Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 917 916 Chlorella

The core step in this house swap was to assess the value of the two courtyards.

The property cannot be exchanged until the valuation is completed.

Director Zhu said he would arrange for someone to come and assess the value today, and asked Meng Qingfeng and Tang Zhitong to come back tomorrow with the relevant documents. He would arrange for someone to handle the matter and complete the house exchange procedures as soon as possible, aiming to get the procedures done this week.

After leaving the housing management bureau, Meng Qingfeng and Tang Zhitong parted ways.

Tang Zhitong went home first and talked to Zhang Guifang about the house's estimated value. Then he left the property certificate, household registration book, and money at the security office.

Pumpkin seedlings were being cultivated at the transport depot, while several hens frolicked on the freshly turned soil, pecking at small insects and tiny potatoes the size of peanuts.

Tang Zhitong felt that their good days might only last a few days. Once the pumpkin seeds sprouted, they would probably have to be locked up.

"Section Chief, there's a registered letter for you. I've signed for it." As soon as she entered the office, Ma Wei handed over a large envelope the size of a file folder.

"Thank you." Tang Zhitong smiled and accepted the letter. He glanced at the sender's address, which looked familiar. Then he looked at the postmark and realized it should be from Wu Jiaming of the military band.

Upon opening it, sure enough, it was the latest issue of "Military Arts" magazine, and there was even a remittance slip for royalties inside.

Wow, they're so thorough. Tang Zhitong thinks it's time to put "Little White Poplar" on the agenda.

After finding the article he had written, Tang Zhitong carefully read it before putting down "Military Arts" and catching up on the work he had missed over the past two days.

While busy with his work, Tang Zhitong picked up the newspapers he had accumulated over the past few days and began to study them.

Almost all the newspapers that appeared in the workplace were subscribed to by the company. Ma Wei was very conscientious. She would stack the newspapers that Tang Zhitong had not read and put them on his desk. Even when she needed to use the restroom, she would take the ones with the earliest dates.

When Tang Zhitong turned to today's newspaper, he was taken aback because he saw two articles about Chlorella on the front page, and they were quite long.

The article in the upper right corner leans towards using it as animal feed, while the article below concludes that Chlorella is rich in protein, clearly stating its value as a food substitute, and pointing out that some places are already using Chlorella to make pastries, bread, and other foods.

The purpose is self-evident: to encourage the public to cultivate Chlorella.

Tang Zhitong silently put down the newspaper. Chlorella is a symbol. The reason for promoting it as a food substitute is that many places can no longer collect enough edible food.

Last year, many rural areas, following the call from the radio, went to the fields to carry out "mini-summer harvests" and "mini-autumn harvests" after finishing the summer and autumn harvests.

"Little summer harvest" and "Little autumn harvest" refer to the time when everyone, led and assigned by village cadres, goes to riverbanks or ditches to pick wild vegetables and grasses.

Grasses like barnyard grass and foxtail grass, anything with fruit, had to be picked and taken back to the commune to make cornbread.

The seeds of these grasses are too small to be easily digested; they often come out the same way they were eaten.

Later, the hungry people changed their methods. They first ground the grass seeds into powder, then made them into cornbread, which they could barely use to fill their stomachs.

But wild grass is not a staple food, and its seeds are scarce. Often, a group of people working for several days would not be enough to feed them for even one day.

Wheat straw and corn straw have a much higher yield than wheat and corn, and they are easier to collect and process.

People who were starving would grind wheat straw, mix it with water to form a dough, steam it, and then eat it.

Local authorities used radio broadcasts to promote the idea that straw buns were similar to white flour buns, but few people believed it.

But there was nothing I could do, I was hungry, so I had no choice but to bite the bullet and swallow.

Besides wheat straw buns, wheat bran, corn husks, and corn stalks are also ground up and eaten as food.

Furthermore, some people say that these "agricultural products" contain high levels of starch and protein, and coupled with the promotion of them as "food substitutes," some people have started using them to satisfy their hunger.

In fact, the promotion of "food substitutes" is completely unnecessary. What do farmers know about "food substitutes"? As long as they are hungry, they will put anything that looks edible into their mouths.

It tastes bad when you eat, and it's even harder to poop. Many children don't poop for seven or eight days because they simply can't pass stool. Their bellies get bloated and they cry out in pain.

Ultimately, the parents still had to use their hands or small sticks to pry it out little by little for the child...

Last year was tough, and Tang Zhitong heard many folk rhymes: "The commune is good, but we can't get enough to eat," and "The canteen only has soup, we're so hungry we're anxious, we don't have the strength to work, and everything is gone."

This year, probably everyone is busy looking for something to eat, so there are fewer rhymes being passed down.

At lunchtime, Tang Zhitong noticed that the cafeteria was serving potato leaves, stewed until they were very soft.

"Master Gao, did the cafeteria serve this dish yesterday too?" Tang Zhitong had also ordered a serving, but she was still a little worried. She had left early yesterday and didn't know what the cafeteria served for lunch.

