Bedroom, Gansu (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.
Under Development
(Part 5)
Complication
On
Monday morning Justin’s phone rang as he stood on the rise at the end of the potholed
main street of the village. It was Lily the interpreter.
“We
are almost at the village. We will see you soon. I am with the deputy mayor and
Mr Liu”
“Are
you feeling better?”
“Yes.
My stomach is fine. No problem now.”
A
black SUV rolled into the main street and stopped outside Zhao’s house. Justin
arrived back just after them.
The
deputy mayor got out with Lily. He looked like a carbon copy of the mayor.
Justin suppressed a grim smile. Probably his brother, or a cousin... He nodded
and extended his hand. “Nin hao. Mr ?”
“Chang.”
said Lily.
“Very
good to meet you Mr Chang.”
“Yes
very good. I am come to help you with project.” His English was accented but
understandable.
He
turned to Lily and spoke quickly in Chinese. “He asks if it ok to speak Chinese.
He wants to explain more about the government’s plans.” she said.
Justin
nodded. He saw Lily cast her eyes around the house. Zhao Shuhui had kept
herself out of sight. Probably a good
thing. He blushed as a vision of her slipping into his bed the previous night
came to him. Staying over the weekend with her and her brother had made this
project even more complex. Oh Shuhui, what
have we done?
Lily
began to speak again and he snapped his attention back to the conversation.
“The
deputy mayor says the country government has a plan to build a food processing
factory in the town. This is a very efficient way to process the crops from the
villages. The factory will pay the farmers good prices, then sell the food in
the city. It is very possible.”
“That
sounds ok I guess.” said Justin slowly. “Who will own the factory?”
“The
county government will own it. The people’s
county government.” The deputy mayor smiled and nodded vigorously.
“That
means the people will own it.” Lily added triumphantly. Mr Liu stood beside the
deputy mayor and nodded.
“What
are the other options?” Justin looked in the direction of Mr Liu. “I know the
villages already have some equipment. Surely it would be good for them to do
the processing themselves? Doesn’t the Ministry of Agriculture encourage co-operatives
for that sort of thing?” Liu nodded again and began to reply, but the deputy mayor
answered for him.
“The
villagers do not know how to use them properly and make poor quality products.
The factory will be much better.”
“Maybe
they just need some training. Isn’t the goal of the project to increase the self-reliance
of the villages, not become more dependent on outsiders?”
Lily
conferred with Chang quickly in Chinese, then turned to Justin. “The factory is
not outside Mr Justin. The county will become more self-reliant.” The deputy
mayor smiled. “You see. We have a good plan.”
Justin
frowned. “What about the trees. This species of poplar dies off after 30 years
or less. The hills will need to be replanted or the erosion will come back.”
“No
problem. We just plant more.” said the deputy mayor.
“With
seedlings from the town nursery again?”
“Yes.
Of course. Top quality.”
The
next day Justin rose early and headed to the train station. He climbed aboard a
train to the provincial capital Lanzhou and then a few hours later arrived and
got into a taxi to the ministry of Forestry. Lily accompanied him to translate
if necessary but the English speaking official was on hand and happy to assist.
After two hours received ‘in principal’ agreement for the idea of getting the
villagers to raise seedlings in the greenhouses over the winter to plant out
next spring. The ministry would still get their cut selling the seedlings to
the villagers. They returned by train in the late afternoon for another dinner
with the mayor. In between drinks Justin tried to subtly suggest that if the
Ministry of Forestry was in agreement that the alternative tree plan it might
be better for the villagers. The mayor would have none of it and jovially
insisted on raising numerous toasts.
In
the morning Justin sat in his office typing up the report with the assistance
of several painkillers. Just before lunch the phone went.
“Hi
Justin, it’s Stacey. I’ve just had the Ministry of Forestry on the phone.
They’re not happy and want to revert to the original proposal to plant poplar
from the local nursery.”
“What?
They agreed to my proposal just yesterday.”
“Maybe,
but that’s not what they’re telling me this morning.”
“The
mayor must have been on to them.”
“Probably.”
“But
that just means the county government and their buddies will cream off most of
the project funds and the villagers will get hardly anything out of it. Same
with the factory.”
“I
understand how you feel. But it’s difficult here...”
“Damn.”
He shook his head. “The Ministry’s own data says other species are better. This
is crazy.”
“Maybe,
but apparently poplar is popular.”
“Ha
ha. Maybe the villagers just take their own cuttings from the existing forest and
raise the seedlings that way? Bypass the local government and the ministry
completely. They know how to grow stuff. I’ve seen their crops and gardens. And
all the villages all seem to have spare greenhouses.”
“If
the Ministry is backing the county government on the tree species they’re
unlikely to go with that idea either. I can’t see the project being approved if
you go that way.”
He
sighed. “Ok. I’ll keep thinking on that one. I want to get the Ministry of Agriculture
to pitch in too with co-operative training and some help with organising the
processing side of the project. The county government won’t like that either
but there is equipment here and the villagers will benefit far more of they can
do it themselves. This project is supposed to about helping the villagers
improve their lives, not enriching the local government…”
Stacey
laughed. “I’ll look forward to hearing from the Ministry of Agriculture in due
course then.” Justin smiled. She sounded much less stressed than a week earlier
when things had started to go pear shaped on several projects.
“Probably.
Or the mayor directly.” said Justin. He took a breath. “Stacey… there’s
something else I want to talk to you about. The donor is supposed to turn this
around quickly right? So we can get it up and running for next planting season.”
“Yes,
that’s right. That’s why we need your report pronto.”
“Yes.
And you’ll need someone here to keep things moving. I’m wondering what the
chances are of me staying here in Gansu and managing this project? I really
want this thing to work, and I’m, umm, kind of getting attached to the place…”
When
he finally hung up his phone it rang again a few seconds later. An unknown
number. He frowned and pushed the button to take the call. “Hello?”
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 6) Realisation (Finale), here.
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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