Three days later, Aunt Chen returned from her holiday, bringing with her a string of bad news that quickly snapped Zhou Jiao back to reality from her good mood.
After the drought, frost, and floods in the north, so areas in the south were even more miserable. Besides these, there were continuous occurrences of windstorms, locusts, and armyworm infestations.
Zhou Jiao didn’t even need to ask to know that there would certainly be no harvests, another year of disasters. Even though she was ntally prepared, hearing the confirmation from soone else’s mouth made her feelings more complex.
Before she could express her lant, Aunt Chen was already whispering in her ear, advising her to cut back on spending. Currently, city officials get 28 pounds of grain per month, and citizens only get 26 pounds, with only 2 ounces of pork provided per person each month.
Listening to this, Zhou Jiao felt a blockage in her heart—it seed like she would have to reduce her food intake when she returned to school. Was it easy for her? Suddenly, the two of them had their allowances reduced and would have to dip into their reserves again.
She hadn’t expected there to be another heartbreaking event...
"Before I ca back, I specifically went to the supply office to ask. Apart from pregnant won and infants, every household in the courtyard also needs to cut back. From now on, at will mainly rely on distribution from internal farms, and tobacco and alcohol will only be supplied during holidays and festivals."
Zhou Jiao weakly waved her hand, "Aunt Chen, just tell everything at once, don’t hit wave after wave."
Aunt Chen chuckled, "At the end of this year, give a little more for the household expenses. I need to queue at the service club every day. After the New Year, it’ll be even harder to buy what you want once the holidays are over."
Zhou Jiao gave her a thumbs-up, amazing! Standing in line in such cold weather, it’s a wonder she didn’t freeze to death.
After saying this, Aunt Chen didn’t have ti to say much more and hurriedly ran off to check the storeroom. She was worried; not being ho for the past few days, who knows how much stuff this girl had wasted.
A mont later, Aunt Chen ca out with a smile and praised, "Well done this ti. Do you have any more connections? Let Xiao Wu prepare so stock."
Zhou Jiao looked at her speechlessly—there was no need to find an excuse; a reason had already been given. Did she have connections at the black market? She was the biggest connection there, wasn’t she?
"Forget it, better not take the risk. No matter how much they cut back, the supply office won’t let the chiefs go hungry."
What could Zhou Jiao say? The whole thing was just her talking to herself for amusent. And truly, without her secret stash, their family might actually go hungry.
How powerful was her father, how much status did he have, yet could he seize military rations?
"I heard there’s no market fair this year, and even more people going to temple fairs. How many people from all over Beijing would be squeezing in? Although life is hard nowadays, there are still a lot of wealthy people; you can bet people will be packed shoulder to shoulder."
Zhou Jiao was once again quite struck by Aunt Chen’s comnts, she smiled wryly.
Applying this logic, every temple fair across the city this year would surely be crowded, with people not only looking to join in the fun, but also seeking opportunities to stockpile so supplies.
The nature of temple fairs has changed, so what would she go for? To see what on the streets? The main roads or the crowds? It seed even her son’s long, candied haws weren’t happening; wouldn’t they just get crushed?
Zhou Jiao had originally planned to take her son to a temple fair in January to show him what a grand festival was. Compared to twist dancing or high-altitude fireworks, temple fairs were more down-to-earth.
Now, the plans needed to be reconsidered thoroughly.
That afternoon, Lin Lishan snuck back, pulling Zhou Jiao into the room with a secretive and gleeful expression.
Zhou Jiao was dying of curiosity—what was her mother up to? Was she smiling so wide because of a promotion or newfound wealth? No need to be so sneaky about it.
Lin Lishan grinned foolishly and handed her daughter a handful of vouchers from her bag, proudly showing off, "How about it? Isn’t your mom great?"
Zhou Jiao didn’t even have ti to look at what the vouchers were before she asked urgently, "Mom, where did these co from? You didn’t do anything wrong, did you? Our family doesn’t lack for essentials, you mustn’t get caught out."
