Chapter 31: Famine Has Come

**Since planting late rice, there has been no rain in the southern China region for over a month.

The commune's officials formed work teams to organize the members to combat the drought. However, the canals couldn't release water, tractors were used to transport water, and the small rivers had their water drawn off. Some villages had even started fighting over water resources.

At this point, the people from surrounding production teams realized that Dragonhead Production Team's approach was correct.

When they went to the commune for a drought relief meeting, Jiangbian Production Team confronted Long Jiusheng, saying, "Hey, where did you get this information? It's so accurate!" Other production team leaders also stared at Long Jiusheng.

Dongtou Village's team leader even gave Long Jiusheng a punch and scolded him, "Long Jiusheng, you're so heartless! Why didn't you tell us earlier that there would be a drought in the second half of this year? We could have planted sweet potatoes to prepare!"

"Yes, you're so inconsiderate! If we go hungry tomorrow, you can't ignore us."

Long Jiusheng sighed and said, "I told you earlier that there would be a drought this year, but you didn't believe me and said it was just nonsense. Now I'll tell you again, there will still be a drought next year. You should continue planting sweet potatoes next year."

One of them sneered, "Your words are neither here nor there. Who would believe that there will be consecutive droughts for two years?"

"Not only will there be a drought, but there will also be a locust plague," Long Jiusheng added.

"Who told you that?"

"If I said it was a god who told me, would you believe it?"

"Get lost, who would believe you!"

Most people thought Long Jiusheng was joking. After all, there were no gods in the world. But a few people believed and immediately went back to organize the members to plant some autumn sweet potatoes. It turned out to be a lifesaver for the entire village, even though the sweet potatoes didn't grow well; at least, they had sweet potato vines.

Long Jiusheng didn't try to force anyone to believe him, but he firmly believed that there would be more disasters next year.

He hadn't forgotten Ailian's words: "Last time, the master asked Ailian to save Jiexiong, and this time, the master asked Ailian to save the entire village."

However, Long Jiusheng's smugness didn't last long. As soon as he reached the village, he heard the quarrel from Long Rongsheng's house. Several people were gathered around, watching the commotion.

"You old wretch, if you want to kill us, just say it. Why don't you take a knife and kill us one by one?"

"You disobedient and unfilial thing, our family was unlucky to get you. You are always causing trouble in our home. I regret the day I took you in. Why did I ever think you were a good match for our family?"

"Now I understand, and it's not too late. Let your son divorce me. I'll take the children and leave. Since you've stolen all the grain, we'll starve to death anyway. It's better to end it all."

"Rongsheng, Rongsheng, are you going to let your wife bully me like this? If I had known you would grow up to be so unfilial, I would have sat on you when you were born!"

...

"What's going on here?" Long Jiusheng asked the onlookers. "As the head of the Women's Team, how can you just stand by and watch without trying to mediate?"

"Oh, I just arrived," one of the women replied with a shrug. "But, you know, it's not just Rongsheng's family. There are many quarrels over food. I can't mediate them all."

Food, it was all about food.

Long Jiusheng's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

They had only obtained 30% of the grain this year, and it had been forcibly handed over as excess grain by Zeng Shuji. They had originally thought that each person would have more than ten jin of rice per month with some added miscellaneous grains. They could at least barely get by with porridge. But they didn't expect to have relatives to take care of.

If they had known, they should have fought with Zeng Shuji and paid less excess grain.

They were still too inexperienced!

At this point, Tang Ailian's family also had an increasingly difficult time with their food. Their whole family was eating wild vegetable porridge every day, and the amount of rice in it was getting smaller and smaller. Even with just wild vegetable porridge, it was barely enough to fill their stomachs.

The feeling of hunger was greatly magnified.

Tang Ailian couldn't help but frown. Although she had replaced all the water at home with the water from the medicine well, she still felt hungry. She thought about finding something to eat in the space, but even just drinking water from the medicine well didn't seem to curb her hunger.

She noticed that the ginseng roots in the space had grown as thick as carrots and considered eating one, but she was worried that her body wouldn't be able to handle it.

She sighed. Although the water from the medicine well ensured they wouldn't starve, the feeling of hunger was hard to bear.

Should she also plant some grains in the space and use the spirit water to accelerate their growth?

Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside, indicating that someone was coming back. She quickly entered the space, thinking of finding something to eat inside. She even thought about taking out a ginseng root, but she was worried about the consequences for her body.

She couldn't afford to be careless.

As she hesitated, the person outside turned out to be Tang Erlong. He tiptoed into the house and immediately started rummaging through the kitchen, looking for something to eat.

Unfortunately, at this time, when everyone was struggling with food shortages, there was hardly any leftover porridge. Even the grains that hadn't been cooked were locked up by the old lady, so Tang Erlong naturally couldn't find anything to eat.

Then, his eyes fell on an oil canister by the stove. It was the lard that Tang Ailian had bought with the money her father had sent back yesterday.

Tang Ailian couldn't help but frown. Was he going to drink oil directly?

Sure enough, Tang Erlong picked up the oil canister and started drinking from it.

Tang Ailian shouted, "Uncle, you can't drink that! It'll give you diarrhea!"

But Tang Erlong paid her no mind. He put down the empty oil canister and gave Tang Ailian an evil glare. "Don't you dare tell anyone!" Then he pushed the door open and ran out.

However, his luck was not on his side. Just as he left the back door, he ran into Tang Lao Tai Tai, nearly knocking

 her over. She grabbed him to steady herself, and they both stumbled a few steps before regaining their balance.

Tang Lao Tai Tai scolded, "What are you rushing for?"

Tang Erlong's face turned even paler, and he stammered, "I just came back to take a look."

Tang Lao Tai Tai eyed him suspiciously. She wiped her finger across the button on his chest and said, "What's going on? Why is there oil on your clothes?"

Tang Erlong became even more anxious. "It's nothing, I was just going to see the cows."

But Tang Lao Tai Tai didn't buy it. She looked at him skeptically and said, "Did you eat something?"

Tang Erlong's face turned even redder. "No, I didn't eat anything."

Tang Lao Tai Tai wasn't convinced. She grasped his clothes firmly and said, "Tell me the truth. What did you eat?"

Tang Erlong's voice trembled as he replied, "Nothing, Grandma."

Tang Lao Tai Tai didn't let go. She continued to question him, "Did you drink something? Tell me, what did you eat or drink?"

Tang Erlong felt like he was trapped. He stammered, "I, I drank some oil."

Tang Lao Tai Tai's expression changed. She scolded him, "You reckless child! How could you drink oil? Do you want to get yourself sick?"

Tang Erlong didn't dare to look at her. He muttered, "I didn't think it would be so bad..."

Tang Lao Tai Tai was furious. She released her grip on him and scolded, "Get out of here! Don't let me see you again today!"

Tang Erlong didn't need to be told twice. He rushed out of the house in a panic.

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(End of this chapter)