Bringing Good Luck to your Husband in the 70s - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Dividing the Autumn Harvest

Su Yue had originally been making egg pudding in the kitchen. It wasn’t just for earning work points; she had suddenly grown greedy for the taste and decided to make some when she had free time after the meal.

Since Li Xiaoqing had been busy that day and no one was available to tend the fire, Han Aiguo had taken the initiative to sit in front of the stove and light it for Su Yue. While feeding the flames, he had mentioned what Old Madam Zhao had threatened earlier about reporting their cake business.

Su Yue’s expression had instantly turned cold after listening.

Han Aiguo had asked, “What are you planning to do about this?”

Su Yue had continued working with her hands for a while before letting out a deep sigh. Enduring the ache in her heart, she had said, “What else can I do? We have to stop the business in town. We can’t continue anymore.”

Han Aiguo hadn’t been surprised by this response. He had already expected she would make that choice. The town was too close to the village. Now that the Zhao family knew their family was selling cakes there, if they grew jealous over not getting the recipe and decided to report them, it would be easy enough to catch evidence simply by following Aimin in secret. They could no longer afford to sell pastries openly in town.

Su Yue had known this as well, which was why she had no choice but to give it up. From now on, Aimin could not be allowed to go door-to-door in the town delivering cakes as it was too risky.

That stream of income was now gone.

Just thinking about losing so much money each month had made Su Yue’s heart ache as though it were bleeding. Fortunately, they still had the business in the city. There was no problem with sending cakes to Sister Jiang’s house. Even if someone saw it, she could simply say it was for relatives, and no one could object. Sister Jiang would even help her cover the lie.

Han Aiguo thought for a moment and then said, “In the future, I’ll ask Aimin not to deliver cakes during the day. He should go at night so it’ll be safer and less likely for others to notice.”

Su Yue also agreed. To avoid problems, it was indeed safer to make deliveries at night. But traveling in the pitch dark for more than two hours back and forth was exhausting, especially for a fourteen-year-old like Aimin. They couldn’t borrow the brigade’s mule cart every time either as that would easily raise suspicion.

That was when Su Yue remembered the bicycle she had seen in town. Her desire to buy one grew stronger. With a bicycle, transporting cakes would be faster, safer, and far less tiring.

The only problem was tickets. Before, she hadn’t been able to buy one because she lacked both money and tickets. Now she had the money, but still no ticket. In these days, money alone couldn’t buy much as tickets were the key. Bicycles were considered big-ticket items, and hardly anyone could get them. Even with her current connections, she had no way.

Su Yue sighed dejectedly and muttered, “Why do you need a ticket for everything? What kind of system is this?”

Han Aiguo overheard and asked, “What ticket do you need? What do you want to buy?”

“I want to buy a bicycle,” Su Yue admitted with another sigh. “It would make traveling easier and help Aimin deliver cakes to town. But I don’t have a ticket, so I can’t buy one even if I want to.”

Han Aiguo raised his brows, thought for a moment, and said, “I’m going to town tomorrow. I’ll ask some of my comrades who were discharged and transferred if they still have tickets. If they do, I’ll ask them to send one to me.”

That comrade of his had gone to work in the Public Security Bureau. Departments like that often received tickets during the New Year. It was possible.

Su Yue’s eyes lit up. Han Aiguo never spoke without reason, if he said it might work, then there was a real chance. Could she really get a bicycle?

“You’re amazing!” Su Yue exclaimed, so excited that she leaned over and kissed him hard on the cheek.

Han Aiguo had gradually grown accustomed to her enthusiastic little gestures. Though he would never admit it, he secretly loved them. Every time she did something like that, the corners of his lips would curl up involuntarily, a rare softness melting his usual sternness. If his soldiers had seen him like this, they would never have believed this smiling man was their cold-faced battalion commander.

The two of them had continued chatting and laughing. Before long, the egg pudding in the pot was ready. Su Yue pulled one out and handed it to Han Aiguo. “Try it.”

