As soon as Cheng Chao opened the door, he realized something was wrong. It wasn't their people, their vehicle, or the tractor they were waiting for; it was an old truck.

When two men came looking for his sister, Cheng Chao's vigilance immediately rose to its peak, and he couldn't hide his chilling aura.

Who are you looking for?

The other person was clearly startled by his sudden hostility, taking several steps back before carefully surveying their surroundings, scratching their head.

"Brother, is this the place?"

The other person was also a little confused.

"That's exactly what Director Cheng was talking about, the first small courtyard at the foot of the mountain when you enter the village, that's right."

But Xiao Jian, a former educated youth, was a woman. Why has she been transformed into a man?

"Did they move? Should we go back to the commune and ask?"

The people inside, seeing that Cheng Chao had opened the door but hadn't returned, started calling out to him.

"Brother Chao, how come you ended up getting yourself kicked out just by opening the door?"

Jian Dan came out of the house carrying a plate and saw everyone craning their necks, so she asked,

What are you all doing? Aren't you hungry?

"Brother, are you back for dinner?"

Hearing the noise, the person outside perked up immediately. Ignoring the intimidating man in front of him, he started shouting from outside.

"Comrade Xiao Jian, Comrade Jian, is that you?"

"It's me, it's me! We met at Director Cheng's place last time, didn't we?"

She paused briefly, then lifted her leg and walked towards the door. She couldn't recall the voice, but if it was Director Cheng, she could vaguely remember him. After all, she had only interacted with Director Cheng a few times, so she could filter out those who had crossed paths.

However, she really doesn't remember people well. She looked at them several times but couldn't match them up, though they did look somewhat familiar.

A hint of doubt appeared on his face.

"You're looking for me?"

"Huh? Little sister, you really don't recognize me?"

As he spoke, the man vigorously pulled at his hair in front of him, trying to reveal his entire face more clearly.

"Me, little sister, I, um, Director Cheng introduced us, ah, I, haven't you remembered yet?"

I felt like a line flashed by, but it was too fast to catch.

The man was extremely anxious, but worried about the other people present, so he didn't dare call out to anyone else. Hesitantly approached the doorway.

"Hey girl, um, that pot, the iron pot, the iron pot, do you remember now?"

After being reminded, Jian Dan remembered who this person was.

"Oh, you're that driver?"

"Yes, that's me, I am who I am."

The simple explanation only added to the confusion.

"So you came to see me because... you need something?"

Hearing that he recognized the person, Cheng Chao lowered his guard slightly and opened the door.

"Come in and talk?"

The driver finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Why was it so difficult to find someone?

As Jian Dan followed the two to the side to talk, the people in the yard looked at each other and laughed.

Especially several educated youth,

"Haha, aren't we being a little too tense?"

"That's a bit of an overreaction."

The atmosphere between the driver, Liang Dashan, and Jian Dan was somewhat strained.

"Comrade Jian, think about it, I really had no other choice but to remember the bag of food you gave me back then."

Hey, Comrade Jian, could you please help me? I've searched all around here, and even covered the entire provincial capital, but I haven't found anything like yours. I'm really at my wit's end. I was wondering if you have any connections.

Don't worry, I won't ask anything or say anything, as long as there's something there.

Besides, I only found out you lived here after asking Director Cheng at the Public Security Bureau. I can't possibly cause him trouble, can I?"

"no,"

Jian Dan was also very puzzled. How could someone as low-key as her find her?

"Brother, how did you figure out I have connections?"

Liang Dashan chuckled.

"Comrade Jian, tell me, what haven't we seen, given how we're always out and about?"

I didn't think much of the thing you gave me back then, since it was nearby.

I looked at it and it was much better than what I bought myself, so I figured I wouldn't mind taking a few more bites and would bring it home for my child to eat.

But then, to everyone's surprise, when I got to work, I found a string of them. I don't know who took them to our boss's office.

Hey, you guys don't know, our leader is very selfless. He immediately sent the food to the canteen, and the workers were so happy eating it. The next day, our leader asked me where I bought it.

Tell me, how could I dare let him know that I accepted your gift? I didn't dare to say anything either; I just said we bumped into each other on the road.

Lately, the city's food supplies have been running low, so they sent us out again. It just so happens that this is my turn, so I thought I'd come and ask if it'll work out. I've already given up hope.

"no,"

The more she talked, the more confused she became; she was starting to see stars.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, brother, it's been too long, I can't remember what I gave you back then?"

That's the truth. Jian Dan doesn't really remember people who aren't important to her anyway, and besides, it's been so long. She hurriedly stuffed something into his bag, I think there was an apple or an orange in it, but I can't remember anything else.

"Little millet, girl, there are several pounds of millet in there, even better than what we supply. The millet porridge made from it is a beautiful golden brown."

Jian Dan really couldn't remember, but that year there was a disaster and severe food shortages, so who knows, she might have actually given some back then.

"Brother, you know that our village is short of food right now. Do I look like I have any food?"

"Sister, let's be frank. I'm really in trouble right now. I know that life is tough for us farmers. Actually, it's the same in the city. The grain ration is only one-fifth, at most one-quarter, of what it used to be. Each worker has at least seven or eight people with him, and each family is struggling to make ends meet."

"Our factory is the same way. We've sent out everyone—the purchasing department, even us drivers and deliverymen. We don't have many requirements; everyone's just finding a way to buy some things, which helps alleviate our immediate crisis."

Jian Dan wasn't clear about the situation in the city, but at this time, everything was in a state of food shortage, so it probably wasn't much better. Rural people still had the mountains to rely on, so they could at least go up the mountain to dig up some vegetables to fill their stomachs.

In comparison, life in the city is not so good. If you have a relative in the countryside to help you out, things will be a little better. But if you don't, you can only rely on a few kilograms of grain rations a month and a handful of cabbages and radishes. But you still have enough to eat.

However, this person only had one iron pot transaction, so it's far from enough to say he's trustworthy. But since he was able to get past Director Cheng, he probably isn't a particularly wicked person.

"Brother, you know the current situation. I think there's no hope for millet. What kind of world is this where we still want refined grains? Don't you think so?"