Traveling through troubled times to escape famine and cultivate crops as a grain merchant

Several women who were in charge of the food supply immediately called a halt, "This is not a good way to go on. Even if we have mountains of gold and silver, we can't afford to eat this much. Besides, the food supply is not much to begin with. We have to plan for the future. So, from now on, everyone will have a fixed amount every day. Men who do manual labor should eat more, children should eat less, and people with larger appetites should eat more. We can't eat more than the recommended amount. Otherwise, if we run out of food later, where will we find food? We'll really have to eat tree bark."

Everyone looked at their own children, and although they felt a little distressed, they also thought that it made sense. For example, there were poor families who had never eaten like this at home before. They just felt that they had made a profit in the past few days and were not dissatisfied at all.

Zhou Guo was a child but had a big appetite. Huang stood up and went to find the person in charge of grain and the head of the village herself. They told her that Guoguo in their family could not only eat as much as a child but also as much as an adult man. Even so, she was still not full.

A few people thought that although Zhou Guo was young, he did no less than the men. He even picked up a hoe and fought with others. He was more powerful than the men. They agreed very happily. Besides, the Zhou family had plenty of food and many people, so they could accept more.

However, in this way, everyone's injuries will inevitably heal more slowly, but sacrifices will have to be made, and you can't have the best of both worlds.

As usual, whenever Zhou Guo stopped at a place, he would take the time to take Zhou Suli and Zhou Tao for a stroll on the mountainside, and bring back anything useful and edible they saw.

But usually Zhou Tao didn't join in, and the girl would fall asleep as soon as she stopped.

Zhou Guo had no choice but to take Zhou Su with him, and the two of them wandered around for a while, sometimes they couldn't even dig up grass roots.

The soil on the roadside was turned upside down by the passing refugees.

Even so, people falling down and dying of starvation could be seen on the roadside from time to time. There were also women squatting on the roadside with grass on their heads selling their bodies. There were also people selling their children, who could be bought with just a few bowls of food, and some women even brought their children with them to sell.

It's just that there are few children. When Zhou Guo saw this scene, he thought of the refugees he met before. At that time, even children were hard to see. Now when he came here, he could actually see children. He thought that they brought some property with them, but they came so far and for such a long time, their property might have been robbed or lost. Who knows?

She noticed that Huang was frowning, as if thinking about something.

I couldn't help but ask, "Grandma, what's wrong with you? What are you thinking about?"

The Li family members all looked over with concern.

Huang opened her mouth, hesitated for a long time, and finally said to her two daughters-in-law, "I was thinking that Sanlang is old enough, should I take this opportunity to find him a wife? You know, there is no money at home, his father and two brothers are gone, if he wants to settle down and marry a wife, how long will it take? Now is just the right time, a few bowls of grain can be exchanged for a wife, there is nothing cheaper than this."

When Mrs. Li and Mrs. Xu heard this, their eyes lit up. Yes, if they don't find a wife for Sanlang now, when will they have to wait? How much money will it cost when they settle down?

Mrs. Xu thought of her eldest son, who was also old enough, and said excitedly, "Mother, if we want to marry a wife, we should find one for Da Mao as well. You see, the uncle and nephew are about the same age, so it's just right to marry them together, which will save money."

Huang nodded, thinking it made sense.

Zhou Guo saw that they had decided on this matter in the blink of an eye. It seemed that they were not talking about their daughter-in-law, but rather about catching a cat or a dog. She said, "Grandma, aren't you going to tell my uncle about this?"

She thinks that when choosing a wife, she should choose one that her uncle likes. Otherwise, how can she live with someone she dislikes in every way?

Li gave her a reproachful look and said, "You are just a little kid, what do you know?"

Huang smiled and said, "I still have to say that he has to like someone. He is not marrying me a wife. What's the point of me liking someone? It's not me who will live with him."

Zhou Guo nodded with satisfaction. That's right. How can I marry a wife without letting her know?

Mrs. Xu wanted to choose one herself. She felt that she could definitely find a daughter-in-law for her son who would be able to manage a family. But she knew her son well: he was just a blockhead.

Soon, Zhou Dacang and Zhou Gu knew that they were going to get married.

Zhou Guo also said quietly: "Uncle, you must be cautious about marrying a wife. Brother, you must also look carefully. This is the person you will spend your whole life with. You must marry someone who is pleasing to the eye and good-looking."

Zhou Gu's face flushed red, he was at a loss, and couldn't utter a word.

Zhou Dacang frowned and said directly to Huang: "Mom, I don't want to get married yet. I'm still young."

"You are still young?! You are already eighteen. There are many people in the village who are married at this age. In two years, other people's children will be able to run around, but you still can't find a wife. Let me tell you, there are so many girls now, and it doesn't cost money. All you need is a few bowls of food. Once you settle down, where can you find such a cheap thing? Don't be stupid." Huang advised earnestly that if her youngest son did not get married, she would not be able to close her eyes even if she died.

Zhou Dacang complained, "I'm only sixteen! I'm still young."

Zhou Guo couldn't help but nodded. Yes, he was still young and was only in high school at this age.

Li patted her head gently, signaling her not to make trouble.

Huang said, "I'm already eighteen in my virtual age, how can I count my actual age?"

Zhou Dacang said, "Anyway, I won't marry. Look at the current situation. We don't know where our future home will be. There are already enough mouths to feed at home. We have to carefully calculate the food every time. We are already hungry. You said you want to squeeze two more people in. Won't the food be even less? Do you want these people in our family to stick a straw on their heads and sell themselves out?"

"You, you!!" Huang was so angry that she lowered her head and looked around for a stick. She really wanted to beat the kid up.

Xu said, "Third brother, getting married and having children is a big deal. As the old saying goes, there are three types of unfilial behavior, and the worst is not having descendants. What's the big deal about having two more mouths to feed? With so many of us, can't we save this little bit of food?"

Zhou Dacang said, "Then you should eat less from now on, and see if you can save the portion for Damao's wife. I will never marry a wife. I can't even afford to eat, so why would I marry a wife and have children? After the children are born, they will also go hungry and live such a miserable life?"

After saying this, he turned and walked away, very determined.

Huang was so angry that she pointed at his back and said, "There is no room for negotiation on this matter. You have to agree whether you want to or not. Marriage is not something you can decide on your own." But her words were not as firm as at the beginning and she was obviously a little shaken.

Zhou Guo also felt that it was not a good time to get married now. There were already many people in their family, and so many people were waiting for food. If two more came, where would they get food? She could barely get half full now, and if two more came, wouldn't she only be able to eat three-quarters full?