That's quite a boast. Even the government granaries don't have that kind of confidence when it comes to feeding tens of thousands of people.
Commander Zhang calmed down. He wasn't looking at a crazy village woman, but at a fool: "Do you really think you're a savior sent by God? You should know that you have to be responsible for your words, and military orders are not to be trifled with!"
He knew in his heart that the village woman in front of him was quite capable.
When Xu Dong delivered medicine in an emergency last time, he said the herbs were just as clean and beautiful as those in the big pharmacies in the city.
She was very meticulous in preparing the medicinal paste, unlike ordinary farm women.
At this moment, Zhang Juntou no longer believed what she said, but deep down he began to believe it to some extent.
"Look for yourself, this is grain. You can cook it into porridge and eat it. There's plenty!" Jiang Zhi pushed the bag in her hand.
Seeing that she didn't seem to be crazy, Zhang Juntou tentatively looked at the powder in the bag. It wasn't white rice or white flour: "What is this?"
Jiang Zhi said seriously, "Squad Leader Zhang, this is oak powder!"
"What oak powder?"
“Qinggang powder is…” Jiang Zhi slowly revealed her plan.
When the fat cook was called over again, only Zhang Juntou was in the office.
Zhang Jun handed him the cloth bag: "Cook this powder into a bowl of porridge, and then make some pancakes."
The fat cook looked down and asked, "What is this?"
Zhang Juntou said irritably, "Just do what I tell you to do, why are you talking so much nonsense!"
The kitchen behind the medical tent was always kept on fire, making it easy to cook porridge and fry soft pancakes.
A short while later, the chubby cook brought over a small bowl of porridge, two pancakes, and a dish of pickled vegetables.
Zhang Juntou took it and ate it.
The chubby cook blinked, watching intently until Zhang Jun had finished the entire bowl of porridge and soft pancakes before asking, "Boss, what exactly is this?"
Zhang Juntou let out a burp but didn't say anything.
It must be said that although the texture of this porridge is not as good as white flour and white rice, it is better than mixed beans and whole grains, and it is filling; a small bowl is enough to make you feel full.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but slam his fist on the table in excitement: I never thought that I could have such good fortune in this godforsaken place. This incredible wealth is right in front of me. I have to make the right decision about whether I can take it to the next level!
Zhang Juntou's excitement startled the fat cook, who had also tasted the porridge and was now extremely curious: "Boss, tell me, what is this? It tastes pretty good. I can make some other ways to eat it..."
"No need, I have this!" Zhang Jun tossed the green rice noodles over and got up to leave, calling out, "Sister Jiang...where is she? Where is she?"
Oh dear, don't tell anyone about such a big secret!
Zhang Juntou panicked and shoved aside the fat cook who was still waiting for an answer, then quickly went to find someone.
At this time, the outside was filled with wounded soldiers who came out to watch the excitement and stroll around; Jiang Zhi was nowhere to be seen.
Zhang Juntou said to the stunned soldier beside him, "Quick, go find the village woman... that Sister Jiang, see if she's gone to the pharmacy again!"
The soldier hurriedly went to look for it.
Jiang Zhi hadn't actually gone far; she was watching Xu Errui and Xiaoman make their bed in the medical shed.
She was surrounded by a large group of wounded soldiers, each of them excited and talking loudly, but what they were saying had nothing to do with the kang (a heated brick bed).
"Aunt Jiang, is the method you mentioned really safe to eat?"
Xiaoman raised her head and puffed out her chest, her face showing disdain: "Brother Liu, do you think my Aunt Jiang is lying? Look, my physique is so strong because Aunt Jiang used green fruit powder to nourish me."
He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular arms.
"Hahaha, you little chicken, you dare to show off in front of us!"
"If we could really have enough to eat, with green fruits all over the mountains and fields... tsk tsk tsk, there would never be any more starving people!" Someone exclaimed excitedly, their face flushed.
Jiang Zhi looked at the young faces around her, her feelings were very complicated.
The wounded soldiers were all locals, and among the refugees affected by the war, there might be his friends, relatives, or even family members.
They sacrificed their health and lives, while their families endured the same fear and hunger.
Outside the circle of wounded soldiers, there were even more excited handymen.
These laborers were the stranded migrants who stayed behind. They did dirty and hard work in the medical shed, while their families built makeshift shelters outside to barely make ends meet.
