Fishing and Hunting 82, Starting with Three Sisters Who Overprotect Their Brothers

"Like I said, is there anything around our village?"

The old secretary calmed down, tapped his knuckles lightly on the table, and slowly began to speak.

Upon hearing this, everyone snapped out of their shock and looked helpless.

Having awareness is good, but it doesn't solve practical problems.

Ten years ago, Chishongtun was also thriving in hunting and fishing, and at that time, they even specially invited experts from the commune to give them guidance.

At first, the harvest was very good, and every household was able to share fish and meat. Men, women, and children would rush to the mountains, forests, and streams whenever they had free time.

But it didn't work out after a few years.

The large group of people marched up the mountain, shouting and yelling, but in the end they sheepishly returned with only two or three rabbits and pheasants. They plunged into the river, but the small fish and shrimp they caught in the net weren't even enough to fill their teeth, let alone earn them any points.

Many people argued and even fought over this, and the fishing and hunting group simply disbanded.

The village couldn't even muster a decent musket, let alone gather enough people to go hunting in the mountains.

Li Yuejin frowned and advised, "It's true that Shanzi has learned some skills, but even if he can get his hands on the items, can he support that group of impoverished families?"

This is practically saying outright that we can't help those in need.

Wang Tieshan also hesitated. Thinking about it, he realized that if farming was not feasible, how could hunting and fishing in the mountains and rivers be possible?

He couldn't help but regret his impulsiveness. Just as he was about to say something to deny the matter, a young voice suddenly rang out.

"Whether it will work or not, we'll only know after we try."

Zhang Wenshan stepped out of the crowd, instantly attracting the attention of everyone, young and old.

It's not that Chishongtun has nothing; it's just that everything that was easy to take right under our noses was looted.

Ten years ago, during the era of the "iron rice bowl," people would be organized to go to the river and mountains to engage in sideline businesses during the off-season.

There's no concept of sustainable development or gradual accumulation; whoever gets it gets it. In some places, they simply drain the ponds dry and use explosives...

It was only in the last two years that fishing bans and minimum catch sizes were established.

According to his observation, the resources around the village are recovering, and the areas a little further away can be said to be rich in resources.

The key is to have the ability to acquire it.

"Shanzi, don't be reckless. Collective industries aren't that simple. You can't handle this," Wang Tieshan hurriedly stopped him.

"I know none of us are confident," Zhang Wenshan said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "How about we join voluntarily, each responsible for our own profits and losses?"

He certainly wouldn't say that he could pinpoint the location of the prey, much less that he had a way to further improve the tool.

"What do you mean? Explain it to me," the old Party Secretary asked.

"The fishing and hunting groups use the village's mountain forests and waterways, pay a sum of money to the brigade at the end of the year, and bear their own profits and losses; the brigade doesn't need to bail them out!"

The room was stunned as soon as he finished speaking.

Everyone looked at Zhang Wenshan like he was a monster.

Li Yuejin couldn't help but ask, "Who would be willing to do this?"

"That's why I said it was voluntary to join," Zhang Wenshan said with a smile, looking at the old Party Secretary.

A person who can become a Party Secretary is definitely not stupid; they quickly understand the key to success.

"Is it the same approach as the household responsibility system?"

Zhang Wenshan gave a thumbs up and said, "You're brilliant, sir."

"What if we lose money?" a question arose from the corner. "Who will take responsibility?"

"Shut up if you don't have a brain." Wang Tieshan couldn't help but scold, and when he looked at Zhang Wenshan again, his eyes flashed with a sharp light.

He's a real talent.

The few impoverished households in the village already needed the support and assistance of the brigade, but all their efforts were in vain, and they ended up just staying the same.

But what if it succeeds?

The brigade not only reduced its burden, but also earned extra income.

It might even become a model case and bring them great fame.

This is something we can do!

As expected, the old Party Secretary hesitated for a moment before making a decision: "Don't make a fuss about this for now; report it to the higher-ups first."

His gaze shifted, looking at Wang Tieshan and Accountant Tian, ​​and the two immediately understood.

Accountant Tian immediately stood up and said, "We need to think carefully about how much to pay, otherwise it will be difficult if word gets out."

