Reborn in the 60s, I hunt to support my family and even seduce the village beauty.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

The men, holding their wine glasses, chatted amongst themselves, discussing everything from work to the news on the street, and from the news on the street to the current political situation.

The women gathered on the other side, their conversation shifting from children to clothes, and then to everyday family matters, chattering away.

The girls ate the fastest. Xiu'er was the first to put down her chopsticks, wipe her mouth, and drag Zixia to the fishpond to count how many fish were missing.

Xiaoqing, Xiaomu, and Xiaoshui also ran after them, and the courtyard immediately became lively again, with laughter and shouts mixed together, almost lifting the roof off.

Chang Kun picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and glanced at his second aunt's husband.

My second aunt's husband picked up a piece of donkey meat with his chopsticks, raised it to his mouth, then put it back down in his bowl. He took a sip of wine, his brows furrowed the whole time.

Chang Kun asked, "Second Uncle, haven't you been getting enough rest lately? Are you working too hard?"

My second aunt's husband gave a wry smile. He said that he was exhausted from work during the day and couldn't get proper rest when he got home at night. He had indeed been feeling quite tired lately.

He unconsciously touched his waist again, picked up his wine glass and took another swig.

It's not a good thing to say that I can't get a proper rest at night, so I changed the subject.

"The situation is not good lately," my second uncle said in a low voice. "Several places are already experiencing food shortages. This autumn and winter will be very difficult... Even the people in the capital will probably have to tighten their belts."

The table fell silent.

Chang Dashan recalled those days in the village. He had only been in the city for a few months, but he still remembered the hardships of those days in the village very clearly.

Two meals a day, one of which is considered a good meal if it's dry, the other is just a gruel of wild vegetables. It's called a gruel, but it's really just a pot of water with a few handfuls of flour, watery and bland, and drinking it is like not drinking anything at all.

I thought things couldn't get any harder than that, but I never imagined they would get even harder later.

He put down his glass, as if asking someone else, or perhaps himself, "Won't... people starve to death?"

The expressions on everyone's faces at the table changed.

Is it really that serious?

Throughout history, there have been instances of people starving to death. A few deaths are understandable, but when it happens on a large scale, it's a true tragedy!

Chang Kun held his wine glass but didn't drink. He had been reborn and knew how difficult this year and next would be.

He had seen those numbers, those place names, those living people in books and heard them from old people in his previous life.

Hundreds of thousands, millions—this is no small number!

It's a human life! A living, breathing human life!!

What can he do all by himself?

He has his own space and food, enough to save one family, two families, and the people around him, but he can't save everyone.

This calamity, a combination of natural and man-made disasters, is not something one person can withstand.

My second aunt's husband sighed, "I don't know what they're thinking; they're all just boasting!"

"The newspapers are reporting things like sows being as big as elephants, and wheat yields of 10,000 or even 100,000 jin per mu. Isn't that just pure fabrication!"

"But who dares to object? Anyone who dares to speak out will become the target of everyone's criticism!"

So what if he's a minister?

In this regard, one can only be cautious in words and deeds, and prioritize protecting one's own family.

After venting his frustrations, my second aunt's husband suddenly realized something, looked up and glanced at everyone at the table: "You absolutely mustn't say these things out loud, or you'll be in big trouble."

The people at the table nodded in agreement.

Chang Kun knew that his second aunt's husband was right.

These things cannot be said to outsiders.

It's no use saying it; nobody believes it, and even if they do, they won't dare admit it, and even if they admit it, they can't change it.

The dishes and wine glasses on the stone table were empty, with only a few peanuts scattered on the table, which no one bothered to pick up.

The moonlight poured down from the sky, covering the courtyard in a pure white glow.

My second aunt's husband looked at the moon in the sky, then at his watch, and stood up: "It's getting late, we should go back."

The others also stood up one after another, and after the previous topic, everyone lost interest in talking.

The courtyard, which had been bustling all night, suddenly fell silent.

Hongxia stood beside the stone table, her hands clasped in front of her. She looked at her father and then at her mother, her lips moving several times, as if she wanted to say something but was too embarrassed to speak.

She bit her lip, finally making up her mind. Her voice was much softer than usual, carrying a hint of caution.

"Dad, Mom, Wenwen lives alone now. Why don't we let her come home with us? We're really worried about her being out there all alone."

Liu Meiling was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, took Wenwen's hand, and patted it gently.

"Yes, yes, Wenwen, your parents sacrificed their lives early. Even if the organization takes care of you, it's never as caring as family."

"I've watched you grow up since you were a child. Feel at home, don't be shy."

My second aunt's husband stubbed out his cigarette, his tone carrying the concern of an elder for a younger generation.

"That's right, it's a good opportunity for Hongxia to learn from you. It's really worrying to see you living alone."

Hongxia's eyes lit up, and she stared intently at Wenwen, her gaze full of anticipation.

Wenwen lowered her head, her fingers wrapping around the strap of the cloth bag again and again.

She raised her head, looked at Hongxia, then at Liu Meiling and her second aunt's husband, her lips moved several times, and her voice was soft.

"I...I haven't thought it through yet."

Liu Meiling held her hand tightly, continuing to persuade her, "What are you thinking about? If you're staying at home, you can go back to your own place anytime you want; no one's stopping you. You're living alone, barely managing to eat; how can you manage?"

Wenwen lowered her head, the corners of her mouth curved slightly, and she gently shook her head.

Chang Kun watched this scene unfold and chuckled to himself.

Auntie, you're completely clueless. You'll regret this later.

Second Aunt didn't see through Sister Hongxia's little scheme at all.

Letting Wenwen live in the house with Hongxia is like sending a sheep to the wolf's mouth.

Wenwen gently pulled her hand away from Liu Meiling's and said, "Auntie, I'm going back now."

Liu Meiling wanted to persuade him further, but her second aunt's husband shook his head and stopped her.

Wenwen lowered her head, picked up her cloth bag, and turned to walk out.

Hongxia pouted and followed him, saying, "Then I'll take you home," her voice tinged with helplessness.

Wenwen glanced back at her, her lips curving slightly, but she didn't say anything.

The two left the courtyard one after the other. Hongxia took big steps, while Wenwen took small steps. Hongxia caught up with her after a few steps.

The two walked side by side. Hongxia tilted her head and said something to Wenwen, while Wenwen lowered her head, her ears turning a faint red in the moonlight.

When it was time to go to bed at night, the lights were turned off, and the room was pitch black, with only a sliver of moonlight filtering through the gaps in the curtains.

Cheng Min lay with her back to Chang Kun for a while, then suddenly turned over, reached her hand to Chang Kun's waist, pinched a small piece of soft flesh with two fingers, and gently twisted it.

Chang Kun hissed in pain and tried to dodge to the side, but couldn't get away.

Cheng Min's fingers seemed to have eyes, relentlessly pursuing that piece of meat.

"Tell me! Why were your eyes constantly darting between Wenwen and Hongxia during dinner?"

"Is it because Wenwen is so soft-spoken and gentle, better than the one at home?!"