Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 613 - 491: Starting to Cultivate Land and Grow Vegetables

Chapter 613: Chapter 491: Starting to Cultivate Land and Grow Vegetables

The long icicles under the eaves have disappeared, the barren land in the suburbs has sprouted little grasses, the willow trees along the river embankment have budded, and the breeze gently caresses the face, no longer sharp and biting.

—Winter has passed in the blink of an eye, and National Day’s spring has finally arrived.

With spring here, one can forage for various wild vegetables in the wilderness to fill their stomachs. This time, there’s no need for the school to issue notices; students naturally step out of the school gates and into the wild.

Who knew that many others had the same idea? In the suburbs and nature, elders, women, and children can be seen everywhere carrying empty baskets, wandering around.

Coming closer, people realize this spring, full of promise, has left the wilderness with barely any wild vegetables.

Last year, no one considered the need to protect the environment when hunger was looming. It’s not the populace’s fault—when you’re hungry enough to eat dirt to satiate yourself, who has the mind for these concerns?

As such, last year’s foraging was too thorough, leaving fewer seeds, resulting in even fewer wild vegetables this year than last.

Elms, considered "lifesaving trees" by many, saw many stripped of their bark and withered, while those that survived stood strong, yet their leaves were nearly nonexistent.

With hardly anything edible to be found, many turned their attention to the ponds and nearby little streams.

—Aquatic grasses swaying in the middle of ponds, floating duckweed; snails, mussels, stone crabs, loaches, and eels in the little streams.

It’s still cold to get into the water now, plus quite a few drown in ponds every year. Filling your belly is a matter of survival, so no one dares venture into the water.

Not going into the water doesn’t imply giving up. Many are using bamboo poles and rakes around the aquatic grass and duckweed, trying every means to harvest a few.

More people swarm to the small streams within a ten-mile radius, feeling for snails and mussels. Sometimes, with luck, they even catch stone crabs, loaches, and eels.

With more and more joining in, the haul gradually diminishes, and after hours outdoors, they end up with just a few ounces.

Seeing spring’s arrival and the ongoing scarcity, the school finally issued a call to "take matters into your own hands and cultivate the wasteland to grow vegetables."

This activity received enthusiastic support from all the teachers and students. Unlike going to the countryside to assist in farming, this time they were truly benefiting themselves, and many had already set their sights on the barren land within the campus.

As soon as the notice was issued, classmates from each department rushed to the campus, forming groups to seek suitable wasteland for planting, intending to act first and take the best spots.

"Xiao Wu, why are you all still dawdling? If you’re late, all the good places will be taken,"

Zhang Guoqing saw Yi Jiefang’s anxious face and sped up with everyone. Inwardly, he scoffed at this naive kid who had never farmed. Even with the best plots, wouldn’t all the crops go to the cafeteria in the end?

Their class had plenty of talented people. The shrewd ones already had their sights set—not all of the barren lands were Little Stone’s. Perhaps by now, they had already staked their claim.

With the allocation of territories to each department and class, the vigorous reclamation effort began.

With the whole school moving, you can’t expect everyone to wield a hoe and a spade. They overcame difficulties, using every tool available, or resorted to manual effort.

Aside from necessary core courses, all of their time and energy was spent on this precious plot of land, hoping to soon cultivate and sow for an early harvest.

Day by day, they cultivated hope; everyone didn’t miss a chance to visit, occasionally discovering sprouts, prompting smiles across the class.

Hard work pays off.

With a few spring rains, within half a month, tender vegetables emerged.

—The harvest brought hope. Walking through the campus, laughter echoed everywhere.

Once spinach, napa cabbage, radishes, scallions, and Chinese chives appeared on the cafeteria tables, eating these fruits of labor, many were too excited to swallow them all in one bite.

Even without meat or oil, everyone enjoyed the meal.

And in the cafeteria, the coarse grains no longer mixed with random, bizarre things, making life a bit better.

After several rounds of spring vegetables, they planted eggplants, green beans, and potatoes. With successive harvests, students no longer struggled with hunger to the point of panting while climbing stairs.

With classes and farming, one semester passed by in a flash.

And as the semester ended and vacation began, perhaps for students’ safety, unless with special circumstances, students from other places were advised not to leave the campus without a counselor’s permission.

Zhang Guoqing, by virtue of a pass, received permission from Counselor Xiao Wu and departed the campus with others, leaving classmates to continue farming and conducting experiments.

At this moment, his feelings were unclear. Only a dire situation and blocked roads could create such circumstances. How the outside world was, he had no idea.

Are distant relatives as smooth as described in their letters? Are his parents well?

After returning home with the group, Zhang Guoqing put down his luggage, greeted Zhou Jiao, and immediately headed to the station. He planned to personally check with Liu Ming about the situation.

Before reaching the train station, Zhang Guoqing heard the voice from a loudspeaker. It repeated the same line over and over: "Dear passengers, please do not go to Bao City, Bao City requires grain coupons for meals, Bao City requires grain coupons for meals..."

Standing at the station again, seeing everything around, Zhang Guoqing no longer needed to think and realized that compared to last year, the influx of people heading north had surged again.

"You’re looking for Brother Liu? Is it urgent? I know you’re Zhang Guoqing, should I pass a message to him? He won’t arrive until next weekend at the earliest."

Seeing the other’s words, Zhang Guoqing smiled and said, "Nothing urgent. Since I haven’t gone back, I want to inquire about how our hometown is faring. My parents keep saying everything is fine, but I’m worried."

The other approached him and whispered, "See outside? Many people are heading north. Before coming, I even heard the repatriation station sends off a group of people every day, and immediately another arrives."

Hearing this, Zhang Guoqing softly asked, "Did you hear anything about chaos in the county towns below?"

The other patted him on the shoulder, "Don’t worry. Each road is guarded. Otherwise, those fleeing at the repatriation station, where did they come from? They were caught. Rest assured, it’s just a matter of three months or so; when the weather turns cold, who dares venture outside."

Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile. Knowing that asking further would yield nothing and delay the other’s time, he came for peace of mind.

"Thanks, buddy."

"Don’t mention it. I can’t stay, need to handle some tasks; I’ll be off."

After parting from the other, Zhang Guoqing didn’t hurry back home. He strolled amongst the crowd, focusing on their conversations, debates, and parents’ instructions to children...

Thanks to Zhang Guoqing’s keen hearing—he overheard many private conversations, then looked at the children among the crowd, and shivered.

Even if they reach the north safely, once the hot summer passes, soon it will be a brief autumn, followed by a long, harsh winter. How will these lack of clothing and food children endure?