I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 42 Witness

September 9, 1986, Shihe Village.

With the good meat and wine that Zhang Beichuan brought back, the Zhao and Sun families exchanged jobs with Zhang Dequan's family, and they worked with extra enthusiasm.

The four acres of rice were all harvested in less than two days.

On the threshing ground, the villagers from the Zhao and Sun families who had exchanged labor gradually dispersed, leaving only Zhang Dequan's family and Zhang Beichuan, who was rolling up mats with three little girls.

The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of rice, which made people feel at ease.

"Finally finished collecting!" Zhang Dequan wiped the sweat from his forehead. Although his face showed fatigue, his eyes were full of a relaxed smile.

Lan Xiuying tidied up the farm tools, and the wrinkles on her face smoothed out a bit.

"This year's harvest is good. We were able to finish the harvest so quickly thanks to the wine and meat that Xiao Chuan brought back. Everyone worked very hard."

Zhang Beichuan watched this heartwarming yet busy scene, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

After two days of intense sun exposure, the rice is basically dry. To preserve it for a longer period, it needs to be dried for a few more days while the weather is still good.

However, there's no need to carry all the rice to the threshing ground anymore; you can dry it in batches in your yard.

"Shall we go back?"

Zhang Dequan nodded and looked at Lan Xiuying.

"Yingzi, you take the children home and cook dinner first. Xiaochuan and I will move the mattresses and mats back."

"Okay, then take it easy."

Immediately afterward, Zhang Beichuan followed behind Zhang De, carrying a mattress on his shoulder as they walked home.

With the harvest finished at his grandparents' house and the most important farm work done, he could finally free up his hands to settle accounts with Zhang Dezhong.

However, he thought that he couldn't go to see Zhang Dezhong alone that night, not because he was afraid, but because he needed a witness.

This person should ideally have a certain prestige within the team and be trusted by everyone, so that Zhang Dezhong has no reason to make excuses.

Shi Tiezhu is definitely not an option. Last time, I removed his nephew from his position as team leader in front of so many people. He can't even avoid me now.

Or perhaps the village accountant?

As Zhang Beichuan carried the mat home, he pondered something as he walked, when suddenly a shout came from behind him.

"Ogawa?"

Zhang Beichuan glanced back and saw a man in his thirties or forties with tanned skin running towards him, wearing a red vest.

He had seen this person at Zhang Dezhong's house before, but he didn't know his name.

Zhang Dequan, who also heard this, turned around and glanced back, a smile immediately spreading across his face.

"Wei Dong... no, I should call him Captain Zhao now!"

Since Shi Qiang, the leader of the second group, was removed from his post, Shi Tiezhu considered that each group needed someone to organize the autumn harvest and grain delivery.

A while ago, Shi Tiezhu convened a meeting of the second group of people. After the villagers of the second group elected Zhao Weidong as the current team leader.

I heard about this from Lan Xiuying when Zhang Dequan went back to the village to pick up Cuicui for her dressing change.

Zhao Weidong walked over with a smile, took out cigarettes from his pocket, and offered them to the two men.

"I need to talk to Xiaochuan about something. Let me have a smoke."

Zhang Dequan and Zhang Beichuan, who had just put down their mats, accepted the cigarettes he offered.

Zhang Beichuan looked at him curiously, "Captain Zhao, what do you need me for?"

"Here's the thing, I'd like you to give me some advice." Zhao Weidong said as he struck a match, first lighting one for Zhang Dequan, then one for Zhang Beichuan.

Every household has started harvesting rice. In the second group of about 30 households, at least half of them have already started harvesting. But that's when the trouble begins.

Before September 30th, every household must hand over the rice harvested this season and the grain tax due.

The amount of grain that needs to be handed over varies each year. This year, the task assigned by the town is divided equally among each household: 320 jin of rice, 110 jin of wheat, and 120 jin of corn.

