Chapter 185: The Life Story of the Deaf Old Lady

After Zhang Ping'an returned home from work, Wang Xiaoling told her what Lou Xiaoe had come to inform them about.

"Hmm, I know about this too, but we still have several thousand catties of corn and wheat piled up in our Ear Room, so there's no need to rush."

The faces of Zhang Ping'an's father and grandfather were not looking good; the rice in their hometown had been devastated by a flood, and after they went back to check, the harvest was only a little over half of what it was in previous years.

"Dad, Grandfather, this is a natural disaster, there's nothing we can do. I went to check a few days ago, and everyone is still eating quite well; they won't go hungry."

The current large canteen had also changed from three meals a day to two, the mixed-grain buns had turned into cornmeal buns, and the meat slices had turned into mere specks of meat; although the taste was worse, at least they wouldn't starve.

Zhang Ping'an sent thirty large flatbreads, similar to baked naan, to both his second and third uncles, which was enough for them to eat for a month.

The two old men nodded; they naturally knew this, but it was clearly impossible for this food supply to last until the wheat harvest next year.

"Sigh."

Time flew to the end of November. On a rest day at around six in the evening, Director Wang from the Street Office suddenly arrived at the Siheyuan with two cadres and announced a meeting.

"Director Wang, please wait a moment, I'll have my boys go notify everyone."

"That works too."

After about ten minutes, the Yan Jiefang brothers had finished notifying everyone, and representatives from each household walked out of their homes one after another, gathering in the Middle Courtyard.

"Alright, since almost everyone is here, I'll announce something. We have received notice from above that due to floods, droughts, and other reasons across the country, there has been a widespread crop failure. Starting next month, excluding children, everyone else's ration will be reduced by ten percent."

When the crowd heard that their rations were to be reduced, the pot immediately boiled over, and one after another, they began to complain bitterly.

"What? My family's ration is already small, and we still have to buy high-priced grain. Doesn't this mean we'll have to spend even more money now?"

"My family's situation is about the same."

"What are we supposed to do from now on?"

"..."

Complaints were constant among the crowd, and Director Wang could do nothing about it.

"Alright, everyone stop arguing and listen to me. These are special times, and everyone must try their best to overcome this. If you feel that your ration is not enough to support your family, I suggest applying to return to your ancestral home. The countryside has communal meals now, so you shouldn't go hungry."

Many residents of the Siheyuan had come from the countryside, but after years of city life, it was not only hard for them to adapt to returning to the village, but they also wouldn't have rations there, and they might even be mocked by the villagers upon returning.

After Director Wang left, everyone started discussing it in a hubbub. Most of them were single-income families; after all, a ten-percent cut didn't have much impact on multi-income families, especially four-income families like Lao Wu's in the Back Courtyard.

"Everyone, we have all been neighbors in this courtyard for many years. Although not every family is wealthy, we have all been able to eat and dress warmly. Under these current circumstances, we can only try our best to overcome it."

"Lao Liu is right. Not only can we not drag the country down, but on the contrary, we should understand and support it. Of course, we must also help each other. After I discuss it with Lao Liu and Lao Yan, we will hold a small meeting tomorrow."

At Yi Zhonghai's house, although it was said to be a discussion with Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui, the heads of all households with two or more incomes were present, and the main room of Yi Zhonghai's house was suddenly a bit crowded.

"Lao Yi, what are your thoughts?"

"I have an immature suggestion; everyone listen. Those of us sitting here are all families with two or more incomes. My meaning is that two-income families contribute one yuan, three-income families contribute two yuan, and four-income families contribute three yuan."

That's right, the Liu Haizhong family was now also a two-income family; Liu Guangqi had graduated from technical secondary school over the summer and was assigned to the Rolling Mill's Technical Section as a Technician.

"Use this money to buy some high-priced grain, or go to the Black Market to buy grain, and distribute it to the poor households in our courtyard. What do you think?"

Everyone was deep in thought. This money was not a small amount, but it wasn't a large amount either; it was indeed a bit painful to just hand it over.

"I have no objection. We have all been neighbors for many years; we can't just stand by and watch them die."

"I have no objection either."

"Me too."

"..."

"That's settled. Lao Yan, I'll trouble you to go to the Street Office tomorrow to register it. We'll hold a meeting in the evening to explain everything, and everyone should have the money ready by then."

"Good."

The Street Office had previously stated clearly that all donation activities must be registered at the Street Office, otherwise it would be considered a violation of discipline and regulations.

Early the next morning, Yan Bugui brought the meeting minutes from the previous day to the Street Office and submitted their proposal.

"Good, good, good. You masters of the Siheyuan really have a sense of responsibility. This Civilized Siheyuan title should rightfully belong to you all."

Director Wang certainly wanted to promote such an event happening in the street under her jurisdiction; it could also indirectly prove that the Siheyuan under her governance had such a harmonious atmosphere, which would be of great benefit to her future promotion.

In the evening, the Siheyuan held a large meeting again. Liu Haizhong couldn't wait to explain everything, and everyone cheered, especially those with family difficulties, who showed expressions of gratitude.

"There isn't much we can do to help everyone, but we hope to help you get through this difficult time."

There were over eight two-income families in the courtyard, and in the end, they donated a total of twenty-one yuan, with Liu Haizhong and Yi Zhonghai each donating five yuan.

"Zhonghai, Liu, Xiao Jia, and Zhang seem to be in the Procurement Section, right? Wouldn't it be more convenient to just let them procure it? Maybe they could even procure more," the Deaf Old Lady, who hadn't spoken in a hundred years, suddenly popped out with a sentence.

Others heard this and were full of hope, but Zhang Ping'an frowned, wondering where he had offended this old woman.

"Old Lady, you might not be aware, but the supplies that Dongxu and Ping'an procure are all from the factory; they belong to the country. We can't undermine the country's foundation."

"Especially now that private trading is not allowed; getting caught would mean facing a firing squad," Yan Bugui timely explained on behalf of Zhang Ping'an and the other.

"Is that so? This old woman has stayed in the courtyard for too long and doesn't know about things outside anymore."

After the meeting, everyone had different expressions. Zhang Xiaohua tried to speak several times but was stopped by Lao Jia.

"Who among us offended this old childless woman?"

"Forget it, perhaps she really is just ill-informed?"

Compared to the Jia Family, Zhang Ping'an was not so easy to fool. Since you want to play, then I will cut off your roots.

Zhang Ping'an originally wanted to live in peace and couldn't be bothered with the Deaf Old Lady's schemes, but she insisted on jumping out to court death.

"Godmother, you today..."

"I shouldn't have said those things? Zhonghai, do you know that it was that little brat Zhang Ping'an who suggested introducing a wife to He Daqing?" This was also the result of the Deaf Old Lady's extensive investigation.

"Godmother, the matter has already passed. Let's just consider it retribution for plotting against the Jia Family."

Yi Zhonghai was very satisfied with his current life and did not want to destroy his existing happy life, but the Deaf Old Lady just wouldn't give up.

"Zhonghai, you are confused. Never mind, in two more years you will know the result."

The doubts in Yi Zhonghai's heart were brought up again by the Deaf Old Lady, and he walked out of the Back Courtyard with a bad expression.

At two in the morning, Zhang Ping'an snuck to the Deaf Old Lady's residence in the Back Courtyard. His space scanned under the Deaf Old Lady's room; good heavens, there really was quite a lot of stuff.

The densely packed chests were no fewer than those at the bottom of the pond initially; while collecting the chests, Zhang Ping'an used stones to fill the gaps.