During the occupation of Iran by the Russians and the British, the people endured difficult living conditions. For example, the daily wage of a laborer was five rials, and three kilograms of sugar cost forty tomans. This meant that a laborer had to work for eighty days to be able to buy three kilograms of sugar. Only the elites and the affluent could afford sugar, tea, and other luxury items, while ordinary people consumed dates, dried mulberries, and raisins. A kilogram of rice cost one thousand tomans. With a daily income of five rials, a laborer would need to work for two thousand days to purchase three hundred kilograms of rice. In summary, the situation was such that sometimes the government distributed provisions at major intersections, such as in the central square of Karaj, where they provided bread and even rice and prepared food. After the years 1323 and 1324, the situation gradually returned to normal, and the crises were resolved.
My father, having experienced the First World War and being aware of the conditions, had stored a quantity of wheat and rice, rock salt, some barrels of oil, and other items. Additionally, we were in the village at that time, engaging in agriculture, and we were able to procure some of our needs ourselves, such as chickpeas, beans, and lentils. In those circumstances, our affairs proceeded relatively smoothly.