Chapter 12 : Send Money

“Mingcheng, what jobs do the sisters-in-law in the family compound have?”

Lu Fangfang asked curiously.

“Some are teachers, some work in the art troupe, and some work in the troupe’s logistics department. There’s also a state-owned farm nearby, and my sister-in-law works there too.”

Zhuang Mingcheng peeled the egg white and stuffed it into his mouth.

He placed the remaining egg yolk into the lunch box in front of Lu Fangfang.

“By the way, my sister-in-law works in the county, but she doesn’t seem to live in the staff quarters. She only comes here when she’s free.”

After hearing this, Lu Fangfang smiled bitterly.

Among the places Zhuang Mingcheng mentioned, only the logistics department of the regiment might offer her a chance, the chances of getting into the other places are slim.

Looking at the egg yolk in the lunch box, she became resolute. At worst, she could just follow Sister Shufen’s example and raise chickens or farm. She didn’t believe she couldn’t support herself.

My sister-in-law mentioned that the group has a policy of reclaiming wasteland, and maybe I could earn more from that than working.

As she thought this, she scooped up the egg yolk with a spoon and brought it to Zhuang Mingcheng’s mouth.

“You eat it, I don’t like it.”

Lu Fangfang held up the spoon and rolled her eyes at him.

In this day and age, how could there be anyone who doesn’t like eating eggs?

Zhuang Mingcheng’s face suddenly turned red. He leaned over and quickly swallowed it.

“Alas.”

Next door, Zhu Haimei watched this scene and secretly spat, “What a bunch of bastards.”

—

“Mingcheng, are we allowed to keep animals in the family compound? Weren’t we supposed to avoid any issues with our capital tail?”

In this era, let alone running a business, even livestock can’t be raised casually. There are strict regulations on how many animals a family can keep.

If there’s a mistake, at the very least, they’ll be criticized and educated; at worst, they’ll be arrested, and their family will be implicated. Lu Fangfang needed to find out about this clearly.

Zhuang Mingcheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook his head, “It’s fine, we’re in the military here, no one dares to mess around here, don’t worry.”

Zhu Haimei’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Lu Fangfang also felt relieved.

She had made up her mind to follow Sister Shufen and raise livestock to help support the family.

And she had already decided what to raise.

Lu Fangfang raised quails in her previous life. These birds start laying eggs in about a month, usually one a day.

She initially raised two for fun, and within half a year, they had multiplied into a large flock.

Quail eggs are smaller than chicken eggs but require less feeding, making them more cost-effective than raising chickens, which is perfect for her situation.

Seeing that Lu Fangfang had finished her porridge, Zhuang Mingcheng got down to business, “Fangfang, give me your letter of introduction. I…I need it to write a marriage application.”

Lu Fangfang turned her head and glanced at him.

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but Zhuang Mingcheng seemed to be blushing slightly.

“Ahem, well, I applied for a house in the family compound with the group leader yesterday. You can move in first when it’s available.”

—

Meanwhile, Zhu Haimei looked at the couple, who were talking about love without paying attention to anyone else, and felt incredibly jealous.

All of this should be hers.

No, she had to go find Political Commissar again.

There was no possibility between her and Zhuang Mingcheng anymore. If she wanted to stay in the army, she’d have to find another fiancé quickly.

Thinking this, she snorted softly and strode out.

As she was about to go out, she slammed the door shut, making a loud bang.

—

“Really?”

Lu Fangfang stared at Zhuang Mingcheng with bright eyes.

Her entire focus was now on the house in the staff quarters that Zhuang Mingcheng had mentioned.

“Why would I lie to you?”

Zhuang Mingcheng smiled and said, “The regiment commander said there’s a vacant house in the family compound. It should be available in the next two days. You can go and clean it up then.”

“I’ll go to the county with you when I’m free to buy some things for the wedding.”

Lu Fangfang was a little excited. She handed over her letter of introduction.

