The world of film and television started from optical film

Chapter 288
Wang Zhong, Ma Renli, and Niu Bold came down from the reservoir and were walking towards the village, all of them looked worried.

"It seems that the reservoir is hopeless!"

"Let's go to the cellar and have a look."

The three of them chatted while walking, but the topic was a bit heavy, and the atmosphere was also a bit heavy.

"How much rations are left for the folks?"

"My family still has half a bag of wheat, almost a bag of corn, and a little sweet potato, but not much." Niu boldly said.

The bags are all standard sacks, but the density and quality of wheat and corn are different, so the weight of each bag is naturally different.

About ten to twenty catties of wheat, corn is heavier, about 120 catties per bag.

Ma Renli said: "I'm about the same as Bold, I still have some potatoes and dried radish leaves at home."

Although Ma Renli is not as capable as Niu Daudao, but he can't stand it. Yang Deng'er is a formidable character, and he is good at doing farm work. Ma Renli is much better than Qiao Yue, so the two families are naturally similar.

These are basically saved last year and the previous two years, but they are almost consumed now, but compared to the original plot, it is much better, at least it is not time to grab seeds to eat.

Wang nodded and said: "The villagers should be similar."

This is also something that can’t be helped. The summer harvest has reduced production by [-]%, and the quality of the harvested wheat is not very good. After paying the public grain, there is not much left.

Niu boldly said: "Anyway, we can't grow crops now, let the villagers save some food, and they can survive for a while."

Wang nodded his head and said, "It's only a while if you can carry it for a while."

"Bold, is there a place to hide in our team?"

"A hidden place?" Niu boldly said, "Back then we dug a cellar in order to hide from the little devils. Is that place okay?"

"Side cellar?" This Wang Zhong had the impression that Niu Bold and the others secretly held meetings at night to discuss the place to grow yellow smoke in Laoqiugou in order to start a side business.

"Yes, there is a big cellar under there. When the little devils came to sweep it, our whole village hid in it," Niu boldly said.

Wang Zhong asked, "How is it waterproof and moisture-proof?"

"It shouldn't be a problem to store food," Ma Renli said.

"Store grain?" Niu boldly frowned, and looked at Wang Zhong puzzled, "Isn't there a cellar under the warehouse?"

Wang Zhong said: "The cunning rabbit has three caves, you can't put all your eggs in one basket."

"Oh~~~" Niu Boldly understood now.

Now that the drought in the county is severe, Zhang Defu and his group don't have the energy to do any activities. Even if they have the energy to do it, the people below don't have the energy to accompany them.

The villagers are either busy digging grass roots and looking for wild vegetables in the mountains, or they lie on the kang at home and try not to move. Naturally, they will not be so hungry if they don’t move.

As time passed day by day, because there was still food at home, and Wang Zhong, a doctor with excellent medical skills, helped to recuperate, Niu Dadan's mother slowed down, and he was able to walk around gradually.

Seeing that it was autumn, and the heat gradually receded, Niu boldly led the villagers to plow some land, watered a circle of water from the cellar, and planted the buckwheat that had been prepared in the library.

Buckwheat is a treasure for drought resistance and self-rescue. Buckwheat is known as short, flat and fast. It is resistant to drought, shade, acid, and ridges. It has a short growth cycle and quick results.

It only takes [-] to [-] days for buckwheat to be harvested, which is less than three months.

Since it is necessary to cultivate, the villagers can't drink porridge every day like before, otherwise where will they get the strength to work in the fields.

Moreover, the consistent rule of the Maixiang Brigade is that the canteen that has been put on hold for a long time will be reopened during the busy farming season or during the holidays.

In late July of the lunar calendar, the canteen of the Maixiang brigade was restarted, and the villagers were not asked to hand in grain to support the operation of the canteen. The more than 5 catties of grain reserves that had been saved in the warehouse for many years were officially used.

On the first morning of going to the field, all the villagers gathered in the cafeteria.

"Let me say a few words first. This time we will replant some buckwheat. Because there is not much water in the cellar, the area we plant is not large. It will be done in a few days. The rules are still the same as before. Hard work pays more, if anyone is lazy and slippery, his work points will be deducted, don't blame me for not making it clear in advance."

When he said this, Wang Zhong also swept away the underfed couple at the front of the crowd.

"Brother Big Chong, don't worry, if anyone is lazy and doesn't work, we all disagree!"

