Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Picking Peaches Before They’re Ripe

The commune used three work quotas and two hundred yuan to buy the patent for the harvesting machine, set up a factory. Xu Qinghuan initially thought the factory’s productivity would be insufficient, unable to meet demand, and would delay this year’s autumn harvest.

Now, listening to Tang Quantong say that the harvesting machines can’t be sold, and even given on credit to the production teams, they don’t want them.

Xu Qinghuan truly did not expect this.

She hadn’t thought this problem hadn’t been resolved yet.

“I heard our educated youth Jiang also brought up an issue with the members, saying that work points are fixed, but if you use a harvesting machine, the speed increases dramatically. Previously, ten people working for ten days would earn full points, but with the machine, the same ten people only need one day to earn full points.

At that time, the members were very worried, no more work meant no work points, no points meant no food and money, what to do?”

Xu Qinghuan seized the opportunity to report Jiang Chengxu, though she wasn’t sure if the Jiang Family would send him back to the city, but they likely wouldn’t, as the Jiang Family is also in a precarious situation now.

Tang Quantong accepted this, “Did educated youth Jiang say such things in your team?”

“Yes, indeed. Intellectuals have a sharp view on issues.” Jiang Baohua’s tone was neutral, “On the first day the harvesting machine was introduced, many people raised this issue with us, it caught me off guard.”

Tang Quantong was silent for a moment, seemingly suppressing anger, “I know about this matter, don’t dwell on it too much. Any advanced initiative will always face some backlash from reactionary elements at its launch, this is the law of historical progress.”

Great, Jiang Chengxu has become a reactionary element.

“However, this is indeed a real issue. We need to respond to the national call to rapidly achieve the Four Modernizations, with agricultural mechanization being an essential part. But how to ensure the machines don’t harm the members’ income is a problem we urgently need to solve.”

Xu Qinghuan frowned, “I still can’t understand how harvesting and threshing machines harm the members’ income.”

After all, she didn’t understand the logic of rural work point accounting, feeling there was something off.

Jiang Xingye explained, “Each year, the production team gathers a set amount of grain, hands in a portion, and the income is fixed. The work done by members equates to a fixed sum of work points, yielding a single work point price.

If there are more total work points, the price is lower; if fewer, the price is higher. There has never been a breach of the principle of more work earns more, so where’s the harm to members’ income?”

Overall, when machines handle the work, people do less, making the work point price higher. Even if a person or family’s total work points are less, the total income remains unchanged.

After Jiang Xingye explained, even Xu Qinghuan understood, so it’s unlikely Tang Quantong didn’t comprehend, he clapped suddenly, “Yes, exactly, that’s the principle. Then what are they fussing about?”

“Such a simple principle, you all don’t understand?” Jiang Xingye raised an eyebrow, thinking it a waste for this triviality to pull him and Huanhuan over.

Tang Quantong’s expression immediately changed, he’s still a leader, and had never been disrespected like this.

Jiang Baohua hurriedly said, “How could you speak like that, this Deputy Director Tang oversees such a large commune, surely he can do the math?

Indeed, there is also this issue. If we use machines, the autumn harvest time will be greatly shortened, from one to two months to just one month. The saved time may lead to a day or two of rest, but prolonged rest can feel decadent, there needs to be work to keep people grounded.”

“Yes, that’s our concern too. Naturally, we’ll arrange land reclamation and water conservancy, but those tasks are too monotonous. You both went to Yan City, and presumably gained some insights. Do you have any suggestions for us?”

Tang Quantong came here today with just that purpose in mind, and surprisingly resolved the harvesting machine issue.

Jiang Xingye still wore that indifferent face, frowning, seeming ready to explode at any moment, “No suggestions.”

An accompanying cadre grumbled, “How can there be no suggestions? Are you reluctant to contribute to the commune?”

Xu Qinghuan laughed, “What you said! We just visited Yan City, I stayed in the hospital and went nowhere, while Comrade Jiang indeed looked around, but he was focused on setting up a furniture factory and not concerning himself with other matters.

Besides, he’s simply an ordinary member, not tasked with these concerns, if you believe a trip to Yan City resolves big problems, you might apply for a business trip to see firsthand.”

Tang Quantong glared at this person, who then remembered that this educated youth before him isn’t an ordinary person at all, as Yan City sent a plane to pick her up for surgery.

One who can arrange a plane isn’t an ordinary person.

Tang Quantong smiled, “Our comrade is sincerely thinking for the public good, just a bit impatient. Don’t take it to heart. I have a proposal, not sure if it’s feasible?

Your production team has two factories, would there be enough manpower? The commune is willing to offer policies if you set the factories up within the commune, what do you think?”

Jiang Baohua thought to himself, what to think about.

But he dared not oppose openly, fearing that Tang Quantong might talk his nephew and niece into selling themselves.

“Not interested.” Jiang Xingye said, “If that’s all, I’ll leave first.”

“Hey, don’t leave, what’s your opinion?” Tang Quantong asked.

“The factory belongs to the production team, not just mine alone, what decision can I make?”

Jiang Xingye’s patience was wearing thin, thinking rightly that while managing the factory within the production team, he could make decisions.

But if the factory were within the commune, despite his efforts, in the end, the credit might not be his, what’s the benefit for him?

Moreover, his intent in setting up the factory was neither for the production team nor himself, but for Xu Qinghuan.

He hoped that Xu Qinghuan would have a job within the production team, living as she did in the city.

If the factory moved to the commune, he could also go, but the commune would have many more talented people than him, and he feared Xu Qinghuan might be taken away by someone else.

Tang Quantong’s final aim wasn’t achieved, departing with a bit of reluctance.

Setting the factory in the commune, while not sure if more people benefit, certainly broadens the range of beneficiaries.

Regarding the factory’s development, profits, and such, all reports upward would surely fall upon him, and to some degree, Jiang Xingye would have to heed some of his opinions and suggestions.

With promotion of work, Jiang Xingye would also have to rely on him, thus forming a chain of interests.

But Jiang Xingye didn’t have such ambitions.

“Setting up the factory within the team, what on earth is Jiang Xingye thinking? I see his ideas are quite backward, with no sense of the bigger picture. How could such a person establish a factory? How can he be the director in the future?” militia leader Yang Tangwu complained.

This major credit shouldn’t go solely to Jiang Xingye.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep