副業與市場活動的收入，在中國農家生計中佔有相當重要的地位。但是，對於政府來說，如何管理零散的農村副業與市場活動，卻是一個相當大的挑戰。本書將探討從清末至1960年代，特別是在共產黨政權下，中國政府管理農村副業與市場時所採取的政策，以及面臨的困境。
For peasants living in rural China, income from side businesses and marketplace activities played a significant role in their livelihoods. However, from the government’s perspective, regulating side businesses and markets in rural areas presented a great challenge. This book explores state policies towards rural side businesses and market activities from the late imperial era until the 1960s in China, and especially under the Communist regime, focusing on specific programs and the dilemmas they faced.