Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Over there they found them, but it was the farm here.

Tan Shaoting was responsible for lighting the fire, while Su Yuanyuan was in charge of tidying up the house, wiping everything down.

After finishing the work, Su Yuanyuan felt much better. The kind of anger she had disappeared.

In the evening, the two of them had dinner, "Shall we expose our wheat seeds?"

"Sure, if someone asks, we'll just say so, if not, forget it."

"That's fine. I've made up my mind, I must experiment to see if we can grow winter wheat."

"Alright, though it's just about the wheat seeds."

Su Yuanyuan rolled her eyes at Tan Shaoting. It sounded simple, and she didn't care about the loss of the seeds, but the work would be for nothing.

No matter what, they had to try.

"Let's take ten pounds of wheat to Sun Baoshan tomorrow to have a look."

"Okay, but it's still unclear how the farm will arrange things."

"However it's arranged, it won't matter. We can't plant now anyway."

"Let's just go with the flow."

"Should we leave again? Staying here makes me anxious."

"Is it possible to leave now? Probably not allowed."

"We can't farm anyway; why don't you stay home while I leave?"

"No way."

After dinner, Su Yuanyuan refused to practice and went directly to sleep.

The next day, after breakfast, they fed the livestock. Tan Shaoting carried ten pounds of wheat, and the two of them drove to the farm headquarters.

When they arrived, Feng Baoshan was already there.

"You two have finally come back. How did it go? Did you complete the task assigned by the top?"

Tan Shaoting nodded, "They found us through the train station, and we came back before reaching the cotton-producing province."

"Xiao Tan, what are you carrying?"

"Director Feng, this is the wheat we brought back. We brought it here for you to see."

"Wheat?"

"It should be winter wheat or something, we don't quite understand."

Feng Baoshan grabbed a handful, noticing these wheat grains were indeed much larger.

"How much did you bring back?"

"Not much, about three hundred pounds."

"Xiao Tan, Xiao Su, make sure you don't eat this wheat. If we can plant it, we'll use it as seed."

Su Yuanyuan had already inquired with the farm owner; this wheat was sown in May and could be harvested in September or October. The temperatures on both sides are similar; it's unknown if it will work?

So she told Feng Baoshan about this.

"We can't plant now anyway." Feng Baoshan sighed.

"You really shouldn't eat this wheat. You brought back so little, just plant it on your land. If it works, great. If not, there's nothing we can do."

That was plain speaking enough. But that's the reality.

"Director Feng, can we plant this year? Can we?"

"Plant what? The ground is so dry it won't even freeze, no moisture at all, what can you plant?"

"Director Feng, I need to go this time." Su Yuanyuan felt she should speak up.

According to Tan Shaoting, it won't start raining until July; by then, she would return at the end of June.

"Xiao Su, better not go out. During this time, we're going to build a reservoir; it can't always be dry, right? Our farm is building the reservoir by your land. Make it bigger, and it can alleviate future droughts."

Su Yuanyuan nodded, "Alright, we'll wait for the arrangements then."

Actually, she wanted to say that even the river was dry, what's the use of building a reservoir? But she's just a small figure; if she talks too much, it might make others unhappy. It's better to follow the arrangements obediently.

"Director Feng, you're saying both our plots of land will be used for the reservoir. What about our land then?"

"We've decided in a meeting. Your plots are right by the reservoir. For the first year, you're exempt from the task."

Everyone knew these two kids kept their land clean; if given new land, it would be barren. Clearing it would require a lot of effort, so exempting them for a year was justifiable.

Su Yuanyuan thought for a moment, "Director Feng, can we raise fish in the reservoir?"

There were very few fish here; even though it wasn't far from the riverbank, in winter, you couldn't even get fish to eat.

"Raise fish?"

"Yes, to raise fish in the dug-out reservoir in the future."

Feng Baoshan shook his head, "Even if it can be done, we can't find fish fry. Let's wait until the reservoir is built, and there's water, then talk about it."

Su Yuanyuan nodded. She realized she spoke too soon; nothing can be done in a year or two.

Knowing the early digging for the reservoir, they followed the rules and returned.

"Our house should be left behind. If we can raise fish in the future, living here would be perfect."

"Director Feng said to build it larger; the house might not be preserved."

They didn't go straight home but went to the Zhao Family.

The five siblings really were working on the kang; the two boys stitched soles, utilizing their strength, which was just right.

The three girls made shoes.

"Yuanyuan, what brings you here?"

"We went to the farm headquarters. It seems this year we won't be able to plant. They've arranged for everyone to dig the reservoir."

"Digging a reservoir?" Zhao Qingxiang remembered, when a reservoir was dug near his old home, he was old enough to remember.

"Yes, right by our land. By the water hole, they'll dig."

"Yuanyuan, then what will we eat?"

"They'll probably provide meals, right? Otherwise, who would work?"

"Yuanyuan, are we still planting sweet potatoes?" Zhao Xiaojing asked worriedly.

"You guys should plant some, or you won't have anything to eat in winter. I have some plastic film at home; in a few days, I'll sow some in your land."

"Yuanyuan, we've decided to plant more winter melon; it yields well."

"Winter melon seedlings and sweet potatoes can grow together."

"Yuanyuan, what will you do with your land being used for the reservoir?"

"We'll get new land. Our task is waived for a year."

"Where is your land then?"

"They say it's near the reservoir."

Zhao Qingxiang knew how exhausting it was to dig a reservoir, and he was apprehensive about it.

After they left, the five siblings continued with their tasks.

When the two returned home, they started packing up.

"We still need to rebuild our house, but we don't know the location yet. Otherwise, we'd start preparing."

"I guess Director Feng and the rest also don't know exactly how large the reservoir will be; they need to adapt as they go. We should be able to live here for a long time."

Su Yuanyuan thought it was terrifying. If there were excavators, it would be better. But digging with shovels and hoes and having people carry away the dirt would be an enormous workload. Just thinking about it made her tired.

"Tan Shaoting, you said it might rain in July; by then, who knows how much will have been excavated. Farming will definitely take priority, and the reservoir won't continue."

"Our land might not even be affected."

"I suppose so. Once farming starts, there won't be time for the reservoir."