Gansu Landscape (Photo: M. Griffiths)
Read Under Development - (Part 1) Frustration here.
Read Under Development - (Part 2) Distraction here.
Read Under Development - (Part 3) Elation here.
Read Under Development - (Part 4) Deflation here.
Read Under Development - (Part 5) Complication here.
Under Development
(Part 6)
Realisation
“Stacey,
I’ve spoken with the Ministry of Agriculture. They’re keen on the rural co-operative
idea for the project. They have used it successfully further west near Shandan.
They can do the training and help set them up over the winter. They like the
idea of stretching the money further too. They’re under pressure to improve
incomes in Gansu province. They’ve been lagging a behind apparently.”
“Good.
Still no movement from the Ministry of Forestry though.” said Stacey. “Any luck
at your end?”
“No,
not yet but we’re still working on it. Just don’t know how we’re going to
convince the mayor that increasing the villagers’ incomes is more important
than increasing his own. Can the Ministry of Agriculture talk to Forestry
maybe?”
“It’s
a joint project, neither has power over the other so I’m not sure we can rely
on that. You’ll have to try and convince them at your end.”
“Yeah.
Ok.” He scratched his head. Easier said
than done. “Thanks for all your help Stacey. I think this could be a good
project, but I’d hate to see it derailed by vested interests.”
“Yeah.
Well, we’ll do what we can.”
Justin
put his phone in his pocket, went back inside and sat down in the living room of Zhao’s house and sipped
tea. “I’m almost finished the final report Zhao. I’m going to recommend that instead
of spending lots of money on machinery I think the project should focus on
helping the villagers do most of the work themselves - provide seeds, training
on how to raise tree seedlings, all the villages have empty greenhouses to do
it in...” - Zhao Rusheng nodded agreement. - “…and then they can plant them out.
The Agriculture department can help organise the villagers into a co-operative
to share the machinery and process the crops that way. The Ministry can do
training for that. The co-ops can manage the selling of the produce in the city
too. Better than letting some middle man in the town take most of the profits.
It will mean the project funds go further and more villages can be involved.”
Zhao
Rusheng smiled. “I think you have very good plan.”
“I’m
not sure I can get it all to work though.” said Justin. And he certainly wasn't looking forward to his meeting with the mayor later in the morning.
“One
step at a time. That is a phrase yes?” said Zhao.
Justin
sighed. “Yes.”
The
mayor shook his head. He put his cigarette to his lips, inhaled and then expelled
a long stream of smoke that floated up to the stained ceiling of his office. Lily
concentrated hard on her translation as he rattled off his response. “I think
there are many practical problems with your plan. Where will the villages find
labour for the extra work? Many people have gone to towns and cities to work. The
town has ample labour available and you know it is the Chinese government’s
policy to encourage urbanisation. The factory will provide employment and be
much easier to manage.”
Justin
rubbed his chin. “I can understand that the factory meets some of your
objectives Mr Mayor. However, I think that for the benefit of the villages we
should consider a different approach for this project. Processing crops in the
village will provide useful employment there and increase incomes much more than
in the town. It is true that many villagers go to the city to work but removing
the eroding hillside land from cultivation will mean that the existing farmers
will have fewer fields and more time for other work. And if incomes increase
through processing and the new tree crops there will be more jobs available to
for some of the locals to come back for.” Justin glanced at Mr Liu sitting next
to the mayor. His eyes were focussed on the papers in front of him.
“And
the Ministry of Forestry has changed their minds about the villagers raising
trees but I know the local people can do that. The county nursery I’m sure will
be busy with all the road works and other planting. I am hoping you will
consider helping me to change their minds back to my original proposal.” Justin
knew he was pushing his luck with that one. The mayor had made it clear that he
intended to help his brother-in-law’s nursery find some new customers.
The
mayor shook his head. “Not possible. The Ministry has its own rules and we must
follow those.”
After
the meeting Lily waited until they were in the car before speaking. “The mayor is
not happy that you are trying to change everything.”
Justin
flushed. “Lily, are you working for me or the mayor? I’m working for the
villagers. That is what this project is about. Not the mayor’s relatives!”
