Chapter 108

Chapter 108

The first couple of years were fine, but in the past two years, they've become even lazier.

It was the same in my previous life!

"The total grain allocation for your family is two thousand nine hundred catties."

After Bai Xiuxiu spoke, the entire family's expressions turned sour. Two thousand nine hundred catties of grain sounded like a lot, but with thirteen people, each person only got eighteen catties per month.

If they didn't work, it might be manageable, but how could that be enough for physical labor?

Fortunately, their luck held up this year with a good harvest.

If the harvest had been poor, they would have barely gotten ten catties per person per month with their laziness.

"This can't be right, Captain. Our family..." Wang Shoucheng found it absurd. Since the two lean years, they hadn't received such a small allocation, especially not during a bumper harvest.

"What's wrong with it? Do you think I made a mistake in my calculations?" Accountant Wang was unhappy; he had spent days calculating and double-checking everything.

To ensure accuracy, the captain had even asked two educated individuals to help. Did they still think there was an issue?

They knew exactly how much work they had done!

"Enough, Old Wang. You're getting on in years. You know your family's situation well. There are still many others waiting for their grain allocations. Once the ox cart returns, take your grain and money and leave." Captain Chen Zhuangshi didn't want to hear about their grievances.

He had all the work records from the past few years.

If it weren't for their eldest son, who worked twice as hard, the whole family would have starved long ago.

In this northern region, with a resource-rich mountain nearby and a river full of fish, other villages struggled to eat half-full meals, while their village had managed to save money and everyone could eat their fill. This was already a stroke of luck.

With their current approach, if the harvest were poor, they'd have to borrow grain to survive!

Wang Shoucheng was filled with resentment but knew that continuing to argue wouldn't help. He reluctantly led his family aside to wait for the ox cart.

Zhou Jiaojiao never expected their entire family to receive only slightly more than what Wang Qinghe and Bai Xiuxiu got together.

Fortunately, her husband had become a worker; otherwise, they would starve.

Wang Qinghe returned with the ox cart and saw the Wang family standing there with grim faces. He guessed what had happened; this year, they had been lazier than ever, working less and earning fewer points.

Their only fortune was the good harvest.

He lifted the two children off the ox cart.

Seeing his eldest son return, Wang Shoucheng thought about dividing the family sooner rather than later. He needed to get at least eight hundred catties of grain from his eldest son.

Indeed, he had to act subtly, making it seem like he was merely beating his parents.

If he sent him away with nothing, it would look justified!

Wang Qinghe felt disgusted by Wang Shoucheng's gaze, knowing they were scheming again. He moved farther away with the children.

"You're back? I'm almost done with the calculations." Bai Xiuxiu glanced at the Wang family and then at her sleeping children, eager to divide the family soon.

Living under constant scrutiny was exhausting for the children too.

The Wang family was loading the cart, and Bai Xiuxiu was uneasy: "Give me the children; you go back and watch over things."

Wang Qinghe understood her concern and left immediately after placing the children down.

It took another two hours to finish distributing the grain.

Captain Chen Zhuangshi was pleased with this year's harvest. In a couple of days, when the commune meeting was held, he would be the most admired among all the captains.

"Oh, Xiao Bai, when you get home, ask your sister-in-law to come to the office for a reprimand. What happened in the mountains must never happen again. I need to handle this seriously, or I won't be able to face Widow Xia."

Captain Chen instructed Bai Xiuxiu.

She readily agreed, packed up, and headed home with the children.

In the village, after receiving their grain, almost every household prepared a meal of white rice to celebrate the year's harvest.

In a couple of days, when the New Year pigs were slaughtered, they would also have dumplings.

From now until the New Year, life would be comfortable.

However, when Bai Xiuxiu returned, the Wang family was unusually quiet. There was no sign of white rice, and everyone seemed subdued.

Zhao Cuihua sat at the entrance of her room, mending torn clothes.

Seeing Bai Xiuxiu return, she felt envious and frustrated. She and her husband were the ones with the highest work points! With eighteen catties per person per month, it was manageable in winter, but during spring, when work increased, they would need sixty to seventy catties per month!

By then, the whole family would be starving! And this was during a good harvest; what if it wasn't?

Zhao Cuihua felt suffocated!

Zhao Guifen and Wang Shoucheng stayed inside the house, while Zhou Jiaojiao was talking to Liu Xiaoe.

The others were all busy with their work.

When Zhou Jiaojiao saw Bai Xiuxiu return, the smile on her face vanished.

Bai Xiuxiu didn't care whether Zhou Jiaojiao liked her or not; she gave Zhou Jiaojiao a friendly smile. "Sister-in-Law Old Fifth, the captain just said to have you write a self-criticism quickly."

Those words doubled Zhou Jiaojiao's hatred for Bai Xiuxiu.

"Big Sister, was it the captain's order, or did you remind him? I think you just can't stand seeing me happy. My husband is going to start working at the factory the day after tomorrow. If I really have to write a self-criticism, how embarrassing would that be?" Zhou Jiaojiao felt extremely wronged.

She turned to question Bai Xiuxiu instead.

As if Bai Xiuxiu was being unreasonable.

"That's right, Big Sister. Why do you always pick on Sister-in-Law Old Fifth?" Liu Xiaoe had just been flattered by Zhou Jiaojiao and now wanted to please her, so she echoed Zhou Jiaojiao's sentiment, questioning Bai Xiuxiu.

Bai Xiuxiu watched Zhou Jiaojiao's antics. After they both finished speaking, she responded sarcastically, "If you're afraid of embarrassing him, then don't do stupid things. You made your own mistakes; blaming others won't help. I think the one who doesn't want him to succeed is you yourself."

"Don't slander me." Zhou Jiaojiao was about to burst into tears.

Bai Xiuxiu ignored her. "Go if you want to, or don't. But when the captain and Widow Xia come looking for you, don't say I didn't pass on the message. By the way, if Widow Xia causes trouble at your husband's future workplace, it won't just be embarrassing for you."

"Sister-in-Law Old Fifth, what are you waiting for? Go quickly!" Zhao Guifen, who had been eavesdropping from inside the house, couldn't hold back any longer and shouted as she opened the door.

Zhou Jiaojiao bit her lip, got up angrily, and stormed out.

Bai Xiuxiu returned to the room, which was filled with bags of grain, leaving only a small space to walk.

"This is too much of a hindrance. I'll put them in the storage space for now. We can take them out when we move." Bai Xiuxiu said as she stored the grain in her storage space.

The storage space was thirty cubic meters, but it was enough for these items.

After storing the grain, Bai Xiuxiu also harvested a batch of herbs. However, she and Wang Qinghe currently had no shortage of money, and frequent sales of herbs would draw attention. So, she decided to stockpile them in the storage space.

Waiting for Wang Qinghe to decide when to sell.

Looking at the now spacious room, Wang Qinghe was reminded once again that the bracelet his wife possessed was the secret he needed to hide most.