Timing and subtitles brought to you by The River of Life Team@ Viki
[Like a Flowing River]
[Episode 4]
So you're saying that last year, Xiaogang Village averaged over a sixty thousand kilograms yield?
Yes. The abundant autumn harvest of Xiaogang Village last year
was equivalent to their fifteen year grain yield from 1955 to 1970.
Besides that, it was their first time handing over ten thousand kilograms of grain to the higher authorities.
This distribution of fields per household policy greatly shocked our country.
The effect was intense.
There were great supporters and others held out against such ideas.
The Central Authorities didn't take a formal position on it.
But they encouraged everyone to explore and implement ways
because actual practice is the sole criterion of proving the truth.
You really are a university student. You say it once and I can understand it.
Comrade Lei, we've been talking about this the whole way.
In my opinion, no need to divide in groups.
There are so many people in the commune. If they want to be lazy, they would still do so.
But if you divide the fields among the households,
who would dare loaf around? If you loaf around, you'd die from starvation.
You didn't hurt yourself when you fell before, did you?
I'm not hurt.
- Are you tired? - No - Xiao Hui!
- Mom. - Xiao Hui! You've come back! - Mom!
Mom, not so fast.
You must be freezing. It's such a cold day.
I'm not.
I thought it would be dark before you got back. I can't believe you got here so fast.
Xiao Hui brought us back by a shorter mountain path.
We saved a lot of time that way, but it's not easy to walk on.
Did you fall?
- No. - No.
Father.
- You're back? - Yes. - And you say you didn't fall.
I'm fine.
- Father. - You're back.
I brought some newspapers back with me this time. They're all about the recent rehabilitation of the "five black categories" people.
The family of one of my university classmates was categorized as a "rightist" and was just recently rehabilitated.
I'm sure that our family's label will be removed soon, too.
Good.
Come inside.
Come inside and get warm. This clothing is wet through.
- Hurry and change out of them. - Thanks, Mom.
Uncle, I've just found what this official document really means.
I just met someone who knows a lot about this. Uncle, listen to me.
This so-called "Contract Responsibility System," this "payment linked to output;" I completely understand it now. Anyway, it comes down to a sentence.
We have to divide the land and transfer the responsibility to each person.
This "payment linked to output..." Hey, what are you doing?
Don't worry about the door.
Let me finish telling you or I'll forget it. Payment linked to output...
Payment linked to output... Let's not talk about that first. Anyway, we won't be doing that. I'm telling you about "Contract Responsibility System."
This so-called "Contract Responsibility System" is getting everyone to be responsible for their own field.
Anhui's Xiaogang Village has already experimented with it.
At first, the production brigade was divided in two.
But that didn't work. People didn't try hard.
Then, they increased the two portions to eight.
That didn't work either. In the end, each family
got their own farm. Guess what happened.
Last year, they harvested over sixty thousand kilograms.
They submitted over ten thousand kilograms of grains to the authorities.
Dongbao's here?
Aunt.
- Dongbao, - Here, let me get that.
- Here, drink some water. - Thank you, Aunt.
- Don't burn yourself. - I'll drink it in a bit.
Over sixty thousand kilos?
It's shocking, isn't it? Uncle,
didn't you ask me to lead our village to wealth? If we want to be wealthy,
if we don't want to keep getting ¥7 per day of work,
we have to divide the land. No more dawdling about.
Dongbao,
you want to divide the land among the families?
Yes.
Then, would there still be a collective economy? Won't that be the same with the pre-liberation days? People will just directly become land owners?
Will the members of society still listen to the organization?
- Seriously. - Uncle, it's different.
The land is still collectively owned.
Let me make an example. This chair, I lent it to you and you used it.
Isn't it still mine? You can't deny that fact. Also,
Uncle, those people that led the movement in Xiaogang Village are communist party members.
What are communist party members? Those people are.
For whatever matter, they must be the vanguard.
- What are you afraid of? - You're still young.
You haven't experienced enough.
For something that wasn't clearly stated on the document, you mustn't do it.
For these past years, policies would change in an instant.
What if trouble arises? We cadres of the brigade might get criticized for it.
How long ago was the Cultural Revolution?
