Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

next day

It's a nice sunny day again.

It is said that the spring sun can awaken all things and warm the earth.

But it cannot warm the cold hearts of the farmers.

It has been half a year since a drop of rain was seen. Liu Guozheng is an eyewitness, because since he came here, there has really not been a drop of rain.

Usually after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, when the weather is getting warmer, it is necessary to apply fertilizer, water and weed the wheat.

But not this year.

Due to the drought, the wheat seedlings have not yet fully emerged.

Watering the wheat has become the top priority at the moment.

However, due to the continuous drought, the water level of the big rivers has dropped seriously, the small rivers are almost dry, and some tributaries have stopped flowing. Watering has become a luxury.

They could only watch helplessly as the already sparse crops died of drought.

Hongqi Commune is located in the remote suburbs with high terrain, so digging ditches and diverting canals is unrealistic and impractical.

Due to the drought, the wells in the village are almost dry, and it has become a problem for villagers to get water, let alone irrigate the fields.

After the Chinese New Year, Jiao Kangzhan, the secretary of Hongqi Commune, almost lost all his hair, mainly because of worry.

It makes me worried just thinking about it.

What should we do? If we don’t find a solution, this year’s summer harvest will be over.

No, let’s go find the old leader first.

"Anti-Japanese War, I know the problem you're talking about. The whole Xia country is in this situation now. Some are dying of drought, and some are dying of floods. I can't do anything about it."

District Chief Jiang was also worried. The secretaries of the communes below all came to him for help with solutions. What could he do?

Jiao Kangzhan tried to ask: "District Chief, can't you think of a way to get a few water pumps?"

"I have tried everything you can think of, but I can't get it. There are not enough pumps, and we are in a critical situation in the main grain-producing areas. Let's forget about it."

"Then how about we organize some people and go into the mountains to find water?"

"Looking for water?"

After hearing what Jiao Kangzhan said, District Chief Jiang had a flash of inspiration and thought of Hope New Village.

"Kangzhan, let's go and meet my cheap nephew."

The two of them didn't drive, but each rode a bicycle and soon arrived at Hope New Village.

The two people on duty at the village entrance today are Li Xiangdong and Li Dabao.

"Hey, Secretary Jiao, District Chief Jiang, what rare guests you have."

As the former deputy director of the police station, he naturally knew the two of them.

"Xiangdong, is my eldest nephew here?"

Li Xiangdong understood that these two people must need Liu Guozheng's help with something.

The three found Liu Guozheng at the fish pond.

Liu Guozheng and Master Yuan were fishing there.

"So the two leaders are so free today?"

Liu Guozheng stood up hurriedly.

"Guo Zheng, we are here to ask for your help."

District Chief Jiang and his companion had neither the time nor the mood to exchange pleasantries.

"No, leader, I'm afraid of you saying that."

One is the secretary of Hongqi Commune, and the other is the district chief of Jingxi Mining District. They came up to ask for help right away, so this must be a big deal.

"Guo Zheng, you also know the weather conditions in the past two years. Some people are dying of drought, some are dying of floods, especially here we haven't seen a drop of rain for more than half a year."

"Although we are not too far from the Yongding River, it is not realistic to dig a ditch to divert water due to the terrain, so we are here to see if we can divert water from your place, which can also alleviate the current difficulties."

I see. So this is what the two of them were planning.

"The problem is not that the leader can divert water, but the problem is that the project is huge."

"There is also the issue of routes. With so many villages, do we need to dig canals to divert water to each village?"

Liu Guozheng raised his own question. The villages can be as far apart as seven or eight kilometers, in all directions.

This place is originally a mountainous area, and the land that can be used for farming is scattered here and there, and the area is not very large. We can't dig canals everywhere, right?

Jiao Kangzhan and Jiang Weimin were both stunned. They were so anxious that they hadn't really thought about this problem.

"Guo Zheng, do you have any good suggestions?"

The two looked at each other, and District Chief Jiang asked.

Liu Guozheng thought for a moment and said, "We can dig canals to divert water, but if we can avoid passing through the village, we should do so."

Jiao Kangzhan and Jiang Weimin asked in unison: "Why?"

"Haha, think about it, leaders. From ancient times to the present, there have been many bloody incidents caused by fighting over water, haven't there been many?"

After hearing what Liu Guozheng said, the two fell silent.

Human nature is complex. As time goes by, more problems will surely arise. It may not take long. Conflicts may arise on the same day after the water diversion channel is dug.

You can intercept the water that flows through your own fields. If the canal passes through your own village, it will be even more convenient to intercept it.

The first village they passed was afraid that there was no water left, so they wanted to intercept some water and use it themselves first. After they had used it up, it would be the next family's turn.

The villages behind followed suit, and by the time the water reached the last village, their crops had probably died of drought.

"Two leaders, I can't solve this problem. You'd better call a meeting of the captains of the nearby villages to discuss it. I believe you can come up with a solution."

Liu Guozheng threw this question to the two leaders again.

"Well, okay, let's go back and discuss it."

The two left in a hurry.

In the afternoon, Jiao Kangzhan and District Chief Jiang came to Hope New Village again. There were six other people with them. They looked to be in their fifties. They were all dressed like ordinary villagers and had honest faces.

One of them Liu Guozheng knew, but he had only met him twice. He was Yi Pinghe from Qingshui Village. A few months ago, he had exchanged a pepper tree for lard from Liu Guozheng.

These six people did not come empty-handed. Some of them carried a basket with a dozen eggs in it, some carried a bag of flour, some held two chickens in their hands, and some brought some dried chilies and a few strings of garlic.

"Guo Zheng, come here and let me introduce you."

Jiao Kangzhan introduced several people. These six people were from nearby villages. There were team leaders and squad leaders. When they heard that they hoped to divert water away from the new village, they all came in person and took out food that they themselves were reluctant to eat to express their gratitude.

"Comrade Liu, thank you for agreeing to bring water from your village. Please don't think these ten eggs are too little."

"Yes, yes, Comrade Liu, I have ten kilograms of flour here. You must accept it, otherwise you will have a hard time explaining it when you go back."

"Well, Lao Li is right. I must accept these two chickens."

"Comrade Liu, our village cannot compare with them. You can enjoy these dried chilies and garlic first. If we raise chickens this year, we will definitely give you two so that you can have a taste."

Several people expressed their gratitude and placed the things in their hands in front of Liu Guozheng.

The expectant eyes and nervous expression deeply touched Liu Guozheng.

Now this water source is a life-saving thing, especially related to their harvest this year. Compared with the water, what they took is not worth mentioning, but it is also the best thing they can take out.

"How about this, I appreciate the kindness of the villagers, but you are not allowed to take the things you brought today back. I will pay you and buy them at the market price. If you still don't agree to this, then let's forget about the water diversion."

Liu Guozheng could only use this method to reassure them.

Now that things have come to this, everyone had no choice but to agree.

Finally, after discussing the details a bit, everyone went back to hold a mobilization meeting. No matter how cold the weather was, they would start work the next day. No matter how hard the road surface was, no matter how difficult it was, they would dig the water diversion channel as soon as possible. They would gather all members of the cooperative, regardless of gender, age or status, to collectively fight drought and protect seedlings, and do their utmost to ensure this year's summer harvest.