Xiang Xi watched Chen Lan for a long time without any reaction, ignoring him. He anxiously interrupted her thoughts and asked with a worried expression, "Little Lan Zi, say something! Did you hear what I said? What should we do now?"
Chen Lan's train of thought was broken by Xiang Xi. She looked up and whispered, "Little Watermelon, don't worry. Let's go find Brother Ming Xuan and see if he's finished negotiating with the two fish vendors. It's too crowded and noisy here, not suitable for talking. We'll figure out how to exchange for grain when we get back."
By the time Chen Lan and Xiang Xi arrived at the fish stall, the two Soviet youths were happily packing up to leave. Xu Ming Xuan was tidying the fish on the ground, clearly having already agreed on the terms of exchange with the two young men. Glancing at the items the Soviets were packing, it seemed Xu Ming Xuan had traded two long cotton coats, two floral headscarves, and two lighters for all the fish on their stall.
Chen Lan quickly tugged at Xu Ming Xuan, who was packing the fish, and whispered, "Brother Ming Xuan, quickly stop them. Go ask them quietly if they've already transported their farm's grain away!"
Xu Ming Xuan paused for a moment at Chen Lan's words, then immediately understood. He turned back, pulled the two Russian youths to a secluded spot, and whispered with them for a while. Soon after, Xu Ming Xuan walked back to Chen Lan and said softly, "Lan'er, those two said their collective farm is currently harvesting corn and is almost done. Once the corn is harvested, they'll proceed to thresh and dry it before transporting it to fulfill the state's procurement quota. They took leave today to sell fish, and now they have to rush back to harvest corn."
Chen Lan thought for a moment and said, "Brother Ming Xuan, please go and ask them to inquire with their farm's负责人 (fù zé rén - responsible person) about whether their collective farm can exchange with us for things beyond their quota after fulfilling their tasks. Tell them we can exchange for anything other than grain and meat. It would be even better if they could introduce us to the farm's负责人! Here, give these two items to them as a token of appreciation."
Saying this, she reached into her large backpack and handed two pairs of oversized snow boots to Xu Ming Xuan.
Without hesitation, Xu Ming Xuan took the two pairs of snow boots from Chen Lan and quickly walked over to the brothers. He whispered with them again for a while. The brothers nodded repeatedly, their faces beaming as they accepted the snow boots from Xu Ming Xuan. They immediately took off their old shoes, put on the new snow boots, and walked around a couple of times, clearly very pleased with the gift.
Xu Ming Xuan spoke a few more words to the brothers in a low voice. The brothers nodded in agreement and whispered back. After a short while, they waved goodbye to Xu Ming Xuan and left with their belongings.
Xu Ming Xuan walked over and said, "Lan'er, Xiang Xi, let's get the fish into the cart first. It's too crowded here for private conversations. We can talk more at home."
Chen Lan immediately took out two large snakeskin bags from her backpack and packed the fish from the stall into them separately, tying the mouths shut. The three of them still carried a large backpack each. Xu Ming Xuan and Xiang Xi carried one snakeskin bag, while Chen Lan shouldered the other. They quickly started walking back.
Er Zhuang, sitting on the ox cart, saw them approaching with their belongings from a distance. He immediately jumped off the cart and ran over, intending to take the bag Chen Lan was carrying. Chen Lan glanced at Xu Ming Xuan and Xiang Xi, noticing how Xiang Xi was struggling, his waist almost unable to straighten. She immediately refused, "Er Zhuang, go help Little Watermelon! Look how hard he's struggling."
The four of them loaded all the items into the ox cart. Chen Lan asked Xiang Xi to stay and rest on the cart for a while. She was still a little reluctant to give up, wanting to see if there was anything else good she could exchange for and sell to the system. After all, such markets were rare, and they might be banned tomorrow. Opportunity knocks but once.
So, Chen Lan pulled Xu Ming Xuan, intending to browse around again. A few steps forward, Xu Ming Xuan couldn't help but ask, "Lan'er, what's this about the collective farm across the way you mentioned?"
Chen Lan thought for a moment as they walked and whispered, "A collective farm is where all the production tools, livestock, poultry, and production and operation buildings belong to the collective. The farm members engage in collective labor. The farm's total income, after deducting production costs and setting aside public accumulation funds, is distributed to individual wages for consumption based on the quantity and quality of the members' labor. At the same time, members are allowed a certain area of private land and small farm tools, and they can also raise a certain number of livestock and poultry to engage in household side businesses."
Xu Ming Xuan interjected, "That sounds quite good!"
Chen Lan remained noncommittal, unsure what to say.
Xu Ming Xuan continued to whisper, "Lan'er, what did you mean by the portion exceeding the quota?"
Chen Lan smiled and teased, "Brother Ming Xuan, don't be so impatient! I didn't realize you were so hasty. You're very much like your mother; you truly are her son."
She then continued in a low voice, "The state issues a task quota to each collective farm annually, implementing a unified state procurement system and setting procurement targets. However, this procurement quota remains unchanged for five years once it's set. For example, your collective farm must fulfill a certain amount of grain, livestock, poultry, and other agricultural products for the next five years. Then, a guaranteed agricultural labor remuneration system is implemented, and members are paid monthly wages."
Xu Ming Xuan spoke again in a low voice, "They receive wages, I think that's pretty good! In that case, the members of the collective farm are essentially agricultural workers."
Chen Lan gave Xu Ming Xuan a noncommittal glance and thought to herself, 'If you knew the price at procurement and the price when you have to buy it back, you wouldn't say that. Moreover, it's rationed; you can't buy what you want even with money and ration coupons.'
Seeing Chen Lan's silence and her glance, Xu Ming Xuan touched his nose and smiled, whispering, "I won't interrupt anymore, Lan'er. Please continue."
Chen Lan continued in a low voice, "For the portion of the collective farm's output that exceeds the planned quota after fulfilling the procurement task, the state provides certain price incentives."
Xu Ming Xuan whispered again, "Right, Lan'er, how did you know they would have a surplus this year?"
Chen Lan smiled and pretended to be mysterious, speaking in a hushed, half-joking tone, "I not only know they had a bumper harvest of corn this year, but I also know they have a surplus of other livestock and poultry. Because I'm a little fairy!"
Xu Ming Xuan snorted and said, "All of you have been poisoned by that kid Xiang Xi."