On the morning of the Little New Year, the brigade suddenly notified everyone to go and distribute money and tickets, which was a pleasant surprise.
Song Yongren was also very happy, but since he couldn't move his legs, he had to let Song Jianshe go instead.
Having nothing else to do, Song Lili also went to join in the fun.
Tickets and money are also distributed according to work points. This year, the Song family didn't have many work points, so Song Lili estimated that she wouldn't receive much money and tickets either.
Similar to the distribution of grain, accountant Xu Youcai went from house to house calling out to each household, starting with the first brigade.
After more than an hour, the first four brigades had been assigned, leaving only the fifth brigade.
Soon, Song Lili and her brother received their share of the money, but it was very disappointing.
The Song family received one yuan and fifty cents this time, but they had almost no coupons for grain, oil, cloth, etc.
Song Lili looked dejected and couldn't help but complain to Song Jianshe on the way back, "How come it's only this little bit? What are we going to do with just one yuan?"
Song Lili couldn't imagine how the Song family used to live; they only had a few yuan a year.
"I still have so many things I want to buy. With this one dollar, I can forget about everything else. Just being able to live a good life is good enough."
"As for what I want to buy, I'll pass."
Anyway, we definitely can't rely on the money distributed by the brigade.
Song Jianshe remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "This year there are fewer work points, so the distribution is also less. In the past, there were four or five points."
Song Lili couldn't help but twitch her lips. "Four or five pieces? Is that a lot?"
However, she also knew that the Song family had fewer work points this year due to various reasons, and she had actually been mentally prepared for this.
At this moment, Song Lili could only feel fortunate that she still had ten yuan left from selling cabbages last time. Even after treating Song Yongren's leg, she still had seven or eight yuan left.
Adding this extra dollar, it's about ten dollars. If I'm careful with my spending throughout the year, it should be enough.
Besides, she didn't really intend to do nothing and live off those ten yuan.
Therefore, she has no worries.
She wasn't worried, but Song Jianshe felt heavy-hearted. He felt that the money he received this time seemed wrong; it was too little.
It's true that the Song family didn't receive many work points this year, but it's impossible for them to receive so few. This is rather strange.
But he wasn't quite sure. He glanced at his sister beside him, whose face was calm, and said nothing.
He wasn't sure, and he didn't dare to say anything rashly, for fear that his sister would act impulsively. He still remembered what happened when she went to the Luo family last time.
When he got home, he told Song Yongren about it. Song Yongren was silent for a moment, then accepted it.
He took the one-yuan note from Song Jianshe, his face showing no change in expression. "It's alright. There's less money this year anyway, but we still have money at home, so don't worry."
At this moment, Song Yongren was extremely grateful for the greenhouse that Song Lili had set up earlier, which not only paid off the family's debts but also gave the family savings.
Otherwise, what good is one yuan that the production team gets this time?
Song Yongren was not flustered, because he was confident!
Exactly, this share of money...
Neither the father nor the son spoke openly about this matter, so Song Lili was unaware that her family's money was not in order.
Because of the previous grain distribution, Song Lili naturally assumed that there would be no problem this time since Song Jianshe didn't show any reaction.
And so, evening came.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, every household worships the Kitchen God, supposedly to send him off to heaven. Each family prepares delicious food, sets off firecrackers, and joyfully bids farewell to the Kitchen God.
Then, on New Year's Eve, they joyfully welcome it back once again, these two days every year. People treat them as a major event.
However, this year, Song Lili discussed it with Song Yongren in advance and said, "Uncle, we will still worship the Kitchen God, but we will do it more discreetly and not make a big fuss."
Song Yongren agreed with what Song Lili said; he hadn't forgotten what Song Lili had dreamed about before.
Since Song Yongren, the head of the family, had made the decision, Song Jianshe and Song Fang naturally had no objections, and the whole family quietly celebrated the Lunar New Year's Eve.
Despite the hardships her family had faced, Song Lili never considered depriving herself of food. She steamed a few buns and stir-fried some cabbage she had picked from the greenhouse a couple of days earlier, which made for a decent meal.
However, the Song family did not set off firecrackers this year; they only listened to other families doing so.
Although we've lived in poverty all these years, people still spend money to buy firecrackers during the Lunar New Year. It's not much, but they still buy some.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, when people worship the Kitchen God, every household sets off firecrackers, even if it's just a couple of loud noises.
The family sat under the eaves, listening to the crackling sounds outside, which seemed to have a unique charm in the quiet night.
Song Lili thought that people at this time certainly couldn't imagine that two or three years later, they would no longer be able to openly worship the Kitchen God.
The Song family didn't set off firecrackers, but the surrounding families did, and even Zhang Laidi came to the Song family's door to show off.
"Yongren, why aren't you setting off firecrackers? Did you not buy any? I bought several. How about we share one with you?"
"Let me tell you, you can't skip setting off firecrackers on the Little New Year, otherwise the Kitchen God will be angry. If the Kitchen God is angry, you'll have bad luck next year, and nothing you do will go smoothly."
"I can tell you've had a really bad year. If you don't give the Kitchen God some good food and drink and set off some firecrackers, things will probably get even worse next year."
As Zhang Laidi spoke, a sense of superiority unconsciously emanated from her, as if having firecrackers at home was something to be proud of.
Song Lili's face darkened. Although she didn't believe in ghosts and gods, she couldn't explain her rebirth.
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