The weather turned completely cold at the end of September. Under the arrangement of Old Song, they began to dig sweet potatoes and potatoes. Except for the rations distributed to each family, the rest were stuffed into the granary, ready to be taken out as war reserve food in winter.
"Tuan Lu, the captains of the six brigades are at the farm gate." The patrolman at the gate informed Zong Li, "The political commissar asked Tuan Lu to go to the conference room."
Lu Shiyi and Su Jin were both carrying bamboo baskets to carry the potatoes into the granary. Because there were so many sweet potatoes and potatoes produced, everyone was carrying them to the granary today. Children over the age of 4 went to the fields to dig sweet potatoes and potatoes.
"Xiao Jin, do you want to go back and see Hanhan?" Yun Feng walked beside Su Jin with a bamboo basket on her back and asked in a low voice.
"Maybe in a while. According to Hanhan's schedule, he shouldn't be up yet." Su Jin had already put Hanhan in the nursery in the space, and the nanny was taking good care of him. "Sister-in-law Yunfeng, I think both Lin Lei and Lin Yan are quite capable."
"Those captains might have come here for the food." Yunfeng turned sideways and muttered to Su Jin. She even wrote a letter to her parents' home to see if they could send some food back.
Lin Zitao and Yunfeng decided to give some of the remaining food to Yunfeng's parents' family. The Lin family lived in a first-tier city, so they mailed some military food coupons back to them.
"Xiao Jin, does your family need food?" Sister Yunfeng asked in a low voice. "My family isn't doing well. Old Lin and I plan to save some food from ourselves and send it back. You should make more preparations on your side. The Lin and Lu families are both in big cities. With food coupons, they should be able to buy food."
Su Jin put the sweet potatoes in the bamboo basket and listened to Yun Feng's words, feeling hesitant.
Yunfeng has been helping her since she entered the family compound. If she encounters any difficulties, she can repay him.
"Sister-in-law, my parents' home wrote a letter. Ayi and I discussed sending food. Please come to my house later to discuss it." There was no one at Su Jin's parents' home. Yunfeng said this, probably wanting Lu Shiyi and Su Jin to help.
"Okay!" Yun Feng was grateful to Su Jin from the bottom of her heart.
Lu Shiyi once mentioned that he had connections that could get him a small amount of food. Now was a difficult time, so Lu Shiyi took Lu Bairen and Du Ruo with him. Not only did they not starve, but they also gained a lot of weight.
In the evening, everyone dragged their tired bodies back to eat. Old people like Lu Bairen and Du Ruo only worked half a day.
Lu Shiyi and Su Jin went home to wash and change clothes, and went to Lu Bairen's house with Hanhan in their arms.
Fortunately, when the danger occurred, Lu Bairen moved from the back yard to the nearby yard, so Lu Shiyi could take care of the two elders nearby.
"Ayi, Sister Yunfeng talked about the food issue. Did Political Commissar Lin tell Sister Yunfeng that there is no one at home?" Su Jin took advantage of the fact that the two of them did not leave the room and told her what Sister Yunfeng said.
"No!" Lu Shiyi shook his head and said, "Old Lin did have some words. Sister Yunfeng said that, it must be Old Lin's intention. I told Old Lin that I have connections who can get a small amount of food."
Su Jin reached out and pulled his sleeve. He held Hanhan in his right hand and held her little hand with his left.
"Ayi, I want to help my sister-in-law, so I won't give her too much food." Su Jin followed Lu Shiyi out of the family compound. "Since I moved into the family compound, whenever I encountered problems, my aunt and sister-in-law Fangneng always stood in front of me and helped me a lot. I should help."
The young couple took their children back to Lu Bairen's yard, and Aunt Yang prepared dinner early.
"Hanhan, come to grandma." Du Ruo looked at Hanhan nestled in Su Jin's arms with great spirit and hugged him happily. "Xiao Jin only goes back to visit occasionally. I can't do it. I won't go to work tomorrow. Please help take care of Hanhan."
Lu Bairen and Du Ruo went to work to accompany their old comrades, and even Uncle Yang and Aunt Yang followed them to work in the fields.
"Let Hanhan stay at home first. Xiaojin should have taken precautions. Now is the autumn harvest time, which is related to the winter food reserves." Lu Bairen heard what Old Song said and knew that the situation in the county was not good.
There are so many people on the farm, and the farm needs to be responsible for two-thirds of the food rations. Lu Bairen and Du Ruo also started to help, so that they could prepare more food for Lu Shiyi and Su Jin before returning to Beijing.
"Grandpa, grandma, I called the higher-ups and they hope you won't return to Beijing this year," Lu Shiyi looked at Lu Bairen and suggested, "Dad said the situation in Beijing is not good. A few old men in the hospital lost their temper and were reported."
After he finished speaking, Lu Bairen's face immediately turned gloomy. The old people in the compound did have different factions, but when doing things, their bottom line was the same.
"Can those elderly people who were reported be sent here?" Lu Bairen asked.
Lu Bairen stayed on the farm and knew the farm's attitude towards the elderly. If the elderly from the imperial capital came, at least they would not be overwhelmed.
Lu Shiyi shook his head: "We don't know where it will be sent to yet. The farm hasn't received any news."
"The conditions at the Northwest Farm are the most difficult. Once we send you there, I'll help you find out." Lu Shiyi comforted Lu Bairen, "I definitely won't let the old men be tortured to death."
Lu Bairen hummed, "What's your father's opinion? Let me and your grandma stay with you for a while longer?"
Su Jin often cooked for the old couple and brought Hanhan over every day. The old couple's yard was filled with laughter.
Lu Bairen and Du Ruo both thought about not going back this year, and wait until Lu Shiyi and his wife could return to the capital before going back.
"Mom and Dad want you two to stay and tell others that you're helping take care of Hanhan." Lu Shiyi said to the two elders while picking up some food for Su Jin, "Hanhan comes here every day. It's better for you two to live here than in the empty courtyard."
"It's too quiet in the courtyard. You're all out here. At home, I just go to the senior activity center every day," Lu Bairen hummed. "I have a lot of old comrades here, and life is actually better there."
When Lu Shiyi heard that his grandfather agreed to stay, a smile appeared on his face.
"Grandpa, I've mentioned this to Old Song. You, Grandma, Uncle Yang, and Aunt Yang, all four of you, should work according to the rules," Lu Shiyi and the others followed the rules set by Old Song. "Grandpa and Grandma are old, so they and Old Song and the others will only work part-time."
The old people don’t have many work points, so in winter they all go to the canteen to eat.
Many family members came with them. They would prepare three meals a day at home, and some people would even save some food to take back with them.
After dinner, Lu Shiyi went back with Su Jin, and Hanhan was left at Lu Bairen's house again.
Lin Zitao and Yunfeng heard the sound of Lu Shiyi opening the door and came home.
After the four people entered the room, Lin Zitao looked at Lu Shiyi.
"Old Lu, we don't have enough food at home. I was wondering if you could help me get some, just coarse grains." Lin Zitao asked directly.
Yunfeng's family's situation is not good, and this is the first time in so many years that she has asked if there is any food.
"Okay!" Lu Shiyi nodded.
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