Zhao Weimin and Yan Xiaoqiang had already started unloading the goods. Zhao Weimin was loading rice onto the truck, and Yan Xiaoqiang was unloading cornmeal. After a flurry of activity, Zhao Weiguo finally managed to hug Yan Xiaonan and leave.
Looking at the cornmeal and canned goods scattered on the ground, as well as the radio in Yan Xiaonan's hand, Grandma Yan's face lit up with a smile. She knew that her family would not go hungry, and that Yan Xiaonan had also hidden two thousand catties of white rice.
Cuihua wanted Yan Xiaonan to hide the things and come back directly, but Grandma Yan objected, saying that some things could be kept secret, while others had to be brought to the surface.
Isn't it normal to be able to buy food when you go to the county town for medical treatment? But you have to hide the rest. Grandma Yan looked at Yan Xiaonan, but before she could say anything, everything on the ground except for cornmeal and a pound of milk powder had disappeared.
Grandma Yan felt a toothache. Her precious granddaughter was too smart, and her parents were too stupid. She prayed that they wouldn't hold her back in the future.
Yan Xiaoqiang went to the cattle management office to rent an oxcart, paid one yuan, and loaded ten bags of cornmeal onto the oxcart. Grandma Yan and Cuihua also hurriedly got on.
The old cart driver, seeing so much cornmeal, cautiously asked Yan Xiaoqiang, "Young man, could you sell me some? My family is almost starving."
Yan Xiaoqiang glanced at his mother, and Grandma Yan nodded: "Give me ten jin." The driver quickly took out five yuan and said: "Thank you, sister, you are such a kind person. Oh, are you holding a Fuwa doll? It's so cute."
Grandma Yan took the money and gave the driver one yuan in change. Everyone has a hard life, so we should do good deeds.
The driver was deeply moved. He took out the rice bag he always kept on hand, and Yan Xiaoqiang took out his scale. Ten pounds of cornmeal filled the scale, and the weight was high. The driver was so happy that he almost cried.
After carefully hiding the rice bag, a shout rang out and the oxcart started moving, heading towards Mushroom Village.
It was almost dinnertime, and most of the villagers had already gone to bed early. They were too hungry to do anything but sleep.
The village chief was chatting with his wife, because Old Lady Yan had told him to take the little girl to the county town for medical treatment and to see if they could buy any grain, and bring it back if they did.
The village chief gave Old Lady Yan fifty yuan for this. She had been listening intently since this morning. Sister-in-law Ma even laughed at her, saying that she got on the bus yesterday morning and it would take at least three days even if it was fast.
Village Chief Ma shook his head. If Old Madam Yan could buy grain, she would definitely be back today. Her own family is almost out of food too. Didn't you see that Southwest and North South of their family are too hungry to come out?
Sister-in-law Ma nodded. Yes, even their family is running out of food. How many families in the village are running out of food? Sigh, I hope Old Lady Yan can bring back some grain, even if it's just chaff.
The only sound in the quiet village was the creaking of the oxcart rolling through the muddy ground, but the sound of it rolling was like the sound of a battle horn, rousing the people sleeping on their kang (heated brick beds).
Village Chief Ma and his wife were the first to rush out. Sure enough, a bullock cart slowly approached from afar, with Yan Xiaoqiang and the driver sitting side by side in front.
The village chief quickly put on his shoes and ran towards the oxcart. The oxcart stopped with a moo, and when the village chief looked at it, he laughed.
He quickly led the oxcart toward the Yan family's house. The driver was startled, thinking they were trying to steal the ox. He was about to lash out with his whip when Yan Xiaoqiang stopped him.
"Brother, it's our village chief. He came to pick us up. He probably saw the grain sacks and got too excited."
The driver let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, for the sake of grain? That's alright, I can understand." He cracked his whip on the ground, and the old ox started walking.
Southeast was already standing at the gate of their own courtyard with Xuemei and Xinan. Sure enough, it was their parents and grandmother. They excitedly ran and jumped over.
Cuihua was also excited to see the children. There were also snacks and steamed buns she had bought in the county town in the package. However, looking around, she saw that the villagers were all heading in the direction of the Yan family.
He quickly jumped off the oxcart, handed the package to Xue Mei who ran over, and then took Nan Nan down and handed her to Xin Nan, telling them to go back first.
Xuemei, clever and quick-witted, hugged the package tightly and ran home, while Xinan followed behind, holding Nannan tightly as well.
He placed Nan Nan on the kang (a heated brick bed) and said to Xue Mei, "Sister-in-law, you watch over Nan Nan, I'm going to move some things."
Xuemei nodded, watching Nannan nod her head little by little, guessing that she wanted to sleep. She quickly brought hot water and a towel, wiped the little girl clean, took off her coat and let her go to sleep.
It was already getting lively outside, a chaotic mess. The villagers were furious at the sight of so many grain sacks, and Village Chief Ma almost lost his temper.
It was only when Yan Xiaoqiang took the whip from the old man and lashed it at the loudest man that the world quieted down.
The man dared not speak out in anger. Yan Xiaoqiang's fists were famous throughout the village. Besides, he had only been whipped because he was in a fit of rage.
The old man seized the opportunity to drive the car into the Yan family's courtyard. Yan Dongnan and the others quickly helped the grandmother down and carried the rice bags into the main room. The village chief and Yan Xiaoqiang stood guard at the door, glaring at the villagers.
The man was an outsider from Mushroom Village. His surname was Tang and his name was Tang Jianjun. A few years ago, he fled here with his wife, son, and daughter. The village chief took pity on him and allowed him to register his household in Mushroom Village.
Tang Jianjun is a craftsman who knows carpentry. The things he makes are very exquisite and beautiful. Unfortunately, in Mushroom Village, such skills are not very useful. He can only make a living by physical labor, earning ten centimeters a day by working in the fields.
Two years ago, his son joined the army and received a subsidy of 200 jin of rice, which he exchanged for 600 jin of coarse grains. Life was still okay, but last winter, the fields yielded no harvest, and life became difficult.
Actually, every household is like this, but Tang Jianjun is just too anxious. His daughter is so hungry that all that can be seen are her two big eyes.
Seeing so much grain made him lose his mind, and he had the idea of grabbing a bag to take back. He only came to his senses after Yan Xiaoqiang whipped him across the face.
The village chief shook his head, saying they were all starving. He looked pleadingly at Yan Xiaoqiang, who said, "Uncle, give me money, and I'll give you grain. Cornmeal is four cents a pound."
The villagers cheered again, and Aunt Wang squeezed in, shouting, "Qiangzi, Qiangzi, give me a hundred jin, I'll pay you, I'll go back and get the money right away."
"Stop!" the village chief shouted.
"This is grain that the Yan family found themselves. Why are you forcing us to buy it? Have you no shame? If you're so capable, go find it yourselves instead of trying to rob us."
The villagers blushed. Yes, this was something that Old Lady Yan had bought in the county town with her son and daughter-in-law. It wasn't easy to bring it back from such a long distance.
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