Chapter Twenty-Nine

“This year’s national farming task, only seventy-one towns are making progress…”

“The food crisis is a tough battle, we must adjust policies and make preparations before the disaster.”

…

On January 23, Liu Wensheng walked out of the special meeting group, exhausted. It had been a month since the issuance of the “Longxia Winter Planting Subsidy,” but the progress in planting was not ideal.

1. Although Longxia has various subsidy policies, the subsidies and planting profits cannot compete with the income from working elsewhere.

2. The cost of manual planting is high, and many areas lack mechanization.

3. Winter planting conditions do not meet the standards.

…

These problems have always existed in Longxia and cannot be quickly changed by a single “Winter Planting” policy.

“Hopefully, this land transfer policy will be useful…” Song Yueshan followed him out.

The so-called land transfer involves obtaining land use rights from farmers through subcontracting, leasing, and shareholding. The government and contracting enterprises plant the land, which to some extent curbs land abandonment and allows farmers to earn income.

After chatting for a while, Liu Wensheng asked, “Academician Zhou didn’t come?”

Zhou Yuanheng is the head of the Fengshan research group and used to be the first to arrive at meetings.

“He hasn’t left the lab for a week.”

Song Yueshan waved his hand. For the past six months, Zhou Yuanheng has been leading a team researching the hybridization of systematic wheat and local wheat, and now there has been a breakthrough in genetic editing, although the specifics have not yet been announced.

“Sigh.” Liu Wensheng sighed heavily.

With time tight and tasks heavy, that afternoon, Longxia issued a document to all regions: “On Intensifying Land Transfer Efforts and Overhauling the Water Circulation System.”

According to the information provided by Qin Yun, if there really is global acid rain, the harm of acid rain will manifest in the following aspects—

1. Corrosion of global plants.

2. Corrosion of soil, reducing soil fertility.

3. Corrosion of large rivers, affecting residential water use.

4. …

…

Global acid rain is destructive, but any destruction requires a process. What Longxia can do now is race against time, laying the groundwork and stockpiling grain on a large scale before the acid rain arrives.

【On January 23, 3027, the Ministry of Agriculture of Longxia issued the “Policy on Intensifying Longxia Land Transfer to Ensure Cultivation” …】

That evening, the latest policy was featured on the “News Broadcast,” with the entire broadcast filled with information on land-related reforms.

Longxia News: “On 3028 Grain Planting and Agricultural Reserves.”

Longxia Daily: “Busy at home, busy at work, the government helps you farm!”

…

Within half an hour of the Longxia broadcast ending, mainstream media such as “Longxia News” and “Longxia Daily” successively reposted the land reform policy.

“It’s been all about food news these past few months.” In the agricultural family building of Changlong County, the wife watched “Longxia News” and jokingly asked.

Liu Yuming is the head of the Agricultural Technology Department and has been busy in the countryside recently, which has also made her pay attention to agricultural news.

“New policy?”

Liu Yuming quickly opened his phone—

“Now the province has set rigid targets, requiring each town to have 70% of its arable land.”

“The county has already held meetings and decided to increase land investment.”

“At least 30% of the budget?”

“About that…”

…

The work group was abuzz with discussions about the latest policy. Just after Liu Yuming finished reading, he saw the director’s message to everyone: (Urgent Notice) A meeting will be held in the agricultural conference room at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Seeing Liu Yuming holding his phone, his wife casually asked, “What’s up?”

“Meeting tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month.” His wife was taken aback.

“Even if it’s New Year’s Eve, we have to meet.”

Liu Yuming sighed and went back to his room to prepare materials for the meeting the next day.

Early the next morning, Liu Yuming arrived at the conference room on time. This meeting was about the latest land transfer policy.

The state now encourages government transfers and large-scale planting households to transfer land. The transferred land can only be used for grain cultivation, and collective land requires the consent of 80% of the villagers. Villagers can choose to receive rent, shares, or exchanges, and the process must ensure the villagers’ interests.

After the meeting, Old Zhang felt a bit emotional: “They’re really serious about the land.”

