After noon, all the Production Teams gathered in the yard of the brigade to distribute the corn rations. Some members were beaming, some were frowning whereas some were cursing, words full of biased opinions.
There were also nearly one-fifth of the people in the village whose work points were not enough to cover the rations and needed to be bought with money. Nonetheless, as they have no money, they have to owe some money every year. Naturally, other members were also not happy about it. Those with a large labour force would like for the rations to be divided according to work points regardless of the quantity of family members.
Therefore, when it came to food distribution, there were inevitably various contradictions.
Other families who didn’t have enough work points also didn’t want to give out any of their money as they rather owe the team. After all, they probably felt like the money they owed the Production Team would gradually disappear on its own if it weren’t brought up over some time.
As long as they thought they had a chance at not returning their debts, they didn’t mind how much they owed.
It was the turn of Lin Lan’s family. Their portions were calculated according to the family members they had and the work points they accumulated. If it was not enough, she could use the money at hand.
She didn’t grumble or play any form of mind games like the others, happily pressing her fingerprint on the agreement as she handed the money.
Some people taunted her eccentrically, “What is she pretending to do? Is she trying to show us that she is rich?”
Lin Lan’s behaviour of not having enough work points but remaining consensual to pay offended some people. With her actions, it would be more of an incentive for the Production Team members to compare her to their habits of not paying up front and owing money. If anything, they might even be more proactive in asking them to clear their debts thanks to her setting an example.
“Zhao Guilian, hurry up and make up for the ration money. If you don’t pay up for the previous years, you won’t get your year,” The Captain of the 3rd Squad shouted, “Look at Han Qingsong’s family. If you are short of work points, you should use money as a subsidy. They don’t play tricks; unlike you who’ve been owing the team money for several years at this point.”
Zhao Guilian was somewhat related to the Vice Captain of the 2nd Squad. Thanks to the connections she had, she could usually do almost anything she wanted, but upon hearing that the captain was targeting her, she immediately started raging, “Their family has an official, so of course they’re rich. How can I compare?”
She pushed the youths next to her, “Tell me, is that not the case?”
Lin Lan snorted, “If you have the ability, you can go to the army and become an official as well, got it? You don’t work hard yourself and you’re here slandering others; how ironic!” She placed the food aside as she would ask the children to help her carry them home after classes ended.
Everyone laughed and many people laughed at Zhao Guilian, “If your man can’t handle being a soldier, you can just train your son.”
Someone amongst the crowd laughed, “Do you think anyone can be a soldier? The army is the one selecting candidates.”
Dong Huaihua said to the man, “Let’s help move this to Lin Lan’s house before moving our own.”
Lin Lan quickly thanked them.
Dong Huaihua smiled and said, “What for? If my husband wasn’t home, wouldn’t Han Qingsong offer to help all the same as well?”