Lily
blanched. “Of course I work for you Mr Justin. Do not be upset.” She placed her
hand on his arm. “I try to help you. He is very important man you know. You
should not make him angry. The county government is an important partner in the
project so we need his support.”
“I
know. I know.” Justin leaned back in his seat and stared out the window. When
they arrived at the village Justin sought out Zhao Rusheng. “Zhao. I forgot to
ask the mayor about the transport of the crops. Donkey carts are ok to get to
town but the city is a long way away. How will the crops get to the city?
“The
town has a truck company. The trucks will take the crops to the city. No
problem.”
Justin
pondered the dust beneath his feet for a while. He looked up at Zhao. for a
while. “Dare I ask who owns the truck company?”
Zhao
nodded. “Of course. The county government.”
Justin
sighed. “So even if they don’t get the nursery or the factory, the local
government will get its cut of the profits from the doing the transport, yes?”
Zhao
nodded.
“Will
be that be enough to keep the mayor happy?”
“Maybe.
I don’t know”
Lily
walked over with her phone to her ear. “Mr Liu is coming to talk with you. He
will be here soon.”
A
few minutes later Mr Liu hopped out a government car and shook Justin’s hand.
He smiled broadly. “Hello Mr Justin. You must finish you report very soon yes?
Justin nodded.
“The county government wants
this project to go ahead.”
Justin
shrugged. “The report is almost finished but the mayor still does not agree
with my recommendations.”
Liu
nodded slowly. “The mayor is very want to support economic development in the
county. But sometimes he focus on the town too much I think. I try to tell him
we need to help villages too. He says a strong town will make the villagers
better off.” He took Justin’s arm and moved them away from Lily. “I talk to
deputy mayor again. After some thinking the deputy mayor agree with your plan.”
“That’s
great news. Can he convince the mayor to change his mind?”
Liu
nodded. “I told him the mayor may have reason to change his mind soon. To avoid
some,…problems.”
“How
exactly will that happen?”
He
glanced back at Lily and lowered his voice. “The mayor may be under
investigation soon for corruption. The mayor has lots of business. Too many I
think. After the investigation starts the deputy mayor will become mayor.”
“Oh.
Ok…How did they know to investigate him.”
Liu
leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I already told you on the phone some days
ago, Mr Justin, I have contacts too.” He straightened up. “When the mayor go
away and deputy mayor becomes mayor, I can help project even more.” Liu smiled
broadly and patted him on the back. “I will be the new deputy mayor.”
After
Liu departed Lily chatted to Zhao and Justin gathered up his papers and laptop
and placed them in the landrover. He looked around yard but Shuhui was nowhere
to be seen. He motioned Lily toward the car. “Lily, you hop in. I won’t be
long.” Lily hesitated, said goodbye to Zhao and then climbed in. Justin walked
over to Zhao. “Where is your sister? I want to say goodbye to her.”
Zhao
looked at him for several moments and then pointed up the hill behind. “She
went for a walk. I think you will find her up there.”
Justin
panted as he climbed the slope. The tune of the old song, 50 ways to leave your lover, leapt uninvited into his mind. He
tried to shake it out as he walked up a winding dirt path. This was not goodbye. Hopefully.
He
found her gathering mushrooms among the trees. “Hi.”
She
didn’t look up.
“Shuhui.
I’ve come to say goodbye.” He paused. “I mean just for now. I have to go back
to Beijing to present this report. We have to talk to the donors and the
Ministry officials and convince them it will work. Hopefully it will be
approved very soon and I can come back to manage the project.”
She
slowly stood up and turned to face him. “You will come back soon, yes?”
He
felt a weight in the pit of his stomach. “I hope so.” He looked at her. “No, better
than that. I will be back. I promise.”
She
looked down and shook her head. “I don’t believe you. You prefer city girls
like Lily.” She almost spat out the name. “And Beijing has lots of pretty
girls.”
“No.
Shuhui please. That’s not …” He saw her eyes becoming moist. “I want…” He bit
his lip momentarily as he thought about what he was about to say. “I want to be
with you.”
She
sniffed. “You promise come back?”
“Yes.
I promise.”
They
hugged for a long time and then finally parted. Shu wiped her face on her
sleeve. “Zai jian.” See you.
“Yes.
