The group looked at each other. Could they say that they hadn't thought of these things at all?
"We thought that carrying a basket on our backs would be enough."
Simply shrug.
"It's not impossible. Just pack it up and then head down the mountain."
"That won't do,"
The first to object was Lin Zhaodi.
"We've come all this way, we can't waste it. We should pick up as much as we can so we can have more to eat in the winter."
"Are we really going to spend the night on the mountain?"
This is what they care about.
"I was just using an analogy. It's possible, but our main goal is to get mountain products, not hunting, so it's unlikely."
Before Jian Dan had even left the educated youth compound, the village's prized loudspeaker blared out.
"Meeting, meeting! Come to the open space in front of the village office right now. Every household must send someone."
I'll say it again: a meeting! Come to the village office immediately for a meeting.
"Look, the village chief will probably give his instructions soon. Let's go to the meeting."
After locking the door and coming out, the group encountered villagers one after another on the road, walking towards the village office in groups of three or two.
Wang Guihua's small group already knew about the news about the cloth head, and when they saw Jian Dan, their eyes instantly became much more eager.
Li Yan and the others didn't know what was going on, but they could vaguely sense that the villagers' attitude towards Jian Dan was very abnormal.
Chen Jianguo couldn't help but move closer and quietly asked,
"Jian Zhiqing, you don't have any conflicts with the villagers, do you?"
Upon hearing this, Li Yan was stunned. Her intuition told her it was impossible. On their first day here, they had witnessed her interactions with the villagers, which were so natural and intimate. There shouldn't be any conflict between them, right?
Jian Dan sensed the villagers' attitude, but she never expected Chen Jianguo to be so oblivious. How did he come up with such a thought process? And couldn't the auntie's eyes be interpreted as contradictory?
Is this how you judge someone just because you have a conflict with them?
Noticing the gazes of the three female educated youths around him, Chen Jianguo belatedly realized something was wrong after glancing at the villagers' eyes.
Coming to his senses, he quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I misunderstood."
Li Yan laughed.
"Chen Zhiqing, I just want to know, how did you come to this conclusion?"
Why does that fervent gaze evoke not liking, enthusiasm, or warmth, but rather a sense of contradiction?
Chen Jianguo scratched his head.
"I don't know what happened, maybe my brain suddenly cramped up."
The village chief was already at the village office, and the villagers came over in twos and threes to discuss it. They probably knew that it was all about going up the mountain.
Seeing that it was simple, the village chief's face broke into a wide smile again, and he became much more amiable towards the other three people.
"Xiao Jian, you guys should also get ready. You'll be coming up the mountain with us tomorrow."
Do you rarely see mountains in your city? Let me tell you, the mountains around here are full of good stuff. Those mountain products, wild fruits, mushrooms, and things like that would be top-notch in the city. You might not recognize some of those mountain products, but just follow the villagers, and they'll pick them up along with you when they're harvested.
At this point, whoever picks it up owns it.
Don't underestimate this thing; if you're diligent, you can collect quite a lot.
In a year like this, all we can salvage is enough for a family's winter needs; it's good stuff, enough to replace grain.
Knowing the village chief meant well, the group nodded in agreement. Simple was fine with them, but Chen Jianguo and the other two were serious, their eyes shining with eagerness.
"So there are so many good things in the mountains. No wonder people say the Northeast is great, saying that you can eat grain and hunt game as you please."
A simple sneer: This is an exaggeration; it's more boastful than a cow.
Chen Jianguo, however, did not lose his mind.
"Eating whatever you want is a serious exaggeration. We've seen the situation here during our time here, and it's not much better than home. How can that be considered eating whatever you want? Besides, this is the result of collective labor. If it were really just eating whatever you want, wouldn't that be misappropriating state property?"
"You can't just say that carelessly. If someone with ulterior motives hears it, it could easily cause trouble."
Lin Zhaodi regretted her words as soon as she finished speaking. Upon hearing this, her face turned pale, and she nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.
Li Yan glanced around.
"Alright, alright, thankfully no one heard us today. Just be more careful next time."
We've only been here a short time; we haven't even gotten to know each other well enough to form a bond, let alone build any real friendships. Plus, we're outnumbered and outgunned, so we need to be extra careful."
Lin Zhaodi was terrified and didn't utter a sound until the meeting was over.
As expected, the village chief was talking about going up the mountain tomorrow, to the same old spot as in previous years, which is deeper than the outer area, but not yet deep into the mountains.
It's not as dangerous as deep in the mountains, but it's not much different. As you get closer, you can't rule out encountering wild animals coming down the mountain or looking for food. After all, this has happened before.
I heard that in previous years, it was common for wild animals coming down from the mountains to injure people and damage crops. Things have only gotten better in recent years. But this year is a disaster year. There is no food down the mountain, and there is no guarantee that the food up the mountain will be safe. Starving wild animals will also run down the mountain.
However, these were all pieces of information gathered by a few people from the villagers' gossip. Before going up the mountain, they were repeatedly warned by the village chief, and they all hoped that it was just a story and would not happen.
Jian Dan walked with Li Yan and the others, not straying far from them. He mingled among the villagers, speaking quietly while listening to the aunties and grandmas gossiping about this and that. He would occasionally smile or nod in response, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
When going into the mountains, the unspoken rule in the village is that each family leaves the elderly and children at home, while the men and women of the household accompany them.
Along the way, the men from each family walked silently on the outer perimeter, so that even if there was danger, they could respond immediately or keep the danger out, thus giving those inside the circle a chance to survive.
Jian Dan carried a basket on his back, which contained a small shovel, a knife, two burlap sacks, a water bottle filled to the brim with water, and some dry food wrapped in oil paper.
The original owner was delicate and weak, and even with the extra nutrition and special care she received during this period, she had only managed to recover a little.
She didn't actually mix in wild vegetables or rice bran; she didn't have any of those things. However, to cover her tracks, she did mix in half sorghum flour and half black rice flour.
The food stored at the base is all finely ground, and the resulting dry rations are just as soft, fluffy, and sweet. However, the color is similar to other brands—a dull, dark, and purplish color that doesn't look appetizing at all.
Once it cools down, you can't smell any aroma unless you get close, which is a double guarantee. But Jian Dan didn't plan to eat it with everyone. When that happens, people will only see the color, and who will guess that it's made with fine flour?
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