Hot July arrived, and all the crops in the fields of Songjiang Commune died. The villagers were all worried, and even the water level of the stream halfway up the mountain dropped.
The commune held meetings for several consecutive days, hoping that the team leaders would try their best to reduce the burden on the commune. Due to the severe drought, there was no harvest everywhere in the Northeast Province.
Lu Boyuan sat in the conference room and looked at the haggard looks of the captains. In addition to the food problem, even the water source had problems and even drinking water could not be supplied normally.
"Secretary, the people down here are having a hard time right now. Drinking water is not even guaranteed. The water truck only comes into the village once every three days!" The second team leader said directly.
The villagers were very annoyed about this, and they took turns fetching water from the mountain behind.
Each village began to take over the water source at 12 o'clock midnight, and the strong laborers in the village began to carry water. Each village dug a water storage tank. The strong laborers worked in three shifts that day, 24 hours a day, without stopping, and not wasting any time.
At 11 o'clock in the evening, the villagers of the next day would wait at the water source with buckets of water. As soon as 12 o'clock arrived, the villagers of the next day would immediately take over the water source.
If the relationship between the two villages is not good, they will quarrel for a minute or two.
Now, the water level in the mountains has also begun to drop, and all the villages are in panic. The wells in the villages have dried up, and the water level in the mountains has dropped again.
To make things more convenient for the villagers, the commune negotiated with the farm, and the farm decided to use the water source deep in the forest instead of fetching water from the water source halfway up the mountain.
Some villagers are grateful for this, while others feel that there should be more water sources deep in the mountains.
Many people died in each village due to water problems that year, so the teachings left by our ancestors must be obeyed.
During the commune meeting, the villagers looked at the farmland with worried brows. They carried water for irrigation every day, but the crops in the fields still died. For nearly a month, the villagers only diverted water back for drinking water.
"There is not enough food. Let's go into the mountains and see if we can hunt." The villagers were worried that there was less and less food to eat at home. Some wives liked to store food and work, and for a while they became good wives in everyone's eyes.
"We've been setting traps in the mountains since May, and a few of them have caught prey. Water in the deep mountains is probably running low, so there won't be much prey." Everyone is hoping the wild boars will come down. Even if they fight to the death, they'll still have some meat to eat."
People in each village have their own little plans, and everyone wants to protect their basic needs.
The secretary of the commune frowned. Peng Hui had reminded him that the brigades under him were difficult to manage. These brigades leaders were cunning and would definitely not cooperate with the work unless they were given benefits.
Most of the commune staff are outsiders, unlike the village team leaders, whose ancestors have lived here for generations.
When disaster strikes, these local team leaders become the ones giving orders, and the commune and the pigeon committee must obey the arrangements of the teams.
In the evening, Lu Boyuan returned from a meeting in the county town and was blocked by villagers at the village entrance.
"Village head, did the secretary say when the relief food will be distributed?" The villagers looked at Lu Boyuan expectantly. "We can't get into the mountains to hunt game. If the wild boar could come down from the mountains, we'd still have some meat to eat."
The villagers complained bitterly to Lu Boyuan, who also felt embarrassed. Most of the leaders of the commune gave empty promises, saying that the higher-ups would arrange relief food. However, the leaders of the commune had no idea when the relief food would arrive.
Lu Boyuan told everyone the topic of the meeting, and the villagers started shouting when they heard his words.
"Let's go to the threshing ground now. I asked Shi Yang to go to the farm to find Shi Yi and ask him to come down to come up with ideas together." Lu Boyuan really had no choice but to ask Lu Shiyi to come out.
When Lu Shiyang arrived at the farm gate, Zong Li was signing documents with people from the imperial capital at the gate. Seeing Lu Shiyang coming, he quickly signed the document and handed it to Wang Yuan, asking him to send the document back first.
"Zong Li, I want to see my elder brother and sister-in-law. I have something to discuss." Lu Shiyang said embarrassedly, "Could you please go in and tell them to go to the threshing ground?"
"Go in and inform the leader that it's working hours now. I wonder if I can get there as soon as possible." Zong Li remembered that Su Jin had been busy translating these days and didn't know if he could get there.
Those materials are very important, and the village documents cannot leave Su Jin's side.
"I'll be waiting at the door. No matter whether I can go or not, please give me a reply." Lu Shiyang was ready to wait at the door. When he went down the mountain, the villagers would definitely ask if he had seen Lu Shiyi.
"Okay!" Zong Li didn't make things difficult for the other party and turned and left.
Lu Shiyang parked the car on the left side of the gate and kept staring at the inside of the farm, afraid of missing Lu Shiyi and his wife coming out.
Zong Li entered the office and whispered in Lu Shiyi's ear about Lu Shiyang.
"Wife, let's not ask about the situation down the mountain. The village chief asked Shi Yang to come here." Lu Shiyi has a good relationship with Lu Shiyang. Even though the relationship between the two families is not harmonious, he at least treats Lu Shiyang better.
"Do we want to go down?" Su Jin looked at the situation at the farm and could guess that the situation at the foot of the mountain was not good. If they went there, they would probably ask for food again.
"Go ahead. The military district's food is in the hands of the logistics personnel. I can use the war reserve food." Lu Shiyi would not give in easily. "Go and take a look first. At least don't alarm Grandpa."
Su Jin packed up the documents and locked them in a drawer in front of Zong Li. When Su Jin stood up, he was a little worried about the documents, so he tightened the space and replaced it with a file bag filled with white paper.
Even if someone opens the drawer, it's fine as long as the real documents are not lost.
"Ayi, it's probably about the water level. Grandpa won't say anything more. Those villagers are not allowed to go into the mountains to fetch water." Su Jin thought of the old man's tough tone and always felt that something had happened.
The two men packed up the documents and materials, arranged for Wang Yuan to guard outside the office door, and led Zong Li to the farm gate.
Lu Shiyang had been waiting outside the door for a long time, not knowing whether Lu Shiyi would come. He paced back and forth anxiously. He heard footsteps approaching from afar and immediately looked up.
"Brother, sister-in-law, you are here!" Lu Shiyang's face was full of joy. The situation at the foot of the mountain was not good, and he probably needed his brother's help.
Lu Shiyi nodded and looked at Lu Shiyang carefully: "Have you not slept well recently?"
"Apart from work, every time the village needs water, I have to rush back from the county town," Lu Shiyang said, knowing that the father and son are the family's water-carrying laborers. "I always take a day off, but luckily my company always gives me leave."
"What's the situation at the unit? Do we need to stop work in the case of water shortage?" Lu Shiyi walked out of the farm, holding Su Jin's left hand, and on his right was Lu Shiyang who was pushing a cart down the mountain.
"Did the village chief just come back from a meeting?" Lu Shiyi wouldn't make a decision lightly. "The situation around here is very bad!"
"Brother, you already know everything..." Lu Shiyang smiled bitterly, "Several of our teams are running for water, hoping to get more water."
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