My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 171: Proposing to exchange old items for grain

Zhang Lei thought for a moment, then communicated directly with the system in his mind: "System, do I still have one sign-in opportunity left this month?"

System: "Ding! Host has one more sign-in opportunity this month. Would you like to use it?"

Zhang Lei: "Use it directly!"

System: "Ding! Congratulations, host, for signing in and receiving: 3 tons each of beef, mutton, chicken, fish, and pork; 30 tons each of wheat flour and mixed noodles; and 30 tons of various vegetables."

Zhang Lei also discovered that his life system was purely for providing supplies. The first month it was one ton of each type of meat, and twenty tons each of wheat flour and mixed noodles; the second month it became two tons of each type of meat; the third month it became three tons, and so on, with the quantity increasing each month based on the number of times he checked in.

After signing in, Zhang Lei quickly went to Ye Shouhe's house. Upon seeing Zhang Lei, Ye Shouhe asked with concern, "What's wrong? Zhang Lei, is something the matter?"

Zhang Lei looked at Ye Shouhe and shouted, "Dad, can you tell me the specific living conditions of the people in Ye Family Village now?"

Hearing Zhang Lei's question, Ye Shouhe asked suspiciously, "Zhang Lei, did you see something?"

Zhang Lei looked at Ye Shouhe and said, "Dad, I saw my older brother and the others taking the villagers hunting in the mountains. They said hunting is getting harder and harder these days. Is everyone short of food?"

Hearing Zhang Lei's words, Ye Shouhe lowered his head and sighed, saying, "Alas, there's nothing we can do about it. It's not just our Ye Family Village now; other villages are in the same situation. Moreover, our village is a little better off because it's nestled against the mountains and by the water, but other villages have been without food for a long time."

Hearing this, Zhang Lei's heart sank. It seemed the situation outside was worse than he had imagined. He thought for a moment and said, "Dad, I have a way to send some grain to the village."

Upon hearing that there was food, Ye Shouhe excitedly asked, "Zhang Lei, are you serious?"

Zhang Lei nodded and said, "Yes, Dad. But I have a condition."

Ye Shouhe quickly said, "What are your conditions? Tell me."

Zhang Lei looked at Ye Shouhe and said, "Dad, here are the conditions: First, the source of my supplies must be kept secret; no one else can know that the grain is coming from me. Second, the villagers must exchange old items for the grain."

Hearing Zhang Lei's conditions, Ye Shouhe nodded and said, "Zhang Lei, don't worry. As long as you can get the grain, it will save everyone's lives. With me here, no one will dare to gossip or speak carelessly. As for your suggestion of exchanging old items for grain..."

Seeing this, Zhang Lei quickly added, "Dad, if you don't have any old items, other valuable things will do."

Ye Shouhe nodded: "Okay, I understand. I understand the saying 'a little kindness is appreciated, but too much kindness breeds resentment.' Could you tell me the specific amount first?"

Zhang Lei thought for a moment and said, "There are about 20 tons of wheat flour, 30 tons of mixed noodles, and 30 tons of various vegetables."

Hearing so much, Ye Shouhe's eyes widened: "This...how can there be so much?"

Zhang Lei explained, "Dad, I got this through some connections. It's not something I get often, but it just happened to be a coincidence this time. Ye Family Village is in trouble, and I thought I'd lend a hand."

Hearing Zhang Lei say this, Ye Shouhe felt relieved—if Zhang Lei could always produce so many supplies, he would really be worried.

Ye Shouhe looked at Zhang Lei: "Okay, I'll discuss it with the villagers later. You can decide the specific time and place for the transaction."

Zhang Lei thought for a moment and nodded.

Soon, Ye Shouhe told several elders in Ye Family Village about Zhang Lei's supplies. When they heard that Zhang Lei had so much food, they were first shocked, and then they were all overjoyed.

One of the elders patted Ye Shouhe on the shoulder and said, "Shouhe, you've really found a good son-in-law. He's been a huge help to our village!"

Ye Shouhe nodded quickly: "Third Uncle, it's all the proper thing to do."

Ye Zhenshan thought for a moment and said, "Shouhe, let's not keep those old things Zhang Lei mentioned hidden away. Let the villagers bring them out; after all, these things aren't edible or drinkable, nothing is more important than life."

Ye Shouhe nodded and said, "Dad, that's what I think too. We definitely can't let Zhang Lei take out so much stuff for nothing. This grain is life-saving right now, so we can't offer a low price."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Ye Shouhe looked at everyone again, his expression turning serious: "You all should understand the seriousness of this matter. If people from other villages find out, they will definitely have ill intentions. After all, every household is short of food right now, and people are capable of anything when they are starving. You must tell your family members, and this matter must be kept secret."

Everyone nodded in agreement, promising to keep it absolutely secret.

One of the elders stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Shouhe, you're the village chief. You and us old men will keep an eye on this matter, and we'll guarantee no one will dare to say anything! If anyone dares to gossip, we'll break their legs and expel them from Ye Family Village!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Soon, Ye Shouhe told Zhang Lei about the arrangements.

Zhang Lei thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Dad, how about the night after tomorrow? I'll send them a message that night and have them deliver it to the gate of Ye Family Village. Then, that night, you find some people from the village to come with me to haul the grain."

Ye Shouhe nodded: "Okay. As for what you mentioned, I've already had people prepare it. Every household in the village still has some of those old items, and I've also had them look for other valuables, but I don't know if they'll find what you're looking for."

Zhang Lei shook his head: "Dad, this is just a statement. As for whether the product is good or bad, I really don't care."

As Ye Shouhe listened to Zhang Lei's words, he grew increasingly satisfied. Zhang Lei had not only found good jobs for his three sons, but he was also so good to his three daughters; he was becoming more and more pleasing to the eye.

After Zhang Lei left, Ye Shouhe went directly to find his father, Ye Zhenshan.

Ye Zhenshan glanced at him and said, "Shouhe, I know what you want to say. Go to the cellar and take some of the things we have stored at home to Zhang Lei. These are probably what he wants."

Ye Shouhe nodded: "Dad, don't worry, I know what to do."

Soon, evening arrived, and the family gathered around the table in the living room, waiting for the hunters to return from the mountains. But they waited and waited, and still no one came down. A bad feeling settled over everyone.

At this moment, Zhang Lei couldn't hold back any longer. He stood up, looked at Ye Shouhe, and said, "Dad, my older brother and the others haven't returned yet. I'll go look for them."

Ye Shouhe thought for a moment and said, "Wait a minute, let me call some more people to go together. It's not safe to go into the mountains at night."

Zhang Lei thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay."

Ye Shuqin, Ye Shuqi, and Ye Shuhua, though somewhat worried, knew this was not the time to be impulsive. They could only watch Ye Shouhe and Zhang Lei anxiously, hoping to hear news of their elder brother as soon as possible.