"Yes. Section Chief Tang, are you trying to say that it caused diarrhea?"

I heard about it too. The night before last, I stewed a pound of it myself, and only made it for everyone after I ate it without any problems.

It simmered for over an hour. There were so many potato vines; it would be a waste to throw them away. I just picked out the tender leaves; they're fine to eat.

As if he had guessed why Tang Zhitong asked that question, Gao Lide explained to Tang Zhitong while serving food to the employees behind him.

"Hey, Master Gao, if you get diarrhea from eating this, our transport station's toilets won't be enough," a worker in line behind Gao Lide joked with a grin.

"Then take it home in your pocket. That's called keeping the good stuff in the family." Gao Lide quickly served food to the next employee, his mouth never stopping as he retorted.

Tang Zhitong listened from the side, smiled, and shook his head, not intending to say anything more in public.

Holding a lunchbox, Tang Zhitong approached Fang Yuan, who was munching on a cornbread bun.

Fang Yuan has always been down-to-earth. He rarely eats in private rooms at work and spends most of his time eating in the canteen. Whether it's the staple food or the rice, he eats the same things as the other employees, and sometimes even worse, because he eats coarse grains and rarely brings his own refined grains.

"Have you read today's newspaper?" Fang Yuan asked, swallowing the cornbread in his mouth when he saw it was Tang Zhitong.

"I've seen it." Tang Zhitong nodded and sat down next to Fang Yuan.

"I'm thinking of digging a pond in the office and growing some algae. What do you think?" Fang Yuan asked, then went back to eating his cornbread. "Well... isn't that a good idea? Won't it all freeze in winter? I think using glass jars would be better, the kind that can be placed directly on the balcony to bask in the sun. It can produce algae all year round and won't be affected by the temperature."

Tang Zhitong didn't expect Fang Yuan to have the idea of ​​cultivating Chlorella, but thinking about it, it made sense. Right now, there's a protein shortage everywhere, and even the lakes will be cultivated in the future.

"That's one way to do it." Fang Yuan glanced at Tang Zhitong after hearing this, seemingly lost in thought.

The canteen was crowded with employees, clearly not a place for conversation. Tang Zhitong smiled and, like Fang Yuan, buried himself in his food.

After the meal, the two left the cafeteria, and Fang Yuan said directly, "Come to my office."

"Did you notice something? Using a canned food jar is a bit stingy, not like you." After entering the office, Fang Yuan lit a cigarette, pointed to the chair, and gestured for Tang Zhitong to sit down.

"Hehe, if someone else asked, I would definitely say that farming is still the main thing. After all, the land in our yard can produce two crops a year. Digging a pond can only be used to grow algae in the summer. Once it gets cold, the algae will stop growing, so it's not worth it." Tang Zhitong chuckled. That was an editorial, and no matter how arrogant he was, he couldn't say the opposite.

"If I asked, would the answer be different?" Fang Yuan smiled as well, because he knew that Tang Zhitong trusted him completely, and the following answer was what he really thought.

"That's definitely different. To be honest, even if Chlorella is indeed rich in protein as the newspapers say, I have doubts about its yield."

If the yield were truly abundant, there wouldn't be any need for summer or autumn harvests; they could simply be raised directly in vast freshwater lakes and ponds, and given time, there would definitely be more than enough to eat.

Chlorella may indeed be rich in protein, but Tang Zhitong has not conducted any personal experiments or investigations and therefore will not comment.

This stuff is still being sold decades later, for around a hundred yuan per kilogram, and it's said to be very nutritious.

If the yield is really high, then why can it sell for 100 yuan per kilogram?
If it's really that nutritious, why bother eating eggs, meat, and soy products? Why not just have everyone cultivate chlorella and eat chlorella?

Chlorella was only popular for a short time in the last two years, and it will disappear as soon as grain production improves.

People made their choice through their actions, and Tang Zhitong, knowing this past, naturally wouldn't put much effort into Chlorella.

"Sigh, I was thinking that if we split this thing into two or four, we could quickly grow a whole patch and provide some nutrition for everyone. But after hearing what you said, it seems like all my efforts have been wasted." Fang Yuan sighed.

"Let's see how it goes. Who knows, some comrades might rather starve than eat it." To grow chlorella, you need to use urine. Dilute the urine and put the chlorella in. Luckily, you have to change the nutrient solution every few days, otherwise the smell would be unbearable. Even so, some people will still feel psychologically uncomfortable.

Moreover, Tang Zhitong didn't believe the newspaper's advertisements about Chlorella at all. The growth rate they mentioned was mostly under ideal conditions in the laboratory or with special care. In reality, it might not even grow enough for one steamed bun in half a month.

Moreover, the current processing technology for chlorella is inadequate, making it difficult for the human body to absorb; it's essentially the same as what you ingest, what you excrete.

Tang Zhitong had read some post-apocalyptic novels, where people raised rats, cockroaches, and mushrooms, but he hadn't seen many people raise chlorella, which shows how useless it was.

