Chapter 61

Time quickly arrived at 1960, and the disaster situation not only failed to ease, but became even more severe.

That day Li Qiang had just returned to the Siheyuan when Director Wang came to find him.

"Director Wang, what's this?" Li Qiang asked, looking at Director Wang's worried face with concern.

"Qiangzi, in a while let's notify everyone to hold a courtyard-wide meeting," Director Wang said, sighing.

"Is there another policy to be announced?"

"Hmm, today we received notice from above; the ration quota will be reduced by another ten percent."

"Don't worry either; the whole country is like this now. As long as we grit our teeth, we can get through it." Li Qiang also didn't know how to comfort her.

"What I'm worried about isn't just this. Many refugees have come to Four-Nine City; the subdistrict office's resettlement points are full. Food shortage is one aspect, but public security is also a major problem—this period the rate of vicious cases of smashing, looting, and robbery remains high, and the police station is short-staffed."

Li Qiang could understand Director Wang's pressure, as the saying goes, poverty breeds deceit, wealth breeds conscience. When people can't even eat and are about to starve, who cares about the law? Yesterday the police station even contacted him, asking their Security Section to spare some people to cooperate with police patrols and duty.

"As for these refugees, is there really no good solution from above?"

"Those above are also overwhelmed; they tell them to rely on relatives and friends as much as possible. For unmarried women of marriageable age, they have instructed our subdistrict office to introduce them to unmarried men within the jurisdiction as much as possible, and as long as both parties agree to marry, age and related procedures can be appropriately relaxed." Director Wang's words were also true—after all, there are too many refugees; relying solely on state relief is already considerable pressure, so we can only matchmake them, at least giving them a place to stay.

"This is also a no‑choice solution, but what about those male youths who have fled here?" Li Qiang asked.

"Very few men come fleeing; most are women, children, and the elderly. Even the orphans in the children's welfare institution are overcrowded." In the subconscious of most refugees, Four-Nine City is the capital, the political centre of the state, so they definitely think there won't be a food shortage; because so many people think this way, it has caused refugees from all over the country to swarm to Four-Nine City.

"Ah, I guess I should first go notify the neighbours about the meeting," Li Qiang didn't dare tell Director Wang, but this situation would last until 1962 before improving; some say the natural disaster was 1959–1961, but actually many places had already suffered disaster in the second half of 1958, and in the south and even the northeast, many places experienced severe crop failures due to flooding in 1958, and it wasn't until 1962 that the disaster situation eased. So this disaster should be said to have lasted five years, with only three of them being the most severe.

"Alright, after the announcement I still have to go announce it in other courtyards."

"Sister Wang, your family doesn't have enough to eat either, right?" After Li Qiang left, Zhou Rong asked Director Wang.

"Xiao Rong, these days no family has enough to eat; mine is certainly no exception," Director Wang said with a bitter smile.

"Sister Wang, Qiangzi has a way to get grain; tonight I'll have him bring some over to you—don't tell anyone about this," Zhou Rong whispered.

"Can Qiangzi really get grain?" Director Wang asked in surprise.

"Yes, but the amount is limited; it's enough for our few households."

"I've noticed the other children are all sallow and thin, but why don't your Li Tao, Li Bin, and the few kids from He Yuzhu's family look like that?" Director Wang suddenly realized.

"Aunt, we still have meat at home," Li Tao said, seeing Zhou Rong and Director Wang talking about food, and he also showed off.

"You can still eat meat?" Director Wang was even more surprised.

"Yes, but it's all wild boar and wild goat meat; Qiangzi often goes hunting," Zhou Rong explained. In fact, what they eat are the wild boars and domestic pigs from Li Qiang's space, and the hybrids of wild goats and domesticated goats.

"Xiao Rong, tell Qiangzi later. Next time he bags a big game, have him bring some to our subdistrict office—many families there haven't had meat in a long time; rest assured, if money is due we'll pay." Director Wang said with a smile.

"Fine, I'll talk to him when he gets back," Zhou Rong readily agreed.

After announcing the reduced ration in the courtyard, Director Wang hurriedly left the Siheyuan, truly afraid to see the disappointed looks of the common people.

"Qiangzi, I just talked with Director Wang. Tonight, take some food to her place, and I also mentioned that you can hunt; she said if you ever catch a big game next time, give some to the street office—people there haven't had meat in a long time." Li Qiang came back, and Zhou Rong told Li Qiang.

"Sure, I'll take some over later. Officially she's indeed a good leader; privately she's our matchmaker—I can still help with this small favor." Li Qiang directly agreed.

At around nine in the evening, Li Qiang pushed his bicycle straight to Director Wang's house; when he was about to arrive, he found a deserted spot, took out twenty catties of white flour, thirty catties of corn flour, and a piece of pork weighing four or five catties from his space, and placed them on the rear seat of the bike.

"Dong, dong, dong" Li Qiang knocked on Director Wang's gate; Director Wang lived in a small private courtyard with its own gate.

"Qiangzi, you're here," Director Wang opened the gate, saw Li Qiang smiling, and let him in.

"Sister Wang, Zhou Rong and I talked about it—I've come to bring some food to your home," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Thank you, Qiangzi," Director Wang knew it wasn't the time for pleasantries.

"Qiangzi, you can still get white flour, and such fine corn flour!" Director Wang looked at the bag—white flour as white as snow and golden corn flour—and said excitedly. After all, the grain station now only supplies coarse cornmeal.

"I have a few connections; there's also some wild boar meat here," Li Qiang said with a smile.

"Thank you, Qiangzi; how much do I owe you? I'll pay you now," Director Wang said excitedly.

"Let's settle up next time; I need to hurry back—my little Tao can't be away from me even for a moment," Li Qiang made an excuse and was about to leave.

"Qiangzi, Xiaorong said you can hunt."

"Sister Wang, I know what you mean—don't worry, if I catch a big game I'll think of your street office," Li Qiang interrupted Director Wang before she could finish speaking.

"Alright, then thank you."

Li Qiang left Director Wang's house with mixed feelings; officials of the 1950s–60s, compared to today's corrupt officials who embezzle over a hundred million at the drop of a hat, were truly pure and noble. He could never understand why, just a few decades after the nation's founding, such a huge contrast would appear—the leaders' maxim "Serve the people" is forever inscribed in the most prominent place on every government building, yet how many actually put that idea into practice?