Chapter 31: Grade Wages

No wonder Master Lei is surprised; this approach is too bizarre, also too unexpected.

Yang Qing secretly doing these things can only mean his life is hard, leaving him no choice but to use such methods to boost his survival rate.

At this point, he even began to admire Yang Qing a little.

Being prepared, the image of struggling to survive has taken root in people's hearts.

Yang Qing, however, cautiously asked.

"Master Lei, do you disdain this old Chen grain?"

"The sweet potato flour is a bit spoiled."

Master Lei kept waving his hands.

"No problem, no problem; these days, having something to eat is already good—who would be picky?"

Afterwards, seeing the sweet potato bricks, he became happy.

"Don't worry, I'll pick out what we need ahead of time; the rest we'll hide for you, guaranteeing we'll protect it while we're here."

"I also guarantee not to leak the news—I swear on my family's ancestral craft."

Yang Qing quickly pressed his hand.

"No need, no need; the new regulations are out, today probably won't be so hard—these emergency rations aren't so precious now."

Master Lei shook his head.

"That's for the future; who can say for sure? It's still better to be prepared with this grain."

"Don't worry, I, Lei Gensheng, still have a good reputation."

Only now did Yang Qing learn that this Master Lei is named Lei Gensheng.

In this era, people rarely address capable individuals by name directly, so it's normal that Yang Qing didn't know.

Seeing Lei Gensheng off, Yang Qing took the already waiting, anxious Chen Hong and hurried to the post office.

On the way, Chen Hong still felt a bit embarrassed asking Yang Qing.

"Am I being a bit excessive?"

Yang Qing shook his head repeatedly—you haven't seen the later overpowered Voldemort, vampire woman.

"No, not at all; you could hold back until now before speaking—that's what's strange to me."

"We earned so much money—didn't you have any thoughts back then?"

Chen Hong put her arms around his shoulders, pulled him into her embrace, and whispered.

"That money can't see the light; the 196 that Yi Zhonghai gave us also needs to go toward home repairs—where would extra money come from?"

Yang Qing was moved—this really is a good daughter-in-law.

Even if he worried more about home, he didn't show it.

His aim was just not to make things difficult for him; he put his arm around her waist to comfort her.

"Now we don't need to be afraid; our money has a source—at least over two hundred—we can freely dispose of it."

"Once we get in touch with our mom, we'll mail it all to her, treating it as a bridal gift."

Chen Hong was very moved, but still refused.

"We don't need that much; giving 50 is enough—too much would attract envy."

"When we have more leeway, we'll add a bit more."

Yang Qing laughed heartily—this daughter-in-law is so sensible it's almost laughable in dreams; this is also a trait of the era: marrying you means living steadfastly with you, warm-hearted.

"I'll listen to you."

With Yang Qing's laughter, their posture attracted many people's attention.

Seeing them embracing, they were astonished, mouths agape.

"Morals are declining; on the street, they just embraced."

"Exactly, it's utterly improper."

"Hugging and embracing—what does it look like?"

"They're being hooligans—arrest them."

"What if they're a married couple?"

"Even a married couple shouldn't do that; it's easy to corrupt children."

"Tch, you talk as if you don't do anything at night—then you're not afraid of corrupting children?"

"I mean, that's at home?"

"What about at home—can the child not see, or not hear?"

"It's a new era—don't judge others with your old mindset."

"They're new-era youth."

…………

Yang Qing and his wife didn't realize that their posture sparked a major ideological debate.

They were too uninhibited, overlooking the era's characteristics.

A bit too bold.

After sending the telegram, the two felt a bit lost, walking hand in hand to Shichahai.

To an outsider's glance, wow—even beggars and refugees have become squad leaders, hurting many singles.

Chen Hong felt uneasy about this idle life, so as she walked, she seriously said to Yang Qing.

"We still need to find something to do; earning more or less doesn't matter, but we can't stay this idle."

"Otherwise, should we keep fishing?"

Yang Qing pointed to the lakeside—densely packed with anglers.

"In this situation, are you sure we can catch fish?"

Chen Hong took one look and felt a bit hopeless; there were too many people.

Chen Hong also glanced at a patch of green by the lakeside.

"How about we go to the suburbs to dig wild vegetables?"

Yang Qing looked at the people with rumbling stomachs, pointed at them and shook his head.

"Do you think we still have a chance?"

Chen Hong recalled the scene of her fellow villagers digging wild vegetables all over the hills, and she grew angry.

"This won't work, that won't work—what should we do then?"

"We can't just sit idle, can we?"

Yang Qing wanted to say that idling wasn't bad either, but after meeting Chen Hong's threatening gaze he changed his tone.

"Work can still be found—for example, substituting shifts, doing odd jobs, temporary work, and many more."

Chen Hong became interested.

"Which one earns the most?"

"Obviously it's substituting shifts—it depends on your skill level."

"For example, as a fitter, if you have the ability of a level‑5 worker and pass the factory's examination, you qualify to substitute as a level‑5 worker, and you earn as much per day as a level‑5 worker does."

"Then, how much does a level‑5 worker earn per month?"

Yang Qing calculated it for him.

"Apprentice workers usually get fifteen, which is the base wage; a level‑1 worker counts as a regular worker, generally level × 2 plus base wage plus level × 10, that is 10+1*2+15=27."

"Similarly for a level‑2 worker: 10*2+2*2+15=39."

"Similarly for a level‑3 worker: 10*3+3*2+15=51."

"For a level‑4 worker: 10*4+4*2+15=63."

"For a level‑5 worker: 10*5+5*2+15=75."

"For a level‑6 worker: 10*6+6*2+15=87."

"For a level‑7 worker: 10*7+7*2+15=99."

"For a level‑8 worker: 10*8+8*2+15=111."

"In the canteen, chefs usually start at level ten; level ten is an apprentice worker, level nine is a level‑one worker, level eight is a level‑two worker."

"Our courtyard's He Yuzhu is an eighth‑level cook, receiving level‑two wages of 39, plus a group leader's position allowance of 2.5, for a total of 41.5."

"(All of the above is just me making things up, to rationalize the various wage grades; the calculations come out roughly the same.)"

"Of course, wages still differ from factory to factory."

"Just like your People's Commune, wages there are definitely lower than here."

Chen Hong nodded.

"Ah, I see—have you ever substituted a shift?"

Yang Qing shook his head, a little embarrassed.

"No, I also don't have any skills; who would look for me to substitute?"

"In his previous life he was in sales, knowing jack about technology? Going into procurement would be okay, but doing procurement, with him being so skinny? He'd surely get robbed on the way."

"Then what do you usually do?"

Yang Qing said embarrassedly.

"Doing odd jobs."

"It's just a laborer's gang—go wherever there's work."

"For example, running errands, moving house, working as a loader, shoveling snow on snowy days, unclogging drains on rainy days, and so on…"

"And what about temporary work? What does that involve?"

"Temporary workers are those that factories or units urgently hire because of production needs."

Chen Hong understood as soon as she heard it.

"Oh, you can't do that either."

"That tone, that demeanor—just looking at it made Yang Qing angry."

"I'm just not in good health; wait till I'm better, then you'll see if I can manage—be sure they'll be fighting to have me."

"Whether it's substituting shifts or temporary work, you men are capable."

"Men just can't say they can't."

"Besides, he's had higher education; at least in knowledge he's far ahead of people nowadays."

"Let him substitute as an apprentice worker; he'll definitely be able to do it, and after a while becoming a level‑one worker will be easy."

"This is also one of the paths he has planned for his future: to become the god of shift‑subbing in all factories, a jack‑of‑all‑trades, thereby making connections and surviving those ten years."