In the county town, Zhang Laoer had sent a telegram and was trying to persuade his parents to stay home and not return to the village. What if something really happened to them, without the three brothers around?
In a real crisis, everyone would protect their loved ones. Although his uncle and his younger uncle were always affectionate, he really couldn't trust them.
"Dad, can anyone else just rush to take the yard away? It's better for you not to go back. When you're not in the village, everyone will help for Xiaowu. If you go back and something needs to be taken care of, it will definitely be you."
Father Zhang said dissatisfiedly, "What nonsense! There aren't many disaster victims here, so what could have happened? I just miss your uncles."
Zhang's mother pointed out directly, "Your father is thinking about your aunt."
When it comes to his aunt, Zhang Laoer really has nothing to say.
Seeing his father's extremely unnatural expression, he laughed and said, "Are you planning a move? Believe it or not, if you tell your uncle and the others, you will definitely get scolded."
Father Zhang hit him hard on the head with his pipe, "You little bastard, you're the only one who's smart."
Zhang Laoer laughed heartily at being hit, "Dad, it's not okay to get angry when you're wrong."
Father Zhang smiled and shook his head. "What would you do if your eldest sister was short of food? She's still my biological sister."
"Can my sister be the same as my eldest aunt? Hehe, don't glare at me. I'll find out for you and report to you as soon as I get any news. Mom, do you want to inquire about my two uncles' families?"
Mother Zhang rolled her eyes at him. Her two sisters-in-law had just given their full-month gifts; why would she need to ask? Her eldest son had already arranged for his in-laws, so there was no need for her to worry.
Zhang Laoer really can't stand his mother's pride, and he's not afraid of hurting his father. My mother is becoming more and more childish, and it's great to be able to do so.
"I have to go to the village. I feel uncomfortable if I don't do farm work."
Zhang Laoer raised his hands and said, "Okay, our whole family will go back this weekend and clean up the backyard." After saying that, he finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his father agree with a smile.
Unfortunately, Zhang Laoer underestimated his father. As soon as he went to work, Zhang's father and mother secretly slipped back to the village.
"Dad, will my second child recognize your handwriting? Are you sure you wrote it wrong?"
Father Zhang returned to the old house in a good mood, not caring about his wife's jokes, "Returning to Zhangjia Village, how could such a simple thing go wrong? If my handwriting wasn't so ugly, I could write a letter to my oldest son without any problems."
The old couple joked with each other happily.
At this time, their eldest son Zhang Guoqing also returned to the dormitory happily, holding the telegram.
"Jiaojiao, my second brother sent a telegram. Mom and Dad have been living at his house for a long time."
It had only been a few days since the telegram was sent, and Zhou Jiao knew that Zhang Laoer would reply immediately upon receiving it. Looking at Zhang Guoqing, who was beaming, she said, "Now you can go to bed peacefully."
"I can't sleep peacefully yet. There are quite a few meetings this time, and I have to attend them frequently."
The hunger situation is very serious this time, and if it continues like this, it will be unacceptable. Recently, the school has been calling these cadres to attend meetings frequently to find solutions.
Unfortunately, everyone was too hungry to even think. Besides, finding a way out meant leaving the campus, and no one wanted to be so hungry that they couldn't even find food.
Zhang Guoqing didn't want to be the first to speak out. If he said he was going out to look for food, his classmates might blame him. Besides, he didn't want his wife to worry about him.
No matter how much he tried to evade it, the higher-ups still issued the directive: to seek food from nature. As a result, the school resumed a half-day class schedule and a half-day holiday.
Of course, the holiday is not for you to sleep in the dormitory, but for students to start the autumn harvest.
Minor autumn harvest? No, it should be the minor winter harvest in early winter.
Even before the cabbages have fully grown, they are already being marketed in their tattered state after the autumn harvest. Even though the cabbages are in such poor condition, they are still a favorite this year.
After the autumn harvest, even the roots of the cabbage stalks on the ground were pried clean. On this basis, the children formed groups and went out to wander around the wild fields.
