Returning to the 1960s: Starting with Digging for Fo-ti

Old Village Chief saw Zhang Desheng struggling and quickly stepped in to smooth things over: “Cadre Zhang, the law doesn’t punish the masses!”

“Perhaps we should postpone this for now? The village committee can gather everyone later to discuss and formulate a set of rules.”

These words appeared to be a suggestion, but were actually giving Zhang Desheng a way out.

Zhang Desheng knew he was stuck in a dilemma. Pushing harder would only make him look worse, so he clenched his teeth and said reluctantly, “Let’s listen to the Old Village Chief. We’ll discuss this later.”

Li Ergou, standing nearby, immediately panicked.

This stationed cadre seemed tough, but why give up so easily?

He rushed forward, rubbing his hands and smiling: “Leader! We can’t just let Du Jianguo off like this!”

“We just said we’d discuss it later. Do you not understand human language?” Zhang Desheng glared fiercely at Li Ergou, making the man’s heart race with fear.

But then he thought, this was one of the few chances to control Du Jianguo. How could he give it up so easily?

Li Ergou mustered the courage to step closer and softened his tone: “Leader, I know the law doesn’t punish the masses, but Du Jianguo has recently caused the most trouble and is the most problematic. Even if we don’t hold a struggle session or raid his home, he still needs some punishment. Otherwise, how can you continue to work in Xiao’an Village?”

Zhang Desheng stopped walking and squinted at Li Ergou: “Then tell me, how should he be punished?”

“Leader, I was thinking…” Li Ergou immediately lowered his voice and leaned close to Zhang Desheng’s ear. “Winter is approaching, and the village’s grain reserves are already tight. The communal pot only provides half-satisfaction. Why not issue an order that Du Jianguo’s family is forbidden from joining everyone in the fields to dig for food. Cut off their way to find grain.”

As soon as Li Ergou finished his plan, Zhang Desheng’s eyes lit up.

Exactly! As a stationed cadre, he still had this kind of authority!

He immediately turned and called out to the Old Village Chief: “Village Chief Liu, did you hear what Li Ergou said? That’s what we’ll do! From now on, Du Jianguo is not allowed to join everyone in digging for potatoes in the fields. Let him reflect properly!”

Just as he turned to leave, the Old Village Chief, Liu Chang’an, hesitated and called out: “Cadre Zhang, but if Du Jianguo’s family doesn’t have enough grain for winter, how will they survive?”

Zhang Desheng didn’t stop. He just sneered coldly: “Isn’t he so capable? If he has the nerve to cause trouble, he has the ability to solve it himself!”

Liu Chang’an’s face immediately fell. He knew better than anyone that the potatoes in the fields were the village’s hope for surviving winter. Cutting off Du Jianguo’s right to dig for food was like pushing this family into the snow. With Du Jianguo’s meager resources, his family would likely starve this winter

Before he could plead for Du Jianguo, Zhang Desheng squinted, his gaze like nails pinned onto him: “What? Old Village Chief, am I not even qualified to say a few words? It seems in Xiao’an Village, you are the one in complete control.”

Liu Chang’an stiffened and quietly clenched his fists.

How could he not hear the implication in Zhang Desheng’s words? If he argued further, the blame would turn toward him.

Helplessly, he turned his gaze toward Du Jianguo and spoke heavily: “Du Jianguo, you heard what Cadre Zhang said. From now on, you do not need to go to the fields with the team to dig for potatoes.”

“Village Chief! Aren’t you forcing the child toward a dead end?” Du Daqiang suddenly stepped forward, his face flushed red. “With his meager resources, if he can’t dig for potatoes to survive winter, how can he last until spring? Can’t you choose another form of punishment?”

Liu Xiuyun, standing nearby, was also panicking, at a loss for what to do.

Seeing the family just starting to improve, and Du Jianguo even bringing back ten yuan, how could they suddenly fall to this point? Taking away his chance to dig for food was pushing them toward death.

“Village Chief, you can’t do this!” Liu Xiuyun’s voice trembled with urgency.

Liu Chang’an sighed heavily, swallowing the words that came to his mind, feeling a heavy weight in his chest.

Suddenly, a clear voice broke the deadlock from the crowd: “Uncle Liu, don’t make it difficult for yourself. I accept this punishment. From now on, I won’t go to the fields to dig for food.”

It was Du Jianguo.

Liu Chang’an froze, completely stunned.

Everyone around was equally confused. While everyone else was pleading, the person being punished was accepting it?

Du Daqiang was so angry he jumped up, took off his stinky old cloth shoes, and raised his hand to strike: “You damn fool! Can you even speak like a human? Everyone is fighting for you, and you’re the one giving up!”

Du Jianguo quickly dodged to the side and shouted urgently: “Wait! I haven’t finished yet!”

He steadied himself, looked at Zhang Desheng and Liu Chang’an, and said word by word, “If you want me not to dig for potatoes, fine. But I have one question. Since I am saving my share of rations, shouldn’t the team give me a chance to earn work points?”

Liu Chang’an paused, lowered his head to think for a moment, and frowned even deeper: “Right now, the team really has no jobs available. The high work-point jobs have all been assigned. The only two left are not worth much. Either help Sun Liu’an feed the livestock for four work points a month, or join the village women in making winter clothes.”

Du Jianguo’s eyes instantly lit up. Before Liu Chang’an could finish, he replied: “I choose the first one! I’ll go feed the livestock with Uncle Sun!”

Liu Chang’an quickly asked: “Are you sure? This job is not tiring, but you only get four work points a month. That won’t even buy enough grain to fill your teeth.”

“You fool! Are you so eager for a lazy life that you’re willing to die?” Du Daqiang was furious and tried to grab Du Jianguo, but Su Xiaomei held him back tightly.

The villagers around also frowned, looking at Du Jianguo with disgust. Everyone knew that feeding livestock seemed easy, but the work points were so few that it wouldn’t even fill their stomachs. Wasn’t this choosing death?

Even Liu Xiuyun, who had always been cold toward Du Jianguo, couldn’t help but panic, quietly tugging at his sleeve with anxious eyes.

But Du Jianguo didn’t panic at all. Instead, there was joy hidden in his eyes. Feeding livestock was exactly the job he wanted most. Xiao’an Village had few livestock, with various types but small numbers. Adding feed and cleaning took only a few dozen minutes a day, leaving plenty of free time.

This way, he could use his free time to find wild animals in the fields to supplement the family income. More importantly, all the donkeys in the village were managed by Sun Liu’an. If he wanted to go deep into the mountains to hunt in the future, borrowing a donkey for transportation would save a lot of effort.

“Village Chief, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll work with Uncle Sun to raise livestock. I’ll report to the village office tomorrow.” Du Jianguo’s tone was firm, without hesitation.

Liu Chang’an looked at his seemingly unambitious attitude and finally sighed heavily: “Fine, fine. Do as you please.”

Not far away, Zhang Desheng and Li Ergou watched this scene and couldn’t help but exchange smiles. Du Jianguo had chosen such a low work-point job. His days would only get harder from now on!