In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

After watching the movie together, Yang Guangming and Meng Yining's relationship made substantial progress.

That night, in the dark movie theater, their hands gently clasped, like an invisible bridge connecting two young hearts. Although neither of them said anything explicitly, the shy yet sweet atmosphere spoke volumes.

After returning to their respective lives, Yang Guangming remained busy with work, but he would always make time to visit Meng Yining. Sometimes he would wait for her at the entrance of the affiliated primary school after get off work, and the two would walk along the path outside the school and chat. Other times, on Sundays off, they would meet up to go to the Xinhua Bookstore in the county town to read, or simply take a walk near the pharmaceutical factory.

Meng Yining always wore simple clothes, with two braids hanging over her shoulders. She spoke softly and her eyes crinkled when she smiled. Yang Guangming liked watching her focus on preparing her lessons and also enjoyed listening to her tell stories about the innocent and adorable children in her class.

Their relationship was natural and warm. There were no grand declarations of love or vows of eternal devotion, but they both knew in their hearts that the other was the right one.

Although Meng Zhigang and Huang Yali's relationship didn't progress that quickly, after watching that movie, the thin layer of distance between them seemed to disappear.

Meng Zhigang was no longer as nervous and at a loss as before. He would take the initiative to find Huang Yali, sometimes to bring her a newly arrived copy of "People's Literature", and sometimes to ask her about teaching issues.

Huang Yali also became more poised and generous, no longer deliberately keeping her distance. She smiled more when she spoke, and her eyes became softer.

They were both aware of the difference in their family backgrounds, but neither of them brought it up. Meng Zhigang felt that as long as he worked hard and achieved results, he could prove that he was worthy of Huang Yali. Huang Yali, on the other hand, genuinely didn't care about these differences; what she valued in Meng Zhigang was his character—his stability, reliability, and sense of responsibility.

In Yang Guangming and Meng Yining's view, as long as the two of them are willing to try dating, it's already a good start. As long as there are no major setbacks, there's a high probability that they will end up together.

Feelings can't be rushed; they need time to develop. They're both still young, and they have a long road ahead of them.

Time slipped away quietly in the ordinary yet fulfilling days, and before we knew it, it was mid-July.

That evening, Yang Guangming had just finished dinner and returned to his dormitory to boil water for tea when a familiar knocking sound came from outside the door.

"Light, are you there?"

It was the voice of my eldest brother, Yang Ximing.

Yang Guangming opened the door and saw his older brother standing outside, his face beaming with undisguised joy and his eyes shining.

"Big brother, come in quickly." Yang Guangming stepped aside. "Have you eaten?"

"I've already eaten, at the police station canteen." Yang Ximing walked into the room, sat down on a chair at the table, and his smile widened. "Guangming, something good has happened!"

Yang Guangming closed the door, walked to the bedside and sat down: "What good news? Look how happy you are."

Yang Ximing rubbed his hands together, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down, but the excitement in his voice was still undeniable: "It's about Yuming! Third Brother's job is settled!"

Yang Guangming's eyes lit up: "Really? Tell me!"

“This morning I went to Director Fan’s office to report on my work. After I finished, Director Fan kept me behind and told me some news.” Yang Ximing’s voice trembled slightly. “Director Fan’s wife works at the county post office. He found out from his wife that a post office employee was transferring his job.”

He paused, then continued, "There's a mail handler at the county post office named Guo, who's in his fifties and has had lung disease for several years. His condition recently worsened, and although he's improved somewhat after treatment, the doctor said he can no longer work and has to apply for medical retirement to recuperate at home."

Yang Guangming listened attentively, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knee.

"This hairdresser, Guo, has two children, both of whom are already working, and there is no one in his family who can take over his job. So he plans to transfer this position to someone else."

Yang Ximing lowered his voice as he said this, "Ever since we had dinner together last time and I asked a few friends to keep an eye out for job transfer information, Director Fan has been keeping that in mind. This time, he heard about it from his wife and told me right away."

Yang Guangming nodded: "Director Fan is a very honest man, we should remember this favor."

“That’s for sure,” Yang Ximing said. “I took the afternoon off and went to Master Guo’s house, which is in the family compound behind the post office. Director Fan’s wife went with me.”

"What are their conditions?" Yang Guangming asked directly.

Yang Ximing held up five fingers: "Five hundred yuan for the transfer fee, that's not a high price. But..."

