually follow any rules or regulations?"

Zhou Gu pushed up his worn-out glasses, which had slipped down to the tip of his nose, revealing a pair of worldly-wise and shrewd old eyes behind the lenses:
"According to the supplementary provisions of the 'Regulations on the Work of Rural People's Communes' issued above, the logging of mountain forest land of the village and commune collective for the needs of the collective production and life of the commune members for their own use is limited and carried out in a planned manner, without violating any major rules."

Zhou Tiezhen waved his hand dismissively: "Take it or leave it. The trees in this forest belong to the state, but they also belong to our team collectively."

"I'm the team leader, the head of the collective, don't I have the authority to make decisions?"

"Director Qian, don't worry about it. Just tell me how much wood you need, and I'll get it all for you!"

If this gets out, it will be a big deal.

Zhou Gu knew best the consequences of escalating the issue, so he chimed in to explain: "What the brigade leader said makes sense. What's going on? Director Qian, you don't know, but we have an old rule in Xiping."

"When spring arrives, the ice and snow melt away, and the ground warms up, the team organizes laborers to go up the mountain to replant saplings. For many years, we have followed the old rule of cutting down one tree and planting three more."

"This is what we mean by upholding the rules left by our ancestors. We cannot squander the nation's resources, nor can we just rely on our ancestors' legacy."

As Zhou Gu spoke, his pipe made a heavy stroke in the air, and ash fell in a flurry.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an authority honed through the local rules and networks of personal relationships.

These words were well-reasoned and supported by policy, while also referencing "old rules," so Qian Jin's last bit of concern dissipated.

Having rules and traditions is the way to long-term success.

He looked at Zhou Tiezhen and said, "Brigade Leader Zhou, so this is what your brigade is like. You cut down the trees in the mountains, and you have to replace them next year."

Zhou Tiezhen immediately responded loudly, "That's right, cut one and replace three, this old rule can't be broken here in Zhou Tiezhen!"

“Okay,” Qian Jin nodded emphatically. “Then you’ll have to put in some effort to get me some wood, and I’ll have to follow the rules, the old rules of our Zhou family.”

“I guarantee you that starting next spring, the Taishan Road People’s Commando Team will take care of the saplings you need to replant in the mountains. Just tell us how many you want to plant, and I’ll get you a batch of fruit tree saplings.”

He looked at the majestic mountains and couldn't help but sigh, "Such beautiful mountains, it's not interesting to just have old trees, we have to make use of them."

"I will definitely find a way to get you some apple and pear seedlings, and some walnut seedlings that can bear fruit early!"

"Walnut seedlings?" Zhou Tiezhen was taken aback. He had just been thinking about how fast or slow the logging would go, but suddenly he became very interested.

Walnuts are a treasure trove of benefits; everyone knows that.

Walnut kernels are highly nutritious, and the oil extracted from them is an even more valuable commodity!

The supply and marketing cooperative buys dried walnuts year-round!
If fruit trees or walnut trees were planted on the hillsides, ditches, and edges of the land, then by autumn...

He quickly did a quick mental calculation and then suddenly grabbed Qian Jin's hand again.

This time, the effort was greater, and the tone more eager: "Director Qian, can you also get fruit tree seedlings and walnut seedlings?"

Zhou Gu, standing beside him, was equally delighted: "This is great, this is really great, haha."

“Let me tell you, Director Qian, back in the 1960s, the county wanted to make use of Xiping Mountain to help us get rid of poverty, and they also said they would organize us to plant walnuts in the mountains.”

"But then the world went downhill, and the leaders were too busy to take care of themselves, so the matter was put on hold."

"If you can help us set up orchards and walnut groves now, we'll really have to build a shrine for you."

Qian Jin immediately waved his hand and said, "Give me a break! Why are you bringing up this whole 'Erecting a Shrine for the Living' thing? Aren't you just creating trouble for me?"

"We've entered a period of reform and opening up now. Old Gu, the accountant and old Gu, the store manager, we're all about science and culture, we wouldn't dare to engage in feudal superstition!"

Zhou Gu hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, we don't do that kind of thing."

Biaozi, standing nearby, asked with concern, "Director Qian, you have to keep your word. Are you sure you can provide enough fruit tree seedlings and walnut seedlings? Or are you saying that if we cut down one today, you'll replace it with three?"

Qian Jin emphasized, "Enough is enough!"

Cheers erupted immediately.

The phrase "enough is enough" reflects the strongest desire of mountain people for scarce resources.

Qian Jin patted the shoulders of several young men nearby forcefully, his tone resolute: "For the sake of developing production, this is a done deal. I mean what I say. After the New Year, when spring comes, you'll be waiting to haul away the saplings!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Zhou Tiezhen said "good" three times in a row, a smile spreading across his bronze face, as if every wrinkle had been lit up.

