In the county town, Zhang the Second finished sending a telegram and was urging his parents to stay at ho and not return to the village. What if sothing happened when the three brothers were not around?
When it cos to a critical mont, everyone will protect their own family. Don’t be fooled by how close his father and uncle seem every day; he really doesn’t trust them.
"Dad, can others just take over the courtyard? It’s better for you not to return. If you’re not in the village, everyone will help little Wu. If you go back and sothing happens, it’s definitely you who will step up."
Mr. Zhang replied discontentedly, "What are you talking about? We don’t have any refugees here; what could possibly happen? I just miss your big uncle and little uncle."
Mother Zhang pointed out directly, "Your dad is thinking about your big aunt."
Speaking of his big aunt, Zhang the Second really had nothing to say.
Seeing his dad’s extrely unnatural expression, he laughed and said, "Are you planning sothing? Do you believe that if you tell uncle, you’ll definitely get sprayed?"
Mr. Zhang tapped him hard on the head with his pipe, "You brat, so clever."
Zhang the Second laughed heartily after being hit, "Dad, it’s not good to beco angry from embarrassnt when soone speaks the truth."
Mr. Zhang shook his head with a smile, "If your big sister is short on food, what would you do? She’s still your dad’s real sister."
"Can my sister compare with big aunt? Heh, don’t glare at . I’ll inquire for you, and as soon as there’s news, I’ll report back to you. Mom, should we also check up on my uncles’ families?"
Mother Zhang gave him a sidelong glance. Her two sisters-in-law had just sent full month gifts; was there any need to inquire? Her youngest son had already arranged everything for the family, sparing her any worries.
Zhang the Second couldn’t stand his mother’s prideful expression and wasn’t afraid of his dad being upset. His mom was getting more childlike as she aged, and that was just fine.
"I still need to make a trip to the village. I feel uneasy not doing farm work."
Zhang the Second raised his hands, "Fine, this weekend our whole family will return, just in ti to tidy up the backyard." Having said this, he saw his dad smiling and agreeing, finally feeling at ease.
However, Zhang the Second underestimated his father. As soon as he went to work, Mr. and Mrs. Zhang secretly sneaked back to the village.
"Dear, do you think our second son will recognize your handwriting? Did you make any mistakes?"
Mr. Zhang returned to the old house in a good mood, not minding his wife’s teasing, "Returning to Zhang Family Village, could it be simpler? If my handwriting weren’t so terrible, I’d have no problem writing to our youngest son."
Amused, the old couple teased each other happily.
anwhile, their youngest son, Zhang Guoqing, happily returned to the dormitory, waving the telegram.
"Jiao Jiao, second brother sent a telegram. Mom and dad have settled in his ho for a long ti now."
A few days after the telegram was sent, Zhou Jiao knew Zhang the Second would imdiately respond. Seeing Zhang Guoqing’s face full of smiles, she said with a smile, "You can sleep soundly now."
"Not yet. There are still many etings to attend this ti."
The hunger situation was very severe; it can’t continue like this. Recently, the school often called on them cadres to attend etings to find solutions.
Unfortunately, everyone was so hungry that they didn’t bother to think. Besides, coming up with solutions required leaving the campus, and no one wanted to search for food outside on an empty stomach.
Zhang Guoqing was even less inclined to be the scapegoat. If he suggested going to find food, his classmates might bla him. Moreover, he didn’t want his wife to worry herself.
No matter how much he avoided it, orders ca down from above – get food from nature. As a result, the school began holding half-day classes and half-day breaks.
Of course, the break wasn’t for them to laze around in the dormitory but to encourage the students to go out for a small harvest.
A "little harvest"? No, it was more like a small winter harvest.
The not-yet-fully-ford cabbages were taken out with the major harvest, and even if the cabbage looked bad, it was this year’s favorite.
After the major harvest, even the remains and roots of the cabbages in the field were thoroughly dug up. On this basis, the students ford groups to wander around the barren fields.
