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Seeing Tian Zao’s serious expression, Shen Mo quickly tried to lighten the mood, “Don’t be tense, Captain Tian. I just want to invite you to walk around the village with me to get acquainted with the environment.”

Tian Zao, having recently been transferred here, probably hadn’t had the time to familiarize herself with the village. Shen Mo guessed she wouldn’t refuse his suggestion.

Indeed, Tian Zao had been considering doing this. Having been in Pushan Village for just over two weeks and constantly busy with handing over her duties, she found this to be a good opportunity. She readily agreed.

However, she glanced outside and noted the sun was already at its zenith. She suggested, “It’s already noon. How about we have lunch at the commune first?”

Shen Mo happily agreed and followed her to the commune’s cafeteria.

Meanwhile, in the town, Jiang Xia accompanied Xiao Li to the co-op store, only to find that Liu Xing had gone out. The two were left with no choice but to wait outside the store, each sitting on a small stool.

They had arrived just past eleven and had to endure the cold until Liu Xing returned at one.

Upon seeing the two, who were walking back and forth to keep warm, Liu Xing quickly approached, apologizing, “I’m truly sorry to have kept you waiting. My wife is over seven months pregnant and went for a check-up at the county hospital. I accompanied her because I was worried. How long have you been here? Have you eaten? Come inside and warm up.”

Liu Xing opened the co-op’s door, revealing a room still warm from the morning’s lit coal. They must have lit the fire early that morning but had left in a rush for the hospital, forgetting to put out the brazier.

Liu Xing added some more coal, seemingly not bothered about the coal wasted in the morning. It was clear he was doing well.

Both Jiang Xia and Xiao Li thought about their homes, where coal was scarce. They could only heat their beds at night with coal, but would often still wake up freezing.

Their only solution was to make more quilts, as obtaining coal without tickets was nearly impossible. Especially this winter, which was particularly harsh. Jiang Chuan had even tried the black market, but there was a severe limitation.

Su Zhen had mentioned reforms restricting even those with coal tickets from obtaining too much coal, leading to scarcity.

Jiang Xia pondered that while 21st-century concerns were about reducing carbon emissions for environmental reasons, in the 1960s, these advanced ideas weren’t prevalent. So, why the coal restriction?

Su Zhen clarified, “Because the winter is so cold, people close their doors and windows. Burning coal in such conditions can suffocate individuals. I heard over a thousand people died this way in the neighboring province.”

Jiang Xia internally remarked that the cause wasn’t suffocation, but rather carbon monoxide poisoning due to incomplete coal combustion.

Nevertheless, the government’s move to reduce coal sales, aimed at decreasing the death rate, meant that people were running out of coal. Yet Liu Xing had an ample supply.

After adding coal to the brazier and serving them hot water, both Jiang Xia and Xiao Li lost themselves in thoughts.

Xiao Li envied Liu Xing’s comfortable life, hoping to someday run his co-op store and achieve coal independence.

Jiang Xia, on the other hand, was strategizing. Liu Xing’s situation seemed even better than she had initially thought. She needed to reconsider their previous price discussions to ensure maximum benefit for her family..