Old Man Qian always managed to grasp the crux of the matter immediately: "If the grain supply isn't controlled properly, will someone provide additional supplies?"

Qian Xiao shook his head: "Of course not. The ration is still the same as before. How could they possibly replenish your food when you run out? Where would they get so much food?"

Old Qian sighed and said it wasn't that simple: "You brought all this scrap metal back just to hand it over?"

"Yes, I rushed to the scrap yard as soon as I heard the news. Luckily I went early enough; if I had been two days later, there wouldn't have been any iron left."

She wasn't lying; when she received the news, she actually went to the junkyard, and there wasn't even a single wire left.

"When the time comes, we'll just hand over these scrap irons. We'll hide the iron pots and such, just in case some heartless bastard comes in and buys them. We'll also hide some of the farm tools."

It's easy to hand it over, but it's impossible to get it back. You can't buy it, though, because steel is being made everywhere, and there's nowhere to buy it.

How much iron ration does a family in the county town pay?

"I think it's five jin per family, but we don't know exactly how much it should be here. I guess the difference won't be too big."

Some fools even contribute their scissors and locks from home, earning a verbal compliment, but when it comes to what they need at home, giving them away is easy, but buying them is a real hassle.

Old Man Qian stood up: "I'm going to see the village chief."

Old Man Qian felt that these things should be discussed with the village chief in advance, lest it be too late when things came to a head.

The old lady also became anxious: "Second son, third son, you two pick up the grain and hide it where you can." If it's all taken away and people eat it all, the whole family will go hungry for the rest of the year.

The women of the family also sprang into action, hiding all the iron parts they could, leaving only a tiny bit on the surface. It wouldn't make sense if there wasn't any at all.

Qian Xiao shook his head. "Tell me, how can workers and farmers make iron in such a frivolous way by setting up their own furnace?" But this matter didn't last long; it only lasted a few months before it was over.

...

When the massive steelmaking campaign began, Sun Kaicheng believed everything the host of the small system told him. Two years ago, he had already selectively told his grandfather some of these things.

My grandfather didn't say he didn't believe it, but after a few things happened, he started to take action. Although it seemed like there were still several years to go, everything had to be arranged slowly. After all, they all lived in the center of power and reason, and every move they made would be over-interpreted.

Seeing so many finished iron products being poured into the homemade furnace, Sun Kaicheng felt heartbroken. These perfectly good things were being wasted like this, but he couldn't stop it. He just wanted to graduate from university as soon as possible so he could go to work in a small place and leave this place.

Remembering his grandfather's words, Sun Kaicheng quickened his pace to go home.

"Chengcheng is back! Are you hungry? Grandma will cook right away."

"Grandma, I'm not hungry yet. What do you and Grandpa think about it?"

The old lady pulled her little grandson to sit beside her: "Once we get news from over there, your grandpa and I will go over. But we have to make it clear that you have to come and see us when you have a holiday."

"Grandma, don't worry, I will graduate from university as soon as possible. Then I will go there to find a job and stay with you and Grandpa."

"No need for that. It would be a waste for you to be so smart in that small city. Just follow your own ideas and work hard. Your grandpa and I will definitely live a good life."

Actually, it's not very obvious yet, but she and her husband no longer have the energy to continue working, so they might as well listen to their children and find a beautiful place to live out their retirement.

My spouse also said that they always feel uneasy. It's okay now, but who knows what it will be like in a few years? It's always good to plan ahead.

"We'll see when the time comes. Wherever I go to work, you and Grandpa can come with me, okay?" That way, the two elders will have someone to take care of them.

His maternal grandparents both had studied abroad, and if he didn't go into seclusion sooner or later, people would use that to attack him. He had also mentioned this to his paternal grandfather, who said he would arrange a place for him, preferably a remote one, so that there would be fewer troublemakers.

However, he didn't really know where they were going; it was a decision made by his maternal and paternal grandfathers.

...

"Boss, what can I do for you? I'll be in my car in a bit, so just say what you need to say." Qian Jiefang plopped down in a chair in the office.

The old man who was called "leader" wasn't angry. These were soldiers he had personally trained, almost like his own sons.

"You brat, can't I come looking for you if there's nothing wrong?"

“You don’t usually come to me unless it’s important. If you hadn’t told me, I would have left. You know I haven’t been home for two or three years. I’m really eager to go home this time. If I don’t go back soon, my three kids probably won’t even recognize me.”

The old leader knew that it wasn't easy for soldiers to go back home: "Have you finished cleaning up your house?"

"It's all tidied up. It's too late to plant vegetables this season, so I just did a simple tidying up of the house."

"You little rascal, I see that young people these days all like apartment buildings, why do you insist on a bungalow with a yard?" He had even saved an apartment for this brat, but the kid refused to take it no matter what.

“My daughter wrote to me saying that I should get a bungalow with a yard, where I can grow some vegetables and eat them. Besides, my family is from the countryside and we are used to living in bungalows with yards. It would feel cramped to suddenly live in an apartment building.”

"You know what, now that you mention it, it's actually better to have a single-story house. Your wife and kids are coming along too?"

Qian Jiefang shook his head: "I don't know yet. I just mentioned it and said we'd discuss it when I got home. But my daughter is unlikely to be able to come. It's too much trouble for her to go to high school here, and I'm worried about her being so far away."

Unlike back in his hometown, where some villagers still lived in the county town, so if something happened to his daughter, at least someone could send a message. But not here. The nearest high school is far away, and he has no relatives or friends here. He's really worried about her.

“You can’t let your studies be delayed. If your daughter is really as you say, she’s a real talent. You can’t let these family matters interfere with her studies. If you don’t agree, send more money back home and ask your parents to help take good care of her.”

"That's what I was thinking too. My daughter is the only girl in our family, and I guess my parents are reluctant to let her come all this way with me. What's wrong, sir? Can't you just tell me directly instead of making me guess?"