Before long, several squad leaders also arrived.

When they saw several young men from their own village, they immediately started kicking them.

Those young men didn't dare to slip away.

You can run away from the monk, but you can't run away from the temple.

Their grain rations are all with the brigade. If they run away, aren't they afraid of being severely punished by the brigade?

I wouldn't report it to the police; the brigade handles these kinds of things themselves.

Gu Hanping asked in a deep voice, "I've explained this to everyone repeatedly yesterday. We need to use the money from selling these lychees to buy fertilizer. You've all noticed the weather, haven't you? If the drought continues, the water level in our wells has dropped, hasn't it? What will we eat next year if the drought continues?"

These are words of wisdom and prudence.

The squad leaders naturally did not object.

The grain supply was a matter of great importance to the production brigade and to the livelihoods of the villagers.

"How about this, deduct thirty work points from each of them."

Although the work points of the Red Flag Brigade were not worth much, they were still deducted from the rations.

If you don't have enough work points, they won't even give you rations.

A man can only earn ten work points a day.

Only twelve are given during the busy farming season.

This means three days of work were wasted.

"No!" the young men cried out immediately. "We just wanted to try it, we didn't mean to steal it."

"Bullshit!" Gu Hanping jumped up and shouted, "If I hadn't been worried about you tonight, you would have taken the stuff away long ago. If you only wanted to taste it, would you have been able to carry that basket dozens of meters away?"

Gu Hanping's words made the other squad leaders feel embarrassed.

Isn't this blatant lying through one's teeth?

And thankfully, they didn't suggest taking some of it to their village to store yesterday.

Because this place is close to the exit from the mountain.

The cowshed is also closer to here.

If I agree to their request, my things will be stolen that night.

They've completely lost face.

Most importantly, you lose something and don't even know what to say.

This is something we'll sell to buy fertilizer.

"What's going on?" Hao Pingping came over carrying a basket. Gu Yunyang sniffed it and could smell the fragrance in the air.

Sweet potatoes, and some pancakes.

Looks like they've come to deliver breakfast.

Gu Hanping didn't say much, quickly brought over the things, and suggested, "Secretary Gu and I are going to the city to take care of things. Today, it's just you few squad leaders in the brigade discussing and handling things together."

These people stole things; they all lost thirty work points.

These night watchmen, they were supposed to get eight work points, but they're deducting four more from their pay.

"No, Captain!"

"Neglecting your duties? People like you would be shot sooner or later if you were in the military!"

Gu Yunyang remained silent. Gu Hanping had handled the situation correctly, and he didn't want to plead for them.

Although several people gave him meaningful glances and pleaded with him.

But if you do something wrong, you must be punished.

If everyone does something wrong, they can just plead for leniency and admit their mistake, and there will be no punishment.

They'll definitely do it again next time.

Gu Yunyang simply made up an excuse: "I'll go and hitch up the oxcart. Let's set off."

He took a few steps, took out some food he had prepared, and stuffed it into the tattered crossbody bag.

When they arrived at the cowshed, Old Zheng was already awake.

Gu Yunyang simply brought him a homemade egg pancake.

Anyway, he doesn't lack food.

Old Zheng hesitated for a moment, but still accepted.

Then they helped harness the oxcart, and Old Zheng asked, "Do you want me to come along?"

Gu Yunyang considered that he would need to drive two oxcarts, and his beast-taming ability could handle that.

However, I shouldn't overdo it.

"Alright, then let Gu Honglan take care of the cowshed as well."

By the time they arrived in their oxcart, the squad leaders had already taken the men away, leaving only Gu Hanping and two middle-aged men, both of whom were strong and robust.

These are the people who will help move the fertilizer later.

"Let's hurry up and bring the lychees up, let's get going."