Marriage in the 1970s: The Political Commissar's Contract Wife

On the bus back, there weren't many people, and it swayed gently. Wang Chun was still immersed in the excitement of finding a job, and he pulled Zhi Xia aside to start counting on his fingers, his voice filled with anticipation, but also with a hint of the shrewd calculations he had just learned:

"Zhixia, look, 15 yuan a month! That's not bad!" She encouraged herself first, then her brows slowly furrowed. "But... I have to spend 2 mao (0.2 yuan) on the bus every day, which is... 6 yuan a month! That takes away almost half. In the end, I only have 9 yuan left."

She paused, her voice lowering, carrying a heavy sense of reality: "Besides, once I start working and earning money, I'll definitely have to pay for my sister-in-law's meals... Even if she charges me five yuan, then in my last month, I'll only have four yuan left, right?"

At this point, Wang Chun's earlier excitement deflated like a punctured balloon. His lips drooped, his eyes reddened, and his voice trembled with tears: "This is too little... After a month of hard work, only four yuan..."

Seeing her like this, Zhi Xia felt sorry for her, but more than that, she wanted to encourage her. She gently touched Wang Chun's arm and whispered a suggestion: "Don't take the bus in the morning. Since you don't start work until 9 o'clock, get up early and walk there. It only takes about forty minutes."

"Huh? Walk over there?" Wang Chun groaned, resting her head on Zhi Xia's shoulder. "That's too tiring..."

"Just think of it as exercise!" Zhixia tried to make her tone sound relaxed and hopeful. "Besides, think about it, once you're in the county, working, you'll know more people and be better informed! You can keep an eye out for job openings elsewhere, maybe one that pays better and is closer to home? You can always change jobs then!"

Listening to Zhixia's analysis, Wang Chun found it reasonable, and her mood improved slightly. She sniffed and said, as if trying to comfort herself, "Yeah... four yuan is four yuan. It's better than having to ask my brother for money and have to put up with my sister-in-law's attitude. At least I earned it myself!"

"That's right!" Zhixia smiled when she saw that she had figured it out, nodding vigorously to encourage her and herself. "Think positively! With this first step, things will definitely get better and better!"

The scenery outside the car window rushed past. Two girls leaned against each other. One was filled with mixed emotions about the meager four yuan she was about to receive, while the other sincerely offered advice for her friend's future. These four yuan were their first step towards independence and self-respect; though small, they were of extraordinary significance.

Wang Chun returned home, feeling a mix of pride and trepidation at having found a job. As soon as she entered, she saw her sister-in-law, Zhao Lili, busy at the stove. She took a deep breath, trying to make her tone sound capable:

"Sister-in-law, I found a job!"

Zhao Lili stopped what she was doing, turned her head, her face expressionless, but she raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What kind of work?"

"I'll work as a temporary worker at that state-run barbershop in the county. I start at 9 a.m. and finish at 6 p.m., earning 15 yuan a month, plus a free lunch!" Wang Chun rattled off his conditions, emphasizing the "free lunch" part, as he thought it was a great perk.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Zhao Lili curled her lip, her disdain undisguised: "Ha, I thought it was some kind of great job. A whole month of hard work for only 15 yuan? What can you do with that little bit of salary?"

Wang Chun's heart sank, and the expectant light on her face dimmed. She said defiantly, "Then I won't go."

"No, no, no!" Zhao Lili immediately changed her tune, as if afraid this "income" would slip away. "It's less, but it's better than nothing. You can earn some pocket money yourself, right?"

She changed the subject, fiddling with the spatula in her hand, her tone becoming matter-of-fact: "But Chun'er, if you go to work, all the housework will be on my shoulders. Your brother is in the army and can't take care of the family, and now that you're working, you can't just keep eating and living off us like before, can you? Now that you have an income, you'll have to contribute some living expenses to the family."

Wang Chun's heart tightened; she knew the crucial point was coming. She asked in a low voice, "How much?"

Zhao Lili didn't even lift her eyelids, as if she had already calculated it, and casually tossed out a number: "Five yuan."

This number perfectly matched the "five yuan for a meal" that Wang Chun and Zhi Xia had calculated on the bus. Wang Chun felt a chill run down her spine, along with a strange sense of "I knew it!" She remained silent for a few seconds, suppressing her grievances and resentment. Knowing there was no room for negotiation, she could only silently agree, "Okay."

This brief conversation sealed the final "reward" for Wang Chun's first job.

Zhao Lili continued cooking with satisfaction, while Wang Chun went back to her room, closed the door, and felt a mix of emotions. The four yuan she could finally hold in her hand each month seemed heavier than she had imagined. The first step towards independence was not easy.

Zhixia returned home carrying the brightly colored fabric wrapped in kraft paper. Her heart was pounding like a rabbit's, filled with both the joy of showing off her beloved possession and a slight worry that her sister-in-law would find it too conspicuous.

She carefully opened the package and unfolded the red fabric with yellow flowers in front of Zhang Meili.

"Sister-in-law, what do you think of this fabric?"

Zhang Meili was mending her two sons' clothes when she heard the sound and looked up. Her gaze fell on the vibrant color, and she was clearly taken aback. This color was indeed the brightest in the family compound. She subconsciously wanted to say, "It's too bright, it's too eye-catching," but when she met her sister-in-law's expectant yet slightly apprehensive eyes, her heart softened instantly.

This child, after suffering so much recently, it's been so long since I've seen a genuine smile on their face. Now, finally, they have something they enjoy doing…

Zhang Meili immediately smiled gently, swallowed back the judgment that was on the tip of her tongue, and said in a relaxed tone, "It's quite vibrant! If you like it, go for it! Young people, wear something colorful to show your spirit!"

Zhi Xia's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, immediately settled back into her stomach. A bright smile bloomed on her face, tinged with a hint of coquettishness: "Sister-in-law, I want to make a dress."

"Okay!" Zhang Meili put down her work, also becoming interested. "What style do you want? A slightly fitted waist would make it look more elegant. A wider hem would look better when you twirl!"

Zhixia happily picked up the fabric, held it against her body, and held it up to the only small mirror in the room, imagining what the dress would look like when it was finished.