You are still worrying about criticisms?
Dongbao,
do you know that Old Macaque has moved back to our village?
It's good that he's back. The good days of the counter-revolutionaries are about to end.
Although Old Macaque has been cleared and allowed to return,
he's still has power over the commune.
Let me tell you that a person like him is good in inciting fights. If you are too excessive in implementing this policy,
he will catch any bit of your mistake and complain about you to the higher ups.
Who cares about him?
I took care of him even before I went to join the army.
You think I'll be afraid of him after getting trained in the Revolutionary Army?
What were you back then?
What were you?
You were just a young lad.
Now, you're the assistant secretary of our brigade. Your status is different.
I'm old, so I'll be fine.
You still are young and have a good future ahead.
What if your political career gets tainted?
You won't have any chance for success from then on.
Uncle, what kind of life am I living right now?
What do I eat everyday?
No matter how worse the days would be, they wouldn't be worse than now, right? This kind of life must change.
- We can't live the same kind of life anymore. - Dongbao.
Did I say anything wrong?
- I'll get it. - Come in! Come in!
Who is it?
Uncle.
Shigen, what is it?
I'm looking for him.
Why did you pursue me up to here?
What is it, Dongbao?
Nothing.
Dongbao stole my sweet potatoes. I haven't eaten.
Talk properly. Did I steal it?
Wasn't it borrowing?
If you borrowed them, you should return them.
Auntie!
- It's nothing. Auntie! - What is it?
Do you have sweet potatoes?
We do. They are inside the pot and haven't been steamed yet.
It's okay. Just give me three.
Dongbao,
what is going on?
Nothing.
Here. Hold it.
- Leave. - Just these?
Where did we stop, Uncle?
- I'm going now, Uncle. - Come over here.
- Why? - How old are you now?
31.
Married?
No.
No, what does me being married or not have to do with asking for sweet potatoes?
As if I'm the only one who isn't married yet.
Uncle, he's the most educated person in our village, right?
He went to high school, but even he isn't married yet.
Is it my fault? Who made our village...
so poor.
Tell my uncle then how many people are like you in our village.
There are probably 30 single men in our village.
Those who are younger, less than 30 years old, there are around 25 to 26 of them.
For those older than me, like Zhongfu, there are probably 15 or 16 of them.
That doesn't include that Cripple Zhang and Old Crazy, those old single men.
Leave...
I'm going then.
I'm going now, Uncle and Auntie!
You'll get stomach upset if you eat those sweet potatoes raw!
It seems like Xiaoleijia won't be having any more descendants.
Uncle, you watched our generation grow up.
Shouldn't our days here change?
Tell me. Aren't we wronging them to let Xiaoleijia continue to become like this?
Who doesn't want to live a life where you have a wife and children warming your home?
How about this? Listen to my advice. You're old, so don't take responsibility for this.
The weather also just happened to be getting colder. Your chronic cold leg illness is acting up again. You can't go out. The whole village knows that.
Regarding the contracting matter, I'll take charge and take responsibility.
I'm the branch secretary. How can you be the one to take responsibility?
Can I allow you to take the responsibility?
Dongbao,
I'm not afraid of taking risks.
What was I like before?
You just ask your mother.
But the proposal for the contracting of the lands must be approved by the commune first.
Even if I allow you, will you be able to get through the commune?
I think it's unlikely.
Dongbao,
how about this?
Let us make our steps steadier.
Contract the land in groups and payment based on output.
Measure the land and let's strive to implement the policy by the start of next year.
The commune would be very busy during the start of the year and won't mind us that much.
Since it's the new year, a holiday, they might not even attend the meeting.
This can save us many worries. You can go do it.
I'll write the proposal these next few days and submit it to the commune. Is that okay?
The commune would be busy during the start of the year?
They won't have time to care about us?
How then should we divide the lands?
Isn't it still our call on how to divide them?
Let's see what can they do to me if I divide the lands to my relatives and buddies.
Dongbao,
what bad idea are you thinking now?
None.
I'm absorbing the gist of your idea.
Uncle, what you said is right. We'll do what you said.
But don't stay idle. Quickly write it now and submit it to the commune.
I'll go measure the lands now. I'm going.
