Chapter 63

After leaving the street office, Li Qiang went to the small warehouse, placed the grain Li Huaide needed inside, then returned to Yagangchang and returned the truck to the Transport Team.

Li Qiang did not participate in Li Huaide's transportation of goods; at first he would join a few times, but later Li Qiang only had to put the goods into the small warehouse and tell Li Huaide what time to come pick them up, and Li Huaide was also straightforward, never lying to Li Qiang about the amounts, which is also the main reason Li Qiang is willing to continue cooperating with him.

"Qiangzi, you went hunting again?" Yan Butgui said greedily, looking at the pheasant on Li Qiang's truck.

"Yeah, I just went for a walk in the mountains since there was nothing else to do today," Li Qiang said with a smile.

Teacher Yan, what do you want to say? Li Qiang said, unlike other neighbors, I don't call him Third Grandpa.

Qiangzi, let me discuss something with you, Yan Butgui said obsequiously.

Qiangzi, the rations have been reduced again; our life is really tough. Next time you go hunting, could you bring Yan Jiecheng along to help you? I don't need much, just give me any game. Yan Butgui started scheming again.

Yan Teacher, this really won't do; if I went alone it wouldn't matter, but every time it's organized by the factory, I go with the Security Section people. Now you know the situation, it's hard to say how much game we'll get. Yagangchang has so many people, and the Security Section sends so many too—it's really more monks than porridge. Li Qiang said this feigning difficulty. This Yan Lao Kou is trying to get the idea onto him again, and given his character, once he gets a first time there will definitely be a second; he's the type who pushes his luck, and Li Qiang doesn't want to get involved with him.

Oh, I mean when you're convenient, Yan Butgui said, quickly correcting himself.

Fine, if it's convenient I'll let you know, Li Qiang could only reply perfunctorily.

Second Brother, is Yan Lao Kou eyeing your game again? Li Qiang, just arrived at the central courtyard, was pulled aside by He Yushui, who whispered.

It's not this little bit of game in my hand that he's after; he wants to be able to get more game in the future.

What do you mean? He Yushui didn't quite understand Li Qiang's meaning.

He wants me to bring his Yan Jiecheng along when I go hunting in the future, Li Qiang explained.

What. He's too shameless— I've seen greedy people, but never this greedy, He Yushui said angrily.

Alright, why are you mad at him? I haven't agreed, Li Qiang said with a smile.

It's best you didn't agree; from now on you'd better stay away from him— he's like Jia Zhangshi, sticking like a dog-skin plaster, once it's on you can't peel it off, He Yushui said, clenching her small fist.

Alright, I got it. Take this back and have your brother tidy it up tonight so he can give you an extra meal, Li Qiang handed He Yushui a pheasant and a hare.

Hehe, thank you, Second Brother, He Yushui said, taking the game and laughing as she left.

Dongxu, we're out of grain again, Qin Huairu said with a bitter face while eating.

We've only just reached mid-month and we're out of grain; what are we going to do for the rest of the month? Jia Dongxu also worried.

What do you mean, what to do? Go find Yi Zhonghai— he, as your teacher, is always thinking about you supporting him in his old age. Now it's time for him to show his worth, Jia Zhangshi said, as if it were obvious.

I'll go to his place and have a look later, Jia Dongxu said, now having no other option.

Teacher, have you eaten? After the meal, Jia Dongxu went to Yi Zhonghai's home.

We've eaten, Dongxu, what's up? Yi Zhonghai asked.

Teacher, we've run out of grain; I want to borrow some from you, Jia Dongxu said embarrassedly.

It's only just past mid-month and you're out of grain? Yi Zhonghai asked in surprise.

Teacher, our family has five people; although Xiao Dang is still small, the rations have been reduced again, and my personal ration certainly isn't enough for four or five people. Jia Dongxu said that's indeed the case, but there's something he didn't dare say: although Xiao Dang is small and can't eat much, Jia Zhangshi can eat— she alone can match the appetite of Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu. Over these years everyone else has been sallow and thin, but only Jia Zhangshi hasn't changed, still that fat; if she didn't eat that much, could she be so fat?

We still have some coarse corn flour at home; take some back to tide you over for now, Dongxu— tell your mother to eat sparingly since the rations have been reduced again. How could Yi Zhonghai not know the Jia family's situation?

Dongxu, there are still ten catties of coarse corn flour here; take it back, an old lady said, handing a cloth bag to Jia Dongxu.

Thank you, Madam Teacher, Jia Dongxu said, repeatedly thanking as he took the cloth bag.

Other people's disciples are filial to their teachers, but in our household it's been the opposite these two years— the teacher has been subsidizing the disciple, an old lady complained.

Alright, keep this talk at home; don't go spouting it outside, Dongxu, supporting a family alone isn't easy either, Yi Zhonghai still favored Jia Dongxu greatly.

Old Yi, I think the old lady's words make sense— with Jia Zhangshi around, it won't be easy to expect Dongxu to support us in our old age either. Why don't we go to the street office and adopt a child? I've heard the street office now has many orphans fleeing the famine to Sijiu City. The old lady still wanted to adopt one.

Let's talk about this later, Yi Zhonghai still stubbornly thought adoption wasn't reliable.

Sigh, the old lady, who knew Yi Zhonghai's temperament well, seeing he was still so obstinate, didn't feel like saying anything more.

The next day, Yi Zhonghai left the Siheyuan with dark circles; he too had slept poorly, and all night the old lady's words echoed in his mind. Over the past two years he had indeed subsidized the Jia family too much; if this continued, his little savings wouldn't last long before being wiped out. He had originally wanted to find someone to help him support the Jia family, but after thinking for a long time he couldn't find a suitable candidate. Originally He Yuzhu was the best choice, but now He Yuzhu has married and had children, and has become a sworn sibling of the Li family, so he really didn't dare to think of exploiting He Yuzhu. Another candidate was Xu Damao, but Yi Zhonghai still didn't think highly of Xu Damao— he felt Xu Damao was too shrewd, and he couldn't control this kid. If he went to adopt a child, he'd have to start from scratch, and he didn't want to spend that effort and money.

Yi Zhonghai came to the workshop in a daze; seeing Jia Dongxu, he felt deeply torn, after all Jia Dongxu is the person he has nurtured for many years to support him in his old age, yet to just give him up— he certainly wouldn't be willing. If he doesn't give up, Jia Dongxu's meager wage simply can't support five people; in other words, it's as if he's supporting Jia Dongxu's whole family. As sharp as Yi Zhonghai is, he certainly doesn't want to spend too much.