In previous years, everyone was dissatisfied with the grain delivery.

No sooner had the rice and wheat been handed over to the team for safekeeping than Shi Qiang said that each household's rice, wheat, and other crops were not dry enough and that some more needed to be handed over.

Having just become the team leader, Zhao Weidong wanted to live up to everyone's expectations and do a good job as the team leader.

But since it was his first time being a team leader, he had no experience.

The degree to which rice is dried after harvesting is judged by human experience, and there's always the possibility that someone might mix in some rice that isn't quite dry.

He was worried that what Shi Qiang said was true, and that if everyone handed over the grain, there might be a shortage.

If I ask everyone to make up for it again, they'll definitely be unhappy and start cursing me behind my back.

It's unrealistic to expect Zhao Weidong to use his own grain to make up for the shortfall without supplementing it.

If each household is short 5 jin (2.5 catties), then 38 households would have 190 jin (450 catties) of grain. If the shortfall is even greater, the deficit will be even larger.

His family has six members, and this season's rice harvest only yielded 3200 jin (1,150 catties). What did they use to feed themselves and what did they eat?

Zhao Weidong, who had been struggling to come up with a solution, heard that Zhang Dequan and his brother had returned, riding a brand-new old-fashioned bicycle back to the village in style.

He knew that Zhang Dequan's success was all thanks to his younger brother who had returned from the provincial capital, so he wanted to ask the knowledgeable Zhang Beichuan for advice.

I don't want to fill my own food rations, and I don't want to be cursed behind my back all the time.

After hearing this, Zhang Beichuan was secretly pleased.

Just as they were wondering whether to ask the brigade accountant to be a witness after dinner, Zhao Weidong, the newly appointed captain of the second group, came to their door.

Seeing that he remained silent, Zhao Weidong lowered his stance.

"Xiao Chuan, please help me think of something for my sake and your third brother's sake. Consider it a favor I owe you."

When Zhang Dequan heard him say that, he turned his head and said the same thing.

"Youngest brother, Weidong and I have a good relationship. If you really have a way, please help him. This matter is indeed quite troublesome."

Zhang Beichuan paused for a moment, then looked at the two of them with a smile.

"Captain Zhao, there's no need to be so polite. Don't talk about favors. I can give you advice, but you have to do me a favor in return."

"What kind of help?"

Zhang Beichuan flicked the ash from his cigarette and looked at him.

"Tonight, I'd like to trouble Captain Zhao to make the trip and act as a witness for me. I need to settle accounts with my older brother to avoid any disputes."

Zhao Weidong thought it was some kind of busy work, but it turned out to be nothing.

He was also very curious that someone as shrewd as Zhang Beichuan would make such an absurd contract, so he had to go and see what was going on.

"No problem!" he said, looking at Zhang Beichuan expectantly. "Then do you have any good ideas?"

"Since everyone is worried that there might be a shortage of grain, the best solution is for each household to go to the grain station and hand over their own grain. After handing it over, they can take the grain station's ticket or receipt to the production team to report back."

After listening, Zhao Weidong thought for a moment.

In this way, the team doesn't have to worry about food shortages, and the villagers, who handle their own grain, don't have to worry about it being secretly transferred away.

"Hey, that's a great idea! Why didn't I think of that? It not only avoids suspicion among everyone, but also saves the team the cost of using the village's tractor!"

Zhang Beichuan smiled and offered a reminder.

"However, whether this matter can be accomplished depends on what the grain station thinks."

"The grain station..." Zhao Weidong muttered to himself, then thought for a moment, "It should be fine. I'll go to the grain station myself and talk to the person in charge."

"Alright, Captain Zhao, don't forget what you just promised me."

Zhao Weidong nodded. "What time should we go?"

Zhang Beichuan glanced at his watch. "Let's do it at eight o'clock tonight."

"Okay, thanks! I'll be there on time at eight. You guys have had a long day, so hurry home and have dinner."