Dongbao! I'm not done talking! What?
You said--
This lad...
Get me a paper, pen, tape measure, and a rope.
- How do you open this broadcasting equipment? - How much paper?
How long of a tape measure do you want? What rope?
Before I got into the army, you were not the accountant here. Right?
- So what? - I remember it.
You are the nephew of Old Macaque.
I'm not a member of the rebel faction.
One winter, Old Macaque got buried in the snow.
He almost died from suffocation. Do you know about this?
Paper, pen, tape measure, and rope.
Do you know now how to open the broadcasting equipment?
Sibao, Laowu, Hongwei, come to the brigade office now!
- Sister, let me do it. - I'm done sweeping.
Come and look at these rabbits of mine.
This big one is almost 6-months old.
Those two little ones are just 3-months old. They're cute, right?
All are your beloved pet. Of course, they're cute.
Oh, right, Sister. When do you plan to start reviewing?
I'm not taking the exam anymore. Didn't I tell you that on our way back?
Didn't you tell me that you haven't given up on your dreams?
I indeed haven't given up.
Don't tell me that your dream is to raise rabbits.
You can put it that way.
Sister, I know that you've suffered a lot.
- But you— - Xiao Hui, I'm not taking the college entrance exam not because I'm acting rashly out of an injustice.
I've read the sample tests for this year's exam.
I can manage with Chinese language, but I don't know anything about English at all.
Don't even talk about math. In the future, those graduating students
would all have properly gone through middle and high schools.
I'm studying and working at the same time. How could I compare with them?
I know what you're saying, but...
Think about it. We were able to survive last year even if it was very hard.
Isn't it such a pity to just give up now?
Who said that I'm giving up? I've decided
that once I've cut off these rabbits' hairs and sold them,
I'll buy a semiconductor receiver.
They said that you can learn English with receivers like that.
I'll learn with it.
Or I'll buy a new bike and ride to the county center to attend the TV university.
You'll also get a diploma if you attend the TV university now.
Moreover, we have a college student in our family.
If I don't understand anything, I'll just ask you.
Right now, I feel like
it's also good to make my family become better
through my own hands.
You shouldn't have sent me money and let me come home. If you just saved the money, you would have bought a bike earlier and gone to the university earlier.
When did you become such a nag? What not sending you money to make you come home?
Do you know how much our parents miss you?
If you say such words again in the future, I'll hit you.
Always saying that you'll hit me.
- Slowly. - Don't you know how dark my childhood days were?
Stinky rascal.
- Who has hit you? - And you say that you didn't?!
- Don't pull its ears! - Don't touch me. Don't hit me.
- Don't pull its ears! Hurry, give it back! - If you hit me, I'll hit your rabbit!
Aiya!
How dare you speak to me like that?
It's still our Xiao Hui that's capable.
Upon returning, Ping Ping is able to smile more.
Ping Ping has suffered a lot.
It would be good if Xiao Hui can return often.
If he comes back and chats more with Ping Ping,
Ping Ping can feel better.
That's right. Didn't you hear Ping Ping say it earlier?
This summer, she wants to study at the TV university.
When that time comes, you should take over caring for the rabbits from her.
- I'll help you, too. - Sure.
Sister, these are the books that I brought back from our school.
This many?
This "Dream of the Red Chamber" was hard to borrow. I had to ask a few times.
I know that you've worked hard. I'll make you some good food as payment.
I'm not afraid of the difficulty of borrowing books. I'm afraid that you'll...
I'm afraid that after raising rabbits, you'll lose interest in studying.
That's right. With so many things to do here at home, there's indeed not much time to leisurely read anymore.
Sister, what are you thinking?
I'm thinking about that Comrade Lei we met today.
Say, if our house had a person like Comrade Lei,
would we get bullied anymore?
If a person like him was born into our family,
he would have been raised into a cultured geek by you and Father.
I saw a slogan in our school that's written, "Study for the ascent of the Chinese."
I then thought that I should study for the Song family to not get bullied.
I will use a civilized manner to not get bullied, and not through violence.
Our parents were too civilized, that's why they were continuously bullied.
The Gang of Four was crushed so many years ago.
