Deciding to head home for the day, the couple didn't dally. They opted for a spontaneous trip, started up the old truck, and left the collective farm in Pogranichny town. After driving a considerable distance from the town to a more secluded spot, Chen Lan mentally activated the system's search function. She scanned the surroundings, found no anomalies, and then, with a thought, stored the old truck and its contents into the system's warehouse.
Next, she retrieved the eye-catching "Ural" three-wheeled motorcycle from the warehouse. The couple remounted it and set off again.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Chen Lan stored the motorcycle in the system warehouse. The couple then ascended the mountain. Once inside the cave, they changed their attire, donning the clothes they had worn on their way in, and prepared to depart. Chen Lan glanced back at the cave entrance, concerned that other animals might take over the den after they left. She retrieved a machete from the system warehouse, chopped several dry branches, and used them to block the cave entrance from the outside.
Then, the couple walked back along the overgrown path they had taken earlier. This time, they didn't need to hack through thorns as they walked, making the journey on the thorn-free mountain path considerably faster. Just as Elder Chang had said, they reached the vicinity of Honghualing Village in about an hour. The couple then veered onto the mountain trail used for ox carts.
Chen Lan retrieved the "Ural" motorcycle from the system warehouse again and had Xu Mingxuan ride it, carrying a few bags of corn to the village to spread the word. She stayed behind to prepare supplies.
Watching Xu Mingxuan's figure disappear into the distance on the motorcycle, Chen Lan wasted no more time. Finding a relatively flat area, she mentally opened the system warehouse and sorted out fifty thousand jin of corn, four thousand jin of wheat, two hundred and fifty jin of wheat flour, five thousand jin of frozen fish, and one thousand large sausages. She also specifically purchased one thousand jin of salt and six hundred jin of brown sugar for the village from the system.
Looking at the pile of supplies, Chen Lan felt there were still too few fine grains. As Xu Mingxuan had mentioned, there were many elderly people and children in the village. Their stomachs were weak, and eating coarse grains long-term would surely damage their digestive systems and lead to malnutrition.
So, Chen Lan placed another order through the system for five thousand jin of rice, packed in fifty-jin bags, six thousand jin of flour, also in fifty-jin bags, one thousand jin of dried noodles in one-jin simple packaging, and thirty thousand jin of Chinese cabbage.
Following that, she took out eight thousand jin of potato seeds from the system warehouse. Chen Lan was hesitant to give too many potato seeds, fearing they wouldn't be able to plant so much and, being reluctant to discard them, would end up eating sprouted potatoes, which could be poisonous.
She also took out the two largest wolves from the system warehouse, intending them as gifts for the two Chang brothers.
Just as Chen Lan finished her preparations and was about to sit down for a rest, she saw a group of young men running out from the village entrance, pulling a cart. My goodness, the speed was incredible!
The old ox, since stretching its four legs during the last outing, seemed to have unlocked its full potential! Its thick, sturdy legs now moved with extraordinary speed, and in no time, it reached Chen Lan.
Chen Lan saw only Er Zhuang and Xu Mingxuan on the ox cart and no sign of the motorcycle. She asked, "Brother Mingxuan, did Little Watermelon hijack your motorcycle? Where is he? Why didn't he come with you?"
Xu Mingxuan chuckled and said, "Lan'er, you grew up together, you know him best. He's being stubborn and won't get off the cart. I didn't have time to waste with him, so Er Zhuang and I rushed over with the ox cart first."
As they were talking, they saw Xiang Xi riding the motorcycle and speeding towards them.
Before Xiang Xi could speak, Chen Lan stopped him. "Little Watermelon, don't talk yet. First, help transport the grain into the village. If you behave well today, I'll give you this motorcycle to ride, how about it?"
Xiang Xi grinned happily and shouted, "Deal!"
With that, he got to work, picking up a bag of corn and placing it into the cart. Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang also immediately started loading corn onto the ox cart.
It looked like the old ox would have to exert itself greatly today, another day of hard labor.
Chen Lan decided to replenish the old ox's energy during this time. She quickly retrieved a bag of alfalfa feed, two wooden basins, and a bucket of purified water from the system warehouse. She opened the feed bag and poured some into one of the wooden basins, using the other basin for water.
While the old ox was contentedly enjoying its nutritious meal, Chen Lan saw a group of young and strong villagers emerging from the village entrance. Some carried shoulder poles, others pushed wheelbarrows. Far behind them followed a group of young wives and maidens, and then youngsters of the age of half-grown boys. Bringing up the rear were the elder men and women, each carrying a woven basket.
Chen Lan exclaimed in surprise, "My word! Is the entire village's labor force out here?" Upon closer inspection, she was astonished. They were all dressed so thinly. In a Northeast winter, dressed so thinly, they could barely step outside.
So, while they were all focused on carrying things back, Chen Lan rummaged through the system warehouse again. There wasn't time for meticulous organization; looks didn't matter, as long as it was cotton and warm.
She took out sixty sets of padded cotton jackets and pants for adults, and sixty pairs of cotton shoes. The children's clothing was a bit more troublesome, with various sizes. It wasn't the time to be picky. Regardless, as long as they had something to wear, she grabbed thirty sets of various sizes, small, medium, and large. She then placed an order through the system for thirty thick cotton quilts.
One should not underestimate the power of the masses. They used carts, pushed wheelbarrows, carried shoulder poles, and wore baskets. Every single person, from adults to children of six or seven, put in their utmost effort to do what they could.
Truly, unity is strength! The ancients said, "Ants can move an elephant," and it's absolutely true. Almost everyone in the village made seven or eight trips back and forth, finally transporting all the goods back to the village.
The remaining two wolves were left untouched by anyone, who assumed Chen Lan and her husband intended to keep them for themselves.
Chen Lan then said to Xiang Xi, "Little Watermelon, you ride the motorcycle and go quickly. Please trouble yourself to deliver these two wolves to the two Chang uncles."
Xiang Xi looked up at the two wolves lying on the ground and shook his head like a rattle drum! Xu Mingxuan laughed and scolded, "Look at you, a coward. You're afraid of dead wolves. If you encountered a live one, wouldn't you be so scared you'd wet your pants!"
Xiang Xi didn't get angry at Xu Mingxuan's retort, simply replying, "Who can compare to you two? A pair of monsters!"
Xu Mingxuan was amused by his comment and retorted, "You kid, you probably haven't been put through your paces these past few days, still so cheeky!"