Zhao Yi knew that contributing five catties of grain each month would be enough to silence these people.
While it might seem difficult for people nowadays to give away grain every month, it wasn't hard for Zhao Yi and Zhang Jing. Two able-bodied laborers received seventy catties of monthly rations.
With additional wild vegetables and mountain produce they gathered to eat together, they couldn't even finish all the food, leaving them with surplus grain every month.
Moreover, with the memories in Zhao Yi's mind, he had ways to make Zhang Jing live more comfortably than in their previous life, without having to work like a beast of burden for others.
The day's labor passed quickly. At noon, the two still ate boiled potatoes. Since they had separated from the main household, they naturally couldn't share cooking pots anymore.
Stars dotted the night sky as moonlight bathed the land.
Zhang Jing followed behind Zhao Yi as they walked home.
Passing by where Zhao Yi had placed his fish traps, he carefully lifted one.
"Husband, there are fish!"
By the moonlight and the struggling sounds from the fish in the trap, Zhang Jing exclaimed happily.
"Keep your voice down. Do you want everyone to know we caught fish?"
Zhao Yi made a shushing gesture.
"Mhm."
Zhang Jing quickly nodded.
Zhao Yi then lifted another fish trap.
Although Wangou Village was situated by a large river, few people knew how to fish. Especially after focusing on production and farming, without access to the city's aquatic market quota, any caught fish would belong to the collective unless taken secretly.
Few people came to fish here. Wangou never experienced famine years due to sufficient water, and grain production was decent, though there were limited ways to earn money.
Zhang Jing and Zhao Yi happily carried the fish traps home.
Both traps had catches – three fish in total, with the smallest weighing at least half a catty.
Upon returning home, Zhao Yi immediately began gutting and cleaning the fish, then threw them into a pottery jar to cook.
Apart from some salt, they had no other seasonings at home.
When the fish were nearly done cooking, Zhao Yi sprinkled some salt into the jar.
As soon as the fish finished cooking, Zhao Yi served Zhang Jing a bowl of fish soup and gave her the largest fish.
"Husband, you need strength for heavy work. I'll eat the small one."
Zhang Jing quickly offered the bowl to Zhao Yi.
"You take the big one. I'll eat the two smaller ones – that means I actually get more fish meat. The bigger fish has larger bones that are less likely to get stuck in your throat. Be careful while eating. There are two more bowls of fish soup – we need to take good care of ourselves."
Zhao Yi said cheerfully.
Hearing this warmed Zhang Jing's heart, feeling particularly grateful to have married a man who knew how to care for her.
"Tastes good."
Zhang Jing happily took a small sip, then looked at Zhao Yi with a smile.
"We can't go to the city these days since we need to participate in the rush harvest. After it's over, I'll make several trips to the city to get an iron pot and some seasonings. That way we can cook even better food."
Zhao Yi nodded, quickly finishing the fish in his bowl and drinking all the soup.
Nowadays, almost everyone lacked oil supplementation. Fish soup provided good protein – having a bowl of fish soup daily was more filling than two vegetarian meals.
Zhang Jing didn't quite understand what Zhao Yi meant about making several city trips to get an iron pot. The Zhiqing comrades often went to the city but never brought back many iron pots.
But with Zhao Yi in charge, she only needed to cooperate well with her man.
Nearly a week passed in the blink of an eye.
Finally, the task of rushing to harvest and plant was completed. Many people were exhausted, looking as if they had lost weight, but Zhao Yi and Zhang Jing had actually become sturdier.
Every night, they had fish to eat and fish soup to drink.
Early morning.
The brigade members began to gather and register, preparing to go to the Forest Farm to do miscellaneous work.
"Zhao Yi."
"Here."
Hearing Li Dequan call his name, Zhao Yi quickly responded.
"Do you want to sign up for the Forest Farm work?"
Li Dequan looked at Zhao Yi and asked.
The miscellaneous work at the Forest Farm provided meals and paid thirty cents a day. The tasks included digging up tree stumps and transporting lumber, which were particularly strenuous.
But now, with no source of income at home, even though the wages sounded meager, the enthusiasm to earn money couldn't be dampened. Half of the strong laborers in the village had signed up.
"I won’t take up a spot. Let someone who needs it more have it."
Zhao Yi quickly shook his head.
"Wastrel! You’ve barely enjoyed a couple of good days, and now you’re turning down a perfectly good opportunity to earn money."
Hearing Zhao Yi’s reply, Zhao Dahai was so angry he could barely contain himself.
Both spring and autumn offered chances to do miscellaneous work at the Forest Farm. Those who went in the first half of the year couldn’t go again in the second half, ensuring that all Commune Members had a turn.
With grain priced at seven cents per jin, a day’s work could buy four and a half jin of grain—far more worthwhile than working in the village.
"Then give your spot to your father. I’ve already submitted so many names anyway."
Since Zhao Yi didn’t want to go, Li Dequan had no choice but to assign the spot to Zhao Dahai. Zhao Yi had gone to the Forest Farm in the first half of the year, and since the household was still under Zhao Dahai’s name, he wasn’t originally eligible for another turn. But with Zhao Yi refusing and Li Dequan having already submitted the names, Zhao Dahai had to fill in.
Zhao Dahai was overjoyed. Working twice a year meant earning thirty-six yuan, enough to cover the children’s school fees for the next year.
He stopped muttering about "wastrels."
"Alright, we have enough people. Meeting dismissed."
Li Dequan closed the roll call book and waved his hand.
"Husband, why didn’t you go work at the Forest Farm? You could earn nine yuan a month, and the food is pretty good too—meat every ten days."
Zhang Jing followed behind Zhao Yi and whispered.
"Nine yuan a month? If we go to the city three times a month and catch two big fish each time, we can earn much more than that. Besides, the work there is exhausting, and we’d have to start before dawn. Don’t worry, just trust me. I’ll make sure you’re well-fed and well-clothed."
Zhao Yi smiled mysteriously and continued.
Selling fish in the city didn’t require ration tickets, and at thirty-five cents per jin, two big fish could earn several yuan. Plus, it wouldn’t interfere with his other activities.
This time of year, the animals were plump and strong. If he were lucky enough to catch one or two, he’d be overjoyed.
In his previous life, working in the mines, Zhao Yi knew about the black market. Every month after getting paid, he would go with his Workmates to the city to watch an eight-cent movie. The money he secretly saved would be used to buy fabric from the black market to make clothes for Zhang Jing.
It was almost laughable—having to secretly save his own wages.
Shaking his head, Zhao Yi pushed these thoughts aside. Instead, he packed his homemade small hoe and sickle into his backpack and headed into the mountains. With the rush to harvest and plant just finished, there wasn’t much work in the fields for the next few days, giving him a chance to rest a little.
Zhao Yi prepared to go into the mountains to gather some wild produce. Ingredients like wild yam, kudzu root, and chestnuts could be mixed with staple grains for consumption, and they tasted quite pleasant.
Before long, Zhao Yi had collected a substantial amount of wild produce in the mountains—approximately twenty jin. If dried, it would amount to at least ten jin or so.