Sister, your thoughts shouldn't stay in that chaotic period.
They've talked about rehabilitating the counter-revolutionary faction for a year. Has our reputation been rehabilitated?
My job hiring kept being hindered.
If they don't want to give me any job,
I then won't really have any.
Come.
Come over here!
Come, Brother Sibao.
Let's continue. Hurry up!
Hurry up! Hurry!
Come take this.
Come, you do it. Make it hard.
- Damn you! - What?!
- It's nothing. - Keep laughing.
Have you all laughed enough?
I called you three through the broadcast system. Didn't you hear it? Were you pretending to be deaf?
- We didn't hear it. - Brother Dongbao, sit down.
Cut the crap.
We're preparing to go there. Just finishing the game.
- This is all your fault! - If it's about getting hit, it's my fault?
You two are capable now, is that it? How long was I just out to join the army?
When I ask you to eat and drink, you all immediately come. When I ask you to do some work, I can't even find a single person!
Dongbao, we're about to go there.
- Go where? - We're done playing. Let's go.
- Are you done playing? Play two more rounds. - We're not playing anymore. It's no fun.
Wolves travel the world to eat meat. Dogs travel the world to eat shit.
With you three, you couldn't even eat the shit while it was still warm!
Older Brother, we were just thinking that it is freezing cold out there now.
What would we be doing out there?
- Taking measurements of the land. - Measure what?
- Are you going or not? - Going. Going.
A task assigned from the higher-up. Measure all the land belonging to the Brigade.
Divide them up into a, b, and c categories.
The weather is really too cold. It's torture to just get out of the house.
The new year is almost here. Can't we measure it after the new year?
Your sleeping pad at home is warm. Go home.
- My sleeping pad at home is also not warm. - Then why don't I warm it up for you? Is that better?
Why are you so hard to deal with?
Go with that four-eyed accountant and take measurements of all the land.
You've been a secretary for only a few days. Aren't you being too proactive?
Have you been proactive before? Why don't I let you be the secretary instead?
- Why don't I let you experience it? - I didn't say... I didn't say anything at all!
- Stop talking. Let's go. - Brother Hongwei, where are you going?
Something good. Let's go.
- What's this good thing? - You'll know when we get there.
- Can you hurry a bit? - Quickly...
- Four-eyed accountant! - Here! Here!
- Have you got all the equipment? - All of them are here.
Assign the tasks to them.
- From where shall we start? - We can start from here, Secretary. - There? - Yes.
- Quickly! - Laowu.
- Straighten it. - Quickly take two more steps.
Sibao, yours is falling down. Pull it to straighten it. Straighten it.
It's alright if we miss just a little bit. There's no strict rules about land anyway.
- Quickly record yours. - Seventeen point five—
- Straighten it. Straighten it. - Can you be serious?
Be serious! Do not measure wrongly! That's an order from the Secretary!
Fifteen point five.
Look at how he is doing it.
Do it the way I'm doing.
Fifteen feet!
The depth of 350 multiplied by the height of 120,
divided by 2. That's 21,000, minus 5,250.
It will become 15,750, divided by six thousand...
- How much? - Reporting to Secretary. It's 2,625 units of area. (one unit equals fifteenth of a hectare).
2,625 units of area.
- Straighten it. - Straighten it.
You're here.
Why are you measuring land here in this cold weather?
You are here at the right time. Help them later to quickly finish taking the measurements.
After that, take a look and see if the records taken by that four-eyed accountant are correct.
No, is our village...
- doing contract assignment? - That's right. The land is to be distributed before the start of the year.
We'll try to distribute one to each person.
Dongbao,
this is fixing of farm output quotas on household basis.
Will this work?
- Thirty two! - Thirty two!
Here. Over here.
Go there.
Why wouldn't it work?
Shigen, you went to high school. You are the scholar of our village.
I will not hide this matter from you. To the outsiders,
our Brigade would be saying that we are contracting production by groups.
But think about it. This group can be big,
but it can also be small. Right?
Couldn't it be as small as just three or four persons per group? Wouldn't it be of similar principle as fixing the farm output quotas to each household?
Wouldn't you be exploiting the loophole in the policy then?
