pjbooks Chapter 160 Early Warning of Famine, Grain Stored in Cellars
Chapter 160 Early Warning of Famine, Grain Stored in Cellars
The celebration banquet for the threshing machine exhibition had just ended when Lin Chen was startled by a sudden red warning pop-up from the system. He was helping Su Qing tidy up the brochures on the table when his fingertips touched the paper cover. The light blue system panel appeared before his eyes without warning, with the words "Emergency Warning" at the top glowing bright red. Below, the grain price fluctuation curve rose like a steep mountain peak, marked with the words "In the spring of 1980, there is a 97% probability of food shortage in Zhangcheng and surrounding areas."
"What's wrong? You look so pale." Su Qing noticed his unusual expression and handed him a glass of warm water. Her gaze fell on his vacant eyes, but following his line of sight, she saw nothing—only Lin Chen could see the system panel that had accompanied his rebirth. She put down the ledger in her hand and lowered her voice, "Is there a problem with the orders? Or is Zhao Hongliang playing tricks again?"
Lin Chen snapped back to reality, gripping his water glass tightly. The warm touch calmed his chaotic thoughts slightly. He pulled Su Qing to a quiet corner of the workshop, where newly processed threshing machine parts were piled up. The cold metallic scent mixed with the smell of machine oil perfectly masked their conversation. "It's not about the order," Lin Chen's voice was unusually serious. "Su Qing, have you noticed that the grain station's supply has been a bit unusual lately? The brown rice we bought last time had 30% more rice husks mixed in than before."
Su Qing frowned, recalling carefully, "Now that you mention it, there really is a problem. Yesterday I went to buy rations for the workers, and Director Li at the grain station said that fine grains can only be bought with a certificate from a top-level worker, which has never been this strict before. Moreover, when Accountant Wang from the neighboring commune came to reconcile the accounts, he mentioned that 'the reservoir's water storage is insufficient, and the early rice harvest may be reduced.'" She suddenly realized something, looked up at Lin Chen, "You mean... there will be a food shortage?"
Lin Chen nodded and relayed the key data from the system panel: "According to the information I received, the grain shortage in our area may reach 30% between next spring and the wheat harvest. The current market price for brown rice is 12 cents a pound; it would be considered cheap if it rose to 30 cents by then, and you might even need connections to buy it." He vividly recalled the famine he experienced in the courtyard house in his previous life, the scene of Jia Zhangshi fighting over half a bag of old rice, and the children eating tree bark out of hunger. His heart tightened involuntarily. "We must stockpile grain in advance, not only for ourselves, but also for the dozens of workers in the factory. We can't let them work on an empty stomach."
Su Qing's face also darkened. She quickly opened her ledger, her fingers flying across the abacus, the crisp sound of the beads echoing clearly in the quiet corner. "We currently have 8,000 yuan in advance payments from the trade fair. After deducting the technology licensing fees to Hongxing Agricultural Tools Factory and worker wages, we have about 5,000 yuan in working capital. At the current market price, 12 cents a pound of brown rice and 8 cents a pound of paddy rice, 5,000 yuan can buy over 60,000 pounds of paddy rice, which, after hulling, yields over 40,000 pounds of rice—enough to feed our 50 workers for a year." She paused, circling a line in the ledger. "But the problem is, how do we buy so much grain? How do we store it? Buying too much at once will definitely arouse suspicion from the grain station, and such a large quantity is too conspicuous in the factory's warehouse."
This was precisely what was giving Lin Chen a headache. The system only provided warnings and data, but not specific implementation plans. His memories from his previous life only told him about the devastation of the famine, but didn't teach him how to discreetly hoard food under a planned economy. He stroked the brass whistle he had brought back from his time working in the countryside, and suddenly remembered the backyard of his shop facing the street—the abandoned cellar left by the previous owner. When he first arrived, it had been used to store forging scraps. It was a full twenty square meters in size, with walls made of rammed earth mixed with lime, providing excellent moisture resistance.
"The cellar in the backyard!" Lin Chen's eyes lit up, and he pulled Su Qing towards the shop. Night had fallen, and the factory streetlights were dim, only illuminating the path beneath their feet. The two hurried along, their shadows stretching long and short on the ground as they stepped on the gravel. The back door of the shop was ajar, creaking as it was pushed open. Fallen leaves from the old locust tree in the backyard rustled underfoot. Lin Chen moved a few blue bricks in the corner, revealing a square cellar entrance. Lifting the heavy wooden planks, a cool, damp air rushed out.
