Returning to the 82 Mountain Village: An Encounter with the Journey to the West Film Crew at the Beg

Zhou Fangyuan took over the conversation, not shying away from the difficulties:

"So we can't just go for it recklessly! I've come up with a 'safety net' approach. Let's start with a small-scale operation, and then the village can unite and ask the commune to help us find a reliable buyer."

Before planting, negotiate the worst-case price and set it firmly!

It's like walking at night; I give you a torch first to keep you from falling into a ditch.

Even if the market crashes, as long as our goods are good, someone will buy them at this guaranteed price, so we won't lose money! This is called "a guiding light in a dark road, ensuring safety first!"

An old man, crouching in the shadows at the edge of the lamplight, spoke in a low voice, his pipe glowing red in the darkness: "Young man, you have a point."

But why should we let you light that "lamp" of the commune? Why do they stay up all night worrying about us?

Everyone nodded in agreement. It was a tricky question, and it was also a common concern among them.

Zhou Fangyuan turned his gaze toward the source of the voice and said sincerely, "Uncle has hit the nail on the head."

The commune's "lamp" wasn't lit in vain! We turned wasteland into treasure, which brought income to the collective. That's their achievement, the pillow they can sleep soundly on at night!

We need to solidify the regulations so they see it's not just a charade, but a viable path; only then will they be willing to let this "lamp" guide them.

"If the guaranteed price is too low, it's better to grow sweet potatoes!"

A middle-aged woman's voice came from the darkness behind.

"Price, high or low, is negotiable!"

Zhou Fangyuan raised his voice: "We'll use the soil quality and the knowledge we've gained to show our hand and set a fair price that we won't lose and that they'll also make a profit."

The key is to first establish this "safety net" foundation!

At this moment, Aunt Liu, sitting under the light, cleared her throat. Her voice was not loud, but steady:

"Let me add something. Fang Yazi's 'guaranteed' method sounds more reliable than empty promises."

When I'm thinking at night, I'm afraid of making a mistake. Having a safety net makes me feel half at ease.

"I felt the energy of that mountain was different when I was young..."

Aunt Liu is a recognized expert in the village; her medicine has cured many illnesses of villagers who are poor.

These words were like a stone thrown into a calm pond at night, creating ripples that spread outwards.

A buzz of discussion arose, no longer just simple questioning, but more of a weighing of options and deliberation.

Taking advantage of the moment, Uncle Zhao waved his hand under the lamplight: "I heard everything! If there's anything you don't understand, say it all while the moon is bright tonight! Let's get to the bottom of this!"

What followed was a real "nighttime talk".

Questions kept emerging from the shadows: about labor, about what to plant specifically, about what to do if things failed...

Zhou Fangyuan and Zhao Bo were like two people playing chess under the lamp, taking turns and patiently dismantling each move.

The lights cast their shadows on the muddy ground, swaying and arguing, gradually imprinting the principle of "pilot first, share risks, and then share" into the hearts of everyone present.

As the night deepened and the chill intensified, the atmosphere on the field grew increasingly heated.

Seeing that it was almost done, Uncle Zhao stood up, his tall shadow almost obscuring half of the halo of light:

"We've talked until we're hoarse, and the truth has been revealed. Now, it's time to show our true feelings!"

If you trust this young man and also trust my judgment as the old Party Secretary, and are willing to be among the first to embark on this dark journey, even if it means taking some risks, then stand on my left side under the lamp!

I think this is just nonsense, I absolutely refuse to do it, stand in the shadows on the right!

If your heart is still like the moon, half-lit and half-dark, unsure of what to do, then stay where you are!

The crowd fell silent for a moment, with only the rustling of the night wind through the treetops.

Then, people started to move their feet.

The first one to emerge was Aunt Liu, bathed in the lamplight.

Then, one after another, the heads of five or six households, either men or women, looked at each other, stamped their numb feet, and came out of the darkness or from where they were, standing under the dim light on the left.

His figure was elongated, his face showing either calm or tension after making a decision.

Only two or three people resolutely walked into the shadows on the right, quickly disappearing into the darkness.

