Chapter 89 Famine
Gu Weidong was stunned for a moment, then he suddenly understood.
For some things, the ideas will be different depending on the position.
And he suddenly realized how ridiculous what he had said was.
The crops in the fields were growing so strong and healthy, and everything seemed to be thriving. Every member of the cooperative was looking forward to a bumper harvest in a few months, so how could they think of famine?
Not to mention that he couldn't be absolutely certain. Even if he was certain, and told Chen Youfu, and Chen Youfu believed it, what would he do? He couldn't just tell everyone about this kind of thing. If he told everyone, others would think he was crazy, and if they did, it would only cause a commotion, and some might even accuse him of spreading rumors.
Gu Weidong thought of Nie Laosan who was arrested for speculation that year.
At this moment, Gu Weidong lowered his head, smiled, said nothing more, and walked home with drooping shoulders.
He understood that he was just a small person, and a small person could not save others but could only save himself.
If you meet close relatives and friends, you can mention it and remind them. If they believe it, it is their blessing. If they don’t believe it, there is no way you can force them to believe it.
After Gu Weidong figured this out, he went to Miao Xiujiu and mentioned the matter to her.
Miao Xiuju frowned and thought for a long time: "Fubao is a spiritual child. Since she said so today, we must believe it and slowly prepare. But this matter cannot be made public, and you don't need to tell too many people. After all, everyone has their own destiny. Now go back and prepare your own. As for me, don't worry about it. I have enough food for the two of us old people."
Gu Weidong: "What about my brothers?"
Miao Xiuju lowered her head and thought about it.
Now the sons have all built their own houses and left the old house. The old house, which had been bustling for decades, has finally become quiet.
In the past few years, the eldest and his wife and the third and his wife occasionally had some troubles, but they could still get by. However, based on the temperaments of the two sisters-in-law...
Miao Xiuju continued, "You should take care of yourselves first. If you meet any relatives or friends, you can mention them briefly, but you don't need to mention anything more. As for your brothers, I'll talk to them."
Gu Weidong was relieved and hurried back to his home to discuss the matter of buying food with Liu Guizhi.
The two men discussed it and took out two hundred yuan, all of which they used to buy cheap and durable sorghum, which they then stored secretly in various places around the house. In case there was a famine, they could eat it slowly. If there was no famine, the sorghum would not go bad for a while, and with six mouths at home, they could eat it slowly. At worst, they could exchange it for something else.
Liu Guizhi had already baked the cornmeal pancakes and prepared them for her two children who were going to school outside. She washed her hands and went to her parents' home. She had to remind her parents about this matter so that they would not suffer a big loss if they were not prepared.
Gu Weidong, on the other hand, rushed directly to the commune with two hundred yuan in his pocket. He had wanted to buy more corn before, and he knew a few people who could deal in black market grain, so now was a good time to go and ask them.
That evening, Gu Yuejin and Gu Yuehua returned. Gu Yuejin was seventeen years old this year. He had been well-nourished in recent years and had grown rapidly. He was not shorter than Gu Weidong. Gu Yuehua was two years younger, but he also looked strong as a calf. He just started school late, which delayed him, so he only entered the third grade at the age of seventeen. After hearing what Fubao and Gu Shengtian said, the two wanted to go over to see what was going on with Gu Weidong, but they didn't dare to go out rashly for fear of getting lost.
Fubao gave the letter to Xiao Dingkun to Gu Yuejin and asked him to send it back to Xiao Dingkun.
It was not until dark that Gu Weidong finally came back.
When he came back, his face was heavy. "I asked around, and there's not much grain left on the black market. Someone said they took their wheat and traded it for their coarse grains. As for the wheat they have, it has to be handed over as public grain, so they won't sell it at all."
ah?
The children looked at each other.
I originally thought that if I had money, buying food would be a very easy thing. However, I never expected that I couldn't buy food even if I had money.
Gu Weidong frowned tightly. "Tomorrow, I'll go to the county and ask around in other communes to see if I can buy it."
If I had doubts before and was hesitant about whether to buy food frantically, now I have to do everything I can to find a way to buy food.
People are like this. The more they can't buy something, the more they feel they must buy it, and they can't live without it.
