Chapter 196 A Wise and Quick Decision

Li Xiangqian knows that they are not just planting and harvesting, but working hard for their own lives. Every sweat and every piece of labor they put in is a struggle for a common future.

When night fell, they sat around the bonfire in the middle of the yard, enjoying the warmth from the winter. Aunt Zhang brought her homemade tofu, and Brother Wang brought freshly picked cabbage. Everyone ate while chatting about today's harvest and tomorrow's plans.

"Brother Li, do you think we have enough food to survive the winter?" Aunt Zhang asked as she scooped up a spoonful of tofu.

Li Xiangqian frowned. He knew the problem was important, but he also knew they needed to work harder. "We still need to keep working hard to increase production. We have to start working early tomorrow and use every inch of land."

Brother Wang nodded, "Yes, we can't relax. Only in this way can we survive this winter."

The next morning, Li Xiangqian got up early and prepared the tools and items he needed for the day. He checked the bamboo basket, shovel and kettle to make sure everything was ready. The people in the courtyard also came to the vegetable field one by one with full energy to start the day's work.

Li Xiangqian looked at everyone in the yard, they were all working silently, without complaints, only looking forward to the future. He knew the worries and uneasiness in everyone's heart, but they chose to face it and chose to take action.

"Brother Li, I think we can grow some vegetables in this area. It can satisfy our cravings and increase nutrition." Brother Wang used a shovel to mark out a piece of space on the land.

"Yes, and the vegetables planted this season have a short growth cycle and can be harvested soon." Li Xiangqian nodded in agreement, and they began to plan which vegetables to plant in the vacant land and how to distribute the work.

Aunt Zhang said as she worked: "Brother Li, do you think we will be better off this year than last year?"

Li Xiangqian was silent for a moment, recalling the famine last year, when everyone in the courtyard experienced helplessness and struggle. "We will be better than last year because we are more united and more prepared now."

Aunt Zhang smiled and continued her work. She knew that Li Xiangqian would always bring them hope and strength. In her heart, every weed she pulled out was for a better tomorrow.

They worked intensely and orderly throughout the morning. Li Xiangqian kept walking between the plots to help everyone solve problems in the planting process. They cooperated with each other, sometimes chatting and laughing, sometimes working silently, as if a tacit machine was running.

At lunch time, they had a simple lunch in the yard. Brother Wang handed Li Xiangqian a bowl of steaming hot rice, and he took it with gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Wang."

Brother Wang waved his hand and said, "Brother Li, this is what we should do. We have to get through this together."

After lunch, they continued to work. The sky gradually became gloomy, and thunder could be heard faintly in the distance. Li Xiangqian frowned, knowing that if it rained, it meant that their work might be affected. He quickened his pace, hoping to complete the current task as soon as possible.

That afternoon, it finally began to drizzle. Li Xiangqian felt a little guilty, thinking that he might have been too careless this time and had not noticed the change in the weather in time. Although the rain was not heavy, it was enough to wet the land they had worked so hard to plant, which might affect future harvests.

He looked at the dark clouds in the sky, which were getting denser and denser, and felt powerless. He knew that the only thing he could do now was to finish the unfinished work as soon as possible, hoping that the rain would not bring them greater losses.

"Hurry up, everyone, collect these. We have to do it before the rain gets heavier!" Li Xiangqian shouted loudly, leading everyone to speed up the harvesting.

Aunt Zhang quickly picked up the kitchen knife in her hand, and she skillfully cut the ripe cabbages one by one and put them into the bamboo basket. She was anxious in her heart, but she did not show it, but just silently quickened her movements.

Brother Wang was busy picking the green vegetables he had planted, picking them quickly with his hands, fearing that the rain would soak them if he stopped for a moment. Sweat had already seeped out of his forehead, but his eyes were full of desire for a better life tomorrow.

Li Xiangqian was busy walking back and forth in the field. He could feel everyone's anxiety and efforts. They were all trying their best to harvest the crops as soon as possible to avoid them being soaked by rain.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise in the sky, and a flash of lightning streaked across the dark sky, accompanied by rumbling thunder. This scene made everyone in the yard stop their work, and they looked up at the sky, feeling a little fear and helplessness in their hearts.

"The rain is coming, we have to hurry, it will be too late if we don't harvest!" said Brother Wang anxiously.

Li Xiangqian gritted his teeth, he knew they couldn't delay any longer. They had to harvest as much as possible and minimize the losses caused by the rain.

They worked hard in the rain all afternoon. The rain was getting heavier and heavier, hitting them, but they had no room to retreat. Everyone's clothes were soaked, but they still worked non-stop. No one spoke, only the sound of rain and the sound of blades colliding were intertwined.

In the evening, they finally brought all the crops that could be harvested into the yard. Li Xiangqian looked at the vegetables filling the bamboo baskets and felt a little comforted. Although they encountered unexpected rain, at least they tried their best to minimize the losses.

As night fell, they sat exhausted by the campfire, their clothes soaked by the rain, and the cold wind made their bodies even colder. But their hearts were warm, because they knew that their efforts of the day had not been wasted.

On that cold and damp night, Li Xiangqian sat quietly in the corner of the courtyard, feeling powerless and guilty. He thought about everything that happened today and realized that he was not prepared for the food hoarding. They harvested some vegetables, but they did not have enough food to survive the possible long-term famine.

"Brother Li, what do you think we should do now?" Aunt Zhang sat next to him, her voice full of worry.

Li Xiangqian was silent for a moment. He felt the anxiety and helplessness of the people around him. They had tried their best, but the reality was cruel. He knew the importance of this moment and they needed a wise and quick decision.

"We can't wait any longer," Li Xiangqian finally said. "I will go to the city tomorrow morning to see if I can buy some food and other necessities from the market.