RYEY -Chapter 360 The Village Specializing in Pig Farming

With someone on the side beating gongs and drums to accompany the scene, the atmosphere was so lively that Wang Xiangyang and Li Huan exchanged a glance, each seeing moisture welling in the other’s eyes.

“Xiangyang, work hard. From now on, this place is yours to manage.”

“Brother Huan, thank you. Without your support, I’d be nothing. I won’t let you down.”

The two brothers clasped hands tightly once again. Even the tractor driver’s resentment was dissolved by the villagers’ joy, and he felt a flicker of excitement in his heart. After all, he had once come up the same way.

Uncle Niu ran out. His old ox was gone, and Xiangyang Village had brought in a new iron ox. But the iron ox seemed hard to control, and at his age, he probably couldn’t handle it.

“Huan-zai, the iron ox has arrived. Who’s going to drive it from now on?”

Li Huan pointed at Wang Xiangyang, indicating that this question should be directed at him, since Wang Xiangyang was now the village chief of Xiangyang Village.

Wang Xiangyang didn’t get angry at all that Uncle Niu didn’t take him seriously. He knew his own role: in Uncle Niu’s eyes, Brother Huan was still the one in charge.

“Niqiu, come out here.”

Wang Xiangyang directly called Niqiu out. This guy was about the same age as Xuhui; Xuhui had already taken the college entrance exam. If it weren’t for attending the literacy class, he probably wouldn’t have known many characters.

Fortunately, he later apprenticed under Uncle Niu and became a carpenter. This turned out to be his luck: though he wasn’t good at reading and writing, he could learn carpentry instantly and even apply his skills creatively.

According to Uncle Niu, Niqiu’s carpentry skills had already matched his own—he had surpassed his master.

“Uncle Xiangyang, what do you need me for?”

“Do you want to learn how to drive a tractor?”

“Uncle Xiangyang… are you talking to me?”

Niqiu was incredulous, eyes wide. Even Chen Tiezhu, standing behind him, came out, lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

Before Wang Xiangyang could speak, an old man jumped out, pointing at Niqiu and scolding him. Li Huan and Wang Xiangyang saw that it was Chen Tiezhu’s father, Chen Mugen.

Chen Mugen didn’t glance at Wang Xiangyang but grabbed Li Huan, tears streaming down his face:

“Huan-zai, my Daming and Xiaoming study well. Why don’t you let them drive the iron ox? You can’t show favoritism just because of the old ox.”

Li Huan laughed and picked up a prepared megaphone to speak:

“Dear villagers, I have an important announcement. With approval from higher authorities, Wang Xiangyang has been officially appointed as the village chief of Xiangyang Village. Please remember this.”

The villagers nodded in acknowledgment. They had already known the news, but now they were more concerned about who would become the tractor driver—after all, this was a well-paying government job.

Wang Xiangyang knew the character of his villagers. Taking the megaphone from Li Huan, he began to call out:

“If you want to make money, forget about driving the iron ox. Driving the iron ox pays a fixed wage. Who still wants to drive one?”

Chen Mugen froze. That was interesting—driving the iron ox paid a fixed wage, but Wang Xiangyang implied that there was money to be made elsewhere.

But what could country folks earn money from besides farming? Maybe secretly raising an extra chicken, selling the eggs for cash or salt.

Wang Xiangyang nodded and shouted through the megaphone:

“If you want to get rich, have fewer children and raise more pigs. Xiangyang Village will become a village specializing in pig farming. Are you willing to raise pigs?”

“What? We can raise pigs? Do we have to give one of the two pigs we raise?”

“We have mandatory pigs. Once you hand in the mandatory pigs, you can raise as many as you’re capable of.”

“I’ll raise twenty pigs, plus two mandatory pigs.”

Aunt Wang finally stopped dancing the yangge and was the first to raise her hand.

Wang Duocai couldn’t stop her. That stubborn woman—twenty pigs plus two mandatory pigs, twenty-two pigs in total. What breed? Where to raise them?

Wang Xiangyang was momentarily lost, forgetting what to say next. Twenty-two pigs… is his mother trying to exhaust his father so she can find a new partner?

Li Huan, however, smiled. Growing some sweet potatoes at home would serve as feed; the vines could feed the pigs, and the kids could help gather pig fodder. The hard work would be in cooking the pig feed and cleaning manure, but the manure could become fertilizer and be sold for work points in the village.

Remember, Wang Xiangyang had two younger brothers and one sister, none married yet. In the future, marrying wives, building houses, and marrying off daughters—all would cost money.

Li Huan had whispered this quietly, but he forgot Wang Xiangyang was holding the megaphone. His words reached the villagers’ ears.

Yes—they could grow sweet potatoes, gather pig fodder, and pigs would eat anything. Pig manure could earn work points. Families with more men could raise more pigs; families with fewer men could raise fewer pigs.

The villagers were immediately excited, discussing pig farming plans. Niqiu’s happy expression changed slightly—should he farm pigs or learn to drive the tractor?

Chen Tiezhu slapped Niqiu on the head: “Raising pigs is for him and his wife. Why would a young guy raise pigs? Look at Xuhui—he’s already in college. You, finally able to become a tractor driver, such an honorable job, and you still want to raise pigs? You’re hopeless!”

Niqiu’s mind snapped back, nodding repeatedly. Watching Wang Xiangyang nod firmly, he decided he would become a tractor driver—an honorable tractor driver.

The tractor-driving master had been immersed in Li Huan and Wang Xiangyang’s passionate speeches but was swayed until Niqiu was slapped and sobered up.

“You two brothers are impressive. Just by talking like this, everyone’s head got all mixed up.”

Li Huan laughed but said nothing. Wang Xiangyang, however, frowned:

“Master, Brother Huan never misleads anyone. Whatever he says, he does. Watch, Xiangyang Village will surely become a big pig-farming village.”

Niqiu was sent to the county to learn tractor driving, and the villagers began moving. Each household started building pigsties, and Aunt Wang turned the wasteland behind their house into a row of pigsties.

“Wife, do you really think raising pigs can make money?”

Wang Duocai asked as he dug the soil. Aunt Wang nodded confidently. Following Huan-zai’s instructions wouldn’t be wrong—if they followed him, they’d surely have food, or rather, they’d surely make money.

“But they haven’t said how to raise the pigs, or who to sell them to when they’re grown.”

Aunt Wang rolled her eyes at Wang Duocai. Those years, Huan-zai led them hunting in the mountains. As for where the meat went, he had his channels. Why should an old man worry so much?

Wang Duocai laughed sheepishly, working harder. Trusting Huan-zai was right. Listening to his wife was right. As long as he had enough to eat, some occasional wine, and a few pieces of pork, he was satisfied.