Chronicle of the 70s
Chapter 82: End of 1980 accounting

Chapter 82: End of 1980 accounting

The work-point calculation for the production brigade came down, and one point was worth four cents. Over a year, a full work-point is 2,000 points, which converts to eight hundred yuan in cash. However, more than half of that would need to be exchanged for grain, depending on each family’s need.

Li Erfu, as someone in a special category of work like driving mule-drawn carts, would always get full points, whereas other people would have some deducted. As he had to feed the livestock and drive carts all year round, his work points naturally were much higher. That year, Li Erfu received 2,400 work points, which translated into 960 yuan. After exchanging for grain, he had 160 yuan left.

While Li Jianqing, who would go to the team to work whenever he had free time, also saved up nearly 400 work points, which came to one hundred and sixty yuan. Li Erfu intended to not exchange for grain but wanted all cash since the child decided to join the army. If all went well, he would leave next April, so it was essential to have some money in hand as no one goes out without money.

The entire Li Family Village Production Team was bustling in distributing grain and money, with everyone overjoyed. This year’s harvest was good, and thus the work points were high. Each household, after getting their grain, could still save one or two hundred yuan. Families with strong laborers at least had five or six hundred yuan.

Therefore, as mothers, they all started to make calculations. Their sons would soon need to get married, and with some cash at hand, it was time to start arranging things early on.

However, Ge Sanmei’s family was anything but peaceful at this time. An Cuicui was embracing Gangzi, who had just been throwing a tantrum on the ground.

Ge Sanmei’s hair was yanked out, and with blood at the corner of her mouth, she was helped up by Li Jianye, who rushed back.

Ge Sanmei’s scalp was in pain, and when she touched it, her hand came away bloody. Immediately she kicked An Cuicui in the ribs, causing her to scream in pain and get up, then she confronted Li Jianye: "Li Jianye, you spineless ghost, you just watch as others hit your wife without doing anything."

Li Jianye didn’t say anything but instead took the child from An Cuicui’s arms and said coldly, "What’s going on again? You two are fighting every two or three days."

Life had become unbearable. His mom and his wife were constantly getting into physical altercations. Whomever he protected, he’d be wrong, so he decided it’d be best not to interfere at all.

An Cuicui didn’t wait for Ge Sanmei to speak and cried out, "Jianye, your Mom wants to starve our whole family to death, isn’t she? It’s still okay for us adults, but think about Gangzi—he is your own son, how can she be so heartless?"

Li Jianye was stunned and turned to look at his mother.

As soon as Ge Sanmei heard that, she became furious and said to Li Jianye, "Jianye, hurry up and get the papers to divorce this lazy wife. Once you’re divorced, Mom will find you a good one!"

Li Jianye frowned and looked at his mother, then turned around and said to An Cuicui disapprovingly, "Aren’t you going to get up and cook? It’s the middle of the day, which household hasn’t started their meal? Our home doesn’t even have a pot of hot water by now. It was better when your sister was here—aside from keeping the house clean, there was hot food and tea on time. Look at yourself, you’re so much older than your sister, what can you actually do?"

An Cuicui got up from the ground, pouted, and said, "Humph, now you start to appreciate your sister. Your sister has long been sold by that heartless man to enjoy her life in someone else’s home."

Ge Sanmei was so angry she almost turned upside down. Her eldest son was disobedient now, and even this lazy daughter-in-law dared to talk back to her.

An Cuicui, remembering the matter at hand, quickly said, "Jianye, if the team is distributing grain, you’d better hurry over. I just heard Mom discussing with Er Fu that they want five hundred yuan. You are the only able-bodied laborer at home, and we’re all depending on your grain for the year. If that’s all turned into money, don’t mention you will divorce me; I’ll take Gangzi and go straight back to my parents’ home. You and your mother can starve!"

Li Jianye turned around abruptly and said coldly to Ge Sanmei, "Mom, are you trying to starve our entire family to death?"

Upon hearing her eldest son talk back to her like that, Ge Sanmei jumped up and went to pinch him, but Li Jianqing stretched his hand like a fan palm and blocked her, saying, "Mom, don’t make a fuss anymore. Now that you are living with us, I don’t need you to do much. Just take good care of Gangzi. We don’t want a cent of the money in your hands, but don’t take the money from the team this year. I did all the work myself, it has nothing to do with Er Fu. He wants to study; let him find his own way."

Ge Sanmei cried out on the spot when she heard that her brother was being ignored, "Li Jianye, you heartless one! The whole Li Family has lost its conscience! Your brother is now in high school, and you refuse to support his education. How can your heart be so cruel?"

Li Jianye put the child in his arms down in the kitchen, poured water into a basin, and began washing outside with an old towel, completely ignoring Ge Sanmei’s tantrum.

Ever since Mom and Daddy were divorced, there’s been no peace at home. Mom got two hundred yuan, and the family’s previous savings amounted to over four hundred. Mom didn’t give me a single cent, and now she even wants to take the grain. No way.

Taking care of my own mother is my responsibility; don’t even think about the rest. During this time, I went to my uncle’s house and talked a lot with grandmother and uncle. Daddy was so indulgent which is why Mom has become like this. She wants everything to be done according to her wishes. At the slightest dissatisfaction, she makes a fuss. Daddy is not one to make trouble and, seeing someone upset, would just agree, thus spoiling Mom to have so many bad habits.

Now that they are divorced and I am the eldest son in control of the home, there will be a lot of expenses in the future, and I can’t let Mom alone create a mess in the home. Besides, I haven’t taken a single cent of the money Mom has for Er Fu’s education; isn’t that enough?

I know how many meals I’ve had of the remaining hundred pounds of wheat flour at home. Jianqing always leaves with plenty of grain and money. Who else would attend school like that? Living off the hard work of an entire family, dressed clean and neat to go to school -- this isn’t how it works in a peasant family.

Ge Sanmei was stunned; the eldest had completely changed. She got up from the ground and rushed to Li Jianye, saying in disbelief, "Jianye, what’s gotten into you? Er Fu is your own brother, and you refuse to support his education? If he studies, becomes an official, gets a job in the city, everyone will get to enjoy the benefits. Have you lost your mind?"

Li Jianye wiped his face and frowned, "Mom, I’m not crazy. Jianye would sell his own sister for a job. What wouldn’t he do? Me, enjoying his fortune? Stop talking. Mom, stop being naive. Even if he studies, becomes an official, and gets a city job, do you think he’ll take you with him?" Having said that, Li Jianye poured out the water from the basin and entered the kitchen.

Ge Sanmei stood there in a daze. Jianwen wasn’t such a person. What’s going on nowadays? Everyone is unwilling to support Er Fu’s education. But Er Fu said he would take her to the city when he succeeded. To provide for her in her old age, to buy her clothes.

Author’s Note: Today’s three updates are finished, with two more scheduled for the afternoon.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.