"No one can tell when this drought will end. Let's not say too much. Everyone work harder. Whether we can get more rations depends on these buckwheat!"

After the mobilization, Wang Zhong gave an order, and the crowd drove oxen and donkeys, carrying Quyuan plows, into the field.

The Maixiang Brigade currently has six cattle, seven donkeys, and two horses, all of which are skinny now. They will be planting buckwheat in the past few days, so they are fed some high-quality forage mixed with beans and eggs in advance.

In addition to the ox and the donkey, the powerful ones like Wang Zhong and Niu Bold also pulled the plow together.

Back in the early days of land reform, productivity was low at that time, and only Ma Datou’s family had two oxen in the village. At that time, when plowing the field, people pulled the plow at the front, and two people pulled it together if one couldn’t pull it.

Cooperating with Wang Zhong was Jiang Hongguo, Wang Zhong was pulling the plow at the front, and Ma Renli was holding the plowshare at the back. Nowadays, Ma Renli is a good hand both in plowing and farming, although his strength is not as strong as Niu Bold and the others , but not too bad.

This plowing is different from other jobs, so naturally you can't blindly try to be fast, and you have to look after Ma Renli who is holding the plowshare behind. In fact, this is even more tiring. The scalper wasn't weak at all, after a few days of busy work, Wang Zhong had nothing to do, but Ma Renli, who was holding the plowshare, was exhausted.

The men are in charge of plowing, and the women are in charge of topdressing, raising ridges, and sowing seeds. Although the work is not heavy, they have to withstand the scorching sun and endure the scorching heat.

After a total of seven or eight days of effort, the buckwheat was planted. There were two meals a day in the cafeteria, and one meal was thin. There were also bean cakes and peanut cakes, which were all made of oily residue. Although it is rough, it has high nutritional value, and it is oily and watery, so it can carry hunger.

After the buckwheat was planted, the cafeteria didn't mean to be closed. Wang Zhong and the others discussed it. From now on, until the food stored in the warehouse is finished, the villagers will settle their meals twice a day in the cafeteria and have to work. Just eat dry ones, and eat thin ones when you are not working, such as corn mush, sweet potato porridge, etc., if you don’t starve to death.

If the folks want to open a small stove, the village will not explicitly prohibit it, but if the food in their hands is exhausted, and the warehouse in the team is also empty, don't blame the team for not caring.

The ugly talk Wang Zhong has already said.

One hundred catties of corn flour per day, a total of more than five catties in the warehouse, if you eat it like this, you can eat it for more than 500 days, that is, nearly two years, and it is the autumn of 1960. It can last until the end of the three-year disaster.

In addition to the buckwheat that was planted after replanting, as long as there is a crop, it will be enough.

Not all the buckwheat planted can break through the soil and germinate smoothly. The villagers have built simple sunscreens with hay one after another, and they also carry water from the cellar for watering every day, taking care of the plants that break through the ground like they care for their own children. fresh seedlings.

Time passed day by day, the autumn tiger gradually receded, and the autumn wind became bleak, but there was still not a drop of rain falling, and the sky above the head was as clear as blue every day.

There are disasters all over the country in the newspapers, most of which are droughts, but some coastal areas and parts of the south are tsunamis, typhoons, heavy rains, floods, etc.

Fortunately, it is the autumn of 1960 and winter is about to enter, half of the three-year difficult period has passed.

In the yard, Dahong and Erhong also lay dying under the eaves all day long, lying on the east wing in the morning and the west wing in the afternoon, but they knew how to find a place.

In the entire Maixiang brigade, only Wang Zhong was left with a dog at home.

After the buckwheat was planted, Wang Zhong was still the same as before. He brought two hounds into the mountain every three days, but it was no longer like before, and he could get something every time he went back.

There is only one harvest after going two or three times, and the prey are all dry and thin.

Ma's mansion is in a side courtyard, on the Kang in the main room, Wang Zhong retracted his hand on Niu Bold's old lady's veins, Niu Bold asked nervously: "How is it?"

Wang Zhong shook his head and said: "It's still a question of vitality. I just brought back a wild rabbit the day before yesterday. You and I will bring the rabbit back and make it into jerky. Cut a little bit of it every day and boil it into minced meat porridge. My aunt should have some effect after eating it."

"No, no, that's what you worked so hard to call back. I can't take it!" Niu boldly shook his head.

"It's already this time, why care about these things!"