- Will the Old Secretary agree to this? - Why are you shouting?
Thirty-seven!
Let me tell you that Old Uncle mustn't know about this yet.
Don't let Old Uncle know about this.
I want to see who dares to accept the allotted land if the Old Secretary does not give the nod.
I... will go and help with the work.
Four-eyes! ...are all yours
... are all yours.
Dongbao.
Hey.
Why are you hammering so early in the morning?
Huh?
Didn't my old mother sell our eight-immortals dining table away?
There's nowhere we can put our bowls during mealtimes. I chopped off the tree in our backyard,
thinking that I might build a table just to solve the interim problem.
There's nothing you can't do.
You can even make a table.
I learned this while I was in the army.
Uncle, why are you looking for me?
I want to tell you something.
Our Xiaoleijia Brigade's contract system of responsibility linked to production
has been approved by the Commune.
It is really so?
Look, Uncle. There is nothing that you can't do.
It got approved while it's just the start of the year?
Then, let's convene the meeting for the members
and allot the land tomorrow.
- Have you finished taking measurements of the land? - All measured.
The diagram will be out today.
Uncle,
we need you to chair the meeting. The objective will not be accomplished if you are not there.
When the time comes, you can explain to them properly. I will be able to learn from you, too.
Okay. Then I will go and get ready the things I need.
- Uncle. - Yes?
For that brick kiln in the rear mountain, I removed all the loose rocks at its entrance and took a look inside.
Looks like the inside did not collapse. I wonder if it could still be used.
I was thinking, why don't we burn the kiln again once spring starts?
There is no problem with the brick kiln at all.
When the brick kiln was sealed, it affected me.
The brick kiln was one of the charges against me.
I tore down the entrance of the brick kiln myself.
This is to prevent those spendthrifts from making a mess and ruining everything.
Don't look at how messy the outside is. The inside is very sturdy. It is good to use. Good to use.
Then let's not wait until spring. In a few days when the weather becomes warmer, I will bring a few men there and clean up the mess.
I will get a few people who are experienced and skillful in the trade to tidy up the interior of the brick kiln. The kiln will be restored back to wholeness for you to use.
Dongbao...
I'm getting old.
For these taking charge matters, you should do it more.
Uncle, please do not worry. It will not be wrong to leave all these to me.
That's good. I will go and convey the message now.
Hey!
- Slowly. - It's all right. It's all right.
- The Secretary is here. - Yes.
Uncle.
- How is the preparation? - It's almost done.
Secretary Dongbao has instructed that it must be completed by today.
Good. Good. Good.
Are all the measurements for the land taken?
There is still a little bit of work to be done by Hongwei and his team. It will be completed very soon.
Why are there red markings here and blue markings there in this diagram?
- What do they mean? - The red markings represent the good "Category A" lands.
The yellow markings represent "Category B" lands. The blue represents "Category C" lands.
Good.
Continue with your work.
- All the preparatory work is almost complete, isn't it so? - Yes.
Good. Good.
Hello. Hello. Attention, members and comrades.
This is an urgent notification. All the members will
gather at the courtyard for a meeting tomorrow afternoon. All of you must be present.
There is important news for everyone.
Our Xiaoleijia Brigade should be more proactive in responding to the Party's call.
We are doing the contract system of responsibility linked to production.
In any case, this is beneficial to everyone.
All of you must come. You must come.
- Dongbao, you are here. - How is it going? How much more time do you need?
Are we not waiting for Hongwei and his team to complete taking the measurements for that piece of land?
That's right, Secretary Dongbao. Even if you want to hurry, they are the ones you need to hurry.
Aiya.
Dongbao, you are here, too.
No, why have the two of you returned?
- What happened? - Taking measurements.
We measured all the way to the west end of the village, to that few units of rotten land which has been desolate for who knows how many years.
I said that we should just give up measuring those lands. No one would plant on them.
Laowu was really too proactive in this matter.
It must be measured. It must be measured. So it was measured. And he fell into the ditch.
All of you were not there to witness it. His trousers were torn by the tree branches.
And his backside was exposed. If it was not for Hongwei and I today,
he'd be hanging there all this while. No one would know even if he died.