Su Qing lit the kerosene lamp she had brought, its dim light illuminating the interior of the cellar. The cellar was rectangular, tall enough for an adult to walk upright. The walls were plastered with lime, though some patches had peeled off, but the overall surface was relatively smooth. In one corner lay several bundles of discarded hemp rope and old burlap sacks, and the floor was covered with a layer of dry straw, clearly left over from when miscellaneous items were stored. "This place is indeed suitable," Su Qing said, crouching down and touching the ground, her fingertips brushing against the dry yellow soil. "But we need to take precautions against moisture first, and we also need to reinforce the entrance so no one can find it."
The two devised a plan overnight: First, under the pretext of "preventing moisture damage to threshing machine parts," they had the logistics team modify the cellar by painting the walls with tung oil, laying three layers of tarpaulin, and placing lime packets in the corners to absorb moisture. Second, Su Qing was responsible for contacting surrounding farmers and purchasing rice in batches under the guise of "expanding the scale of the farm implement factory canteen," thus circumventing the grain station's quota restrictions. Third, Lin Chen used overtime work as an excuse to bring reliable technicians to transport the rice into the cellar every night, lining it with layers of wooden boards and straw to prevent mold.
The next morning, Lin Chen found Old Chen from the logistics team. Old Chen was a veteran technician at the factory, having worked there since the Zhangcheng Agricultural Implements Factory was established. He was a kind and honest man; last winter, when his child was sick, Lin Chen had used the system-integrated fever reducer to save him. Lin Chen pulled him outside the workshop, offered him a cigarette, and got straight to the point: "Uncle Chen, I want to use that cellar in the backyard to store the precision parts for the threshing machine. They're susceptible to moisture and damage, so I'll need you to take some people to fix it up."
Old Chen lit a cigarette, took a puff, and readily agreed, "Don't worry, Technician Lin, I'll take care of it! I'll have two apprentices apply three coats of tung oil to the walls, and then lay some tarpaulin on the floor. I guarantee it'll be even drier than the grain depot's warehouse." He leaned closer and lowered his voice, "But you have to be careful. Last time the commune people came to inspect, they specifically asked about that cellar, saying that 'unused sites need to be managed uniformly.' I don't think they have any good intentions."
Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected it. In this era, hoarding large quantities of grain by individuals or organizations could easily be labeled as "speculation and profiteering." The commune had probably already sensed the signs of a grain shortage and had begun investigating suspicious activity. "Thanks for the reminder, Uncle Chen," Lin Chen patted him on the shoulder. "When you're renovating, just say it's for storing spare parts. Put up a sign at the entrance that says 'Precision Parts Storage Area, No Unauthorized Personnel Allowed.' If anyone asks, just say I specifically instructed them that damp parts would affect export orders—I'll talk to Director Zhou."
After calming Old Chen down, Lin Chen immediately went to find Factory Director Zhou Ming. Director Zhou was beaming from ear to ear looking at the orders on his desk. Seeing Lin Chen enter, he quickly stood up to offer him a seat: "Young Lin, you're truly our factory's lucky star! The orders for threshers are booked until next summer! The regional agricultural bureau just called, saying they want to include our machines as a 'key agricultural implement promoted for spring plowing,' and they've given us a reward of 500 jin of diesel fuel!"
Lin Chen took the enamel mug handed to him by Factory Director Zhou, took a sip of hot tea, and then slowly spoke: "Factory Director Zhou, this is good news, but I have a concern. The grain station is currently experiencing a shortage of supplies, and I'm worried that the workers won't have enough rations after spring arrives, which will affect production progress. The threshing machine is currently in its peak production season, and if the workers go hungry, we definitely won't be able to complete the orders." He deliberately paused, observing Factory Director Zhou's expression, "I'm thinking of taking advantage of the current stable grain prices to purchase more rice and store it in the cellar in the backyard, which will be both safe and moisture-proof."
Zhou Ming's smile faded, and his fingers tapped lightly on the table. He was well aware of the food supply problem; at the county meeting yesterday, the county head had specifically emphasized "preparing for potential spring famine," but most of the factory's funds were invested in threshing machine production, and he was worried about how to bring it up with the finance department. "That's a great idea!" Zhou Ming slapped his thigh. "That's exactly what I was worried about! Don't worry about the funds; I'll have the finance department allocate five thousand yuan as special funds for you, and we'll make up the difference if needed! Just be careful with the methods when purchasing, so as not to give anyone a handle to use against you."
With the factory manager's support, Lin Chen felt more confident. When he returned to the workshop, Su Qing had already compiled a list of nearby farmers. Two pages of densely written paper listed each household's rice yield, character evaluation, and contact information. "I asked Sister Zhang from the supply and marketing cooperative," Su Qing handed him the list, "Lijiazhuang in the west of the city, Wangjia'ao on the north slope, and Shijia Village in the south river—these three villages had good harvests this year, and the village chiefs are honest people who won't overcharge. I told them that our factory will provide welfare for the workers and will purchase rice regularly, buying from two or three households at a time, three to five thousand jin each time, so it won't attract attention."
