PCJ – Chapter 197 Contracting a Gardening Farm

“Zhang Dechun, you’re here again. I’m telling you, if you write one word on our elementary school’s teaching building, I’ll go to your house and throw manure in your hall!” Principal Ma immediately ran over upon seeing Zhang Dechun.

“This time, I didn’t write a single word. It was a student from your school.” Zhang Dechun looked at Zhang Jiaohua, who was busy writing, and smiled.

“Which rascal dares to scribble on the teaching building’s wall?” Principal Ma, upon seeing Zhang Jiaohua’s back, felt as if a ghost had grabbed his throat. He glared at Zhang Dechun angrily, “Zhang Dechun, you’re really something, using Jiaohua as your pawn. I might not dare to do anything to Jiaohua, but I can certainly tell him how you’re using him.”

Zhang Dechun quickly said, “Principal Ma, don’t talk nonsense. I didn’t use Jiaohua as a pawn.”

“You didn’t? You know very well I don’t allow you to write slogans here. You also know I’m not specifically targeting you. How many times have you written slogans on the walls around the elementary school? How many of those were correct? This time you’re encouraging people to plant fruit trees. If these trees are planted, not only will it not help the villagers out of poverty, but it will also waste their efforts. When that happens, the villagers will lose faith in your words. Instead of gaining any benefits, you’ll end up being cursed by the villagers. The words you write on the walls won’t fade for decades. You’ll be cursed for a lifetime. Your son Shunlin is still teaching at the school, you know.” Principal Ma, being an educated man, knew how to hit Zhang Dechun’s weak spot.

Zhang Dechun felt a bit regretful after Principal Ma’s words, “Principal Ma, let me tell you, we have no choice in these matters. If we don’t complete the tasks imposed from above, we won’t get any benefits. Take this village road, for example. If we don’t get funding from above, it’s impossible for the villagers alone to fix it properly. If we always lag in our work, how can we expect to get funding?”

Principal Ma knew Zhang Dechun had a point, “That’s your village’s business; I can’t interfere. But you shouldn’t write slogans at the school. It affects the children. And you got Jiaohua involved in this!”

Zhang Dechun felt more regret, “I didn’t think it through. But let’s not pursue this matter further. Jiaohua’s writing is quite good. Your school has taught him well.”

“Don’t think some nice words will settle this. If you dare to write slogans at our school again, I’ll tear them down. I may not be able to control you, but I can control your son. I don’t have much power, but I can make sure your son doesn’t get a permanent position.” Principal Ma threatened.

Zhang Dechun panicked, “Ma, if you mess with my son’s job, I’ll fight you!”

“Ah, Secretary Zhang, you finally lost your temper. Whether something gets done or not depends on behavior.” Principal Ma, having regained the upper hand, turned and left with a smile, leaving Zhang Dechun feeling remorseful.

“Grandpa Dechun, the words are done. Is there anything else? If not, I’ll go back to the classroom.” Zhang Jiaohua, not paying much attention to the conversation between Zhang Dechun and Ma Lisheng, walked over, placed the bucket of lime down, and handed the brush to Zhang Dechun.

“Okay.” Zhang Dechun mechanically took the items from Zhang Jiaohua.

In the evening, at Zhang Jiaohua’s old house in Meizi Village.

“What? You want to contract the horticultural farm?” Zhang Manyin, halfway through a puff of his cigarette, choked and coughed several times upon hearing Zhang Jiaohua’s words.

“I have so many dogs. When they grow up, our house won’t have enough space. If I contract the horticultural farm, all those fruit trees on the hills will be mine. The horticultural farm is huge, with hundreds of acres. If we plant some crops alongside, we could earn a lot.” Zhang Jiaohua said excitedly.

“You’re just a kid. Why are you thinking about all this? Just focus on your studies. I can’t agree to this.” Zhang Manyin shook his head.

“Jiaohua, you need to listen to your grandfather this time. The horticultural farm is a hot potato. Technically, the contract for the farm expired long ago, but the contractors are still holding onto the land, clearly not intending to return it to the village. Why get involved in this mess?” Ma Donghua quickly grasped the key issue.

“Grandpa, Grandma, I’ve already discussed these matters with Grandpa Dechun. Others might worry about this, but I don’t have to. If I contract the land, who would dare not return it?” Zhang Jiaohua smiled.

“Hmm, that’s true. Did Dechun mention how much the rent for the horticultural farm would be?” Zhang Manyin was a bit tempted. The horticultural farm had a hundred acres. The village had previously contracted out some land, and just planting beans each year made people envious. If they planted beans on hundreds of acres, how much could they harvest?

“He didn’t say. He mentioned giving me a very low price and including the back hill.” Zhang Jiaohua shook his head.

“This needs to be discussed clearly. Go invite Grandpa Dechun over for dinner. Grandma will cook some preserved meat, and we’ll bring out some homemade wine. I’ll have a proper discussion with Grandpa Dechun about the horticultural farm. If you want to contract it, Grandpa and Grandma will support you. But I’ll negotiate the price for you.” Zhang Manyin was still very motivated.

If anyone else had invited Zhang Dechun for dinner, he might not have gone, but with Zhang Jiaohua asking, Zhang Dechun followed him eagerly.

“Brother Manyin, do you still need to ask? We’re all family here, and Jiaohua calls me Grandpa. Do you think I’d let him suffer?” Zhang Dechun indeed wouldn’t let Jiaohua suffer, not because Jiaohua called him Grandpa, but because he wanted to use this connection to help his son get a permanent position.

“That’s true, but we need to show some courtesy, or it would make things difficult for you at the village committee.” Zhang Manyin said with a smile.

“Difficulty or not, who’s going to say anything? I’m almost retired anyway. Besides, it’s Jiaohua contracting the horticultural farm. Who would have a problem with that? Brother Manyin, don’t worry. Just pay a symbolic fee. I’ll write the contract for as long as possible, thirty or fifty years. We need a contract, or else when I retire, others might cause trouble.” Zhang Dechun was completely on Jiaohua’s side this time.

According to Zhang Dechun, the horticultural farm, the old pig farm, and the barren hill could be rented for a symbolic fee of one hundred yuan a year. Zhang Manyin voluntarily raised it to one hundred fifty yuan, roughly the price of a pig.

Zhang Dechun was very proactive, notifying each original contractor the next day that starting this year, they were no longer allowed to plant crops there, and they had to move their belongings out of the pig farm immediately. Although there were complaints, no one dared to say a word to Zhang Jiaohua.