He didn’t care much for snacks, but since Su Yue offered, he didn’t refuse. He popped it into his mouth and chewed the way he usually ate as fast, almost mechanical.

Su Yue pressed a hand to her forehead. This man really didn’t know how to eat snacks. He treated egg pudding the same way he swallowed dates; hardly tasting it at all. Giving it to him almost felt wasteful. Still, he was a soldier and had long developed the habit of eating quickly and heavily. She didn’t say anything, simply wrapped a few extras in oiled paper for him.

After Han Aiguo left, Su Yue carried the plate of pudding back to her room to share with the others. The moment she stepped inside, the four girls surrounded her.

Wu Xiaoxiao snatched the plate from her hands, pushed Su Yue into a chair, and prepared to “interrogate” her.

Li Xiaoqing looked serious. “Tell us honestly, do you have an improper relationship with Comrade Han Aiguo?”

Wu Xiaoxiao crossed her arms and said sternly, “No need to ask! A man and woman staying in the kitchen together for so long can’t possibly be innocent.”

Li Xiaoqing frowned slightly and asked tentatively, “Su Yue… are you really seeing Brother Han?”

Su Yue was momentarily dumbfounded by their questioning, but since she had already let Han Aiguo step into her life, she saw no need to keep it a secret anymore. She admitted openly, “Yes, I am indeed in a relationship with Comrade Han Aiguo.”

The four exchanged glances, each feeling a little conflicted. None of them had expected Su Yue to fall for someone here in the countryside. Among all the educated youths, Su Yue was the most beautiful, the most graceful, the one who seemed least suited to rural life. In their eyes, her future had looked infinitely bright that she could easily find a wealthy, powerful man in the city.

And yet, the one they thought least likely to take root here had been the first to fall in love.

Wu Xiaoxiao bit her lip and asked quietly, “Su Yue… don’t you want to go back to the city?”

Su Yue understood what she meant. Many educated youth, unable to bear rural life, chose to settle with local men and give up their chances of returning. But others, unwilling to tie themselves down, held onto the hope of going back to the city and refused to marry here.

Su Yue, however, simply smiled. “Falling in love with Han Aiguo doesn’t mean I’ve given up the chance to return to the city. I believe the policy will change one day, and we’ll be able to go back if we want.”

Wu Xiaoxiao asked again, hesitant, “But if you do go back, wouldn’t you rather find someone from the city? Why settle for a man from the countryside?”

“Whether you’re in the city or the countryside,” Su Yue replied calmly, “as long as you like the person, you’ll be happy if you can build a good life together. Being with someone from the countryside doesn’t mean you won’t be happy. On the other hand, choosing someone from the city doesn’t guarantee a good life either. Don’t you think so?”

Her words gave them pause. Thinking it over, they realized she had a point. Han Aiguo was handsome, his injured leg was nearly healed, and he was still a battalion-level cadre in the army. His conditions weren’t worse than those of many men in the city. With him, Su Yue wouldn’t be living poorly.

Relieved, they stopped worrying and offered her their blessings.

—

Two days later, it was time for the village to divide the autumn harvest.

The atmosphere in the village was jubilant. Everyone’s spirits were high, and their eyes sparkled with anticipation. Even Li Xiaoqing was excited. Food had been scarce for a long time. If not for Su Yue often helping them, they would have been left hungry more than once. Naturally, they had been waiting eagerly for this day.

That morning, no one worked in the fields. Everyone gathered in front of the brigade headquarters, where the production team was distributing the harvest. Representatives from each household lined up, while the team’s accountant and scorekeeper recorded and weighed the shares.

When Su Yue and her companions arrived, many families were already queuing. Old Lady Han stood not far ahead. Spotting Su Yue, she waved eagerly. “Yueyue, come here with Auntie. Let’s go together.”

Li Xiaoqing and the others nudged Su Yue teasingly. “Quick, go on. Your future mother-in-law is calling you.”

Su Yue, unembarrassed, walked over generously and stood by Old Lady Han.