First, there was “Winter Planting,” followed by “Beneficial Subsidies.” Although these policies were effective, only large-scale planting responded. In mountainous areas like Changlong County, although there was some response, most villagers were still reluctant to bother or understand.

“Can this be profitable?” Old Zhang continued to ask.

In the current market economy, if the government and large-scale planting households lead the way in contracting all the land, it can be planted. But there are labor and material costs. For example, if the market price of grain is one yuan per jin, they would need to sell it for five yuan to break even after half a year of work.

Who would buy such expensive grain?

It certainly wouldn’t sell domestically, and as for exporting it abroad… foreign countries wouldn’t buy such expensive grain either.

While Old Zhang was pondering these miscellaneous thoughts, Liu Yuming said, “We should follow the arrangements from above and trust the national policy.”

After chatting for a while, they headed directly to Pingshui Town.

According to the county’s plan, they must utilize all 300,000 mu of land within a month. Plant wheat where possible, and potatoes where not, but in any case, the land must not be wasted!

In the following three days, the land transfer project took root across the country.

During the New Year period, many villagers who had gone out to work returned home, and with the arrangements of the village committee, many villagers signed land transfer agreements. Everyone could voluntarily choose to receive rent or shares. Those who felt their land was in a prime location chose shares, while those who felt their land couldn’t produce much chose rent.

The transfer contracts were signed for three years, and villagers could choose voluntarily.

Amidst this bustling work, by the third day of the New Year, Changlong County had already agreed to transfer 230,000 mu of land.

Looking at the pile of documents, Old Zhang sighed, “It’s a completely unprofitable business.”

The average rent in Changlong County is 230 yuan per mu per year, plus subsequent land leveling, seeds, and fertilizers, with total costs reaching two billion. Based on a yield of 800 jin of wheat per mu, 230,000 mu could generate 1.8 billion in revenue, and that’s in the most ideal scenario.

“Maybe it’s a grain war,” Liu Yuming thought aloud.

Although he firmly believed in the national policy, large-scale planting would certainly affect next year’s grain prices. Articles about the grain policy were already appearing online, and not only they, but others also didn’t understand the national policy. Many foreign media even sarcastically criticized Longxia’s failed decisions.

“Are we still working?” Amidst these thoughts, the office door opened.

Liu Yuming looked up to see Wang Xuecai and several older men standing at the door.

“Mr. Wang.” Liu Yuming quickly stood up. With so many people in the office, he couldn’t address Wang Xuecai as Town Chief Wang, but he had a deep respect for him.

Liu Yuming invited Wang Xuecai to sit down and asked, “Are you here to sign the land transfer contract?”

“No.”

Wang Xuecai got straight to the point: “We have eighty mu of land and want to inquire about planting subsidies and improved seed subsidies.”

“Planting it yourself?” Liu Yuming was surprised.

Although the government has taken over some wasteland, it requires labor and resources and familiarity with the local terrain, so planting is not as flexible as when farmers do it themselves. The state is primarily encouraging farmers to plant themselves, and only when they are unwilling does the state take over.

Amidst these thoughts, Wang Xuecai said, “I’ve been mobilizing people these past few days. I’m getting old and can’t help much.”

He had been following Longxia news closely during this time.

Longxia has always valued grain development, and now this series of policies is all about benefiting farmers. Although he claimed not to care, he hoped to make use of the wasteland in Pingshui Town.

Since the national transfer policy was issued, he had been persuading acquaintances to farm, and many villagers responded to the call and signed contracts. Now, the transfer contract has become a hot topic among villagers.

This benefits both the villagers and the country.

Wang Xuecai, seventy-two years old, faced the new land transfer policy, and his younger family members suggested transferring all twenty acres of their land.

Land transfer is a good policy, but having farmed all his life, he still wanted to farm himself. So, he contacted some old friends and formed a group to seek advice together.

Wang Xuecai continued to ask, “Is the improved seed subsidy only available after the crops are grown?”

“The improved seed subsidy is based on the type of grain. We can first receive the seed subsidy, and later there will be a fertilizer subsidy…” Liu Yuming explained the national policy earnestly.

