Gu Jianing couldn’t help but recall her past life.
In that life, it was also around this time that the Household Responsibility System emerged.
It was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to build wealth.
Even if they simply contracted the land and fields without engaging in farming or breeding themselves, they could later rent them out and earn money without lifting a finger.
Only Gu Jianing, who had been reborn, knew just how valuable these lands would become.
Moreover, the initial contracting prices were incredibly favorable.
Later on, the prices would skyrocket.
But no matter how high the offers, there would be no land left to contract.
In her past life, this opportunity had also existed, but her second brother failed to seize it.
Not because he didn’t want to, but because at that time, his wife, Su Miao, had died during childbirth—along with their unborn child.
The bond between her second brother and his wife had been deep.
Her death shattered him, as if the sky had collapsed.
Lost in grief and despair, how could he have had the heart to strive for anything?
But Gu Jianing knew her second brother was perfectly suited for contracting.
So, this time, the opportunity missed in her past life had to be seized.
“Ningning, what do you mean by ‘rice-fish farming’?” Gu Yunnan showed some interest in the term.
“It means growing rice while also raising fish in the same fields…” Gu Jianing explained the concept of rice-fish farming.
This term—or rather, this method—didn’t exist yet.
But as someone reborn, Gu Jianing knew it was entirely feasible.
Hearing this, Gu Yunnan and Old Man Gu’s eyes lit up.
“That’s a brilliant idea—killing two birds with one stone!”
Rice-fish farming—who would’ve thought of it?
“Little sister, you’re so clever.”
They didn’t doubt the feasibility of Gu Jianing’s suggestion at all.
Given the heights she had reached now, her words carried immense authority in their minds.
Of course, given how much they doted on her, even if she had been idle at home in the past, they would have listened to her.
“So, we really shouldn’t hesitate just because of money,” Gu Jianing pressed.
Gu Jianing wasn’t short on money now, nor did she lack property, so she could afford to support her brother financially.
But Gu Yunnan wouldn’t take her money for nothing.
He knew his little sister wasn’t lacking, but that was her business.
He couldn’t overstep.
In the end, they agreed that the money would either be treated as a loan from Gu Jianing or as an investment, with profits shared later if the venture succeeded.
“Then consider it a loan,” Gu Jianing said.
Truthfully, she knew the Household Responsibility System would undoubtedly be profitable in the future.
But since she didn’t need the money, she didn’t want the dividends.
So, it would just be a loan to her second brother.
As long as he worked hard, he’d earn the money back quickly.
“Second Brother, when you go to contract the land, make sure to choose the longest possible lease term, understand?”
Though Gu Yunnan didn’t know the reason, he trusted his little sister and nodded in agreement.
Soon after, Gu Jianing sent Sheng Zexi to the county bank to withdraw the money she was lending to her brother.
So, that very afternoon, Gu Yunnan became the first person in Huaihua Village to participate in the Household Responsibility System.
This sent shockwaves through the villagers, most of whom were still hesitant or even skeptical.
“Gu family’s second son actually went for the contract!”
“Contracting that barren mountain and farmland for 20 years—how much money must that cost?”
“Is Gu Yunnan really that confident about this?”
“Of course! Why else would he waste money if he wasn’t?”
“I heard Dr. Gu is back, and the money was even lent by her. Gu Yunnan said she fully supports this.”
“Wait, Dr. Gu is back?!”
Nowadays, when people in Huaihua Village spoke of Gu Jianing, they no longer referred to her as “the Gu family’s girl” or “Ningning,” but respectfully as “Dr. Gu.”
This alone showed just how high her status had risen.
“Then I’m going to contract too!”
“Huh? Weren’t you hesitating just a moment ago? Why the sudden change?”
“Come on, if someone as capable as Dr. Gu is supporting her brother in this, there must be profit in it. She and her brother are so close—she wouldn’t set him up for failure. We’re not the sharpest tools in the shed, and sometimes we don’t know what to decide. But we can follow the smart ones. At the very least, if they get the meat, we can still get some broth!”
“Damn… that actually makes sense. Alright, I’m in too!”
Originally, the village secretary had been worrying about how to mobilize the villagers to actively participate in the contracting.
But in no time at all,
everyone came forward.
All wanting to contract.
Within just two days, every available piece of land in Huaihua Village was contracted—nothing was left.
Later, when the village secretary asked around, he found out it was all because of the Gu family.
“That Gu family… they’re something else.”
“Especially Ningning—she’s practically the lucky star of Huaihua Village!”
Just look—last time she came back, she funded road repairs. Now, she’s motivating the whole village to take action.
The village secretary was optimistic about this policy.
He believed those who contracted now would surely make a fortune in the future.
So, weren’t all these people, inspired by the Gu family, basking in Ningning’s good fortune?
After returning home, Gu Jianing’s family naturally stayed in their old house.
No matter what, there was always a room reserved for Gu Jianing in the Gu household. Whether she came back once a year or once in a blue moon, no matter how far she married away, this home would always be hers—she would always have a place here.
But…
“Mom, Dad, how long has it been since this house was built?” Gu Jianing asked over breakfast the next morning.
“It was built when your grandfather was still around. You were born the year after it was finished.”
Back in Gu Jianing’s grandfather’s generation, the Gu family had been one of the better-off households in the village.
That was why they could afford to build this spacious, bright blue-brick house with tiled roofs.
At the time, most other families lived in either mud houses or thatched huts.
Gu Jianing had been born at just the right time to grow up in this sturdy, well-built home.
Even years later, houses like this were rare in the village.
That was why, when the educated youths first arrived in Huaihua Village and the educated youth dormitory couldn’t accommodate them, some had offered to pay to stay at the Gu family’s house.
But Yao Chunhua and Old Man Gu had refused.
First, they didn’t need the extra money. Second, they didn’t want outsiders disrupting their family life.
And as for Wen Zhuqing—wasn’t part of the reason he had targeted Gu Jianing back then because her family was one of the most well-off in the village?
After finishing breakfast, Gu Jianing looked up and glanced around the house that had stood for over twenty years.
She said, “Mom, Dad, how about we build a new house?”
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