Natural Disaster: Back to the End of the World

Part 52

Opinions on the land reform policy are divided. Some people agree with it, believing that the reform will provide more security and prevent sudden confiscation of land in the future. They think that even if the government takes the land, they will receive compensation. Others are opposed, arguing that with already poor harvests, giving up a portion of their produce will make it even harder to survive.

Although the news about the reform has spread, the exact start date is still unknown. This uncertainty has fueled apocalyptic rumors in the village, with claims that the government is stockpiling food, suggesting a major disaster is imminent. As a result, everyone has started hoarding food and supplies.

Villagers are seen daily coming and going, carrying large and small bundles of goods home. If it weren't for Lei Xiao and the others needing the car every day, it would probably have been borrowed frequently.

The weather is getting hotter. Yesterday it was around thirty degrees Celsius, but today it's approaching forty. At noon, Yao Ziqing felt that the surface temperature must be over fifty. The scorching sun made him feel like he was being baked.

The situation is similar to the severe drought experienced before. Since people have been through it once, their reaction is less intense this time, though complaints are still common. Large black tarps are set up over fields, and many villagers have chosen to plant corn instead of rice, while others have opted for drought-resistant rice. Essentially, any crops that require a lot of water and can't handle heat are avoided.

Yao Ziqing was sitting at the door eating an ice pop. When the weather first started heating up, he realized he hadn't bought any ice pops for the space. The next day, he dragged his second brother to the town.

They rented a van with a modified back seat. Lei Xiao took Si'er and went to several places, loading entire boxes from wholesalers. After driving a short distance, Yao Ziqing would store the items in the space, not worrying about them melting.

A skinny black boy, dressed in a dark blue short-sleeve shirt and gray shorts, paused when he saw Yao Ziqing eating an ice pop in the backyard. He couldn't move his gaze.

Yao Ziqing bought the ice pops at a reasonable price, considering the heat. Prices had risen a bit earlier due to the weather, but they weren't as outrageous as now. Previously, the cheapest sugary ice pops were fifty cents each; now they cost seven to eight yuan. Flavored ones, like milk or mung bean ice pops, were ten yuan and up. More expensive types had nearly tenfold increases. For example, the ice pops Yao Ziqing was eating used to be three yuan each but had already risen to over twenty yuan in the town.

Yao Ziqing joked to his second brother that if they sold ice pops at home, they could become rich and powerful.

Seeing Yao Ziqing feeding an ice pop to the big black dog, the boy swallowed hard. Yao Ziqing's sharp eyes could clearly see the boy's reaction, so he turned and walked into the house, thinking it might be a bit inconsiderate to flaunt something others don't have by feeding it to the dog. It was better to feed the dog secretly.

The boy's mother, walking behind him, saw him standing still at the back door and lightly kicked him. "What are you doing standing there? Aren't you hot? Get home quickly! You're being stupid! Go home!"

"Mom, I want an ice pop."

Hearing this, the boy's mother gave him a harsh look. "All you ever think about is eating! Do you know how expensive they are now? One ice pop costs as much as two meals for your brother at school! Go home! Stop whining about ice pops!"

Thinking about the beautiful older brother eating an ice pop and feeding it to the dog, the boy started crying in frustration. The boy's mother slapped him on the back of the head. "Crying! Go home! Are you so stupid from standing in the sun? If you cry, you can cry at home!"