When the water in the fields had receded to a depth of about half a finger, the person Liu Donglai had sent to buy sweet potatoes in Yibai City in the neighboring province returned.

I bought over two million kilograms of sweet potatoes for 30 kilograms for just one cent.

This price is quite cheap, partly because these are sweet potatoes stored from last year, which are dry and tough and not very tasty, and partly because the new sweet potatoes in the field are growing very well, and there will definitely be a bumper harvest in the fall.

The people in Yibai City weren't affected by the disaster, so they were happy to exchange these things for money.

Even when the sweet potatoes were being loaded onto the truck, the director of the Yibai City Grain Bureau still thought that Huichuan County was buying them to feed the disaster-stricken people!

The two million jin of sweet potatoes were distributed among the 11 communes and 345 production brigades of Huichuan County according to the number of people.

Now every household is making maltose, and the air over the entire Huichuan County is filled with a sweet aroma.

Both brown sugar and white sugar were scarce commodities that required ration coupons. Ever since every household in Huichuan County started producing sugar, people from neighboring counties would secretly buy it and resell it, making a considerable profit from each transaction.

However, selling maltose is not a job that anyone can do. You need to be bold and careful, otherwise if you get caught, you will be charged with speculation and profiteering.

People from neighboring Xiaocheng County, Jingtao County, Haiming County, and even Yibai City in Shandong Province, which borders Huichuan County, come to Huichuan County to sell maltose. The comings and goings are quite lively.

Those who come from afar and stay at the homes of fellow villagers should at least be paid for their lodging.

Therefore, now almost every household can see cash.

The people Liu Donglai sent to Beizhang City to buy potatoes and sorghum have also returned. In Huichuan County, the distribution is based on the number of people: adults get 20 jin of sorghum and 50 jin of potatoes, while children under the age of fourteen get 10 jin of sorghum and 30 jin of potatoes each.

Because Liu Donglai had a long-standing relationship with the mayor of Beizhang City, he shamelessly bought and sold the sorghum and potatoes at half price. In this way, the county's money was almost all spent.

The director of the Finance Bureau always has a long face. Huichuan is now completely destitute and can't afford any more trouble.

In his opinion, the people would just go out to escape the famine and it would pass in a while, so why spend all the money on this?

Unexpectedly, as soon as he hinted at this idea, Liu Donglai frowned and gave a cold smile, "Why don't you take the lead in making felt?"

"Rolling felt" is equivalent to begging for food.

When people go out begging, they don't have time to wash up. They wear the same clothes during the day and use them as blankets at night. They are dirty all over, and their hair is greasy and full of lice. It's like a wool blanket being rolled into felt. So, in Huichuan area, begging is vividly called "rolling felt."

When the director of the finance bureau saw Liu Donglai's expression, he was too frightened to say anything.

Anyway, I get my salary every month, whether you spend it or not is none of my business!

In the height of summer, there is plenty of purslane, lamb's quarters, silverweed, and yellow sprouts. Mixing them with whole grains can make a living.

And so, not a single person from Huichuan County went out to flee famine and make felt!

With everyone making a living, and with Kong Xiaolong and his gang either executed or imprisoned, no one dared to mess with Lijiapo anymore.

"Second brother, second brother!"

Li Ping ran breathlessly to the west room of the Li family's house.

"What's wrong? Are you being chased by wolves?"

Li Xiangdong put down the book in his hand, the Chinese history book given to him by Grandma Jiang, and told him to brush up on his history first.

"Second brother, it's not a wolf, no, it's much scarier than a wolf!"

Li Ping picked up the water glass on the table, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. "Guess who's here?"

Judging from Fifth Sister's appearance, there's no need to guess; it must be her mother Zhao Sufang's family members who have arrived.

Li Xiangdong casually asked, "Is it Second Grandfather?"

Li Ping nodded.

"And Second Grandmother with Uncle Zhuzi?"

Li Ping clapped his hands excitedly, "That's right! I just saw the three of them coming at the village entrance, so I quickly ran home to tell you."

"Hurry up and put away the good food, or it will all be gone in a moment."

Li Ping muttered to himself as he hurriedly stuffed the candy, pork, and stewed fish that were outside into various places.

Li Xiangdong found it amusing. In his past life, his family's life was not as good as his second aunt's. Even when his second maternal grandfather came to Lijiapo, he never visited his family. Instead, he relentlessly plundered his second aunt's house.

Aunt Zhao Sufeng had a lot to say but couldn't, so she often came to his house to complain. When Li Ping and Li Jiabao heard this, they felt that they couldn't associate with their maternal grandfather's family.

Just as Li Ping finished packing his things, he heard his second aunt Zhao Sufeng's loud voice coming from the yard, "Second Uncle, Sufeng's family is doing very well now. The good life of every family in our Lijiapo brigade is all thanks to my brother-in-law and second nephew."

"Why would I lie to you?"

“It’s not that I’m stingy or that I don’t care about my second uncle and aunt’s meals. It’s just that you’ve been coming to my house for so many years, and I’m afraid you’re tired of it. I’m just giving Sufang a chance to show her filial piety.”

"Yes, that's for sure! Sufang was raised by you, Second Aunt. Yes, right!"

I couldn't hear what my second maternal grandfather said, but my second aunt's loud voice was really loud; what a clever way to shift the blame.

However, Second Grandfather must have heard about the Lijiapo incident, which is why he allowed Zhao Sufeng to lead them over.

Otherwise, why didn't they come when their family was struggling before? Auntie must have started thinking about not entertaining Uncle this year after giving birth!

Li Jin and Zhao Sufang, one supervising the shrimp pond and the other working at the cannery, were both away from home.

Hearing footsteps approaching the door, Li Xiangdong put on his shoes, came out to greet everyone.

"Second Aunt, Second Grandfather, Second Grandmother, Uncle Zhuzi!"

Having barely seen them in his previous life, Li Xiangdong had a very faint memory of his second maternal grandfather's family. He carefully examined the group of people.

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