Saving Grains in Famine Years

The scorching sun blazed unrelentingly over the vast land of the Tang Dynasty, as if every inch of soil had been thrown into a giant steamer. In this sweltering season, a terrifying locust plague struck without warning. The locusts, dense as a rolling dark cloud, devoured crops wherever they passed, leaving only bare stalks in their wake. 

The fields lay silence, broken only by the occasional feeble chirping of insects, as if even they wailed for the disaster. Peasants stared at their ruined farmland, their cries and curses mingling, while fear spread like a plague through the crowd. Many elderly people collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down their faces—they had lived off the land all their lives, and now, with their crops destroyed, it felt as though the sky had fallen. 

News of the devastating locust infestation in Tang's farmland spread swiftly to the capital. Upon learning of it, Li Yi and Lin Yue immediately rushed to the disaster-stricken village entrance, accompanied by relevant officials. Gazing at the miserable scene before them, their brows furrowed deeply. 

Li Yi clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, his voice urgent as he turned to Lin Yue: "This disaster came too suddenly and violently. We must organize the people to eliminate the locusts at once—any delay will be too late!" 

Lin Yue nodded firmly, her eyes resolute. "Yes, not a moment can be wasted. The sooner we act, the more crops we can save." 

Without pausing to wipe their sweat, the group huddled together to devise a plan, their faces lined with worry but their eyes gleaming with determination. Soon, they approached the large bell at the village entrance. Li Yi took a deep breath, grasped the bell hammer, and struck it with all his might. 

"Dong—dong—" The deep, prolonged toll echoed endlessly over the village. Townspeople sighing in their fields or homes dropped their work and rushed to the village entrance, panic etched on their faces. 

Before long, a large crowd had gathered, chattering anxiously. Li Yi stepped onto a tall stone, straightened his back, and shouted: "Fellow villagers, do not fear! We are all farmers; this land is our lifeblood. Though disaster has struck, if we unite, we will surely drive away the locusts and save the remaining crops!" 

Though still worried, the crowd nodded in agreement. Several strong young men cheered loudly, rallying the group. 

The locust elimination began swiftly and orderly. Lin Yue held a bamboo basket, demonstrating as she shouted: "Form a large circle! Move gently, drive the locusts toward the center, and trap them in the baskets!" 

The peasants followed her lead, wielding brooms and dustpans as they cautiously advanced on the locusts. At first, they fumbled—locusts escaped, or people tripped over each other. But as time passed, they found their rhythm and coordinated more smoothly. Lin Yue weaved through the crowd, encouraging them: "Keep going! We'll soon be rid of these pests!" Spurred on, they worked harder, sweat soaking their clothes, too focused to wipe it away. 

Yet the locusts seemed endless. Despite their efforts, progress was agonizingly slow. As the sun dipped westward, the swarm remained overwhelming. Some peasants, exhausted and panting, began to grumble: "How long will this take? The crops are nearly gone—what's the use of this?" 

Li Yi's heart ached to hear this, but he forced himself to remain cheerful. "Don't lose heart, folks! Every extra person adds strength. If we persist, we will succeed! Just hold on a little longer—victory is near!" 

Glancing at one another, the crowd gritted their teeth and returned to the fight. 

As days passed, the food shortage worsened. Village stores dwindled, and every household began to ration strictly. Fear spread, with people waking each day anxious about their next meal. Lin Yue, seeing their distress, approached Li Yi gravely: "This cannot continue. We must find food quickly, or no one will survive." 

Li Yi pondered briefly, then said firmly: "I'll take some men to borrow grain from neighboring counties. No matter the difficulty, we must try." 

At dawn the next day, Li Yi led several strong villagers toward a neighboring village, marching under the blazing sun without pause. Upon arrival, he found the village chief and pleaded earnestly: "Chief, our county has suffered a severe locust plague—all crops are destroyed, and the people are starving. Please, for the sake of all Tang citizens, lend us some grain to tide us over." 

The chief frowned, sighing: "Our village's grain is scarce too—no one escapes hardship in a famine. But we are all one family; we will help where we can." After discussion, the village agreed to lend them a portion of their grain. 

Li Yi and his men hurried back with the borrowed grain, but as they reached the village entrance, a mob surged forward, shouting: "Hand over the food! We're starving!" 

Chaos erupted—shoves, shouts, and cries filled the air. Some grabbed for the grain bags; others were knocked to the ground, wailing. Lin Yue rushed to the front, shouting: "Calm down, folks! The grain will be distributed fairly—please settle down!" But the hungry crowd ignored her, continuing to scramble wildly. Li Yi and the villagers shielded the grain, shouting to no avail as the scene spiraled out of control. 

Just then, the village elder arrived, leaning on his cane and gasping for breath. He climbed to a high spot and thundered: "Stop this at once! If you fight, no one will eat!" The crowd quieted at his voice, standing ashamed with heads bowed. 

"We are all from the same village and are one family," the elder chided gently. "In times of trouble, we must unite and follow the emperor's and officials' guidance. Only then can we survive this crisis!" 

With the elder's mediation, Li Yi and Lin Yue began counting heads to distribute the grain fairly. Villagers lined up to receive their portions—though meager, each accepted silently. Those who received food thanked them earnestly: "We'd be lost without you." 

To solve the food crisis long-term, Li Yi and Lin Yue organized searches for wild vegetables and fruits. Lin Yue led women into the mountains, teaching them to distinguish edible plants from poisonous ones. "See, these leaves with serrated edges are safe and tasty," she explained, demonstrating how to pick them. 

Li Yi led men in repairing farmland, clearing weeds and locust remains to replant short-season crops, hoping for an autumn harvest. 

During one foraging trip, villagers discovered a wild orchard heavy with fruit. But when word spread, some tried to hoard the harvest. Li Yi rushed to the scene, scolding: "No more quarreling! We'll pick together and share equally, so everyone can eat. If you all grab greedily, no one will benefit." Ashamed, the villagers set aside their selfishness and worked together to gather the fruit. 

At night, exhausted after a long day, Li Yi and Lin Yue sat in the courtyard. Lin Yue eyed him worriedly: "We've solved the food problem for now, but the famine may last. How will we survive the days ahead?" 

Li Yi looked up at the starry sky, his gaze steady. "As long as we stand united, no obstacle is insurmountable. We'll find a way—together." 

Days turned to weeks as the villagers, led by Li Yi and Lin Yue, fought locusts, foraged for food, and repaired fields. Though life remained harsh—every day a struggle to eat—hope gradually returned to their faces. Whenever trouble struck, Li Yi and Lin Yue were the first to calm fears and lead the way. 

Through collective effort, the locust plague was gradually brought under control. The replanted crops sprouted tender green shoots, swaying in the breeze like whispers of hope. Tears of joy streamed down villagers' faces as they gazed at the new growth, knowing the worst was over and brighter days lay ahead. 

Li Yi and Lin Yue became heroes in the people's hearts, their story passed down through generations—an inspiration to face hardships with courage and unyielding resolve.