Chapter 90

Xin Movie's Flood Defense, even Huang Xiaotian, who was the projectionist, was seeing it for the first time, let alone the others. Usually, they were happy to watch old war movies, but now, a new and unseen film had them all excited.

Everyone's attention was fully captured, even couples like Han Weiguo and Gao Xiaoqin stopped whispering to each other.

The story of Flood Defense, about a village defending Tianjin against a major flood, was just average to Li Dong, who had seen too many movies in the future and found the plot familiar.

While the story wasn't particularly novel, it was fresh and exciting for the others, who were all focused, afraid of missing any part of the plot. Li Dong greeted Huang Shengnan, but it took her a while to respond. "Xiaojian, stay with your aunt. We'll chat after the movie."

The new film was like a nuclear bomb, igniting the enthusiasm of the villagers from Hanzhuang and the surrounding areas.

After the movie ended, everyone was still buzzing with excitement, discussing the plot as they walked home, their spirits high. Normally, they only got to see a few movies a year, mostly old ones, but today they saw two new films.

Everyone was in high spirits. Huang Xiaotian, the projectionist, was still praising the movie even after it ended. "What a great movie."

Han Guobing and Han Guofu, the team leaders, were deeply moved.

Li Dong didn't dare say it was just average, fearing the older folks would get angry and hit him, which he couldn't fight back against. "It was pretty good."

"It's not just pretty good, it's fantastic." Han Guofu puffed on his pipe and slapped his thigh.

"Right, right."

Li Dong thought, "You say it, then." "Uncle Guofu, I'll help Xiaotian clean up."

The film reels were already packed into the metal box, and the projector was cleaned up. The wires and generator were almost all packed away.

Huang Xiaotian was ready to leave, but Han Guofu and Han Guobing insisted he stay. "You can't leave without having a proper meal. The team has already prepared dinner."

"No need."

Han Guofu gave Li Dong a look, and Li Dong quickly smiled. "It's not a big deal. I'll give you a ride on my tractor, and I'll drive fast."

"Alright then."

With Li Dong saying that, Huang Xiaotian couldn't refuse. Back at the team, the food was laid out, and two bottles of liquor were on the table.

"Huang, don't be shy, have some hot food."

As soon as the liquor was poured, Li Dong filled the glasses, and soon both were a bit tipsy. Accompanying someone drinking wasn't an easy job.

"Thank you so much this time."

"Li Dong, what are you talking about? We're friends."

Huang Xiaotian laughed and put his arm around Li Dong's shoulder. "If you want to see a movie, just let me know."

"I won't be shy about it."

Li Dong leaned in and whispered, "I'll get some internal reference films. They're even more exciting."

"Really, you can get internal reference films?"

"Piece of cake."

Li Dong, a bit tipsy, was boasting.

Huang Xiaotian was overjoyed. He loved his job and had rarely seen internal reference films or foreign films, as they were hard to come by. Only some leaders and their children had access to them.

Huang Xiaotian had only seen a few through the cultural station, so Li Dong's ability to get these films was a big deal.

Li Dong mentioned that he would invite Huang Xiaotian to show a movie when he was building his house, and Huang Xiaotian eagerly agreed.

Li Dong drank quite a bit, and in the end, Han Weiguo had to drive Huang Xiaotian back to the commune, as Li Dong was too drunk.

"Xiaojian, did you enjoy the movie? When we build our house, we'll have another movie night."

"Uh-huh."

The next morning, everyone was still discussing the movie, especially Flood Defense, which they found very good.

"Li Dong is here."

"Li Dong, when will you invite Huang the projectionist to our village again? We'll chip in for the fuel, so you don't have to work for free."

Li Dong smirked. Huang Xiaotian wouldn't ask for the fuel money, especially since Li Dong had only asked for 120 yuan and 30 pounds of grain tickets for the Shanghai watch, without any industrial coupons or watch coupons.

Huang Xiaotian felt he owed Li Dong a big favor, so a few yuan for fuel was nothing.

"Sure, after this busy period, when we build our new house, I'll invite everyone to a movie night. We'll show new films."

"That's great. When will you build the house? I'll help out."

"Everyone, if you have time, come help. The sooner we build the house, the sooner we can watch more movies."

Everyone laughed, and those who loved movies were looking forward to it, working harder with anticipation.

In the morning, they leveled the sorghum and corn fields, transporting soil and fertilizer. Li Dong and the other men pushed wheelbarrows, while the women spread the fertilizer evenly in the fields.

"Li Dong, you'll help Weijun plow the fields this afternoon."

Plowing the fields, Li Dong grimaced. It was a tough job, especially with a stubborn ox, but fortunately, he had an old, docile ox. It took three or four days to plow the dry fields on the hill.

"What's this?"

"A harrow."

Han Weijun muttered, how could Li Dong not recognize it? A harrow was like a ladder, over two meters long, with a wooden nail at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical beams. The old ox pulled the harrow, breaking up the large clumps of soil.

It was Li Dong's first time, and he almost fell off the harrow, which could be dangerous.

"Go slow."