"No way!" Niu Bold still shook his head: "The medicine my mother drank was all given by you, how can I still ask for yours."

"In this way, it is assumed that I borrowed it from you, and you give me the IOU, and pay it back after the drought is over. Is this okay?"

Qiao Yue pulled Niu Bold's sleeve: "Bold!"

Niu boldly looked at the white-haired and weak old lady on the bed, gritted his teeth, and nodded helplessly.

"I'll exchange food with you..."

"Okay, don't be too polite with me. I can go hunting in the mountains. My family is at least better off than yours. Now it's slack, and the canteen is converted into five taels of corn per person per day. Just keep the little grain in your hand. Let's make up for my aunt! As long as there is nothing wrong, it is better than anything else."

Niu boldly looked at Wang Zhong, his eyes filled with emotion: "Da Chong, I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life."

Wang Zhong smiled: "What are you talking about, my aunt's body is the most important thing now."

"Okay, come with me!"

Regarding Wang Zhong giving the hare to Niu Bold, Jiang Hongguo didn't complain at all, and asked a few questions about Niu Bold's wife's health.

In the evening, Jiang Hongguo came back from the canteen with corn porridge in a lunch box, took out some dried meat from the storeroom, cut it into cubes and mixed it with the porridge, added water to boil, put a steamer on the pot, and placed ten yellow buns on the steamer Bun, took out a handful of pickles from the jar, chopped them into pieces and briefly fried them, and the dinner was complete.

"Eat more!" Wang Zhong stuffed two yellow buns into his son's hands.

Jiang Hongguo scooped up some extra diced meat for his two sons.

"Eat more, don't starve the child in your stomach." Wang Zhong also helped Jiang Hongguo scoop a bowl of polenta.

Jiang Hongguo paused for Huang Momo's movement, then turned to look at Wang Zhong, full of astonishment: "What?"

Wang Zhong put his hand on Jiang Hongguo's lower abdomen, Zhanyan smiled and said, "Don't you feel a little sluggish these days?"

Jiang Hongguo was still a little dizzy, confused by the sudden news: "Is there?"

As soon as he asked, he nodded slightly, "It seems to be a little bit!"

"You!" Wang Zhong shook his head and said, "It's still early, the fetal image is not stable, and the weather has started to turn cold recently, so don't touch cold water or anything, and leave any heavy work to me."

The two sons also looked at the old lady in unison, their eyes full of curiosity.

"Listen up, both of you, your mother is happy, and I'm going to add younger brothers and sisters to you. If I'm not at home, you two men should take good care of your mother, you know?"

Wang Zhong said to his two sons.

"Father, mother is going to have younger brothers and sisters?" Zi'an's eyes lit up in an instant. This kid has a good talent and is very interested in medical skills. Now he has started to recite the soup recipe.

"Ok!"

After getting the affirmative answer from their father, the two brothers immediately jumped up happily, shouted a few times, and ran to Jiang Hongguo's side impatiently, even ignoring the meal.

"Mother, are you pregnant with a younger brother or a younger sister?" The two sons are not low in IQ, and with Wang Zhong's teaching, although they are only seven years old, they have already passed the stage of asking where their younger siblings are.

"Mother doesn't know!" Jiang Hongguo herself was a little confused. If it wasn't for what Wang Zhong said, she wouldn't even know that she was pregnant, but what Wang Zhong said, Jiang Hongguo believed 100%, so now Jiang Hongguo Some dizzy.

"Brother, are you stupid? Mother is not a fairy. How could she know whether she is pregnant with a younger brother or a younger sister?" Zian satirized his elder brother unceremoniously.

Then she turned her face away and asked Jiang Hongguo with a smile, "Mother, do you feel uncomfortable?"

Jiang Hongguo rubbed Zian's head: "Mother is not uncomfortable!"

"Hmm~~~" Zi Ping wanted to say something else, he moistened his throat, and the two brothers stiffened in unison, and then both eyes looked at Wang Zhong, who was looking at them, and then the two brothers stood together. He turned around, went to the kang one after another, and sat back in his seat.

"Eat as soon as you eat, blah, what does it look like!"

The two brothers lowered their heads, picking at the polenta in the bowl.

Jiang Hongguo pulled Wang Zhong: "Okay, they also care about me."

"Let's eat!" Wang Zhong didn't mean to make excuses.

As time passed, the buckwheat planted in the field gradually began to grow taller, the weather gradually turned colder, and the temporary shed was also dismantled.

