Chapter 0005: The Ration Crisis
"I turned back and looked, you know the team has no money"
Little Hua pouted and sobbed, her eyes fixed on the scrambled eggs with chives on the cutting board. Li Dong chuckled, children are just children; they had just been crying and now they were eyeing the food. "Aren't they fragrant? Chives stir-fried with free-range eggs, goodness, it really smells good. Make sure to eat more later."
Li Dong is waiting for the two to finish eating, and after tidying up the bowls and chopsticks, Xiao Juan takes them to wash. What a good child. "Don't cry, when Daddy earns money, I will let you eat scrambled eggs and drink fish soup every day."
Xiao Juan cried even more fiercely, her little chick, this new father is so delicious, he has eaten all the capital of the chick, Xiao Juan thought about how there would be no oil and salt to eat in the future, and she would go hungry, crying with such sorrow
Li Dong was bewildered; Xiao Juan was crying too sorrowfully. It was just two eggs, why was she crying like this? "Xiao Juan, don't cry. Later, Dad will earn you ten, or even twenty eggs. Be good, stop crying, or you'll turn into a little calico cat."
Li Dong felt very gratified, what a considerate good child, how easily satisfied he is, just being happy with a meal of eggs. Li Dong secretly encouraged himself, how could it be that a modern person who came here after forty years could not earn a few eggs
The numbers on the display change, and the first line becomes "85:25:56"
After eating, the rich Korean and the Korean soldier poured a bowl of water, rinsed the oil in the bowl, drank it, and let out a satisfied burp. "Ah."
Uncle Guofu, I just remembered that I have a relative in the city, and I plan to go borrow some provisions
Xiao Juan, you can do it, you need to take charge of the household, you need to manage the family well, and take good care of the new father. After being educated by the Korean rich and the Korean soldiers, Li Dong was left bewildered, feeling like a fool. The rations for March, based on his current eating habits, will last at most twenty days.
The rich and the soldiers in Korea originally intended to discuss with Li Dong the principles of diligence and frugality, but this fish is truly fragrant, and the oil is quite abundant, so let us eat first and talk later
In comparison to Li Dong's ex-wife, who is currently the director of the district office and may receive a promotion by the end of the year, achieving the rank of deputy division level, it is quite rare to see someone in their thirties at the deputy division level
No money
The rice soaked in fish soup, all filled with oil and water, was so fragrant. Each of the two people finished three bowls of rice. Fortunately, Li Dong made a lot of rice, and this meal really surprised Xiao Juan. The little girl stared at the pot of rice, which was completely empty.
Do not say that the taste of eggs now is much better than that of forty years later, as the hens today are fed with earthworms and grasshoppers, who does not have extra grain to raise chickens? It is all for the three to five-year-old children, who cannot work, cannot earn work points, but they cannot be idle either
Li Dongxin said, in this day and age, without a letter of introduction, one cannot even board a bus. As for walking to the city, that's a joke. Not to mention that the commune is over ten miles away, the commune is still forty to fifty miles from the city. Walking, Li Dong felt it would be akin to killing himself.
The two exchanged a glance, and after having eaten and drunk their fill, it was time to discuss serious matters. They could no longer allow Li Dong to squander resources recklessly. This year, due to the drought, the late rice harvest would surely be affected, and whether there would be enough food supply was still uncertain
Li Dong is simply too cautious; to put it bluntly, he lacks any grand ambitions and is afraid of taking risks. Otherwise, why would he choose to be a teacher? Similarly, due to his meticulous nature and his aversion to socializing, he has remained an ordinary high school teacher for many years
Li Dong intends to inquire about the situation in the city from the wealthy Koreans and the Korean soldiers. If the situation is favorable, he plans to obtain a letter of introduction and take a stroll around, hoping to discover some profitable opportunities, provided that safety is ensured
Xiao Juan wants to know Li Dong's thoughts, and she will definitely cry even louder. There is no hope left; she has resigned herself to begging for food. Her new father is a super big spendthrift.
Stir-fried eggs with chives is indeed a delightful dish, and we haven't had it in six months. Moreover, the flavor of the one made by Li Dong is even better, and he has used quite a bit of cooking oil.
Li Dong is doing well, having made a bowl of scrambled eggs with two eggs and chives. Goodness, if he prepares a few more dishes, it will be like hosting a banquet
The wealthy and the soldiers in South Korea are so resentful that they would love to splash a bowl of water on Li Dong's face. You were the one who shouted about treating others, and now you turn around and ask for money.
The two of them are filled with regret, wondering how they were so foolish as to allow such a scoundrel to obtain residency. Now they have landed themselves in big trouble. Alas, regret! Just think, if they encounter someone attempting to drown again in the future, they will keep their distance, as it is no longer possible to save them
People in the mountains do not have the habit of eating fish, especially in this day and age. Who would be willing to fry it directly in oil like Li Dong? That is too extravagant. There are indeed such women who would have their men beat them three times a day.
Oh, is it 85 already
Pfft, upon hearing this, the two exclaimed, "Goodness, he has his sights set on alcohol as well. This fellow is doomed; a drunkard is a drunkard, and once he starts drinking, he will surely become a ghost.
Li Dong greeted Han Guofu and Han Bing while holding a brick. "Captain, accountant, don’t just stand there, take a seat. There isn’t much food at home, so feel free to eat something. When I have the time, I’ll get a good bottle of wine to treat you to a drink."
However, there are wild scallions, wild garlic, and some wild seasonings in the mountains. Adding fragrant herbs that counteract the fishy smell, this braised fish is quite good. The Korean Fu and Korean Bing tried a bite, and to be honest, it was fragrant. Just as I was about to say that Li Dong shouldn't be so wasteful, this fish is really quite good.
