The spring famine wasn't confined to Wangjia Village. It affected the entire country. Those who had enjoyed a good harvest the previous year tightened their belts and barely managed to get by. Those who had experienced a poor harvest the previous year were in dire straits. The spring famine lasted two months, and countless people couldn't survive.
Wangjia Village is located in East China, with close ties to the North China Plain. It's a crucial route for famine-stricken people fleeing from the north, heading south. Recently, a steady stream of refugees has been passing through the main road east of the village. Occasionally, someone stops to ask for a drink of water or a bite to eat.
At this time of year, the common people were incredibly simple and kindhearted. If they had something to eat themselves, they would share it with the refugees. Even if they themselves were living on black flour and wild vegetables, struggling to make ends meet. In reality, they simply empathized with the refugees. In this famine, who knew any day they would be forced to abandon their homes and beg for food? If that day ever came, and they themselves became refugees, they hoped someone would offer them a sip of water and a piece of bread.
The villagers of Wangjia Village, who were originally supposed to flee the famine, were able to enjoy more wild vegetables from the mountains thanks to Jiaojiao's intervention, which somewhat alleviated the famine in Wangjia Village. Everyone lived one day at a time, and no one wanted to go out begging.
Old Lady Feng hurried to the captain's house. She met a strange old lady who was wandering around the village, holding a chipped coarse porcelain bowl in one hand and two children in the other.
The old lady's face was swollen, her feet were trembling, and she was staggering when she walked. She was about to fall to the ground.
Old Lady Feng sighed. It was obvious that this person had edema caused by long-term malnutrition. Looking at this old man and two children, it was unclear whether they came to the village to beg for water or food.
Just as Old Lady Feng was about to speak, she saw the old lady stagger twice and fall forward to the ground. The two children saw her fall and immediately burst into tears: "Grandma! Grandma! Don't die..."
"Baby, don't cry. Let me take a look!" Old Lady Feng quickly took a few steps forward and turned the old lady who was lying on the ground over.
Her face was pale and her breath was weak, as if she was at the end of her strength. Old Lady Feng sighed inwardly, but could not show it on her face. She had a few pieces of maltose in her pocket, so that she could save people in a critical moment.
Old Lady Feng stuffed a piece of maltose into the old lady's mouth and said to the two children, "Look, grandma is fine, she just fainted. Come here, I have some candies, one for each of you."
The two baby-faced children were so thin that their eyes took up half of their faces. At this moment, these two big eyes burst into unexpected surprise, one because grandma was not dead, and the other because there was candy to eat.
Old Lady Feng gave them each a candy and asked, "Where are your parents?"
The smaller one slurped the candy and said, "My parents are dead."
The older one didn't say anything, but sobbed twice. Tears flowed from his eyes, leaving two marks on his face.
"Besides your grandma, are there any other adults with you?"
The younger one slurped the candy in silence. This time, the older one answered, "Originally, we went out with my eldest uncle and second uncle's family. Later, my parents died, and they didn't want us, so they abandoned us. My grandma didn't go with them, but stayed to take care of us..."
Oh, what should I do now? I can't just stand by and watch him die.
"Your grandma is sick and needs some medicine. You wait here, I'll find someone."
The two younger ones nodded in unison.
Next door was Dashan's house. Old Mrs. Feng asked Dashan's father to pull her to Feng's house on a flatbed cart, gave her a bowl of sugar water with added ingredients, and gave the two children some three-grain flour cakes.
The old lady woke up slowly after a while. When she learned that she was saved by Old Lady Feng, she quickly stood up and kowtowed to Old Lady Feng.
"You can't do that!" Old Lady Feng quickly held the old lady down. "You should have a good rest. Your two children are counting on you!"
When talking about the two babies, the old lady shed turbid tears.
"Their parents are dead. I'm the only one left. If I die one day, I don't know what will happen to these two children..."
While the old lady and Old Lady Feng were crying, her two children were playing with Jiaojiao in the yard.
The older doll asked Jiaojiao: "Little sister, what's your name?"
Jiaojiao tilted her head to look at him. Don't be fooled by his innocence now. Twenty years from now, he'll be a gang leader who kills people without blinking an eye! The little kid next to her, looking at her with his finger between his teeth, has also embarked on a path of killing.
The cause of all this was their grandmother's impending death, leaving the two children to depend on each other. Growing up, they had endured countless bullying, insults, and belittlements, ultimately leaving the siblings psychologically warped.
Jiaojiao let out a sigh of relief.
"My name is Jiaojiao! What's your name, brother?" Jiaojiao gave the most cordial smile.
"My name is Xu Tian, and this is my sister Xu Tian." After introducing himself, Da Wa did not forget to push his sister out.
In order to let the brother and sister feel more warmth in the world, Jiaojiao took out two candies from her pocket and said, "Here, you two! So sweet!"
The younger sister Xu Tian's eyes lit up and she reached out to take it. The older brother Xu Tian was even faster. He grabbed his sister's hand and said, "Thank you, little sister. We just had one piece. We can't have your candy."
Although Xu Tian was also very greedy, the little girl was so young that his grandmother would scold him if he took her candy.
Inside the house, Old Lady Feng asked again, "Is the disaster severe there?"
Old Mrs. Xu sighed: "Our entire Heyan Village has gone out to beg for food! Last year, a lot of land in our village was flooded. This year, we can't make it, so we have to go out to beg for food!"
Old Lady Xu's home is in Heyan Village, which, like Wangjia Village, is part of Xinjin County. However, Heyan Village is located in the northernmost part of the county seat, while Wangjia Village is located in the southernmost part. Heyan Village has a poor terrain and the soil is not fertile, so the crops often fail.
"Where are you going?" Old Lady Feng asked. "You're taking two little kids with you. If anything goes wrong on the way, there's no one to help you!"
Old Mrs. Xu sighed again, "There's nothing we can do about it. It's better than starving to death at home. If we work hard out there, we can always get something to eat. At home, there's really nothing to eat!"
Jiaojiao came in with two children and shouted to Old Lady Feng, "Grandma! I want to eat peaches!"
There were still five or six peaches left at home. When Jiaojiao wanted to eat some, Old Lady Feng understood that they were for the three generations of grandparents and grandchildren.
Lianhua washed a peach, cut it into several small pieces, and served it to them.
Old Mrs. Xu refused to eat it and let her grandchildren eat it. Jiaojiao bit her lip and said, "If you don't eat it, how can I save your two children?"
"Grandma, eat it too!" Xu Tian held a peach and tried hard not to drool.
Old Lady Feng also advised: "Eat it! These peaches are rare nowadays. Eating them is good for your health. Look, your child is so filial. Come and eat it!"
Finally, Mrs. Xu gave in and had to eat two small pieces.
Xu Tian and Xu Tian finished the rest. After finishing their meal, the brother and sister felt warm all over and gathered around Old Lady Xu, nodding their heads back and forth like chicks pecking at rice.
"The two kids are sleepy. Why don't you rest at our house first. We'll see what to do after you feel better in a couple of days." Old Mrs. Feng suggested.
Old Mrs. Xu naturally wanted it very much and expressed her gratitude to Old Mrs. Feng first.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
