More than an hour later, several large iron pots were set up in the open space in the woods opposite the factory area.
The pot was bubbling with a slightly thick, steaming porridge of whole grains and sweet potato chunks.
Although it wasn't particularly good, it was a rare and filling meal in those days.
Lei Yongkang and several workers maintained order.
Seeing people rushing forward, Lei Yongkang quickly shouted, "No chaos! No chaos! Line up! Everyone line up! One at a time! Everyone gets a share! Don't push! If you push and knock people over, no one will get anything to eat!"
Upon hearing this, the disaster victims indeed followed the instructions.
Everyone held broken bowls and tattered pots, staring intently at the pot, trying their best to maintain order.
When it was their turn, they quickly held out their bowls, and the cafeteria staff scooped out a full spoonful for them.
Some people, after receiving it, couldn't wait to squat down and wolf it down.
Some people looked at the food in their bowls, licked their dry lips, and carefully covered it up, wanting to save it to take back to their elderly relatives and children.
A factory worker maintaining order felt a pang of sadness seeing them like this and whispered to someone nearby, "Sigh...look at that old lady, she won't even eat a single bite herself..."
Another worker couldn't help but sigh, "This awful weather is killing us!"
Once most people had received a bowl, they felt a little better and their emotions calmed down.
Lei Yongkang stood on a slightly higher earthen slope.
He cleared his throat. "Folks! Quiet down! Let me say a few words!"
The crowd quieted down and looked at him.
Looking at how thin the person had become, Lei Yongkang felt bad too. His voice tightened, "The food you're eating today isn't from the factory. It's what our factory director, Guan Wenru, saved from her own rations! It's her family's monthly ration! She... can't help everyone like this every day anymore."
A low murmur and sighs arose from the crowd.
Clearly, no one expected that Factory Director Guan would be so willing to spend!
For a moment, they didn't know what to say.
Not long ago, they even followed Gu Siyu and said that Director Guan was selfish.
But they're not selfish at all; they're clearly the best people ever!
Lei Yongkang looked at everyone and raised his hand to signal them to be quiet. "Our factory, in the end, is just a feed processing plant. It's not large in scale and has limited capacity. We really can't support so many people in the long run. But!"
He changed the subject abruptly, "Director Guan has already applied to the higher-ups, and from now on, the factory will allocate twenty catties of grain every day, just twenty catties! It will be cooked into porridge and delivered here at noon! Not a single catty more!"
After saying this, the crowd couldn't help but whisper among themselves, seemingly wondering what exactly twenty jin meant...
Lei Yongkang glanced at everyone and continued, "So, everyone should think about whether it's worth walking for several hours every day on mountain roads just for a bowl of porridge."
Moreover, with only twenty catties of grain, if too many people come, each person will only get a sip of clear soup; if fewer people come, perhaps it will be a little thicker! That's all I have to say. You... you'll have to weigh the options yourselves. Our factory's capacity... is only this much.”
The disaster victims looked at each other and began to whisper among themselves.
"Twenty catties... enough to cook a huge pot, but that's really only enough for a few bites per person..."
"That's better than nothing! At least we won't starve!"
"How about... we come again sometime? But don't tell anyone else when we get back..."
The others immediately nodded in agreement, "Yes! Yes! Don't tell anyone! Just keep it to us! If anyone else comes, nobody gets to eat!"
The group silently reached a consensus, and after thanking Lei Yongkang and the workers profusely, they left the woods in twos and threes, clutching the little food they had saved.
Seeing that the crowd had finally left, Lei Yongkang breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to Guan Wenru's office to tell her.
......
On the other side, at the military region's gate post.
Gu Siyu grabbed one child in each hand and tried to rush inside.
But they were quickly and sternly stopped by two armed soldiers on guard.
One of the soldiers, who did not recognize her, stepped forward with a serious expression. "Comrade! Please stop! Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter! Please show your identification or state the reason for your visit!"
Gu Siyu, her face flushed with anger, shouted, "I'm looking for Wan Tao! Political Commissar Wan! I'm his wife! What documents do I need to go back to my own home?! Let me in!"
The soldier remained expressionless and spoke in a firm tone, "Sorry, we only verify documents and orders from superiors here. Please wait here for a moment while I go and consult Political Commissar Wan."
After saying that, he gestured for his companion to make a phone call.
A few minutes later, an old soldier came over, staring at Gu Siyu with hostility. "Political Commissar Wan has given clear instructions not to let you in. Please leave immediately and do not disrupt the order at the gate!"
Seeing that forcing her way in wouldn't work, Gu Siyu simply sat down on the ground and started wailing and screaming.
The two children stumbled as she dragged them, trembling with fear.
The soldiers looked at each other, utterly helpless.
Ignoring their expressions, Gu Siyu yelled, "Wan Tao! You heartless bastard! Come out here! I'm your wife! Are you just going to watch us three starve to death outside?! Open the door!"
Her crying attracted some attention, but the sentries and people coming and going just watched indifferently, ignoring her.
The little girl beside her timidly tugged at her clothes, "Mommy...I...I'm hungry...food...food..."
The little boy was a few years older and spoke fluently, "Mom, I'm thirsty, I want to drink water."
Gu Siyu, seething with anger, abruptly shook off the two children's hands and began to beat and scold them harshly:
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