Siheyuan: Fighting against the beasts under the pressure of the system

Zhang Minghui was very happy to hear Xu Damao's reminder, which showed that Xu Damao still had a conscience. However, Xu Damao came and went in a hurry.

I only stayed at home for two days before the factory assigned me a task to go to the countryside.

A week after Xu Damao left.

During this period, the news of food shortage had spread. It was that the city was going to reduce the food ration for residents, but as the news spread, it turned into food shortage.

The people of the entire city are in a panic, which can be seen from Nanluoguxiang.

Dense crowds of people emerged from the entrances of the alleys of Nanluoguxiang, some heading for the grain store, some heading for the supply and marketing cooperative, and some heading for the vegetable market.

Many neighbors even came directly to the pigeon market to buy expensive grain.

Zhang Minghui looked at his neighbors busying around looking for food, and a mixture of emotions welled up in his heart.

Ordinary people should be the last to know the news.

For example, Zhang Minghui started storing food as early as the summer. This should be considered as an advantage of foresight. The country should have known that there was a food shortage, but it did not expect it to be so serious.

Zhang Minghui saw an article published in the Beijing Daily some time ago, saying that in some provinces the highest wheat yield per mu reached more than 2000 kilograms, which was really a big satellite.

Zhang Minghui was dumbfounded. One dared to report it and the other dared to post it. Later, various provinces began to make false reports one after another.

Crops such as early rice, peanuts, and white yam have successively released their per-acre yield "satellites".

The People's Daily also published an article titled "The bolder the people, the more productive the land." Everyone was trying to catch up with each other, fearing that they would fall behind.

When it reached its peak, some provinces reported that the yield had reached 10,000 jin per mu, and then newspapers and magazines across the country began to reprint it in large quantities.

Zhang Minghui was completely shocked when he saw it in Beijing Daily, although it is understandable that fantasy novels are a little exaggerated.

This is the real world! Aren't you afraid that your lie will be exposed?

But I still admire them very much. They even gave you a picture to prove the truth. In the photo, an acre of land is densely covered with rice.

Hey, the method is still very sophisticated.

Who would have dared to imagine that with a yield of only 300 or 400 kilograms, they dared to report that the grain output was 3,000 or 4,000 kilograms.

As a result, the brother provinces were unhappy.

I'm going to say that you guys are so exaggerated with only 300-400 kilograms of production. How can we fall behind? So we started to cheat and cheat.

The higher-ups were also aware that some places were committing fraud, but they thought they would just over-report 30% to 40% of the information. They didn't expect that everyone was so bold.

...

People working in government agencies should be the first to know the news, as they have channels to obtain the source of the news.

But it is all spread within their small circle, and those who are not advanced enough have no idea what is going on.

Then there was the black market, which had support from the above channels. After receiving the news, it began to raise the price of grain across the board.

At this time, ordinary people have not yet realized the importance of the problem.

When people working outside the factories receive the news from the countryside or other places, the news will gradually spread to the people.

Zhang Minghui watched his neighbors in the yard carrying sacks and going out, and he had to follow the crowd, otherwise he would be suspected.

First, we went to the grocery store at the entrance of the alley. This was the main battlefield for the women. It was impossible to squeeze in because the outside was crowded with people. We could only hear the loud shouts of the salesperson inside.

"They're all sold out. They're all sold out. Don't squeeze in."

Zhang Minghui turned around and went to the supply and marketing cooperative and grain store on the street with Uncle Sun and the others.

There are even more people here, and the streets are crowded with people.

They were all lining up to receive food. Many public security comrades were already on the streets maintaining order.

There were also street office staff working nearby, shouting loudly.

"Neighbors, don't worry, there is food in the grain store. Don't worry, everyone can get food."

"Those of you who are lining up behind me, please go back! You can come back tomorrow to get your food. Don't worry! We won't be short of food for everyone."

But at this time, no one paid attention to the staff from the street office. They lined up one by one, with sad expressions on their faces.

From time to time, there were quarrels, and then they started fighting when they got emotional. They were taken away by the police.

Zhang Minghui started chatting with Uncle Sun in front of him.

"Uncle Sun, what's the situation at the factory? Is there any notice?"

Uncle Sun said this with a frown on his face.

"The factory hasn't notified us yet, but the news of the food shortage has spread like wildfire in the factory."

"Minghui, have you seen people begging in the city recently? They are all fleeing famine."

Uncle Sun's words gave Zhang Minghui a reminder.

Recently, more and more people have fled to Beijing to escape famine. Aunt Wang said that they are all from Shanxi and Henan. Their families were hit hard by the disaster, so they came all the way to Beijing to beg.

"I saw them. They all came from Shanxi and Henan."

Uncle Sun sighed and said helplessly.

"I heard from a buddy in the transport team that many provinces are suffering from drought this year. There is no harvest and it is impossible to survive. That is why they have to leave their homes and come out."

Zhang Minghui felt a little disappointed after hearing this. Yes! People are not as good as they used to be when they are away from home. If life can go on, who would be willing to leave their familiar hometown?

The two were chatting when there was a sudden commotion in front of them, and then the staff of the grain store came out and shouted loudly.

"Today's food has been taken away. If you want to get food, please come early tomorrow morning!"

There was a constant stream of cursing in the crowd, but no one dared to cause trouble. There were quite a few police officers standing nearby, so they had no choice but to slowly disperse.

Zhang Minghui's face was full of disappointment. As soon as he entered the yard, he was stared at by the third uncle Yan Fugui.

The smile on Yan Fugui's face had disappeared. When he saw Zhang Minghui and others enter the yard with empty bags in their hands, he knew that they had not received the food.

After saying hello to a few neighbors, he pulled Zhang Minghui aside.

Zhang Minghui is now getting along well with Yan Fugui. When he saw Yan Fugui's behavior, he knew that he had something to tell him.

Before Yan Fugui could say anything, Zhang Minghui started talking dejectedly.

"Uncle, how are we going to get through this day?"

"I'm a half-grown boy now, and I eat a lot. The 32 kilograms of food ration per month is not enough. I wonder if your family has enough food rations. Can you give me some?"

When Yan Fugui heard this, he was immediately shocked. I haven’t even started to think about what you’re doing, but you’ve already put your hand in my pocket. That’s not okay!

Yan Fugui said with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Minghui, there are six people in my family, and we can only guarantee that no one will starve to death, so how can we have any extra food?"

Then, he spoke to Zhang Minghui in a low voice.

"Minghui, I want to ask you something. Is the food shortage real? Didn't you get any information from Director Wang?"