He seized the opportunity early on, when the standard grain rations were first lowered, and took his coarse grains to the countryside to trade for sweet potatoes. Although coarse grains were less palatable, they were far more valuable; a single catty of coarse grain could fetch three or four catties of sweet potatoes. Yan Bugui gritted his teeth and traded every bit of food in his house for sweet potatoes, just enough to keep his whole family from starving. However, eating too many sweet potatoes caused frequent flatulence, and now almost no one wanted to visit his home. Once near his house, one could faintly smell that peculiar odor, making people want to avoid it at all costs.
As for the other residents, they naturally pulled out all the stops to secure food through various channels. After all, everyone has their own way of getting by; in this courtyard, no one was a simple character. Everyone's energy was consumed by the matter of food; who had the leisure to stir up trouble? The usual petty squabbles and backstabbing were cast to the winds. Even Yi Zhonghai, the highest earner in the courtyard, was under immense pressure. Currently, his single salary had to support six people.
The Deaf Old Lady, as a recipient of the Five Guarantees, had her living and medical expenses covered by the state. But being elderly, she was prone to cravings and always wanted something tasty. In this era, that naturally meant meat. These extra expenses fell squarely on Yi Zhonghai’s shoulders.…
Chapter 116