Chen Wang Da had promised in front of the Xia family to let Liu Fen and Xia Xiao Lan register in Qi Jing Village and allocate them land – his word was as good as a contract, but this wasn’t false.

This first required village approval, then reporting to the township. Chen Wang Da had his procedures.

Liu Fen and Xia Xiao Lan couldn’t rush it. Xia Xiao Lan wasn’t obsessed with land, but if the village wanted to allocate farmland and a homestead plot to mother and daughter, she wouldn’t foolishly refuse.

She planned to buy a house in the city, but Liu Fen was attached to land – with farmland, peasants could at least fill their stomachs if they worked hard. How urgent was Liu Yong’s departure? The third day after he left was grain tax collection day.

The Xia family quarreled over this matter.

Each year after the late summer rice harvest, the township delivered grain tax notices to each household head.

By 1983, the “Household Contract Responsibility System” had been completed in Southern Henan Province. Though the Xia family hadn’t divided, their farmland was allocated under individual names. With Xia Xiao Lan and Liu Fen’s household registration transferred, they no longer had land in Da He Village. This didn’t affect previous grain production since they lost their Da He Village land after the rice harvest.

Naturally, the township’s grain tax notice was based on the previous land area.

This stirred up a hornet’s nest. Old Mrs. Xia was already angry and refused to accept this.

“We won’t pay those two worthless women’s grain tax! Their household registration is gone, their land is gone – why should Da Jun pay their grain tax?”

More land meant more grain tax.

Old Mrs. Xia controlled all the Xia family’s yearly harvest – once grain entered her hands, getting it back out was difficult. She didn’t dare make trouble with the township, but she threw tantrums, unwilling to let Xia Xiao Lan and her mother have peace.

Xia Da Jun hung his head speechlessly.

After Liu Fen and their daughter’s household registration was taken, though their land was allocated away, that only affected next year’s planting, not this year’s harvest. The rice was stored in the Xia family granary, yet Old Mrs. Xia demanded grain from Liu Fen and their daughter. With her unreasonable crying and shouting, Xia Da Jun was helpless.

How could he demand grain from Liu Fen and his daughter?

Liu Fen no longer lived with him – it was like what future generations called “leaving with nothing.” When mother and daughter left the Xia family, they only took 20 jin of sweet potatoes.

That was 20 jin of worthless coarse grain, not 20 jin of gold bricks!

If not for Liu Yong’s generosity and Xia Xiao Lan’s capable self-reliance, mother and daughter would have starved to death on 20 jin of sweet potatoes. During the divorce, Liu Fen only sought quick separation from the Xia family without demanding property. Given this year’s good harvest, Xia Da Jun should have at least sent some grain to Liu Fen and their daughter… Liu Fen was his ex-wife, but Xia Xiao Lan was still his daughter!

Not only did he not send grain, but Old Mrs. Xia made trouble – she was used to bullying Liu Fen and didn’t want mother and daughter to live in peace!

But what if they gave the grain?

The Xia family would save some grain.

Old Mrs. Xia was unreasonable, forcing Xia Da Jun to make trouble. One moment throwing tantrums, the next playing pitiful, pulling Xia Da Jun aside to say how hard Xia Zi Yu had it studying in Beijing, if the family saved more, Xia Zi Yu would have more at school.

Wang Jin Gui’s eyes flickered – others said college barely cost anything, with no tuition and monthly subsidies. Yet Xia Zi Yu’s college education seemed to strip a layer of skin off the old Xia family… But without Old Mrs. Xia’s pressure, Wang Jin Gui wouldn’t say anything.

“Mom, Xiao Lan, and her mother live with the Liu family – where would they get grain?”

Xia Da Jun was losing his ability to resist.

Old Mrs. Xia wiped tears pitifully: “So Zi Yu should starve at school? I see Xiao Lan’s uncle has gotten rich – what’s a bit of grain? We shouldn’t have agreed to their household registration transfer that day!”

