Xu Mingxuan touched his nose helplessly after hearing Grandpa Chang's words and explained with a smile, "Grandpa Chang, Uncle Dunzi, to be honest, everything I just said is true! Besides, why would we travel so far just to trick a few old people? You two elders are right, aren't you?"
The old woman nodded in agreement, "That's right, it makes sense! There's no need."
Xu Mingxuan continued his explanation, "The reason is actually very simple. It's because this is Honghua Ridge. The older generation of Honghua Ridge silently and selflessly supported the Anti-Japanese Allied Army for fourteen years, making great contributions to the liberation of our country. You elders are all great heroes like the older generation of Honghua Ridge, and everyone deserves our respect and admiration as descendants."
After hearing Xu Mingxuan's words, Grandpa Chang and Uncle Dunzi couldn't help but recall the glorious years of the past. Grandpa Chang sighed in agreement, "Yes! At that time, our Anti-Japanese Allied Army soldiers were all so good! In such harsh conditions, with no food or drink, and the constant possibility of freezing to death, many people sacrificed their lives. Yet, they continued to bravely fight and maneuver against the enemy, persisting for fourteen years, fourteen years! It was truly not easy!"
After the two elders finished their reminiscences and expressed their emotions, Xu Mingxuan continued, "My father also sacrificed his life on the battlefield of liberation, so I particularly admire combat heroes. The people I admire the most are the Anti-Japanese Allied Army soldiers and the elders and villagers of Honghua Ridge. Now that Honghua Ridge Village is in trouble, and I happen to have the ability and opportunity, I want to lend a hand to the villagers of Honghua Ridge, and more importantly, I want to get some grain from the other side to take home for the winter. I've been looking for a way, and luckily, Uncle Dunzi, you have a connection. This shows our true fate, that we met the old woman at the border market, and it's a perfect match! Honestly, helping the village to dig a well is secondary! It's because my brother-in-law has good well-digging skills, and he's been itching to practice for a while because no one has hired him to dig wells lately. Please give him this chance to practice!"
At this moment, Xiang Xi, being very astute, immediately chimed in, "Yes, yes, that's right. It's been a while since I dug a well, and my hands are quite itchy! Please give me a chance to practice!"
Chen Lan sat in the corner, her shoulders shaking as she stifled a laugh. She was struggling hard to hold back. She was almost exposed by the words of Xu Mingxuan and Xiang Xi. It was one thing for Xiang Xi to say his "hands were itchy," as he was always like this, but she never expected the usually serious Xu Mingxuan to also spin such a tale of "itchy hands."
Finally, with the words spoken to this extent, the two elders naturally agreed. There was essentially nothing left to discuss about digging the well! As mentioned earlier, it was settled directly. Starting tomorrow, Xiang Xi and Er Zhuang would be responsible for leading the villagers in digging the well. Xu Mingxuan and Chen Lan would follow Uncle Dunzi to survey the path to the other side and finalize the action plan. Sudannovel.com
While Uncle Dunzi and Grandpa Chang were introducing the distribution of farms on the other side to Xu Mingxuan, Chen Lan took the opportunity to go to the latrine and quietly slipped out. She transferred the two large bags of frozen fish from the ox cart into the system warehouse. Then, she took out two full bags of potatoes from the system warehouse, which were the potato seeds they had swapped out in the valley earlier.
Next, she put Xiang Xi's backpack filled with meat sausages into the system warehouse, and then took out a large bag of sweet potatoes and a large bag of cornmeal from the system warehouse. After that, she did some more shopping in the system and then walked back to the main room with her own oversized backpack.
Upon returning to the room, Xu Mingxuan had already finished discussing official matters with the two elders, and they were chatting casually. There were several bowls of water on the kang table, and it seemed the old woman's daughter-in-law had gone to the kitchen to boil water for everyone. Seeing Chen Lan return, the old woman quickly called out, "Chen Lan, come up to the kang and have some hot water to warm up."
Chen Lan responded with a sound and walked over. She placed her large backpack on the kang and immediately opened it, taking out a five-jin bag of children's nutritional rice powder. She handed it to the old woman sitting nearby and said, "Old woman, this is rice powder I just exchanged with an old Russian woman today. It's said to be very nourishing for children. We adults can't eat it, so it's just right for your little grandson. This rice powder can be prepared by simply mixing it with boiling water and stirring with chopsticks."
The old woman happily accepted the large bag of rice powder handed to her by Chen Lan, holding it tightly in her arms, sighing as if she had found a great treasure, "This is great! Now my little grandson won't have to go hungry. I thank you, aunt, on behalf of our little Zhuzi."
Chen Lan waved her hand, "Old woman, please don't be so polite with me. As I said before, our meeting today means we have fate."
The old woman smiled broadly and agreed, "Isn't it fate that we met among so many people at the market?"
Chen Lan then took out six large bags of cornmeal steamed buns from her backpack and placed them on the kang, saying, "Grandpa Chang, Uncle Dunzi, old woman, these steamed buns are for the elders and young children in the village. Outside, on the ox cart, there are also the potatoes and sweet potatoes exchanged at the market today, as well as a bag of cornmeal. Please trouble you three to help distribute them to the villagers later."
The three elders waved their hands in refusal after hearing Chen Lan's words. The old woman said, "Daughter, this is what you worked hard to exchange at the market. If you give all the grain to us, what will the elders and children at home eat! How will you explain yourselves when you go home?"
At this moment, Xu Mingxuan said with a smile, "Old woman, elder, Uncle Dunzi, please don't worry. We have kept some grain at home, and it should be enough to get us through this winter. We went to the other side to exchange grain because it's already this time of year, and there has been no rain or snow. We are a bit worried that the drought will continue, so we want to exchange more grain as a preparation."
Uncle Dunzi nodded in agreement, "It's indeed necessary to make early preparations. I reckon this year will be tough."
Grandpa Chang and the old woman also nodded. Grandpa Chang asked anxiously, "Daughter, our village also wants to exchange some grain with the other side. Can you help us think about what our village can use for exchange?"
Chen Lan originally wanted to say that nothing was needed, but she was worried that they would overthink it and feel uncomfortable refusing her help. So, after thinking for a moment, she said, "Let's use mountain goods for exchange! I remember they like to put walnuts and mountain fruits in their rye bread over there."