Chapter 98 - 89: Pocket Money

Chapter 98: Chapter 89: Pocket Money

A few miles from Gongdao Village, in another brigade’s territory, was a residential area for an iron mine. A zinc mine, a paper mill, and a cement factory were also located nearby. This was why the commune had decided to build the middle school there. Although the mining area had its own company store, a new retail agency had recently opened. People said it carried a wide variety of goods, almost rivaling the commune’s own supply and marketing co-op, which was convenient for both the mine workers and the nearby farmers.

At ten in the morning, Uncle Jiang set off to deliver tofu and vegetables to the mining area’s cafeteria. He had fitted a rack to the back of his heavy-duty Forever-brand bicycle. After strapping down the wooden box containing the tofu, he secured the vegetable basket on top and carefully rode away.

Just as Grandpa was returning home for lunch, Aunt Jiang came over. She handed Grandma a cardboard box containing shoes and socks, along with a small roll of money. "Your vegetables are simply incredible," she reported with a smile. "So wonderfully fresh and tender! Everyone at the cafeteria was singing their praises. They paid a high price for them—0.16 yuan per jin. It was 52 jin in total, so that came to 8.35 yuan. Xiao Man’s shoes cost 3.50 yuan and a pair of socks were 0.65 yuan, which leaves 4.20 yuan. It’s all right here."

Grandma thanked Aunt Jiang profusely and called Xiao Man over to try on her new shoes. Being a man, Uncle Jiang only checked for damage when he shopped, never giving a second thought to color or style. He had bought Xiao Man a pair of dark gray slip-ons... and bright red nylon socks!

The shoes were nice. The dark color would hide dirt, and they fit comfortably. But when she saw the bright red socks, Xiao Man grimaced.

It was only then that Grandpa realized that in the half-day he’d been gone, Grandma and Xiao Man had pulled up two beds of vegetables and sold them. He was stunned. "I was planning to go to the mine to buy her shoes this afternoon," he said, a little bewildered. "We have money... why did you sell the vegetables?"

Grandma smiled. "Xiao Man waters the garden every day, and the vegetables are growing so quickly and beautifully. We can’t eat them all before they spoil. I thought it would be nice to sell a few, make a little money, and get Xiao Man some shoes and socks at the same time."

"How could we not eat them all?" Grandpa retorted. "We have two piglets now. Haven’t you seen how happily they gobble them up? It really whets their appetites!"

Aunt Jiang chimed in, asking Grandma, "So, Auntie, should I come back tomorrow to help you pull another 50 jin to sell?"

Before Grandma could answer, Grandpa jumped in. "No, no more selling! If we sell all the vegetables, what will my piglets have to eat?"

Aunt Jiang clicked her tongue. "Uncle, how much can two little piglets really eat? Besides, vegetables this good are a treat for people, and you’re giving them to pigs? Do you know what a waste that is? Pigs should eat pig feed! Don’t you have sweet potato vines on your family plot? A big handful of those, chopped up, would feed them for two days!"

Grandpa, for once, was stubborn. "We just brought those piglets home; they need to eat something good. I’ve been boiling rice bran and cornmeal and mixing in tender greens for them, and they’ve been so happy. Once they’re a bit bigger, I’ll start feeding them sweet potato vines!"

Aunt Jiang laughed. "Uncle, are you raising pigs or children, spoiling them like this? Fine, so they have to eat tender shoots, do they? I’ll pick some for you—the sweet potato shoots on my plot are perfectly tender! You just leave this batch of vegetables to me. I’ll sell them for you so you can get started on the next crop!"

’Am I being forced to sell my vegetables now?’ Grandpa was a little annoyed. "Aunt Jiang, your family’s plot is huge. Don’t you grow plenty of vegetables too?"

"Uncle, my vegetables are only two or three inches tall. They’re not ready to be picked!" she explained. "Yours are mature, but you sowed the seeds too densely. If you don’t thin them out by selling them, they’ll bolt and flower, and the whole crop will be tough and old. It’d be such a shame! I can help you sell these three or four beds gradually—fifty or sixty jin a day, along with my tofu deliveries. You could earn eight or nine yuan a day without even leaving the house. Isn’t that a good deal?"

