Carrying a load of sweet potatoes down a mountain is already tiring, and it took them about an hour to do so.

Gu Changbai thought about the sweet potatoes piled up on the mountain and said, "How about we go again?"

Gu Changsong looked at the already dark sky outside. If he went up the mountain now, he would have to travel in the dark when he came down.

Gu Changsong said worriedly, "How about we secretly go and bring it back tomorrow? If we go now, it will be dark. If we don't pay attention while walking and fall, the consequences could be disastrous."

Gu Changbai, however, said nonchalantly, "It's only just gotten dark, it's still early. Let's hurry up and make sure we get back before it gets completely dark."

Besides, we've done things like traveling in the dark before.

There are plenty of sweet potatoes on that mountain; it would be bad if other animals ate them.

Gu Changsong considered it for a moment, then nodded and agreed.

There is indeed not enough food at home. If it's not the busy farming season, everyone eats two meals a day and saves one.

Gu Yunyang himself eats three meals a day, but other people's families, even Gu Hanping's family, the brigade leader's family, don't eat three meals a day every day.

Without further ado, the two immediately piled up all the sweet potatoes behind Gu Yunyang's house.

Then, carrying their loads, they went up the mountain again.

They had a good plan; at worst, they could just slow down.

They've traveled at night and along mountain paths before.

When we were kids, when there wasn't enough food at home, didn't they also search for food all over the mountains and fields?

When Zhang Jianjun got off work, he planned to go to the outhouse.

I had just come out of the back door and hadn't even had a chance to turn around when I saw two loads of sweet potatoes piled up behind the house.

this?

Where did all these sweet potatoes come from?

"Did Yunyang bring it back?"

Zhang Jianjun remembered that Gu Yunyang had told him before that he and the brigade leader were going to get some grain.

He also asked Gu Yunyang for some fine grains, which he planned to buy and then mail back to the capital.

We can't let our parents and sisters eat coarse grains in Beijing; we need to save some refined grains for him.

They even gave him food coupons instead.

Their family wasn't short of money, but they still lacked grain coupons and grain, especially refined grains.

The north has been experiencing drought for a year, and things have indeed become much more difficult for my family.

"Yunyang is pretty fast. Otherwise, should I help you move it in?"

Zhang Jianjun went to the restroom first, and when he came back, he rolled up his sleeves and started moving things inside.

However, he didn't use a basket, but instead took a carrying basket, filling it two-thirds full each time before carrying it inside.

The basket is too heavy when it's full.

If you pack too little, you'll have to make more trips.

When Gu Yunyang returned, Zhang Jianjun was smiling at him, carrying half a basket of sweet potatoes on his back.

Gu Yunyang asked in confusion, "What's this?"

Zhang Jianjun said, "I saw you brought the sweet potatoes back and put them behind the door. If anyone passes by the back of the house, they will all see them. I'll bring them in first; they're all in this storage room next door."

Gu Yunyang chuckled to himself.

He hadn't paid much attention earlier; it was probably Gu Changsong and the brigade leader who went to dig sweet potatoes.

Well, it seems the brigade leader didn't go. He resolved several minor conflicts within the brigade today.

These are all trivial matters, but these seemingly insignificant things can easily ignite everyone's anger.

Gu Changhong also got into a little trouble and was scolded by the aunties in the village.

Gu Hanping looked at Gu Changhong at that moment and really didn't want to mediate for her.

In the end, to maintain the peace of the group, Gu Hanping gave both sides equal blame.

But this whole thing was caused by Gu Changhong.