Chapter 32: Don't Make a Sound If You Want to Live

**Tang Ailian knew that if she was caught in the kitchen by her grandmother, she might be mistaken for the one who drank the stolen oil. So, when she heard her grandmother's return, she immediately rushed out of the house through the front door and went to her uncle's house next door.

Once Tang Lao Tai Tai entered the kitchen, she soon heard her grandmother's angry voice, "Who's the damned thief who stole our oil—"

Luckily, she didn't say much and quickly realized that there was a drop of oil on her second son's button. She suddenly thought, could it be this short-lived guy who drank our oil?

So, her concern shifted from the stolen oil to her second son's stomach. That can of oil weighed at least a pound, and if he had drunk it all, would he get diarrhea?

That little more than a pound of lard was a month's supply of oil for Tang Erlong's family. As a result, for this month, Tang Erlong's family had to make do without oil.

Tang Erlong was the first to voice his complaint, "Why does this vegetable porridge taste so bad?"

Tang Lao Tai Tai glared at him with annoyance, "Our oil at home was stolen, of course, it won't taste good without oil."

Everyone's faces turned sour. They were already struggling with the lack of meat, and now they didn't even have oil to cook with. The days were getting harder and harder.

It wasn't until the next month when Tang Dalong sent money that Tang Lao Tai Tai hurriedly went to buy some cooking oil, providing everyone with the luxury of having oil again.

On the day the oil was newly processed, Tang Ailian discovered that Tang Erlong had sneaked back home again to drink the oil. This time, however, he rummaged through the kitchen for a long time but found nothing—Tang Lao Tai Tai had locked the oil away.

As the drought intensified, the need for water grew, but they had limited water containers. The production team organized everyone to take turns fetching water, and they wouldn't return home until it was dark.

Dragonhead Village had placed all their hopes on these sweet potatoes.

The members of the commune were eating wild vegetable porridge while working hard in the fields. They had lost a significant amount of weight, and though they lacked meat, they at least managed to get by. Seeing that the rice in the fields of other production teams had withered while their sweet potatoes were still thriving, everyone felt a sense of accomplishment.

With Tang Ailian continuously providing the spiritual water, Liu Xiujun managed to endure despite working tirelessly day and night.

Fortunately, as an honored family, they received bundles of firewood from students in the military unit. Otherwise, Liu Xiujun would have been even more exhausted at home.

One evening, after finishing her work in the production team and then watering her own plot of sweet potatoes, it was already completely dark. Liu Xiujun was carrying a water bucket, hurrying home.

She thought that Ailian must have prepared water for her again. Although she repeatedly told her daughter not to fetch water for her, Ailian always insisted on doing it herself. Even when Aishi and Awen tried to help, they weren't allowed. Ailian would always ensure she finished the water, leaving her feeling warm and invigorated even when she was exhausted.

However, she also worried about her daughter, thinking, "Ailian's water is exceptionally delicious. But next time, let me pour it myself, okay?"

Tang Ailian thought to herself that this was water from the medicine well, so how could it not taste good? She tilted her head and smiled sweetly, "Mom, you've worked hard. Ailian will help you." She had now managed to string together a coherent sentence. In reality, she wanted to take out some of the ginseng roots from the space for her mother to chew, but she didn't dare.

In the later stages of the drought, the demand for water continued to grow, but there were only so many water buckets. The production team organized everyone to take turns fetching water, and they wouldn't return home until it was dark.

Long Jiusheng had placed all the village's hopes on these sweet potatoes.

The commune members were eating wild vegetable porridge while working hard under high-intensity labor. They had all lost a considerable amount of weight, and even without meat, they could barely get by. Whenever Liu Xiujun returned home exhausted during this time, Tang Ailian would always pour her a bowl of water and hand it to her, saying, "Mom, you must be tired. Have some water, Mom."

Liu Xiujun worried about her daughter even while feeling grateful. "My dear Ailian, your water is so delicious. But next time, let Mom pour it herself, okay?"

