Fan Tiesheng came to the Yuan family's house that evening.
Upon seeing him, Xiao Xiao knew what he was there for.
Fan Tiesheng has always been a straightforward person.
Without beating around the bush, she directly asked the question that had been bothering her.
"Xiaoxiao, what exactly is going on?"
How did the villagers get so poor that they have to start borrowing grain?
Is something about to happen?
Before Xiaoxiao could speak, Yuan Shitou spoke up.
"What does it mean for a village to be so poor? There's not much refined grain, but coarse grains are readily available."
Everyone knows how much land our village has.
Those old women are just too much trouble.
They felt that their child had been wronged.
Last year and this year, besides delivering grain to the government, there wasn't much refined grain left.
They felt they couldn't make ends meet and thought of borrowing fine grains to take back to nourish their children.
Isn't this how everyone lives?
Where would they find extra fine grains to lend them?
If you ask me, it's just a case of being too full and having nothing better to do.
Being able to eat your fill is good enough; why bother distinguishing between coarse and refined grains?
"Aren't they all food?"
Fan Tiesheng nodded: "Brother Shitou, you're absolutely right."
These women can't just sit idle.
There is little land and little work in our village.
They're just idle and do nothing but cause trouble.
Look at this whole scene, it scared me so much I thought something terrible had happened.
You have no idea that those old women came to our house today.
Fortunately, you all gave me advance notice.
Minmin and I put on a show for them.
Otherwise, they definitely won't be easy to deal with.
Yuan's mother was a little angry: "These people are definitely thinking that we bought so much grain last year."
So I thought I'd borrow it.
But now that they've lent it to us, when are they going to pay it back?
Whether they can repay it or not is another matter entirely.
Besides, what can this amount of grain even do?
If things continue like this, we'll end up like them, without any food to eat.
We also need to eat sweet potatoes and potatoes.
Fan Tiesheng was such a shrewd man; he sensed something was amiss when he heard what Yuan's mother said.
Turning to Xiaoxiao, he asked, "Xiaoxiao, do you have any ideas?"
Xiao Xiao, who hadn't spoken until now, heard him ask this question.
I think I should tell him a little bit.
After all, their two families are the closest.
Moreover, she and Yuan Min are also the best of friends.
They couldn't bear to see her without food.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Our family doesn't have much food left either."
I was thinking of going to Uncle Lin and asking him to help us buy some food.
You all know the situation in our village.
Sweet potatoes and potatoes are definitely plentiful.
As for other grains, there weren't many.
We adults are fine, though.
But the child is so young, they can't eat sweet potatoes and potatoes all the time, can they?
Fan Tiesheng nodded: "You're right, that's what I think too."
We don't have much food left at home.
We adults haven't had any food these past few days.
Save the food for the children.
You all know that my two ancestors are not easy to deal with.
I'm really at my wit's end.
If Uncle Lin can really buy grain, please buy some for me too.
Yuan Shitou turned to him and asked, "How many are you planning to buy?"
Fan Tiesheng looked at Xiaoxiao: "Xiaoxiao, how many do you plan to buy?"
After a moment's hesitation, he said conservatively:
"If I can buy more, I will."
Two or three thousand catties is not a small amount, seven or eight thousand catties, or even tens of thousands of catties is not a large amount.
Fan Tiesheng was startled: "So many?"
Yuan Shitou was also surprised: "Wife, why do we need to buy so much grain?"
Although I have a big appetite, I'm not picky about food. I can eat sweet potatoes and potatoes too.
As long as it fills my stomach, I'm not picky.
Xiao Xiao is considering whether or not to tell them the truth.
But she dared not say it, what if it caused panic?
Yuan's mother slapped Yuan Shitou: "You talk too much. Just listen to your wife."
Although Yuan Shitou found it strange, he didn't dare to ask any further questions after hearing his mother say that.
He also felt that Xiao Xiao's plan was a bit strange and worried that something might happen.
Looking at its small size, it seemed a little unsure.
Fan Tiesheng asked in a low voice, "Xiaoxiao, do you know something?"
Could something have changed?
Xiao Xiao shook her head: "I stay at home every day and haven't gone anywhere. What could I possibly hear?"
I just feel that having enough food at home means I'm not worried.
Stock up as much as you can if you can buy it.
If it can last for one or two years, or even two or three years, that would be fine.
Fan Tiesheng felt that Xiaoxiao was not telling the truth, but he didn't press her for details.
I'm a little hesitant about how much to buy.
Xiao Xiao thought it was because he didn't have money, so she said:
"If you don't have enough money, I can lend it to you."
Fan Tiesheng shook his head. "I do have money. It should be enough to buy grain."
He still has about 10,000 yuan at home.
But it can't all be used to buy grain.
You always need to keep some money on hand, just in case you need it in an emergency.
"By the way, how do you plan to bring him back?"
"Let's go down the mountain and ask Uncle Lin first. If we can buy it, we'll bring it back in an oxcart in the middle of the night."
He pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Bring it back in an oxcart?"
Everyone in the village knows about it now.
What if they find out they're coming to borrow again?
Yuan Shitou took over the conversation and asked.
Yuan's mother glared at him: "Can't you keep it a secret?"
Yuan Shitou scratched his head: "Mother, what are you saying?"
I didn't want anyone to know either, but hauling grain in an oxcart at night was very noisy.
It will definitely be discovered.
Xiao Xiao looked at him: "Then what's your idea?"
Then he asked Fan Tiesheng, "You think about it too, is there any other way?"
Fan Tiesheng was desperate: "If there's really no other way, let them know if they want to."
Anyway, we bought it with money, so no one else can say anything about it.
Yuan Ping'an blinked his big eyes: "What if they come to you to borrow it?"
If you don't lend it, someone might target you.
Some people are really bad; they might even steal.
Mr. Yuan patted his pipe and said, "Ping An is right. There are people like that."
"At that point, they'll do anything for a bite to eat."
Mother Yuan also offered a suggestion: "We still have to come secretly at night."
For a moment, everyone fell silent.
Suddenly, Yuan Gungun's sobbing echoed through the silent night sky.
Mrs. Yuan quickly said, "The little guy's diaper must be wet. I'll go in and change it for him."
After saying that, he left.
Xiao Xiao tapped the table: "How about this?"
We'll go down the mountain under the pretense of selling rabbits, and then come back late at night.
"Then we'll say the rabbits weren't selling well, and that's why it took so long."
Fan Tiesheng clapped his hands: "Yes, Xiaoxiao's idea is good."
We need to let them know we're going to sell rabbits.
They didn't get back until evening.
Yuan Shitou nodded: "So, are we really selling rabbits or just pretending to sell rabbits?"
Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at him: "Of course it's fake, it's just an illusion."
"Then we'll find some frames to put on top, cover them with cloth, and nobody will be able to see them."
Yuan Pingan said, "We also need to put two rabbit skins on it."
"Let them see it for themselves, otherwise they won't believe it."
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