"Huh? Could there be spies up in the mountains?"

Due to historical reasons, there are indeed quite a few secret agents here.

They've arrested a few people every year over the years, so they're no strangers to this kind of thing.

Gu Yunyang listened to their conversation and a thought struck him.

There's plenty of grain in this village. I wonder if we could trade with them?

These days, everyone is short of food, and some people might not even have meat once a month.

Even those who live near mountains aren't guaranteed to catch prey; this is a job not everyone can do.

"This fellow villager."

As soon as Gu Yunyang spoke, the two middle-aged women who were searching for wild vegetables and fruits immediately became alert.

"Who are you? Don't move."

Gu Yunyang was taken aback, remembering what the old woman had said about seeing a group of people going up the mountain.

They probably saw Zuo Qiulin and his group.

Now I'm coming down the mountain by myself, and I'm not a local, plus my accent is wrong.

Does this guy think he's a secret agent?

“Auntie, I’m from the capital. I’m about to go south to the countryside, so I’ve come here to find some food. I don’t know if you know, but last year East China also suffered from a major flood. The place I’m going to is nearby, so I’m afraid we won’t have any food. Look, I’ve caught a few rabbits and pheasants on the mountain. I was just wondering if you could exchange them for some grain, even coarse grains would be fine.”

Gu Yunyang certainly couldn't get used to the coarse grains at this time of year; they were too harsh on his throat.

In later generations, coarse grains were all ground into extremely fine particles using machines.

Moreover, it doesn't contain wheat bran or corn on the cob, so the taste is naturally better.

He switched places only so that Zuo Qiulin and his team could investigate.

To obtain some food for oneself openly.

To avoid being suspected if you don't have enough food later.

At worst, we can just feed them to the chickens.

He just didn't expect that his sudden appearance would be misunderstood by the old lady.

"Don't worry. The group you saw earlier will be coming down soon. I won't do anything. I'll just come to your village to exchange for some grain. Look, I have four wild rabbits here, each weighing over five pounds, and three pheasants, each weighing three or four pounds. I'll exchange them for some coarse grains at three yuan each. When they come down, I'll prove my identity. Is that alright?"

Originally, I planned to exchange the grain and leave, and then take some of the grain I got from the Gu family and mail it to Guangdong Province.

Little did he expect that this would lead to unforeseen complications.

People are too wary at this time.

Judging from their eyes, you can tell they see you as a secret agent.

“Auntie, I’m serious. I’m only sixteen years old, just graduated from high school. And I don’t have anything else on me. The line will be coming down soon, led by my brother Zuo. I have a letter of introduction, I’ll give it to you…”

"Don't move!" the old woman shouted, pointing the sickle at Gu Yunyang as if she were holding a gun.

If Gu Yunyang tried to move, the sickle would be swung at him.

Gu Yunyang smiled wryly; he wasn't afraid of the two old women.

But the current era does not allow him to act recklessly.

Even if you prove your identity later, you'll still face consequences.

"Put your hand down and tell me where the thing is."

"Fat Sister, that's enough. Let's take him back to the battalion commander. We'll wait for the soldier when the battalion commander sends someone. Go get the letter of introduction. Can you read?"

These two are funny; the slightly chubby one calls the skinny one "fat sister-in-law."

The skinny man nodded, and the two of them looked at Gu Yunyang with a death-defying expression, as if they were about to pounce on him if he made the slightest move.