If Chen Lan were present now, she would certainly recognize these two men. They were the same two who had set up roadblocks to inspect them when they came out of seclusion. One was the older captain, and the other was the young comrade who had initially demanded proof of identity.
The older captain sat behind a worn-out square table and asked, "Xiao Li Zi, you went to the valley today. How are things there now? Are they starting to prepare for the autumn harvest?"
Xiao Li Zi saluted and replied, "Reporting, Battalion Commander, the autumn harvest is almost finished there. Only peanuts and soybeans are left in the fields. They should be able to complete this year's harvest in about ten more days."
The older battalion commander was surprised and then asked, "So fast? How is their yield this year?"
Xiao Li Zi answered, "Reporting, Battalion Commander, although we were busy with other tasks for over a month and didn't have time to check, just looking at the foot-and-a-half thick corn and mountains of potatoes they've dried on the large drying grounds, it's clear that their valley has had a bumper harvest this year."
The battalion commander visibly relaxed upon hearing this. "A bumper harvest is good! That puts my mind at ease! Thirty-odd people need to eat until this time next year, almost a full year. That requires a lot of grain. That way, I can also give an explanation to Wen Bo."
He then asked, "How are their houses in the valley coming along? Are they finished? As soon as the autumn harvest is over, the Changbai Mountains will enter winter."
Xiao Li replied, "Reporting, Battalion Commander, their grain isn't a problem of not having enough to eat. I think they can't even store it all. As I approached the valley, I could hear them discussing while picking potatoes. They said the yield of the twenty mu of potatoes planted this year was too high, something like five to six hundred thousand kilograms. The caves they dug can't store so many potatoes, and everyone is worried about how to store them. I don't think the corn yield will be any less, judging by the drying ground piled high with corn kernels, almost two feet thick. I estimate the corn yield is also not low, probably around eight to nine hundred thousand kilograms."
The battalion commander's eyes widened in disbelief.
Xiao Li continued, "The houses are also finished. There are five houses in total, built beautifully and exactly alike. I don't know what materials Teacher Zhou and the others used to build them, but those five houses were built so quickly and so beautifully."
Xiao Li hesitated for a moment before saying, "Battalion Commander, aren't you worried about grain? Don't we have enough grain in our battalion to get through the winter?"
The battalion commander looked at Xiao Li and asked, "Yes! We don't have enough. These are young men, they have big appetites. Moreover, the winters here are very cold, so they need to eat more to stay warm. Otherwise, how can they endure patrols in the freezing cold during winter? What? Do you have a solution?"
Xiao Li adopted a determined look and said, "Battalion Commander, let's go to the valley and borrow some grain!"
The battalion commander looked at Xiao Li's determined expression and couldn't help but burst into laughter. He chuckled and said, "Borrow? You say it so lightly. Have you thought about how we'll repay them next year if we borrow from them this year? I believe, given their usual character, they wouldn't hesitate to lend us grain. But, Xiao Li, have you considered what we'll use to repay them next year?"
Xiao Li was stumped by the battalion commander's question and didn't know how to answer. He stammered for a while but said nothing more. He indeed hadn't considered how to repay them in the following year.
The battalion commander looked at Xiao Li's dejected expression and said, "Xiao Li, don't worry. I can guarantee you now that you will all eat your fill every day this winter, and you'll all gain weight."
Xiao Li mumbled disbelievingly, "Battalion Commander, don't try to save face by putting on a show. Yesterday you were still saying we didn't have enough grain to get through the winter. You're just trying to fool me. With that little grain, eating seventy percent full each day would be good, how could we eat our fill every day?"
The battalion commander smiled and said, "You, my boy, you don't believe me when I'm telling the truth? To be honest, just before you returned with your report, I received a telegram from higher authorities. The telegram stated that Xu Wen Bo has returned from his mission and will be transferred to our battalion as the political commissar. He is currently recuperating in the hospital from his injuries. I estimate he will report to our battalion before winter. Given his personality, will he stand by and watch our soldiers go hungry?"
Xiao Li exclaimed happily, "Really! Battalion Commander, Deputy Battalion Commander Xu is being transferred to our battalion. We can train together again."
