Li Daju chatted for a while before getting up to leave.
Now that Zhao Yi and Zhang Jing had set up their own household, she had to handle everything herself. In the past, she would return from work to find a meal ready, but now she had to cook herself. Zhao Xiaoxiao and the others only came back to help with the rush harvesting during the double-cropping season when they had a few days off.
Only now did Li Daju realize how much work Zhao Yi had done for the family before.
Unfortunately, it was a bit late to realize this now. She had once looked down on her eldest son, but now their life was getting better day by day, and they had even started raising chicks.
After one rain shower passed, another soon followed.
It seemed there was no hope of working in the fields today.
Zhao Yi went to the Team Headquarters to borrow a hoe and dug up a good amount of clay at the foot of the slope.
After transporting the clay home, Zhang Jing helped Zhao Yi mix it with the discarded straw.
The two began making adobe bricks.
Zhao Yi planned to build a pigsty and buy a piglet to raise alongside the assigned collective pig.
Currently, households weren’t allowed to keep more than three livestock, so he would later give one hen to his father-in-law’s family.
By the end of the day, the two had made quite a few adobe bricks in the yard.
Evening.
The sun hadn’t yet set, but everyone was already heading to the Team Headquarters with prepared sacks—today was ration distribution day again.
Zhang Jing and Zhao Yi also made their way to the Team Headquarters.
Without any sacks, the two had to bring several wooden buckets instead.
“Xiao Yi, no sacks?”
Wu Lan asked, noticing Zhao Yi carrying two wooden buckets.
“We just set up our own household a few days ago and haven’t prepared these things yet.”
Zhao Yi quickly nodded in response.
“When you have time, go to the Commune’s grain and oil station. They sell sacks there for just a few cents each. It’ll be more convenient for carrying grain in the future.”
Wu Lan promptly suggested.
Very few families in the village had sacks—those few cents could be used to buy other items. After all, once the grain was brought home, it was stored in cabinets or jars, so why waste money on sacks?
As for those who did have sacks, they had acquired them from the grain and oil station—when delivering grain to the Commune warehouse, they had to carry it up to the large measuring bin and pour it in. When no one was paying attention, they would slip one into the team’s sack and bring it back.
“We have cabinets at home, and the two of us don’t have much grain ration. These two buckets are more than enough.”
Zhao Yi said cheerfully.
“Alright, as long as you have something to store the grain in.”
Wu Lan nodded, then had her daughter distribute the grain to Zhao Yi first.
The ration distributor was one of the eight key village positions, a relatively easy job. Usually, there was little for the distributor to do except for the monthly ration distribution.
The rest of the time was spent guarding the warehouse. Officially, it was Wu Lan’s daughter who kept watch, but in reality, Li Dequan or one of his two sons took turns staying overnight.
Night duty didn’t mean staying awake all night—they just slept in the warehouse to prevent theft.
“Brother Xiao Yi, are you collecting cooking oil this month?”
Li Yu asked Zhao Yi.
Cooking oil wasn’t distributed every month—it was only given out every six months, about two or three jin each time. This wasn’t fixed either, depending on how much rapeseed the village had planted. Distribution only happened after the required amount was handed over to the state. When the harvest was plentiful, the cooking oil allocation would naturally be larger.
“We have nothing at home—I don’t know what to use to store it. Let me go back and get a pottery jar to hold the oil.”
Zhao Yi slapped his forehead as he remembered this matter. He quickly asked Zhang Jing to collect the grain first while he went back to get a jar for the oil.
After bringing all the grain and oil back home, Zhang Jing's face lit up with a happy smile. So many supplies would now be under her management, and her joy was beyond words.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yi had already gone to the storage room, carrying out two jars left by his grandfather and beginning to wash them with water.
Leaving them in the storage room would only let them gather dust; cleaning them could serve other purposes.
Early morning, before the sun had risen.
The path to Wangou Village's watermill was already crowded with people.
Carrying bamboo baskets on their backs and shouldering poles laden with grain to be ground, they moved toward the watermill, occasionally punctuated by the laughter of women chatting.
The watermill was located by the river at the edge of Wangou Village, its large wooden wheel slowly turning under the force of the flowing water.
Upon arriving at the watermill's entrance, everyone naturally formed a long queue.
Time passed minute by minute until it was finally Zhao Yi and Zhang Jing's turn.
Zhang Jing carefully poured the grain into the millstone, while Zhao Yi held a wooden bucket at the outlet to catch the flour. The mill had two millstones, which were more than enough for the villagers of Wangou.
Watching the grains being ground into fine powder, Zhang Jing's eyes were filled with delight.
The flour from the mill wasn't as fine as freshly ground grain, nor was the process as quick; it required two rounds of processing.
After the grain was fully ground, the two shouldered their load and headed home.
Just as they stepped out of the mill, they spotted Li Daju also in the queue.
"Mom."
Zhao Yi and Zhang Jing greeted her.
"Go ahead with your tasks."
Li Daju waved them off. She had brought Zhao Xiaoxiao along to help, while Zhao Yi's two younger brothers were likely at school.
As for the promised five jin of grain each month, Zhao Yi had already given it the previous night, right after receiving the rations, in front of many villagers at the granary entrance.
Returning home, it was still very early.
"I'm going to the mountains to see if there's anything to gather."
After informing Zhang Jing, Zhao Yi took a chopper and carrying pole and headed into the hills. At that time, the coal mine hadn't yet been opened, so surrounding villages relied mostly on firewood for cooking.
It was only after the coal mine began operations that people gradually started using coal for heating and cooking.
Zhao Yi quickly gathered a load of firewood. After storing it properly, he ventured deeper into the mountains.
Soon, he reached the remote depths of the mid-level mountains. He drank a few mouthfuls of spring water from a creek before surveying the surroundings.
Before long, he discovered a large patch of wild grapes, and there were quite a few of them.
Zhao Yi picked one and tossed it into his mouth. It was still somewhat sour, but with a hint of sweetness amid the tartness.
On his way back, Zhao Yi cut a small piece of bark every few meters as a trail marker, making it easier to find his way next time without getting lost.
The remote depths of the mountains were easy to lose one's way in, except for seasoned hunters who frequented the area.
By the time Zhao Yi returned home carrying the firewood, Zhang Jing had already been out working with the others for some time. She had left a portion of food in the pot for Zhao Yi.
As Zhao Yi squatted by the doorway eating his meal, he saw Su Hong approaching from a distance. It seemed she was coming to see him, though he wasn't sure why.
"Comrade Zhao, eating so late?"
Su Hong smiled when she saw Zhao Yi. She had just been to the fields and had only seen Zhang Jing busy working there. After looking around, she hadn't found any trace of Zhao Yi.
"Educated Youth Su, is there something you need?"
Zhao Yi looked at Su Hong with some puzzlement. Aside from the matter of the fish, he had no other dealings with her.
"I'd like to go to town to buy some things, but I'm a bit scared to walk the mountain paths alone as a girl. I was hoping Comrade Zhao Yi could make the trip for me. I won't send you for nothing – I'll give you fifty cents."
Su Hong looked at Zhao Yi as she spoke.
"When do you need this done?"
Zhao Yi thought for a moment before nodding in agreement. He figured he might need to go to the city himself in the next few days anyway, so he could just bring back her items while he was at it.