On the way back, they were reluctant to spend money on the boat, so they all agreed to walk.
With three of them together, the journey didn’t feel lonely at all.
Dingqing had a blade of grass in her mouth and said, “Did you hear? Our village is going to set up a cooperative too.”
Baolan let out an “Ah?” and said, “Didn’t they say we wouldn’t switch? The mutual-aid teams are already pretty good.”
Although a directive to develop agricultural cooperatives had been issued back in 1953, and the trend had already reached Hongsha Village, the village was remote and mountainous. The village cadres had been dragging their feet, so until now, Hongsha Village still operated under the mutual-aid team system, never converting into a primary cooperative.
Baoju agreed deeply. Her father was lazy and disliked working, so only her brother and mother labored in the fields. In previous years, they could barely manage. But ever since the mutual-aid teams were formed, families like hers—with fewer workers—benefited a lot. During busy farming seasons, other members would help, and their harvest had increased.
Dingqing’s father often attended meetings in the township and knew more about policy trends. She waved her hand and said, “The township cadres already said it—other villages have all switched to cooperatives, so ours has to as well.”
Baolan and Baoju exchanged glances.
In the past two years, township officials had come down to promote the idea, and they had seen nearby villages form cooperatives, so they roughly understood how it worked.
The most important thing was collective production and collective distribution.
Unlike now, where each family still kept their own harvest, in a cooperative everything would be calculated as work points, and grain would be distributed based on those points.
In short, it wouldn’t be as free as before.
Dingqing sighed. “My dad and the others don’t really want to do it either, but the higher-ups require it. So the village cadres said they’d wait until this season’s rice harvest is done. After October, we’ll start earning work points.”
She winked at Baolan. “When the time comes, I’ll have my dad assign us lighter work. I want to herd cattle—sounds fun, right? We can even pick wild berries to eat. Baolan, come with me. Baoju too.”
Baolan responded absentmindedly, “We’ll see.”
She wanted to go to the city to find a job and wasn’t very interested in earning work points.
If she couldn’t find work in Qingjiang County, could she try another city?
A thought flashed through her mind—Mingfeng City.
Mingfeng City!
She had heard that even before liberation, there were already many factories there.
Could she go? Could she find work?
She might as well try. Who knows?
Dingqing and Baoju, chatting ahead, didn’t notice the storm raging in Baolan’s heart. They only felt she was quieter than usual today.
Talking all the way, they unknowingly arrived back at Hongsha Village.
Dingqing’s house was in the center of the village, while Baolan and Baoju had to walk a bit further in.
When they parted, Baolan said to Dingqing, “I’ll come find you this afternoon.”
Dingqing understood immediately. “I’ll wait for you at home.”
Baoju, not particularly curious, quietly waited for them to finish before heading home with Baolan.
Suddenly, Baolan asked, “Xiaoju, how much do mushrooms sell for per pound?”
Baoju replied instinctively, “One yuan per pound.”
Baolan smiled. “Right, say it like that.”
Baoju pursed her lips and smiled too, but then glanced at Baolan with some worry and asked softly, “Second Sister… is Aunt planning to make you exchange marriages?”
Baolan wasn’t surprised. “You heard?”
Their houses were only a few meters apart. With all the commotion last night, of course the third uncle’s family had heard everything.
“Don’t worry,” Baolan said. “I won’t agree. They can forget about forcing me.”
Baoju was still young and didn’t know what to do, so she could only say, “How can Uncle and Aunt be like this…”
Baolan replied, “It’s all for their precious son. Forget it, let’s not talk about it.” Even if she had to beg for food in Mingfeng City, she would never exchange herself for a wife for Xing Baosong.
The two went back to their respective homes.
Xing Baosong was still at home. He only came back once a month and stayed for two days each time.
Seeing Baolan, he looked a little awkward and tried to make conversation. “You’re back?”
Baolan ignored him, put down her basket, and went inside.
After drinking a cup of cool boiled water, she saw Baomei cooking in the kitchen and went to help.
Lunch was porridge. Baolan stirred the pot and saw sweet potatoes inside. “Can we eat the new sweet potatoes already?”
Baomei replied, “Not really—they’re still small. We just pulled a few from the edges while clearing the vines to try them. Did you go sell mushrooms?”
“Mm.”
“How much per pound now?”
“One yuan.”
“That’s not bad.”
After the sisters finished cooking, Xing Jiafu and his wife, who had been weeding in the fields, came back just in time to eat. Baozhen and Baolin brought rice to school and ate there at noon.
At the table, Li Sanniu asked Xing Baosong, “How much longer will you stay with your master? When will he let you go?”
In carpentry, the first three years were apprenticeship. After that, you had to work another one or two years under the master before becoming independent.
This was Baosong’s fifth year.
“My master said after the Spring Festival, I won’t need to go anymore.”
Xing Jiafu said, “Only a few months left. Take advantage of this time to learn as much as you can.”
Li Sanniu then turned to Baomei. “Next market day, I’ll take you to buy some floral cloth and have Sister-in-law Wu make you a new outfit to wear when visiting relatives at Maiziping.”
Making new clothes for visiting relatives meant going to be matched for marriage.
Baomei lowered her head shyly.
Baolan kept her eyes down and ate silently. She had heard everything the night before.
Li Sanniu glanced lightly at Baolan, deliberately not speaking to her.
Xing Jiafu cleared his throat and asked, “How much did you sell the mushrooms for?”
“Seven yuan. I’ll give you five.”
Baolan took out the prepared five yuan and placed it on the table.
Li Sanniu tapped her chopsticks in dissatisfaction, wanting to speak, but remembering to ignore Baolan, she instead shot Xing Jiafu an annoyed look.
Xing Jiafu ignored her, took the money, and looked quite pleased. “Money earned from nature is good no matter how much. You and your sister are capable, hardworking, and filial—you’ve saved your mother and me a lot of trouble. We see it all.”
Baolan gave a perfunctory “Mm,” not wanting to talk. She quickly finished her porridge, brought her bowl to the kitchen to soak, and went out the back door to check the plum trees for cicada shells.
At the table, Li Sanniu slapped the table. “Look at her attitude! Why didn’t you ask for the other two yuan? She definitely sold for more than seven—two baskets for seven yuan? Who would believe that!”
Xing Jiafu said, “Enough. Why be so calculating within the family? It’s fine for a girl to keep some money. And Baomei, you should keep some of what you earn at the tea plantation too—don’t give it all to us. Having money on you gives peace of mind.”
Baomei looked touched. “I don’t have many expenses—it’s fine.”
Xing Jiafu nodded. “See? All good kids. You should temper your temper and stop arguing with Erdou.”
Li Sanniu’s face remained sullen. “Mind your own business.”
After waiting a while and estimating that everyone had finished lunch, Baolan headed to Dingqing’s house.
Dingqing’s mother, Chen Lingzhi, was sorting herbs in the yard. Seeing Baolan, she greeted her warmly. “Baolan, you’re here. Dingqing’s in her room.”
Baolan went over to help. “Aunt Lingzhi, the sun’s strong—why aren’t you doing this under the eaves?”
Chen Lingzhi stopped her. “Don’t, don’t—it’s almost done. Go find Dingqing.”
Seeing there weren’t many herbs, Baolan went straight to Dingqing’s room.
Their house layout was similar to hers. Dingqing stayed in the outer east room, which had better lighting.
“You’re here!”
Dingqing pulled out a biscuit tin from a chest and joked, “Come on, hand over the money.”
Baolan said, “Wait, let me count how much I still have first.”
Dingqing handed her the tin. “Here—everything’s in here.”