A century of poverty

Chapter 25 Land Reform

The fake village head Zhang Fulin resigned in disgrace. The head of the village, Zhang Yikun, ceased to manage village affairs.

Gao Xiang will remain in this district, while Zhang Xiwang will take charge of the village's affairs.

After several days of intensive study of the "Outline of the Land Law," and with a full understanding and grasp of the policy, the land reform cadres from each village are about to return to their respective villages to implement it.

As he picked up his belongings, Gao Xiang came to his side, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go back and implement the Party's good policies, and also satisfy the people. The burden on your shoulders is heavy!"

"Please rest assured, I will do my job patiently and meticulously." (Hoping for a positive response.)

They discussed with Zhang Mingzhi and Zhang Yilu, two party members from the village, how to carry out land reform.

Today, the bell in front of the temple was exceptionally loud, and people of all ages came out of their homes, their spirits high and their smiles beaming as they arrived at the square.

Zhang Xiwang stepped to the front: "Folks, young and old, aunties and grandmas, I'm sure you all know why I've gathered you here today. We, the common people, are now in charge! Good days have arrived! We welcome the work team leader and the township head to our village to lead us in land reform. Now, let's welcome the work team leader to speak to us!"

Gao Xiang addressed the crowd from the platform: "Fellow villagers! The Communist Party of China led us to drive out the Japanese invaders and defeat the Kuomintang reactionaries. The people of the liberated areas have stood up and become masters of their own destiny!"

In accordance with the directive of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China regarding "land to the tiller," all old systems were abolished, a people's government was established, and the land was returned to the people!

A long and enthusiastic round of applause followed.

Zhang Xiwang: "Welcome to our township head's speech!"

Li Feng stepped forward and said, "Fellow villagers, I am Li Feng from Lizhuangtuo. Everyone in our village knows me. Now that I am the head of this township, I must serve the people. Today, the Communist Party has taken charge of our lives, allowing us poor people to have land to cultivate and food to eat."

Each village has its own farmers' association, and Zhangzhuangtuo is no exception. Our committee members are Zhang Xiwang, Zhang Mingzhi, Zhang Yilu, and others. They act in accordance with policy, democracy, and fairness. They also need everyone's assistance to ensure the success of the land reform in Zhangzhuangtuo.

Welcome them! Let's give them a round of applause.

Zhang Xiwang, Zhang Mingzhi, and Zhang Yilu stepped forward to bow and express their gratitude to the people.

After several days of research by the Agricultural Committee and several representatives of poor farmers, a plan was developed, and the next step is implementation.

The land in Zhangzhuangtuo was divided up according to the number of people. There were no landlords in the whole village, only two wealthy farmers who traded outside. A portion of their land, farm tools, livestock, etc., was given to a few landless and poor farmers.

Several households in the village were considered to be middle peasants, less fortunate than rich peasants but slightly better off than ordinary middle peasants, and their land plots were reassigned.

When the discussion finally reached Zhang Yitang, someone suggested taking away his donkey. Zhang hoped to offer a different opinion. He argued, "Old man Zhang Yitang is honest, hardworking, and always willing to help anyone in the village, no matter what. For example, when it comes to carrying manure to the fields, if his donkey is carrying a whole stack, he always makes sure to carry the rest himself. Moreover, he has never hired any workers, let alone exploited anyone. Such diligence is hard to find even in five mountain hamlets. His better life is the result of his hard work, and his valuable qualities are exactly what we farmers should strive for. If we only focus on his donkey and ignore his good qualities, it will dampen our enthusiasm for labor."

His words convinced everyone.

After the meeting, someone leaked the information, and another middle-class farmer—"Little Brand" Madam from Dongjing—went to the farmers' association to question her.

"Zhang Xiwang, why is it that Zhang Yitang, who is also a middle peasant, can have his land removed, while my family's land was requisitioned?"

Other members of the agricultural commission stepped forward to explain: "It's not just your family; other families have also had their land plots changed."

The mother persisted, "I don't care, as long as one thing doesn't move, you can't touch my house."

Zhang Xiwang said, "Even if it doesn't work, we've already made a move. Don't always think you're special just because your son is an official in the south. Now it's the Communist Party's world."

