Self-sufficient small farmers, although poor, were less affected by the market economy and the ongoing economic crisis because they had little direct involvement with it.
The farmers who were truly impacted were the sharecroppers on larger farms and ranches, as well as those cultivating cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, or raising dairy cows. These farmers suffered greatly in this economic crisis.
Agriculture in Brook County was more like a subsidiary to the coal mining industry. The men worked in the mines, while the elderly, women, and children worked small plots of land, growing potatoes and oats, and perhaps planting apple or cherry trees. With the harsh conditions in the mountainous region, large-scale farms were impossible to develop.
Thus, while small farmers didn't earn much, they were somewhat insulated from the economic crisis. Their food and livestock weren't meant for sale; they were for the family's consumption. When the crisis hit, it didn't shake their foundation as severely as it did for others.
When Patrick heard that the Campbell family was fine and that the girl he had secretly liked hadn't married anyone else, he appeared relaxed, leaning back in his chair and enjoying a glass of wine. It was clear to everyone that he had returned home with marriage in mind, and no one opposed it—after all, it was a perfect situation, with childhood sweethearts getting married.
"Well, I need to start preparing," said Aunt Ginny as soon as she realized her son was planning to marry. She immediately began considering all the things they would need for the wedding. She'd need to buy two new outfits, shoes, and gold rings. The priest would cost $20, and she still needed to figure out the price of the drinks. They had enough sausage and potatoes at home, so food wouldn't be an issue, but the price of alcohol was uncertain.
"Nael, is alcohol expensive at the Schaefer's place?" she asked.
"Apple cider costs 40 cents, beer 10 cents, and whiskey needs to be bought at the pharmacy. I don't know the price of that," Nael responded.
Aunt Ginny started calculating the number of guests, mumbling to herself as she counted on her fingers.
Times were hard for the poor, and a wedding celebration was one of the rare opportunities to enjoy life. They had two pigs ready for slaughter, and the sausage they made was quite tasty.
"Wait a moment..." Patrick took off his vest and pulled out a stack of money from his inner shirt pocket. All bills were $20 bills featuring Andrew Jackson, at least a dozen of them.
"Wow, how much is this?" Aunt Ginny asked, taking the money and counting it.
"Four hundred and forty dollars!" Patrick said.
Aunt Ginny kept two twenties and put the remaining $400 away. With that kind of money, everything would be easier, and they could even build a small house next to the family home. However, everyone agreed that it was better to stay together as a family, and no one suggested building a new house.
"Looks like you're a wealthy man now," Debbie commented. It was the first time she had seen more than $100 in cash.
"Hahaha, here it is," Patrick laughed as he pulled a large piece of chocolate from his vest pocket.
When he left, Debbie was just a 9-year-old girl, still a fan of sweet treats. It seemed Patrick's memory of her had not kept up with the passage of time. But who didn't love sweets? Debbie was happy too.
Then, Patrick pulled out a fountain pen for Nael and a silk embroidered handkerchief for Aunt Ginny, claiming it was made from the best raw silk in Japan, though who really knew?
While Nael's family was in high spirits, far away in Chicago, Meyer Lansky was in trouble. In just three months, sales of counterfeit alcohol had plummeted like a snowstorm—cut in half, and now their gang's cash flow was tightening.
As he pondered this, a man with a square face, holding a cigar, entered the room. He also carried a document, but its contents were unknown. From the way he calmly smoked his cigar, it was clear that it was good news.
"What's this, Charlie?" Meyer Lansky asked when he saw his partner, Charlie Luciano, one of the most famous Italian mob bosses in America.
Charlie Luciano smiled, clearly in a good mood.
"Your little friend came up with a great idea," Charlie said with enthusiasm.
"I see," Meyer said, taking the document. It contained data about their gang's sales of cheap ginger beer. While counterfeit alcohol sales were plummeting, ginger beer sales were soaring. Priced at just 10 cents a bottle, this inexpensive drink provided the necessary sensory stimulation that people craved during such a hard time. It had become widely praised by society.
"There's been a huge demand for it," Charlie said, "It's become our biggest source of income."
Meyer Lansky was surprised. He hadn't expected this cheap drink to become such a huge success.
"Well, we should thank your little friend," Charlie said after finishing his cigar.
"Let's put that aside for now. How's the situation with that guy?" Charlie asked, changing the subject.
"The situation's bad," Meyer said, sounding serious.
They were talking about a formidable figure with great political ambitions and a powerful background: Thomas Dewey.
At the time, Dewey was a young lawyer in New York, known for his near-perfect record of sending criminals to prison. His firm handled all criminal cases, and anyone who went through it had almost no chance of escaping conviction. Even if someone had the best escape plan, Dewey would find a way to imprison them.
Naturally, the mob bosses hated him, but Dewey was also a rising star in the Republican Party, highly respected by powerful people. He came from an elite background and had graduated from Columbia Law School. He was strong and ruthless, and no one dared to challenge him.
Now, Dewey had set his sights on the Italian mafia, and he had begun investigating. Both Charlie Luciano and Meyer Lansky were among the targets of his investigation, and they weren't the only ones.
Another mob boss, known as "The Dutchman," had been relentlessly pursued by Dewey and could no longer hide. Unable to endure the pressure, he was planning to have Dewey assassinated.