I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

Zhao Jintao smiled sheepishly, "Secretary, I know what I did was wrong, but you don't know, after the contract was taken over to the group, our villagers were much more motivated, their eyes lit up. The pigs and rabbits were taken away, and the villagers were resentful, so we couldn't just wipe them out, could we?"

Zhou Zhonghai slammed his hand on the table: "Good, good, Zhao Jintao, I didn't expect you to be so decisive. Fu Sanjun, look at you, a county party secretary, you run away when you encounter difficulties, you're not even as responsible as a squad leader."

"I……"

Can they be the same? The municipal party secretary is staring at me like I'm a thief.

Zhou Zhonghai looked at Zhao Jintao and said, "Jintao, based on your many years of grassroots experience, how can the people quickly become wealthy through the two methods of distributing land to individual households, opening up policies for raising pigs, chickens, and rabbits, and the large collective system?"

"Of course, it's about distributing the land to individual households! With the collective farms, work that could be done in a day would take two. There was no competition, and people just drifted along, content with getting ten work points. With the land distributed to individual households, after finishing the farm work, they would have time to raise chickens, ducks, and pigs. Every household would have pork to eat during the New Year, and life would be much better, wouldn't it?"

Zhou Zhonghai nodded repeatedly, then looked at Fu Sanjun: "What do you think?"

"Commander Zhou, as long as the policy allows it, and as long as you are in charge, who wouldn't want to distribute land to individual households?" Fu Sanjun was also full of confidence.

"After the New Year, on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, notify all the brigades in the county to distribute the land to individual households. Do you dare to do it?" Zhou Zhonghai stared intently at Fu Sanjun.

"Dare? What's there to be afraid of? The Minister of Agriculture of the province has spoken, why wouldn't I dare?"

Having spent many years in officialdom, Fu Sanjun knew all too well that by protecting Zhou Zhonghai at this moment, he would become one of Minister Zhou's trusted followers.

Moreover, Tonggang County was the first to take the plunge, and if it succeeded, he, as the county party secretary, would be a hero of reform and opening up.

If we fail, I'll just retire. Besides, the main responsibility lies with Minister Zhou; it has little to do with me.

Zhou Zhonghai slammed his hand on the table and said, "Alright, in your county, with fifty-two communes and two hundred and thirty production brigades, on the eighth day of the new year, the land will be distributed to individual households. Commune members are allowed to raise chickens, ducks, and pigs, and are allowed to reclaim wasteland to grow vegetables."

"Fu Sanjun, let me tell you, this is your one-year term. You have to keep a close eye on things, even if it kills you. I want to see results by the end of next year, and the year after that, all the land in the province will be distributed to individual households." Zhou Zhonghai looked at Fu Sanjun earnestly.

"Commander Zhou, no, Minister Zhou, even if I, Fu Sanjun, die on duty, I must ensure the successful distribution of land to individual households throughout the county. However, farmers may not be able to afford to raise pigs and rabbits. Could we follow the method used in Dashui Village, allowing them to buy on credit first and pay back once they receive the money?"

"Sure, that will require a considerable amount of money, but I'll take care of it for you."

"Alright, with Minister Zhou's word, just wait and see. Our county is guaranteed to be among the first to get rich," Fu Sanjun assured, patting his chest.

"Fine, if you fucking run away halfway, I'll shoot you dead."

Zhou Zhonghai slammed his fist on the table; he'd slammed it so many times today that he was feeling a bit dizzy.

"Dad, what's wrong? Don't get agitated, calm down, calm down." Zhou Wenhui rushed forward to check on him.

"Blood, the blood supply is running low. Qiaoqiao, make me a cup of brown sugar and egg soup."

"I'll go, I'll go." Qiaoqiao's father hurriedly got off the kang (a heated brick bed) to make eggs.

"Minister Zhou, you are responsible for the health of millions of farmers across the province. Please take care of yourself. I can fall ill, but you can't." Fu Sanjun spoke earnestly, befitting a minister.

"Alright, I'm not going to die, I've just been lying in bed for too long and haven't fully recovered yet."

Luo Meiyun came in carrying a bowl of brown sugar and egg drop soup, and said unhappily, "Why are you so excited about this family reunion?"

"Director Luo is right, I was wrong, I was wrong, I won't swear anymore."

Zhou Zhonghai chuckled, like a child who had done something wrong and had met his parents.

Fu Sanjun watched with a grin, thinking to himself, "Minister Zhou is afraid of his wife, that's a fine tradition."

After finishing their business, it was time for dinner. Zhou Zhonghai asked Fu Sanjun, "Why don't you stay for a meal?"

Fu Sanjun had the same idea; it would be difficult to see this minister again in the future.

Just as he was about to agree, Zhou Zhonghai added, "It's just that the place is a bit small, and there aren't enough dishes."

