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

Remembering something, Zhao Qingsong asked, "Where are Dad and my little sister? How did they handle Grandma's situation?"

"Your sister has gone off to play somewhere. Your dad went to check on her in the fields and should be back soon. The arrangements for your grandma's retirement have been finalized. She'll be staying at your third uncle's house. They thought our family was reluctant to part with the grain."

Zhang Xiulan explained as she walked.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "However, even though we've separated from the family, we're still related. We still need to celebrate holidays and festivals as usual, since they are your parents."

Zhao Qingsong nodded in agreement, "Okay, I understand. Just like every year, we'll send it to Uncle San's family. Dad can deliver the grain sometime, and we'll bring some other things with us too."

Third Aunt was naturally gentle, and with her two daughters having no descendants, she already lacked confidence.

They won't treat the old lady badly.

The old lady will need some time to adjust, but at least she'll be more comfortable than when she lived with her eldest son.

The two talked as they returned home.

My father and younger sister returned shortly afterward.

"Brother! Why are you back?"

The little sister was overjoyed to see him return; her brother's return meant there would be delicious food.

Zhao Qingsong ruffled her hair and said with a smile, "Brother will take you into the city."

"Huh? Going into the city?"

The younger sister looked completely bewildered.

The father, carrying a shovel, followed behind, looking puzzled: "Boss, what's going on?"

Zhao Qingsong then explained the situation.

"That's the situation. The city is tightening its recruitment efforts right now, so we have to hurry and can't delay. We don't have much stuff at home. I've talked to the team leader, and I'll ask Accountant Ma and Liu Benchang to help transport the stuff to the steel mill..."

Zhao Jianguo sighed upon hearing this.

I just went out for a trip, and when I came back I had a job, a secure job, and I had to move immediately.

For a moment, I couldn't quite believe it.

"Alright, Dad, pack your things. Take what you can, and you and Mom can get what you can't take when you come back in a couple of days."

Unlike in the city, rural areas don't have piles of furniture everywhere.

There were no wooden cabinets in the house, only two large wooden chests, which were part of my mother's dowry. The other furniture consisted of some stools and an old, worn-out cabinet.

Clothes and blankets are wrapped in a blanket.

You only need to carry pots, pans, and utensils.

There are quite a few odds and ends, but we can pick up the ones we can't take with us next time. My father knows the way, so it won't be a big problem.

"Alright, hurry up. Our son took a day off to come here, so we can't delay his work."

Seeing this, the mother began to urge him on.

"Oh, what should we do with all this firewood?"

The father looked at the pile of firewood and asked, "This is something we've been saving for a long time."

Zhao Qingsong looked at it and said, "Come and get the firewood again tomorrow. Give the rest to Uncle San's family."

He didn't want to bring them.

But these days, a single match is more expensive than coal.

Firewood scrap yards sell it for two cents a pound, and even the best Datong smokeless coal is only one cent and seventy cents a pound. Only coal briquettes are slightly more expensive.

The father felt a pang of heartache.

But still agreed.

"Okay! Let's get ready then, we can't let it interfere with the child's work."

The family then began packing their things.

The younger sister was happy to learn that she was going to the city, but she didn't know that she didn't have a quota.

After a while, Accountant Ma and Liu Benchang came over leading two mules.

"Qingsong, do you need any help?"

Accountant Ma came in, calling out with a smile.

Looking at the messy house, Zhao Qingsong handed each of them a cigarette before smiling and saying, "Uncle Ma, Uncle Liu, could you please help me load the things onto the truck and park them properly so they don't fall off on the way?"

"Okay, sure!"

The two men took the cigarettes, chuckled, and went inside to start moving things.

Zhao Qingsong originally thought there wouldn't be much.

Pots and pans, thermos, washstand, all sorts of things piled up, and it quickly filled up.

An hour has passed.

"Dad, Mom, let Uncle Ma and the others make the rest of the trip tomorrow. We can't fit them all today."

The rest were all small, scattered pieces, which were indeed difficult to carry.

It must be said that even a ruined family can be worth a fortune.

It would cost a lot of money to buy these.

The father looked at it and realized there wasn't much of anything particularly important, so he agreed.

"Alright then, I'll come again tomorrow."

"Okay, you guys go first. I'll go talk to the captain and get the certificate."

"Okay, go ahead!"

After the matter was settled, Zhao Qingsong rode his bicycle to the brigade headquarters.

I explained the situation to the captain in the past.

I also obtained the certificate.

……

Midway through, Zhao Qingsong took his father to the commune to obtain a certificate for transferring household registration.

With a job offer certificate, the relocation certificate is easy to obtain.

After completing the formalities, I rode my bike with my father to catch up with the others.

By the time the group arrived at their new home, it was already 2 p.m.

"Brother, don't you recognize the house?"

When the younger sister heard him asking about the house, she asked curiously.

Zhao Qingsong smiled and nodded: "Yeah, I rented a house, but I haven't come here. I don't know the place either. I heard it's a big brick house. That old lady just said it's the third courtyard from the front. Let's go!"

He led a few people over there.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief after unlocking a courtyard with the key.

"This is it. Let's put the things inside first!"

He greeted the group.

The convoy filed in.

……

Accountant Ma parked the car and followed them into the house, exclaiming in surprise, "Qingsong, this house is no worse than the one at our brigade headquarters! How much did it cost?"

Zhao Qingsong smiled and said, "Yes! There are many brick and tile houses in the city. I rent one from the housing management office for a little over two yuan a month."

Then he began to look around the house.

The main room is very small, with only one stove; the rest can be used to store cabinets and the like.

The room inside had no door; once inside, there was a heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove) and no furniture whatsoever.

The newspapers pasted on the wall were somewhat faded and worn.

It's much better than houses in the countryside.

After reading it, Zhao Qingsong clapped his hands with a smile: "Alright, let's move everything down first, and then we'll tidy up later."

Upon hearing this, everyone naturally began to get busy.

Mother took out a special broom for sweeping the kang (heated brick bed) and began to clean it.

……

Zhao Qingsong and his group quickly moved all their belongings into the house. The clean items were placed on the heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove), and the remaining cabinets and boxes were organized.

After working for almost an hour, I finally managed to tidy up a bit.

Mother can just tidy it up carefully when the time comes.

Zhao Qingsong offered a cigarette to the group and said with a smile, "Uncle Ma, I'll have to trouble you again tomorrow to move your things over. I'll go buy some things later, so you can go back first, otherwise you won't be able to get back before dark."

It's already past 2 PM. If we eat here, it will be completely dark by the time we get back.

Accountant Ma said with a smile, "Sure! Either way is fine."

"Okay, I'll go buy the things. Dad, weigh out four catties of grain for Uncle and the others, and give them tomorrow's grain as well."

Upon hearing this, the father naturally agreed.

We brought all the grain distributed by the village, so we're not short of it.

Fortunately, it was the end of the year, so we didn't have to borrow grain from the village in advance.

Seeing this, Zhao Qingsong said goodbye and left, intending to buy some steamed buns nearby for the others to take with them.

It was already there in the space; it was just going out to make an appearance.