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

Chapter 117 Proposing marriage at home
The next day.

Fang Wei announced that they would distribute peanuts to everyone. This year, the team had planted some peanuts, totaling 4500 kilograms. Since they wouldn't sell for much, it would be better to distribute them to the members for the New Year.

Each person received an average of 30 kilograms of peanuts. It is not worth using these peanuts to make oil, but they are just right for frying.

The Fang family has no shortage of peanuts. The two brothers planted peanuts for one season and harvested more than 600 kilograms, which they could not finish eating.

The members happily took their peanuts home. Who wouldn't say the team had chosen a good captain? He had skills, a good temperament, and, crucially, he was generous to the members.

Of course, all of this is based on the team having abundant money and food. Without money and supplies, what can we share with everyone?
The members also understand this principle, so no matter what happens in the team, as long as someone shouts, everyone rushes forward.

Just like when the canal was being built before, no strong laborer would back down.

This is the current situation. They will do whatever Fang Wei says without any hesitation.

Fang Weiyi has always believed that spiritual encouragement and material rewards are not in conflict, and both should be given equal importance.

So next, the team selected the "Model Workers" of the previous year and the "Advanced Individuals" who loved the team like their home.

Fang Wei personally handed out certificates of merit to them, and each received a flashlight and a straw hat. It wasn't much, but it was a nice gesture.

"Strange, Third Brother, why didn't you get any rewards last year?"

After returning home, Fang Ping suddenly remembered this and asked.

Fang Wei shook his head. Last year's advanced members and advanced production teams had already been selected, and neither he nor the second team was included.

It doesn’t matter. No one has stipulated that these awards must belong to him.

"No, no, I'll keep working hard this year."

Fang Wei laughed and changed the subject.

"That's right! Third brother, your room is almost clean now. Do you think the furniture needs a fresh coat of paint?"

"Okay, but let's wait until after the New Year."

Fang Ping nodded, and over the next few days he took his third brother to start renovating their house.

His house is an old one, so the workload is larger. He had to ask the breeding team for help, otherwise he would be too busy to finish the work until the Chinese New Year.

Time slips away day by day, and the Spring Festival is getting closer and closer.

The renovation of the house came to an end, and Fang Wei became busy again.

Not only Guo Yongqing, Jiang Yufen and Jiang Yuling sisters, but even Liu Wenxiu, whom she had just met, came to find Fang Wei.

There is no other way. The supply of materials in the city is all rationed. Buying things on the black market is not only expensive, but also unsafe.

That is why they come to the countryside to buy New Year's goods, but to do so they must first know someone, otherwise they may not even be allowed to enter the village.

Fang Wei didn't disappoint them, giving each of them two ducks, 30 kilograms of soybeans, and 50 kilograms of rice. The prices were definitely much cheaper than on the black market, and taking them home would definitely give them more food for the New Year.

"Hu Zi, the team should divide up the ducks, otherwise more people will have to come."

Fang Wei simply distributed the ducks in the poultry house to the members, and left some female ducks to lay eggs so that they could hatch ducklings in the spring.

Every household received at least one duck, and even five-guarantee households like Guan Chongyang received a whole duck.

When the New Year is approaching, the highlight comes: slaughtering the New Year pig.

"Third brother, how many pigs are you planning to slaughter for the New Year this year?"

When Zheng Hu asked this question, all the team leaders in the room pricked up their ears and listened.

There was no need to discuss such matters, as they were basically all decided by Fang Weiyi.

"Everyone worked hard last year and achieved great results. Let's have a good New Year's Eve. I suggest we just slaughter six pigs at once. What do you think?"

"No problem. Who has a problem with eating more meat?"

The director of public security expressed everyone's thoughts, and the room was immediately filled with laughter.

Afterwards, Zheng Bao and Fang Ping went to find their fifth uncle and pulled out six big fat pigs from the pig farm.

They were good at killing pigs. They brought a group of strong laborers to kill the pig very easily, without Fang Wei and Zheng Hu having to help at all.

The six pigs weighed 6 kilograms, and each person received an average of 1500 kilograms of pork.

Fang Wei got 12 kilograms, Fang Ping got 10 kilograms, and Tian Guihua got 8 kilograms, so the two children together got 8 kilograms.

A total of 38 kilograms.

This will definitely be a good year!

[Pigs are produced, points +1500, total points: 147071 points.]

[Produced Mallard, points +1200, total points: 148271 points.]

Everything that should be distributed has been distributed. There are less than 80 ducks left in the poultry house, and 48 pigs left in the pig farm, including 36 piglets, 4 sows, and 8 adult pigs.