Hearing this, Lin Lishan grew angry and tapped her daughter’s forehead, saying resentfully, "Aren’t you usually quite clever? How can you be so silly at a crucial mont? You think I led the team tirelessly day and night just to snatch so phony glory? I’ve already beco a group leader, where else would I develop to?"
Zhou Jiao laughed foolishly, "Your daughter was wrong, spare this ti. They’re all subsidies or exchanges, right? Mom, you’re so smart! You’re amazing!"
Her words made Lin Lishan laugh heartily, ssing up her daughter’s hair before stopping.
After so playful teasing, Lin Lishan sighed, "I’ve left the household matters to you, I can’t let my daughter struggle to cook without rice, can I? After the holiday, we’re all going to have to cut back, so we’ll need to find ways to gather so food coupons for you at school. Especially since Xiao Wu has a big appetite, we can’t let him go hungry."
At first, Zhou Jiao was quite moved, but later it didn’t sit right with her. She pouted and muttered, "Xiao Wu must be your real son. Why aren’t you worried about going hungry."
After she spoke, she laughed to herself.
"With your little cat’s appetite, how much can you eat? Don’t think Mom dotes on Xiao Wu, he’s your husband, and he’s responsible for the entire household and outside work. If I’m good to him, won’t he be better to my daughter?"
Zhou Jiao blinked and nodded with a smile. What kind of logic was that? But as long as soone loved her man, as long as it wasn’t another girl, she was more than happy to accept it.
"Mom, your son-in-law has made preparations. Make sure you don’t lower yourself to chummy up with outsiders just for so extras."
Lin Lishan squinted at her, straightened her back, raised her chin, and snorted arrogantly, "Who do you think I am? Why would I need to ingratiate myself to those people?"
Zhou Jiao grinned and nodded in agreent.
This was good, not losing the Zhou Family’s dignity was enough. Although her secret stash couldn’t be revealed to her mom, so external things didn’t necessitate her mom’s concession.
"Mom’s not foolish. Mom knows our family is not as good as the best, but better than the rest. With your dad’s status and Xiao Wu as a capable son-in-law, who wouldn’t give face? Would I need to bow to outsiders?"
Lin Lishan’s pride left Zhou Jiao a bit dazed—her mom was a happy woman! With the fall of the Lin Family, she had the support of her husband and son-in-law, and in the future, she would have the close-knit connection with Ping’an, truly a main character halo.
"Check what’s close to expiring and make sure to use it in ti. I have to rush back to work; call the troupe if anything cos up."
Zhou Jiao stood at the doorway, watching the hurried Lin Lishan leave, realizing it was only a few hours till her mom finished work, she couldn’t help but chuckle silently.
Zhou Jiao looked up at the decent weather, returned inside to change clothes. After informing Aunt Chen of her whereabouts, she shouldered a specially-made large bag and lazily strolled out of the Big Courtyard.
As the end of the year approached, there seed to be quite a few people returning ho for family visits. The closer she walked towards the city center, the more she saw children wearing little cotton-padded jackets and trousers, or with cotton hats and earmuffs, and little ones with five-eye laced boots. She suddenly realized that schools were also on vacation, which explained why there were so many people on the streets and alleyways.
Braving the light snow, Zhou Jiao strolled leisurely, her face donning a gentle smile as she looked at the little ones held in the arms or led by elderly n and won, often sharing a knowing smile with them.
As she wandered around admiring the scenery, she ignored the passing buses and the hurried passersby, who all couldn’t help but glance her way.
Zhou Jiao wandered absentmindedly through the streets and alleyways, trying to observe the conditions of various households and better understand the lives of ordinary families. Leaving the Big Courtyard and facing reality, any insights she gained she couldn’t yet articulate.
Difficult! Very difficult! Firewood, rice, oil, and salt, life’s essentials, no one has it easy.
Half a candy shared brightening children’s laughter; buying half a pound of oil delighting elderly won. Thankfully, there were those who took pleasure in small fortunes, making life still full of brightness.
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