The vast majority of people remained where they were, standing at the boundary between light and darkness, their expressions complex and difficult to discern amidst the shifting light and shadow.

But the initial strong doubt has been replaced by deep reflection.

"Good!" Uncle Zhao said loudly, his voice booming and cutting through the night wind, as he looked at the seven or eight figures on the left illuminated by the lights.

"If someone dares to take the lead, we can walk this dark road! Tonight's work has not been in vain!"

Tomorrow, let's strike while the iron is hot, get everything ready, and go to the commune to clearly report our determination and this "safety net" agreement to the leadership! Meeting adjourned!

The crowd murmured amongst themselves, then slowly dispersed like the tide, merging into the surrounding darkness, leaving only that solitary lamp illuminating the empty, muddy ground.

Zhou Fangyuan let out a long sigh of relief, only then realizing how bitingly cold the night was, and how his hands and feet were stiff.

The first hurdle was finally overcome without serious incident in the deep darkness of the night.

"Fang Yazi, wait a minute." Uncle Zhao called out to Zhou Fangyuan, who was about to turn around and go home, and shouted into the darkness again:

"Old Wang! Aunt Liu! You two stay here too!"

Production team leader Wang Bo emerged from the shadows. He was not tall, but he had a large frame and walked with the steady gait of someone who had worked in the fields for many years.

Aunt Liu also turned back with her basket.

"Come on, let's go to my house and talk about it some more," Uncle Zhao said briefly, leading the way towards his home.

The four entered Uncle Zhao's main room. Uncle Zhao lit the kerosene lamp on the table, and its orange glow dispelled a small patch of darkness, illuminating the four solemn faces.

The room still smelled of burning firewood, mixed with the aroma of tobacco.

Uncle Zhao poured everyone a bowl of hot water and got straight to the point: "The meeting has started, and things have begun."

But it's not enough for just people to raise their hands; we need to actually put the tools in the ground. Now that we're all alone, let's talk things out behind closed doors: what's the next step, specifically?

All eyes turned to Uncle Wang first, as he was in charge of production and had the most say in matters concerning the fields.

Uncle Wang held the rough porcelain bowl in both hands to warm them, his brows furrowed as usual, as if he were examining a tough piece of land.

He didn't look at Zhou Fangyuan first, but instead looked at Uncle Zhao and Aunt Liu:

"Old Zhao, Aunt Liu, I know the backgrounds of those families who just stood up."

Three households have able-bodied men who are willing to work incredibly hard. Two households have meticulous women who might be able to manage tasks like tending seedlings or other delicate chores.

There was another household where the old man used to collect medicinal herbs and knew a thing or two about them. He listed them off as if they were his own treasures, clearly having a clear understanding of the situation.

"Fang Yazi..."

He then turned to Zhou Fangyuan, his tone calm but earnest.

"Your 'guaranteed minimum' plan, the general approach you mentioned at the meeting, I think it works, but when it comes to our production team, we have to be realistic."

First and foremost, the land! Which plot of land on the back hill is the most suitable? It can't be too far from the water, nor too steep, and it also needs to be relatively contiguous for easy management.

"Tomorrow at daybreak, a few of us, along with Aunt Liu, will go up there again to check it out and finalize it."

Zhou Fangyuan thought this made sense and immediately nodded: "Uncle Wang is right, this matter needs your and Aunt Liu's judgment."

"The second thing is work," Uncle Wang continued, his tone unequivocal and pragmatic.

"It's no longer the time for large collectives to eat from the same pot, but conducting pilot projects is still a collective matter."

How are work points recorded? Is it a unified workday, with points awarded for each day worked? Or is the land divided into plots and contracted out to each household, with tasks assigned and work points awarded based on completion?

This involves everyone's enthusiasm and the basis for future profit sharing, so we need to establish a simple set of rules first, even if it's just a few clauses, that everyone involved understands clearly.

This is a crucial issue, directly related to fairness and efficiency. Zhou Fangyuan had thought about it on the way, but not as thoroughly as Wang Bo.