On the threshing ground, everyone chatted while they worked, beaming with joy at the sight of so much grain.
This year’s harvest was truly excellent. Each mu of land yielded over six hundred catties of grain, which was considered a very good year.
Next year, they would be able to eat a little more.
Everyone wore the smile of a bountiful harvest.
But when the sky suddenly grew overcast, the smiles vanished from their faces in an instant. They all began working frantically, terrified of a sudden downpour.
Some were so worried they broke down in tears.
"This cursed sky! Why did it have to turn overcast just like that? If it really rains, all this grain will be ruined."
Those words struck everyone’s heart like a heavy hammer.
They had toiled all year, weeding, fertilizing, and laboring under the scorching sun without ever taking a day off, all just to have enough to eat.
If this grain got soaked, not only would a year of hard work be wasted, but their food for the coming year would be gone too!
At this thought, many covered their faces and began to cry.
"Don’t cry! What’s the use of crying now? Let’s hurry up and get to work. We have to bring in all the grain before the rain starts."
Hearing this, the villagers immediately wiped their tears and threw themselves back into their work.
Even though they were working as fast as they could, it hardly made a difference when faced with hundreds of thousands of catties of grain.
The moment the sky turned dark, the Brigade Leader had gathered all the village cadres to discuss a solution.
"It’s about to rain any minute. The grain in the fields hasn’t been brought in, and more than half of it is still out on the threshing ground. What are we going to do?"
The village had a granary, but its capacity was limited.
"Let’s go! We need to hurry and help too."
The Village Party Secretary said this and turned to leave, but the Accountant suddenly spoke up.
"Brigade Leader, I heard someone in the village built a thresher that’s much faster than working by hand. Do you think we could make a few more?"
At these words, the others immediately fixed their hopeful gazes on the Brigade Leader, Chen Beiguo.
Chen Beiguo had only asked Leng Yuan to build a few extra just to save some labor. Now, he couldn’t help but feel relieved. ’Thank goodness I had him make more.’
"I’ll arrange for a few more people to go help them. Tell them to pick up the pace."
Beyond that, Chen Beiguo could make no guarantees.
The others had no objections. They didn’t know if it would be enough, but at least it offered a glimmer of hope.

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