It's too exhausting to pull out Laowu. He is a real dead weight.
I sprained my ankle just to save him.
My leg even cramped.
What are the two of you trying to say?
Can we measure the remaining few pieces of land tomorrow?
Only these few pieces of land are left. The measurements can be completed tomorrow.
- How is that possible? - It is. Tomorrow.
Didn't you hear that the notification for the Brigade has been transmitted?
You must finish taking the measurements today.
- But my ankle is sprained. - My leg is still cramping.
- Is it broken? - Dongbao,
you are too ruthless.
Stop pretending in front of me.
How important is this allotment of land,
you all know it. Right? Do you need me to repeat again?
You were lucky to be encountering these good times and policies. Stop shirking your responsibilities.
Right. You must finish taking the measurements today.
Then why don't you go and finish taking the measurements? I can do your work here. Isn't it just allotting them per household—
Dongbao.
- Dongbao. - Yes.
The preparatory work is almost done. Show us what you are capable of tomorrow.
Is this all the land that belongs to our village?
Right. This is the Category A lands. This is Category B.
Land. Land. This is our lives.
Yes.
- Beneath here— - Uncle, why don't you go back first?
Dongbao,
the allotment of land is an important matter.
Although you have me to back you up,
the responsibility still rests on you.
Prepare well for this. Do not let the Commune and Uncle be disappointed.
I guarantee that I will complete the task!
Do not be slipshod about this.
- Slowly. - Okay.
Dongbao,
are we really going to hide the truth from Old Uncle?
Can we really hide the truth from him? He will know it sooner or later.
I'm thinking of it this way.
We must achieve some results quickly. Only then can we get rid of his misgivings.
Isn't my logic right?
All those are still future things. Now in our Brigade,
there are many people with the same ideology as Old Uncle.
The problem you are facing now is can you successfully allot the land tomorrow?
Dongbao, I am going to speak the truth.
I heard that other communes have decided to go against restoring past policies
and even have slogans resisting individual farming.
There are many old folks in our village who are especially worried.
They say that If we cannot do this well, we might end up worse than before.
Dongbao, could you have thought about this matter too simply?
That's right.
I am almost convinced by the few of you.
All of you can see are the bad effects, and none of you can see the good in it.
We have not yet said or done anything yet. How would you even know that they will disagree?
I am doing all this for the good of the Xiaoleijia. What are you afraid of?
Furthermore, this is not the first time. Anhui has already published their success story.
- Brother Dongbao, do not be angry. - Do not interrupt me.
All of you here,
can you behave more maturely?
- Do you want to prosper? - Yes.
- Do you want to get married? - Yes.
Isn't that settled then?
We are afraid that not only are we not able to get married, but we might get into greater trouble still.
As long as I can get married, I am not afraid of getting into trouble.
Cut the crap.
Dongbao has nothing to worry about. Matchmaker Zhang was at his home two days ago.
Huh?
It's better if you didn't mention this matter for it just makes me mad.
I feel like strangling that Matchmaker Zhang.
Look at the matches she tried to suggest for our Xiaoleijia. All those women looked uglier than him.
- That must be really ugly. - Get lost!
That... Secretary Dongbao, you're a decommissioned soldier.
- If even you are treated in this manner, then what about us? - I have no more energy left to explain this to you.
As long as you follow me and work hard, you will definitely prosper.
After you are prosperous, you can marry any kind of wife you want to.
I, Lei Dongbao, am going to do exactly as I said here. I am going to be an example to you all.
I will be able to marry a good looking wife. All of you just wait and see.
Dongbao, you're just drawing biscuits (empty promises) for us. Right?
You are so devoid of conscience.
The few of us grew up together. We know one another well.
Since when have I ever lied?
I can bear witness to that. Dongbao has never lied before from young till now.
Listen to that.
He only likes to brag.
How is your leg?
My leg is still cramping.
I will still say the same thing.
Our Xiaoleijia is at our poorest state now.
As long as all of you put in some effort, you will definitely become prosperous.
When you are prosperous, you will be able to get married. Not only will you be able to get married, you will be able to get...
a beautiful wife!
Let me do it.
It's you, Comrade Lei.
Yes, it's me.
