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Now only one person was worried: Guo Rui, the landlord's stooge. His
determination to sabotage the co-op and prove his superiority grew stronger.
With his wealth of livestock and capital, he believed he could outperform
the impoverished co-op members. Part of his land neighbored the co-op's
fields, and he decided to imitate their farming methods. Sowing an acre of
maize, he mimicked their actions, albeit with fewer hands to assist him.
Initially, both crops flourished similarly. However, the co-op's advantage
became apparent when they used sheep droppings as manure, while Guo Rui
substituted pig-dung. The co-op, with its larger workforce, efficiently
spread the manure, while Guo Rui and his small family struggled to keep up.
Despite their arduous efforts, they managed to transport only half the dung
by the time the co-op completed their task.
Undeterred, Guo Rui resolved to make one final trip, but fatigue and adverse
circumstances hampered their progress. By the time they returned home, the
co-op members had already finished their work and embarked on their journey
back, merrily singing and chatting. Frustrated, Guo Rui decided on another
trip, but their physical exhaustion, coupled with the donkey's refusal to
move, compelled them to lighten their loads and take frequent breaks. As
darkness fell, they had no choice but to leave the dung piled by the field
for spreading the next day.
During the night, a thunderstorm erupted, drenching the field in a downpour.
Guo Rui, consumed by anger, cursed and swore as he realized that their
entire pile of pig-dung had been washed away, flooding into the co-op's
lower-lying land. The maize on the co-op's plot thrived after the soaking,
thanks to the nutrient-rich dung, while Guo Rui's crop appeared weak and
lackluster. Fuelled by his rage, he sold two sheep and purchased chemical
fertilizer from the town.
Observing Guo Rui's actions, Du Hong questioned why they didn't follow suit.
However, Wang Guxing advocated for their traditional and resourceful
approach, relying on diligent hoeing and soil loosening instead of
fertilizers. He believed that these extra efforts would benefit their crop
more than any artificial additives.
Unfazed by their laborious efforts, Guo Rui looked down upon the co-op
members, convinced that his fertilizer would produce superior results.
Little did he know, he had applied an excessive amount. Under the scorching
sun, his maize leaves withered. Frantically, Guo Rui and his sons rushed to
water and weed the field, but it was too late. When he tried to hire
laborers, he found none available. Why? Because all the poverty-stricken
individuals had joined the co-op, leaving independent peasants with no spare
time.
As the harvest season arrived, the co-op's maize stood tall and robust. Each
cob was approximately a foot long, plump like a pestle, and adorned with
symmetrical golden kernels the size of horses' teeth. In contrast, Guo Rui's
cobs measured no longer than a fountain pen, as thin as a thumb, and
contained only a few scattered kernels. |
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In the battle between the co-op and Guo Rui, the landlord's stooge, over
farming methods, Guo Rui was determined to outdo the impoverished co-op
members. He imitated their actions, sowing maize on a neighboring plot.
However, his limited resources and smaller workforce hindered his progress.
Despite working tirelessly to transport manure, Guo Rui fell behind, while
the co-op efficiently completed their tasks. A thunderstorm washed away Guo
Rui's pile of pig-dung, which flooded into the co-op's land, nourishing
their maize. Frustrated, Guo Rui resorted to chemical fertilizer, but his
excessive application led to withering crops. As the harvest approached, the
co-op's maize thrived, boasting tall and plump cobs, while Guo Rui's crop
remained stunted and lacking. The story showcases the triumph of collective
effort and resourcefulness over individual wealth and artificial methods. |
