Chapter 30: Growing Sweet Potatoes is Your Responsibility

 

**Long Jiusheng spread his hands and said, "We had a reduced harvest in the first half of the year, and if there's a slight failure in rice production in the second half, it's not a big deal if I get scolded by Zeng Shuji. But if we run out of food and people go hungry, that's a real problem, Shuji. I happened to hear someone say that there might be a severe drought in the second half of this year. You know that sweet potatoes are drought-resistant and have high yields. Even if we don't have rice to eat, at least we'll have sweet potatoes to survive on."

Zeng Shuji looked at him with anger, "Are you blaming me for making you contribute to the grain surplus?"

Long Jiusheng shrugged, "I dare not. To us common folks, having enough to eat is the most important thing. Since I became the production team leader, I have to be responsible for the food of our 652 villagers. Besides, I heard that there might be a drought in the second half of the year, and I believe it's better to be prepared. You know how unpredictable the weather can be."

Zeng Shuji glared at him fiercely. Long Jiusheng stared back at him calmly. The two of them had a showdown, each trying to outdo the other. Zeng Shuji finally cursed, "If nothing happens in the second half of the year, you'll be in trouble."

With that, he stormed away.

Zeng Shuji had initially hoped that Longtou Production Team would have another good harvest of late-season rice, which would provide more grain. Now, this young guy was switching to sweet potatoes, and that meant there wouldn't be any grain surplus to send to the commune.

This guy was challenging him.

He even contemplated whether promoting such a young production team leader had been a mistake. Maybe choosing someone like Shi Dong, who was easier to control, would have been a better choice.

He planned to find an opportunity to teach Long Jiusheng a lesson, or even subject him to a criticism session. If there was no severe drought in the second half of the year, he might consider removing him from his position and promoting Shi Dong to team leader.

After Zeng Shuji left, some other production teams in the commune also noticed the unusual situation in Longtou Production Team. Upon hearing that Longtou had transplanted rice to plant sweet potatoes, they started to transplant a portion of their rice and bought some sweet potato vines, just in case.

However, none of them had the audacity to transplant such a large area like Long Jiusheng did. They were simply preparing for the possibility of a rice crop failure.

Back at home, Long Wanqiu returned from work and found Tang Ailian sitting with a furrowed brow in the backyard. He couldn't help but smile and ask, "Why do you look so worried, Ailian? Tell Mama what's on your mind." It was hard to believe that a child not even a year old could have worries.

Tang Ailian pointed at a pile of sweet potato vines in the yard, her little finger trembling as she tried to express herself, "Mama, it's the sweet potato vines. Master gave them to us."

Long Wanqiu realized what she meant, "Oh, these sweet potato vines? Did your master give them to us?"

Tang Ailian nodded vigorously, her eyes shining with excitement. "Yes, Mama, Master gave them to our family!"

Long Wanqiu couldn't help but chuckle. He understood that Tang Ailian wanted to use these sweet potato vines to persuade her parents to grow sweet potatoes on their own plot of land. She had turned to her mother for help in convincing them.

His wife, Shi Xiujuan, had also heard about their daughter being taken as a disciple by a hermit, and she was initially furious. But upon reflection, she realized that there might be some benefits to it. Firstly, it indicated that their daughter was extraordinary, and secondly, it meant she would have a powerful mentor to protect her in the future.

So, when she saw the sweet potato vines, she was delighted. "Are these sweet potato vines from your master?"

Tang Ailian nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Mama. Master gave them to us to plant in our own plot of land."

Shi Xiujuan decided to support her daughter's request. "Well, if your master gave them to us, then we should plant them. It's good to have some sweet potatoes in case there's a shortage of rice. Let's go and talk to your grandfather and grandmother about it."

With her parents' support, Tang Ailian felt more confident. They went to talk to her grandparents, Tang Laoye and Tang Laotai. After some discussion, they agreed to plant the sweet potato vines on their own plot of land.

"Fine, we'll plant them, but you're responsible for taking care of them," Tang Laotai said to Tang Ailian.

Tang Ailian nodded happily. "Okay, Grandpa, I'll take good care of them."

With their family's agreement, they planted the sweet potato vines on their own plot of land. As word spread in the village, many other villagers also planted sweet potatoes on their own plots.

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(End of this chapter)