Chapter 75 : Third-Class Labor

The onlookers were very happy to see that Li Yue’e received such a large sum of money. They hoped they wouldn’t be too far behind, so they could also have a good winter this year.

Liu Yuzhi was also very excited. Her family’s work points were similar to those of her parents-in-law. They had one more child, so the share wasn’t bad either.

Lu Guihua wasn’t as happy. Ever since Lu Weiguo became a worker, she hadn’t been very active in going to work. She was content with just getting six work points a day, which was enough to buy second-class food.

So her work points were only 1,280, and after deducting her family’s food and expenses, there wasn’t much left.

After Li Yue’e finished her work, it was Lu Xingjun’s turn, and Liu Yuzhi hurried forward.

Lu Xingjun was an accountant, and his work points were also calculated based on the highest work points, which was 2,100. Liu Yuzhi worked every day, following Li Yue’e’s example, not asking for more than her mother-in-law, but definitely not less. So, Liu Yuzhi also had 1,580 work points.

With the one or two work points their children earned every day from collecting grass for the pigs, the total work points amounted to 315, bringing Lu Xingjun’s family total work points to 3,995.

For food, they ate first-class rations, with 420 kilograms of population rations, 210 kilograms of work rations, and a total of 630 kilograms of rations.

Liu Yuzhi ate second-class rations, which included 350 kilograms of population rations, 158 kilograms of work rations, and a total of 508 kilograms of distribution rations.

Lu Fengqin, 9 years old, ate third-class rations, with 420 kilograms of population rations.

Lu Aiqun, 7, and Lu Guoqiang, 4, ate fourth-grade grain. Their total population ration was 600 kilograms.

The total amount of grain distributed to Lu Xingjun’s family was 2,158 kilograms. Following the 3:4:3 principle, this included 647.4 kilograms of fine grain, 863.2 kilograms of corn, and 647.4 kilograms of sweet potatoes.

Liu Yuzhi ordered 200 kilograms of rice as fine grain, and the rest was wheat. The rice cost 19 yuan, and the wheat cost 58.162 yuan.

The corn cost 43.16 yuan, and the sweet potatoes cost 16.185 yuan.

The total cost of food was 136.51 yuan.

As for meat, Lu Xingjun’s family was allowed 8 jin, but only 2 jin of pork fat, so the cost of meat was 7.2 yuan.

Lu Xingjun’s family of five used 1.5 catties of oil per month, totaling 18 catties per year. The oil cost 16.2 yuan.

The cotton cost 2.3 yuan.

Liu Yuzhi, following her mother-in-law’s example, ordered 20 kilograms of soybeans and 20 kilograms of mung beans, totaling 7.34 yuan.

The total amount to be deducted was 169.55 yuan.

Lu Xingjun’s family had 3,995 work points. After deducting 640 work points, they had 3,355 work points left, worth 402.6 yuan. After deducting 169.55 yuan, they still had 233.05 yuan.

Upon receiving the money, Liu Yuzhi immediately straightened her back. The amount wasn’t much different from her second uncle’s annual salary.

Over the years, they had always felt inferior because the eldest branch of the family was the only one that didn’t contribute money, and the second branch always complained that they were taking advantage of them.

Looking at the money after the family split, Liu Yuzhi felt that their family had been taken advantage of a lot over the years.

After Lu Xingjun’s family received their share, it was time for Lu Weiguo’s family.

Since Lu Weiguo worked in a factory in the commune, his food was still provided by the brigade.

In Lu Weiguo’s family, only Lu Guihua went to work. She had two children and usually didn’t collect grass for pigs. Her work points were only 1,280.

Lu Weiguo, being a commune worker, ate first-class grain, but it was only 420 kilograms of population rations.

Lu Guihua ate second-class grain, with 350 kilograms of population rations and 128 kilograms of work-based rations, for a total of 478 kilograms of grain.

Both sons ate fourth-grade grain, 300 kilograms each.

In total, Lu Weiguo’s family was allotted 1,498 kilograms of grain. Following the 3:4:3 principle, there were 449.4 kilograms of fine grain, 599.2 kilograms of corn, and 449.4 kilograms of sweet potatoes.

For fine grains, Lu Guihua ordered 100 kilograms of rice, which cost 54.92 yuan, corn cost 29.96 yuan, and sweet potatoes cost 11.24 yuan.

The total cost of food was 96.12 yuan.

The meat quota was only 2.5 kilograms, and they weren’t entitled to any pork fat. The meat cost 2 yuan.

The oil cost 12.96 yuan; the cotton cost 2.3 yuan; and the beans, 20 kilograms each of soybeans and mung beans, totaled 7.34 yuan.

