Affection for Sidaogou during the Famine

Han Zhaozhao suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. We have to eat less then."

She secretly thought in her heart that she must plan the family's food rations carefully in the future and not eat pure grain in front of outsiders.

Grandpa Guan asked her in a low voice, "Are you going to open up wasteland in the mountains this year? Count me in then!"

Han Zhaozhao pretended to be stupid and laughed awkwardly, "It's all in vain, my lord, please stop making trouble!"

Old Master Guan was cunning and sly, and he laughed evilly: "You little bitch, you are so tight-lipped! Why don't you tell me the truth?

You five people come in and out, you can hide it from others, but can you hide it from me?

You have collected so much food. Let me tell you, if I hadn't covered it up for you, you would have been exposed long ago!"

Han Zhaozhao felt nervous. This old man was not easy to deal with. He had to think of a way to shut him up.

She thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Grandpa Guan, what are you talking about? We don't have any food to harvest. We only have pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, which are worthless.

I planted them on cleared land without applying any fertilizer, so they didn't grow well. It's good enough if I can get back the money I spent on the seeds.

Besides, if we could really harvest that much food, others would have gone up the mountain to open up wasteland and plant crops long ago, so why would we kids have a turn?"

Old Master Guan narrowed his eyes, obviously not believing what she said, "Don't play tricks on me, you little brats, don't I know it?"

Han Zhaozhao quickly smiled and said, "Grandpa Guan, we know you are doing this for our own good. But this matter is indeed of great importance. If it gets out, the consequences will be disastrous. Can you just pretend you know nothing?"

Mr. Guan was silent for a moment, and finally waved his hand, "Okay, for the sake of this meal of noodles, I can keep the secret for you.

However, you must also be careful and not cause any trouble. Also," the old man smiled slyly, "if you get more food, don't forget to leave me some. You can give me money or things. I can also give you people if you need them."

With your old arms and legs, you’re afraid of falling when you walk. What can you do?

Han Zhaozhao complained in his heart, but said, "Remember, I never forgot to bring you along when I bought food before!

But thank you for covering for us. Don't worry, we will be careful. We have decided not to mess with the wasteland this year."

She secretly felt lucky that she had managed to keep Old Man Guan stable. However, she had to be more careful in the future and not let anyone discover their secrets.

In the afternoon, Zheng Guoren helped to settle down. Looking at the mother and son busy cleaning the house, he felt a little uncomfortable.

He knew that he was sorry for Xiaoliang's mother, but facing this embarrassing situation, he could only do his best to help them financially. There was still a long time to go, and he hoped to make up for it slowly in the future.

Zheng Guoren left, and Xiaoliang followed him out of the hospital, "Dad, where are you going?"

"Dad has to go to work. Go home and listen to mom at home. Don't run around. Dad will bring you some delicious snacks next time."

Zheng Guoren turned around and advised his son, feeling extremely sad. It was his responsibility that the child was so healthy and had this disease. It was all his fault that he had not found the mother and daughter earlier.

Perhaps, if the disease had been found a few years earlier, it could have been cured.

Thinking of what the military doctor whispered to him, his heart ached as if it were stabbed by a knife.

He was so young when he was caught, and had witnessed so many cruel and bloody things, that not going crazy was the best outcome.

I turned around and said, "Mom, Dad is gone!"

Shufen followed her out and took her son home. "Well, mom knows. Dad went to work to earn money to buy you delicious food. Be good and go home to see the room that Dad decorated for you. There is a desk. You will definitely like it."

Xiaoliang was happy because he could draw with a desk. He liked to draw cows, sheep, pigs, dogs and mountains the most.

"Did you bring my paper and pen? I want to draw my dad and our new home."

Xiaoliang's mother coaxed him gently, "I brought it, I brought it all..."

Han Zhaozhao originally wanted to go to Bai Laoliu's hometown today, but because Xiaoliang's family moved in, she did not go out.

After doing nothing for the whole morning, she couldn't sit still in the afternoon, so she moved out two wooden boxes, placed them under the eaves, went to the backyard and dug half a basket of garden soil, and started to grow vegetable seedlings.

A wooden box is used to grow melon seedlings. Five or six seeds of cucumber, loofah, pumpkin, gourd and winter melon are planted in each box.

There is little rain in the north this year, so we are not planting watermelons and melons. We harvested a lot of sunflower seeds last year, so we are not planting them this year.

In another wooden box, I grew some eggplants, tomatoes and peppers. After thinking about it, I thought that zucchini would produce more fruits, so I planted a dozen zucchini seeds.

Her family definitely cannot finish growing all of these two large boxes of seedlings, so after the seedlings grow up, she plans to give some to her neighbors.

In the corners of the slum, you can plant all kinds of climbing melons, such as loofah, pumpkin and winter melon. Once planted, as long as you water them frequently and don't do much to manage them, they will climb all over the walls and bear many fruits.

It may not be obvious in peaceful years, but in years of famine, vegetables can be used as food, which can fill the stomach and save lives at critical moments.

Thinking of this, Han Zhaozhao went to the large courtyard in front, found two broken jars, filled them with soil, and planted two more jars of pumpkin, loofah and zucchini.

Zucchini is easier to grow. It can be planted in any larger broken pot or jar. During the peak fruit-bearing season, just one plant can provide food for the whole family.

If you can’t finish it, you can dry the vegetables, which can fill your stomach during famine. It’s better than eating tree bark and grass roots!

After planting the seeds, Han Zhaozhao found his homemade spray bottle, sprinkled water evenly, and placed it next to the steps to drain out excess water.

In the opposite house, the handsome young man Xiaoliang had already seen her fiddling with the soil, and was watching her intently as she completed the breeding step by step.

Han Zhaozhao closed the door and said to Grandpa Guan, "Grandpa Guan, please stay here in the sun for a while and help me watch the door.

When I feel cold, I go back to the house. When I feel thirsty, I make myself tea and keep the thermos full.

I went to the backyard to tidy up the land and dig the vegetable patch."

Mr. Guan leaned against the pillars to bask in the sun, squinting his eyes and waving, "Be busy with your own business. I'll let you know before I leave."

As soon as Han Zhaozhao went to the backyard with his tools, Xiaoliang ran out of the house to look at the breeding box.

"Just take a look, but don't move anything. Zhao Zhao just finished it, she'll be angry if you mess it up."

Mr. Guan spoke up.

"I won't move, I'll be good!"

Xiao Liang nodded repeatedly, but his eyes could not leave the boxes. He squatted down and carefully observed the seedlings in the boxes, as if he was looking at some rare treasure.

Han Zhaozhao was busy in the backyard. She swung a hoe and tried hard to dig the still dry and hard vegetable patch. The sunlight shone on her, reflecting her hard-working figure.

Xiao Liang watched for a while, then suddenly turned around and ran into the backyard. He ran to Han Zhaozhao, reached out to grab the hoe, and raised his innocent face: "Sister, I'll help you dig."

This child can do farm work?

Han Zhaozhao looked at Xiaoliang's extremely serious expression and nodded with a smile.

Xiaoliang raised the hoe high, swung it high, and started digging in an orderly manner.

Although his movements were a little unfamiliar, he worked very hard.

Huh? You have a lot of strength!