After Christmas in 1929, the more turbulent year of 1930 began.
If there was anything different about this year, it was very simple: the winter snowfall was unusually light. This foreshadowed a terrifying drought for the whole of America, which was already reeling from the economic crisis, and this was definitely not a good sign.
West Virginia, a mountainous state, usually experiences heavy snow every winter. The winds from the Atlantic have always been unable to warm the mountainous regions of West Virginia. In previous years, the snow would sometimes pile up to a depth of two meters. This year, however, the snow was only about half a meter deep. It was still cold, but not as much as before.
With the oats and wheat on the farm, it was clear that there was no need to plant anymore this year. The water irrigation infrastructure would have to wait until Roosevelt took office and initiated large-scale investments in national infrastructure. For now, the water conditions in the county were quite poor.
Aunt Ginny, a skilled farm woman, could tell from the weather that the harvest would be bad, but she wasn't overly worried—in fact, she was quite pleased.
Because Nai'er's cousin, her son Patrick, who had gone out to make his fortune a few years ago, had returned!
Two days after Christmas, Patrick drove a Ford light truck through the snow and suddenly appeared at the front door. He hadn't sent a telegram or a letter in advance, but the family was overjoyed to reunite.
When asked about the reason, it was no surprise that he had been working for a car parts factory owner in Detroit. Now, with the economic crisis, the factory owner had naturally gone bankrupt.
According to Patrick, several months before, the boss had already struggled to pay wages. The economic crisis had already been brewing. But he didn't understand much about economics. When Nai'er was in high school, Patrick had already been working as an apprentice at the auto parts factory. He didn't finish the ninth grade; he wasn't really cut out for studying.
Later, when the bank collapsed and the hope of loans was shattered, the cash flow of the factory's suppliers also broke down. With no money, the factory's operation ground to a halt, and it was clear that everyone had to go their separate ways.
As for the auto industry union? Too bad. In Detroit, with giants like Ford, there was simply no chance to establish a union. Ford used every method to prevent the formation of unions, and it wasn't until after 1935 that the auto industry workers' union in Detroit would begin to form, after much difficulty.
So, Patrick had no one to help him demand his wages, but luckily, although he didn't understand the economic crisis, he did possess the shrewdness typical of Irish farmers. The boss had no money, but the factory had cars and parts. Just as the boss was about to run away, Patrick grabbed him and demanded money. With no choice, the boss gave him the Ford truck as payment.
"You can have it, as long as you can get something out of me!"
The boss was shameless, and Patrick ended up driving back home in the truck. The cargo bed was filled with tools and parts for repairing cars, along with a few barrels of oil.
The boss didn't even want the truck anymore. Why bother with the leftover bits and pieces? Patrick took them and left. The other workers were in a worse situation. The next day when they went to the factory, they probably found nothing but an empty shell.
"I've been working for years, and all I got is a truck…" Nai'er circled around the Ford light truck.
"As long as you're safe, that's what matters." Aunt Ginny was already satisfied just to see her son return in one piece.
The security situation had worsened considerably. Many large farms and ranches in the eastern region had gone bankrupt after the winter set in, and companies were shutting down one after another. Many people were going out to seek survival. Those with a bit of money or connections were trying to emigrate. It was said that the Soviet Union's embassy was receiving more than five hundred immigration applications every day.
Those without money had no choice but to look for work elsewhere, with many heading west to the booming areas, which seemed like a good option. Others were trying their luck in the Great Lakes region, an area full of factories and businesses, a symbol of wealth. If they were lucky, they could find a job; if not, they could flee to Canada.
Naturally, with the movement of people and the special circumstances of the era, Brook County had its first armed robbery case. A ranch owner was murdered, his wife assaulted, though the children were unharmed. The family's gold and silver, along with many other valuables, were stolen, even their salted meat and bread were taken.
It was said that it was a gang, and the criminals had already fled. With the local police's capabilities, it was impossible to capture the perpetrators, and they could only watch helplessly.
In addition to this major case, smaller crimes, even door-to-door begging that might actually be scouting for future crimes, were becoming more frequent. The county advised everyone not to engage with strangers, not to answer the door at night, and to take precautions for their safety.
Given such a dire social situation, it was only good news that everyone was safe.
"How's the family?" Patrick's voice was loud and full of energy.
He wasn't short—about 1.7 meters tall—but he was all muscle. From a young age, he helped with farm work, and later, he went to the auto parts factory as an apprentice. Give him a gun, and he'd be a typical soldier in the Irish Brigade of the U.S. Army. Even when carrying feed for cows, he could carry twice as much as Nai'er. He was as solid as a brick wall.
"Everything is fine at home." Nai'er continued the conversation, and the family gathered around.
"I hear the banks have all gone bankrupt. What about the money at home?" Patrick, clearly hungry, started shoveling food into his mouth.
"Nai'er predicted the economic crisis ahead of time, and he made sure to take the money out." The impact of the economic crisis was clear even on Aunt Ginny, who hadn't had any formal education. She could now speak about the topic with some insight.
"Really?" Patrick was first pleased, then surprised.
"I always say education is useful. With education, you learn more." Aunt Ginny was fair and treated both her son and Nai'er equally, having raised them together without any favoritism.
"Nai'er is always smarter than me." With the family safe and well, Patrick was at ease.
"Is the Campbell family doing alright?" After devouring two plates of mush, Patrick's hunger seemed to have been satisfied.
Aunt Ginny poured him another glass of wine from the half-bottle left over from Christmas. The Campbells were neighbors, and the reason Patrick asked about them was simple: Patrick's classmate was the second daughter of the Campbell family, though she had been one grade below him. He had gone out to make money with the hopes of returning to marry her.