The Blessed Beauty Returns with a Dimension

"Captain Zhang, what are you all doing?"

Guo Dongjun chuckled and stepped forward, offering a cigarette.

At this moment, they were clearly outnumbered. Although they had brought along some educated youth, they only had a dozen or so people in total, whereas the other side was aggressive, with over 50 people.

He understood in his heart that it seemed like the other side had premeditated this, or else why would there be that log blocking the road!

It was clear as day on their way here with no obstacles, obviously they were waiting to ambush them.

The other party slapped the offering away.

With a forced smile, he said, "Director Guo, I know you're a capable person. I heard long ago that your logging camp is quite resourceful and brought back a lot of grain a few days ago. Now that you're making another trip, isn't it time to help out our brother unit?

The leaders in the county said everyone should be self-reliant and find their own solutions, helping each other through tough times. We're not asking for much from our brothers, but could you at least unload a truck of grain for us from this truck?

We have over two hundred people in our team, and every household is out of food, depending on this grain to survive! Your help would be remembered by your brothers. If your logging camp ever needs assistance, just say the word.

If I hesitate for a second, I won't call myself Zhang, and I'll take your name instead."

This was truly a forceful seizure.

Guo Dongjun's face darkened.

"Old Zhang, we may not know each other well, but at least we recognize each other. Even though the leaders said for everyone to be self-reliant and help one another through difficult times, you can't just forcefully take the food from the mouths of our farm people.

Your farm people are starving and can't bear it, but does that mean our farm people's lives aren't lives too? They are also waiting for food relief.

Moreover, this food was exchanged with real gold and silver for wood, it didn't come for free. If you're really thinking of unloading the grain, fine! I can't say anything. Saving a life is saving a life, so just pay the amount on the market and offer some food stamps. Mr. Fan is right here now.

This grain was brought by them as a deposit to exchange for our wood. You can't let them leave empty-handed. Besides, is it reasonable for you to just eat their food for free?"

Guo Dongjun had already realized the crux of the matter—this farm was individually impoverished, and if the team had money or food stamps, they would have already figured out a way to buy grain.

Now the black market grain prices had soared like they had grown wings.

Who would still have the means to buy grain from the black market? What used to cost the price of ten pounds of grain now buys just one pound; who can afford to eat at that price?

Captain Zhang's face turned red. He couldn't deny it—those words left him no room to argue. They had no money, no food stamps, and frankly, they were indeed trying to forcibly take it.

"Old Guo, your place is a logging camp, and you can trade wood with them, but we are a farm. What we can produce is grain, but if we had grain, would we still need to trade it with others?

Even so, we are brother units. Could you help us out in this emergency by using your logging camp's wood to trade with them first? We can pay you back next year with money and grain. Or even if I write you an IOU, could that work?"

Despite being embarrassed, for the waiting mouths of his team members, he had to swallow his pride. They couldn't offer anything.

No money, no goods to exchange.

To put it frankly, it was like trying to catch a white wolf with bare hands—an IOU that's simply not reliable once it's written.

It's not uncommon to have debts delayed for ten or twenty years.

Even the county frequently issued them IOUs, let alone between production teams.

Guo Dongjun laughed, "Old Zhang, at this point, you're still telling me this? Who doesn't know that grain is as precious as gold right now? You know we have far more people than your farm does. We have over a thousand people at our farm, and this little grain isn't enough to even fill the gaps between our teeth. Now, you think you can just write a blank IOU and take the grain away?

Then in the future, will every farm come to stop us and just take away the grain with a written IOU? Do you think just talking the talk is reasonable?"

Everyone else was tense, knowing that if negotiations broke down, it would come down to a fight.

Captain Zhang's face turned black. He knew he wasn't on solid ground, but he had no choice. When you're out of food, that's a real desperation.

"Old Guo, you see, I'm a seven-foot man, and I am not pleading with you here. Look at the people I brought. They may look strong, yet at home, they have elders and children who are so hungry they can't move. If there was any recourse, I wouldn't be doing this.

The fact is, we have nothing of value in our hands to trade. If there's anything from our farm you find useful to exchange for grain, anything to help these old and young ones pull through this phase, even if it costs my life, I would hand it over without a second thought."

The people remained silent, looking at each other. Tensions were high, but it was evident.

The tears in the eyes of those fifty men on the other side showed their helplessness; no one would resort to seizing grain unless it was absolutely necessary, knowing full well it was costing others their lives.

Robbery had consequences; it wasn't like the public security bureau was turning a blind eye!

But wasn't it for the lives of their families that they would even risk their own? To make sure the elderly and children back home get a bite to eat.

Guo Dongjun's eyes reddened, indeed.

Everyone was fighting for their lives.

Who doesn't want to live on?

Jiang Xiaoxiao felt a pang in her heart.

Indeed.

It's this natural disaster causing all this chaos.

In many unseen corners, people were brawling for a bite to eat.

At this rate, the county really would fall into disorder.

Just then, someone appeared on a bicycle.

At first glance at the newcomer, with a military green uniform and the national emblem on his hat, it was clear that this was an honest-to-goodness public security officer.

Both groups instinctively hid the weapons in their hands behind their backs; the crime of fighting was no small matter.

"What are you doing? What are you doing? Why are so many people gathered here? Is there a fight going on? In broad daylight, are you trying to defy the heavens? Which village are you from? Which farm are you from?"

He Weiming got off the bicycle.

He propped up the bike's stand and pulled out his notebook as he approached, noticing that the atmosphere between the two groups was tense.

Earlier, he had heard reports of a group of people here, weapon-laden, potentially planning to fight.

Recently, because of the county disaster, the superiors held meetings instructing them to patrol frequently to prevent social unrest due to the disaster. To prevent lawbreakers from taking advantage, he, the police station chief, had to come personally by bike.

Once on site, he couldn't deny he saw the anomalies.

This resembled a road robbery more than a brawl.

The tree fallen in front of the truck clearly indicated a premeditated roadblock for robbery.