CH 283

Lin Lan quite liked Han Qingsong going to the County for meetings. The food in the canteen of the County was much better than that in the Commune and there was meat in the dishes. Every time Han Qingsong bought an extra lunch box to bring some food home, he would also use the allowance for the meeting to buy some toothbrush, toothpaste, small soap bars and cream.

Lin Lan also participated in the autumn harvest, but instead of having to suffer in the corn field nor being pricked with thorns in the cotton field, her job was to harvest peanuts.

She felt that the days were getting more and more interesting.

When the peanuts were harvested, some people drove cattle and mules with iron ploughs to plough the land in order to make things easier. The people behind them picked up the peanuts into piles and then plucked the peanuts before placing them in baskets.

Lin Lan was not fast in collecting corn and cotton, but she was very quick in harvesting peanuts. She comforted herself that she was not escaping work or being lazy, but that she was being good at something.

Some advanced members cooperated with the Leader and the militiamen, emphasising over and over again, “No stealing and no eating them sneakily; this is collective property, which means that it must be maintained and distributed uniformly when it is transported to the venue! If you eat an extra peanut today, you will have an extra portion of shame!”

Even so, it did not delay the members and children from stealing food.

One would feel hungry upon working. Without food fueling them, there wasn’t enough to make them full.

One was greedy. With such fresh peanuts that were fragrant and sweet to chew on, how could they refuse such a temptation?

So, almost everyone’s mouth was moving and some women even hid their stash in their pockets.

Lin Lan didn’t. After all, the education she received from childhood was not to take advantage of small things. Besides, it was not the three years of the difficult period where she was so hungry all day long. Her family was living a good life, at least to the point where they didn’t have to go hungry, so she naturally didn’t do such a thing. 

She told her children to try not eating them in the field unless they really wanted to. Everyone was eating anyway, but also advised them to not take them home.

Maisui was brainwashed by Lin Lan every day. Girls should be self-respecting and love themselves; girls should know how to be humble and not be greedy for petty gains. Now that the family could eat their fills, Lin Lan also added some oil while cooking to make sure they ate good food. Hence, even though she was hungry, she only ate a few, unlike the other children who stuffed their stomachs to the point of bursting. Some of them even hid a stash of the nuts in their pockets as well.

Erwang however, would eat a few and take some home.

Lin Lan told Erwang that public property could not be taken.

However, Erwang justified his actions. Since everyone was taking it, he would be the one who was at a loss because he didn’t.

“And if I don’t take it, people will think of me as nothing but a fool.”

The members of the Commune believed that when harvesting food, everyone would be stealing. In retrospect, not stealing it wouldn’t let you feel a sense of maturity as it would only make you feel like you’re an idiot.

Lin Lan persuaded Erwang several times, but his stubborn insistence couldn’t be changed for a while.

Later, when Lin Lan thought about it, there was no need to force Erwang. He was a sensible child and it would not be good if this caused him to be rebellious.