"What's your opinion? It's the same at home on weekdays. In our cafeteria, we still eat two-grain steamed buns. Some people eat black-grain steamed buns at home. They're not as good as here.

Our canteen harvests meat twice a month. Behind our commune wall, we have an acre of land where I grow some home-cooked vegetables and raise a dozen chickens. Every New Year or other festival, I kill one for the commune members.

“The commune even raises its own chickens and grows its own vegetables.”

"In the countryside, there's a lot of land. If you grow some yourself, you can save a little money. Aside from the members' families who come to get food and give them tickets, the members don't need tickets to eat.

"We only pay money. A meal in the morning costs 10 cents, two steamed buns and a dish. A bowl of noodles at noon costs 5 cents. At night, it costs 10 cents."

Yesterday at noon and in the evening, she was taken to dinner by Director Zhao, and she didn't pay for anything.

Secretary Zhao said that since it was the first day, you didn’t need to bring any money.

"Why is lunch so cheap?"

"Most of the lunch is vegetarian noodles. If there is meat, it is 10 cents a bowl. Steamed rice with meat is 20 cents a portion."

“That’s pretty cheap.”

Aunt Zhang nodded. "Food is still very cheap for us rural people. And with the commune subsidy, even if we eat in the cafeteria, it's still very cost-effective."

Aunt Zhang has been working here for several years and has figured out the dining situation of every household here.

She usually cooks enough food for three or four people.

I’m afraid that some family members who don’t want to cook will suddenly come over to get food.

This morning, Aunt Zhang didn't take her money either.

The reason was that she helped with the cooking, and no one would say anything if she invited one person to dinner.

This place in the commune is not like the state-owned restaurants outside.

We grow our own vegetables, raise chickens, and get food from the commune.

As for expenses, I occasionally buy some vegetables, cut some meat, buy some dried goods from farmers, and buy some seasonings.

After deducting the public expenses from the canteen's monthly earnings, there is only about ten yuan left, which is exactly Aunt Zhang's salary.

The commune starts work early in the morning, at 8 o'clock.

At 7:30, everyone came to eat one after another.

Jiang Tang went back to the dormitory and changed into the white floral short-sleeved shirt she bought at the department store.

She put on the wide-brimmed hat that Si Ning prepared for her.

I followed Secretary Zhou and Director Wang on bicycles to report to the two communes.