Siheyuan: I am different He Yuzhu

"Hello, is this Xiao He? I'm Li Ze."

Hearing the familiar voice of Li Ze coming from the phone, He Yuzhu hurriedly said: "Hello, Vice Minister Li, I am He Yuzhu."

"Xiao He, why did you suddenly think of calling me today? Is there something good you want to tell me?"

"Deputy Minister Li is really very foresighted. Our factory's technical department has just produced a small diesel engine. It only needs to be combined with a centrifugal pump to be used for pumping water for irrigation in agricultural production."

"Can it be used in all areas?" Li Ze asked hurriedly.

"No, due to the working principle of centrifugal pumps, they can only be used in areas where drought is not serious. In areas where drought is serious, the groundwater level is too low, and centrifugal pumps cannot pump water up from underground. Deputy Minister Li, in fact, in areas where drought is serious, it is not worth rescuing them. If it does not rain, it is useless to rely solely on water pumps to irrigate farmland. In addition, in areas where drought is serious, the groundwater level is also relatively low, so water pumps cannot last long."

"Okay, I understand. How many units can your factory produce per day now?"

"If it does not affect the production of other products, we can produce 20 units a day." He Yuzhu thought for a while and replied.

"I'll have Secretary Lei give you a document later. You can start production at 20 units a day. Submit a copy of your factory's diesel engine data to the department. There are many areas that need diesel engines and water pumps to fight drought. You can't produce them all by yourself. We need to arrange for more factories to produce them."

"Okay, Deputy Minister Li, I'll arrange for someone to sort it out right away."

After He Yuzhu finished talking to Li Ze, he said to Section Chief Zhang of the Technical Department who had not yet left: "Section Chief Zhang, go back and immediately compile a copy of the information on diesel engines and centrifugal pumps and wait to hand it over to the superiors. By the way, before you leave, please call Deputy Director Fan and ask him to come to my office."

"I'll go back and sort it out." After saying that, Section Chief Zhang turned and left He Yuzhu's office.

......

"Director He, are you looking for me?" Fan Youxiang walked into He Yuzhu's office and said respectfully.

"Yes." He Yuzhu nodded. "Just now, Chief Zhang from the Technical Department came over and said that our factory has successfully developed a small diesel engine. I reported it to the First Industrial Machinery Department as soon as possible. Deputy Minister Li of the First Industrial Machinery Department instructed our factory to immediately start the production of diesel engines and centrifugal pumps. You will send this document to the engine workshop and ask them to start the production of diesel engines and centrifugal pumps immediately without affecting the original production plan." After that, He Yuzhu handed the written production task book to Fan Youxiang.

Fan Youxiang took the production order, glanced at it, and then asked, "Director He, do you have any other instructions?"

"No more, go and deliver the documents!"

In 1960, the drought that affected many provinces of Rabbit Country did not ease, but expanded. The top leaders of Rabbit Country expected that the summer grain output in 1960 would be lower than that in 1959. In order to prevent a worse situation, the top leaders held a meeting and decided to reduce the food rations of urban residents by two kilograms per month and completely stop the supply of meat and eggs.

When the staff of the Sub-district Office showed up at the gate of No. 95 Siheyuan, Yan Bugui's heart skipped a beat. The last time the staff of the Sub-district Office came to inform him about the reduction of food rations, he thought they would not reduce food rations again. Thinking of this, Yan Bugui felt depressed instantly. However, even though he felt bad, Yan Bugui smiled and greeted the staff of the Sub-district Office: "Comrade Xiao Liu, you are here."

"Teacher Yan, please quickly gather all the residents in the yard. I have something very important to announce." Xiao Liu said directly after greeting Yan Bugui.

"Okay, I'll go and notify everyone door to door. Please wait a moment." After saying that, Yan Bugui hurriedly began to notify the residents of the courtyard.

When the residents of Courtyard No. 95 gathered in the middle courtyard one after another, Yi Zhonghai confirmed that all the residents were present, and then said to Xiao Liu: "Comrade Liu, all the residents of our courtyard are here, you can speak." After that, Yi Zhonghai turned around and said loudly to the residents in the courtyard: "Everyone, be quiet. Now, we welcome Comrade Liu from the Street Office to speak to everyone." Immediately, there was a sparse applause at the scene.