This little face, resembling a calico cat, was originally dirty from going to cut pig grass to feed the pigs. Now, with tears streaming down, it has streaks of dirt, looking as if it has painted a ghostly face.
Li Dongxin said, it won't do, let's come up with a reason instead
The wealthy person from Korea waved his hand and said, "You should work hard these days, and as for this food, make sure to save some."
Fu He and Bing from Korea looked at Xiao Juan, sighed, and exchanged a glance; this matter had to be addressed.
Xiao Juan listened from outside, tears streaming down her face. This was unacceptable; this new father was too wasteful. Three meals a day, Xiao Juan wiped her tears and told herself to be strong, to take charge of this family, and not to let this new father cause any more harm.
This thing doesn't look tiring, but after a whole day of stepping on it, Li Dong's legs are all swollen, oh no. "I can't take it anymore, if I keep going like this, my life will be in danger." To earn some money for transportation, Li Dong must go to the city to find ways to make some money; otherwise, doing this every day, still eating coarse grains, without even a bit of oil or water, will eventually cost him his life.
You ... ... ?
There should always be money for the train ticket
Wow, Xiao Juan shivered, unable to live, unable to live, her new father is a big waste, just thinking about begging for food made Xiao Juan's tears burst like a dam, flowing down in torrents
After the two finished speaking, they ran away, joking about money, no way, thinking of escaping, this cannot be done, the work is not finished yet. The next day, Li Dong found that his work had changed again. Han Guofu arranged for his eldest son to take Li Dong to operate the water cart to irrigate some low-lying rice fields.
Xiao Juan looked at Captain Ye and Accountant Er Ye eating the eggs she had exchanged for chicks, tears streaming down her face. Unable to hold back, she started crying again. This child, crying so much over an egg. "Don't worry, Dad will make you scrambled eggs every day from now on."
Xiao Juan's eyes were red from crying, but the fish soup smelled really good, and the scrambled eggs with chives were delicious. While crying and eating, Li Dong looked at Xiao Juan and sighed, what a good child she is, crying so much over eating an egg, yet his own daughter wouldn't eat the yolk of an egg.
The two exchanged a glance, sat down, and decided to have a serious talk with this kid shortly, as this behavior cannot continue in the future. "Come on, come on, let's eat."
Go to one's own homestead or catch some grasshoppers in the mountains, dig up some earthworms to feed the chickens. However, although every household raises some chickens, eggs remain a luxury item. An egg sells to the supply and marketing cooperative for at least three to five cents, and at most can fetch seven to eight cents each.
The Korean rich and the Korean soldier exchanged a glance. Although both had a low level of education, they had experienced much. Is this kid planning to run away? That cannot be allowed; it would be a waste of such a large amount of rice. He must not be allowed to escape
What is the use of this thing
The Korean beef and Korean chicken are quite delicious, this kid can cook, but with so much oil, anyone could make it taste good. As for the turtle soup, let's skip that; it has too strong a fishy taste, and there are too many bones in the fish.
The dishes made at home do not meet my expectations, so I quickly run off to KFC. Alas, they do not listen to what I say. However, Xiao Juan is a good child; she is easily satisfied. Just a sip of fish soup and a bite of egg make her so happy that she cries like this
Li Dong was bewildered to learn that thirty jin of rice along with this little bit of coarse grain was his food supply for March. He joked, saying that this amount was enough to last for three months, but come on, half a jin of vegetable oil for himself to last three months? That would barely be enough for three meals at most.
Well, two people have eaten and drunk, and after wiping their mouths, they have no money. Li Dong became angry. "The meal bill must be paid, right"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Juan cried even harder, wondering if there would still be chicks in the future, and if they would eat eggs every day. This is a pace that would consume a year's worth of rations in just one month
This child is excited
"Xiao Juan, be good, don't cry and eat your meal. Dad has made you turtle soup, drink more of it to grow taller."
The more I think about it, the sadder I become. Don't be fooled by Xiao Juan's small stature; she has experienced quite a lot. Her mother does not want her to run away, and her father caused a scene with her mother, ultimately leading to him jumping into the river. She has become a child without parents. Just when she finally got a new father, he turned out to be a spendthrift.
Housewives can cherish eggs, and if a child accidentally touches one, they might receive a few light slaps on the bottom, or worse, a good beating. On a child's birthday, they might sneakily avoid giving any to their grandparents, but if the men in the house see one being boiled and given to the child, the child can be happy for several days
In this day and age, eggs have become the nuclear weapon of women in every household. Families rely on them for salt, soy sauce, and vinegar; who would dare to indulge in such a delicate item
The seasoning is a bit lacking
Currently, a pound of salt costs no more than the price of two eggs, a large bottle of two pounds of soy sauce can be exchanged for four to five eggs, and more than ten eggs can be exchanged for a pound of vegetable oil
The eggs at home are gone, and the vegetable oil is also empty. Unable to hold back, I burst into tears. My new father is too wasteful, and I feel so pitiful for myself, having such a father. Xiao Juan feels that in a few days, she might have to go out begging.
Cheng Cheng, in a few days I will go to my relative's house to help you borrow some
When Fu He and Bing from South Korea saw Li Dong approaching, both felt it was a good opportunity to give Li Dong a lesson on the revolutionary struggle and the principles of frugality and thriftiness
What should I do about this delay of seventy days? I'm starving, borrowing grain is not possible, it can't be done, no way, I have to go to the city, I need to take a good look. "Borrow money?"
Try the braised fish