CHAPTER 120: 120 DELIVERED FISH

"Group Leader Ma, ever since I started farming, I haven’t gone out. But looking at the land of the Tang Family next door, I feel this year won’t be good. Luckily, the two of us planted early. Back then, we carried water day and night for irrigation. It really worked out well.

Group Leader Ma, do you know when it might rain? If this continues, we won’t be able to harvest much grain this year."

Ma Changshun shook his head and stood up. "I don’t know either. I asked the farm manager, and it seems the drought down there is quite severe too.

Everyone is hoping for rain, but looking at the situation, it’s really not easy to get rain."

At this moment, Tan Shaoting returned. The three happened to meet at the door.

"Group Leader Ma is here. You should stay and have a meal with us at this time."

Ma Changshun shook his head, feeling embarrassed to eat the food of two youngsters.

Su Yuanyuan handed the basket of vegetables to Tan Shaoting.

"Group Leader Ma, if you’re not staying for a meal, please take these vegetables home."

In the end, Ma Changshun left with the basket.

Tan Shaoting was quite satisfied to be able to eat fish.

"Oh, by the way, I’ll let out a half-grown fish and take it to Ma Changshun later to inquire about the situation outside."

Su Yuanyuan naturally had no objections and released a four to five-pound silver carp.

Su Yuanyuan watched as Tan Shaoting ate all the fish. This guy can really eat.

She was really envious of him because she wasn’t even five feet tall yet, although not far from it. But isn’t he almost six feet tall? Could it be that she ate too little?

After Tan Shaoting was full, he cleaned up the table.

"I’m going to Group Leader Ma’s house."

He said, putting the fish in a basket and driving off.

After he left, Su Yuanyuan went back inside for a nap. Farming so much land was different from the few acres they used to plant. Back then, they could weed the fields.

Now, with so much land, even if you have the will, you don’t have the ability.

So, if there is too much wild grass, you won’t bother with it, as there’s no way to manage it all.

Being alone at home, she fell asleep quickly.

Tan Shaoting drove to Ma Changshun’s house around noon.

"Xiao Tan, why are you here at this time? Is something the matter?"

Tan Shaoting smiled, "No, this is the fish we caught last night. I forgot earlier, so I came to deliver it."

"Just the two of you can eat it. It counts as a bit of meat."

"We ate one at noon."

At this moment, Ma Dongmei came out. She was two years older than Tan Shaoting. She had come out because she heard there was fish, fearing her father would really refuse it, as it was hard to improve life, and she didn’t want him to refuse.

"Thank you, Xiao Tan."

Tan Shaoting smiled and handed over the fish.

Ma Dongmei didn’t stand on ceremony. She took it, smiled, and went inside.

Ma Changshun had no choice. The children were tired too, and couldn’t eat anything good. But there’s nothing that can be done.

"Thank you, Xiao Tan."

"Group Leader Ma, why are you being polite?

By the way, neither of us has gone out since we started farming. What do you think, is the situation with the crops not looking good?"

"Come on in and stay awhile."

Tan Shaoting tied the donkey to the side and followed Ma Changshun inside.

He happened to meet Ma Dongmei. She never thought much of Tan Shaoting before, but just earlier when they met, she realized how tall he had become? She glanced at his face, and indeed, he looked handsome.

Tan Shaoting sensed Ma Dongmei’s gaze and was quite displeased.

Ma Dongmei, a bold and capable young woman, followed them inside as well.

"Xiao Tan, have a seat."

Tan Shaoting smiled. Ma Changshun was a sincere person. Since they came over, he treated him quite well, and he wanted to hear about the situation outside. So he sat down on the edge of the kang.

"Group Leader Ma, what’s happening outside? Is it the same everywhere?"

Ma Changshun nodded but hadn’t spoken when Ma Dongmei interjected, "Yes, if it doesn’t rain this year, there won’t be any harvest."

Tan Shaoting didn’t respond. Ma Changshun paused, "Xiao Tan, you’ve seen it. All the crops along the way are withered and yellow. Without moisture, it’s really done for."

"Is it the same at the First Farm?"

"I haven’t gone to see, but I heard from the farm manager that it’s the same. They said the villages outside are like this too."

"That’s not good."

"Isn’t it? Now, some people in our farm have wells in their yards that don’t even have water."

"Is water for drinking becoming a problem?"

Ma Changshun nodded. "Yes, even drinking water will be a problem.

The water in the pit at Su Yuanyuan’s land edge isn’t much now, right?"

Tan Shaoting nodded, "Yes, or we wouldn’t be able to catch fish."

"This year, if families have enough grain to eat, it will be good. It’s just remarkable that the crops on your land are doing well."

"Yes, we carry water to irrigate every day."

"You two are fortunate. Others can’t even fetch water if they want to."

Ma Dongmei’s words were not to Tan Shaoting’s liking.

"That land was left unchosen by others, then it came to the Su Family, and eventually to Su Yuanyuan’s hands. Are you jealous now?"

Ma Dongmei was a bit embarrassed by Tan Shaoting’s retort.

"Haha, are you two going to become a family? Why else are you defending her so much?" Although Ma Dongmei said it with a smile, it didn’t sound right to outsiders’ ears.

Tan Shaoting frowned, but before he could speak, Ma Changshun glared, "Mind your own business and do what you should."

Ma Dongmei, at sixteen, was embarrassed to be scolded like that. She stormed out angrily.

"Group Leader Ma, is there any directive from above?"

"What directive can there be? It’s widespread; the drought isn’t just in our farm."

Now, Tan Shaoting didn’t speak. Indeed, if there’s any directive, they’ll have to wait until autumn to see.

"Xiao Tan, you two are doing well. Don’t slack off, and make sure to protect those two hundred acres."

Tan Shaoting smiled wryly, "Group Leader Ma, we want to, but there’s not much water left in the pit. If it doesn’t rain this month, the pit will dry up."

Ma Changshun sighed, "The heavens are giving no way to live, not even a mouthful of rice." He sighed again.

Both of them felt heavy-hearted. This wasn’t something individuals could change.

Tan Shaoting stood up, "Group Leader Ma, I’m leaving. I still have to weed in the afternoon."

Ma Changshun saw him out, looking at the lad who was bigger and stronger than himself. He marveled at how fast the boy had grown.

Returning inside, he saw his eldest daughter’s sulky face, glared at her, but said nothing.

Everyone in the group knew the two half-grown kids lived together. Gossip was unavoidable.