He patted Qian Jin's shoulder forcefully and said, "Director Qian, just go home and wait. I'll take the brothers into the mountains to help you out."

"With these iron tools you gave me today, I dare not say anything else, but I'm sure you can take back ten or eight wooden poles."

"If you want more, you'll have to wait. I'll take some people to cut down trees these next few days and then deliver them to the city by tractor. It won't delay your business!"

Qian Jin cautioned him, "I'm not in a hurry over there, but you should be careful here. Cutting down trees is..."

“It’s our old profession, so don’t worry. How could we not be careful?” Zhou Tiezhen laughed heartily.

Zhou Gu also said, "Yes, the New Year is just around the corner, and we know we need to be careful."

"Don't worry, we have rules for logging in the mountains. These rules were passed down from our ancestors, rules forged with blood and tears. If you follow the rules, you can't go wrong!"

At this moment, the women's director came over: "Captain Zhou, how should we pay Director Qian for lunch?"

Zhou Tiezhen shouted, "Slaughter pigs, slaughter sheep, kill chickens, kill fish! Hehe, where's Lao Huai? Go find him, he just cured wild boar meat at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, it's absolutely delicious now, let's invite Director Qian to have a taste of wild boar meat!"

Qian Jin asked curiously, "Oh, you even have wild boars here?"

Zhou Tiezhen nodded: "Quite a few. What happened? In previous years, every household was short of money. We set traps all over the mountain, thinking we had hunted down all the pheasants, wild boars, and wild rabbits."

"So, we've been growing vegetables for the past two years, right? Hey, guess what? Wild rabbits and pheasants have appeared out of nowhere. They've been stealing our vegetables, and they've all gotten quite plump and round."

"Then this year, wild boars came out again. We figured they were scared off in previous years and ran away to the deep mountains and forests. In the past two years, our brigade has been busy growing vegetables and fruits and hasn't dealt with them, so they came out."

"We came out by the smell," Zhou Gu added with a smile.

Zhou Tiezhen nodded: "Yes, they came out smelling the aroma of vegetables and fruits. The wild rabbits and pheasants are alright, they don't eat much."

"We have to kill this wild boar. They not only eat but also ruin everything. If a wild boar enters a vegetable garden, whether it's eggplants, green beans, or string beans, they'll destroy it all!"

Qian Jin nodded in realization.

The ecological environment of Xiping Mountain has not been completely destroyed, and there are still many wild animals in the mountains.

If properly protected, it can also develop into a mountain village tourism industry in the 21st century.

After all, this place has mountains, water, and forests, where you can catch fish, shrimp, and even set traps to catch wild rabbits and pheasants.

It's definitely a great place to relax and unwind.

He plans to talk to Zhou Tiezhen in his spare time and also help Xiping Production Brigade develop a three-year development plan.

Relying on Xiping Mountain and its vegetable planting base, the Xiping Production Brigade has developed more steadily than the Hongxing Liujia Production Brigade.

Preparations are complete, it's time to head into the mountains.

One by one, the wooden crates were opened, and the men gathered around the chainsaws that were unloaded, their metal surfaces gleaming coldly. They touched them and looked at them, their smiles almost reaching their ears.

They were no longer just talking about how fast the chainsaw was; they were also looking forward to the next spring when the hillside would be covered with rows of fruit tree seedlings and valuable walnut groves.

Qian Jin and Chen Shoujiang were escorted by Zhou Gu and the others towards the brigade headquarters, while Biaozi, Zhuzi, and several other youths remained where they were.

They were circling around the large tree stump that had been cut down.

The young people's eyes were fixed on the chainsaw, its teeth still covered in fresh sawdust.

The violent roar of the motor, the sharp sound of steel tearing through a century-old tree, and the sensation of the machine trembling violently in Zhou Tiezhen's hands were all deeply etched into their memories like a red-hot branding iron.

Zhou Tiezhen began distributing the tools.

What was once the most stigmatized job of logging has now become a highly sought-after job among young people.

Logging is extremely tiring and harmful to the body.

Cutting down an old tree is not easy. You have to first use an axe to cut the edges, then use a double-person saw to back and forth, and finally continue to chop with an axe.

This process is exhausting.

Now that chainsaws are in use, things are different; young people are extremely enthusiastic about the thrill of controlling them.

Zhou Tiezhen allocated the right to use chainsaws. The young men who got one chuckled happily, while the men who didn't get one muttered curses in frustration.

Other tools were already prepared, including thick hemp ropes, straight crowbars, several sharp axes, and long, double-handed saws.