After a while, Li Dong finally learned. Standing on the harrow, he pressed down, making it easier to break up the soil. This job took two days, and Li Dong was sore every day after work, though he did take a few breaks. The work was intense, lasting at least ten hours a day.

Fortunately, Xiaojian massaged his back every night, and with his good recovery, he managed to persist. After planting wheat and rapeseed, the team's major tasks for the year were mostly done.

"Finally, we can take a break."

"Take a break? Uncle Guofu just came back from the commune and said we'll start the autumn labor in a few days."

"Autumn labor?"

Li Dong was puzzled. The team had just finished the autumn harvest and planting, so why was there more autumn labor? It turned out they were going to work on the river.

"Brother Li, you haven't done river labor before. It's tiring but lively. I met Xiaoqin during river labor. If you like someone, I can ask Xiaoqin to help you."

River labor usually involved a team working on a section of the river, and everyone got to know each other well over the two weeks. Of course, some couples formed.

But Li Dong wasn't interested in that. "River labor, I've heard of it, but isn't it usually in winter?"

They had just finished the autumn harvest and planting, so why start river labor now?

"This year is different. In previous years, the ditches still had water, so we had to wait until winter when they were dry. This year, due to the drought, even the reservoirs are dry."

Han Weiguo said, "We don't know where the major labor will be this year."

"Major labor?"

Autumn labor could range from small tasks like clearing ditches to major projects like building reservoirs or clearing river channels. Since the Yangtze River flowed through Chicheng, clearing the river channels was a possibility.

This kind of major labor lasted at least half a month, sometimes a month, and was all voluntary, with workers bringing their own food to contribute to the country.

Li Dong couldn't help but think how hard farmers had it, working tirelessly for decades.

They had barely finished the autumn harvest and planting and were already heading to river labor.

"I need to go back home before the river labor starts."

Li Dong glanced at the screen. His sun value had already passed 300.

345:52:25

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2018.9.23

At 300 sun value, there wasn't much change. His carrying capacity increased to 86 pounds, and his total carrying capacity was 258 pounds.

He could carry over 60% of the monkey head mushrooms, yellow essence, and polygonum, which made Li Dong quite happy.

"I'll go to Bijia Village and ask Uncle Bi for help."

"Process some of the herbs and sell them in the city."

Li Dong had less than 100 yuan left. He had collected a lot of mountain goods and various herbs and planned to ask Uncle Bi to process them.

With less work in the team, Li Dong took a leave, and Han Guofu approved it without hesitation. "Make sure to get the vegetable seeds. Your brother Weiqun has been urging you."

"Uncle Guofu, I calculated. Even if Brother Weiqun plants all cabbage, he'll earn at most 30 to 50 yuan in the winter." Li Dong said hesitantly, as the cabbage purchase price was quite low.

"30 to 50 yuan is a lot."

Han Guofu glared at Li Dong. This kid was talking big. Earning 30 to 50 yuan in the winter wasn't a small amount. If others heard him, they'd beat him up. In this era, less than 10% of people in Anhui Province earned over 60 yuan a year.

"You, get the vegetable seeds as soon as possible."

Han Guofu said, "You're the leader of the vegetable group in Hanzhuang. Everyone is counting on you to bring high-yield, drought-resistant, and cold-resistant cabbage seeds."

"Uncle Guofu, you don't think it's too little?"

"Too little? Who dares say it's too little? I'll beat them to death."

"Alright, I'll go to the city and bring back the seeds."

Li Dong gritted his teeth. He had made a big promise, and over ten households were waiting for his drought-resistant and cold-resistant cabbage seeds. This trust made him feel a greater responsibility.

"Take care of this. You know the situation of Brother Weiqun's family."

Han Guofu sighed, "Your Uncle Guofu is powerless. We can't even earn enough grain for the members in a year."

"Uncle Guofu, don't say that. Hanzhuang is already doing well."

Li Dong had met Huang Shengnan, who told him that some production teams in northern Anhui had failed to harvest anything, with some teams only getting a few hundred pounds of rice, or even just a few pounds. What was just a few words in history books was a terrifying reality of millions of people starving.

There were already refugees in Chicheng, with the production teams issuing certificates and letters to allow them to seek help. If they didn't, they might starve to death. The production teams had no choice but to issue the letters, encouraging people to seek help from relatives or move to the city to find work and food.

Leaving, Li Dong rode his bicycle to Bijia Village to ask Uncle Bi for help in processing the herbs. He offered 10 yuan, as Uncle Bi needed money for his son's wedding.

"Uncle Bi, should I bring the herbs to you, or should you come over?"

"I'll come with you."

Processing the herbs required nine steams and nine sunnings, a technique Uncle Bi was skilled at. Li Dong welcomed his help. For three days, Uncle Bi came early and left late.

To entertain Uncle Bi, Li Dong used up almost all the limited white flour, fine rice, and meat and eggs at home.

The family now only had some sweet potatoes and about ten pounds of rough rice left. They really needed to go back. If they had to do major labor for ten days or half a month, they would need at least a pound of rice or flour a day to stay full.

Li Dong planned to return the day after tomorrow. He would go to the city to buy some good things. The Mid-Autumn Festival was on the 24th, and the next day, he would visit his daughter in the city, bringing gifts.