Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

Because Manager Qian and the others were in a hurry to get back, Sun Xiuxiu had already prepared the meal before the sun had even set.

Seeing that Manager Qian and the others hadn't come over, Zhang Xixi went to the fields to invite them back.

When they saw the scrambled eggs with tomatoes on the table at mealtime, Manager Qian and the others were very surprised.

Zhang Xixi quickly introduced the tomatoes to everyone, and fearing that they might hesitate to eat them, she took the lead and scooped a spoonful into her bowl to eat.

At another table, Zhou Yujie and his two children were enjoying their scrambled eggs with tomatoes. The red fruit was so delicious, with its sweet and sour taste!

After dinner, Li Kuiqi shamelessly asked for some tomatoes, and Zhang Xixi picked all the ripe ones from the field and gave them to them.

Li Kuiqi smiled broadly. These tomatoes are sweet and sour; his wife and daughter at home will definitely love them!

Seeing that it was about time, Manager Qian and the others went to the sweet potato field, while Zhang Xixi brought out the sweet potatoes that she had cooked in the afternoon.

Li Kuiqi asked in confusion, "Young lady, what's going on...?"

"We can't let you travel through the night on an empty stomach. This is for the older brothers in the caravan. They don't have much good food at home, so this is all they have."

The convoy members all brought their own dry rations, but seeing Zhang's sister's kind intentions, Manager Qian didn't refuse, and said with a smile, "Sweet potatoes are already very good. In this year, it's good enough to have something to eat. I thank Madam Zhang on their behalf!"

Zhang Xixi waved her hand, "No need to be polite, it's what I should do."

In the sweet potato field, the sacks that Manager Qian brought were all filled with sweet potatoes, and some were still left on the ground.

Seeing that it was getting late, Wang Daniu and his team loaded all the weighed sweet potatoes onto the truck, which weighed about 50,000 jin (25,000 kg).

When Zhang Xixi and her group arrived, Zhou Fu told them the total number of sweet potatoes recorded. After confirming with their people, Manager Qian calculated in his mind that it was three hundred taels of silver.

Manager Qian took out three one-hundred-tael silver notes and handed them to Zhang Xixi. "Madam Zhang, this is the money for today's sweet potatoes. From now on, we'll pay on the spot every day, okay?"

Zhang Xixi nodded, "Okay!"

After Zhang Xixi responded, Manager Qian cupped his hands and said, "Please arrange for people to dig sweet potatoes as soon as possible, Madam Zhang. My caravan will be back by noon tomorrow, so we'll be leaving now."

Zhang Xixi wondered to herself if the shipment was only going to the county town so quickly, but she didn't ask any further questions. She said seriously, "I'll make the arrangements. Manager Qian, please be careful on the road!"

Li Kuiqi also came over to say goodbye to Zhang Xixi and the others. He would be going back with them this time, and from now on, he would be in charge of transporting sweet potatoes to Dafang County.

The next day, Zhang Xixi asked Zhou Fu to go to town and buy some food and burlap sacks.

In the sweet potato field, Zhang Xixi also hired eight women from the village to help bag the sweet potatoes and cut the vines, paying each of them fifteen coins a day.

Besides Zhang Wenbo, who teaches, and Ms. Chen, who takes care of the ducks and children, everyone else from the Zhang family came to help.

Chen brought Zhou over to pack the sweet potatoes into sacks, while Zhang Dacheng took Zhang Wenhong to help dig them up.

In Dafang County, Manager Qian and his convoy entered the rented warehouse in the early morning, unloaded the sweet potatoes, and rested until dawn.

Manager Qian and a few others stayed in Dafang County, ready to receive the people who came to collect the grain.

Li Kuiqi went to the county town and hired several more caravans, which, along with more than a hundred oxcarts, made a grand procession to the deserted village early in the morning.

However, this time was different from the last. When they arrived at the deserted village, Zhang Xixi had already arranged for people to pack the sweet potatoes. All they had to do was weigh them and load them onto the vehicle, so it was very quick and only took an hour.

Li Kuiqi paid Zhang Xixi the money, didn't stay for a meal, and left with his convoy.

The same thing happened for the next two days. By noon on the third day, no convoy had come. Although Zhang Xixi was a little panicked, she still had people continue digging sweet potatoes because, given the current situation, the Northwest must be short of food. Manager Qian and the others might have encountered something else.

It's better that she didn't come today, as she can go to town to find a blacksmith to make something. Zhang Xixi asked Chen Shi and Zhang Dacheng to go with her, and the three of them went in a horse-drawn carriage.

An hour later, they arrived in town. Zhang Xixi went straight to the blacksmith's shop and asked him to make her a few larger iron pots and a few slotted spoons. Fearing that the blacksmith might not know what a slotted spoon was, she even drew a picture of it for him with charcoal.

Fortunately, the strainer was relatively easy to make; the blacksmith could make it with just a glance. After paying the deposit and agreeing to pick it up in three days, they left the blacksmith's shop.

Mrs. Chen watched with great confusion, "Daughter, what are you going to do with these things that you ordered?"

Zhang Xixi looked at Chen Shi and said, "Mother, you'll find out in a few days. Let's keep it a secret for now."

Mrs. Chen said irritably, "You're always so secretive, and you even keep things from me!"

Zhang Xixi explained, "Mom, even if I tell you now, you won't understand. Why don't you go and see for yourself in a few days?"

Madam Chen waved her hand, "Alright, your mother isn't one to be overly curious. We're going to the general store to buy some brown sugar and seasonings. Do you want to come?"

Zhang Xixi pointed in a direction, "I'll go check out that restaurant over there, and then I'll meet you at the place where I left my carriage."

Fearing that Chen would continue to nag, Zhang Xixi quickly walked towards the restaurant. As soon as she entered, she saw Li Kuiqi and several young men sitting at a table to the side, and she quickly looked away.

"Hey girl, what are you doing here!" Li Kuiqi spotted Zhang Xixi at a glance and quickly stood up to greet her.

Zhang Xixi originally didn't want to disturb Li Kuiqi and the others, but now she had no choice but to turn around and walk towards him, replying, "Mr. Li, what a coincidence!"

"Hey girl, you're here for dinner!"

"No, I'm here to buy something. You guys keep chatting, I'll go to the counter for a bit."

Li Kuiqi nodded before introducing her to the people next to him: "Deputy General Zhou, brothers, that woman was the head of the household that grows a lot of sweet potatoes."

A burly man asked in surprise, "Aren't all the heads of households men? Where is her man?"

Li Kuiqi lowered his voice and said, "I heard from the villagers that she died. She was left with only her brother-in-law and two children. It's not easy for a woman like her!"

Zhou Yuhao was deeply moved upon hearing this news. He turned to look at Zhang Xixi, and just then Zhang Xixi turned around as well, and their eyes met.

Zhang Xixi immediately looked away. This person's gaze was so sharp, and he looked so serious!

At this moment, Zhou Yuhao had a strange feeling in his heart. This person looked so familiar!

Zhang Xixi carried two roast geese over to say goodbye to Li Kuiqi, but the man had been staring at her the whole time.

"This strong man has been staring at me. Is there something you need?"

Zhou Yuhao looked away. "Have we met before?"

Zhang Xixi looked at Zhou Yuhao and examined him carefully. He looked somewhat familiar, but there are millions of people in the world, and many of them look alike. However, she didn't seem to remember anyone like him.

"no!"