Lin Chen looked at the name "Li Laoshuan from Lijiazhuang" circled in red on the list and remembered an old farmer he had met during his time working in the countryside in his previous life. This old farmer was Li Laoshuan's father, an extremely honest man who had once secretly given him half a sweet potato. "Let's start with Lijiazhuang," Lin Chen said, pointing to the name. "I'll go with you and check on the quality of their rice. Old Chen's family has already started renovating their cellar; we need to hurry and try to complete the purchase within half a month."
The next morning, Lin Chen and Su Qing set off in an old-fashioned Jiefang brand truck from the factory. The truck bed was piled high with newly manufactured threshing machine parts, covered with tarpaulins, supposedly "delivering trial parts to farmers." In reality, two empty sacks and a metal box containing money were hidden in a corner of the bed. When the truck arrived at the entrance of Lijiazhuang Village, the villagers were drying rice. The golden grains spread out on the drying ground like a golden sea, and several elderly people were turning them with wooden shovels. The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of rice.
"Technician Lin, Accountant Su!" Old Li recognized them from afar. He had specifically gone to see the threshing machine at the last trade fair and even ordered one on the spot. Seeing the two arrive, he quickly put down his work and came to greet them. His dark face was full of smiles, and he wiped his rough hands on his clothes again and again. "You've finally come! I told the villagers you were going to harvest rice, and everyone saved the best grains!"
Lin Chen followed Li Laoshuan into the threshing ground, bent down and grabbed a handful of rice. The plump grains felt heavy in his palm. He bit into one, and the inner kernel was white and full. "Uncle Li, your rice is of really good quality," Lin Chen praised sincerely. "Let's go with the price we agreed on, eight cents a pound. We'll buy five thousand pounds first. If the quality continues to be this good, we can cooperate long-term."
Li Laoshuan's eyes lit up, and he quickly called on the villagers to pack the bags. Su Qing, holding the ledger, supervised the weighing while recording the entries, her pen moving swiftly across the paper, each stroke clear and precise. Lin Chen chatted with the village elders, asking about next year's spring planting plans. He casually mentioned, "I heard the reservoir isn't full, and we might have to fight drought in the spring." The elders nodded and sighed, saying the village chief had already organized everyone to dig wells, but they were worried about the water supply.
"Technician Lin, do you think the price of grain will go up?" an old man couldn't help but ask. "A few days ago, someone from the neighboring village came to buy it and offered nine cents a pound. We didn't sell it; we were just waiting for you to come—we trust Zhangcheng Agricultural Tool Factory, and we trust you."
Lin Chen felt a warmth in his heart and held the old man's hand, saying, "Grandpa, thank you for your trust. Grain prices are hard to predict, but our factory will definitely not shortchange you when it comes to purchasing grain. Here's the deal: if grain prices really do rise next year, we'll make up the difference based on the increased price; if they don't rise, we'll calculate it based on the current price." He knew that in this era of scarcity, trust was more precious than anything else. The support of these farmers was not only a guarantee of food security but also the foundation of connections for future entrepreneurial endeavors.
After loading the rice, the truck bed was crammed full. Lin Chen had the driver take a longer route, avoiding the commune's checkpoint, and drive directly back to the shop's backyard. By this time, the cellar renovation was complete. Old Chen and his apprentice had installed an iron gate at the entrance and hung a conspicuous wooden sign. The walls, coated with tung oil, gleamed with a dark brown sheen. The floor was covered with three layers of tarpaulin, and dozens of bags of lime were stacked in the corner. The air was dry and fresh.
"Technician Lin, take a look and see if it suits your needs!" Old Chen opened the iron gate, and the light from the kerosene lamp illuminated the cellar. Inside, three layers of wooden shelves had been built, just right for storing grain in different layers. Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction and directed the workers to move the rice stalks inside. Following Su Qing's "ventilated storage method," ventilation gaps were left between each layer of rice stalks, and bamboo strips were placed between the bags to prevent them from overheating and becoming moldy.
For the next two weeks, Lin Chen and Su Qing traveled between villages almost every day. They visited six villages, including Wangjia'ao and Shijia Village, purchasing three to five thousand catties each time, with a maximum purchase of eight thousand catties on one occasion. They secretly transported the rice into the cellar under the cover of night. Su Qing kept meticulous records, with every expenditure and the supply quantity for each household clearly traceable. Lin Chen, on the other hand, checked the humidity and temperature of the cellar daily, using the integrated "simple hygrometer" to monitor the data and ensure a stable storage environment for the rice.