In short, the little brand mom went home dejectedly.

Fang Mei, a cadre from the Women's Salvation Association of the district, came to the village to collect military shoes. Since there was no well-established Women's Salvation Association in the village, she had to go to Xiwang's house. Xiwang asked Xiuying to accompany Fang Mei to collect shoes from house to house. Fang Mei told Xiwang that some villagers had handed in shoes that were too small and of poor quality.

When asked which families were involved, Xiuying replied, "The two rich peasant families did a bad job, but they didn't say anything. The little madam did the worst job and even said some strange things."

Hope: "Don't accept the bad shoes. Send those few bad pairs back to her to be remade."

Xiuying: "You think she'll just redo it because you tell her to?"

Hope: "If she doesn't redo it, I won't stamp it; otherwise, it won't pass."

Indeed, the square seal with the four characters "Zhang Xiwang Yin" represented the village office at that time.

As instructed, Xiuying sent the substandard ones back to be redone.

Just as Zhang was full of confidence and ready to work, someone secretly whispered something to his mother, his second grandmother.

One day, district leader Gao Xiang and township head Li Fengdu came to discuss work with several members of the agricultural committee. Grandma Er came in from outside, thinking something had happened at home, and stood up: "Mom! What brings you here? Is something wrong?"

Second Grandma: "I have something to say, but I can't tell you." She turned to District Chief Gao Xiang: "Don't let my son become a Communist. I won't let him become a Communist."

Township head Li Feng chimed in, "Why? Because of my aunt (a distant relative)."

Second Grandmother: "If you're a Communist, the Central Army will kill you."

The person who said it fell silent.

He hoped to get up immediately and help his mother walk outside, saying, "Mom, let's talk about this at home. We're in a meeting here, don't let it interfere with the meeting." He then pulled his mother outside.

When he got home, he wanted to ask his mother, "Why didn't we talk about this at home? Why did we have to go upstairs? It's so embarrassing!"

Second Grandma: "I'm afraid it won't work if I say it at home, so I'm going to go there and tell them not to use you."

Hope: "No, I can't have your way with everything, except this."

Second Grandmother: You absolutely have to listen to me on this matter!

"I became a widow at twenty-seven, and you are my only son. If you are captured by the Central Army, how will I live?" She then burst into tears...

Hopefully, he won't say anything anymore. He had been sending letters to the guerrillas and joining the Party, all of which he kept from his mother because he was afraid she would worry. But this time, someone told her, and he couldn't hide it anymore.

This liberated area is a border region, and the Kuomintang forces still exist south of the railway, so my mother's worries are not unfounded.

But ever since I started following Gao Xiang in the revolution, I knew it was a matter of life and death. So what? So many people were doing it anyway. Gao Xiang never took his gun out of his saddlebag, always ready to fight. And Gao Heng from further away in Gao Heng's team, weren't they all risking their lives? And Li Dazhao from Leting was killed years ago, yet the Communist Party kept killing more and more.

He always felt that only by following the Communist Party could the poor turn their lives around, and he was right. He couldn't explain these principles to his mother. He sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) with his head down and remained silent.

Two months later.

Zhang Mingzhi suggested that this time we shouldn't hold the meeting at the house we're looking for. Instead, we should go to the house of Moutou on Xidang Street. Moutou doesn't earn much money working outside, but his family allocated him land. His mother was so happy when she saw me that she said the Communist Party is good. She said his house is in a remote and quiet location, and he can rely on it.

As the meeting was about to end, Hope's mother arrived again. Because Moo-tou's mother saw that she was not an outsider, she let her in without stopping her.

She came in and said again, "You should cross out the name of the Communist Party of Hope..." She wanted to continue.

Gao Xiang chuckled and said, "The monk's donkey, the widow's child—"

We've crossed his name out, don't worry!

Hearing this, she turned around, came out, and left with peace of mind.

Hope awkwardly replied, "I'm sorry, I didn't know my mother would come looking for me."

Gao Xiang comforted him: "Don't be sad. Although you are no longer a Party member, the village can't do without you. You should continue to stay in the Agricultural Commission and continue to contribute to the Party and the people."

The hope is that someone will ask with gratitude: "You still trust me?"

Gao Xiang: "Trust."