The Deputy Battalion Commander they were discussing was currently lying in a hospital bed in a military region, recovering from injuries sustained during a secret mission. He was ambushed by enemies on his way back after completing the mission. He had endured great hardship to complete the mission and return alive.
Lying in bed, Xu Wen Bo recalled what the commander had said earlier: "Your mother has donated all the family's land and shops to the government and has moved with the entire family, along with your mother-in-law and brother-in-law's families, to the Changbai Mountains to reclaim land." He then patted Xu Wen Bo's uninjured shoulder meaningfully and said, "I always said you were bold, boy. It seems it runs in the family. You've injured your shoulder blade, so you won't be able to do strenuous activities anymore. The organization has decided to transfer you to a civilian post. You have two options: one is a border defense battalion near where your mother is now, to serve as political commissar; the other is to stay in the capital..."
Before the commander could finish, Xu Wen Bo loudly replied, "Reporting, Commander, I choose the border defense battalion."
The commander patted his shoulder again and said meaningfully, "Are you sure about this, boy? That place has harsh conditions and a severe climate. Winter lasts for half the year, and sometimes the mountains are blocked by heavy snow. Logistics supplies might not arrive on time. You, as the political commissar, will have to figure things out then. You need to think carefully!"
Xu Wen Bo firmly replied, "Reporting, I've thought it through! I'll report to the border defense battalion as soon as I hand over my current duties."
The commander said nothing more, patted him again, and prepared to leave. As he reached the door, he said, "I'll have someone bring you the transfer orders later. Take care." With that, he walked out of the ward.
Xu Wen Bo was now contemplating the matter of "my mother taking the mother-in-law's family to the Changbai Mountains to reclaim land." He was still shocked and hadn't recovered. What was his mother up to now?
Without dwelling on Xu Wen Bo's confusion.
Meanwhile, in the valley, after dinner, the mother-in-law organized a meeting to discuss grain storage. Chen Lan shared her concerns with everyone. No one had any good ideas, and they fell silent.
Seeing that silence wouldn't solve the problem, Chen Lan proposed, "I have a suggestion. Let's discuss it. My suggestion is to give away the grain. But who we give it to requires careful consideration. After giving away the grain that everyone worked so hard for more than half a year, we shouldn't expect any repayment. However, it must not bring disaster to our valley."
Everyone nodded in unison and said, "Indeed, that's the principle. We can give away the grain, but it must not bring disaster to our valley."
This made everyone even more silent.
At this moment, Teacher Zhou cleared his throat and said, "I have a way to avoid bringing disaster to our valley."
He paused and looked at everyone. Seeing them all looking at him, he continued, "My suggestion is to give it to the border guards here. What do you think?"
The mother-in-law asked anxiously, "But Teacher Zhou, we don't know where the border guards are or how to deliver it. Besides, these are all mountains and forests."
Teacher Zhou quickly explained, "We don't need to deliver it. Let them come and move it themselves."
Chen Lan understood what Teacher Zhou meant and immediately signaled with her eyes to stop the mother-in-law from asking further questions. Then she said to Teacher Zhou, "Teacher Zhou, you know many people and have many connections. We'll leave the matter of sending grain to the border guards to you."
Teacher Zhou nodded in agreement.
Chen Lan then asked, "Teacher Zhou, should we send both corn and potatoes? We'll start harvesting peanuts tomorrow, so we'll send peanuts and soybeans then too. Should we send corn kernels or processed corn flour?"
Teacher Zhou thought for a moment and said, "Let's send half of each."
Chen Lan said, "Okay! Then we'll wait for another three to five days. After harvesting and drying the peanuts and soybeans, and processing half of the corn into corn flour, you can contact them to come and pick it up. Teacher Zhou, when they come to pick up the grain, please remind them specifically that potatoes are afraid of freezing. If they freeze, they will be poisonous and inedible!"
Chen Lan looked at her mother-in-law and asked, "Mother-in-law, you've been in charge of the kitchen. Please discuss with Uncle De, Uncle Fu, and Mai Zi how much grain and seeds we should keep, and send the rest away. Also, next year, we'll only plant two to three mu of potatoes as vegetables, and not so many mu of corn. We'll mainly plant rice next year."