Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

Chapter 271: Quantity Reduction, Entire Hospital Laments

"Director Wang, don't go! The quota can't be reduced!" Jia Zhangshi shouted.

Unfortunately, Director Wang was very busy today and didn't have time to chat with everyone. In the blink of an eye, he walked out of courtyard number 95.

"It's all over! Food prices are so high now, and they're even reducing rations. How are we supposed to survive?"

After Director Wang left, everyone's faces turned somber.

"Uncle, Uncle, Uncle, Uncle, what are we going to do? My son Erleng only earns 33 yuan a month, and he has to support a family of five. Now the price of grain has more than tripled compared to usual. Aren't we going to starve to death? You are the elders in charge of the courtyard, please think of a solution!"

"Yes, gentlemen, please think of something!"

Yi Zhonghai was too lazy to meddle in other people's business anymore. He greeted Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui and went back to his room.

"Old Yan, tell everyone that I have to go back first."

Liu Haizhong didn't know what to do either, so he said goodbye to Yan Fugui and took the opportunity to slip away.

"Hey, why did you leave? You're the managers of the compound, you should give us some advice!"

Seeing this, Yan Fugui had no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it.

"Everyone, please be quiet."

Yan Fugui shouted, and everyone immediately fell silent.

"As Director Wang just said, the whole country is tightening its belt right now. Everyone, don't worry, just hang in there. Maybe the quota will be restored next month. If the quota hasn't been restored by next month, we'll hold a hospital-wide meeting to discuss it. Now, everyone, go home."

After saying that, Yan Fugui led his family back into the house.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the courtyard returned to their rooms with somber expressions.

Wang Feng and Qin Jingru returned to the house. Qin Jingru took a sip of tea and said, "Brother Wang Feng, you were right. Today is only the first day of work, and the factory has already reduced the meat supply. Now they're reducing the rations. It looks like things aren't going to be easy for anyone from now on."

Wang Feng laughed and said nonchalantly, "Jingru, don't worry, we'll continue as before. But be careful when cooking in the future, so that people don't realize we eat meat every day."

"Yes, Brother Wang Feng, I understand." Qin Jingru nodded solemnly.

......

The Intermediate People's Court, the Jia family.

When Jia Zhangshi returned to the house, she looked like she was sighing.

"Mom, my salary was just enough to buy cornmeal before, but now the ration has been reduced. I'll hold off on giving you your two yuan retirement fund for now, and give it to you when the ration is reinstated. Is that alright?" Qin Huairu said with a sigh.

Upon hearing that she would no longer receive pension money, Jia Zhangshi immediately flew into a rage.

"No way, you have to give me your retirement money, or I'll never forgive you."

Qin Huairu sighed softly and patiently explained, "Mom, but my salary is only 27 yuan. Grain prices are so high now, and you have a rural household registration. Our family has to buy expensive grain every month. Now that the ration has been reduced by 5%, we have to buy even more expensive grain. My salary is simply not enough. Please hang in there for now, okay?"

"Can't you find a way if it's not enough? Anyway, you're not going to touch my retirement money!" Jia Zhangshi shouted.

Qin Huairu rolled her eyes. It sounds nice, but what can she possibly come up with as a solution?

If it weren't for the fact that Jia Zhangshi's attitude towards her had improved considerably these past two days, and that she no longer dared to eat meat alone, she would have definitely had a huge fight with Jia Zhangshi.

It's an undeniable fact that the quota has been reduced now. If they want to support her family, they'll have to find more people like Sha Zhu.

Fortunately, she has now entered the factory and become a formal employee. She, Banggeng, and Xiaodang have all transferred their household registration to the city. Otherwise, with her meager salary, the whole family would have starved to death. She just hopes that the ration will not be reduced again in the future.

Hey.

Qin Huairu sighed inwardly. She didn't want to argue with Jia Zhangshi anymore. Not giving her retirement money was tantamount to taking her life. There was no point in arguing any further.

......

The front yard, the Yan family's house.

Yan Fugui returned to the house, his face also very somber.

There are seven people in their family. Reducing each person's ration by 10% is no small matter. Moreover, Liu Yuhua has such a big appetite. She alone can eat the equivalent of three people's food rations. With her small ration, it will be finished before the middle of each month, and they will have to buy more expensive food.

But with grain prices so high now, if he only charges Liu Yuhua ten yuan for food, he'll be losing money hand over fist.

Thinking of this, he gestured for Liu Yuhua to sit down, and said with a fawning smile, "Yuhua, you saw it today, the rations have been reduced, so will your monthly food allowance be increased?"

Liu Yuhua knew that her appetite was a bit too big, and that ten yuan for food would definitely not be enough. She nodded and said, "Okay, I'll give her 15 yuan for food every month."

"Hehe, okay then."

Upon seeing Liu Yuhua agree, Yan Fugui was overjoyed and his mood improved considerably.

"Old Yan, grain prices are so high now, and the ration has been reduced. What are we going to do?" the third aunt said worriedly.

Yan Fugui sighed: "How about this, we'll use refined grains and cornmeal to trade for some sweet potatoes and make do for a while."

"Jiefang, go to Majiazhuang tomorrow and replace all the refined grains and cornmeal at home with sweet potatoes. We'll eat sweet potatoes for now, so we shouldn't have to buy expensive grains. Once the rationing is restored, we can switch back to cornmeal."

Yan Fugui had a feeling that things weren't so simple. The quota had been reduced by 10% now, but who knew if it would be reduced again in the future? His family was not what it used to be. With his meager salary, how could he support so many people if he didn't save money?

Before Yan Jiefang could speak, Liu Yuhua said, "No, I don't agree."

"Dad, I give you fifteen yuan a month for food, and you want me to eat sweet potatoes? If you want something, you can have your own. I'm not eating sweet potatoes. If it really comes down to it, we'll separate and live our own lives."

Liu Yuhua had eaten sweet potatoes before, but they didn't keep her full at all, and eating too many made her fart a lot. She felt weak all day and dizzy.

"Yuhua, we didn't want this either. The ration has been reduced. Your dad's salary isn't enough to buy cornmeal. Our whole family depends on your dad to support us. Please be understanding and hang in there. Things will be fine once the rations are reinstated," the third aunt advised.

"No way, I don't eat sweet potatoes. You can eat them yourselves. Anyway, I earn 42.5 yuan a month, and I can afford to eat as much cornmeal as I want."

Liu Yuhua refused without hesitation. She was so used to eating sweet potatoes when she was a child that she was afraid of them. She would never agree to eat sweet potatoes again.

"Jiecheng, why don't you try to persuade Yuhua?"

When the three women saw that Liu Yuhua was absolutely unwilling, they looked at Yan Jiecheng.

Yan Jiecheng said expressionlessly, "I don't care. You guys figure it out yourselves. Don't come to me whether there's something to discuss or not."

After saying that, Yan Jie went back into the house.

"this……"

Yan Fugui and the three women both looked very grim. After a long silence, Yan Fugui finally sighed and said:

"Since Yuhua doesn't want to eat sweet potatoes, then we won't change her portion. Let's change the rest of our rations to sweet potatoes tomorrow."