The long popsicles under the eaves disappeared, grass began to grow on the wasteland outside the city, the willow trees on the river bank also sprouted green buds, and the breeze blowing on the face was soft and no longer biting.
——Winter passed in a flash, and the spring of June 1st finally arrived.
With the arrival of spring, students can go to the wild to dig up various wild vegetables to fill their stomachs. Now, without the need for the school to notify them, students will automatically leave the school gate and go to the wild.
Who would have thought that there were many people who had the same idea? In the suburbs and the countryside, you could see old men, women, and children walking around with empty baskets.
When we got closer, we realized that in this spring that brought us so much hope, there were only a few wild vegetables left in the wild.
Last year, no one could afford to go hungry, yet still think about how to protect the environment. This isn't the public's fault; when people are so hungry they'd eat mud, who would have the mind to do that?
As a result, last year's wild vegetables were dug up too cleanly, leaving fewer seeds, and the wild vegetables grown this year are even fewer than last year.
Many elm trees, considered life-saving trees by countless people, have been stripped of their bark and died. Even those that survived and are still standing have almost no leaves on them.
Unable to find anything to eat, many people began to turn their attention to various ponds and small rivers near and far.
- The water plants swaying in the wind in the middle of the pond, the duckweed floating on the water surface; the snails, clams, stone crabs, loaches, eels and other creatures in the small creek.
The water was still cold, and many people drowned in the pond every year. Filling one's stomach was the only way to survive, so no one dared to go in the water.
Not getting in the water doesn't mean giving up. Many people still use bamboo poles and rakes to circumvent the water plants and duckweed, trying their best to harvest a few.
More people flocked to the small rivers within a radius of ten miles to touch snails and clam shells. Sometimes, if they were lucky, they could even catch some stone crabs, loaches and eels.
As more and more people joined in, the number caught became smaller and smaller. Every time we went out for a few hours, we could only catch a few taels.
As spring approaches, there is still a gap between the harvest and the summer harvest. In order to survive, the school finally issued a call for people to "open up wasteland and grow vegetables on their own."
This activity received a warm response from the entire school's faculty and students. Compared to supporting agriculture in the countryside, this one offered tangible benefits for themselves, and many teachers and students had already set their sights on the ruins and empty spaces on campus.
As soon as the notice was sent out, students from all classes and departments rushed to the campus, gathering in groups of three or five to look for wasteland suitable for planting, intending to take the initiative.
"Xiao Wu, why are you guys still so slow? If you're late, the good land will be taken by others."
Zhang Guoqing saw Yi Jiefang's anxious expression and quickened his pace with the others. He secretly despised this foolish kid who had never farmed before. Even if you had the best land, wouldn't you still have to hand over the harvest to the canteen?
There were quite a few talented people in their class. The astute ones already had their sights set on a spot—just one that wasn't just a wasteland of small rocks. They'd probably already have their sights set by now.
After the land was allocated to each department and class, the vigorous reclamation work began.
The entire school was working together, and it was impossible for everyone to have a hoe or a cattail. Everyone overcame difficulties and used every tool available. When there was no other option, they just took action.
Apart from the necessary core courses, all of our time and energy were suddenly devoted to this one acre and three mu of land, hoping to cultivate it quickly, sow seeds smoothly, and harvest quickly.
Days passed, and hope was planted. Everyone went for a walk every day when they had nothing to do, and occasionally found new sprouts growing. That day, the whole class was filled with laughter.
No pain, no gain.
After a few spring rains, in less than half a month, fresh vegetables began to sprout.
——Harvest brings hope. Walking around the campus that day, laughter could be heard everywhere.
When spinach, Chinese cabbage, radish, green onion, and leek were all on the dining table in the cafeteria, many people were so excited to eat the harvest that they were reluctant to swallow a single bite.
Even though it wasn't greasy, everyone enjoyed it.
In the cafeteria, the coarse grains served are no longer mixed with those messy and strange things, and life has finally become much better.
After a few crops of spring vegetables, they planted eggplants, beans, potatoes, and other crops. With successive harvests, many students no longer felt so hungry that they had trouble even climbing stairs.
As I attended classes and did farm work, a semester passed in the blink of an eye.
As the semester ended and the holidays began, perhaps for the safety of the students, students whose families lived elsewhere were advised not to leave the campus unless there were special circumstances and without the permission of their counselors.
With the certificate, Zhang Guoqing got permission from counselor Xiao Wu and followed everyone out of the school, leaving his classmates to continue doing farm work and experiments.
He couldn't quite put his finger on what he was feeling. Only when the situation was dire, with traffic jams like this, could such a situation occur. He had no idea what was happening outside.
Is everything going well for his distant relatives as described in the letter? Are his parents all right?
After returning home with the group, Zhang Guoqing put down his luggage, said hello to Zhou Jiao, and immediately rushed to the station. He planned to personally find Liu Ming to ask about the situation.
Before he even reached the train station, Zhang Guoqing heard the sound of a loudspeaker. It kept repeating the same message: "Comrade passengers, please don't go to Baoshi. You need food coupons to eat in Baoshi. You need food coupons to eat in Baoshi..."
Standing at the station again and looking at everything around him, Zhang Guoqing didn't have to think anymore, as he could see that the flow of people heading north had increased dramatically again compared to last year.
"Are you looking for Brother Liu? Is there something urgent? I know you are Zhang Guoqing. Do you want me to tell him a message? He has to come over by next weekend at the earliest."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and said, "Nothing. I just haven't been back yet, so I wanted to ask about how things are going back home. My parents always say everything is fine, so I'm worried."
The other person approached him and whispered, "Did you see that outside? There are so many people, all heading north. Before I came here, I heard that the deportation station would send out a group of people every day, and then another group would come in right after."
Zhang Guoqing listened and asked in a low voice, "Have you heard whether the county town below is in chaos?"
The other person patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry. There are guards at every intersection. Otherwise, look at where all those refugees at the deportation station came from. They were all captured. Don't worry, it's only for these three or two months. Once the weather gets cold, no one dares to go there."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded. He knew that asking more would yield no clues and would only waste the other person's time. He came over just to feel at ease.
"Thanks, buddy."
"Thank you for what? I won't keep you here. I have some things to arrange right now. I'm leaving now."
After parting ways with the other party, Zhang Guoqing didn't rush home. He slowly walked among the crowd, listening attentively to the conversations and discussions of people, as well as the instructions of parents to their children...
Thanks to Zhang Guoqing's good hearing - he heard a lot of private conversations with his own ears, and then looked at the children in the crowd, and his heart was chilled.
Even if we reach the north successfully, the hot summer will be over and the short autumn will come soon. Then, when the long winter comes, how will the children who lack clothes and food survive?
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