He paused, a troubled look on his face: "There's an additional condition: fifty catties of rice and flour, or nutritional supplements of equivalent value."

Yang Guangming frowned.

Five hundred yuan is not a lot.

A job as a post office mail clerk is a good one; it would cost at least seven or eight hundred to transfer. The other party only asked for five hundred, which is really giving Director Fan a lot of face.

However, the additional condition of these fifty kilograms of rice and flour is a major problem at this time.

It is now July 1961, and the food supply across the country is becoming increasingly strained. Urban residents' monthly rations are being continuously reduced, and the situation in rural areas is even more dire. Everyone is going hungry, and can only eat half a meal each day.

Fifty catties of rice and flour may not sound like much, but right now it's a huge problem.

Ordinary families simply cannot afford it. Even if they could, it would require the whole family to tighten their belts and save every penny.

"The main reason Mr. Guo's family made this request is to supplement the patient's nutrition," Yang Ximing explained. "Mr. Guo has lung disease and needs nutrition, but as you know, the current supply situation... relying on rations is simply not enough. They don't have any connections, so they wanted to exchange this job transfer for some food or nutritional supplements."

Yang Guangming pondered for a moment, not speaking immediately.

Yang Ximing continued, "The post office clerk position is indeed in high demand. If the other party only wants money, even if the price is higher, there will definitely be people vying for it. But the additional condition of fifty catties of grain has stumped most people."

He looked at Yang Guangming and his tone became serious: "Guangming, I think this is a rare opportunity. No matter how difficult it is, we have to find a way to get this job. If Yuming can get a job at the post office, he'll have a secure job and won't have to worry for the rest of his life."

Yang Guangming certainly understood the importance of this opportunity.

Post office clerk—it sounds ordinary, but it's a truly good job. It's stable, well-paid, and has high social status. More importantly, it's a permanent government job; once you're in, as long as you don't make any major mistakes, you can work there for life.

My third brother, Yang Yuming, is only nineteen years old this year. He's tall and strong, but a bit simple-minded. If he could work at the post office and gain experience for a few years, he'd definitely grow into a capable person.

“Brother, you’re right, this is indeed a rare opportunity,” Yang Guangming said slowly. “You know our family’s situation. Last month, the wheat we received from the summer harvest totaled over 130 jin. If we could take out 50 jin of wheat flour, the remaining 80 jin would last until the autumn harvest…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

One hundred and thirty catties of wheat sounds like a lot, but it's enough for the whole family for half a year. If fifty catties are divided up, the remaining eighty catties, when divided among everyone, is hardly any at all. In this era of food shortages, such days would be extremely difficult.

Yang Ximing gritted his teeth: "Even if we have to tighten our belts and eat coarse food, we must save our grain. As long as Yuming has a job, he will have a salary every month, and more importantly, there will be a grain ration."

For rural families like ours, in the long run, it's incredibly worthwhile. We can tighten our belts for now, but things will gradually get better.

Yang Guangming thought for a moment and asked, "The other party said fifty catties of rice and flour, or nutritional supplements of equivalent price. Is there any specific word about these 'nutritional supplements'?"

Yang Ximing's eyes lit up: "You mean..."

“I was thinking, since they didn’t insist on rice and flour, could we use something else as a substitute?” Yang Guangming said. “For example, wild rabbit or pheasant. Meat is more nutritious than grain and is more helpful for the patient’s recovery.”

Yang Ximing nodded thoughtfully: "That's a good idea. When I went there, Master Guo's wife did mention it, saying that if there was meat, we could discuss it. But I didn't ask for details at the time, so I don't know the specifics of how it should be calculated."

“There’s no fixed standard for exchanging grain for meat in private; it all depends on the needs of both parties and the market conditions,” Yang Guangming said. “How much meat can one pound of flour buy now? Or how much grain can one pound of meat buy? These are all things that need to be discussed.”

Yang Ximing asked, "Guangming, are you confident you can catch pheasants and rabbits when you go hunting in the mountains now? After all, you can't always have a good harvest every time you go into the mountains."

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Brother, don't worry about that. Although I can't guarantee that I'll come back with a full load every time I go into the mountains during my free time, I'm confident that I can catch a few wild rabbits and pheasants within a month."

He paused, then offered a suggestion: "How about this? Let's discuss it with the other party first. We can pay five hundred yuan upfront and let Yuming cover the shift."