"We also need to investigate the situation of each household," Wang Tiejun chimed in. "Anyone who talks too much and ruins things will be in trouble, don't blame me for turning against them."

"Let's disperse for now." The old Party Secretary picked up his teacup. "Right now, Hama Pond is a major issue. We need to follow the established procedures, plan it out properly, and hold a meeting tomorrow morning to set the tone."

Upon hearing this, everyone got up and left one after another.

As soon as they stepped out of the team's office, they swarmed around Zhang Wenshan again, chattering away, their enthusiasm unprecedented.

"A bunch of snobs." After everyone had left, Zhang Fengxia quickly went to meet them and took the cage from her brother's hand.

Zhang Wenshan touched his nose and didn't reply.

Given the terrible things he did in the past, it's no wonder that outsiders didn't treat him well. Only his family always believed he would change for the better and wholeheartedly protected and helped him.

"Oh dear! How come so many of them died?" Zhang Fengxia peeked into the bucket and stamped her feet in distress.

"It's alright, they're all small ones. They'll still eat even if they die," Zhang Wenshan comforted them with a smile.

Shrimp and crabs are not very active when the temperature is high, and since they are only kept for half a day, not many can be sold.

"Shall we put it in the same old place?" Zhang Fengxia turned her head and looked around, then whispered, "When I went to get the trap, I always felt like someone was following me."

"Okay, let's go together later."

Zhang Wenshan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the wildly growing vegetation around him, his eyes slightly narrowed.

The countryside wasn't developed much in the 1980s.

Once outside the center of the village, bushes and weeds grow in abundance, especially in the area where the traps are set up; you can hide a person ten steps away and not even see their shadow.

Upon arriving at the location, Zhang Fengxia looked at the bait bin and asked, "We've taken it out before, is it still usable?"

It would be such a waste not to use bait made with fatty meat.

"It's very useful!" Zhang Wenshan looked at his sister, his thoughts drifting away.

If she were to witness the extravagant way that fishermen of later generations used bait by weight, I wonder if her jaw would drop in astonishment.

The two lowered the cage again, and Zhang Fengxia looked around.

Countless weeping willows, each six or seven meters tall, stretch out in a continuous expanse, their branches drooping to the ground and the water's surface, resembling a natural tent.

The ground was covered with knee-high weeds.

She couldn't help but ask with some concern, "Should I come and keep watch tonight?"

"It's not worth it," Zhang Wenshan smiled confidently. "Besides, it would be best if someone else came to make a move."

"Why?" Zhang Fengxia asked, her face full of confusion.

Zhang Wenshan lowered his voice and briefly explained the situation at the team headquarters.

In 1982, the village was a closed circle of acquaintances. In many cases, no evidence was needed to solve the case. If petty theft was confirmed, it would result in social death.

"Hey bro, what's wrong with your head?"

After hearing this, Zhang Fengxia couldn't help but clap her hands and cheer.

"Normally, the team might try to smooth things over, but this matter involves collective assets and impoverished households... so they care more about it than we do."

She was very familiar with the ways of the people in the village and immediately understood the intricacies of the situation.

……

Meanwhile, at Li Dong's home.

"We've located the spot, what's our next step?" Er Gou scratched his head anxiously. "If you ask me, we should just go and take the cage. How would he know who did it?"

"It's not going to be easy. Zhang Wenshan is now running Hama Pond, and he's the hot commodity in the team." Wang Kai slowly spat out sunflower seed shells, not in a hurry at all.

"So all that surveillance was for nothing?" Er Gou was even more annoyed.

"It wasn't a waste of time to keep an eye on things."

Li Dong waved his palm-leaf fan loudly, looking confident and composed.

"The hardest part about catching fish and shrimp is finding a good spot. Now that we've found one, tomorrow we'll figure out how to sell them, and we'll be all set!"

"Yeah, fish traps aren't anything special; you can make them on the spot."

"That's right, we're setting up cages in that area too, what can the brigade do to stop us?"

"We have to teach him a lesson. He even cut ties with us; he's really giving us face!"

As they spoke, the three of them burst into laughter.

I can almost picture Zhang Wenshan's business being robbed, his face covered in dust and grime.