Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

Not many, but this is the first day.

In the future, there will be more and more.

That evening, Qian Cheng did the accounting again.

Wild vegetables are almost gone, and eggs are just starting to appear. Bean sprouts are still growing, and I can still earn a little over two yuan a day.

He calculated that he could earn five or six yuan a day.

A little over a hundred yuan a month.

He closed the account book and lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Moonlight streamed in through the window.

He thought about the past few days, Zhang Mingxi's smiling face, the villagers' expressions when they received the money, and the words that Boss Cui had said.

My heart is overflowing with joy.

Life is getting better and better.

The season for wild vegetables is completely over.

The tender shoots of the wild thorns on the mountain have aged, the dandelions have blossomed, the bracken is too tough to chew, and the wild garlic has sprouted its scapes. The villagers no longer go up the mountain, and the entrance to the brigade office has become deserted.

Qian Cheng did the math. He had been working on the wild vegetables for over a month, harvesting more than 10,000 jin (5,000 kg) and selling more than 8,000 jin (4,000 kg), earning over 600 yuan. Adding the money he made from the bean sprouts, he had saved nearly 800 yuan.

He counted the money over and over again, feeling very at ease.

Eight hundred dollars was a lot of money in 1978.

The egg business has picked up again.

At first, he bought only a few kilograms a day, but the amount gradually increased. The villagers knew Qian Cheng offered high prices for eggs, so they were all willing to sell to him. Some would save up for a few days and deliver them, while others would deliver them daily.

Every day after collecting the eggs, Qian Cheng would deliver them to the county early the next morning. Qingping Restaurant needed ten jin a day, and several other restaurants combined also needed ten jin. Director Liu from the mine also said he wanted five jin a day.

I can make over 20 jin a day, earning four cents per jin, which is about a dollar a day. It's not much, but it's a steady income.

The bean sprouts are still growing. I deliver fifty catties to the mine every day and sell them in town on market days. In a month, I can earn fifty or sixty yuan.

Qian Cheng calculated that these three things combined could earn him over a hundred yuan a month.

He thought that once he saved up a bit more, he could rebuild the house. The mud-brick house they lived in for twenty years had cracked walls, letting in drafts in winter and leaking rain in summer. Hou Yufen had been complaining about it for years, but they still didn't have the money to fix it.

That evening, he called Qian Lu and Hou Yufen together.

"Mom, brother, I need to discuss something with you."

Qian Lu asked, "What's up?"

Qian Cheng said, "I've made some money these days, and I'm thinking of renovating this house."

Hou Yufen was taken aback: "Rebuild the house? How much would that cost?"

Qian Cheng said, "I asked around, and three brick houses, plus labor and material costs, should cost around four or five hundred yuan."

Hou Yufen gasped, "Four or five hundred yuan?"

Qian Cheng nodded: "We have eight hundred in hand now. We'll take out five hundred to build a house, and we'll have three hundred left. We'll keep earning and life will get better and better."

Qian Lu's eyes lit up as he listened.

"Chengzi, are you really good at building?"

Qian Cheng said, "Yes, we can. I asked Captain Li, and our family owns this land, so we don't need to spend any money. We can ask the villagers for help; they just need to provide meals, which will save us a lot on labor costs. We can get the bricks and tiles from the brick factory; it's cheaper that way."

Qian Lu rubbed his hands together and chuckled twice.

Hou Yufen looked at her two sons, her eyes welling up with tears.

She spent her entire life living in an adobe house, shivering in the winter cold. She dreamed of living in a brick house, but where would she get the money?

Now, my son says it's ready to be built.

She nodded, her voice slightly choked.

"Okay, cover it."

Qian Cheng then looked at Qian Lu: "Brother, you've paid back that thirty yuan, do you have any left?"

Qian Lu said, "I still have some left, I've saved up over twenty."

Qian Cheng said, "Okay, keep that twenty-odd yuan of yours and buy some tonics for your sister-in-law. I'll pay for the house construction."

Qian Lu became anxious: "How can that be? I'm also a member of this family, why should you pay for everything alone?"

Qian Cheng laughed: "Brother, why are we distinguishing between you and me? You deliver goods to the mine every day, you're more tired than me. After the house is built, we'll live together as a family, no distinction between you and me."

Before Qian Lu could say anything more, Hou Yufen spoke up.

"Alright, listen to Chengzi. From now on, you two brothers will work hard and your lives will get better and better."

Qian Lu remained silent, but felt a warmth in his heart.

The next day, Qian Cheng went to find Captain Li.

Captain Li was resting at home when he saw him come in and greeted him, "Chengzi, you're here? Have a seat."

Qian Cheng sat down and told him about building the house.

After listening, Captain Li nodded: "That's good. In all these years, not many people in our village have been able to build brick houses. You're among the first batch."

Qian Cheng said, "Uncle, I need your help. I need to find people to help me build a house. You know a lot of people, so could you help me make some arrangements?"

Captain Li said, "Okay, I'll take care of it. There are plenty of idle people in the village, so just provide meals; no wages are required."

Qian Cheng said, "That's great. Uncle, do you know anyone at the brick factory?"

Captain Li thought for a moment and said, "Yes, there is. Director Liu of the brick and tile factory is an old friend of mine. I'll take you there later and give you a discount."

Qian Cheng was secretly delighted: "Thank you, Uncle."

Captain Li waved his hand: "No need to thank me, it's nothing."

After leaving Captain Li's house, Qian Cheng felt more confident.

As he walked home, he passed by the Zhang family's house and happened to run into Zhang Mingxi coming out.

Zhang Mingxi's eyes lit up when she saw him: "Qian Cheng!"

Qian Cheng walked over and asked, "Where are you going?"

Zhang Mingxi said, "Go to the brigade headquarters and see if you're collecting eggs today."

Qian Cheng said, "We'll collect them, every day."

Zhang Mingxi nodded and walked alongside him.

After walking a few steps, she suddenly asked, "I heard you're going to build a house?"

Qian Cheng was taken aback: "How did you know?"

Zhang Mingxi said, "It's all over the village. They're saying you're going to build a brick house, a three-room tile-roofed house."

Qian Cheng laughed: "The news spread really fast."

Zhang Mingxi looked at him, her eyes sparkling.

"You're really amazing."

Qian Cheng said, "What's so great about it? I just made some money."

Zhang Mingxi smiled, pursing her lips.

When he arrived at the brigade headquarters, there were already people waiting at the entrance. They were all there to deliver eggs, and when they saw Qian Cheng arrive, they all gathered around him.

"Chengzi, are we accepting payments today?"

"Get in line, get in line."

Qian Cheng got busy, weighing, recording, and paying.

With Zhang Mingxi helping out, the two worked together more and more seamlessly.

By the time we finished collecting the eggs, it was getting dark.

Qian Cheng packed up the things and took Zhang Mingxi home.

When they reached the Zhang family's door, Zhang Mingxi stopped.

She looked at Qian Cheng and asked, "Now that the house is built, shouldn't you get married?"

Qian Cheng paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Yes."

Zhang Mingxi blushed instantly, lowered her head, and whispered, "Then...then I'll wait for you."

After saying that, he turned and ran into the yard, closing the gate behind him.

Qian Cheng stood there, looking at the door, feeling quite pleased with himself.

He turned and walked back, his steps light and quick.

The moon rose and shone on the road.

His heart was overflowing with emotion.

Over the next few days, Qian Cheng began working on building the house.

Captain Li helped find a group of people, all able-bodied men from the village. There was Liu Laosan, Li Jianguo's father, Wang Daye's son, and a few young men. There were about ten people in total. It was agreed that meals would be provided, and no wages would be required.