A little madman moved into the courtyard house next door.

After leaving courtyard number 93, Wang Chunxia and Luo Yingjun went to courtyard number 95 to hold a meeting to explain policies. Then they went to other courtyards to hold meetings.

After the meeting, the beasts in courtyard No. 95 went home.

From frugality to luxury is easy, from luxury to frugality.

With Sha Zhu providing the meals, Jia Dongxu and Bang Geng had long since become quite picky eaters. This year, Sha Zhu brought back less and less meat, which already made Jia Dongxu unhappy.

Reducing supplies now means things will be even harder. Jia Dongxu is even more dissatisfied.

Jia Dongxu and Qin Huairu were discussing how to deal with the situation. Qin Huairu spoke up, "Dongxu, your ration has been reduced to 29 jin. After the factory deducts your lunch ration coupons, you only have about 22 jin left. Add to that Shazhu's 21 jin and He Yushui's 12 jin, and we only have 55 jin of grain a month."

"We have two adults and two children in our family now, and the piglets are at the age where they are growing. Now Sha Zhu is bringing back less and less meat, so they get hungry faster because they don't have enough fat in their bellies."

"Even if we only eat two meals a day, cornbread and cornmeal porridge, we still need at least 3 jin (1.5 catties) of grain. Our family is short at least 50 jin (25 catties) of grain, we have to find a way!"

Jia Dongxu angrily retorted, "Think of a way, think of a way! What way do I have right now? I only get 32 ​​yuan a month. After buying grain, vegetables, and other expenses, it adds up to 15 yuan. I need 3 yuan for lunch at the factory. Don't I have to save the rest for smoking, drinking, and gambling?"

Qin Huairu said cautiously, "Dongxu, why don't you not go play cards?"

"Qin Huairu, I'm a man. What I do is none of your business! This isn't your fault. If you could make Xiao Sanfeng Banggeng's godbrother, I'd at least be his godfather. Would our family ever lack meat then?"

"Dongxu, I also want to acknowledge this godparent relationship. It's just that Xiao Sanfeng is ungrateful and won't accept it!"

"Damn it, Xiao Sanfeng is such a bastard, having to build a toilet in his own yard. Otherwise, I would have put a sack over his head on his way to the toilet long ago."

"Dongxu, do you have any other way to deal with Xiao Sanfeng and make him obediently become our godson?"

"Alright, I'll figure something out." Jia Dongxu said and went out to find someone to play cards with to clear his head.

…………

When Sha Zhu returned home, He Yushui came over and said, "Brother, we're out of food."

"Okay, I got it. I'll try to bring you some cornmeal from the factory tomorrow," Sha Zhu said nonchalantly.

"Brother, still serving cornmeal? Ever since you gave the ration book to Sister Qin, have I eaten a single grain of refined grain in the past two years?"

"Sister Qin is having such a hard time, what's wrong with letting her eat well? Have I ever let you go hungry?"

He Yushui finally snapped and started crying, "I let her eat better, but what about me? It's one thing for you to give her your food ration, but you also gave her mine. Without my ration, I can't stay at school. Even for lunch, all I bring is cornmeal porridge, and I can't even guarantee I'll have it every day."

"They say even in famine years, the cook won't go hungry. But I'm your own sister, look how thin I've become!"

"Since you put it that way, starting from New Year's Day, we'll distribute our food coupons separately. You can give yours to whomever you want, and I'll keep mine."

After listening to He Yushui's tearful account, Sha Zhu felt no remorse whatsoever. Instead, he said, "He Yushui, you ingrate, how dare you talk to me like that? You want food coupons, right? Here you go."

"But I'm your brother, not your father. I have no responsibility or obligation to support you. From now on, you'll have to find your own tuition and living expenses. Don't even think about getting a single penny from me."

Sha Zhu's words immediately cut off He Yushui's lifeline. She was only given food coupons, not money; how would she buy food?

Moreover, the ration of 12 jin of grain is not enough!

He Yushui immediately stopped arguing with Sha Zhu and went to her side room, feeling wronged.

…………

In the backyard, at the deaf old lady's house, Bao Guifen was also talking to her.

"Grandma, it seems that Director Wang's visit to Xiao Sanfeng today was fruitless. The kid didn't agree to hand over the meat."

"That brat Xiao Sanfeng has absolutely no respect for elders. Doesn't he know that older people crave meat?"

"Grandma, what should we do next?"

"The only way we can benefit is to incite our neighbors to cause trouble in the next yard. Only when they make a scene can we profit from it."

"But ever since Yi Zhonghai went to the mental hospital, Jia Dongxu has been ignoring me, and Sha Zhu won't listen to us either. We don't have any manpower available!"

The deaf old woman said in a tone of disappointment, "Guifen, you still don't understand people and human nature. Selfishness and greed are innate in human nature. Everyone is the same in normal times, and they can still restrain themselves."

"But when faced with a stimulus, selfishness and greed will expand without limit. At that point, they will lose their rationality and do crazy things."

"The famine is getting worse, and everyone is facing hunger, even death. Yet Xiao Sanfeng can eat meat every day. Do you think the others can sit still?"

"One person can't defeat everyone in the end. Xiao Sanfeng's original sin is that he gets to eat meat; he will be torn to pieces and eaten until there's not a trace left."

Bao Guifen understood immediately. She said, "Grandma, I understand. So, what exactly do we do?"

The deaf old lady began to explain the specific arrangements to Bao Guifen, and then said, "Go and call Yan Bugui in for me."

"I understand, ma'am, please rest. I'll head out now." Bao Guifen said, then got up and left the deaf old lady's house.

…………

After a while, Yan Bugui entered the deaf old lady's house. He asked, "Grandma, were you looking for me?"

The deaf old woman said, "Third son, it's been a long time since you've come to the backyard."

"Grandma, I'm barely able to take care of myself right now, I really don't have the energy to take care of you!"

"Forget it, let's not talk about that anymore. Look at what the whole compound has become in the last two years! I guess I need to go out and see the world!"

"Grandma, what do you mean?"

"This compound can't function without someone in charge. Go and call the head of each household here, let's discuss what to do!"

"Okay, I'll go now." Yan Bugui said and left.