Just as the procurement was nearing its end, an unexpected incident occurred. That day, they had just hauled back 6,000 jin of rice from Nanhe Village, and the truck had barely pulled up to the back door of the shop when it was stopped by two commune officials. "What are you doing here? What's on the truck?" The leading official, dressed in a blue cadre uniform and holding a notebook, warily scanned the truck. "Recently, some people have reported that someone is hoarding grain for speculation. We need to investigate."
Su Qing's heart tightened, and she subconsciously looked at Lin Chen. Lin Chen, however, calmly got out of the car, took out his work ID and handed it over: "Comrade, we are from Zhangcheng Agricultural Tool Factory. I am Lin Chen from the technical department, and this is our accountant, Su Qing. The truck is loaded with rice for the workers' welfare. Recently, the factory has been rushing to produce threshing machines, and the workers are working overtime. The factory director specially approved the funds for the purchase. This is the purchase list and the factory director's signed approval slip." He handed over the documents he had prepared beforehand, which had the factory director Zhou Ming's handwritten signature and supply certificates from various villages.
The officer took the documents and examined them carefully, but his brow remained furrowed. Pointing to the carriage, he said, "So much rice! Enough to feed your fifty workers for a year, right? This isn't welfare; it's hoarding!" Another officer had already climbed onto the carriage and was about to inspect it when Su Qing quickly stepped forward, smiling as she handed him two bottles of fruit candy she had just bought. "Comrade, you've misunderstood. Our factory not only provides welfare to the workers but also to the farmers we partner with! You see, our threshing machines are selling well, and many farmers are helping us promote them. The factory manager said he'd send them some rice as a token of our gratitude; there's a list of names."
Lin Chen seized the opportunity to add, "Moreover, we are responding to the call from higher authorities to prepare for grain reserves. Yesterday, Director Zhou went to a meeting in the county, and the county head even said that enterprises should be encouraged to reserve grain to cope with a possible spring famine! If you don't believe me, you can call the county agricultural bureau to verify. Our threshing machine is a key product being promoted, and Director Zhang in the bureau knows about our reserve plan." He deliberately mentioned Director Zhang, who personally promoted their threshing machine at the last trade fair, so the commune cadre certainly wouldn't dare to offend him easily.
Sure enough, upon hearing the name "Director Zhang," the two clerks' attitudes softened considerably. The lead clerk flipped through the documents again, and seeing a copy of the "Advanced Production Unit" certificate issued by the Agricultural Bureau, finally nodded: "Since it's a benefit from the factory and there's an approval slip, then we won't inspect it. However, please note that grain is an important national resource and cannot be bought or sold privately. If we discover any speculation or profiteering, we will definitely deal with it seriously."
"Don't worry, comrade, we operate legally!" Lin Chen nodded with a smile, only letting out a sigh of relief after watching the two officers walk away. A layer of cold sweat had broken out on his back. Su Qing patted her chest, her voice still trembling slightly: "I was so scared just now. If they had insisted on inspecting the cellar, we would have been exposed."
"It's alright, it's just a routine inspection. They won't investigate further unless they have evidence," Lin Chen reassured her, patting her shoulder and directing the workers to quickly move the rice into the cellar. As the last bag of rice was moved in and the iron gate closed, Lin Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the system panel display "Grain reserves complete, enough to supply 50 people for a year." The cellar was piled high with rice, emitting a faint aroma under the kerosene lamplight—the most solid foundation against the impending food shortage.
That evening, Lin Chen and Su Qing sat in the small shop, brewing two cups of hot tea. Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on the account books and purchasing lists on the table. Su Qing flipped through the account books, then suddenly looked up and said, "Lin Chen, besides the workers and farmers, could we reserve some of our grain reserves for those in need? Today, when I went to the grain station, I saw an old woman crying at the door because she couldn't buy any grain."
Seeing the reluctance in her eyes, Lin Chen recalled the hunger he had experienced in his past life and nodded. "It's only right. We'll take out a thousand catties of rice, divide it into small portions, and have Old Chen and the others secretly deliver it to families in need, saying it's the factory's 'winter and spring relief grain.' Remember not to leave your name, to avoid causing trouble." He picked up his teacup, watching the rising steam. "Su Qing, do you know? Since my rebirth, all I've wanted is to no longer be at the mercy of others like in my past life, to be able to live a good life. But now I realize that being able to rely on my own abilities to protect those around me and live together is far more meaningful."
A faint blush rose on Su Qing's cheeks. She lowered her head and softly hummed in agreement. The teacup in her hand gleamed warmly in the moonlight.