Chapter 66: Chen Hong Has a Formal Job

In the evening, Yang Qing returned home, carrying a full haul.

Chen Hong came back, was Household Chores the house's hygiene, turned her head and saw Yang Qing holding a bamboo stick and with bamboo baskets hanging from his waist, and asked curiously.

"Where did you go to do?"

Yang Qing saw Chen Hong, his body went rigid; his daughter‑in‑law is afraid of insects, and the last time he said he was going to catch some frogs and snakes, he could feel it.

If she came back today, he would definitely not go catch those things.

What to do? I'm in a hurry, the daughter‑in‑law won't beat me, right?

Yang Qing was pondering how to say it.

Chen Hong saw his gaze drifting, sensed a secret, took a towel, wiped her hands, then walked over with long strides and reached for the bamboo basket.

Yang Qing jumped in fright.

"No, you don't move, it's dangerous."

"I say, I'll tell you."

While saying so, he turned around to let Chen Hong's outstretched hand pass, then unhooked the bamboo basket from his waist and placed it carefully aside.

Chen Hong saw his solemn manner, realized the basket's contents were not simple, so she didn't cause trouble, standing nearby waiting for Yang Qing to explain.

Yang Qing took a small bamboo basket, opened its mouth, and poured out a ground dog (camel cricket).

Chen Hong, after seeing what he poured out, shivered all over and jumped far away.

"Yang Qing, who told you to catch that thing, isn't it disgusting?"

Yang Qing put the ground dog back in, and explained.

"This is money; after processing a jin of ground dog, it can be sold at a pharmacy for three mao."

Hearing about money, Chen Hong wasn't as scared, but still kept a far distance.

(Some people fear heights, some get car sick, some fear insects; these are normal phenomena, not shifted by will, most women have psychological shadows toward insects and snakes. In famine years, it may be possible to break this reaction, but not absolutely.)

"Three mao? Isn't that more expensive than food?"

Yang Qing rolled his eyes; protein is so scarce now, only the rich don't eat this stuff, otherwise he could sell it for a sky‑high price.

Knowing that meat now costs a few yuan per jin, selling it for three mao makes Yang Qing feel heart‑broken.

Sigh, Chen Hong fears insects, can't eat this, plus it wastes oil and salt; otherwise Yang Qing could eat it himself.

"This is meat, understand? Meat, how much does meat cost per jin now?"

"The more you say, the more I feel sorry; otherwise we shouldn't sell it, just eat it ourselves."

Chen Hong shivered and shook her head desperately.

Yang Qing coaxed.

"Delicious, crunchy, chicken‑flavored."

"Guarantee you'll eat once and want a second time."

Chen Hong still shook her head.

"If you want to eat, when I'm not home you can eat as you like."

"I'm home, if you dare do this, I'll scold you."

Yang Qing had no choice, nodded in agreement.

"Fine, we won't eat the camel cricket."

"But I also have a few frogs here, will you eat?"

Chen Hong shook her head again.

"Toads are poisonous, and slimy, disgusting, not eating."

Now Yang Qing was about to give her a quick lesson.

"What you mentioned is a toad, I caught frogs—plump, smooth, non‑poisonous, also delicious, chicken‑flavored."

Chen Hong still shook her head.

"Don't eat, don't eat, you eat yourself."

Yang Qing had no way.

"What about the snake?"

Chen Hong still shook her head.

Yang Qing gave up; training Chen Hong might be a long and arduous task.

Then he asked again, puzzled.

"Daughter‑in‑law, in this famine year, refusing this and that, you wouldn't be starving just because you're picky, right?"

He was only half right; the real reason is she has a psychological shadow toward these, and while she hesitates, others have already caught everything.

This is a slow step, step by step slow.

When she finishes her mental preparation, she won't even smell a fart.

Moreover, these things aren't easy to catch; many times, even after exhausting yourself, you only catch a few.

Wasting physical strength for nothing.

This is also deadly in famine years.

Chen Hong blushed briefly and glared at Yang Qing.

"You're so clever, we aren't lacking food at home, why eat these?"

"Anything else, just finish speaking."

You make a good point, is this because you're rich and look down on it?

"Also, centipede, this one is potent, sold by the piece."

"One that's a hand's length, one mao."

"It's another Earning Money thing," Chen Hong exclaimed delightedly.

"How many did you catch?"

Yang Qing made an estimate.

"Roughly twenty or so."

That was his harvest for the afternoon.

It was mainly because he found the right spot; otherwise he wouldn't have caught so many.

"Then you could Earning Money several coins today, right?"

Yang Qing thought it was about right.

"There are a few scorpions left; at this time the scorpions are a bit skinny, not sure if the apothecary will pay a good price for them."

He really is a different kind of man.

Although he doesn't have an official job, he does have a way to Earning Money.

And he knows a little bit of everything.

Thinking of that, Chen Hong felt she couldn't fall behind either and showed a proud‑and‑shy demeanor.

"Did I get a job?"

"Job?"

Upon hearing that, Yang Qing also became excited and asked eagerly.

"What job, and where?"

Chen Hong took a piece of paper from her pocket.

"It's a Clerk position right here in our Jiedao."

"Great…"

Yang Qing lunged forward, leapt forcefully, wrapped his arms around Chen Hong's neck, and gave her a deep kiss.

After these days of recuperation, Chen Hong became a bit more plump and strong.

Yang Qing, weighing a hundred jin, hung on her neck, and she could easily bear it.

Chen Hong supported Yang Qing's hips, engaged in a brief lip‑and‑tongue sparring, then let him down.

It's easy now; a Clerk counts as a formal employee, and the monthly salary works out to about 27 coins, while the two of them need roughly 10 coins a month for grain rations.

(Five coins per person was the poverty standard then, probably set based on the cost of buying grain rations.)

They could still have a surplus of 17 coins, plus their own side‑job earnings.

At minimum they could save 30 coins a month.

That doesn't even include other income.

With a legitimate income, their future life won't have to be so secretive and cautious.

After a year, they could even buy a Self‑confidence Bicycle (once you ride it, you feel confident, people turn to look, some even compliment you—yes, it's just a bicycle).

That's the benefit that status brings.

With a legitimate income source, Yang Qing stopped selling those proteins.

"These mole crickets, frogs, snakes—we won't sell them; we must eat them."

Chen Hong tensed up, furrowed her brows, and asked.

"Didn't we agree not to eat them?"

Yang Qing said firmly.

"We won't be short of money later, so why sell them?"

"You're a martial practitioner; you should understand the principle of being poor in literature but rich in martial skill."

"Without meat supplementation, practicing martial arts will harm the body."

"Look at me, then look at you; we're both so skinny—can food alone replenish us?"

"What can't be replenished creates a huge void; the body easily develops lingering illness."

"When the time comes, trying to replenish will be too late."

"Only meat can fill the void in our bodies."

"Now meat is scarce; we can't save even two jin of meat a year—what good is that?"

"So we can only use these to supplement."

Chen Hong still wanted to rebut.

Yang Qing retorted.

"Do you still want to get pregnant? Your body is so weak—do you know childbirth would be very dangerous?"

"I'm the same; with a poor body, how can we have children?"

"What if the child is born weak and prone to illness?"

"We're doing this for our child."

"So we must eat it."

Speaking of a child, Chen Hong hesitated, then asked.

"Is what you said true?"

Yang Qing nodded desperately.

"Really, truly, ten thousand times true."

Chen Hong made a firm resolve, gritted her teeth, and said.

"Then I'll try?"

Yang Qing solemnly nodded.

"Need it, need it."

Chen Hong finally said.

"Then I'll try, but you can't force me!"