Chapter 66: Constant Troubles
If they found the key, opened the purchasing station’s gate, and discovered it was empty, they would surely think to check the docks. At that point, Zhao Wendong would be facing so many local bigwigs, and the situation would be even harder to manage.
Zheng Guangrong had a flash of inspiration. He pulled the gate key straight from his pocket and tossed it back over his shoulder, into the purchasing station’s courtyard.
"Motherfuckers! The key’s in the courtyard now. No one’s getting in! If you’ve got the guts, come and take it! If you dare to tear down my purchasing station’s gate for a few bites of food, then you can eat as much as you want and take as much as you want!"
Zheng Guangrong’s move was absolutely brilliant. Fatty Li and the others froze. Now that Zheng Guangrong had thrown the key into the courtyard, what were they to do? Due to the nature of the purchasing station, its walls were as tall as a man and topped with sharp wooden stakes. Climbing over would be difficult. Were they really going to break the gate down?
The group was at a stalemate. The commotion at the purchasing station was so great that more and more villagers from the Qianjin Commune, who had been staying indoors for the winter, were drawn out of their homes and began to gather.
"What’s happening?"
"They’re saying there are tens of thousands of pounds of fish in the purchasing station."
"Have you heard? There are hundreds of thousands of pounds of grain in the purchasing station."
"The higher-ups must have known we were starving and sent it for us. Why haven’t they distributed it yet?"
"Quick, let’s go to the front and see."
The crowd grew larger and larger. Lately, many families had been reduced to eating thin gruel just once a day, and a sense of desperation was gnawing at everyone. Now, hearing that the purchasing station was full of food—some said meat, some said fish, others said grain—everyone was consumed by covetous desire.
"You all need to disperse! Can’t you fucking see more and more people are showing up? If you don’t break this up now, something terrible is going to happen!"
Zheng Guangrong shouted at Fatty Li and his group, sweat beading on his forehead from anxiety. Seeing the growing crowd, Fatty Li and the others started to panic as well. They were either cadres or prominent figures; if things went south, they would be facing serious consequences they couldn’t escape. It wasn’t worth it for a few fish. They quickly began to shout.
"Back! Get back!"
"Everyone disperse! All you outsiders, break it up!"
"Go home and stay warm! Stop gathering to watch the commotion!"
It would have been better if they had said nothing. The moment they spoke, they were met with fierce opposition.
"Don’t listen to them! They’re in it together, trying to hoard the grain that was sent for us!"
"Yeah, the grain is right inside!"
That sentence was like a lit match tossed into a barrel of gasoline. The scene instantly exploded. No one stopped to think that a purchasing station wasn’t a grain depot and had no responsibility for distributing grain.
"Come on, let’s go in and get the grain!"
"YEAHHH!"
Shoving and pushing, the crowd surged madly toward the purchasing station’s gate. The two words "full belly" seemed to possess a magical power, making it impossible for them to remain calm. Young and old alike, everyone desperately squeezed forward, trying to get more food. Not a single family’s rice vat was full.
"Aiyah, stop pushing! I can’t breathe!"
Fatty Li let out a wail, but no one paid him any mind. The villagers at the back were desperately pushing forward, pinning the people at the front against the main gate.
RUMBLE—CRASH!
The purchasing station’s gate was made of wood; it stood no chance against the force of so many people and was pushed straight down.
Zheng Guangrong was nearly crushed to death. The moment the gate broke, he tumbled into the courtyard. He then scrambled on all fours to a narrow corner. He knew the layout here best; this corner was the safest spot.
Seeing the gate fall, the crowd swarmed into the purchasing station’s courtyard, afraid they would be too slow to grab any food. Many of the prominent figures who had been at the front demanding fish from Zheng Guangrong were caught off guard and trampled, their screams of agony filling the air.
A dark mass of people swarmed into the purchasing station, frantically searching the courtyard. Cowering in his corner, Zheng Guangrong watched the madness, feeling incredibly fortunate. ’Thank God Zhao Wendong delivered that stuff yesterday,’ he thought. ’I sent all the recent goods back to the county along with it. Otherwise, everything would have been looted.’
Next to Zheng Guangrong was the doghouse. Just moments ago, the big black dog, Dahei, had been barking fiercely, but now it had its head tucked between its front paws, silent and still, just like its master.
Outside the purchasing station, Liangzi’s parents stood holding a lunchbox, dumbfounded as they watched the chaotic scene. When they saw the crowd yelling about getting food as they swarmed into the station, the two exchanged a look. Years of mutual understanding sent them sprinting towards the Commune’s docks.
At the seaside, Zhao Wendong and his five companions were stretching their stiff bodies as they faced the rising sun. They hadn’t slept all night. Their spirits were high, but it was cold. Even huddled by a bonfire wrapped in cotton quilts, they couldn’t stop the whistling north wind from seeping into their bones. Thankfully, the sun was now out. The hardest part of the night was over. The fishing boat was intact; they had successfully guarded yesterday’s haul. All they had to do now was wait to sell it to the purchasing station and reap their rewards.
"I wonder how much money we can get, how much grain we can trade for!"
"No matter how much, your family definitely won’t have to worry about food anymore!"
Listening to Liangzi and Zhao Wenjun chat, Little Shanghai hesitated for a moment before speaking up.
"Wendong, I’ve been thinking. I can’t take half. Back when you said you needed diesel to go fishing, I never actually thought you’d succeed. I just helped you out of brotherly loyalty because I believe in you! This huge haul is because of your good luck and hard work. It doesn’t have much to do with me."
Before Little Shanghai could continue, Zhao Wendong cut him off.
"Without your diesel, we couldn’t have even left the shore. We’ll stick to the original plan!"
Little Shanghai fell silent, but he made up his mind. ’I can’t take advantage of Zhao Wendong,’ he thought. ’I’ve saved up this diesel over the last two years; it didn’t take any extra effort on my part.’
Liangzi spotted his parents’ figures in the distance and said with a smile,
"My parents are here. Are they bringing us something to eat?"
Hearing this, everyone looked over. Zhao Wendong also turned towards the Commune with a smile, but it quickly froze on his face.
"Something’s wrong!"
Zhao Wendong’s expression turned serious. He could see clearly that Liangzi’s parents weren’t just walking—they were running toward them at full speed.
At his words, the others grew tense. Little Shanghai pulled out a kitchen cleaver, and Liangzi grabbed his axe.
"Dongzi! *Huff, huff*... It’s bad! You have to run! *Huff, huff*!"
Liangzi’s mother started shouting before she even reached them. Her words made Zhao Wendong’s and the others’ hearts pound. They all looked behind the couple. ’Wasn’t anyone chasing them?’
When they finally arrived, Liangzi’s father blurted out before he could even catch his breath.
"*Huff, huff*... Be... be quiet! Don’t just shout! Let me... I’ll say it! Dongzi! The purchasing station... over there... *huff*... It’s chaos! A whole damn mob of people broke in."
Zhao Wendong’s heart sank. His worst fear had come true. At a time like this, when no one had anything to eat, this boatload of fish wasn’t just food—it was a lifeline.
"What? What do we do? They must be coming for us!"
"Whoever dares to come and steal it, I’ll fucking kill them!"
"Quick, find me a weapon."
The others descended into chaos, but Zhao Wendong’s eyes lit up as he shouted,
"Everyone calm down! Listen to me, I have a plan!"