Watching Zhuang Mingcheng fold the letter of introduction and put it in his shirt pocket, she suddenly thought of something.

She opened her mouth, feeling a little embarrassed to speak.

“What’s wrong?”

Zhuang Mingcheng felt strange, and he said, “We will soon become revolutionary partners. If you have anything to say, just say it, don’t keep it in your heart.”

“Well, can I borrow some money and food coupons from you? I need national food coupons. I want to send them back home. These are all from me. I will pay you back when I make money.”

Now that she has become “Lu Fangfang,” she must fulfill the responsibilities of Lu Fangfang.

Her family had suffered a disaster, and now there was a severe shortage of food, a time when people could starve to death. She wanted to help her family.

The old couple had already suffered enough from the loss of their daughter, and she really didn’t want anything bad to happen again.

She just felt really sorry for Zhuang Mingcheng.

Her fiancée ate and drank for free in the army, and now she had to borrow money to support her family. It wasn’t ideal.

But she couldn’t ignore the “original owner’s” parents just for the sake of face.

Lowering her head and looking at her toes, Lu Fangfang weakly repeated, “This money is a loan from me. I will definitely pay it back, definitely!”

“We are almost a revolutionary couple, don’t even bother talking about whether to lend it or not.”

Zhuang Mingcheng felt a little heavy in his heart.

Logically speaking, people in Beijing should know about Lu Fangfang’s family situation.

The Lu family suffered from a drought. No matter what, the family should at least send some things over. After all, the old man owed them a life.

Zhuang Mingcheng shook his head and said to Lu Fangfang, “I still have some money and food coupons in my dormitory. Come back with me.”

After leaving the guesthouse, Lu Fangfang followed Zhuang Mingcheng to the dormitory.

On the way, many soldiers looked at them curiously.

Some of them enthusiastically called out to the battalion commander and asked if the person next to them was their sister-in-law.

Zhuang Mingcheng did not hide anything and said directly that it would be done right away.

Lu Fangfang immediately received blessings from a group of soldiers.

Her face burned with heat, and she didn’t feel relieved until she entered Zhuang Mingcheng’s residence.

The house where Zhuang Mingcheng lived was very small.

The furnishings inside were also very simple, with a writing table and two stools on the east side.

There was a single bed against the wall with the quilt neatly folded on it. Apart from that, there was no other large furniture.

“Sit wherever you like.”

Zhuang Mingcheng greeted her, then walked to the table and opened the drawer.

After rummaging around for a while, he walked toward Lu Fangfang with a current account passbook and a pile of banknotes.

He had been alone in the army for many years.

His family in the capital didn’t need him to send money, so he saved some, about six or seven hundred yuan, which was a considerable sum.

“The food coupons I have are from Gansu Province. There are only a few food coupons in the whole country. Wait for me for a moment. I will ask my colleagues to see if I can exchange them.”

Lu Fangfang looked at the pile of banknotes in her hand, feeling a little overwhelmed.

Seeing that Zhuang Mingcheng was about to leave, Lu Fangfang quickly stopped him, “Don’t leave yet.”

Lu Fangfang took out ten ten-yuan notes and returned the remaining bills to Zhuang Mingcheng.

“Send more?”

“One hundred is a lot.”

In this day and age, one hundred yuan is a lot of money.

Rural people may not even get 100 yuan in dividends at the end of the year after working in the brigade for a whole year.

If used frugally, it could last for several years.

Zhuang Mingcheng shook his head, counted out ten more Great Unity notes, and pushed them into Lu Fangfang’s hand.

Lu Fangfang suddenly felt sad and nodded silently.

“There are more than fifty of these. Take them all. There are also these cloth coupons. When you go to the county, buy some cloth and make some clothes. The weather will warm up in a few days.”

Zhuang Mingcheng sorted out the money and bills he had left and gave them all to Lu Fangfang.