What are you doing here?
I'm here for work. What a coincidence.
Just follow that road then turn right and you'll find our revolutionary committee office.
I'm looking for you.
- You're looking for me? - I'm looking for your younger brother.
- You're looking for Xiao Hui? - Right. I'm looking for the college lad.
I still have some questions about the things he'd told me last time.
I want to ask him.
- He's at home, right? - Yes.
Comrade Lei.
Comrade Lei,
I can carry them myself. Put them down.
Our superior said that if you didn't finish your work, it's like not doing anything.
No, we live here.
- Good then. I'll carry them in. - No need.
When I get home later, I'll ask my brother.
If I knew you would do this, I wouldn't have filled it too full.
Oh, Sister!
I said I'll go fetch– Why are you here?
Xiao Hui, Comrade Lei says he's looking for you.
- Why are you looking for me? - College lad, it's like this.
Last time, you told me about that contract system of responsibility linked to production.
Which is about fixing of farm output quotas on household basis. When I got back, I asked people to measure the farmlands.
But after measuring them, I realized that there are still a lot of things to do afterwards.
So I am here to seek your help.
I only read those from newspapers.
Regarding the interpretation of the policies, you have to look for people from the higher organization to explain them.
Don't be modest with me. The secretary of our commune already said
that I must look for a capable and well-educated person for matters like this.
That's you, right?
Fine. Tell me your problem then.
Our brigade has a large population but little land. I then divided all the lands
into a, b, and c categories.
But how do we split the land so that everyone has a fair share? This is the problem.
I thought about it and I only came up with drawing straws.
Draw straws? This is too childish for such a big thing.
Let me finish first.
I'll divide each category of land based on the number of people.
Everyone picks one. That way, no one can argue it.
Each person will have a piece of each category of land.
Theoretically, that is plausible.
But in agricultural production, a family should still be its basic unit.
If you really want to implement fixing farm quota on individual basis, I fear that you'll meet some hindrance.
I'm doing contracting by group. This group can be big or small.
It can be as small as one family.
For the method of drawing straws...
If the family plots are not next to each other, it's very difficult to farm.
You also won't get sincere support from the members of the community.
This is why it is difficult.
Will you allow the members to privately exchange their lands?
I haven't thought about that.
Exchange?
No, college lad, you better come with me to our town and do a lecture on those brainless people.
Let them understand the country's policy. This is great!
Didn't you just understand it clearly?
No, what's the point of me understanding it when I can't explain it well?
- With my level of education— - Wait.
Do Xiaoleijia and our Hongwei Brigade belong to the same commune?
- They aren't? - No.
- Who cares if they are the same commune? Let's just finish the task, right? - No way.
Look. Our Xiaoleijia is so poor that fart smells like sweet potatoes.
I don't know what to say anymore.
Just help me with this and you can ask me to do anything.
Xiao Hui, why don't you help him and go with him to Xiaoleijia Village?
Okay. I'll go with you.
I also want to do a field investigation of the real situation of the agricultural land reform.
That's great.
Comrade Song Yunping.
- Thank you so much. - It's nothing.
Say, they say that when a new official is appointed, he would usually light three fires.
Later, when the lands are divided, the brick kiln is burning,
what should I burn for the third fire?
It's easy to make money with raising long-haired rabbits right now.
You can organize the women in your village to raise long-haired rabbits.
That's a great idea. How about this?
You go with your little brother to our village, too. Go and do a lecture for those women,
so that they won't always be idle.
I can't. I won't be able to say it clearly.
You can. With you, we definitely can.
Without you, we cannot. It's settled then.
Mom, I'm going out for a bit.
Mom, I'm going with Xiao Hui. Just leave the food inside the pan for us.
Sister, why are you coming?
I'm accompanying you. Let's go.
- Give me another one. - No.
Our villages are this close. How come we're not of the same commune?
My goodness.
He brought one back.
He was really able to find himself a beautiful wife.
Sibao! What has happened? Sibao!
- Secretary Lei. - I'm just an assistant secretary.
Assistant Secretary Lei.
Other than the problems you just told me earlier, do you have any other problems?
