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."