Chapter 212: For the Children

Li Xiangqian nodded, feeling warm in his heart. He knew that home was his only safe haven. After washing up, Li Xiangqian sat on the bed, looking at the snowy night sky outside the window, feeling an indescribable depression in his heart.

"Xiang Qian, what's wrong with you?" Wang Chunfang noticed something was wrong with her husband and gently held his hand.

Li Xiangqian looked down at his wife, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes: "Chunfang, I feel so tired, and there is an overwhelming heaviness in my heart. I know we must persevere, but sometimes I really feel powerless."

Wang Chunfang looked at him gently, her eyes full of understanding and support: "Xiang Qian, I know it's hard for you, but you have to remember that we are together. No matter how difficult it is, we will face it together. You are not fighting alone."

Li Xiangqian felt warm, and his wife's words were like a warm current that dispelled the chill in his heart. He held Wang Chunfang's hand tightly and nodded: "Thank you, Chunfang. With you around, I have motivation."

In the dead of night, Li Xiangqian lay in bed, but his mind was restless. He recalled the hardships of the past few days, and every scene reappeared in his mind again and again. He knew that he could not fall down, his family needed him, his neighbors needed him, and he had to keep moving forward.

A few days later, when Li Xiangqian was busy at the grain store, he suddenly received a strange phone call. An old voice came from the other end of the phone, claiming to be a relative of an old worker nearby. The old worker was seriously ill at home and needed urgent food supply. Li Xiangqian felt heartbroken. He knew that everyone had their own sufferings, but in this case, there was only so much he could do.

"I'm sorry, I will do my best to help, but food is really tight right now and I can only distribute it according to regulations." Li Xiangqian tried to speak in a gentle tone, but his heart was full of helplessness.

A low sigh came from the other end of the phone, and Li Xiangqian felt heavy. He hung up the phone, but his heart was still restless for a long time. Everyone has their own predicament, and he can only try his best to find a glimmer of hope in this predicament.

When Li Xiangqian returned home in the evening, he looked at the dinner on the table and felt depressed. He knew that the family had less and less food and life was getting harder and harder. He sighed softly and looked at the tender faces of the children, feeling full of guilt.

"Xiang Qian, eat, why are you in a daze?" Wang Chunfang noticed her husband's abnormality and asked with concern.

Li Xiangqian came back to his senses and forced a smile: "It's okay, I was just thinking that our family's food is running out, and we have to find another way."

Wang Chunfang nodded, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes: "Yes, the food rations have been getting less and less recently, so we can only eat sparingly."

Li Xiangqian looked at his wife and children and felt heavy in his heart. He knew that he had to find a solution, otherwise life at home would become even more difficult.

A few days later, after finishing work at the factory, Li Xiangqian suddenly saw a notice posted at the factory gate. It turned out that the factory was going to lay off a large number of employees recently, and many temporary workers would face unemployment. Li Xiangqian's heart tightened, he knew that this meant he might lose this extra source of income.

Li Xiangqian returned home and told Wang Chunfang the news. Wang Chunfang was silent for a moment, then said firmly: "Xiangqian, no matter what happens, we will face it together. We will definitely find a way."

Li Xiangqian nodded, feeling a warm feeling in his heart. He knew that he could not give up, and his family was his greatest motivation. No matter how difficult the days were, he had to persevere.

In the dead of night, Li Xiangqian lay on his bed, feeling depressed. He knew that the road ahead was still full of challenges, but he was not afraid. No matter how difficult life was, he would stick to it because he knew that his family was his greatest motivation.

At night, the cold wind howled, and Li Xiangqian tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The half-empty bag of rice and the empty can of pickles in the kitchen kept appearing in his mind. With a feeling of emptiness in his stomach, Li Xiangqian realized that he had not had a full meal for a long time. Even if Wang Chunfang tried to distribute the food properly, it was difficult to meet the needs of a family of four.

He got up quietly, not wanting to wake up his wife and children who were sleeping soundly. In the dead of night, he tiptoed to the kitchen and opened the old rice jar. Only a thin layer of rice grains remained at the bottom of the jar, spread out sparsely. Li Xiangqian's heart ached, as he knew that the rice was prepared for tomorrow's breakfast and could not be touched.

"Xiang Qian?" A soft voice came from behind. Li Xiang Qian turned around suddenly and saw Wang Chunfang standing at the door with a worried look in his eyes.

"Chunfang, why did you wake up?" Li Xiangqian asked in a low voice, trying to make his voice sound calmer.

Wang Chunfang came over and gently held his hand: "I heard the noise, so I got up to check. Are you hungry?"

Li Xiangqian nodded and sighed: "Yeah, I always feel empty in my stomach recently and I don't have much energy."

Wang Chunfang's eyes flashed with a trace of heartache. She turned around and took out a small bowl from the cabinet. There were a few shriveled biscuits in it. These were snacks she had specially left for the children. She handed the biscuits to Li Xiangqian: "Eat some of this first, don't let yourself go hungry."

Li Xiangqian took the biscuits, a trace of gratitude flashing in his eyes: "Chunfang, these are for the children, it's okay with me."

Wang Chunfang shook her head and said firmly: "You are also the pillar of this family. You can't let yourself fall. Eat and don't think too much."

Li Xiangqian took a bite of the biscuit, and the dry taste made his stomach feel a little better. He knew that these biscuits were one of the few foods in the house, and his wife would rather starve herself than let him eat. He felt a pang of sadness in his heart and whispered, "Chunfang, thank you."

Wang Chunfang smiled and shook her head: "We are a family, we should take care of each other. You still have to go to the grain store and the factory tomorrow. You are already exhausted from working overtime, you can't let yourself go hungry."

Li Xiangqian nodded, feeling warm in his heart. He knew that although life at home was difficult, he had the strength to face everything with his wife and children.

The next morning, Li Xiangqian set out on the road to the grain store again. The streets were still cold and there were few pedestrians. Li Xiangqian quickened his pace, hoping to get to the store earlier and finish today's work. He knew that there would still be a long line today, and everyone was looking forward to getting more food.

People had already started queuing up at the grain store. Li Xiangqian took a deep breath, walked into the store, and began his busy day. He tried to distribute each portion of grain fairly, but facing everyone's eager eyes, his heart was always filled with guilt and helplessness.