Tang Ailian thought to herself that this was the water from the medicine well, so how could it not taste good? She looked up and smiled sweetly, saying, "Mom, you've worked hard. Ailian will help you." She had managed to string together a complete sentence. In reality, she wanted to take out some ginseng roots from the space for her mother to chew on, but she didn't dare.

As the drought continued, the water demand increased, and there were only so many water buckets to go around. The production team organized everyone to take turns fetching water, and they wouldn't return home until it was dark.

Fortunately, Liu Xiujun's family had a plot of land close to the riverbank, and she could just manage to finish watering it. However, when she returned home, she was so exhausted that she could hardly move.

Whenever she felt this way, Tang Ailian would proactively pour a bowl of water and offer it to her mother, saying, "Mom, you must be tired. Have some water, Mom." Although Liu Xiujun had repeatedly told her not to do it, Ailian insisted every time. Even when Aishi and Awen tried to help, they were stopped. Ailian would always make sure her mother finished the water, and Liu Xiujun would feel revitalized despite her fatigue.

However, Liu Xiujun always worried about her daughter and said, "My dear Ailian, your water is so delicious. But next time, let Mom pour it herself, okay?"

Tang Ailian smiled and replied, "Mom, you've worked hard. Ailian is here to help you." She had become more proficient in expressing herself. She wanted to bring out some of the ginseng roots from the space for her mother to chew on, but she was still hesitant.

In the later stages of the drought, the water demand continued to rise, but there were only so many water buckets. The production team organized everyone to take turns fetching water, and they wouldn't return home until it was dark.

Long Jiusheng had already placed all the village's hopes on these sweet potatoes.

The commune members were eating wild vegetable porridge while working hard under high-intensity labor. They had all lost a considerable amount of weight, and even without meat, they could barely get by. Whenever Liu Xiujun returned home exhausted during this time, Tang Ailian would always pour her a bowl of water and hand it to her, saying, "Mom, you must

 be tired. Have some water, Mom."

Liu Xiujun worried about her daughter even while feeling grateful. "My dear Ailian, your water is so delicious. But next time, let Mom pour it herself, okay?"

Tang Ailian thought to herself that this was the water from the medicine well, so how could it not taste good? She looked up and smiled sweetly, saying, "Mom, you've worked hard. Ailian will help you." She had managed to string together a complete sentence. In reality, she wanted to take out some ginseng roots from the space for her mother to chew on, but she didn't dare.

One day, after finishing her work in the production team and watering her own plot of sweet potatoes, it was already pitch dark. Liu Xiujun was carrying a water bucket and hurrying home.

She thought that Ailian must have prepared water for her again. Although she repeatedly told her daughter not to fetch water for her, Ailian always insisted on doing it herself. Even when Aishi and Awen tried to help, they weren't allowed. Ailian would always make sure her mother finished the water, leaving her feeling warm and invigorated even when she was exhausted.

However, this time was different. In the dim moonlight, Liu Xiujun saw someone crouching in their field.

Could it be that someone was stealing sweet potatoes?

"Who's there?" Liu Xiujun shouted.

The person in the field immediately stood up, looking alarmed at first. However, when he realized that there was only one person, Liu Xiujun, he became less fearful and even arrogantly said, "If you want to live, don't make a sound."

As he spoke, he bent down again and began digging with a short hoe. It was evident that he was stealing sweet potatoes, as there was already a pile of them at his feet, each the size of a baby's fist.

It was now clear that this thief was stealing sweet potatoes, and not only that, he had the audacity to threaten Liu Xiujun. Furious, she shouted, "What are you doing? These sweet potatoes haven't fully grown yet. How many do you think you can get at this stage?"

However, when she called out, the person in the field completely ignored her and continued digging. Liu Xiujun wanted to intervene, but she had just put down her water bucket and picked up a wooden pole when she suddenly felt a blow to her back.

Her vision went black, and she collapsed. Just before losing consciousness, she thought about the need to post a guard for the sweet potatoes.

(End of the chapter)