During this year's Spring Festival, the Fang family was very wealthy, and even their relatives benefited from it.

Fang Ping rode his bike to deliver New Year's goods to his father-in-law, father, and second sister's homes. Fang Wei also made a special trip to Guo Yongqing's home to give him some things.

In the past, people gave money when buying New Year’s goods, but this time it’s a favor exchange.

Because he had to propose marriage after the Lunar New Year, Fang Wei didn't go to the Yao village before the Lunar New Year. However, he bought a scarf and two pieces of silver jewelry for Pan Lianhua at a department store in the county town.

The girls in the village like silver jewelry, and this is the first time he bought this for her.

The two people's hearts have been stuck together for a long time. They were a little absent-minded during the New Year, and their hearts were full of longing for the future.

Especially Pan Lianhua, I wish my third brother and his family would come earlier.

After the fifth day of the New Year, Guan Chongyang chose a good day and personally accompanied Fang Ping, Tian Guihua and Fang Wei to the Yao village.

Tian Guihua prepared for a long time. Two young men from the breeding team carried two packs of cigarettes, two bottles of wine, a pair of silverware, 10 kilograms of pork, two chickens, and 100 kilograms of high-quality rice, which were delivered to the door of Pan Lianhua's house.

There are many local etiquettes, but fortunately, Guan Chongyang, an old hand, is here and can handle them with ease.

Grandpa personally welcomed everyone into the house. Several sisters were busy greeting everyone. Pan Lianhua hid in the house and did not come out. It was not her time to appear yet.

"Fang Wei, the third son of the Fang family, is well-educated and talented, leading the production team to create one miracle after another. He and Pan Lianhua are a perfect match, a talented couple with a beautiful face. On behalf of the Fang family, I implore Grandpa to approve their marriage."

There are some things that are difficult to say to family members, but Guan Chongyang can say them.

He praised Fang Weiyi and then formally proposed marriage.

"Grandpa, my third brother Fang Wei is very kind to our family. He will definitely not treat Sister Lianhua and you unfairly in the future. Please agree to their marriage."

As Fang Wei's elder brother, Fang Ping also proposed marriage.

Tian Guihua also agreed, saying that being beautiful doesn't cost money anyway, so just say it as much as you can.

"My daughter, Lotus, has been sensible, gentle and virtuous since she was young. I don't want my granddaughter to marry far away, but you also don't want to let your third brother go. What should I do?"

Next it was time for grandpa to sit in the lotus position. Everyone in the room nodded frequently, giving each other enough face.

At the end of the conversation, Grandpa posed a difficult question to the Fang family. Guan Chongyang immediately took over the topic and said:
"It's a new society now. Logically, as long as two young people agree, it doesn't matter where they live. However, Fang Wei is the captain of our second team, and the members can't do without him, so we have no choice but to let Lianhua live down the mountain."

"It's actually quite easy. I often urge the two young people to come back to the village whenever they have time. It doesn't really matter where you live; what matters is that you have your family in your heart."

Tian Guihua also stepped forward to smooth things over. She had done a lot of homework for today's proposal.

However, no matter how nice the words were, they could not deny the fact that the Fang family was unwilling to let Fang Wei live in the village.

The brothers and sisters present were a little unhappy.

"How about this: After Fang Wei and Lianhua get married, they can live in the mountains for half a year and down the mountain for half a year. As for being the team leader, he can be the one to make the decisions about the village from now on. How do you think that is?"

Grandpa is an old and shrewd man, and he is waiting for the Fang family here.

He knew that it was impossible to let Fang Wei live in the mountains directly, so this was his real purpose.

A talented boy like Fang Wei would be the best person to lead the village. He is already old, and there is no suitable successor among the brothers.

The captain now is basically just a figurehead, and grandpa still has the final say on all matters big and small.

To be honest, he really wanted to dig Fang Wei into the village.

Fang Ping and Tian Guihua looked at each other. Guan Chongyang didn't want to interfere, so he just kept winking at Fang Wei.

"Grandpa, it's fine for Lotus and I to split the time between the two teams, but it's hard to split the time equally. As you know, I've been researching high-yield rice seeds. If I leave Team 2, I won't accomplish anything. I hope you'll understand."

Fang Wei had to speak up, and when he talked about breeding, Grandpa was suddenly speechless.

Cultivating high-yield rice varieties is a meritorious cause, and the Yao village is also a beneficiary. How could he destroy this for his own selfish reasons?

"Then why can't you cultivate rice seeds in the mountains?"

Grandpa's voice sounded a little weak. He knew very well that his wishful thinking was likely to fail.

"It's really not possible! I'm not lying. The soil and water quality of Team Two are quite special. Only by cultivating rice seeds under those conditions can we achieve good results."