Old Mrs. Xia didn’t realize that taking the household registration meant Liu Fen and Xia Xiao Lan’s land would disappear too.

As a rural old woman unfamiliar with national policies, she felt cheated by Liu Fen and her daughter, leading to today’s quarrel. In Da He Village, each person averaged about two mu of land – with Liu Fen and Xia Xiao Lan’s registration gone, the Xia family lost five whole mu!

How much grain could that produce?

The loss was Old Mrs. Xia’s profit – seeing the grain tax notice felt like someone cutting flesh from her body!

“Mom, Zi Yu can save a bit at school. Don’t force Second Brother to demand grain – those people aren’t easy to deal with.”

The understanding sister-in-law Zhang Cui spoke up to mediate.

Xia Da Jun gave her a grateful look.

After the divorce, he couldn’t beat Liu Fen like before, and his daughter Xia Xiao Lan had grown strong wings – she hadn’t returned to Da He Village once in all these days. Wasn’t Xia Da Jun angry? Qi Jing Village’s people weren’t easy to deal with – they’d given Xia Da Jun a thorough beating last time.

That old Chen in Qi Jing Village was difficult and knew county officials – otherwise, Liu Fen and Xia Xiao Lan’s household registration wouldn’t have transferred so easily.

Xia Da Jun was already a coward outside – he temporarily dared not trouble Liu Fen and his daughter.

Moreover, demanding grain from mother and daughter made no sense…

Old Mrs. Xia changed tactics: “Then how will we handle Zi Yu’s expenses? You’re all good people, only I like being bad – it’s all for Zi Yu.”

Eldest son Xia Chang Zheng spoke up, “Zi Yu’s uncle opened a snack stall at County First’s gate – business isn’t bad. Can’t guarantee how much he earns, but it’s better than farming in the countryside. Mom, Zi Yu’s uncle wants me and Zhang Cui to join – I want to try.”

Zhang Cui had opened the snack stall.

Zhang Cui’s brother and wife were the helpers, but Zhang Cui and Xia Chang Zheng had private motives. The Xia family hadn’t divided – they didn’t want to earn money for others. Finding a way to legitimize their business without sharing profits with others – ten Xia Da Juns together couldn’t match this couple’s shrewdness.

Wang Jin Gui’s eyes brightened. Old Mrs. Xia temporarily left Xia Da Jun aside:

“Is this what people call private business?”

Poor and lower-middle peasants were most glorious, with the best class status – the Xia family were poor and lower-middle peasants.

Capitalism deserved criticism. Old Mrs. Xia naturally yearned to be urban, but she yearned to be an urban worker.

Wasn’t running a private business somewhat shameful?

Zhang Cui understood Old Mrs. Xia’s thoughts. Initially, Zhang Cui also felt private business was shameful, but after opening the snack shop at County First’s gate on Xia Zi Yu’s advice, the money they earned dispelled Zhang Cui’s concerns.

Look down on private business.

With large bills in their pocket, they looked down on those who remained uncertain.

According to Xia Zi Yu’s prediction, private businesses would only increase. The poorest now were farmers, and in 20 years, the poorest would still be farmers!

“Mom, running a private business lacks face now, but it’s all for Zi Yu. Long Zheng and I suffering hardship doesn’t matter – once Zi Yu graduates college, our family will have made it through.”

Old Mrs. Xia loved hearing such talk.

The Xia family all believed Xia Zi Yu would achieve great success.

1980s college graduates were certainly valuable, but achieving modest success required at least 10-20 years of struggle.

State-assigned jobs paid only so much monthly – Zi Yu could live worry-free, but support a large family. Old Mrs. Xia thought too naively!

“Mom, I’m not afraid of losing face running a business. Why don’t I help, and let my sister-in-law stay home…”

Wang Jin Gui leaned forward. Old Mrs. Xia glared fiercely:

“Is he your brother? He’s Zi Yu’s uncle!”