"It's good enough to have something to eat, why be picky? There's no fresh meat or eggs left on the market, and I heard that even canned food won't be available for a while. I'm really worried that the workers will get edema like people from other places." Fang Yuan glanced at Tang Zhitong and realized that the person who would rather go hungry than eat was the one in front of him.

“That’s possible.” Tang Zhitong nodded, agreeing with Fang Yuan’s statement.

Cadres will voluntarily reduce their quotas starting next month, and ordinary employees will also see a reduction by September at the latest. In addition, there will be no meat or eggs to supplement protein, and more importantly, after the hailstorm that struck recently, vegetables will also be scarce in a few days.

It's truly a case of misfortunes never coming singly, and a delayed boat encountering a headwind.

"Sigh, I need to think of a way to improve the food for the employees." Seeing that only the cigarette butt was left, Fang Yuan took out another cigarette, attached the butt to the new cigarette, took two big puffs, and successfully burned the previous cigarette to ashes.

"It's tough enough on ordinary days, but maybe there will be a chance during the Spring Festival. You gave me a piece of mutton before the Spring Festival." Seeing how much Fang Yuan was worried about the staff of the escort department, Tang Zhitong thought of the mutton he had given him. At that time, Fang Yuan had intended to travel around the inland. He wondered if Fang Yuan had forgotten.

"I'm thinking about this, but I'm not optimistic. There are difficulties everywhere. I asked my comrades a couple of days ago, and they estimate that even more people from the army are going this year. With more people than sheep, we might end up coming back with empty trucks." Fang Yuan frowned. Yellow sheep meat is delicious, but the risks are huge.

He kept this matter in mind and inquired carefully with his comrades. The gazelles only migrate south in large numbers during the winter, and the weather there is extremely cold. If they encounter a snow disaster, it would be good if they could avoid losing lives.

"Let's see at the end of the year. Maybe the ministry or bureau will give out some benefits." Tang Zhitong thought of the snacks from last year's Spring Festival.

Before last year, there was no such thing as welfare benefits for the Spring Festival in various units. At most, the trade union would give out some extra bath tickets and movie tickets. All the food that could be eaten was supplied by grain stores, non-staple food stores and markets.

However, the shortage of supplies in the past two years has directly highlighted the importance of welfare.

If the unit leaders arrange a reward for the employees at the end of the year, not only will the foundation of the unit be firmly established, but the enthusiasm for production will also be greatly boosted.

Of course, the reason for giving out benefits can't be so straightforward, but no one can find fault with the phrase "caring about the lives of employees".

"It's still early before the Spring Festival, so we'll just have to see then." Tang Zhitong hoped that the higher-ups would take care of the employees, but Fang Yuan didn't think so, and even felt a bit resistant.

Right now, all kinds of food are in short supply, and the only thing that's free is yellow sheep. The city bureau's armed forces consist only of the escort department's escort section. If the city bureau asks them to go on a trip to the north, how can Fang Yuan refuse?
Going there is not a problem, but what if we encounter a snow disaster as my comrade said?
During the war, Fang Yuan had the experience of his comrades falling beside him. That was for the liberation of the whole country and for the people to live a good life. They sacrificed themselves and could be enshrined in the martyrs' cemetery. How should his unit's decision be calculated when it comes to organizing people to go hunting?
Fang Yuan dared not think any further.

"Brother Yuan, a chemical raw materials company has taken a liking to my house. I'll be busy with moving these next few days, so I might be a little late." Tang Zhitong didn't mention getting some seafood for the escort department; he planned to see how things went by the end of the year.

Now that the transport station has this item, the municipal bureau, or even the ministry, might come looking for it. If that happens, how should we respond? What reason should we give?
Tang Zhitong hasn't decided yet.

"Okay, go ahead and do what you need to do."

"Brother Yuan, potato vines contain an alkaloid called solanine, which is poisonous and there is no antidote."

Before cooking, Chef Gao cooked a pot of food for himself, saying it would be fine to eat, but I was still a little worried.

Solanine has a longer metabolic cycle. Even after long cooking, continuous consumption can lead to toxin accumulation. If symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea occur, it's time to consider changing your diet.

"If you eat any more, it will kill you."

Tang Zhitong knew that Gao Lide was thinking about the food for the staff of the escort department, and even cooked a pot for himself first to test the poison, but as a participant in the compilation of the "Barefoot Doctor's Manual", Tang Zhitong felt that he should still remind him.

In Shandong, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea caused by food are not considered illnesses. People usually recover after lying down for a day or having a few bouts of diarrhea. This is one of the reasons why the rate of food poisoning remains high.

But the situation is different at the escort office. Most of the staff eat in the canteen. What if there is a large-scale food poisoning outbreak? Will they still be able to work? If things go wrong, Gao Lide and Fang Yuan might also be implicated.

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on it." Fang Yuan said he would keep an eye on it, but he didn't really take it to heart...

(End of this chapter)