…

“It’s rare to have a holiday, and yet you’re still dragged into the fields.”

While Liu Yuming was working diligently, on the hillside behind Gaojia Ridge, Qin Yun and Gao Hongwei were digging sweet potatoes together. These sweet potatoes were planted in the summer, and since no one was at Gao Hongwei’s home, they hadn’t been dug up until now.

“I’m just passing the time, might as well find something to do.”

Qin Yun chatted a bit and then said, “In the future, if you want to eat sweet potatoes, find a younger person to go up the mountain with you, don’t go alone…”

Qin Yun recalled his past life.

In his past life, during the food crisis, many places in Gaojia Ridge couldn’t even cook a meal, and Gao Hongwei led the villagers up the mountain to dig sweet potatoes. He was old, and one careless moment, he rolled down the mountain.

Gao Hongwei was in the hospital for a week, but ultimately, he couldn’t be saved.

Today, on the third day of the New Year, he was strolling in the village with Zhang Hu when he unexpectedly encountered Gao Hongwei climbing the mountain with a small basket. Upon inquiry, he learned that Gao Hongwei was going up to dig sweet potatoes, which gave him a fright, leading to the current scene.

After Qin Yun finished speaking, Gao Hongwei said, “It’s not like I can’t dig them myself, why bother the younger ones.”

“The mountain path is difficult. If something happens to you, it will trouble the younger ones.”

The two argued for a while, and seeing that he couldn’t win against Qin Yun, Gao Hongwei could only nod repeatedly, “I’ll be more careful next time.”

He didn’t think he couldn’t dig them himself, but he acknowledged that any mishap would indeed trouble the younger ones.

In the midst of this casual chat, a basket of sweet potatoes was dug up.

Qin Yun was about to lift the basket when Zhang Hu stepped in directly.

“I can do it myself,” Qin Yun said, a bit embarrassed.

“No worries.” Zhang Hu easily lifted it. He was following Qin Yun, so such small tasks were just a matter of course.

Zhang Hu took the lead, walking ahead, and Gao Hongwei was very pleased, “This colleague is quite good.”

Zhang Hu had returned to Gaojia Ridge with Qin Yun. Initially, Gao Hongwei was worried that Qin Yun might have befriended the wrong person, but after some time, he found that Zhang Hu was excellent in both character and detail. Knowing that he had stayed in the military camp, his impression of him soared.

“Indeed, he is quite good,” Qin Yun affirmed.

In his past life during the food crisis, he struggled alone until his death. Now, in this new life, he has the country as a backing, farm partners, and diligent researchers like Zhou Yuanheng. This brings a deep sense of peace and security.

The future is uncertain, but he feels more confident than before.

At three in the afternoon, Qin Yun finished delivering the sweet potatoes and headed home, but after taking just a couple of steps, he suddenly paused.

“What’s wrong?” Zhang Hu asked curiously.

Qin Yun opened the System Interface.

“Ding, congratulations to the Host for achieving the [The Great Road] accomplishment. System refresh, achievement reward calculation in progress…

[Great Path]: Successfully developed a dimension-specific seed. (The Great Road, derived from the birth of greatness).”

…

Qin Yun looked at the System Interface three times, then at his hands that had just finished digging sweet potatoes… The Great Road?

…

“Academician Zhou, it’s a success.”

“It’s a success.”

…

While Qin Yun was puzzled, in the Jinghe Agricultural Laboratory, Zhou Yuanheng excitedly looked at the box in front of him.

It was a large 2X2 glass box, filled with brown soil, from which grew a one-meter-tall wheat plant. The wheat was plump and golden, with ears like a delicate golden necklace…

This was a new hybrid variety developed from Fengshan wheat and Longxia Dongshan wheat. The research had been ongoing for half a year, with 8,200 failures. Now that the wheat was successful, it proved that the farm’s hybrid wheat could be planted outside the farm. If it inherited the farm wheat’s traits, it would bolster confidence during a food crisis.

Zhou Yuanheng paused for a moment and continued to instruct, “Conduct climate experiments, acidic substance experiments, growth cycle experiments…”

Now it was a race against time, and they had to win.