Xu Kuo had long anticipated that in this era of scarcity, taking out any other crops besides the few remaining wild vegetables on the mountain would likely cause trouble.
But even though he was being so cautious, exchanging only five pounds of sweet potatoes still gave the two of them a big shock.
The first to react was Xu Kuo's mother, Ren Hongmei.
She quickly covered the vegetable leaves with the leaves, pulled the person inside, and looked around like a thief, making sure no one was around before closing the door.
"Son, tell me the truth, did you steal these sweet potatoes?"
After saying this, Ren Hongmei's eyes darted away, even though a mother shouldn't doubt her son like that.
She was already very pleased that her third son, with his small stature, could find some wild vegetables.
Besides, look at the situation now. The mountain is completely bare. If there were sweet potatoes, people would have been scrambling to get them. There wouldn't be any left for them.
Xu Kuo was both amused and exasperated upon hearing his mother's words.
"Mom! You know your son well, how could I possibly do something like stealing?"
Jiang Xiuying, standing to the side, looked at the sweet potatoes in the basket with a mixture of surprise and doubt.
"Honey, even though we're poor, if we really do something like stealing chickens or dogs, we'll get shot."
"Life may be tough and tiring, but this family can't live without you!"
Ren Hongmei, standing to the side, nodded in agreement with her daughter-in-law's words.
"Yes, yes, third brother, you should return these sweet potatoes to them."
Hearing his mother and Jiang Xiuying's words, Xu Kuo was both amused and exasperated.
"Mom! Xiuya! I neither stole nor robbed these sweet potatoes. I swear to God, if I really did such a thing, may I be struck by lightning!"
Before Xu Kuo could finish speaking, the two men rushed forward to slap his mouth.
"You child, you're not one, so why make such a vicious oath? If anything happens to you, how am I supposed to live?"
"Yes, sir, we believe you."
After Xu Kuo repeatedly assured them of his authority, the two men finally dispelled their doubts.
"Mom, Xiuya, there are five pounds of sweet potatoes in this basket! Let's eat as much as we want today!"
Just thinking about the unpalatable corn porridge he drank yesterday, Xu Kuo could almost smell the aroma of sweet potatoes.
Upon hearing this, Ren Hongmei and Jiang Xiuying also showed joy, but Ren Hongmei still gently patted Xu Kuo.
"Why are you so wasteful, child? We have to be careful with these sweet potatoes. The more work points we have, the less grain we'll get..."
As Ren Hongmei spoke, she carried the sweet potatoes toward the kitchen, sighing as she spoke.
"Mom! Even though I can find sweet potatoes today, I can find other things tomorrow, so don't be too reluctant!"
Looking at the beautiful Jiang Xiuya in front of him, Xu Kuo felt a little distracted.
Jiang Xiuying is beautiful in every way, except she's too thin. Her waist is so small it's heartbreaking to look at.
Before long, Ren Hongmei had cooked the sweet potatoes.
In contrast, Xu Kuo preferred steamed sweet potatoes, but steaming them was too wasteful. It was better to add some water and boil them, and then the remaining soup could be drunk for a meal.
During the years of famine, every household knew to stockpile grain, and they were reluctant to eat anything of value.
"Mom, this big one is for you. You've worked so hard these past few years."
Xu Kuo knew how hard his mother had worked; she had suffered a lot of mistreatment from his eldest and second sons' families over the years because of him.
Then he picked out a larger one and replaced the smaller one in Jiang Xiuying's hand.
"Our lives will get better and better from now on. From now on, we'll pick the bigger ones to eat first."
Hearing this, Jiang Xiuying's face flushed, as if the person in front of her had undergone a complete transformation.
The person is still the same, so why do I feel so warm inside?
The system really gives you the best stuff. Even a simple sweet potato tastes so good. The family of three ate it happily and joyfully.
However, Xu Kuo couldn't help but worry. Just this little bit of sweet potato had frightened the two men into thinking he had stolen it. If he were to bring out other supplies, wouldn't he scare them to death?
If you can get away with it this time, what about next time?
Xu Kuo couldn't stand that stuff that made his throat sore, and besides, a person doesn't live to suffer.
Just as Xu Kuo was racking his brains for a solution, he suddenly heard a loud bang outside.
"Is anyone home? Is Jiang Xiuying here? Come out quickly!"
Hearing the commotion outside, Ren Hongmei instinctively took the unfinished sweet potato inside and covered it up.
Xu Kuo pulled Jiang Xiuying behind him and opened the door to the house.
Who is it?
As soon as he opened the door, Xu Kuo saw a large group of unfamiliar faces arriving in the courtyard.
However, there were two people he recognized.
"Sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, you two didn't bring so many people into our house, are you regretting it now?"
After all, they had just separated their households, and this person had already come knocking on their door. Jiang Xiuying tugged at Xu Kuo's sleeve with some concern, afraid that eating sweet potatoes had given him away.
"Pah, you sickly brat, stop trying to make yourself look good. Any family would be dragged down to death by having a burden like you!"
The first to speak was Liu Xueli, the eldest son's wife, whose mouth was as foul as ever.
"That's right, third brother. Sometimes being too tough isn't necessarily a good thing."
Zhang Cuifen stared at Jiang Xiuying behind Xu Kuo, then turned around and shouted to the people she had brought.
"Comrades, the person behind Xu Kuo is Jiang Xiuying. She is a reactionary and one of the 'Five Black Categories.' Go and arrest her immediately!"
Upon hearing the words "reactionary elements" and "five black categories," Jiang Xiuying's face instantly turned pale.
She looked at the man blocking her way with some helplessness. Only then did Xu Kuo realize that the two men had brought people from the team.
"Comrade, our team received a report that you are harboring remnants of the reactionaries. We need to take them back for questioning. If you bring them up voluntarily, we can let bygones be bygones. But if you dare to obstruct us..."
"What can I do if I don't hand them over?"
Before these people could finish their threats, Xu Kuo interrupted them.
"Then don't blame us for being impolite! Men, take action!"
Although Xu Kuo was a modern man, he had heard from the older generation that law enforcement officers in that era could be described as indiscriminate and their methods were extremely cruel.
It was obvious that Xu Kuo, who had taken the tonic pill, was no pushover either, and he casually picked up the carrying pole from the ground and held it in front of him.
"Let's see who dares to come closer!"
Xu Kuo was already furious about the matter of merit points, but he didn't expect these two culprits to come to him on their own initiative. So he decided not to be polite!
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