Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 108: Risk Sharing

Yi Chichi and the others also changed their expressions. Don’t underestimate a hundred pounds of grain and thirty yuan; it doesn’t sound like much.

In reality, if Liu Xiaocao truly followed this standard, she would struggle to feed herself.

Yi Chichi wasn’t sure how grain was distributed elsewhere, but in Kao Shan Village, there were two types of grain allocations for members.

One was work points grain, and the other was population grain.

To achieve full work points grain throughout the year, you needed to reach three thousand work points, which only amounted to 100-150 pounds of grain.

The distribution of population grain had various levels: children under ten had a quota, and 11-17-year-old teenagers had another quota.

Then there was the quota for those above 18.

Elderly people who lost working ability fell under the same standard as children under ten; those who did not lose working ability were counted in the above 18 category.

Last year, the harvest in Kao Shan Village was decent. After paying the public grain, adults received 170 pounds of wheat as population grain, and 100 pounds of rice as work points grain.

Both wheat and rice are refined grains; they are limited in quantity, but you could exchange them for coarser grains like corn and sweet potatoes, increasing the amount significantly.

However, these exchanges were based on the calculation of labor into work points before conversion.

Therefore, those without enough work points to receive much grain had to rely on inverted households to borrow from the brigade.

Full work points only amounted to 270 pounds of grain, and Xiaocao needed to achieve full work points to afford this hundred pounds.

Even so, she would still live in extreme hardship.

No matter how small a girl’s appetite, seventy pounds of grain a year wasn’t enough, especially when you couldn’t supplement nutrition with eggs, meat, milk, and similar foods like in later generations.

Therefore, she had to earn full work points throughout the year to exchange all refined grains for coarse grains, just barely not starving after paying the hundred pounds of grain.

If you add those thirty yuan, Xiaocao’s life would become unlivable.

Many shared Yi Chichi’s thoughts.

Wu Yongfei blurted out, "Xiaocao, are you out of your mind? A hundred pounds of grain and thirty yuan; you’re planning to stop living?"

He lamented bitterly, unable to understand why Liu Xiaocao would agree to such terrifying demands.

"Xiao Liu, what are you all doing, letting the child Xiaocao agree to such horrendous terms?"

Mr. Liu was so angry he hit Liu Xiangqian with his cane, his scarred face looking stern and frightening.

"It’s not related to Uncle Xiangqian and them; I agreed to it myself."

Seeing Liu Xiangqian being hit, Liu Xiaocao quickly explained.

Being hit several times with the cane, Liu Xiangqian also looked aggrieved, helplessly addressing Mr. Liu with a gaze suggesting he wanted to devour, "Xiaocao spoke too quickly, and we couldn’t say anything afterward."

"Why did you agree?"

Mr. Liu looked at Liu Xiaocao sharply, seemingly piercing through her heart.

Yi Chichi couldn’t help but wonder inwardly; this sharp gaze belonged to a veteran who’d been on the battlefield. It was frightening even for her to see. She wondered if Xiaocao was afraid.

Afraid!

Seeing Mr. Liu’s gaze, Liu Xiaocao felt breathless, her hands uneasily clutching her bundle, feeling frustrated, "I agreed to their demands so I could live peacefully without worry."

A concise sentence expressing her despair.

Mr. Liu fixed his gaze on her for a long while, then sighed, "Live well in the future, and don’t seek death anymore."

He then glanced towards Liu Xiangqian and the others, "Settle Xiaocao properly. Since she’s separated and living alone, treat her as an adult, don’t apply the methods for children to her."

At this time, Yi Chichi and the others didn’t understand the implication of Mr. Liu’s words until—

"What did you say? The brigade allocated you a homestead?"

Ge Sujuan jumped up from her chair in surprise, "My God, what kind of magical brigade is Kao Shan Village, not only supporting unmarried girls to live independently and have marriage freedom but also allocating them homesteads."

Yi Chichi and the others were also shocked, staring unbelievingly at Liu Xiaocao, whose eyes were now filled with brightness.

She happily responded, "Yes, the brigade leader allocated me a homestead, right by Lanlan’s house on that wasteland."

Yi Chichi and the others knew that plot of land. The location wasn’t particularly good, and clearing it would be quite troublesome.

But it was large in area.

"The entire large plot was allocated to you?"

"...No."

Liu Xiaocao quickly waved her hand, "I just received a small part as a homestead."

"That’s still quite good."

Zhou Qiuyu looked envious, "In my hometown, many male children in families with many kids don’t even get a homestead."

Liu Xiaocao nodded, acknowledging it was indeed quite good.

She hadn’t expected the brigade to allocate her a homestead.

However—

"I don’t have money to build a house."

Looking dejected, she added, "I calculated before, even if I asked someone to help build a mud-brick house, it would cost dozens, plus I would need to dig mud, prepare straw, and dry bricks."

This was a problem Yi Chichi and the others couldn’t help with.

So, no one responded.

Seeing this, disappointment flashed across Liu Xiaocao’s eyes, but she quickly recovered, courageously saying, "Actually, I came today to discuss something."

"What matter?"

Yi Chichi and the rest immediately grew cautious, worried she might ask to borrow money like last time.

"Well..."

She looked at Zhou Yadong, her not so fair face gradually turning red, "Mr. Zhou, would you be willing to be with me?"

Under the sunlight, the girl’s face turned as red as an apple.

Then came Zhou Yadong’s refusal, "I’m not willing, I’m still young, just a kid... "

"There’s no such thing as a 21-year-old kid!"

Wu Yongfei never failed in ruining the moment.

Zhou Yadong wished he could kick him to death, "Shut up, or I’ll sharpen a knife by your pillow tonight."

After a threatening remark, he looked expressionlessly at Liu Xiaocao whose rosy cheeks had faded, "Sorry, Liu, I’m not planning to settle down here, and my family wouldn’t agree either."

Yi Chichi and the rest immediately turned to Liu Xiaocao, worried she might lose control and prepared to offer comfort at a critical moment.

But they didn’t expect Liu Xiaocao to twitch her stiff lips, "I see, I disturbed you then."

She said, getting up to leave, already stepping out, then paused as if remembering something, "Oh, could you keep what happened today a secret?"

"Sure."

Yi Chichi and the others agreed firmly, as long as she didn’t say anything, they would take this to their graves.

Liu Xiaocao sighed in relief, "Thank you all."

Zhou Yadong was unwilling, so she would need to look for another target.

It’s hard; why is a separated life like this so difficult?

She left with heavy steps, and after she left, Bai Chen and the others surrounded Zhou Yadong.

"Did you two ever have any alone time together?"

Ge Sujuan was curious.

"No."

Zhou Yadong shook his head, "I don’t understand why she approached me."

He tried hard to recall whether he had unknowingly given Liu Xiaocao any misleading impressions, and after much thought, came up empty.

"Surely not because of me."

He said decisively, leaving no room for argument.

Bai Chen rubbed his chin pensively, "I’m a bit curious, why did she suddenly want to find someone?"

"To spread out the risk and lower the cost of survival."

Yi Chichi responded with a smile, admitting Liu Xiaocao had some wits about her.

If used righteously, her life wouldn’t be too hard in the future.

But if she strayed...