The further out we got from the big cities, the less good we found. Even the grass on the ground had been picked clean, so we couldn't walk any further and had to return to school hungry.
After a few days of no success and the sudden cold weather, everyone started to hunker down in the classroom and dormitories again. Instead of having the energy to go out for a walk, they might as well just lie in bed and save some energy.
At this time, even life within the compound was not easy. Most of the harvests from the subordinate farms were used to subsidize the local government. Even the living standards of the nurseries were declining rapidly, not to mention the food in the canteens.
Zhou Jiao was worried about her family, so she often returned home when she was out looking for food. Previously, most of the harvest from the subordinate farms and breeding farms went to support the local government, but now the compound was also struggling.
After picking up Ping An from the nursery that afternoon, Zhang Guoqing immediately went home with the child in his arms. He felt his son had become much lighter, and he weighed him anxiously.
Because they were outside, he didn't say anything.
As soon as he entered the house, Ping An smiled slyly and whispered in Zhang Guoqing's ear, "Dad, I shared the steamed buns with Auntie and I'm so full."
Zhang Guoqing touched the child's hair with a sad look on his face. Such a small thing made the child so happy. His son, he really suffered.
"Why don't you just not go to the nursery? There's plenty of food at home for you to eat."
Ping An quickly shook his head, "No! I'm a good boy, and I have to help Auntie take care of the children."
"Then can you put more fruit biscuits in your schoolbag?"
Ping An not only shook his head this time, but also shook his hands. "We can't let anyone know that we have good things at home. Auntie said we should save food and give it to other children."
Seeing Zhang Guoqing looking at the child with a depressed look on his face, Zhou Jiao smiled, took the child, carried him into the bedroom, and brought out a bowl of egg soup and dumplings.
Ping An took a sip of the egg soup and pursed his lips. "Mom, do you have any dumplings left? My grandpa hasn't tasted dumplings in a long time. I want to save some for him."
Zhou Jiao chuckled. Who said that? Her dad had just eaten it two days ago.
"Son, Dad is so sad. Why didn't you leave some for me? I have forgotten the taste of dumplings."
Ping An was amused by Zhang Guoqing and laughed, "Dad is lying! Mom must have given it to Dad."
"My son is so smart. We left some for your grandpa, and even your grandma has some. Eat it while it's hot."
"Don't worry about my grandma, she will take me to a restaurant."
"You'll get beaten by your grandma if you do that."
Zhou Jiao watched the father and son tug at each other in a cheesy way, each taking a half-bite of their dumplings. She shook her head and smiled, leaving them alone as she left the room. Aunt Chen should be back soon. I wonder what she's going to buy this time?
It was almost time for Ping An to be picked up. Aunt Chen, sweating, hurried in with ten eggs in a net bag in her arms. She didn't breathe a sigh of relief until she confirmed that Ping An was safe and sound and playing with toys in the living room.
"I thought the guard at the door saw something wrong. Why are you back today? Are you on holiday again?"
Zhou Jiao picked up a cup of tea and handed it to her. "If you think you're okay, go home. Where did you get the eggs this time? My dad provides them at home. There's no need to work so hard."
"I traded them. There was a long line in front of the grocery store outside the compound, but only the first ten or so people could buy anything. I traded half a pound of lard with a few people for these ten eggs. I don't know if I lost money."
Zhang Guoqing laughed and said, "It's not a big deal. You can't even find chicken feathers on the black market, let alone eggs. We have so much lard at home, you can use all your strength to change it, but don't overdo it."
"Why are you so tired? It's been a while since I saw any eggs. I have to buy more so that Ping An can eat them slowly. This nursery is really something. They used to have eggs, but now there are nothing."
Aunt Chen put down the cup, without saying anything else, and hurried to the kitchen to cook dinner.
As soon as I entered, I saw that Zhou Jiao had already prepared the food and it was warm in the pot. I was touched again. Compared with other aunts, her life was so comfortable.
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