The closer they got to the outskirts of major cities, the less there was to gather. Even a blade of grass was picked clean, leaving them no choice but to return to school hungry.
After several days without any yield, coupled with the sudden cold weather, everyone started to shrink back into classrooms and dormitories again. They preferred lying in bed to conserve energy over wasting it.
Even life in the Big Courtyard beca difficult, as most of the yields from the affiliated farms and ranches were donated to local areas, reducing the daycare’s living standards, not to ntion the food in each canteen.
Zhou Jiao worried about her family, and she seized every chance to visit ho while searching for food. Previously, most of the yields from the affiliated farms and ranches had been donated to local areas, making tis hard for the Big Courtyard.
In the afternoon, after picking up Ping’an from the daycare, Zhang Guoqing cradled the child and returned ho imdiately. He felt his son had gotten much lighter and was worriedly estimating his weight.
He didn’t say anything because they were outside.
As soon as they got ho, Ping’an mischievously smiled and whispered into Zhang Guoqing’s ear, "Dad, I had my fill sharing buns with Auntie."
Zhang Guoqing, feeling a pang of sadness, touched the child’s head. Such a small thing made the child so happy. What a tough life his son was having.
"Why not skip daycare? We have plenty at ho for you to eat."
Ping’an quickly shook his head, "No way! I’m a good child; I still have to help Auntie manage the kids."
"How about we pack so more fruit and cookies in your bag?"
This ti, Ping’an shook his head and arms, "Don’t let anyone know we have good stuff at ho. Auntie said we need to save food and share with other kids."
Seeing Zhang Guoqing look at the child with an expression of mixed emotions, Zhou Jiao smiled, took the child, brought him into the bedroom, and served a bowl of egg soup and dumplings.
Ping’an took a sip of the egg soup, licked his lips, "Mom, are there any more dumplings? Grandpa hasn’t tasted dumplings in a long ti. I want to save so for him."
Zhou Jiao chuckled at his words. Who was he kidding? His grandpa just had so the other day.
"Son, Dad is so sad you didn’t save any for him. I forgot the taste of dumplings."
Ping’an giggled at Zhang Guoqing’s teasing, "Dad, you’re lying! Mom definitely gave you so."
"My son is so smart. We’ve saved so for your grandpa and grandma too. Eat them while they’re hot."
"Don’t worry about Grandma. She’ll take out to eat."
"If you do that, your Grandma might spank you."
Zhou Jiao watched the father and son teasingly bicker, sharing half a dumpling each. Shaking her head with a smile, she left them alone and exited the room. Aunt Chen was expected to return later; wonder what she went to buy this ti?
Close to the ti to pick up Ping’an, Aunt Chen ca in hurriedly with a face full of sweat, holding a net bag with ten eggs in her arms. Only after confirming Ping’an was safe and sound, playing in the living room, did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"I thought the guards at the gate were wrong. Did you all co back early today? Another holiday?"
Zhou Jiao handed her a cup of tea, "Seeing nothing major, we ca ho. Where did the eggs co from this ti? With my dad’s supplies, you didn’t have to work so hard."
"I traded for them. In front of the subsidiary food store outside the Big Courtyard was a long line, and only the first dozen people got to buy any. I exchanged half a pound of lard with a few people for these ten eggs, and I don’t know if I got a good deal or not?"
Zhang Guoqing laughed on the side, "You didn’t get a bad deal. In the market, you can’t even find feathers, let alone eggs, and even on the black market you can’t get eggs. Since we have so much lard at ho, feel free to trade, just don’t overwork yourself."
"Overwork? No way. Only after seeing eggs several tis did I get so. I need to trade more so that Ping’an can eat slowly. It’s really sothing with the daycare. It used to supply eggs, now it has nothing."
Aunt Chen put down her cup and hurriedly went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
As soon as she entered, she saw that Zhou Jiao had already prepared everything and kept it warm on the stove. She felt touched once more; compared to other families’ nannies, her days were really too comfortable.
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