Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

Qian Cheng travels to the county every day, which is tiring, but he is happy.

In the village, everyone goes up the mountain every day. Old and young, men and women, anyone who can move goes up the mountain. The hillside is full of people, some digging for wild vegetables, others picking tender shoots of wild thorns.

Every afternoon, a long queue would form outside the brigade office. Zhang Mingxi came every day to help with the bookkeeping, Hou Yufen weighed the goods, and Qian Cheng paid the bills. The three of them were extremely busy, but they were happy.

The harvest of wild vegetables increased from 100 jin to 150 jin, and then from 150 jin to 200 jin.

Qian Cheng would select the best pieces to send to the county and the mines every day, keeping the rest for his own consumption or selling them cheaply.

The more money you earn, the thicker your ledger gets.

That evening, Qian Cheng did the accounting again.

After Cui Minggui left, Qian Cheng stood at the entrance of the brigade office, looking at the pile of wild vegetables, and felt much more at ease.

Two hundred catties a day, all taken care of. No more running around to each store, no more worrying about which store wants it and which doesn't. From now on, just collect and deliver, much more worry-free.

Captain Li hadn't left yet, and he leaned over to ask, "Chengzi, did that boss really buy up all the wild vegetables in our village?"

Qian Cheng nodded: "Yes, from now on, he will collect all the wild vegetables in our village."

Captain Li's eyes lit up: "And the price?"

"Standardize it as before," Qian Cheng said. "Aralia elata sprouts are two cents, dandelion is fifteen cents, bracken is fifteen cents, and wild garlic is thirteen cents."

Captain Li counted on his fingers and smiled.

"That's great, everyone can earn more now."

Qian Cheng said, "Uncle, I'll need your help with harvesting the vegetables from now on. I can't manage it all by myself."

Captain Li patted his chest and said, "Okay, I'll take care of it."

The two talked for a while longer, then Captain Li walked away with his hands behind his back.

Qian Cheng turned back and continued collecting vegetables.

The queue was still in place, and everyone had seen what had just happened, and they were all discussing it.

"Who was that person just now? He was dressed quite well."

"I heard it's the owner of a big restaurant in the county who came to buy wild vegetables from our village."

"Really? Then we won't have to worry about selling our wild vegetables anymore?"

"What Chengzi said, could it be false?"

"This kid is really something."

Qian Cheng ignored the comments and focused on weighing the item and paying.

By the time the sun was setting, the vegetables had been harvested.

I harvested 180 jin today, a little less than yesterday. The wild vegetable season is almost over, and there's less and less to find on the mountain.

Qian Cheng sorted through the vegetables, putting the good ones into a basket and keeping the average ones for his own family.

Zhang Mingxi helped out, asking as he picked through the selections, "Boss Cui bought everything, so will you still go to the county in the future?"

Qian Cheng said, "Sure, I'll deliver vegetables every day. But I don't need to go to each restaurant individually anymore; I can just deliver directly to Qingping Restaurant."

Zhang Mingxi nodded and then asked, "Are you still going to the bookstore?"

Qian Cheng glanced at her and smiled: "You want to go to the bookstore?"

Zhang Mingxi blushed and remained silent.

Qian Cheng said, "If you want to go, let's go. Let's buy some review materials."

Zhang Mingxi's eyes lit up, but he said, "That will cost a lot of money."

Qian Cheng said, "What's wrong with spending a little money? Getting into university is more important than anything else."

Zhang Mingxi smiled, pursing her lips.

After we finished picking out the vegetables, it was getting dark.

Qian Cheng escorted Zhang Mingxi home and then walked back himself.

As he passed the village entrance, he saw several villagers squatting there chatting. When they saw him coming, they all stood up to greet him.

"Chengzi, have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"I heard your wild vegetable business is booming?"

"It's alright, enough to make a living."

"You've got guts, kid."

Qian Cheng smiled, said nothing more, and continued walking forward.

When he got home, Hou Yufen had already prepared dinner: millet porridge, cornbread, a dish of pickled vegetables, and a plate of stir-fried wild vegetables.

Qian Cheng sat down to eat, and Hou Yufen asked from the side, "I heard the big boss from the county came today?"

Qian Cheng nodded: "Yes, the owner of Qingping Restaurant has bought all the wild vegetables from our village."

Hou Yufen was taken aback: "You've booked the whole thing?"

"Yes, from now on, he'll accept whatever is delivered each day."

Hou Yufen looked at him with a complicated expression.

This kid is really something else.

After finishing his meal, Qian Cheng sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and opened a book.

He carried the little notebook Zhang Mingxi gave him with him every day, taking it out to look at it whenever he had a spare moment. He memorized dozens of English words and practiced his pronunciation. Although it wasn't quite standard yet, it was much better than when he first started.

He opened the book and continued reading mathematics.

Student proficiency +1

A notification flashed before my eyes.

He glanced at the panel; his student profession was now at level 2, and his proficiency had increased a little more.

Soon, just a little more saving and I'll be able to upgrade.

He smiled and continued reading.

The next morning, Qian Cheng went to collect the vegetables as usual.

He harvested less today, only 150 jin. He loaded the good ones onto the truck, 120 jin, and kept the remaining 30 jin for his own family.

Qian Lu also came and helped load the truck.

"Chengzi, Director Liu at the mine asked if we can still deliver," Qian Lu said. "The workers love it; fifty jin a day isn't enough."

Qian Cheng thought for a moment and said, "There are fewer wild vegetables now, and the county has taken care of them all. I'm afraid the mine can't keep up."

Qian Lu asked, "Then what should we do?"

Qian Cheng said, "Let's talk to Director Liu and see if we can take less. We can still manage to squeeze out thirty jin a day."

Qian Lu nodded: "Okay, I'll go and talk to them."

After loading the truck, Qian Lu went to the mine, and Qian Cheng went to the county.

When we arrived at Qingping Hotel, Lao Wei was already waiting for us.

"Hey, how much is it today?"

"One hundred and twenty catties." Qian Cheng unloaded the vegetables. "There are fewer tender shoots, but more dandelions."

Old Wei weighed the money, calculated the bill, and handed it to Qian Cheng.

"Boss Cui said he wants you to go upstairs."

Qian Cheng paused for a moment: "Go up?"

Old Wei nodded: "He's in his office upstairs. He said he needs to talk to you."

Qian Cheng was a little puzzled, but he still went upstairs.

The second floor has private rooms, which are quite tastefully decorated. Cui Minggui's office is at the very back, and the door is open.

Qian Cheng knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Qian Cheng went in and saw Cui Minggui sitting behind his desk, looking at a notebook in his hand.

"Boss Cui."

Cui Minggui looked up, saw him, and smiled: "Little Qian is here? Have a seat."

Qian Cheng sat down in the chair.

Cui Minggui put down his notebook, looked at him, and asked, "How long until the college entrance exam?"

Qian Cheng said, "More than two months."

Cui Minggui nodded and then asked, "How's your review going?"

Qian Cheng said, "It's alright, I read books every day."

Cui Minggui looked at him and suddenly asked, "Do you want to go to teachers' college?"

Qian Cheng was taken aback: "Teachers' college?"

Cui Minggui said, "Yes, a teachers' college. Graduates become teachers, it's a secure job, and they even provide housing."

Qian Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Boss Cui, I want to go to university."

Cui Minggui laughed: "University? Which university?"

Qian Cheng said, "Whichever one I can get into, that's fine, preferably the one in the provincial capital."

Cui Minggui nodded and said nothing more.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the street scene outside.

"When I was young, I also wanted to go to university," he said. "But then something happened in my family, and I didn't get in. That's how my life has been."