Fu Sanjun understood and hurriedly got off the kang (a heated brick bed): "I'm not eating anymore. I have to go back and write the plan for distributing land to individual households, and distribute it to each commune as soon as possible."

"Secretary Fu is a good comrade; he doesn't even want to rest during the New Year. Songming has gone home. Wenhui, have your driver give Secretary Fu a ride."

"Okay, Secretary, my driver is going back to the city, he can take you to the county seat."

"Thank you, thank you, Minister Zhou. I'll be going now. I'll call you again after the New Year to report on my work."

"Okay, no rush, let's go back, I'm going to eat."

Fu Sanjun smiled broadly, but inwardly he cursed, "Zhou Zhonghai, you really hold grudges! Those pigs and chickens, can you blame me? They all wanted to kick me out when it was mealtime, just because I had an extra bowl? So petty!"

Zhao Jintao was also going back, but Zhou Wenhui stopped him, saying, "Jintao, don't go back. We won't miss you. After the college entrance exams, we brothers should get together."

Yang Zheng also tried to persuade Zhao Jintao to stay, so Zhao Jintao had no choice but to stay, saying, "On the second day of the Lunar New Year, you should all come to my house as guests. Fenglin has been preparing dishes for several days."

"Okay, we missed your wedding, so let's have a good drink this time and make up for it."

One bowl of dishes after another was served on the table.

Chicken soup, braised tofu with chopped chili peppers, fresh fish hot pot, salted pork with dried green beans, braised pig's ears, cabbage and pork dumplings...

The wine was opened, and Zhou Zhonghai wanted to drink, but Luo Meiyun glared at him and immediately declined, saying, "No, no, I've given it up."

If you can't drink alcohol, drinking sweet drinks with women really ruins the atmosphere.

Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao's mother, and Luo Meiyun did not sit at the table. Instead, they set up a small table in the west room to keep the mischievous Zhou Xiaowei company.

"Mother-in-law, I'm so sorry, the house is so small and dilapidated that we can't even eat properly at the table," Qiaoqiao's mother said, feeling deeply guilty.

"What are you saying? What does it matter if the house is a little small when the family is together? Last year during the Lunar New Year, I was in the hospital, and I was thinking that if I could have a family reunion for the New Year in this lifetime, I would be content."

That day, I ate bread and beef and potato soup, thinking about Wenhui and Qiaoqiao as I ate. I also thought about this unborn little rascal. Today, I'm enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal at my in-laws' house. Tell me, what more could I ask for? I'm so happy.

When Luo Meiyun recalls those agonizing days, she can't help but shed tears.

"My dear in-laws, you are so strong."

"I have a strong desire to bring Lao Zhou back healthy. He just wants a grandson or granddaughter. After going through some things, he doesn't care about what he eats or where he lives anymore. As long as he sees his grandson, all his worries disappear."

Although Zhou Xiaowei didn't want Luo Meiyun to hug him, Luo Meiyun's eyes were full of affection when she looked at him.

In the east room, Zhou Wenhui took out three thousand yuan and handed it to Qiaoqiao's father: "Dad, this is from your father. Renovate the house next year."

Qiaoqiao's father dared not accept it: "No, we can't take it. Next year we can raise pigs and chickens, and then we'll have money."

Zhou Zhonghai solemnly placed the money into Qiaoqiao's father's hand: "This money is from me, Old Zhou, to express my gratitude for your care of my family over the past year. It's also to thank Yang Zheng for helping my son get back on his feet. If you don't accept it, I, Old Zhou, will feel bad. If it weren't for my mother-in-law going to the city to take care of Qiaoqiao, we wouldn't have been able to focus on her treatment in the Soviet Union."

"Isn't taking care of your own daughter your duty? How can you ask for money?"

"You are taking care of my daughter, and also my daughter-in-law. When my daughter-in-law became pregnant, it should have been her husband's family who took care of her. However, my mother-in-law ignored all the things that were going on at home and took care of her for a year, which allowed Qiaoqiao to give birth safely. My eldest grandson is also well-fed and healthy. My in-laws, I am truly grateful to you from the bottom of my heart."

"Take this money. We'll tear down these houses and build a new one next spring. I'll be coming here more often in the future, and we can't stay home forever, can we? Building a house isn't just your business; it's a joint effort between our two families," Zhou Zhonghai said sincerely.

"Then accept it."

Grandpa Qiaoqiao spoke up, saying that Zhou Zhonghai was right. A minister like himself couldn't even move around in three mud-brick houses.

"Then, I'll accept it. When you come next time, you'll be able to move into the new house."

"That's right, that's what it means to be family and not speak like strangers."

Raise your glass and drink! Minister Zhou drinks sweet water.