As for the fifty kilograms of rice and flour, or the corresponding nutritional supplements, a delivery deadline should be given, such as one month. If the other party has any concerns, Director Fan's wife can act as a guarantor.

Yang Ximing's eyes lit up: "That's a good idea! Let Yuming get to work first, and then we can slowly gather the materials. A month should be enough."

He thought for a moment, then hesitated: "But Guangming, how much meat can you gather in a month? Give me a rough estimate so I can negotiate with them."

Yang Guangming quickly calculated in his mind. "How about this, brother," Yang Guangming said, "go to Master Guo's house again tomorrow and discuss it with them. See if they agree to use pheasants and rabbits to offset grain. Then we can discuss a solution that everyone can accept."

Yang Ximing stood up, somewhat impatiently: "Then I'll go there tomorrow at noon and settle things as soon as possible."

Yang Guangming reminded him, "Brother, bring some sincerity when you go. You also need to show some appreciation to Director Fan's wife; you can't let them help for nothing."

“I understand,” Yang Ximing said. “I’ve prepared two bottles of wine. I’ll deliver them to Director Fan tomorrow, and then ask his wife to accompany me.”

Yang Guangming nodded, then remembered something else: "I'm leading a team into the mountains tomorrow, and I'll probably be back late. Let me know when you've discussed it. I should be home after eight o'clock."

“Okay, I’ll come over at eight o’clock tomorrow night.” Yang Ximing glanced at the wall clock; it was almost eight o’clock. “I’ll head back now; I have an early shift tomorrow.”

"I'll see you out." Yang Guangming stood up.

After seeing his elder brother off, Yang Guangming returned to the house and sat down in a chair to think quietly.

His younger brother's job situation had always been a concern for him.

The eldest brother has a formal job and has also established himself in the city. If the third brother can also work in the city, then this family will really be different.

Being a post office clerk is indeed a good job. Although it's hard work, requiring early mornings and late nights, the advantage is stability. My third brother is young, strong, and can endure hardship, so he should be able to adapt.

With a clear mind, Yang Guangming stopped thinking about it, washed up, went to bed, and quickly fell asleep.

The next day, the sky was overcast, as if it was going to rain.

Sunny Ming led the team into the mountains as usual. Although the rainy season was not completely over, the weather had been relatively stable in the past few days, making it a good time for hunting.

After this period of training and combat, the team members have become much more coordinated. The addition of Meng Zhigang has further enhanced the team's overall strength. His marksmanship is accurate, and his rich experience often allows him to make the most correct judgments in field operations.

Today's destination is a pine forest deep in the western mountains. There are many wild rabbits there, and you might even encounter badgers occasionally.

When we packed up at dusk, we counted our catch: fourteen wild rabbits, nineteen pheasants, and five rock partridges. The total weight exceeded one hundred pounds, which was a pretty good harvest.

Back at the factory, after handing over the game, Old Zhao from the canteen couldn't stop smiling.

"Captain Yang, with so many rabbits, we can have an extra meal tomorrow! The workers will definitely be happy!" Old Zhao said as he counted them.

Yang Guangming smiled but didn't say anything. He glanced at his watch; it was already 6:30.

After saying goodbye to his teammates, Yang Guangming hurriedly returned to his dormitory.

After a simple dinner, he sat at the table, reading a book while waiting for his older brother.

The hands of the wall clock moved slowly.

At exactly eight o'clock, there was a knock on the door.

Yang Ming got up and opened the door. Yang Ximing stood outside, looking tired, but his eyes were shining with excitement.

"Big brother, come in quickly." Yang Guangming hurriedly stepped aside. "Have you eaten?"

"I ate something, just something quick at the police station canteen." Yang Ximing walked into the room, sat down in a chair, and let out a long sigh. "After running around all day, we've finally made some progress."

Yang Guangming poured him a glass of water: "Have a sip of water first, then talk slowly."

Yang Ximing took the water glass and gulped down most of it before he could catch his breath.

"Guangming, it's all settled!" He put down his water glass, his voice brimming with excitement. "Master Guo's family has agreed to our plan!"

Yang Guangming perked up: "What exactly did they say?"

"I went to Director Fan's house this morning with two bottles of wine to thank him for his help," Yang Ximing said. "Director Fan was very polite, saying that we're all friends and there's no need to be so formal. However, at my insistence, his wife accepted the wine."