Xiao Liu cleared his throat and said, "Hello, neighbors! As time is running out, I will make it short. I am here today to convey an important message to everyone. After research and decision by the high-level meeting, considering that the impact of this year's drought may further expand, in order to ensure the food supply of residents in rural areas, starting next month, the food rations of urban residents will be reduced by two kilograms per person on the original basis. At the same time, we will suspend the supply of meat and eggs, and the specific resumption time will be notified separately. Well, my task is accomplished, and I hope that everyone can unite and overcome this difficult period together. Uncle Yi, I still have to go to other courtyards to notify, so I won't bother you anymore." After speaking, Xiao Liu hurried away.

Yi Zhonghai looked at Xiao Liu's receding back and shouted loudly, "Comrade Liu, take care." After Xiao Liu's figure completely disappeared from Courtyard No. 95, the residents in the courtyard immediately let out a howl of grief.

Yi Zhonghai cleared his throat and said loudly: "Everyone stop complaining and go back to think about what to do. This kind of thing is not just happening in our yard, the whole country is like this." After that, Yi Zhonghai turned around and walked home.

Jia Xudong sighed, shook his head helplessly and walked towards home. Seeing this, Jia Zhang hurriedly followed Jia Xudong towards home. As soon as she entered the house, Jia Zhang couldn't wait to say: "Xudong, what should we do next? After the reduction of food rations this time, the price of grain in the pigeon market will soar. Before, our family could only barely survive by eating coarse grains. If the price goes up again, we won't be able to afford coarse grains." After saying that, Jia Zhang looked at Jia Xudong with a worried look on her face.

"Mom, I don't know what to do either. Let's just take it one step at a time." Jia Xudong responded helplessly, "Mom, how much money do we have now?"

"There are only a little over 180 left. The people in the street office said that there is no hope for this year's summer grain. We have to hold on until the autumn grain comes in. But the Spring Festival has just passed, the first month of the year is not over yet, and there are still six or seven months before the autumn harvest. This little money will not last until that time even if the price of coarse grains in the pigeon market does not increase. What if the price of grain in the pigeon market rises too much, this little money will probably last even shorter." Jia Zhang said worriedly.

Jia Xudong frowned and thought about it. After a moment, he said, "If it doesn't work, just sell the sewing machine at home. It can at least make some money and help us hold on for a while longer."

"Xudong, that was bought when you got married!" Jia Zhang said unwillingly.

"But you can't just starve while holding your sewing machine. The most important thing is to stay alive. If you can't survive, what's the point of keeping these things? As long as you can get through this period, you can save some money in a few years and buy a new one."

After listening to this, Jia Zhang could only nod helplessly and agreed to Jia Xudong's proposal.

"Mom, don't worry too much. As the saying goes, there is always a way out. Maybe the government will restore normal food supply in the near future. Some time ago, I heard in the newspaper that they are going to sign an agreement with a country south of our country. They are going to give our country 40 tons of rice in exchange for the urea produced in our country!" Jia Xudong said to comfort his mother.

"Really? That's great!" Jia Zhang's eyes lit up, as if she saw hope.

"It must be true. It's been reported in the newspaper. How could it be false?" Jia Xudong answered affirmatively.

"May God bless us to transport the rice to the city as soon as possible, so that the government can let the people have enough food." Jia Zhang clasped her hands together and prayed devoutly. Her face was filled with anticipation, as if she had seen a better life in the future.

"Okay, Mom, I won't eat tonight. I'm going to sleep. I went to the pigeon market today to inquire about the price of food. It's better to know it earlier so that I can prepare earlier." After saying that, Jia Xudong turned and walked inside. His back looked a little tired, but his steps were firm and powerful.

Jia Zhang looked at her son's back as he left, feeling relieved. Although life was full of difficulties, as long as the family was united, they could always get through the difficulties. She prayed silently, hoping that life would get better and better, and that the government would solve the food problem as soon as possible so that everyone would no longer go hungry.

Unfortunately, Jia Zhang's prayers were destined to be wishful thinking. In the original world, not only did the personal rations decrease, but the food they ate was mainly corn flour. The so-called corn flour was the real corn cobs that were directly ground into flour without being threshed. Eating too much of it would easily cause constipation. Because of He Yuzhu's influence, the impact of drought on Rabbit Country has been reduced a lot.