553 Disgruntled Villagers
"Their family contracted the land of the village, and their yield reached a million dollars per acre. However, the rent they gave the village was about 200 dollars per acre."
"The difference is too big," someone said with a slightly indignant expression. "The yield is more than a million per acre, but the rent for everyone is only 200 dollars. Isn't this exploitation?"
"That's right. However, we don't care how the land in their village is rented. But now, even the land in our village has been expropriated. This compensation price is only more than 30,000 dollars. This is simply forceful buying and selling. Someone in our village doesn't agree, so someone comes to persuade us every other day. If the persuasion doesn't succeed, will they get a group of hooligans to our house to smash things?"
"That's right. Our village is also worried about this problem. Therefore, our village elected a few representatives to ask the Shi family what's the meaning of this. Why should the Shi family plant vegetables and their company expand by taking back the fields we rely on to survive? Isn't this forcing us to death?"
"But will this work? I heard that it's all the work of the government personnel. The Shi family and their niece didn't show up at all. Besides, if the government personnel show up, it means that the country has ordered us to give up our land. We can't do anything about it."
Someone said disdainfully, "Hmph, the personnel came out. Isn't it just because that niece of the Shi family is cooperating with the personnel? For the sake of their political achievements, how these personnel will consider the lives of the commoners?"
"Shh, you can't say that casually. The personnel of the government represents the country. Do you think the country will not consider the people when doing things? Moreover, this time, the country has expropriated dozens of miles of villages and millions of acres. Also, I heard that the government is planning to build a navel orange industrial area in Pingyang County to attract tourists from all over the country. This is a great thing."
A villager frowned and said in confusion, "But even if they build a navel orange industrial area and promote tourism, it has nothing to do with us. The Shi family and Gu Qingming will be the ones benefiting."
"That's right, that's right. What has this got to do with us? All I know now is that our fields and mountains are going to be forcibly taken back. If this land is taken back, our descendants won't have these things in the future. What will happen when they get old?"
"That's right. Even if we don't think for ourselves, we have to think for our descendants. Although there's compensation for taking back this land, it's only a small compensation. As long as we keep these lands, we can create wealth for our descendants."
"That's right. Take this navel orange for example. The income of an acre of navel orange now is close to 40,000 dollars. This year's income has exceeded the compensation. Who would be willing to give it back?"
...
The representatives of the village gathered at the entrance of the Shi family almost at the same time.
She asked directly, "Uncle Li, you have to tell us why you suddenly came to my house with a large group of people, right?"
This Uncle Li was a relative of Second Aunt's maternal family. Therefore, although there was not much difference in age, he was a full generation older.
However, Second Aunt's family did not have a good relationship with this family.
Uncle Li said mockingly, "Sun Xiangxiang, your in-laws are black-hearted and want to earn everyone's money. The surrounding villages are here to ask."
Second Aunt's expression changed. She glanced at the villagers present and frowned slightly.
She asked directly, "I wonder why everyone is saying that? How is our family black-hearted?"
Someone said angrily, "How are you not black-hearted? Your niece wants to expand the scale of the company, but more than ten surrounding villages have lost their land. Your family's real estate is worth more than a million per acre. As compensation for us, it's only 30,000 dollars per acre. If this isn't black-hearted, what is?"
Eldest Sister-in-law became agitated when she heard that.
She said loudly, "The requisition of this land is an order issued by the country. It has nothing to do with us. If you want justice, go straight to the relevant person-in-charge. You shouldn't have looked for us."
"Hmph, even now, you still think that it has nothing to do with you. Alright, then call Shi Tie Tou, Shi Lichun, and the others back. Oh, and call your good niece, Gu Qingming, back. Let her give everyone an explanation as to why she wants to take our land when her company is expanding. What are we going to do in the future after our land has been taken away? Are we going to stop doing anything after taking 30,000 dollars? Are we going to sit and wait to eat our fill? Without these lands that we rely on to survive, what are our descendants going to do? Not to mention our grandchildren, even our sons are still young and can work outside. But what if they get old? Can they still continue to work? Which factory dares to recruit some old bones?"
Just as Eldest Sister-in-law was about to argue, Second Aunt said to her, "It's impossible to reason with them now. Call your father and Mingming and ask them to come back."
When Eldest Sister-in-law heard this, she nodded and said, "Okay."
Second Aunt said to everyone, "I'll call them back now. If anything happens later, everything will be fine. Don't quarrel and stir a big fight. We still have children at home. They won't be able to take the scare."