Chapter 224 (1/2)

”What do you contract those mountains for?” Asked the village head. You have to ask clearly. Although it's good for someone to contract, you can't make people lose money, can you?

”Those stones on the mountain can be used.” Guo Xiang said.

”What's the use?” Asked the village head.

”It can be used to make cement, just to build a house.” Guo Xiang explained.

”Really?” The village head was surprised that he had lived here all his life without knowing.

However, people in the past didn't use cement to build houses. It's understandable that they didn't know.

”No one in our village has ever contracted those mountains, and I don't know how to contract them.” The village head said, ”wait a minute. I'll ask someone else.”

The village head called other villages and found that none of the villages in the same situation had been contracted. Later, he asked a little farther away, mountains and forests with trees, seven yuan per mu.

”Seven dollars?” Guo Xiang and Shen Qingshan look at each other. It's not expensive.

”Why don't you go back first and I'll discuss it with other cadres in the village?” Said the village head.

These barren mountains are collective, so it's OK for the village committee to decide without going through the town.

However, because no one had contracted before, the village head has the final say.

”OK, let me know when you have news.” Guo Xiang said.

Several people went home first and climbed the mountain all morning. They were already sweating. Everyone took turns to take a bath.

Wang Guiying prepares lunch.

Guo Xiang gave her more money. Shen Qingshan and his daughter should live here for a long time. They certainly can't eat so badly as before. They often have to cook meat and vegetables.

After dinner in the afternoon, the village head called someone to inform him that the village committee had discussed it and asked them to go there.

Guo Xiang went with Gu Zhendong.

The village head, the village Party Secretary and two village cadres are also there.

”We discussed it. The mountains and forests in other villages cost seven yuan per mu. All the rocks in our village are stones. It's a little cheaper than five yuan!” Said the village head.

”Five dollars?” Guo Xiang frowned. Although it was cheaper than other places, it was still relatively high.

”Village head, because there are trees in other places, trees can be cut and sold, and houses can be built. In addition, fruit trees can be planted on the mountain and used for breeding. We can't do anything on the barren mountain. We need five yuan. Is it too expensive?”

Several village cadres looked at each other, ”didn't you say that stones can be used?”

”Although stones can be used, they are gone after mining. Unlike other mountains and forests, they can be reused. Those who grow fruit trees can make profits in ten or twenty years. You should have asked? They usually contract out for more than 15 years, right? Fifty years. But our stone mountain will be gone after two years of mining. We can't compare with others. ” Guo Xiang said.

By the 1990s, almost all the mountains and forests across the country were contracted by private contractors. Later, deforestation caused serious soil and water loss. It was not until the state began to call for afforestation that later generations began to get better.

They exploit this barren mountain. First, they don't cut it down. Second, they have no impact on soil erosion and have no regeneration ability. They can't compare with their forests.

Of course, several village cadres know, but it's not easy to contract. How can we do it if it's not expensive?

”How much did you say?” Someone asked.

”Three fifty.” Guo Xiang said.

”So cheap? Is half of the others? ” Some people are dissatisfied.