Gu Yuejin thought about it, nodded and said, "Yuehua and I won't go to school on Monday. I'll go around with Dad. After all, I can be a helper."
Gu Weidong: "Aren't you going to take the high school entrance exam soon?"
Gu Yuejin was very determined: "The high school entrance exam doesn't depend on these few days. If what Fubao said is true, there might be a great famine. By then, we won't have food to eat, and we won't be able to prepare for the exam if we're hungry."
Gu Weidong thought about it and agreed.
After all, more than 200 yuan was a lot of food, and it had to be bought inconspicuously and transported back secretly, which was very difficult and not easy to do. My two sons were seventeen and fifteen years old, both of whom were not small in stature, and they could help a lot.
Seeing this, Gu Shengtian expressed his desire to go with them, but Gu Weidong said, "You and Fubao should stay home with your mother. Otherwise, if the whole family goes out, people will definitely get suspicious."
Gu Weidong's thoughts have changed. Initially, he wanted to tell Chen Youfu and the entire production team, but now, he knows that food is not easy to buy and others may not believe him, so he wants to buy food secretly by himself.
This is the selfishness of a small person like him. After all, his ability is limited, so he can only take care of his family and prevent them from starving.
The family immediately made up their minds and agreed to go to the county first to see if they could get some food, and then send the letter to Xiao Dingkun. Then the three of them would go around looking for food to buy.
That night, Fubao cooked some porridge. Everyone ate and discussed until very late before going to bed.
After Fubao lay on the kang, many thoughts came to his mind.
She understood what her parents meant and knew that it was impossible to make everyone believe it with her own limited strength. However, she felt a little disappointed when she thought that she knew the news but could not save everyone.
After thinking about it over and over again, she suddenly remembered what her father said during the day and couldn't help but feel doubtful.
Dad said someone has taken the grain away. I wonder who it was? In this world, wheat is precious and should be kept for the public tax. No one would do that, unless...
Unless some people know in advance that there will be a famine, they will exchange the fine grains at home for coarse grains, so that as much food as possible can be left to satisfy hunger and resist the famine.
But... who could it be?
Fubao thought of making silver.
Shengyin is now eleven years old. Like Fubao, he is in the sixth grade at Pingxi Production Brigade Primary School and will be promoted to junior high school this year.
At first, everyone said Shengyin was a little genius. Although Fubao was also smart, he couldn't match Shengyin in some aspects. However, starting in second and third grade, Fubao's grades caught up with Shengyin. In recent exams, Fubao has often taken first place in all subjects, and is on par with Shengyin.
Fubao had a vague feeling that Shengyin was trying to compete with him.
Shengyin seemed to know some things that she didn't know, so she could learn some things without studying them. But sometimes, the teacher taught some things that neither Shengyin nor she knew, and Shengyin's learning ability was far inferior to hers.
This contradiction happening to Shengyin made Fubao feel even more that Shengyin was definitely not a simple ten-year-old girl, she was far more complicated than he thought.
If this is the case in studying, is it also the case in other things?
Although Shengyin's family has lived an ordinary life in recent years, the production team has a bumper harvest every year, and they distribute grain, pork and money. Her family should be living a better life than in previous years. As long as they budget carefully and find a way to exchange the wheat at home for some coarse grains, they should be able to do it.
Fubao frowned slightly when he thought of this.
In fact, if Shengyin knew the news and wanted to stockpile food, it would not be her business. After all, no one wants to starve, and everyone wants their family to have enough food and clothing.
But if she really knew about the famine, then her parents and brother would have to be more careful, otherwise if Shengyin saw through her, who knows what tricks she would do.
Fubao thought about it and fell asleep for a while. When she woke up suddenly, she saw that it was still dark outside. She looked at the position of the constellations in the sky according to the method taught by Huo Jinyun and guessed that it was probably around four o'clock.
Around five o'clock, the sky would almost be dark and the chickens would start crowing. Then my father and brothers would get up and go out to look for food.
Of course she couldn't let her father and brother go out to look for food on an empty stomach.
He immediately got up and went to the kitchen, lit the fire with a flint, scooped up three large buckets of water, washed the rice and put it into the pot, and then put the cornmeal cakes that his mother had steamed the day before on the pot to heat them up.
