roccoschili Chapter 168 Lu Ping Visits
Chapter 168 Lu Ping Visits
The first year of famine was a torment.
As the drought continued, there was less and less to pick on the mountain.
No matter how frugal each family is in saving, the food they have saved is still a drop in the bucket.
However, due to the shortage of raw materials, the tofu workshop is facing shutdown.
Bean curd cakes became steamed buns made from tree bark and corn flour.
It was rough and hard to swallow, but no one in the village disliked it.
Recently, news of tragic events in surrounding villages has been spreading to the village.
For example, an old man in a family starved to death in order to save food for his children; or the whole family only drank a bowl of rice soup that was no different from water every day to fill their stomachs...
At the beginning, it was not that no one had ever spoken about the prophecy.
Few people could resist gossiping about such a rare thing, but they were so excited when talking about it that others just treated it as a joke and didn't take it seriously at all.
This has also led to a continuous influx of people coming to borrow grain recently.
Most of those people cried bitterly and regretted not listening to the advice.
The people in Gujia Village have been beaten and tortured by Gu Mingyue for a long time, and have long been immune to the pitiful behavior.
Not only did he not agree to lend the grain, he also emphasized that they were joking and not to take it seriously, for fear that these people who came to his house would stay at home and not leave.
The village chief said that there was not a penny in the village account and it had long been converted into food and stored there to deal with famine.
It’s not much, just enough for the villagers to survive until this year’s autumn harvest. If anyone dares to speak out and leave the village on his own, it will save more food for others.
The villagers, who were originally nervous, were completely relieved. No additional explanation was needed, and they all kept their mouths shut and spoke in unison to the outside world.
They had not forgotten the faces of those people when they borrowed grain. To expect them to repay evil with kindness was, as Aunt Mingyue said, wishful thinking.
Gu Guoqiang was worried about the safety of the villagers, so he asked Gu Mingwei to arrange people to strengthen patrols at the entrance of the village and the back mountain.
He was not worried about those who were borrowing grain. What he was worried about was that if the situation got worse, there would be a tragedy where people would eat their own children.
So the village held a special meeting to emphasize that children from every family must be accompanied by someone when going out and cannot go up the mountain or leave the village alone.
Many people have experienced turbulent times and still have a sense of crisis, so they naturally understand the painstaking efforts.
I don’t know about other places, but all the children who go to school in Gujia Village have not gone there recently.
The scope of activities is limited to the village head and the village tail. Don't obey? No way!
I was so hungry that I didn't even have the strength to walk, let alone do anything naughty.
The village has been much quieter recently. After work, every family goes home to lie down to reduce energy consumption.
Even Dandan, Gu Mingyue hadn't let him go out for a long time.
Every day I remind it in its ear not to bark or go out, otherwise it will be killed and eaten.
When she and Xiao Shitou go out, they will put on extra makeup, put on shadows, and pretend to be haggard and thin.
While ensuring nutrition, Gu Mingyue deliberately reduced the amount of her three meals a day.
In addition, the aunt and nephew often practiced how to respond when people asked them questions.
For example, if someone asks you whether you have no food at home, you cannot answer no. Instead, you should say that you drink only half full every day.
If you directly say that you can't have food to eat, it's too fake. It's easier to believe it if you say it's half true and half false.
For example, if someone asks where Dandan went?
Tell them that there was not enough food at home, so Dandan ran out to find food by himself.
Gu Mingyue never tests human nature, especially when it comes to life and death.
Not to mention fellow villagers, even relatives may not be reliable.
It is better to eliminate it from the beginning. It is not the lack of wealth that is worrying, but the inequality. Going with the crowd is often the safest way to deal with things.
Although little Shitou is small, he is very obedient. He will do whatever Gu Mingyue asks him to do.
Plus the little guy's acting skills were great, so everyone believed it, and when they saw the aunt and nephew's faces looked so grim, they felt relieved and stopped staring at their house.
One day in August, Gu Mingyue heard a knock on the door at home.
He immediately became alert and signaled to Dandan not to make any sound.
He carefully poked his head out and quickly opened the door. "Master Lu, why are you here?"
There was also a man riding a bicycle at the door. He looked rough and a bit fierce, and was probably in his early forties.
At this time, he looked helpless, but he greeted politely, "Hello, I am Lu Peng."
Although Gu Mingyue was puzzled, she still said politely, "Oh, hello, hello, please come in first."
Lu Ping introduced her as he walked in, "This is my second son. I wanted to come by myself, but he was worried and insisted on sending me. You look so thin, is there not enough food at home..."
Then he leaned close to her and whispered, "I brought you some sorghum rice, you can make do with it."
Gu Mingyue looked up in astonishment, "Master Lu!"
Lu Ping comforted him, "It's okay. My son and daughter are doing well. They both have jobs and enough to eat. I heard that several families in the nearby villages have starved to death. I was worried about you and Xiao Shitou, so I came to see you."
Gu Mingyue had never felt such a pure feeling without any interest as she did at this moment.
It was really heavy, and for a moment she felt mixed emotions.
Then he said seriously, "Master Lu, I have everything I need, you don't have to worry. But you are quite thin, don't try to fool me."
Lu Peng knew that his parents were supporting an aunt and nephew. After all, all the clothes and snacks in each of their rooms had been confiscated.
He was a purchasing agent at a meat processing plant, so he certainly had no shortage of food and drink.
I also understand my father's pure nature. As long as no one is deceived and he treats it as a good deed, he will not interfere too much.
But food was becoming increasingly scarce, and God knew how much effort he had put in to get these rations.
Now, one third of it was given away directly by my father.
The reason why I insisted on following was that I was worried about being unsafe on the road and being robbed.
Also, I just wanted to see my aunt and nephew in person and didn’t want my father to be deceived by others.
Looking around now, the blue brick and tile houses, cement roads, and clean windows and desks, this orderly appearance does not seem pitiful at all.
But judging from his attitude and his generous tone, he doesn't sound like the kind of person who would cheat or deceive others. I thought I'd observe him for a while longer...
Suddenly, a strange "oh oh" sound was heard.
Gu Mingyue subconsciously said, "Oh no."
Lu Ping asked hurriedly, "What's wrong?"
Before Gu Mingyue could speak, the voice came from far away and soon approached.
Lu Peng blurted out "Fuck, Bobcat!" and did not forget to stand in front in the panic.
Gu Mingyue quickly said, "It's okay, it's okay, don't be afraid, it's Da Mao, my friend, really."
She walked out and stroked the big hair that was still breathing heavily, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we are all family."
While comforting him, he explained, "I accidentally saved it, and it might come to give me some food from time to time to thank me."
Lu Ping and his son noticed the half-dead pheasant on the ground, and saw the mountain cat rubbing against Gu Mingyue affectionately.
The expression changes from nervousness to envy, and then to shining eyes. Who can resist the temptation of a big cat? If you touch it, you can brag about it for the rest of your life.
Seeing the father and son looking forward to it in the same way, Gu Mingyue laughed and discussed with Damao, "Can we each touch it once?"
Big Mao was humming.
Gu Mingyue took it as his tacit consent and said, "You can only touch it once, otherwise Damao will be unhappy."
Both father and son said in unison, "Really?"