Soon.”
He
walked back down the hill, shook hands with Zhao Rusheng and was just about to
get into the car when he saw a van with loud speakers crawl along the main
street. An announcement blared, stopped, then repeated as the van moved through
the village. Justin strained to understand the Chinese words but couldn’t make
it out. He turned to Zhao. “What is it saying?”
“It
is announcing a new socialist education campaign.” said Zhao.
“What
does that mean for you and the school?” said Justin.
“Nothing
much.” He shrugged and then grinned. “Except they will increase the taxes and
keep the money.”
********
Tell me what you think. Constructive comments welcome.
If you like the story share with it with your friends.
If you like the story share with it with your friends.
********
Read Under Development - (Part 1) Frustration here.
Read Under Development - (Part 2) Distraction here.
Read Under Development - (Part 3) Elation here.
Read Under Development - (Part 4) Deflation here.
Read Under Development - (Part 5) Complication here.
Come back for a new story here next week.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Founders House Publishing have just released the anthology:
After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis
The anthology includes my story Promised Land. Part of my North Queensland Trilogy.
"Founders House is happy to announce that the latest collection of science fiction stories in the ongoing After Oil series is available.
After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis - Edited by John Michael Greer
John Michael Greer, author and host of the popular weekly peak-oil blog, The Archdruid Report, returns with another collection of twelve tales of the post-oil future. As Industrial civilization staggers beneath its myriad disfunctions, ordinary people endure the long, slow decline that shapes the years of crisis. The old world passes away an a new age takes shape."
The anthology is available now in various formats from Founders House Publishing.
The first anthology: After Oil: SF Visions of a Post-Petroleum World, is available from the publishers, Amazon (Amazon) or, in Australia, from Fishpond (Fishpond).
MORE STORIES....
The Nature of Love - A couple in love enjoy a day out in nature but something is amiss...
The Nature of Love - A couple in love enjoy a day out in nature but something is amiss...
My Crazy China Trip - (Humour) A novice traveller gets more than he bargains for during 15 days in China. (10 Parts)
Love at First Flight - A foreign teacher arrives in China and falls in love with a local, but the path of true love is anything but smooth. (5 parts)
Trial by Fire - When a woman in Tibet self-immolates two witnesses face a dangerous dilemma. (4 parts)
Arrested Development - A development consultant in China finds life getting out of control. [Rated R] SHORTLISTED for the Lord Grimdark Award. See the list here.
Beijing Private Eyes - Drama, Romance, Karaoke, Kidnap! A foreign teacher in Beijing meets an attractive stranger and offers to help, then things get complicated. (A long story in 8 parts)
Tell him he's dreaming - An engineer has an environmental epiphany but things don't work out as planned. GAINED 5th PLACE in the New Zealand Writers College Short Story competition. See the list of finalists here.
Entries in the post-industrial / peak oil short story competition:
My story 'Promised Land' has been selected for the forthcoming anthology "After Oil 2: The Years of Crisis". You can read the other entries here.
A previous set of stories was published in 2012 in a book entitled After Oil: SF Visions of a Post-Petroleum World, available from Amazon (Amazon) or in Australia from Fishpond (Fishpond).
Stories set in China:
Winds of Change – In 2022 a migrant worker struggles to realise his dreams and fulfil his family obligations.
Outside In – It's 2050, the country and economy have changed. A recycler studies for an exam to improve his prospects, and an indentured servant plans her escape.
Seeds of Time – (Sequel to Outside In). In 2055 rural China prospers again after a period of dramatic changes, then things are complicated by a strange visitor and a hidden object.
Stories set in Australia: A North Queensland Trilogy
Robots on Mars – 2025. A space-mad city boy adjusts to life in the country and tries to solve a mystery. (Note: no actual robots or Martians involved)
Promised Land – (Sequel to Robots on Mars). It’s 2050 and development threatens the rural district. Is it what they really need and if not, how can they stop it?
Heart of Glass - (Sequel to Promised Land). The year is 2099, high school graduates prepare to step into adulthood and the community prepares to celebrate the turn of a new century.
Tell me what you think. Constructive comments welcome.
If you like the story share with it with your friends.
If you like the story share with it with your friends.
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