I became a poor little sophora japonica in the courtyard

Since the Spring Festival of 1959, there has been no rain in the city. There is also severe drought all over the country! Jingyi knows that the country's most difficult three-year period is coming.

The old man of the Xu family did not survive the Spring Festival. The old house over there was occupied by his parents and Xu Damao, and this side completely belonged to Jingyi.

As the drought became more severe, the food on the tables of every household changed from rice and steamed buns to two-grain noodles or various grains. The variety of goods sold in department stores also gradually decreased.

The bargain grains in the pigeon market outside also went up in price, and the Jia family was the first to be affected in the entire courtyard. Jia Dongxu's monthly salary could not buy much bargain grains. His family had already eaten the rough and hard-to-swallow corn flour.

This cornmeal was used to feed pigs in the countryside! After eating it, you can't poop for several days. How can a seven-year-old dog stand this? He rolled on the ground and refused to eat this stuff anymore.

Qin Huairu had no choice but to set her sights on Sha Zhu. Because of the deaf old lady's relationship and his excellent cooking skills, Sha Zhu was highly regarded by Director Yang of the steel mill.

He is now the squad leader of the small canteen, an eighth-level cook, responsible for the leaders' small kitchen, with a monthly salary of 37.5 yuan.

Sha Zhu became a favorite of Director Yang, and he would carry several lunch boxes around the city every day after get off work. He basically saved his own money on food, and he also ate better than others.

Of course, all of this was approved by Director Yang, so that Sha Zhu could take better care of the old lady. The guard at the factory gate watched him carry a few lunch boxes out every day, but he just pretended not to see it.

Qin Huairu took an empty bowl and went to the main room. Just as Sha Zhu put the hot food on the table, he looked up and saw his sister Qin coming in.

"Zhu Zi, I want to discuss something with you. Our family now eats cornmeal steamed bread every day. Adults like us can still tolerate it, but how can children with delicate stomachs bear it? Can you lend me a bowl of rice so I can take it back for the child?" Qin Huairu pleaded to Sha Zhu with tears in her eyes.

"Hey! Look at what Sister Qin said. It's just some food! Don't just think about the kids, sit down and eat here first, and then take it back when you're done. As the saying goes, a cook will never starve in a famine, you can come to my house anytime."

Sha Zhu pulled Qin Huairu over, put his hands on her shoulders and asked her to sit down, handed her chopsticks and asked her to eat first. He filled the empty bowl she brought with vegetables and put two steamed buns with 200g of flour on it.

For dinner, Yu Shui only ate half of a steamed bun made of 200 grams of flour. The rest of the food was taken away by Qin Huairu, along with the soup.

Now she was fourteen years old, it was the time for her to grow up. She also had a big appetite, so in order to avoid being hungry in the middle of the night, Yu Shui carried her schoolbag and went to the backyard to find Jing Yi.

"Xiaoling, is there any food? I'm almost starving to death." Yu Shui shouted as soon as he entered the door.

Now, her childhood friend actually lived alone in the west wing of the backyard. He Yushui was envious.

"Why haven't you had dinner yet? Yushui, sit down first, I'll get it for you."

Jingyi went to the kitchen, pretended to open the cupboard, and took out a plate of dumplings stuffed with pork and celery.

"Do you want vinegar or garlic?" Jingyi put the dumplings in front of He Yushui and asked.

"Wow! Pure white flour dumplings? I haven't eaten pure white flour for a long time. Ha! And dumplings with pork filling."

Seeing that Jingyi brought over dumplings made of pure white bread, Yu Shui didn't even bother asking for vinegar and garlic. He quickly went forward and ate them with relish.

"It's not a festival now, Xiaoling, why are you thinking about making dumplings?" Yu Shui asked vaguely while eating.

"When you cook dumplings, there won't be any smell that can get out. So as to avoid attracting other people's attention!" Jingyi said casually.

"Your idea is the best! My brother shows off with his lunch box all day long, and now he has attracted people to our house. I only ate half a steamed bun tonight, and the rest was taken back." Yu Shui explained angrily.

"Qin Huairu came to your house to beg for food? She is quite sad, living her whole life just for others. I guess she will come to your house often to beg for food in the future!" Jingyi sighed. Before Jia Dongxu died, Qin Huairu went to Shazhu to ask for help.

"Based on my brother's flattering attitude towards her, I also think that she will take advantage of the situation. Xiaoling, are you afraid of living alone at night now? Do you want me to come and stay with you?" Yu Shui looked around the clean and tidy house and asked Jingyi.

"No! I like quietness when I sleep. You are welcome to come anytime, but don't disturb me when I'm sleeping." Jingyi finally got a chance to be alone, so she quickly refused.

"It's not like we haven't slept together before!" Yu Shui murmured softly.

After a while, she finished a plate of dumplings. She burped loudly and cleared the table. She opened her schoolbag and spread out her homework book, then lay on the table and started doing her homework.

She is now in the first grade of junior high school, and will take the entrance exam for technical secondary school in a little over a year. This is the time to work harder!

Yu Shui also asked Jingyi, since you are so good at studying, why don’t you go to a technical secondary school but go to high school?

Jingyi told her clearly that she would go to college in the future. College students in this era were incredible, and Yushui couldn't even imagine it.

"I don't know what my brother is thinking! He is a single man, but he is associating with a woman who has given birth to two children. Isn't he afraid of people gossiping?" Yu Shui was absent-minded when doing his homework.

"You can't control your brother! Just be patient for another two years and wait until you are admitted to a technical secondary school. The school will give you a subsidy every month. By then, you will be completely financially independent." Jingyi comforted her.

These university and college students are exempt from tuition fees and receive monthly subsidies. After graduation, they are included in the government cadre system and are assigned to work by the government.

As expected, Qin Huairu started to come to Sha Zhu's house every other day and bring back delicious food. Sha Zhu was also happy to do this, after all, he got the money from the leaders of various factories, he didn't spend any money and could make Sister Qin grateful to him.

Qin Huairu also knew what Sha Zhu needed in return! Just touch his hand and act like a spoiled child, or give him some verbal advantage. As long as this fool was happy, those lunch boxes could be on the Jia family's table.

This is hard for the deaf old lady! Sha Zhu hasn't brought her food for several days. After asking around, she found out that her share was taken away by Qin Huairu from the Jia family.

This silly Zhuzi is full of blood and can't resist the temptation of young women. It's time to find him a wife! Without a wife to take care of the family, good things will be coveted by others.

She asked Yi Zhonghai and his wife to help Sha Zhu find a wife, but there was no response. It seemed that she had to find a suitable partner for her grandson herself.

Of course, the daughter-in-law kept going in and out of the homes of single men in the courtyard. Jia Zhang was very disgusted! She repeatedly made rude remarks and insulted Qin Huairu for not being a good wife. She instigated her son Jia Dongxu to discipline her daughter-in-law!

But Qin Huairu didn't go to Shazhu to get food for a few days, and this guy couldn't stand it! For a bite of food, he rolled on the ground and cried hard. After a few times, Jia Zhang also gave in for the sake of her precious grandson. She no longer opposed Qin Huairu to go to Shazhu to get the lunch box!

Yu Shui looked at her brother Sha Zhu coldly, who was trying hard to be attentive to Qin Huairu and had forgotten about her sister. Only then did she understand what Xiao Ling had repeatedly told her: it is better to rely on yourself than on others, and the importance of being independent.

She is now studying harder and relying on knowledge to change her destiny. She is glad that she has a good friend who is always there to help her.