Therefore, Fu Ya did not have a very good understanding of the actual situation in rural areas.
She had a vague feeling that if the drought was really severe, the food might not be enough.
“Let’s think of another way,” Fu Ya said, her tone tinged with anxiety. “We can go up the mountain to pick some wild vegetables, dry them, and store them. Maybe they’ll come in handy.”
Today, Rong Lianhu talked to the people who were helping with the grain and learned about this year's crop situation. He learned that due to the lack of rain, crops simply wouldn't grow in many areas with poor irrigation. Therefore, he stopped arguing with his wife's idea of stockpiling food.
“You’re right. I’ll go find someone to help me again tomorrow and see if I can get some more food. From now on, let the children pick wild vegetables, mushrooms, and wood ear fungus whenever they have time, dry them, and store them,” Rong Lianhu said.
Fu Ya knew immediately that Rong Lianhu also suspected a drought. She asked, "Did you discover something?"
Rong Lianhu knew his wife was a perceptive person, so he didn't hide anything: "The water level of the river behind our camp has dropped a lot compared to last year. Also, the shallow swamp where we often go for training exercises is almost dry."
Fu Ya was shocked: "The drop in river water level can be explained by farmers using it to irrigate their fields, but the swamp drying up is definitely not normal!"
Rong Lianhu nodded, his expression serious: "That's what I think too. I heard from the villagers today that many wells are almost dry, and even the water level in the reservoirs is dropping. The rainy season is late this year, and everyone is very worried."
Fu Ya's heart sank, realizing that the situation might be more serious than she had imagined. She bit her lip and said, "Then we can't wait any longer. We must quickly prepare more food that can be stored, whether it's grains or anything else, as long as it's edible."
Rong Lianhu nodded: "Don't worry about these things, I'll pay more to hire someone to help with them."
Fu Ya knew that he had fought against the Japanese in this area before, so he must know a lot of people. She didn't refute him, since she didn't have the ability to do so anyway, and could only listen to her husband.
In the days that followed, just as Granny Ma had described, not a single drop of rain fell from the sky. The entire Northeast region seemed to be gripped tightly in the palm of the sun, relentlessly scorching the earth. Grain was no longer available at the town's market, and grain stores restricted their sales. Government officials could only receive their prescribed rations with grain coupons, not even an ounce more.
The mountain was teeming with people searching for food, and all the edible wild vegetables nearby, regardless of their age, had been picked clean. Fu Ya, because she had to work and spend her free time at home taking care of her child, was unaware that there was nothing left to eat on the nearby mountain.
That evening, after dinner, the sun hadn't completely set, and the setting sun painted half the sky red—a truly beautiful sunset. Unfortunately, no one was in the mood to appreciate it; all who saw it wore sorrowful expressions.
In the Rong family's courtyard, the whole family uses a basin of water. First, they wash Rong Jiaojiao's face, then Fu Ya, then their two sons, and finally Rong Lianhu. The water used for washing faces is then reused to wash feet, and the water used for washing feet is poured into a wooden bucket and taken to the vegetable garden to water the vegetables. This is a daily routine for the Rong family, and not just them; most families in the compound do the same. So, recently, everyone in the compound has gotten used to watering the vegetables after meals when it's cool. Gradually, everyone has gotten used to gathering at the vegetable garden to chat at this time.
The Rong family owns only a small plot of land, where they grow a few kinds of vegetables: cucumbers, green beans, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, and bok choy. These vegetables were originally intended for the family's daily consumption, but now they have become their glimmer of hope in this drought. However, even with such careful tending, the vegetables in the garden are struggling to withstand the scorching sun and the lack of water.
Fu Ya squatted in the vegetable garden and saw that more seedlings were turning yellow, clearly about to wither and die. She gently poked at the yellowing seedlings, feeling helpless. She looked up and saw Hu Xiaoxiao busy in the vegetable garden not far away, so she called out, "Sister-in-law Hu, how are your vegetables doing?"
Hu Xiaoxiao sighed and pointed to the withered seedlings, saying, "What else can we do? These seedlings can't hold on much longer. If this continues, I doubt even one of them will bear fruit."
Fu Ya sighed, "I've already pulled out quite a few of the dead plants in my yard, and many more are going to die today."
Liu Laidi, who was watching the commotion from the sidelines, also said loudly, "Mine don't have many trees left either. I don't know how that brat took care of them."
No one responds when she speaks, mainly because her daughter tends to her vegetable garden.
The little girl had to get up early to make breakfast, and after school she had to chop firewood and dig wild vegetables. She also had to come back late to cook dinner. After dinner, she was the one who carried water to water the vegetables, but she still never received a kind word.
The women's director of the women's association organized by the military region visited their home more than once to persuade them not to leave everything to their daughter, and only then did Liu Laidi restrain herself a little.
But soon after, she became pregnant, and her daughter resumed her life of being busy from morning till night.
Liu Laidi didn't care whether others responded or not; she just chatted enthusiastically with everyone she met. Being talked to face-to-face, it was awkward for people not to reply, so she thought she was popular and could talk to anyone. Little did she know, people were only doing it out of necessity.
Fu Ya and Hu Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance and tacitly changed the subject, talking about the town's restrictions on grain purchases, while pulling up the vegetable seedlings that were clearly doomed to die.
Rong Lianhu carried Rong Jiaojiao and followed behind his wife. Rong Jiaojiao is now six months old and her legs are very strong. She always likes to be helped by adults to stand and jump on the ground.
At this moment, she twisted her body, trying to break free from Rong Lianhu's embrace. Rong Lianhu smiled helplessly, squatted down, and put her on the ground.
Rong Jiaojiao immediately jumped up happily, waving her little hands and giggling.
Seeing this, Fu Ya couldn't help but laugh: "Be careful not to fall."
While supporting Rong Jiaojiao, Rong Lianhu said, "I must say, this child's legs are getting stronger and stronger. I reckon she'll be able to walk on her own soon."
Rong Zhiyuan also came over and teased Rong Jiaojiao: "Little sister, come over here to your brother."
Upon hearing the sound, Rong Jiaojiao turned to look at Rong Zhiyuan, her legs twitching as she tried to walk towards him.
Rong Lianhu supported her under both armpits, making her hop forward.
When she saw the cucumber vine that Fu Ya had just picked, she stopped and bent down to reach for it.
Rong Lianhu was afraid that the fuzz on the cucumber leaves would hurt her, so he wouldn't let her take them. When he was about to pick her up, he found that the cucumber seedlings had suddenly disappeared.
This startled Rong Lianhu, who quickly looked around and found that no one was paying attention to them. Even Rong Zhiyuan, who had just been calling for his sister, was drawn to the children playing in the distance and did not see what had just happened.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com