Having heard that an octogenarian had grown rich by raising pigs, early in the morning on November 20, the reporter could not contain their excitement and, together with resident village work team members Hou Xuewei and Wan Shanyou, prosecutors from the Qi County People's Procuratorate, rushed to Huaxi Village, Gegang Town, Qi County. Led by village Party branch secretary Lu Cunsheng, everyone arrived at the home of the elderly Zhang Shi'an. Hearing that the reporter wanted to interview him, the warm and hospitable old man led everyone into the courtyard. The reporter saw that the courtyard where the elderly couple lives is narrow from east to west and long from north to south, with 4 main rooms facing south, and 3 west rooms with 3 pig pens to the south; inside the pens, the fat pigs eating feed were lined up in a row, which was very pleasing to see.
"We two have been raising pigs for quite a few years. In recent years, with Prosecutor Hou's help, our breeding scale has expanded, and we market about 30 pigs a year. Look, the pigs in this pen are about to be ready for market, just in time for a good price." The talkative old Zhang could not hide his excitement, and his face was wreathed in smiles.
Zhang Shi'an is 82 this year, and his wife is 83. They have 4 sons and 2 daughters, all of whom are married and established in life, and the two elders are blessed with children and grandchildren and live happily and healthily. After a lifetime of hard work, the two elders did not sit back and enjoy comfort, but have always done whatever work is within their ability. They do not rely on their children for food, clothing, housing or transportation, and they usually persist in scientific health care and in developing their economy. Although they are over 80, they are especially robust. "We have two mu of land, and now we still farm while also raising pigs as a household sideline, and the annual income is not small. Seeing that we are getting older, the children all urge us not to work anymore now that we are old and to enjoy our blessings. But my wife and I don't think that way. We feel that working gives life fulfillment, and that there is joy in old age!" Zhang Shi'an told the reporter.
Speaking of raising pigs, Zhang Shi'an told the reporter: "Before, I raised one old sow and sold the piglets, and in the end I tried raising one or two commercial pigs, and no matter whether prices were high or low, I never stopped. Well, after Hou Xuewei was assigned to the village, he heard that I was raising pigs even at such an age, so he often came to my home, chatted with me, said some encouraging things, and also invited livestock experts to help me solve technical problems in raising pigs, which gave me more confidence in raising them. At that time I bought 18 piglets at once, marketed them after more than 3 months, and made a net income of more than 5,000 yuan. A trader who came to buy pigs even said that this was the first time he had seen someone over 80 raising so many pigs."
As Zhang Shi'an spoke, he led everyone to look beside his pig pens. Taking this opportunity, the reporter counted that there were 3 pens in total here, with 26 pigs large and small. Speaking of income, Zhang Shi'an said: "Now I have one sow and practice self-breeding and self-raising. I also buy piglets from outside, market pigs twice a year, 30 or 40 in total, with a net income of more than 10,000 yuan. Look, I also bought a motor tricycle for grinding feed and hauling feed for production, and there is also an electric tricycle, which my wife and I use for leisure. When we have nothing to do, we go around the town and the city, ha ha ha..."
The elderly Zhang Shi'an laughed, and that laughter was proud and happy.