The aunt standing behind Old Lady Han joked, “Sister-in-law of the Han family, are you thinking of adopting her as a goddaughter?”

Old Lady Han chuckled deeply to herself. Adopted daughter? She was planning to make Su Yue the eldest daughter-in-law of the Han family.

She patted Su Yue’s arm kindly. “I’ll have Han Aiguo and the others help you transport your food later. You’re too delicate to carry so much grain yourself.”

Su Yue turned and saw the four Han sons waiting nearby. Even Han Aiguo was among them. When his gaze met hers, a smile flickered in his eyes.

She winked at him playfully before turning back to chat quietly with Old Lady Han.

This was Su Yue’s first time experiencing the grain division, and curiosity got the better of her. “Auntie, how exactly do they divide it? How much grain does one work point exchange for?”

Old Lady Han explained, “We don’t always divide by work points as it’s too troublesome. This time we’re dividing by population. Coarse grains like sorghum are one kilogram per person; children over ten get half, and those under ten get thirty grams. At the end of the year, when everything is tallied, we’ll settle accounts properly by work points. Anyone who received too much or too little will have it corrected.”

Su Yue nodded in understanding.

Before long, it was the Han family’s turn. The accountant looked at the record book, counted six adults, one twelve-year-old, and four children under ten, then quickly worked the abacus. After a few moments, he announced, “Sorghum, 560 kilograms. Fine grain, 200 kilograms. Soybeans, 40 kilograms…”

The weigher began measuring accordingly, while Old Lady Han watched the scale like a hawk, determined not to let them shortchange her.

But Su Yue quickly noticed something. Just staring at the scale wasn’t enough, the real problem was in the calculation. The Han family’s sorghum should have totalled 590 kilograms, not 560. That was thirty kilograms missing that is enough to feed a child under ten for an entire season.

But pointing out the accountant’s mistake in front of the whole crowd would embarrass him. Su Yue rolled her eyes cleverly and said aload, “Uncle Accountant, you counted Aunt Han’s household population wrong. She has six adults, one twelve-year-old, and four children.”

The accountant froze. He had counted exactly that. But before he could protest, Su Yue stepped closer and whispered, “Uncle Accountant, the Han family’s sorghum should be 590. You must’ve miscalculated.”

The man’s face flickered in realization. He quickly recalculated on the abacus, sure enough, it was 590 kilograms. Looking at Su Yue, he understood she had deliberately said the “population” was wrong to save him face.

“This girl is clever,” he thought.

Catching on immediately, he said aloud, “Ah, my mistake. I miscounted the Han family’s population. Their sorghum should be 590 kilograms. Add thirty more.”

Old Lady Han squeezed Su Yue’s hand gratefully. If not for her sharp eyes, they would have lost thirty whole kilograms without ever realizing it. Like most villagers, she had never been good with accounts and trusted whatever the accountant said. Who would have thought the abacus could be wrong?

She was overwhelmed with relief and pride. This girl was smart, calm, and quick-witted. Truly, her eldest son had struck gold in finding such a wife. For years she had worried that his bad luck would keep him from marrying well, but clearly, all the luck he had missed in life had been saved for finding Su Yue.

Delighted, Old Lady Han said warmly, “Once the grain is home, come to our place, Yueyue. We’ll have a proper meal today. I’ll even cut some meat.”

Su Yue smiled and agreed.

The rest of the process went smoothly. Once the Han family finished, they carried their share aside. Su Yue also collected her portion, after which Old Lady Han had her sons divide the work; Han Lao-er and Han Lao-san carried the Han family’s grain home, while Han Aiguo and Han Aimin helped Su Yue deliver hers to the educated youth compound. They even helped Li Xiaoqing and the others with theirs, earning playful teasing from the girls.

Later, Su Yue went with Han Aiguo to the Han household for dinner. When she arrived, she discovered the family had already begun cooking separately. The old lady still used the original stove, while Han Lao-er and Han Lao-san had built new ones behind the house and started cooking on their own.