Chapter Fifteen: The Captain’s Disdain

It was a long while before the young women emerged from their room; led by the two youth team leaders, everyone made their way toward the Party branch office.

Yang Xiuying and Hao Hongmin's eyes were swollen and red, clearly from crying. Yet by now, everyone’s mental and physical reserves were utterly depleted; no one noticed their state. Otherwise, the sight of a weeping beauty would surely have prompted some rash young men to speak up for them.

Han Li, of course, was in fine health, but at this moment he chose to follow the crowd, avoiding the pointless role of an eager sycophant.

“Village Chief Zhao, Captain Liang, Secretary Zhang, you’re all here. We’ve brought the new youths to draw some rations in advance,” greeted the team leaders upon arriving at the branch office. Only then did Han Li realize that the village’s three principal figures—the chief, the captain, and the secretary—were all present.

Village Chief Zhao Shengli sat smoking his pipe in an armchair, Secretary Zhang Dagang wore a genial smile at his side, while Captain Liang Ziqiang watched them with obvious impatience, as though regarding a burden.

“Dragging your feet, dawdling about—sorting out bed spaces and blankets took ages. What else can you do?” he snapped. “Now that you’re here, don’t waste time. Come sign the documents quickly. Each of you is allotted thirty-five pounds of grain per month.”

“With a little over two months until the autumn harvest, the team will let you draw three months’ worth of rations in advance.”

“That should last you until the grain is distributed. If you squander it and can’t make it, you’ll have to figure it out yourselves.”

“After the harvest, your work points will first repay the advanced grain. Whatever points remain will determine how much grain you get.”

“If you feel your rations are insufficient, you may use money to buy extra grain—but you only get this opportunity once a year.”

“This privilege is unique to our Shanghe Brigade. You’re allowed to exchange money for grain. The neighboring Zhonghe and Xiaohe Brigades don’t have this option—if you’re short on rations, you’ll simply go hungry.”

“I know you youths have money and, lacking work points, want to buy grain in the county town.”

“But wherever you go, speculation and profiteering are crimes if you’re caught. I won’t intercede for you.”

“I’ll say it again here: As long as you work diligently and honestly in our Shanghe Brigade, you may lack meat in your lives here, but you will never lack grain.”

“If you want to eat only fine grain, it’s not impossible—provided you earn enough work points and have enough money.”

Hearing this, those from more affluent families, like Yang Xiuying and Hao Hongmin, began to feel pleased.

They hadn’t expected that, even after moving to the countryside, they could eat fine grain freely. It was almost better than conditions back home.

But Han Li knew things couldn’t possibly be so simple. If it were, Aunt Liu would have told him back in the county.

Someone asked how to exchange for fine grain, thinking they could buy some to mail home if the terms were favorable.

Captain Liang Ziqiang, however, spoke again, dousing their hopes like a bucket of cold water.

“What are you thinking? The advance is all coarse grain.”

“If you want fine grain, wait until after the autumn harvest and see how many work points you’ve earned. If you lack points, you won’t even want to buy fine grain.”

“Captain, how many work points do we need to buy fine grain?”

Liang Ziqiang replied, “Seven hundred points and above, then you can buy. If you don’t have seven hundred, you buy at a three-to-seven ratio.”

“For every hundred pounds of grain, you can buy at most twenty pounds of fine grain. That’s a strict rule and won’t change.”

“But if you have more than seven hundred points, there’s no limit. You can exchange all your points for fine grain if you wish.”

“But first, you must ensure these fine grains will last you until next autumn—otherwise you’ll go hungry.”

Everyone calculated in their minds: three months, ninety days, seven hundred points. They’d need to earn about eight points a day to buy fine grain. Though they didn’t know yet how hard it would be to earn eight points daily, the calculation wasn’t so straightforward. The seven hundred points first had to repay the advanced three months’ rations. What remained had to last until next year. With that, their hopes cooled completely.

Before next autumn’s harvest, they could forget about eating fine grain regularly. To have fine grain after next autumn, they’d have to strive hard for work points.

“Captain, how many points can a person earn each day?”

Liang Ziqiang answered, “That depends on you. The tasks are different, and so are the points.”

“Hard physical labor earns more, others earn less.”

“No matter the task, ten points is the daily maximum. Both heavy and light labor can reach ten points.”

“The team has scorekeepers to track your work. As long as your work is up to standard and the task completed, you’ll receive the corresponding points.”

“But no one can earn more than ten points a day. Once you finish, you’re free to do as you wish.”

Once Captain Liang explained the work system, everyone began signing the documents.

Han Li was the last to sign. After he finished, seeing all three leaders present, he seized the chance to make his request.

Other villages had only a chief or a captain; finding one person was enough for any matter. Shanghe Village’s unique situation—stemming from three prominent families—meant a division of powers. If Han Li missed this opportunity, he’d be running between three households.

“Village Chief Zhao, Captain Liang, Secretary Zhang, I’ve heard our village allows youths to build their own houses—is that true?”

“If it is, I’d like to build two small rooms myself.”

At Han Li’s question, everyone’s attention turned to him, especially Yang Xiuying and Hao Hongmin.

When they first entered the youth compound, their hearts sank; and when it came time to divide beds, they were infuriated. Down south, people value their privacy. They tried to use spare sheets to block off their space and were met with universal opposition, nearly branded as pampered princesses.

If they could build their own house and the price wasn’t too steep, why suffer all this?

The three leaders exchanged glances. Village Chief Zhao tapped his pipe and spoke.

“In principle, youths are allowed to build their own houses, but there’s something you should know ahead of time.”

“The house can be built however you like. If you have enough money, you could even build a five-room tile house.”

“While you’re in the village, the house is yours forever. But if you leave one day, it will belong to the village.”

A five-room tile house? There were hardly any such houses in all of AA County.

Only a fool would build something so grand; besides, a large house would be a hassle to maintain.

Han Li only wanted an independent, private space, where he could cook his own meals and improve his life a little. When winter came, he could heat his room as much as he liked and spend the season peacefully alone. Of course, if a girl happened by for a chat in the long winter, he wouldn’t object—but that would depend on fate.