"Of course, that’s wonderful," Grandma said, stepping in. "It’s just that it’s a lot of work for you and your husband. Your uncle here feels bad for imposing on you."

Aunt Jiang laughed. "What’s the trouble? It’s all on my way. Besides, it benefits us too! Your vegetables will give me enough to sell for four or five days. By then, my sister’s vegetables on the south side of the village will be ready, so I’ll sell those. After hers are gone, it’ll be time for mine! Our plot is big, and we have all kinds of vegetables—one harvest can last a whole month, and by then the next one is ready to go! My brother-in-law is in charge of the workers’ cafeteria and he’s keeping this supply route open for me. All I have to do is provide a continuous stream of produce!"

Grandma: ...

Xiao Man couldn’t help but snark silently, ’So that’s what this is about. The ever-so-clever Aunt Jiang is using our vegetables to secure her supply chain.’

Since Aunt Jiang had been so upfront and had even offered to provide tender sweet potato shoots for the piglets, Grandma decided to agree. For the sake of maintaining good neighborly relations, she’d let the couple handle selling the first crop of vegetables.

Grandpa never contradicted Grandma’s decisions, but he laid down the law: the next crop of vegetables was not to be sold! Even if they couldn’t eat it all, they would preserve what was left by pickling it or drying it.

Xiao Man, for her part, also felt a pang of regret. ’These vegetables are top-quality,’ she thought. ’Fifty jin for just over eight yuan... it’s practically giving them away. It feels like such a waste.’

It wasn’t that Uncle and Aunt Jiang had lowballed the price. That was just the reality of the times. A jin of raw salt cost only 0.17 yuan, and Aunt Jiang’s tofu went for 0.25 yuan a jin. Getting 0.16 yuan per jin for vegetables was, in fact, an excellent price.

But now, what was done was done, and it was all because she’d spoken without thinking. ’From now on,’ she resolved, ’I’ll count to three before I say anything.’

After Aunt Jiang left, Grandma handed the roll of money to Xiao Man. "Our vegetables grew so well entirely because you drew water from the well for the garden every single day," she said. "This money is for you. Every young lady should have a bit of pocket money. Here, take it and spend it slowly."

Xiao Man accepted the money, but she kept only two jiao and handed the remaining four yuan back to Grandma. "I don’t need to buy anything, so a little bit of change is plenty," she said. "You should save the rest, Grandma. You’ll need it for my school fees."

Grandpa chuckled from the side. "How can our Xiao Man go without pocket money? If you want to buy something, just say the word, and we’ll get it for you."

"Xiao Man isn’t a little kid anymore," Grandma said. "She’s in fifth grade this year, and she’ll be starting middle school next year. She should have a fixed monthly allowance to manage on her own. It’ll be more convenient if she wants to buy something for herself when she’s out."

"Yes, yes, your grandma’s right. You should have your own allowance to manage. Now let’s see... how much should we give you a month? I worry that if it’s too much, you might not keep it safe and could lose it."

"Our Xiao Man is a careful girl," Grandma said. "She won’t lose it."

Xiao Man nodded earnestly. "I’d be the one finding the money other people drop!"

Grandpa and Grandma both laughed. After a brief discussion, they decided: starting this month, they would give Xiao Man a two-yuan allowance. It was up to her whether she saved it or spent it.

According to what Mo Shuixia had said, you could make a trip to the market fair with just two jiao. A monthly allowance of two yuan, in this day and age, was an unheard-of luxury for a child in Gongdao Village!

Xiao Man knew she was fortunate. She had been given a second chance at life and had even unexpectedly obtained a Treasure Bead. But the thing that brought her the most joy and satisfaction was being able to live with Grandpa and Grandma, and to be the granddaughter they loved and cherished with all their hearts!