"By the way, Director Qian, don't go!" Zhou Tiezhen ran after Qian Jin and gave him a push on the shoulder from behind.

The force was so great that Qian Jin, caught off guard, stumbled.

Zhou Gu scolded him: "Captain, what are you doing?"

Zhou Tiezhen laughed awkwardly and said, "No, Director Qian, don't go. Do you want to come into the mountains with me?"

"You don't need to do any work. Just wait down the mountain, and then tell me which tree you like."

"You can pick any red pine, larch, oak, poplar, or locust trees you want from the mountain. We'll cut down as many as you need in Xiping, and we'll give you plenty. We guarantee it won't delay your start of school after the New Year!"

Qian Jin was about to agree.

The women's director shook her head: "Forget it, Captain Zhou, you decide what to cut. It's so cold outside. Let Director Qian and his brother-in-law go warm themselves by the fire. They can't go into the mountains and catch a cold, right?"

Zhou Tiezhen nodded after listening.

Without further ado, he waved his hand and said, "Let's go!"

Qian Jin said, "Hey, hey, I'm going into the mountains too."

Chen Shoujiang said, "I have to go. I can't speak for anything else, but I'm good at cutting down trees and felling timber."

Qian Jin explained, "My brother-in-law grew up in a forest farm in Northeast China; his job is logging!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tiezhen was filled with respect: "Oh my, an expert has arrived."

Chen Shoujiang laughed heartily: "That's not being modest. I'm practically an expert at cutting down trees. Come on, let's go for a walk in the mountains."

He said to Qian Jin, "I haven't been back to the mountains since I returned to the city. I'm so bored!"

With that, he shouldered a large axe and strode ahead towards the snow-covered, pine-shaded back mountain.

Not wanting to be outdone, Zhou Tiezhen trudged through the thick snow, his steps uneven, and rushed forward.

Other young men and strong men carrying chainsaws, ropes, and axes followed closely behind them.

sunny.

His strong figure cast a long shadow on the snow-covered hillside.

Led by Zhou Tiezhen, a group of people, like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, quickly disappeared into the dense and quiet mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest at the foot of the mountain.

The snow at the edge of the woods crunched under their feet.

Qian Jin chased after him.

Soon, the sound of crunching snow underfoot and snapping branches could be heard from the woods.

Then, just moments later, a piercing roar rang out.

The silence of the winter forest was thus broken.

"Whoosh—buzz!!!" The first chainsaw started up!

Immediately afterwards, "Whoosh—Buzz!!!" the second one joined in with a roar!

This is no longer the heavy and resilient clanging sound of clearing land.

This is the ruthless cutting of nature's creations by industrial forces.

Qian Jin didn't know how to choose wood, but Chen Shoujiang did.

He has indeed been involved with forests since childhood and knows very well what kind of wood is suitable for what kind of things.

So, under his guidance, Zhou Tiezhen and a few young men got to work enthusiastically.

The furious roar of the chainsaw engine and the sharp scraping sound of the high-speed chain tearing into the hard wood instantly intertwined, forming an unstoppable wave of sound that violently assaulted the eardrums and minds of everyone present.

This is truly unfair to nature.

Many pine trees take fifty or sixty years to grow to the size that one person can hug. If you were to cut them down with an axe, it would take one person a whole day to cut down such a large tree.

However, once the chainsaw was used, it fell down in just half an hour.

Immediately afterwards, a group of burly men surrounded the tree, wielding axes, machetes, and single-person saws. They used these tools to cut the branches of the tree, reducing a lush tree to a bare trunk.

Deeper into the woods, the chainsaws were still roaring:

"Whoosh—buzz!! Hiss hiss hiss hiss—!"

The sound of the saw chain tearing at the tree trunk continued incessantly, accompanied by the teeth-grinding crackling sounds of the internal fibers breaking, and sawdust sprayed out like golden blood.

"Hah! One, two, three! Give it your all! Down—!" Zhou Tiezhen's rough shouts, like war drums, pierced through the roar of the chainsaws and came through clearly.

"Boom—Rumble—Crackling!!!"

Another tall tree fell with a thud.

The dull, loud noise echoed through the valley for a long time, startling many resident birds such as sparrows into flight.

The massive tree canopy crashed onto the snow, scattering snow everywhere and startling some crows in the distant woods.

Qian Jin watched them leave.

The biting mountain wind howled through the mountains, carrying snowflakes. What was originally a fresh scent now carried the unique aroma of pine resin after it had been sawn open, with a spicy and even somewhat bitter aftertaste.

Chen Shoujiang was as at ease as a tiger entering the forest. He took a deep breath and laughed, "This is the taste! This is just right."

(End of this chapter)