I am a native farmer and have been the captain of the production team for ten years. It was from 1972 to 1981, which happened to span the end of the era of the great collective and the beginning of the division of land into households. This experience gave me a deep understanding of that era.
In recent years, there has been a general rejection of the period of collectivization. Some film and television works even portray the countryside in that era as gloomy, as if all the peasants were lazy and unable to work. Whenever I see such a description, I, an eyewitness, can't help but want to say something.
To be honest, there were quite a few problems in those days. But it would be unfair to call all peasants "lazy". I can responsibly say that the vast majority of farmers are industrious and willing to work.
Why? Listen to me slowly.
First of all, our distribution system at that time did not allow for lazy people. I remember that there was a slogan at that time called "more work, more reward", to put it bluntly, it is distribution according to work. How much work each person does and whether they do it well or not must be recorded. When dividends are distributed at the end of the year, they are distributed according to the division of work. If you are lazy and don't work, you will have less work and less in the end. Under this system, who would dare to be a lazy person?
Let's talk about labor management. There is a special division manager in the production team, who is responsible for keeping work points for everyone. While I was working, the caretaker was watching from the sidelines. If you are a foreign worker, people will know it at a glance. Not only to record attendance, but also to evaluate the base score and piece measurement. Those who do well get more work, and those who do poorly get less work, all of which are open and transparent. Under this strict management, it is not easy to be lazy.
It's also important to keep each other accountable. We rural people know that neighbors don't look up and look down. If you don't work hard, not only the captain won't be able to look at it, but even the neighbors will have opinions. Everyone eats in the same pot, and no one wants to see anyone lazy. This kind of mass supervision and social pressure is more effective than any rules and regulations.
In the final analysis, we farmers have a hard-working spirit in our bones. The affection for the land is engraved in the bones. Growing up watching the crops grow up, what farmer doesn't want good crops to grow in their fields? Even in the period of the Great Collective, this complex has not changed. Many old people often say: "The crops in the field are like their own children, how can there be any reason not to take care of them?" "
To be honest, the peasants of those days worked even harder than they do now. I get up before dawn and go to work in the fields, and I don't finish until dark. When planting in spring and harvesting in autumn, it is even more continuous. Not to mention rest days, even the New Year has to go to the ground as usual. When it comes to rushing to harvest and grab seeds, it is common to stay up all night.
I vividly remember the construction of a reservoir in our village in 1974. It was winter, and the wind was biting. But the labor force of the whole village was dispatched, and no one was lazy. Everyone carried hoes and shovels, and began to work before dawn, and did not finish work until dark. In this way, I worked for more than three months, and finally repaired a large reservoir. Can you say that this kind of drive is a lazy person?
Speaking of this, I can't help but think of the "Dazhai Spirit" and "Xiaogang Spirit". Both of these spirits embody the industriousness and wisdom of the peasants, but the background of the times is different. The spirit of Dazhai emphasizes collective struggle and hard work, while the spirit of Xiaogang embodies the courage to be the first, reform and innovation. But no matter what kind of spirit, the core is the industrious nature of the peasants.
Of course, we cannot deny the problems that exist in the era of the Great Collective. For example, in some places, there is indeed egalitarianism and eating in a big pot. But this was more due to the fact that the policies and management at that time were not perfect and could not be blamed simply on the peasants.
Looking back at that era, we should look at it objectively and fairly. At that time, the peasants were not only the witnesses of the times, but also the creators of history. They watered the land of the motherland with their sweat and made great contributions to the development of the country.
Now, our country has developed so well, and the urban and rural areas have taken on a completely new look. However, we should not forget the past. The peasants of that era, their spirit of hard work, self-reliance, and selfless dedication deserve to be remembered forever.
Dear readers and friends, what do you think of the peasants in the era of the great collective? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. Let us restore the truth of history together, inherit the excellent quality of farmers, and contribute our strength to rural revitalization.