A daily intelligence report; in chaotic times and famine years, grain is plentiful.

Chen Mo then took Sun Dazhu with him, and the two of them, carrying torches, entered the cave complex in the back mountain.

The cave was cold and damp, and the path was rugged.

Following the system's instructions, they navigated through many twists and turns before finally finding the small pool of water hidden deep within the cave.

The firelight illuminated the pool walls, revealing a greater number of blind snails than expected.

The two of them didn't dare to delay and quickly collected about two pounds. When they felt that was enough, they stopped.

That evening, Chen Mo cleaned the blind snails thoroughly and boiled them in spring water with a little salt.

Although the snail meat is small, it has a chewy texture and a delicious flavor, even better than river snails.

Chen Ling'er used a toothpick to pick out the snail meat, her little mouth glistening with oil as she ate.

"Brother, this tastes even better than shrimp!"

Seeing his sister's satisfied expression, Chen Mo planned to come and collect resources regularly in the future, but he would control the quantity and not use up all the resources.

In mid-March, the feeling of spring gradually intensified, but the atmosphere in the village became increasingly oppressive.

Under the guise of borrowing seeds for spring plowing, the Wang family launched another round of exploitation.

If you borrow one liter of grain seeds, you must return three liters in the fall.

Interest rates were high, but every household had no food or seeds left, and by autumn they had no chance of survival.

The vast majority of villagers could only endure the pain and hold back their tears as they pressed their fingerprints on the Wang family's account books.

Li Laogen's back injury had improved somewhat, and he was able to walk with crutches. He couldn't bear it any longer and planned to gather a few villagers to go to the village head's house to reason with him. However, Wang Mang and his men blocked the road and beat him up, knocking out two of his front teeth on the spot.

The last vestiges of resistance in the village were completely extinguished.

That night, Chen Mo secretly delivered medicine for Li Laogen's injuries and half a pound of dried fish to his home.

Li Laogen lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, with murky tears streaming down his face.

"Chen Mo, this village... is beyond saving."

Depression enveloped the entire village, but in the Chen family's cottage, new life was being conceived.

It's the twenty-first day that Little Flower, the hen, is brooding.

"Click..."

A faint cracking sound came from the chicken coop.

Chen Ling'er, who had been standing guard beside her, held her breath.

Then I saw a crack appear on an egg, and then a tender yellow beak emerged from it.

"Brother! Father! Come quick! It's hatched!"

Chen Ling'er exclaimed in a low voice with delight.

Chen Mo and Chen Dashan immediately came over.

The first fluffy little chick, still wearing its eggshell, stood up unsteadily and chirped.

Over the next two days, six more chicks hatched.

In the end, six of the seven chicks survived.

The Chen family's flock of chickens suddenly turned into three large chickens and six small chickens.

Chen Dashan looked at the chicks running around in a small area specially partitioned off in the room, and a smile that hadn't been seen in a long time finally appeared on his wrinkled face.

"Seeing chicks in the spring is a good omen."

Two days later, the system refreshed again.

[Daily information has been updated, please select:]

[1. Inside the hole in the old locust tree at the west end of the village, which was split open by lightning, there are about four pounds of pine nuts and acorns stored by squirrels. (The tree hole is dangerous.)]

[Second: On the southern slope of the back mountain, there are about three pounds of Polygonum multiflorum tubers, uprooted by wild boars. They can be used as medicine and also eaten. (Wild boars may be encountered.)]

Thirdly, on the sandy beach downstream of the Qingshui River, there are more than a dozen ancient coins washed up by the flood. Although they are not edible, they can be exchanged for items. (There is a possibility that they might be stolen.)

Chen Mo chose Information 2.

Polygonum multiflorum.

This item is quite nourishing, perfect for helping my father, who is in poor health, to recover.

The scene immediately appeared: under the pine forest on the south slope of the back mountain, in the freshly turned soil, a section of dark brown root was exposed, the thickest part of which was as thick as an adult's arm.

The next day, Chen Mo went up the mountain.

He dug up those huge he shou wu (Polygonum multiflorum) roots, the largest of which weighed more than two kilograms.

He cleaned the Polygonum multiflorum, sliced ​​it, dried it, and then carefully stored it away.

Every day when he cooked porridge, he would add a few pieces to his father's porridge to help him recover.

After drinking it for a few days, Chen Dashan saw significant results. His complexion improved noticeably, and the cough that had plagued him all winter was mostly gone.

Chen Ling'er also received a small share.

"Brother, this is a bit bitter, but it makes you feel warm all over after eating it."

Ten days later, in early April.

The potatoes in the sinkhole have already sprouted small white flowers, and the bean sprouts have climbed quite high along the trellis.

Chen Mo secretly calculated in his mind that the potatoes would be ready for harvest in a little over a month, and the yield would be at least 300 jin. The beans would also be ready for harvest in two months.

Life is getting better little by little.

However, a recent announcement from the Wang family has once again shattered this tranquility.

"The village headman issued an order that all villagers, regardless of gender, must participate in the spring plowing labor and plow the village headman's land for three days. If they do not go, they will be fined one bushel of grain."

This is blatant exploitation.

During the spring planting season, every household hopes to take advantage of this time to rush to plant, but the Wang family wants to transfer their most capable labor force away.

Chen Mo was also assigned the task of cultivating the ten acres of the best paddy fields belonging to the Wang family.

On the first day of work, Chen Mo deliberately slacked off, moving slowly and leisurely.

Wang Mang, who was in charge of the project, had long disliked him, and seeing this only made him angrier.

"Are you fucking playing dead?"

Wang Mang snatched the whip from the servant beside him and lashed it hard across Chen Mo's back.

"Smack!"

The whip tore the clothes open, leaving a horrifying bloody welt on the back.

A burning pain shot through him, but Chen Mo gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.

He simply raised his head silently and glanced at Wang Mang.

That glance was very calm.

The calmness sent a chill down Wang Mang's spine.

When Chen Ling'er returned home that night, she saw the bluish-purple bloodstain on her brother's back, and tears immediately streamed down her face.

She cried as she used a clean cloth dipped in salt water to gently clean her brother's wounds.

"Brother...it hurts..."

Chen Dashan sat beside his son, looking at his injury, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Suppressed anger burned in his cloudy eyes.

"The Wang family... they're driving someone to their death!"

Night has fallen.

Chen Mo lay on the bed, the wound on his back still throbbing slightly.

That whip mark was like a brand, imprinted not only on his body but also on his heart.

The system notification sounded on time.

[Daily information has been updated, please select:]

[1. There is about half a pound of sesame seeds that rats smuggled out of the ventilation shaft of the Wang family's cellar, scattered in the corner of the wall. (It may be discovered.)]

[Second: There's a rock eagle's nest on the cliff behind the mountain, containing three unhatched eggs, which are highly nutritious. (Rock climbing is quite dangerous.)]

[Three: Thirty miles away in the refugee camp, people are selling rat poison, which can easily kill large livestock. (Human nature is treacherous)]

Chen Mo's gaze was fixed on the third option.