After thinking about it, she took out three eggs from the basket next to her and gave one to each of them to eat on the way.
By the time Gu Weidong and his two sons were dressed, Fubao's meal was ready.
Gu Yuejin was moved: "Fubao is becoming more and more capable. He always gets first place in exams. He is smart and sensible."
Gu Yuehua naturally agreed. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Gu Shengtian and said, "Can you improve a little bit?"
In fact, Gu Shengtian is not without progress. He is also among the top five in his studies, but compared with Fubao, there is nothing he can do.
Gu Shengtian slurped his porridge and said nonchalantly, "Why are you comparing me to Fubao? Is Fubao someone I can compare to?"
When he said this, not only his two brothers, but even Gu Weidong laughed.
Fubao is getting more and more beautiful now. She is outstanding in every aspect at school and is diligent and sensible at home. Having a daughter and sister like her, I really like them no matter how I look at them.
After dinner, Gu Weidong and his two sons set off with steamed cornmeal pancakes and eggs on their backs, and with money and letters in their pockets.
Today is Sunday and Fubao doesn't have to go to school. After thinking about it, she went to her grandmother Miao Xiujiu's house first. As a result, when she got there, she saw Miao Xiujiu with a stern face, shaking a freshly washed bed sheet, and the bed sheet made a snapping sound.
Fubao hurried over and grabbed the other end of the sheet to help her make it straight.
"Grandma, what's wrong with you?"
"What else can I do?" Miao Xiuju laughed sarcastically and helplessly: "Those aunts of yours are all fools. Just let them be foolish. It's a good lesson for them!"
Ever since the four sons of the Gu family moved out one after another, Miao Xiuju's place has become quiet. Fubao was afraid that Miao Xiuju and Gu Dayong would feel lonely and deserted, so he often came to Miao Xiuju's place to talk and do some housework, or after school, he and Gu Shengtian would come to do their homework or read books.
Whenever the family cooked something delicious, Liu Guizhi would ask her to bring a portion over for Miao Xiujiu and her husband to try. So even though they have separated and no longer live together, Fubao Gu Shengtian has a better relationship with his grandparents.
With Fubao's help, Miao Xiuju smoothed out the wrinkled sheets and quilt covers that had been dried in the sun, folded them up neatly, and then she began to talk to Fubao: "I thought about asking your parents to talk to them, but they might not believe it. I told them that this year might be bad, and asked them not to trade any food at home, but to save more. If you have any extra money at home, it's best to trade it for food. Guess what they said?"
Fu Bao had actually thought of this a long time ago, but considering the enthusiasm of his aunts, he was afraid that they would not believe it easily, so he asked Bai Nian: "They don't change at all?"
Miao Xiuju snorted coldly, "Your aunt said that new grain will be harvested in a few months. The current grain is all stale. We have to take advantage of this time to replace the old grain, otherwise it will be useless when the new grain comes, and no one will want it."
"Your second aunt says she believes it, but I don't know whether she really believes it or not. As for your third aunt—"
Miao Xiuju laughed sarcastically, "She probably thought I was trying to harm her, so she was on guard and asked me if I was short of food! What a joke! Even if I was short of food, I wouldn't care about her little bit. Why would she be so scared?"
Fubao thought about his third aunt Liu Zhaodi and could almost imagine her sour and suspicious expression. He hurriedly tried to persuade Miao Xiuju, saying, "Grandma, don't be angry. We've tried our best. There's nothing we can do if they don't believe us. Besides, it's hard to expect everyone to believe me just because I had a dream. I can't blame them."
Fubao wasn't feeling very comfortable either, but he still tried to persuade Miao Xiuju. After thinking for a moment, she said, "This reminds me of a story from our elementary school textbook."
Miao Xiuju: "What's the story?"
Fu Bao: "There was a hunter named Hailibu. He often helped his fellow villagers and was very popular. He got a stone from a bird and could understand the animals. He heard the birds say that a landslide was about to happen and a flood would submerge the earth. However, he couldn't tell anyone else what he got from the stone, otherwise he would turn into stone. When he returned, he asked his fellow villagers to move away with him."
Miao Xiuju: "I'm going to move for no reason, no one will believe it!"
