Returning to my hometown to visit the four strange phenomena during the holidays, almost every family has them, and each one is more real than the other
Full-time farmers are rare.
During my days in my hometown, I discovered that full-time farmers were rare. Much of the farmland has been abandoned, some farmers have leased it to others, and some have drastically reduced the area under cultivation. Some farmers even take farming as a side hustle and do odd jobs in their spare time to earn money. While this may increase their income, I am beginning to worry about the impact this phenomenon may have on our food security. If more and more peasants stop working full-time as farmers, and if their children go to the cities to work, how will the food rations for the 1.4 billion people be guaranteed?
The life of the five guaranteed households.
In rural areas, building houses has become fashionable. However, I have noticed that some people build houses with very high floors and almost countless rooms. This makes me a little puzzled, why build such a high floor and so many rooms? Cleaning once a week is definitely tiring, and these large houses are usually only inhabited by the elderly. Perhaps, it would be more practical to build fewer rooms and invest or save the rest.
I also found that some poor families in rural areas live in extreme poverty. Even if they work hard, their monthly income is still low and they are unable to improve their living conditions. Even if there are children who go out to work, the money they earn is only enough to spend on themselves, and it is difficult to bear the responsibilities of providing for the elderly and supporting their parents. This situation, coupled with the fact that many farmers do not pay social insurance premiums, makes it impossible for them to receive social pensions after retirement, and can only continue to work outside the home to earn money to survive their old age.
The problem of marrying an older woman.
I have heard more than once that older young men are mentally prepared to become five-guarantee households, but this also makes me think about how the problem of older young women getting married will be solved. In the past, people always thought that only having children could be considered happy, and looked down on the five guarantee households. But now, I have gradually learned about the life of the five guarantee households, and I feel that they live a freer and more elegant life than some families with children. Five-guarantee households do not have mortgages and financial pressures, and do not have to bear the responsibility of raising children. They can also receive certain subsidies and subsidies, and their lives are no worse than those of other families. From this point of view, is it really acceptable for a person to marry an older leftover girl, and is it just a fixed pattern of social thinking that affects our perception?
Rural Change and Reflection.
During my time at home, I saw some changes in the countryside, which made me start to reflect on some issues. The peasants no longer farm full-time, the boom in family construction, the livelihood of the five-guarantee households, and the problem of older leftover women marrying all have their own causes and influences. Rural development needs more attention and political support to protect the interests of farmers, encourage young people to return to their hometowns to start businesses, and improve the quality of life of rural populations.
From a personal point of view, I am convinced that rural development cannot be solved by one or two measures. We should think about how to create more opportunities for rural areas, raise peasants' income levels, and promote rural economic prosperity. At the same time, we should also be hospitable to the living conditions of different families, respect everyone's choices, and reflect on our own definition of happiness. Perhaps, we can take inspiration from the life of the five guarantee households and seek a more relaxed and free lifestyle.