CHAPTER 123: 123 FLATTERY

"Director Feng, Group Leader Ma, and everyone, what brings you to our place?"

Feng Baoshan looked at the young man, even carrying a hoe with mud all over him, still like a dragon among men, though his clothes were shabby and he stood in the field, his brilliance couldn’t be concealed.

"Just came to see how you two managed to plant your crops so well?"

Tan Shaoting laughed, looking at Su Yuanyuan wrapped tightly, giving her a reassuring glance.

"You all can see, actually we’ve all been doing farm work for many years, these crops of ours, if it were normal times, would be just average,

but because of the drought this year, our land stands out differently.

We don’t have any special tricks or experience, just worked harder than others."

Feng Baoshan looked at the sweet potato vines here. They’ve already covered the ground. He squatted down, separating a cluster, these sweet potatoes were already as thick as a child’s wrist.

This patch of sweet potatoes, if not a bumper harvest, will definitely not yield less than previous years.

"Good, very good, you two are very capable."

With Feng Baoshan’s approval, even if others had opinions, they would just keep them to themselves.

"Director Feng, thank you for your praise. We’re just doing what we should be doing."

The others also squatted down to look at the sweet potatoes Feng Baoshan had just observed.

The more resourceful ones smiled, realizing that in such times, having grain here as others faced hunger, only a fool would be at odds with them.

"Two kids doing way better than us."

Su Yuanyuan noticed the change in these people, smirking internally, understanding the situation.

"Xiao Tan, when are your potatoes expected to be ready?"

"I’m thinking they’ll be ready by October."

"Alright, I’ll find some people to come over and help you then," said Feng Baoshan.

"Thank you, Director Feng." Su Yuanyuan certainly wouldn’t refuse, even if someone secretly took a bit, it’s okay, as this year was really tough.

Feng Baoshan waved his hand, "When it’s time for harvest, inform Group Leader Ma, and someone will be sent over."

"I’ll also come to help."

The remaining people said so as well.

Su Yuanyuan looked at Feng Baoshan with difficulty. If too many people came, how much labor would they need to be paid?

Actually, Su Yuanyuan felt it wouldn’t be too much, but still, it had to be done this way.

"We don’t want wages, just sell us some grain after you’ve completed your tasks."

Su Yuanyuan pretended to relax, "That’s for sure. Whatever’s left after our needs, we’ll sell."

With such a promise, everyone felt reassured. Cultivating for a whole year only to have to buy grain to eat was really discouraging.

After sending off these twelve people, Su Yuanyuan didn’t return to the field but went back home.

"Su Yuanyuan, are we really going to sell them all our grain?"

"Yes, all of it. I’m thinking of starting the harvest in mid-September, sell everything here, and then head abroad."

Initially considering selling at a high price, but conscience couldn’t bear it, being a disaster year, making money now wouldn’t feel right.

So it’s better to sell it all, which also makes for an easier conversation.

Tan Shaoting listened to everything Su Yuanyuan said. He had no objections.

"By the way, we need to buy more gunny bags and burlap sacks."

"Can we really get grain?"

"We probably can. I’ve heard that it’s mechanized planting over there, and at harvest time, they can’t gather it all. It’ll be just the two of us then."

"So we’re scavenging?" Tan Shaoting said with a smile.

Su Yuanyuan nodded, "Yes, we’re just going to scavenge."

At night, they both cultivated, Tan Shaoting told Su Yuanyuan that they could use a spell, just a wave of the hand would let them gather the grain.

So Su Yuanyuan was motivated to cultivate again. The next day, they drove off. First to the nearest town to buy gunny bags, then to the city, after all, being well-prepared is never wrong.

Su Yuanyuan hadn’t been out for several months. The town hadn’t changed much visibly, but actually, it was different.

Seeing groups of young people, Su Yuanyuan felt a little apprehensive.

They bought over five hundred bags, with many tickets in hand, they bought all they could. Even if not needed now, they’d come in handy someday.

They returned at night under cover of darkness. Tan Shaoting wanted to return the next day, but Su Yuanyuan insisted on going back.

"I don’t feel safe outside, I must return home, definitely go back home."

Tan Shaoting nodded, agreeing to return. They ate buns and drank soy milk on the cart.

"Why don’t you lie down and rest a bit?" Tan Shaoting had placed a quilt on the cart.

"Alright, I’ll sleep then. Wake me when we get home."

Bobbing along, they reached home a bit past four in the morning.

Tan Shaoting wasn’t tired even without sleeping at night. But with this girl sleeping so soundly beside him, he felt the urge to sleep too.

Su Yuanyuan felt someone touching her, and opened her eyes alertly.

"I want to carry you inside."

Su Yuanyuan sat up, "No need, I can do it myself."

By then, the sky was already starting to brighten.

She no longer felt sleepy and began tidying up the vegetables in the courtyard, organizing what needed to be stored.

Tan Shaoting also didn’t go to sleep, he returned to his courtyard, where there were also vegetables.

When it was almost seven o’clock, Tan Shaoting came back to eat.

In the morning, Su Yuanyuan cooked porridge and stir-fried egg with eggplant strips.

Just as they finished eating, they heard some noise outside.

Tan Shaoting was clearing the table, so Su Yuanyuan went out.

"Auntie, is there something I can help you with?"

A couple outside had come with a donkey cart, carrying six water buckets on it.

"Little girl, we’re in the same group as you. My husband’s name is Zhu Changlin. I’m here to see if we can get a few buckets of water from your place. Our water well has dried up, and we have no water to drink."

Su Yuanyuan smiled, "Sure, Auntie, please come in."

At this time, Tan Shaoting also came out, "Aunt Zhu, you’ve come to fetch water?"

"Yes, Xiao Tan, are you two really together?"

Su Yuanyuan felt something was off with this line of questioning. Then she heard Tan Shaoting’s reply.

"Aunt Zhu, we’re just living together to make things easier than being alone."

"Yes, it’s nice to have someone with you."

"Auntie, I’ll pump the water now, but our water here has also reduced a lot."

Hou Chunxiang entered their courtyard, goodness, the place was full of vegetables, looking lush and green, much better than theirs.

But this was not something one could envy, her father said it was because they were close to a water pit, so their ground had more moisture. It’s normal for their vegetables and crops to grow well.

Initially, she hadn’t planned to come here, but after visiting several homes that also said they were out of water, she had no choice but to come here.