The mule cart entered the village, attracting curious looks from the children playing at the entrance of the village.
Shen Qingqian had already opened the car curtain. After seeing these children, she motioned for Shen Shan to stop.
Shen Shan also got off the car and led the mule forward.
The two walked for a long time, but still couldn't see an adult.
Shen Qingqian walked towards a child who had been following them, squatted in front of him and asked with a gentle smile, "Children, where are the adults in your village?"
The child in front of me looks malnourished to the naked eye, dark and thin, and I don’t know how old he is.
"My parents..." The boy did not dare to look at Shen Qing's gleaming white face. He lowered his eyes and replied timidly, "They went... to beg for food."
Shen Qingqian was stunned when he heard this, why would he beg for food?
Along the way, they could see that the land in Shangyang Village was quite good, and the fields were full of food. Even the land occupied by sugar cane was planted with different crops.
When other children saw Shen Qingqian talking to this child, they gradually gathered around and talked about the situation in the village.
"My grandma said the family couldn't open the pot. They went to Hubei City to beg for food the day before yesterday and said they wouldn't come back until tomorrow."
"My mother asked my father to work at home, and she went to Shao County to wash clothes. She also said she would buy meat buns for me..."
"My family is the same, my dad..."
Shen Qingqian looked at the oldest child in front of her and asked, "Don't you have sugar cane in your fields? Why don't you sell it for money?"
When the child heard this, he raised his eyes and looked at Shen Qingqian, with the corners of his mouth hanging down, as if he was about to cry, "My father said that it is reserved for the big boss. You must be trustworthy, otherwise no one will buy it in the future." Our village’s sugar cane is gone…”
Shen Qingqian was surprised. She didn't expect people in this village to value integrity so much, which made her feel even more uncomfortable.
"Are there any adults in your village? We are here to buy sugar cane." Shen Qingqian asked again with a smile.
Another child rushed to reply, "My grandma is at home! I will take you there. Can you buy my sugar cane first?"
Shen Qingqian asked back, "Didn't you say you want to keep it for the big boss?"
"No, I heard from my father that the big boss will definitely not come, and there is no one in our city to take it. My father tried to sell it before, but he didn't sell much for two cents per pound..."
This kid was very good at seeing opportunities. When he heard that Shen Qingqian was here to buy sugar cane, he quickly told everything he knew.
Shen Qingqian looked around, still feeling in disbelief, "Then you won't be unable to uncover the pot, right?"
At this time, an old voice sounded behind them, "Girl, from last year to now, the government has requisitioned grain three times, and just after the New Year, they also took away the strong men in the village. In recent years, there has not been much food left in the family. Last year It’s another drought year, what work can we do?”
Shen Qingqian turned around and saw an old lady wearing many patched clothes looking at her.
"Grandma, do you have sugar cane at home?" Shen Shan took a step forward, bowed his hands, and asked again.
Seeing his kind face, the old lady nodded and said, "Every household in our village has planted at least three acres of sugar cane. How much do you want to buy?"
There are hundreds of households in Shangyang Village. Because the people who came to buy sugar cane last year said they wanted to harvest a lot, they tried to plant as many varieties as possible. Unexpectedly, a war would bring all this to nothing.
These days, few families have any food reserves. The government is requisitioning both food and soldiers. There is no one to harvest the sugar cane in the fields, so money cannot be obtained. Naturally, they cannot buy food, and the family is in trouble.
Shen Shan looked at Shen Qingqian.
