Wherever I went, Dongbei, Hebei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Yunnan and Fujian etc., when I stayed there for more than a week, people often chatted rumors like how many people died of starvation from 1960 through 1962. But when I asked if they personally saw, then they said to have heard from the people in next village, and next to next village. Not one single case was substantiated. China had excellent years in harvest from 1956 and 1957, average in 1958 and 1959, and then severe drought from 1960 through 1962 across the whole country. Usually one year drought would lead to no harvest, but the land would be still OK next year. Three year drought meant the land couldn't even produce much later even when rainfall resumes in the immediate later year. This is even true still in American today, with an example in California.
I think the CCP became arrogant after it won the civil war in such a short period and had several good years to start. But their lack of experience made things get worse, in particular, when the relationship with the ex-Soviet Union was worsened after Stalin's death. When we discuss these matters today, we should respect the historical truth, and think about how we can make improvements, but not to trigger historical resentment and carry on a historical fight forever. The nationalist party never seem to have learned anything. They never thought why they lost so badly in the mainland and now loosing for the exact same cause in Taiwan. They probably are able to trigger another civil war across the Taiwan Strait, but can they win? They will only set back the history for another 50 years.