Jiang Si pondered for a moment. "I don’t think it’s very likely."
She then repeated what Huo Tingzhou had said.
"If the military really had the funds to distribute subsidies, the logistics department wouldn’t have delayed the repairs for so many days."
Hu Meili thought about it and agreed with the reasoning.
If it had been the first two days after the typhoon made landfall, with materials unavailable or manpower stretched thin, that would have been understandable.
But now, the floodwaters had receded days ago.
Moreover, the military’s supply trucks to the county had resumed operations yesterday.
Yet the logistics department still hadn’t taken any action.
That could only mean the military was truly strapped for cash.
But upon closer reflection, it wasn’t entirely surprising.
The Fourth Division was a major financial drain, with the Navy and Air Force alone consuming millions in annual military expenditures.
If not for the Fourth Division’s early efforts to reclaim land and establish state-run farms to fund itself,
they might not even have been able to afford basic necessities with the meager budget allocated from above.
At this thought, Hu Meili sighed.
"The damage from the disaster is so severe. Who knows when the farms will resume production?"
"It might not happen anytime soon."
Though Jiang Si hadn’t visited the farms, the situation in the residential compound spoke volumes.
She wasn’t optimistic.
Xu Mingjuan’s next words confirmed her suspicions—
the reality was even worse than Jiang Si had imagined.
Xu Mingjuan said, "The issue isn’t whether production can resume, but whether the farm can continue operating at all."
"What do you mean?" Hu Meili was puzzled.
Xu Mingjuan explained what she knew. "The provincial military leadership arrived early this morning. I heard there are plans to shut down the farm."
"Shut it down?" Hu Meili’s eyes widened.
"Yes."
"But a third of the military dependents in the compound work at the farm. If it closes, how will they be reassigned?"
Though Hu Meili didn’t work at the farm, many goods in the service center came from there,
and some products were obtained through resource exchanges with the farm.
If the farm closed, the impact on them would be significant.
"Don’t panic yet. Division Commander Yao and Political Commissar Li will surely argue the case."
After a pause, Xu Mingjuan added, "Actually, it’s understandable why higher-ups are considering this."
Jiang Si looked at her. "Sister-in-law, is it because the military can’t afford the reconstruction costs?"
Xu Mingjuan nodded. "The collapsed factory buildings and water-damaged production lines alone amount to a staggering sum."
"Add to that replanting fruit trees, purchasing breeding stock, and compensation for injured workers…"
"It’s like ten years of hard work wiped out overnight, with millions more now needing to be poured in."
The logistics and finance departments had jointly crunched the numbers, and when they saw the estimated cost, everyone gasped.
Right then, they had a sinking feeling—
the farm’s reconstruction was likely doomed.
Sure enough, the provincial military officials arrived first thing this morning.
Xu Mingjuan continued, "If it were just a matter of funding, that would be one thing."
"But typhoons hit every year. If the factory buildings collapse this year, we can rebuild. If the production lines are ruined, we can repair them. But what about next year?"
At this, Hu Meili fell silent.
Jiang Si, however, seemed lost in thought.
Yes, no matter how deep one’s pockets were,
no one could withstand the blow of "decades of hard work undone in a single night."
Especially when they had just begun to reap the rewards, only to be struck down again.
That kind of setback was the most demoralizing.
But what if…
the factory buildings could withstand a typhoon of this magnitude?
If they held firm, wouldn’t the production lines be preserved?
And wouldn’t the number of injuries also decrease?
In just two or three minutes, countless ideas flashed through Jiang Si’s mind.
With these thoughts, she looked up and asked, "Sister-in-law, what percentage of the total losses came from the factory buildings and production lines?"
Xu Mingjuan answered, "Ninety percent!"
Hearing this, Jiang Si fell into deep thought before finally saying, "Alright, I understand now."
Xu Mingjuan and Hu Meili exchanged glances.
What did she mean?
What did she understand?
Their confusion was obvious, but since Jiang Si didn’t yet know Division Commander Yao and Political Commissar Li’s decision, she didn’t elaborate.
After a brief exchange, seeing that it was almost time, the group headed toward the political department.
Hu Meili had planned to join them, but it was time to feed Little Qingqing.
So she assigned the task to Eldest Boy and Little Second Son instead.
The meeting was held in the political department’s large conference room.
Eldest Boy and Little Second Son ran ahead to secure seats for the two women.
By the time Jiang Si and Xu Mingjuan arrived, the room was already packed.
"Auntie, over here!" Little Second Son waved frantically.
Seeing the aisle blocked by the crowd, he nudged his brother.
"Brother, go help Auntie through!"
Then he stretched out his arms, fiercely guarding the two seats.
Nearby, Director Pan chuckled and teased, "Relax, Weimin. No one’s stealing your seats."
Little Second Son thought, That’s what you say!
Earlier, before he could even settle in,
Little Hong and Little Hua’s grandmother had approached.
Sweet-talking him with "good boy" this and "good boy" that,
he’d almost believed they’d had a change of heart.
But no!
They just wanted the seat he was sitting on.
Little Second Son wasn’t stupid—he refused.
Then Little Hong’s grandmother glared at him, accusing him of disrespecting elders and neglecting the young.
Luckily, his brother was quick-witted and shot back,
"Doesn’t ‘respecting elders and caring for the young’ mean protecting kids like us?"
Unlike him, who was slow to react
and often misused idioms!
He blurted out at Little Hong’s grandmother,
"You’re the one in the wrong for trying to take a kid’s seat! You’re ‘abusing your seniority’ and ‘shifting blame’!"
"And the way you were ‘baring your fangs’ just now—it was like a ‘hungry tiger pouncing on its prey’!"
"Hmph! Don’t think just because you’re old, you can ‘flaunt your seniority’ and ‘bully the weak’!"
After a pause, Little Second Son added, "Your behavior is downright ‘unbearable’!"
Little Hong’s grandmother’s face darkened. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Little Second Son blinked innocently, his expression utterly sincere.
"Grandma Hong, I’m just ‘telling it like it is.’ I’m not ‘twisting the truth’ or ‘arguing irrationally.’ Why are you ‘flying into a rage’?"
In the end, Little Hong’s grandmother stormed off in a huff.
She must have been furious, because even now, she was still glaring at him from across the room.
"Ah—"
Lost in these thoughts, Little Second Son sighed heavily.
It was then that Jiang Si arrived. Seeing him propping his chin and sighing,
she couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong?"
Little Second Son immediately shook his head upon hearing this.
Mom said that women who are expecting babies go through a lot.
He wouldn’t mention such unhappy things—no need to dampen the aunties’ moods.
Quickly scrambling up from the ground, he said, "Auntie, please sit down."
Meanwhile, Eldest Boy helped Xu Mingjuan over.
"Auntie, take it slow."
Once the two aunties were seated, the brothers plopped down cross-legged right in front of them.
Noticing this, Jiang Si secretly slipped a handful of White Rabbit candies into their palms.
"Good boys, go ahead and eat."
"Thank you, Auntie~~"
Their angelic behavior made Xu Mingjuan sigh in admiration.
"You know, ever since the typhoon passed, these two seem to have grown up overnight."
"True," Jiang Si agreed with a smile.
Not long ago, she’d been worried this pregnancy might bring two more sons.
But now, the idea didn’t seem so bad after all.
Nearby, Director Pan listened in silence.
A little farther away, Little Hong’s grandma was so shocked her eyes nearly popped out.
Those two little rascals sure knew how to put on an act!
Just as she was stewing in irritation, someone tapped her shoulder.
"Old sister, hurry—scoot over a bit!"