Fang Weiyi had a sincere look on his face, but only he knew what was going on.

"Okay, I'll let Lotus come out and you can ask her opinion yourself. If she agrees, I'll agree."

Grandpa sighed deeply and then called out Pan Lianhua.

Fang Wei couldn't bear it, so he quickly added:
"Grandpa, after Sister Lianhua and I get married, we will be a family. The affairs of the village will be my affairs, and I will pay more attention to them."

After hearing what he said, Grandpa's expression became cheerful again.

Pan Lianhua dressed up beautifully and walked out of the house. She didn't care what others thought of her and said directly, "If Third Brother wants me, I will go with him and be his for the rest of my life."

"Good! Lotus is indeed smart and virtuous. The old man was right about her."

Guan Chongyang couldn't help laughing. People say that girls are extroverted, and it seems there is some truth to it.

"Sister Lotus, I will never let you down in this life."

Fang Wei expressed his gratitude, otherwise he would be sorry for the other person's sincerity.

At this point, the outcome has been decided.

The next step was for both parties to discuss the details, and finally set the date for the official wedding in the eighth month of the lunar calendar.

Grandpa made a condition: on the wedding day, Fang Wei had to go to the village in person to pick up the bride. Lotus had to stay on the ground during the journey, whether he carried her on his back or in a sedan chair, but this condition had to be met.

On the day of her wedding, Grandpa will prepare a dowry for Lotus.

"Okay, Grandpa, I will definitely do it."

This was Grandpa's last act of stubbornness, and Fang Wei readily agreed without even thinking about it.

Afterwards, everyone had a meal in the village and went down the mountain happily.

The news of Fang Wei and Pan Lianhua's engagement caused a great stir in the second team. Even Zheng Xianfa and Xu Guangsheng came to congratulate him.

Regardless of whether Fang Wei was named an advanced individual last year, his great contribution to local agricultural production cannot be erased.

Tang Ze heard about this a little later, and then asked someone to bring some industrial rolls to Fang Wei, which could be used to buy sewing machines, bicycles, etc.

This can also be considered a kind of cash-in reward. For Fang Wei, it is actually more practical than a certificate.

With the arrival of spring, everything begins to revive.

In the end, Mr. Guan couldn't resist Wei Guanghua's constant nagging and went to help a team find water veins.

When Fang Wei saw him, he was wandering around outside the village with a worried look on his face.

"Third brother, why are you here? Oh, the water veins in this damn place are really hard to find. Either they don't exist or they are buried too deep."

When Guan Chongyang saw Fang Wei, he couldn't help but complain.

He is not a person who gives up halfway, so he has not been eating or sleeping well these days. Even Wei Tuozi told him to give up when he saw him.

"This hunchback Wei has done a lot of harm! Old man, I only have one day. Let's take a closer look. If it doesn't work, you can come back with me tomorrow."

Fang Wei mainly felt sorry for Guan Chongyang, otherwise he would not be willing to be in the spotlight.

Things are different now. He doesn't need to rely on this kind of thing to make his presence felt.

Next, he asked the old man to find a place to rest while he started looking for water alone.

It turned out that it wasn't that Grandpa Guan was old, but that the team didn't have the conditions to dig a well. The same thing happened when he came, and they couldn't find a suitable location to dig a well either.

"Captain Wei, there's not a lot of groundwater in Team One's area. The little water there is is buried very deep, so there's basically no hope of getting water out.

If you want to solve this problem, you can't do it alone. Only by pooling the resources of the commune and the county and building a reservoir can we ensure the safety of agricultural production."

Fang Wei had a very sincere talk with Wei Guanghua. It was not that he and Guan Chongyang did not try their best, but the conditions did not allow it.

Wei Guanghua didn't blame anyone, but felt very embarrassed.

"I understand. I'll go find Secretary Zheng right away. The construction of the reservoir needs to be decided by the county, so I can only report the situation truthfully. I'm sorry for bothering you lately, old man. Thank you."

Fang Wei smiled and didn't say much, then pulled Guan Chongyang back to the village.

county seat.

Tang Ze was writing furiously. The suggestions for water conservancy construction compiled by various departments had already been summarized on his desk.

He drafts the overall plan on behalf of the county, and after discussion and approval by the county, it can be submitted to the district.

Fang Wei was right. This was not something that could be solved by any one production team or commune. It required the entire county's efforts to consider the issue comprehensively in order to resolve the fundamental issue.

It was late at night, but Tang Ze was not sleepy at all.

It was almost dawn when he finally finished the plan. He planned to show it to his boss after work and then discuss it in the meeting.

(End of this chapter)