Rebirth in Famine: She Thrives by Lucky Space

Chapter 1010

However, some couldn’t accept it. The new female knowledge youth in Jin Family Village started crying loudly, and the male knowledge youths were all quite agitated too.The atmosphere in the knowledge youth office started to feel tense, like swords were being drawn and bows bent.

Seeing the situation, Lantian knew things were going south and she needed to step up. This was a job all the knowledge youths envied, and she had to do well; she couldn’t lose it.

She stood up, coughed lightly, and said, "Everyone, quiet down, listen to me for a moment."

The crying subsided significantly, and everyone looked at Lantian.

"I can understand how everyone feels, but these are the state’s regulations, beyond our control. Moreover, we, this group of knowledge youths, are here to support the national construction. At least we still have subsidies in the form of coupons.

We should be content. We are here to contribute to the country’s construction, not to hold it back.

We need to demonstrate the dignity of our knowledge youth. We can do it. Maybe we can’t adapt initially, but think about it, the farmer brothers have lived like this for years.

We should use our knowledge to change this situation, to become those who change the fate of the farmer brothers.

I know you can do it. We are knowledgeable, educated knowledge youth. Everything is possible if we use our brains and exert our strengths to change this poor life."

The passionate knowledge youths, after hearing Lantian’s words, shed their previous despair. Indeed, they had sworn before coming here; how could they just give up like that?

However, some still weren’t satisfied with Lantian’s words.

The director of the knowledge youth office, hearing Lantian’s words from behind, was very pleased. This female knowledge youth indeed had great working capability.

Seeing the moment was right, he stepped out.

He also told everyone that this would be how it was going forward, and there might be times when there are no coupons at all. After all, they came to the countryside for sent-down youth programs, not to enjoy themselves and be parasites of society.

The director spoke very bluntly, almost as though he and Lantian were playing good cop, bad cop.

The director’s authority was absolute there, so even if he spoke like that, no one dared to refute.

"If I find out someone is making trouble, their record for returning will definitely have issues, and they won’t receive any coupons either."

This threat struck a nerve. The room became silent; no matter how dissatisfied, no one dared to speak out. Coupons could be negotiated, but having a blemished record, or not having the director’s signature on future returns, meant they wouldn’t be able to go back, which was what they feared most.

Chen Hui and Fu Xiaoping squeezed to the front, "Comrade Lantian, please help us get the coupons."

Lantian nodded with a smile, "Are all of you collecting them together?"

"Yes, indeed."

Then, with the first ones stepping forward, others started lining up behind them.

The matter was somewhat settled. When it was Xu Chunshan and the other five’s turn, they too collected their coupons, which was actually quite decent, as the amount given was equivalent to what a worker would get for a month, showing considerable favor towards them.

Hou Wenhui was the last one. Her family’s financial situation was rather good. Even without monetary subsidies, she could live comfortably.

From the moment they entered, the male knowledge youths noticed Hou Wenhui; she was a pretty girl and had not engaged in conversations much, so her character was unknown.

But still, some approached her. Before coming, her family had told her not to marry a local. Accepting a fellow knowledge youth was manageable, and if there was a chance to return, at least both knowledge youths could go back.

So, she didn’t reject the advances, but she also didn’t get too close.

The six people collected their coupons and told Lantian that in the future, maybe just one person would come to collect coupons for all of them?

Lantian nodded and made a note for them at the back. This way, next time, she’d know who they were.

After leaving the knowledge youth office, the six walked on the street. Xu Chunshan, seeing them downcast, said, "Come on, it’s the same for everyone; no one is being singled out. Life has to go on, let’s head to the supply and marketing cooperative, I’m just worried there might be too many people wanting to buy things, and we won’t get what we need."

No one objected, so they went to the cooperative and bought everything they had listed the day before. However, satisfying their cravings was unlikely since snacks were limited to a pound per person, regardless of whether they had the money or coupons.

As they paid, another group of knowledge youths came in. They felt fortunate to have arrived early; otherwise, they might not have gotten anything, let alone a pound of snacks.

They hurriedly squeezed out. Once on the street, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Shall we eat at a restaurant?"

No one responded. Back when they knew they were coming for sent-down youth work, they had money and coupons, but now with nothing, everyone was a bit reluctant. However, it was already past noon, and they were hungry.

Eventually, they decided to eat since the bus wouldn’t arrive for over an hour, and there’d still be more than an hour’s walk afterwards.

Today’s offering wasn’t great either. Each ordered two steamed multigrain buns and a bowl of hot water, which earned them several disdainful looks from the waitress.

After eating, the six strolled to the bus stop.

By the time they reached home, it was already dark. They were exhausted, yet still had to light a fire to make dinner. Otherwise, they couldn’t survive.

The dinner table was unusually quiet, each eating their portion.

No matter how unpalatable, it was better than starving. Today’s stewed sauerkraut even had oil added.

Without saying, everyone would definitely show up for work the next day; those work points were essential for future rations.

Today, at the knowledge youth office, they heard the new batch of knowledge youth complaining about their life, firewood, which cost money to buy, and grain too. They couldn’t request however much they wanted.

In comparison, the six were quite fortunate. They had grain, vegetables, firewood, and could even buy coal.

Now, they didn’t complain; this lifestyle was all relative.

Lying in bed, Yan Shuping thought, without a set return date, if she couldn’t return in three to five years, she’d be a spinster. That wouldn’t do. For a better future, she decided to marry a local, at least not to worry about food and drink.

With this idea, she thought of Wei Kaiyun again. She mistook his surname for Yang, as everyone called him Old Yang. If she could marry him, she wouldn’t need to worry about her livelihood.

He was so capable; seeing his wife and child’s complexion told her life was undoubtedly good.

No, she needed to find an opportunity. Marrying someone like that would be finding a pillar of support. But he had a family, which was difficult. She wasn’t vain enough to think she was better than that woman, so it would depend on the situation, and she’d have to find a way.