Fubao nodded. "Yes, no one believed him. In the end, Hailibu had no choice but to tell everyone the truth. After he finished speaking, he turned into stone. Only then did the villagers believe him and left their hometown in tears."
Miao Xiuju listened to this story and sighed, then suddenly calmed down. "That's why I say, learning more and reading more will help you understand the truth. This story really makes sense. It's a real story from our Pingxi Production Brigade!"
After thinking about it this way, she finally understood.
She has lived to such an old age. Although that is her son, her own son, there is nothing she can do if he doesn't listen to her or believe her. If he really starves and is about to die, she will help him if she can. If he doesn't starve to death, then let him be. If people living in this world are not smart enough and not clever enough, they will suffer grievances and learn lessons.
While you are still young, you can learn some lessons and learn from them.
After figuring it out, she breathed a sigh of relief, took Fubao's hand, asked him to sit down, and said seriously: "Fubao, when you had that dream, only we knew about it, and we couldn't tell anyone else. We can only take care of ourselves, and we can't take care of others, do you understand?"
Fubao was stunned for a moment, then he understood what his grandmother meant.
She can now read and understand a lot of things, and has read some comic books. Among other things, she knows the story of "The crime of possessing a treasure".
If something really happens, her special feelings and abilities will probably be exposed.
I nodded immediately: "Grandma, I understand what you mean, I will remember it."
Miao Xiuju looked at her lovely granddaughter and couldn't help but smile. She touched her hair lovingly. "You have been smart since you were young, clever, and good at studying—"
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered: "When I take the junior high school entrance exam, I must surpass that young student from the Nie family. I can't be worse than her!"
Miao Xiujiu is already seventy years old, but when she said this, she looked unconvinced and even clenched her fists to encourage Fubao.
Fubao burst out laughing: "Grandma, don't worry, I know."
In the past few years, she has a clear idea of her level of talent. The higher the level, the harder it is to learn, and the worse her talent is, especially those application questions that require thinking. A slightly complicated one will be very difficult for her talent. The more difficult the application questions she encounters, the more excited she becomes.
That's the difference.
She is definitely a better student than Shengyin, and she is certainly confident of this.
——
After returning from her grandmother's house, Fubao headed straight home. Liu Guizhi had already returned from her parents' home when she arrived. She reminded them that while they might not be planning a big food purchase, they would definitely be keeping the old grain they had. She also quietly told her mother to try and get more food when she had the chance. Her mother was skeptical, but she listened.
After Liu Guizhi talked to her parents about it, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. All that was left was to hope that everything would go smoothly for Gu Weidong and his two sons, and that they could bring back more food so that they wouldn't go hungry again.
In the next few days, Liu Guizhi and her two children waited at home. After waiting for two or three days, they did not see them come back. At first they were still calm, but then they gradually became panicked.
"Could it be that someone is trying to steal black market food and arrested them?"
"Do you think someone stole their money?"
After Liu Guizhi waited in agony for her husband's son to return but saw no return, she inevitably had many more guesses and was scaring herself.
Fubao was actually worried, but he still tried to comfort Liu Guizhi. However, for Liu Guizhi, verbal comfort was naturally pale. She was anxious to see the man and child come back.
It was Thursday, and it had been four or five days since Gu Weidong and the others left. Liu Guizhi suddenly heard people talking about something. It was said that the third son of the Nie family suddenly went out and exchanged many of the household items for sorghum, and even exchanged the wheat in the house for sorghum.
Liu Guizhi was immediately shocked: "He, why is he the same as us? Did he get some news? He has already exchanged sorghum rice, so how can your father exchange it?"
Fubao was also puzzled. She had previously guessed that Shengyin might know something that ordinary people didn't know. Now it seems that it was true.
She comforted Liu Guizhi, "Don't worry, Mom. Even if others knew some of the news in advance, Dad must have gotten it early. If there's no food here, Dad can go there. The three of them have money. Even if they buy more expensive black market food, even if it's a little farther and harder, there will always be some. If there really is no food, Dad and the others should have returned early."
Liu Guizhi thought about it and it seemed to make sense.
Fu Bao frowned and added, "Besides, it's not necessarily a good thing that Old Third Nie's family got so much food."
Liu Guizhi: "Why?"
