Travel through famine years and awaken a post-apocalyptic survival system.

……

Zhao Qingsong lit a cigarette and handed one to his father before saying, "Dad, I have some advice for you regarding Grandma's matter."

"Huh? What suggestion?"

"Find Uncle Three! Uncle One said we wouldn't have to give them any grain. Either continue not giving it, or we'll find someone else. We can't let them have all the good things. Let Uncle Three support them, and our family and Uncle One's family will each contribute grain. Let's see what they say."

After Zhao Qingsong finished speaking, he lit a cigarette and continued, "If my eldest uncle insists on taking care of my grandmother, then we won't give her any grain. If we must give her grain, then we'll give it to my third uncle's family. My third uncle will definitely be happy to do so."

The third son, Zhao Gensheng, had little say in the family because he had no sons.

They neither compete nor fight.

The main reason is that my third aunt is a very honest person.

There's no way around it; these days, not having a son means you lack confidence.

Even if they are not your biological children, you will still have someone to care for you in your old age and see you off in your final days, which is better than not having a son at all.

Zhao Jianguo lit a cigarette, thought for a moment, and hesitated before asking, "Would your uncle agree?"

"What's wrong with that? Let him choose for himself. There are three brothers in the family, it's not like he's the only one who makes the decision. Third Uncle will definitely agree, it's an extra 100 catties of grain a year. Grandma already has basic grain supplies, so no matter what eldest uncle chooses, it will benefit third uncle."

Then no one will gossip. After all, it was their own choice not to take the food. If they really want to feed Uncle San, you don't need to worry about the food; I'll figure something out.

Upon hearing this, the father pondered for a moment.

Finally, his eyes lit up.

"Okay, then let's do it your way. I'll go ask the third brother this afternoon. I doubt the eldest brother will give it to the third brother."

The eldest son would definitely not be willing to be given an extra fifty catties of grain.

"Okay, you decide what to do!"

Zhao Qingsong was just offering suggestions.

"Green pine, green pine!"

Lost in thought, someone called him from the doorway.

He was a young man wearing an old cotton-padded jacket, disheveled and looking like a thief.

Zhao Qingsong turned his head and raised an eyebrow.

"Er Gouzi?"

The other party was the original owner's best friend in the village, practically a buddy.

He was previously sentenced to half a month of labor reform by repairing irrigation ditches for reselling supplies, and he should have just been released not long ago.

Thinking of something, she greeted her father and walked towards the front gate.

His father watched him go, his brows furrowing, but he didn't say anything.

Zhao Qingsong came out, looked at Er Gouzi and laughed, "Er Gouzi, when were you released? Why didn't you come in?"

"Hehe, just released!"

Er Gouzi chuckled, pulled out a pack, took one out, and handed it to him.

He glanced inside and laughed, "Since my aunt doesn't like me, I won't go in."

Zhao Qingsong also turned his head to look inside the room.

The mother was cooking in the main room, but her eyes kept glancing over here.

He then laughed and said, "It's not that my mom doesn't like you, it's just that you used to be involved in buying and selling, and she was afraid you'd lead me astray."

Er Gouzi is also pitiful.

She was picked up by an elderly person living alone in the village when she was a child and has been taken in by them since she was a child.

The year before last, there was a famine at the end of the year. The old lady was already in poor health, and the famine made it worse. She couldn't make it and passed away on New Year's Eve.

It was only after the old lady passed away that he started down the path of buying and selling.

He was arrested many times, but at least he survived.

Chen Ergou waved his hand dismissively, lit a cigarette, and laughed, "It's all the same anyway, no big deal. I heard you went to work in a factory? You're lucky!"

There was a hint of envy in his tone.

He then asked, "I heard that you were beaten so badly by that bastard Da Shan that you were bedridden for several days?"

"Yeah, I almost couldn't catch my breath."

After Zhao Qingsong finished speaking, he looked at him and laughed, "You rascal, you're practically a familiar face in the commune now. How many times have you caught us?"

Chen Ergou didn't care much.

"Who cares how many times? I'm just trying to fill my stomach. Even if I go to a labor camp, they'll still feed me. It's better than starving to death."

These words made Zhao Qingsong sigh.

This is perhaps Chen Ergou's helplessness.

It's easy to say, but how could labor camp be so comfortable?

Chen Ergou looked at him and laughed, "Alright, that's all in the past. I'm leaving now, and I probably won't come back to this village again. I came here just to see you; you're my only friend in the village."

Zhao Qingsong was taken aback: "Huh? You're leaving?"

"Yes! My grandma found me. My parents found me, and I'm going to the city tomorrow."

Chen Ergou smiled smugly: "Let me tell you, my dad went to the Yalu River and is now working in the railway system. I'm going to enjoy life from now on."

Hearing this, Zhao Qingsong laughed.

"That's good. Go back and live a good life. If Grandma Chen knew you were doing well now, she would be happy to hear that."

Chen Ergou sighed upon hearing this.

"Don't worry, I'll visit Grandma's grave every holiday. Bye! Come visit me in the city sometime!"

Zhao Qingsong politely replied, "Okay, I'll come visit you in the city sometime."

The possibility is not very high.

After Chen Ergou went to the city, he contacted her less, and their relationship gradually faded until they stopped contacting each other altogether.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, he watched Er Gouzi leave before turning back.

……

Inside the house, his mother saw him return and asked, "What did Er Gouzi want with you?"

"Oh, the one who said goodbye to me, his parents found him, and he's going back to the city tomorrow."

The mother nodded and said, "This child is pitiful. It's good that we found his parents. At least he won't have to go to the black market and live in fear."

"Um!"

Zhao Qingsong hummed in response but didn't say anything.

Seeing his younger sister helping with the stove, he suddenly remembered something and said, "Mom, let my little sister go to school next year!"

"Huh? Go to school? What kind of school is she going to! It costs one dollar and fifty cents a semester for tuition, and pens and paper are free, right? Besides, what's the point of going to school!"

The mother muttered something without turning her head.

The little sister's eyes lit up when she first heard about going to school, but her expression dimmed when she heard her mother's words.

"I'll definitely go to school, wherever I can get into. Don't worry about the tuition; it's only 1.5 yuan per semester, which works out to just a few cents a month. I make 30 yuan a month, so what's a few cents difference?"

Zhao Qingsong said with a frown.

The mother frowned slightly.

Just as he was about to speak, his father said, "Alright, we'll listen to the eldest son. He'll go to school after the New Year."

Hearing this, the mother stopped saying anything.

"Alright!"

That's settled then.

The younger sister then spoke up: "Brother, can I really go to school?"

Zhao Qingsong rolled his eyes: "I think you don't want to go to school, you just want to go to school to play! At school you'll have classmates and you won't have to do housework at home."

These days, seven- or eight-year-old girls are basically expected to cook and do laundry for their families.

The adults are going to work.

It's only during the off-season that things are a bit more comfortable.

"No, if I went to school, I would definitely have gotten into university. Unlike you, you went to junior high and didn't even get into a vocational school."

The younger sister said angrily upon seeing this.

Zhao Qingsong curled his lip: "You, you get confused as soon as you see a book, and you still want to take the vocational school entrance exam? Fine, you said it yourself! If you don't get into vocational school, I'll spank you until your butt is raw."

In those days, graduating from a vocational high school meant becoming a cadre, and the monthly subsidy of 9 yuan for schooling was the goal for most rural children.

Basically, every year the top students in the grade take all the spots.

It's not that easy to pass the exam.

"Hmph, I can pass the exam!"

The little sister said angrily.

The parents watched the two talking and laughed.