Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space novel Chapter 586

Chapter 586: Chapter 465: A Turbulent Year’s End

Three days later, Aunt Chen returned from her holiday, bringing with her a string of bad news that quickly snapped Zhou Jiao back to reality from her good mood.

After the drought, frost, and floods in the north, some areas in the south were even more miserable. Besides these, there were continuous occurrences of windstorms, locusts, and armyworm infestations.

Zhou Jiao didn’t even need to ask to know that there would certainly be no harvests, another year of disasters. Even though she was mentally prepared, hearing the confirmation from someone else’s mouth made her feelings more complex.

Before she could express her lament, Aunt Chen was already whispering in her ear, advising her to cut back on spending. Currently, city officials get 28 pounds of grain per month, and citizens only get 26 pounds, with only 2 ounces of pork provided per person each month.

Listening to this, Zhou Jiao felt a blockage in her heart—it seemed like she would have to reduce her food intake when she returned to school. Was it easy for her? Suddenly, the two of them had their allowances reduced and would have to dip into their reserves again.

She hadn’t expected there to be another heartbreaking event...

"Before I came back, I specifically went to the supply office to ask. Apart from pregnant women and infants, every household in the courtyard also needs to cut back. From now on, meat will mainly rely on distribution from internal farms, and tobacco and alcohol will only be supplied during holidays and festivals."

Zhou Jiao weakly waved her hand, "Aunt Chen, just tell me everything at once, don’t hit me wave after wave."

Aunt Chen chuckled, "At the end of this year, give me a little more for the household expenses. I need to queue at the service club every day. After the New Year, it’ll be even harder to buy what you want once the holidays are over."

Zhou Jiao gave her a thumbs-up, amazing! Standing in line in such cold weather, it’s a wonder she didn’t freeze to death.

After saying this, Aunt Chen didn’t have time to say much more and hurriedly ran off to check the storeroom. She was worried; not being home for the past few days, who knows how much stuff this girl had wasted.

A moment later, Aunt Chen came out with a smile and praised, "Well done this time. Do you have any more connections? Let Xiao Wu prepare some stock."

Zhou Jiao looked at her speechlessly—there was no need to find an excuse; a reason had already been given. Did she have connections at the black market? She was the biggest connection there, wasn’t she?

"Forget it, better not take the risk. No matter how much they cut back, the supply office won’t let the chiefs go hungry."

What could Zhou Jiao say? The whole thing was just her talking to herself for amusement. And truly, without her secret stash, their family might actually go hungry.

How powerful was her father, how much status did he have, yet could he seize military rations?

"I heard there’s no market fair this year, and even more people going to temple fairs. How many people from all over Beijing would be squeezing in? Although life is hard nowadays, there are still a lot of wealthy people; you can bet people will be packed shoulder to shoulder."

Zhou Jiao was once again quite struck by Aunt Chen’s comments, she smiled wryly.

Applying this logic, every temple fair across the city this year would surely be crowded, with people not only looking to join in the fun, but also seeking opportunities to stockpile some supplies.

The nature of temple fairs has changed, so what would she go for? To see what on the streets? The main roads or the crowds? It seemed even her son’s long, candied haws weren’t happening; wouldn’t they just get crushed?

Zhou Jiao had originally planned to take her son to a temple fair in January to show him what a grand festival was. Compared to twist dancing or high-altitude fireworks, temple fairs were more down-to-earth.

Now, the plans needed to be reconsidered thoroughly.

That afternoon, Lin Lishan snuck back, pulling Zhou Jiao into the room with a secretive and gleeful expression.

Zhou Jiao was dying of curiosity—what was her mother up to? Was she smiling so wide because of a promotion or newfound wealth? No need to be so sneaky about it.

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