Fubao has grown up now, she is twelve years old, tall, only half a head shorter than Liu Guizhi. In addition, she has been a good student since childhood, has her own opinions on everything, and has read a lot, so she has some knowledge that rural women do not have. Therefore, Liu Guizhi subconsciously wanted to listen to her daughter and wanted to hear her talk.
Fubao: "When there's a real shortage of food, people will be starving and will do anything. Old Third Nie's family has a lot of food, and everyone has seen it. What do you think other people will do if they know his family has food when they're starving?"
Liu Guizhi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood.
She recalled an incident that happened many years ago, when people broke into the house of a wealthy landlord and stole their food.
Fubao recalled the time when, when he was still a child, two production teams had fought over a small amount of soil used to build a dam. Rural residents only saw the small amount of material they needed to survive, and because of its scarcity, that small amount of material became even more precious.
They fought over soil for the dam back then, and they might fight over a grain of rice or a steamed bun in the future. Nie Laosan's family was already unpopular, and you knew there was going to be a famine, but you kept it a secret and went out there to get food. You say they're starving, so why wouldn't they come after you?
After Fubao said this, Liu Guizhi suddenly realized something and started to think again: "No, our father should remind your father and your brother. Even if they get food, they must not let anyone know. If they know we have food, when there is a real famine, they will come to our house and eat our food!"
Fubao frowned and thought: "Probably not, Dad should have thought of this."
Of course Liu Guizhi understood that Fubao was right, but she was still worried. She sighed deeply and thought about it while washing the dishes.
Before going to bed at night, Liu Guizhi suddenly said to Fubao, "Fubao, go to sleep quickly and dream about what's happening to your father and the others."
When Gu Shengtian heard this, he thought: "Fubao, can you dream of anything else?"
Fubao couldn't help but burst out laughing after hearing this: "Mom, how can I be that smart? If I were really that amazing, and I dreamed every day, why would I need to study every day? If I just dreamt about the test, wouldn't I have gotten 100 points long ago? Why would I have to go through so much trouble?"
Liu Guizhi thought about it and it seemed so. If Fubao was really that capable, he wouldn't have to read books until late every day!
But Gu Shengtian lowered his head and frowned, not knowing what he was thinking.
Fubao was getting ready to go to bed, but just as he was about to lie down, he heard a knock on the door.
Now that everyone has grown up, Gu Shengtian has become more sensible and knows that he can't be as casual as he was when he was a child, so he always knocks on the door before entering Fubao's place.
Fubao knew it was him as soon as he heard it, and went to open the door: "What's the matter?"
Gu Shengtian was a little embarrassed: "Fubao, I don't think you can dream about the test questions, right?"
Fu Bao was speechless. He had said that he couldn't dream, and now he was asking him. He deliberately said, "I can dream, but I won't tell you."
Gu Shengtian chuckled: "Fubao, what about the others?"
Fubao: “…”
She is not really a deity. She just occasionally has feelings, dreams, and thinks of things and feels that this is what will happen next. It happens very occasionally. It is not like he thought that she would always grant his wishes.
Who knew that Gu Shengtian scratched his head and said, "But I really want to know..."
Fubao finally couldn't stand it anymore, leaned against the door, and looked at Gu Shengtian: "Brother Shengtian, what do you want to know?"
Gu Shengtian hesitated, his face flushed a little, he lowered his head, and finally said in a low voice very embarrassedly: "I want to know, can I get married in the future?"
Fubao: “…”
Gu Shengtian hung his head and finally spoke out his worries: "The other day Chen Youliang said that I'm so dark that I'll never be able to find a wife."
Chen Youliang is a bachelor who has never married. As a bachelor, he's most concerned about whether others can find a wife. He loves to tell young men, "I don't think you can ever get married. You'll just have to stay single." A group of boys actually believed him, feeling dejected and thinking they'd be single for the rest of their lives.
However, when Fubao heard it, he could only say: "......"
It took a long time for Fubao to recover.
She never thought that at this juncture, Brother Shengtian would still be concerned about his future marriage.
She thought about it and finally said, "Brother Shengtian, you should just dream on your own. Maybe you can get married in your dream."
After saying that, he closed the door, went back to his room and went to sleep.
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