At first, the shed was built because the weather was too hot and the sun was too poisonous, so there was no other way. Now that the buckwheat is growing well, it is natural to allow it to absorb sufficient sunlight for light and effect to promote growth.

Three months passed in a blink of an eye. When the time came to October of the lunar calendar, the north wind blew up and the weather became cold. The buckwheat in the field had already matured under the careful care of the villagers.

There were smiles on the faces of the villagers.

During this period, Niu Bold and the others were not idle. The weather was too hot and too dry to grow food, but cabbage and radishes could still be grown. The county distributed a lot of seeds to each brigade.

Niu Bold and led people to open up the land early on. Instead of planting it on the mountain, he planted it in the fertile land where buckwheat was not planted.

However, in order to make full use of water resources, the Mai Xiangling Brigade deliberately controlled the planting area of ​​cabbage and radishes, fertilized more, and watered together, so as to make the cabbage and radishes grow better as much as possible.

Facts have proved that this method is indeed practical. Among the dozens of brigades in the entire Maixiangling area, the radishes and cabbages in the fields of the Maixiang brigade grow the best.

This time, the villagers harvested nearly [-] mu of buckwheat, which is the best and most fertile land in the village. They harvested it. Fortunately, it is the dry season. Although it is October in the lunar calendar and the autumn tigers have left, the weather is still It’s not bad, there is sun every day, and the temperature is not enough, so we use time to make up for it, a few more days in the sun, turn over more diligently, and the harvested buckwheat is almost dry.

Half of the buckwheat stored in the warehouse was kept in the warehouse of the brigade, and the other half was distributed to the team members according to the work points.

The Spring Festival of 1960 gradually passed while the villagers were frugal in food and clothing. Niu Bold's old lady's health was fine, but the missing vitality still could not be made up.

In the spring of [-], the higher authorities came down again to dismantle the canteens run by the rural production teams, and all households rebuilt their stoves to cook.

On the day this order came down, the canteen of the Maixiang Brigade, which had been in operation for more than two years, was officially announced to be closed. The remaining grain in the warehouse, except for the grain seeds and the [-] catties of emergency grain, the rest of the grain, all according to The human hair was distributed to the team members.

From July to March of the lunar calendar in 3 and mid-April in the Gregorian calendar, in almost nine months, more than [-] catties of grain were consumed in the warehouse, and now less than [-] catties are left.

The brigade kept 200 catties in the warehouse, including the [-] catties of wheat, and the remaining several thousand catties of corn plus last year's leftover buckwheat. They were distributed to nearly [-] people on average, and each person only weighed tens of catties.

But with the grains of tens of catties per person on average, together with the radishes and cabbages grown by various families in winter, they can barely survive a year if they dig some grass roots and bark.

The drought is still going on. In the early spring, there was an unusually light rain, but the thunder was loud and the rain was small, and the ground was not even watered.

Fortunately, the groundwater resources in the Maixiangling area are quite abundant. Although the continuous drought has caused the water level to drop, water can still be brought in after all, which is enough to meet part of the irrigation and the daily life of the villagers.

The shrubs on the mountain are dry and dead in patches, not to mention the grass. Except for those lush forests, some of them may be found, and other places are dead. Now the remaining vegetation on the mountain is basically It is those trees with deep roots and long years.

With less grass and trees, there are fewer animals in the mountains. The hares and pheasants that used to fill the mountains and fields all disappeared, as if they had disappeared.

At the beginning of spring, the brigade planted another batch of buckwheat, and it was harvested in summer. The yield was much lower than last year, and the yield per mu was about [-] catties. Naturally, it was incomparable with ordinary years, but it could be planted. , the folks are satisfied.

None of the buckwheat brigade collected this time was left, and all of them were distributed to the team members.

The policy above is very clear, the cafeteria is closed, each stove is set up, and everyone eats their own food. Now is a special period, and the food will naturally be distributed.

The disaster situation across the country is still very serious. The Maixiang Brigade directly gave up crops such as wheat, corn, soybeans, and peanuts, and only focused on buckwheat wool, avoiding the hottest midsummer season, planting two seasons in spring and autumn, and three months. It can be harvested, although the output is not high, but at least people will not starve to death.

Due to the continuous drought, the autumn planting in [-] could not be carried out. Niu boldly led the people to continue planting buckwheat, radish and cabbage.

(End of this chapter)