Reborn in 1994: Starting from the Autumn Harvest

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Chen Mian slowly walked back, glanced around, and deliberately paused at Chen Hongjian's position.

He feigned nervousness and breathed a sigh of relief before reciting his prepared statement: "Let's stop arguing and comparing prices out of spite. Why don't we each write down a price list and let Uncle Guozhu choose? We can plant whatever is suitable for him."

"The selection process was notarized here."

Chen Hongjian stared at Chen Mian with wide, stunned eyes, his mouth agape and his breath caught in his throat.

It felt like a huge truck appeared in my head, roared past and hit me, shattering my consciousness.

How come this kid's idea is exactly the same as my preparation? How could it be such a coincidence?

He seemed to have glanced in this direction just now. Why was that?

As Chen Hongjian recalled everything that had just happened, he was plunged into a deep state of shock and confusion.

Everyone present looked thoughtful, considering the pros and cons of this approach.

The gazes directed at Chen Mian were filled with surprise, astonishment, and confusion...

The village secretary and others chatted quietly, all agreeing that this approach was much better than the expected continuous price increases.

Talking to Liu Guoqiang again might resolve the current predicament and stop the villagers from gathering together and gossiping all day.

"Guoqiang, what do you think of this method?"

The Party Secretary bypassed Liu Guozhu and let Liu Guoqiang make the decision first. As long as Liu Guoqiang was okay with it, things would be much easier.

The elderly people nearby also chimed in, advising Liu Guoqiang to take the opportunity to back down and resolve the matter properly.

Liu Guoqiang calmed down considerably and received meaningful glances and messages from relatives and friends. He knew that whether he agreed or not, he had to continue the matter. If he didn't back down now, he would really have no way to live in the village in the future.

Looking at her younger brother's pitiful appearance, she couldn't help but think of what Chen Mian had said that day.

He then sighed and uttered a single word with difficulty: "Okay."

……

Around 10 p.m., people from the brigade headquarters came and went in a hurry.

The villagers marveled at Chen Mian's brilliant suggestion, and even the usually composed and mature Chen Mian couldn't resist the overwhelming praise.

Chen Hongguo stopped every two steps, greeting people warmly, his mouth stretched from ear to ear, showing no trace of his earlier anger.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Chen Hongjian slowly followed behind, unable to sleep all night because he couldn't find the answer to his question.

"The Red Country."

Chen Hongguo stopped again, but looked back and was somewhat surprised.

Along the way, we greeted and chatted with many people, but the eldest brother and the fourth brother were the only ones who didn't speak. Now they've actually come.

"Fourth Brother hasn't left yet?"

Fourth Uncle.

"Second Cotton Mill, you've got a really sharp mind! You solved such a difficult problem in just a few words." Chen Hongjian smiled as he approached, showering him with praise. Then, he changed the subject, "How did you come up with that?"

Chen Hongguo chuckled sheepishly, spouting nothing but good luck and wishful thinking.

But Chen Hongjian didn't take it seriously. Using the light from the bulb on the door frame, he kept looking at the unremarkable-looking Chen Mian and sensed a confidence and composure beyond her years.

"I thought of it while chatting with Haichao, and just chimed in on a whim." Chen Mian scratched her head coyly, "I didn't expect it to actually work."

"Ah, I see." Chen Hongjian nodded thoughtfully.

This answer coincided with his guess, and in any case, the turmoil in his heart subsided.

"Our Second Cotton Mill is getting more and more successful. I'll have your Fourth Aunt find you a good wife."

Upon hearing this, Chen Hongguo was overjoyed. His fourth sister-in-law came from a non-agricultural cadre family, so the people she knew must be extraordinary.

My son is getting on in years, so I need to prepare in advance. I asked my fourth brother to keep an eye out for suitable candidates.

As Chen Hongjian disappeared into the darkness, Chen Mian suddenly stopped and said softly, "Dad, you should go back first. I have something to do."

"What time is it? What do you want?" Chen Hongguo turned his head and looked at him.

"Uncle Guoqiang hasn't come out yet."

Chen Hongguo was silent for a few seconds, then frowned and said sternly, "Forget about leasing the land. We don't have any money, and even if we did, I wouldn't agree."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a commotion came from the brigade headquarters courtyard, and Liu Guoqiang came out with the Party Secretary and a few others.

After turning off the lights and locking the door, the Party Secretary and the others quickly left.

In the dark, Liu Guoqiang and the Chen father and son found a spot under the moonlight to continue their conversation.

Chen Mian immediately admitted her mistake: "Uncle, I apologize for what happened earlier."

At this moment, Liu Guoqiang seemed much more magnanimous, waving his hand and saying, "Your method is much better. It even gave your uncle a way out. Your uncle should thank you."

As she spoke, she looked at Chen Hongguo, assuming that the father had scolded his son again, which was why he was still waiting for her here instead of going home in the middle of the night.

"Hongguo, you can't blame the child. The Party Secretary and the others talked to me again, and I'm really obsessed with this matter. Let's do it Chen Mian's way, and I'm quite satisfied."

"He could drive me crazy." Chen Hongguo glanced at Chen Mian.

"Red Country, if you ask me, you should stop thinking about all that nonsense. You should get involved too. I'd be much happier if you were the one farming this land."

Chen Mian's eyes lit up, and she was overjoyed.

I was originally thinking of bringing up the land lease with Liu Guoqiang, since I needed Liu Guoqiang to agree first before my father would agree. But I didn't expect him to speak up first.

Chen Hongguo really didn't expect Liu Guoqiang to say that, and couldn't help but turn to look at his son, wondering if it was just a coincidence.

"Brother Guoqiang, how could I possibly get involved in this?"

"Brother, I know in my heart that you two are kind and righteous."

Liu Guoqiang patted Chen Hongguo on the shoulder, leaned forward, and lowered his voice even more, "There are no outsiders here. There are more than a hundred households in our village. I'm happiest and most delighted that you're the one who's contracting this land. Isn't it better than giving it to Yang Zhanguo and the others?"

"You're really paying attention. I'm leaving."

……

The new bidding method has attracted the interest of villagers in Anping Village who have the means, and they are studying the bidding process wherever there are people.

Cotton is a multi-harvest cash crop, with harvesting starting in early to mid-September and basically ending in late October.

How much cotton can be produced per acre of a 45-acre cotton field? How much for the first crop, the second crop, and the third crop?

The key questions are: how much can it ultimately sell for, and what are the costs?

The official cotton purchase price announced each year is the best benchmark for deriving the price of seed cotton, and it relates to the bottom line that every household has in mind.

Finally, on September 2nd, the news everyone had been waiting for arrived.

As the village secretary spoke through the loudspeaker once again, the villagers who hadn't gone to the fields rushed into the brigade headquarters, silently reading the concise announcement on the wall and focusing on the most crucial line.

「从1994年9月1日新棉上市起……标準级皮辊棉收购价格每50公斤由330元统一提高到405元。」

"Goodness, it's gone up to 405 yuan, that's about 20% more than last year."

"Judging from this, the price of seed cotton will probably rise by 20% this year."

"Let's think about how much Guozhu'er will get for that land. It's like picking up money for free."

The timely arrival of cotton prices was like adding fuel to the fire of the land leasing incident, causing it to heat up again.

After Chen Mian got home, she locked the door. It was time to be honest with her parents. There were some things she didn't want her older brother and sister-in-law to know for the time being.

"I want to lease the land."

Tang Xiuyun was a little confused. Hadn't they already agreed on everything? Why did they suddenly change their minds?