I have huge problems. Not only are my members not proactive,
even that old secretary kept being afraid of this and that. So hard to get along with.
Look. I was away in the army for so many years.
When I came back, nothing has changed.
No, saying that there's no change is praising them. There's change. This village has gotten poorer!
For so many years, not one was able to marry a wife into here.
Any family with a daughter would so want to marry her off
after just raising her to the appropriate age at half-price.
I think that in the future, our village shouldn't be called Xiaoleijia Village.
It should be called Singles Village.
- Slow down. - See? I didn't lie. - Your village wants to raise rabbits?
- Yes. - You will need first to prepare some cages, food, and medicine.
After the new year, when the Livestock Office in the town proper
- opens, you can directly buy rabbits from them. - Isn't she pretty?
- In the new year, every house in Xiaoleijia... - Pretty.
- Doesn't she look nice? - Nice. - Actually, the leaves of sweet potatoes are the best kind of feed.
- Is she beautiful? - Beautiful. - There are two kinds. One kind is the Angora long-haired rabbit.
That kind of rabbit is a bit more delicate and hard to raise.
But the quality of its hair is very good. You can earn a lot of money.
Another one is a hybrid rabbit.
- Light it. Light the fireworks. - They are easier to raise, but sell at a lesser price.
- Angola rabbits... - Right, the fireworks. - Hurry up!
- Good! Good! - What is this?
This... They are indeed making it too grand.
Sibao, Hongwei, what are you up to now?
- Welcome, Sister-in-Law! - Welcome, Sister-in-Law!
- Welcome, Sister-in-Law! You are so pretty.
Dongbao, you weren't bluffing.
You said you will bring back a beautiful wife and you really did.
Quickly and take her to see your mother.
- Go home. - This way, Sister-in-Law. - What nonsense are you all talking about?!
- What‘s... - Explain to me clearly! What is this about?
Who is the sister-in-law?
What nonsense are they talking about?
Who's idea is this?
I.... Dongbao! Dongbao!
Go away!
What are you doing?
Comrade Song Yunping!
Xiao Hui!
- What are you doing? - It's a misunderstanding.
I was wondering why you were so nice to help my sister get water.
You were also hovering around her pretending to ask questions about rabbits. What do you really want from her?
No, I was asking for real. Please don't misunderstand.
They were the ones who had it wrong.
They think Comrade Song Yunping is my you-know-what.
I didn't lie. I am sincerely
inviting you two to give some lectures. I swear in the name of Chairman Mao.
I didn't arrange that. I will give them a lesson when I go back.
How could it be a misunderstanding? You even had the fireworks ready!
Sis, don't believe him. Let's go.
Wait, listen to me. You must believe me.
Comrade Song Yunping coming here wasn't planned,
remember?
If it really was a misunderstanding, then why didn't you defend my sister earlier?
You clearly are harboring evil intentions towards my sister. Admit it.
I admit. No, why would I need to admit to anything?
No matter what my intention is, it's not that evil intention you're talking about.
This is what I mean by having ideas about my sister.
I only have good intentions. Wait!
Please let me finish up. You explained so many principles to me.
Helped me a lot. I am very grateful to you two.
Today, I indeed wronged you two. You can hit me or kick me for it.
I will take it.
Don't let me see you again.
Timing and subtitles brought to you by The River of LifeTeam@ Viki
♫ Flowers quietly bloom in the spring ♫
♫ Looking forward to the big and ripe golden fruits of Autumn ♫
♫ Those seeds of hope that our predecessors sowed ♫
♫ will be reaped by their successors ♫
♫ The proud sun of summer burns like fire ♫
♫ Emerging layers of waves are still warm ♫
♫ Push open windows, let the breeze blow past, ♫
♫ as if spring has come to visit ♫
♫ The wind and snow of winter sweep past ♫
♫ Bringing songs of harvest during autumn ♫
♫ When did the rain fall? When did the wind stop blowing? ♫
♫ Telling stories of the past ♫
♫ The spring breeze continues to blow, still looking forward ♫
♫ to the flowing rivers of age; time fleetingly passes by ♫
♫ A journey of difficulties and loud songs ♫
♫ All belong to us ♫
♫ Smilingly watch as time passes by ♫