Chapter 12: Is This Family Even Going to Make Ends Meet?

Just like on the train, Jiang Yuman had mentioned her family’s child, and both the mother-in-law and Zhou Yun looked down on her.                            

What’s the big deal about being pregnant? As if no one else had ever had a child; why should she get to do nothing?

“Just wait and see,” Zhou Yun was certain. “This family is going to suffer with this daughter-in-law; they’ll lose out on labor points, and they won’t be able to make ends meet.”

Even if that family’s man is strong, what does it matter? Without a capable woman, everything is in vain!

Old Lady Cai nodded repeatedly, fully agreeing.

Although their family’s situation had also plummeted, at least the people in their family were strong and could work in the fields to earn labor points.

But this family’s daughter-in-law wouldn’t even clean; how could they expect her to work in the fields?

Labor points were linked to food rations. If she didn’t work in the fields and there were fewer people earning labor points, they wouldn’t have enough food to eat. How could this family continue to live?

Compared to them, their own situation was not bad at all.

Just thinking of this made Zhou Yun feel a lot better inside.

On the other side, Jiang Yuman had no idea that Zhou Yun’s family was waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

She sat outside the house, waiting while the family cleaned. Only when Fu’s Mother had finished did she let Jiang Yuman in.

When she entered, Zhou Yun’s side was still a mess; the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were still busily spinning around like tops.

Since the educated youth point only had one shared kitchen, Fu’s Mother was afraid they wouldn’t have enough time to cook when the others returned, so she quickly took the dough she had prepared at home and went to steam the buns.

As she was heating the buns, the educated youths were also finishing up their work, returning in groups.

These past two days had marked the beginning of the autumn harvest, and the educated youths had been bending over in the fields all day, cutting wheat, and had no chance to straighten their backs.

By the end of the day, they felt like they were about to break apart. Upon returning, they still had to wash up and cook.

In this situation, even if they saw the two families in the neighboring house, everyone was too tired to care.

Zhou Yun, however, was eager to build relationships with the educated youths. Seeing them starting to prepare dinner, she hurriedly grabbed her things and headed to the kitchen.

The Fu family didn’t join in on the commotion.

After finishing their meal, Yao Zhenjiang came over carrying several bags of grain.

He entered and placed a few bags in the room. “Our brigade isn’t well-off right now, so these are subsidized for you. There are fifty pounds of cornmeal, fifty pounds of sorghum flour, and five pounds of white flour.”

“After the autumn harvest, there will be more food distribution. When you start to work tomorrow, the rations will be divided according to labor points and the number of people.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuman started calculating in her mind: the autumn harvest was short, and even if they worked hard in the fields during this time, they hadn’t participated in the earlier sowing, so they wouldn’t earn many labor points.

Crucially, like the educated youths, they were all outsiders, so they would definitely receive less food than the villagers.

Even if they optimistically calculated their rations, the family would have to tighten their belts to make it through the summer harvest distribution.

Fortunately, she had her space; otherwise, how could the family have enough food without the grain distribution?

The others in the Fu family had similar thoughts but still accepted the grain. “Alright, Comrade, thank you for your trouble.”

“It’s no problem,” Yao Zhenjiang waved his hand dismissively. He was in a hurry to deliver grain to Zhou Yun’s family, so after talking, he left.

As soon as he stepped out, Fu Wangshan pulled out the five-pound bag of white flour and looked at Fu Jingchen, saying: “Jingchen, take this to the brigade leader’s house and mention that your wife isn’t able to work.”

Before going to the countryside, the family had made a firm decision not to let Jiang Yuman work. Right now, it was the most demanding time of the autumn harvest, and they didn’t dare to let her go.

After all, their daughter-in-law was pregnant; what if something happened to her from overworking?

Upon hearing this, Fu’s Mother quickly took out the jerky she had brought and placed it on the table. “Take this with you and say that we’re all going to work, so let Manman stay behind.”

Fu Haitang couldn’t help but interject, “Mom and Dad, if she doesn’t work and we do, do we have to come back and cook for her?”

She had never worked in the fields either, but seeing so many people sweating under the sun on the donkey cart earlier made her anxious.

Feeling a bit resentful, her tone was sharper.

“Haitang, you…”

Fu’s Mother frowned, but before she could finish, Jiang Yuman spoke up, “Mom, don’t be angry. I actually want to stay behind; I’ll cook at home.”

“No way,” Fu’s Mother instinctively refused. “You’ve never done it at home; let me handle it.”

Jiang Yuman glanced at Fu Jingchen and noticed the concern in his eyes. She spoke soothingly, “Mom, it’s true that I don’t know how to work in the fields, but I can cook.”

“Back home, someone else did the cooking, so I didn’t have to. Now, our family needs to work together to get through this tough time. I’ll just be cooking, it won’t tire me out.”

She wanted to manage the things in her space herself, as she didn’t want to deprive herself or her family of good food in the coming years.

“Daughter, your sister doesn’t understand. Don’t listen to her,” Fu Wangshan said in a deep voice, glancing at Fu Haitang.

“Mom and Dad, I really can cook. How about this? I’ll try it at home first, and if I can’t handle it, I’ll let you know.” Jiang Yuman felt a bit helpless.

After some back-and-forth discussion, they finally relented.

Even though they agreed, Fu Wangshan and his wife still frowned, looking as if they had encountered a significant dilemma.

…

As night fell, the educated youths returned to their rooms. Fu Jingchen took the items and headed to the brigade leader’s house.

Hearing Fu Jingchen’s intention, Yao Anguo frowned. “If your wife isn’t working, she won’t receive any rations and won’t count as a person for food distribution.”

Many women in the brigade worked even while pregnant; he felt it was unnecessary to make an exception.

Fu Jingchen replied, “It’s alright; her health isn’t good, and we’re all worried something might happen to her.”

Seeing his determination, Yao Anguo nodded. “Alright then.”

The Fu family was part of the re-education movement, which had labor point requirements.

Although they had connections, it didn’t make things difficult; they simply wanted one person to not work.

In these times, no family had it easy. White flour and meat were luxuries they hadn’t had it for a long time, and considering this, Yao Anguo could accept the arrangement.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Fu Jingchen came out of the house.

Just as he reached the door, he encountered a girl with two braided pigtails rushing toward him.

He stepped aside, not sparing her a glance, and walked toward the house.

But the girl seemed frozen in place, her gaze deeply fixed in that direction, lost in thought.

Yao Anguo, who had stepped out, noticed her. “Simeng, you’re back. Why are you standing there? What are you looking at?”

Yao Simeng turned her head, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Dad, who was that person just now? Is he a new educated youth?”

“He’s not an educated youth; he’s here from the city for re-education.”

“Oh.” Yao Simeng blinked, a thoughtful expression on her face.