The total amount to be deducted was 120.72 yuan.

Lu Guihua had 1,280 work points. After deducting the 320 assigned work points, she had 960 work points left, worth 115.2 yuan. After deducting the costs, she still owed the brigade 5.52 yuan.

Lu Guihua’s heart sank.

Everyone else got so much money, but she received none. In fact, she even owed money to the brigade. What upset her the most was that the eldest wife had actually received more than 200 yuan.

There were many men in her family, and the food given might not last half a year. If they wanted to make it through the entire year, they would definitely need to pay more.

Lu Guihua paid the money with a gloomy face, looking as if someone owed her several thousand yuan.

After Lu Weiguo finished distributing the food, it was Lu Changzheng’s turn. Lu Changzheng was a soldier and didn’t handle the team’s food, so it was only Su Mo left.

Su Mo hadn’t expected that she would also receive food. When she heard her name being called, she hurried forward.

In previous years, newly arrived educated youth like Su Mo did not participate in the grain distribution, but this year, the harvest had been good, so the brigade made an exception and allowed them to join.

As soon as she stepped forward, Su Mo saw the words “Third-Class Laborer” clearly written behind her name.

Su Mo: …

Wang Defa! Doesn’t she have any dignity?

Why does everyone else get second-class rations, but she is the only one marked as a third-class laborer, receiving third-class rations?

“Brother, why am I only a third-class laborer?” Su Mo asked in a dissatisfied tone, lowering her voice to Lu Xingjun.

Lu Xingjun coughed lightly and explained, “This is based on everyone’s evaluation. Your work points are indeed a bit low.”

Although she had only been there for a short time, 71 work points was too few. Even the lazy Ma Xiaojuan had 128 work points. She was rated as a third-class laborer probably because she was the daughter-in-law of the branch secretary.

“Come on, third sister-in-law, check and see if there are any problems,” Lu Xingjun quickly changed the subject, handing the registration book to Su Mo.

Su Mo, as a third-class laborer, received third-class grain, with 294 kilograms of population rations and 7 kilograms of work-based rations, totaling 301 kilograms of grain.

According to the 3:4:3 principle, there were 90.3 kilograms of fine grains, 120.4 kilograms of corn, and 90.3 kilograms of sweet potatoes.

Su Mo wanted all the fine grains, including rice, which cost 8.58 yuan, corn, which cost 6 yuan, and sweet potatoes, which cost 2.26 yuan. The total cost for grain was 16.84 yuan.

There was no meat quota.

For oil, she was allotted 3.6 kilograms per year, which cost 3.24 yuan.

The cotton cost 2.3 yuan.

Su Mo also followed the example of others and ordered 20 kilograms each of soybeans and mung beans, totaling 7.34 yuan.

The total amount to be deducted was 29.72 yuan.

Su Mo had 71 work points in total. Since she had just arrived, she didn’t need to participate in the apportionment. Her work points were worth 8.52 yuan. After deducting the expenses, she owed the brigade 21.2 yuan.

Additionally, when Su Mo first arrived, she had borrowed 10 kilograms of cornmeal, 20 kilograms of corn grits, and 30 kilograms of sweet potatoes from the brigade.

Lu Xingjun asked Su Mo whether she wanted to use this to pay back the grain or deduct money, and Su Mo chose to pay in money.

Cornmeal was priced at 9 cents per pound, so 10 pounds cost 90 cents; corn grits cost 7 cents per pound, so 20 pounds cost 1.4 yuan; sweet potatoes cost 2.5 cents per pound, so 30 pounds cost 75 cents. The total amount owed for this was 2.75 yuan.

Therefore, Su Mo owed the brigade a total of 23.95 yuan.

Su Mo silently paid off the debt and settled the account.

“Third brother’s wife, if you want to buy food, remember to come early. This year, everyone has a lot of money, so there will definitely be many people wanting to buy food,” Lu Xingjun reminded her.

“Okay, thank you, brother,” Su Mo thanked him.

Although the amount of food may seem like a lot at first glance, it is just enough to last for a year. If you calculate carefully, it’s really only enough to fill your stomach and prevent starvation.

But this was the amount of grain they were allotted, and they couldn’t give more. So, when the harvest was good, everyone would buy extra grain from the brigade after receiving the money.

When money is scarce, people buy coarse grains. But this year, everyone has a lot of money, so many will likely buy fine grains. Now that there’s money, who doesn’t want to eat better?

Lu Xingjun noticed that Su Mo didn’t seem used to eating coarse grains, so he reminded her to buy fine grains early before they were sold out.

You have to buy these at the supply and marketing cooperative. Not only is it expensive, but you also need a ticket.