If they really had that kind of food, they would want to go home.
"General Xiang, have you ever tried green plum powder?" They were surrounding Xu Errui and Xiang Dejin.
The two explained patiently: "Yes, you can soak it in running water for ten days, then grind it into powder and it won't taste bitter or astringent. You can use it to make pancakes or porridge."
"My God!" someone cried out in excitement.
They fled the famine, initially out of fear of soldiers killing and cannibalizing people, and eventually out of fear of other refugees.
Refugees feared each other, everyone was wary of everyone else, and all trust between them collapsed. Apart from their closest friends and relatives, they dared not trust outsiders anymore.
The food they had hastily brought out was quickly consumed, and in their hunger, something even more terrifying happened in their quest for food... Alas, it's a memory too painful to recall!
If everyone has food and everyone is at peace, then refugees can return to their hometowns and live and work in peace.
Xiang Dejin was also a wounded soldier in the medical shed, and his words were even more convincing to the handymen and wounded soldiers.
The news spread quickly throughout the shacks of Xujia Village. When Zhang Juntou rushed into the clinic and found Jiang Zhi, he heard cheers: "Aunt Jiang, we can go and pick them too, they're everywhere on the mountainside."
"Girl, you've saved my life!"
Zhang Juntou's heart sank, and the pile of silver ingots in front of him instantly turned into silver foil.
No, the silver foil is about to fly away!
"Jiang, shut up!" Zhang Juntou's voice was so loud it was frightening, and everyone turned to look at him.
The medical tent fell silent instantly.
Zhang Juntou was unaware that his voice was frighteningly loud. He was a little embarrassed, but still calmly said, "Sister-in-law Jiang, you said this method hasn't been tested yet. Don't say it too soon. Let someone try it first."
Jiang Zhi immediately said, "Squad Leader Zhang is very considerate of the people. He wanted to verify it personally to dispel all doubts. Let's all thank Squad Leader Zhang!"
She had talked too much, and her voice was a little hoarse. She would need to drink some wild chrysanthemum tea when she got back.
The wounded soldiers and laborers shouted in unison, "Thank you, Sergeant Zhang!"
Zhang Juntou instantly lost his composure: "No, no, don't rush to thank me! Let's check first... check first, then we'll talk!"
He felt like his heart was about to explode. He had clearly told Jiang not to tell anyone else in the office that he would handle the matter.
I never expected her to appear here so quickly. How could a village woman like her dare to speak so openly among a group of men and casually reveal such important information?
Alas! All my great achievements have vanished just like that!
Zhang Jun was inwardly groaning, while Jiang Zhi was overjoyed.
Xiang Dejin, standing nearby, also smiled, his admiration for Jiang Zhi growing even stronger.
Aunt Jiang was right after all!
On the way down the mountain, Xiang Dejin was surprised to learn that the soft pancakes and porridge he ate every day were actually green plums.
He naturally knew about Qinggangzi as well.
When I was a child, I would occasionally cook it and eat it. It tasted bitter and astringent. Although no one died from it, eating too much would make my stomach uncomfortable, and for a few days my stool would be in pellets rather than solid pieces.
Moreover, I was always scared by adults, and I would even be beaten for eating oak seeds, so I dared not eat them anymore. I never expected that I could eat them for half a month without any problems.
Upon learning the reason why Jiang Zhi came down the mountain, they were even more moved: "Aunt Jiang is a good person!"
Jiang Zhi expressed her concerns: "I want to teach this method to the refugees as quickly as possible so that everyone can have enough to eat, but I'm afraid that some people will obstruct it because of their own selfish motives."
For a woman like herself to venture into a crowd of refugees to explain that the "poisonous" oak berries were edible would not only be exhausting but could also easily lead to misunderstandings and harm.
The best solution would be for the soldiers at the medical shed to intervene, but this would require Zhang Juntou's consent.
Although after several interactions, I know that Zhang Juntou is a fairly upright person, and even if he takes advantage of his position to skim some extra money in logistics, it is within an acceptable range.
But one should not have the heart to harm others, but one must be wary of others!
Jiang Zhi wants fame, but her biggest problem is that she's afraid Zhang Juntou will steal the credit and ruin her career under the immense temptation!
Neither physical disappearance nor social censorship is something she is unwilling to endure.
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