Colorful years

At that time, it was the spring planting season, and the vast fields presented a busy and hopeful scene.

Farmers worked tirelessly, day and night, sowing seeds that carried their dreams of a bountiful harvest.

In the fields, you can see their bent-over figures working everywhere, and their perseverance and dedication as they sweat profusely.

However, the new crop has only just been sown in the fertile soil, and it still needs to go through a long growth cycle, at least three months, before it can be harvested.

At the same time, every household's granary is also facing the challenge of a food shortage.

After a long winter and spring, the grain stored at home has been continuously consumed, and now there is very little left. Those once full granaries now only have scattered grains left, telling the story of past abundance.

Faced with this predicament, how to make rational use of this limited food supply has become a problem that every family must confront and urgently needs to solve.

The situation is particularly challenging in this family. As a new mother, she needs ample nutrition to recover so she can better care for her family.

The younger sister, Chunlan, who was still nursing, needed an abundant supply of food, as her growth and development depended on nutritional support.

However, the reality is harsh. If we don't plan carefully and conserve grain, the remaining grain may not last until the autumn harvest.

So the family began a life of frugality. They had to cut back on expenses, reduce unnecessary waste, and cherish every grain of rice.

The meals became simple and plain, lacking the abundance and variety of the past. However, despite this, everyone still tried their best to ensure that their mother and sister could eat more nutritious food.

They knew that only in this way could they ensure the health and safety of their family members.

In this family, the mother plays a crucial role. She not only has to take good care of her own health, but also take care of the family's daily needs.

To ensure that their mother and sister had better food, the family prepared special meals for her. Usually, it was fragrant white rice served with nutritious chicken soup, the kind of nutrition her mother needed most during her postpartum recovery.

Naturally, the other family members could only enjoy a diet consisting of half white rice and half mixed grains.

Poor Congcong, his stomach is not very adaptable to mixed grains. He feels very uncomfortable whenever he faces such food.

However, he never complained, but silently endured it all. His mother saw all of this and felt the pain in her heart. She knew Congcong's hardships and understood her responsibilities as a mother.

So, whenever she was eating and found that no other family members were around, she would softly call out to Congcong, "Congcong, come to Mommy. Baby, Mommy doesn't really like to eat these chicken heads, drumsticks, and feet. You should eat them quickly!"

After speaking, the mother would gently pat Congcong's little head, her eyes full of love and concern.

Congcong took the chicken head and drumsticks his mother handed him and ate them heartily. His heart was filled with gratitude and love for his loving mother; he knew this was a special expression of her care for him.

Therefore, with nutritional resources being prioritized for the mother and newborn, Congcong's quality of life actually improved due to his mother's extra care.

He felt the warmth and strength of home, which further strengthened his determination to study hard and repay his family.

Spring has passed and summer has arrived, and the weather is gradually getting hotter.

Every day after school, Congcong would eagerly run to his private plot to find his father.

He saw his father busily weeding in the field, his clothes soaked with sweat, looking as if he had been pulled out of the water. Congcong felt a surge of sorrow and admiration; he knew all too well the hardship and difficulty his father endured.

"Dad, take a break and have some water," Congcong said, handing the water bottle to his father. He hoped to share some of his father's fatigue and hardship.

The father took the kettle, gulped down several mouthfuls, and then wiped the sweat from his face.

He looked at Congcong and said, "Congcong, I'm not tired. You can just study hard at home. You don't need to come here." He knew his son's intentions, but he hoped even more that he could focus his energy on his studies.

However, Congcong shook his head and said firmly, "No, Daddy. I want to help you. There's not much food left at home. I want to do more so that Mommy and my little sister can have more to eat." His words were full of determination and resolve.

The father was deeply moved by Congcong's words. He patted Congcong on the shoulder and said:

"Good son, your kindness is enough. You are still young and growing, so you must eat well and not go hungry."

He knew his son was sensible and filial, but he was also more worried about his health.

Congcong nodded and said, "I know, Daddy. But with you and Mommy here, I won't go hungry." His words were full of trust and reliance on his mother.

At times like these, the father would always show a relieved smile. He knew that having a thrifty and hardworking wife was the greatest blessing of his life. Although life was difficult, with his wife by his side, he had the confidence to overcome the challenges.

However, as time went on, the family's food reserves dwindled. Congcong noticed that even the meals his mother carefully prepared were becoming increasingly simple.

White rice has become a luxury, replaced by more coarse grains and wild vegetables.

And what about her mother? She would always secretly share some of her white rice with Congcong, while she herself only ate some vegetable soup and a small amount of mixed grains at each meal.

Her figure appeared exceptionally thin and haggard under the dim light, but her eyes were filled with determination and strength.

Looking at his mother, Congcong felt a pang of sorrow and heartache. He knew he had to work even harder to help his family get through this difficult time.

So he began to study even harder, hoping to repay his family's efforts and love by getting the top grade in his class.

At the same time, he hopes to use his efforts to alleviate his parents' worries.