He paused, then continued, "After lunch, Director Fan's wife accompanied me to Master Guo's house again. This time, Master Guo's wife was also there, and the four of us sat down and had a good discussion."

“They wanted grain more. After several discussions, I proposed that they pay 500 yuan first, then give 20 jin of white flour, and the rest in the form of wild rabbits and pheasants, with at least 10 jin of meat to be delivered within a month.”

Yang Ximing smiled as he said this: "Master Guo's wife was a little hesitant at first, mainly because she was unsure about the 'meat for grain' ratio. In the end, I compromised and we settled on this amount."

Yang Guangming nodded; he had anticipated this situation.

“Director Fan’s wife put in a lot of good words for him,” Yang Ximing said. “She said that what Master Guo needs most right now is nutrition, and meat is more suitable for patients than grains. Moreover, wild rabbits and pheasants are wild game from the mountains, which are more nutritious than pork.”

Yang Ximing took a sip of water and continued, "After hearing this, Master Guo's wife finally softened her stance."

The final terms agreed upon were: five hundred yuan upfront, plus twenty jin of wheat flour. The remaining thirty jin of rice and flour would be paid in lieu of at least ten jin of wild rabbit or pheasant meat.

Yang Ximing looked at Yang Guangming with some worry: "Ten catties of meat, in a month, can you get it?"

Yang Guangming pondered for a moment, then nodded: "There's plenty of time, so there shouldn't be any problem."

"That's good!" Yang Ximing breathed a sigh of relief. "They said that as long as we pay five hundred yuan and twenty jin of flour first, Yuming can take over the work. The remaining ten jin of meat can be paid within a month. Director Fan's wife is willing to act as guarantor, so they are very reassured."

Yang Guangming thought for a moment and asked, "Brother, when are we going to pay the five hundred yuan and twenty jin of flour?"

"The sooner the better," Yang Ximing said. "Master Guo's medical retirement procedures are already being processed, and his replacement needs to start work as soon as possible. What I mean is, I'll go back to the village the day after tomorrow to discuss this with my parents and bring the money and grain into the city."

Yang Guangming wanted to ask for leave to go back with them, but then he remembered that he had to lead a team into the mountains the next day, so he swallowed his words.

My brother is reliable and should be fine going back alone. He doesn't absolutely have to go back, so it's best not to ask for leave unnecessarily.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you to make the trip, brother," Yang Guangming said. "I'll hurry up and prepare the meat."

"Ten catties of meat, are you sure you can handle it?" Yang Ximing was still a little worried. "Maybe I should think of a way to get some on the black market."

“No need,” Yang Guangming interrupted him. “The black market is too risky and the prices are too high. I’ll handle it, don’t worry.”

He has more than ten pounds of meat stored in his space, which he can take out anytime his older brother returns to the city.

“I’ll go into the mountains a few more times during my rest period, and I can easily catch ten pounds of meat,” Yang Guangming added. “Even if I don’t catch anything the first time, I’ll always get something if I go a few more times.”

Looking at his younger brother's determined eyes, Yang Ximing felt much more at ease: "Alright, I'll leave the meat to you. I'll discuss the grain and money with the family when I get back."

The two brothers discussed some more details.

Five hundred yuan, we have it at home. The compensation money Yang Guangming brought home before is still untouched, it'll come in handy. Twenty jin of wheat flour, although it will strain our food supply, we can manage to scrape together the money if we grit our teeth.

“Once Yuming starts working, his first month’s salary will be enough to help support the family.” Yang Ximing explained the calculations clearly. “The key is that once the third son goes to the city, he will have a grain ration, and we can quickly make up for the lost grain. In the long run, even if we lose a little grain, it’s still a very worthwhile investment.”

Yang Guangming nodded: "That makes sense. It's tough at first, but sweet later. We'll get through this period."

With the matter settled, Yang Ximing felt visibly relieved.

The two chatted for a while longer, and Yang Ximing checked the time; it was already past nine o'clock.

"It's getting late, I should go back." He stood up. "I have to get up early tomorrow to patrol the line. I'll go home the day after tomorrow and come back the day after that. As soon as I get back, I'll go to Master Guo's house to get the paperwork done."

"Okay." Yang Guangming also stood up. "Big brother, be careful on the road." (End of this chapter)