Chapter 5: Forty percent of food costs are spent on food…
Chapter 5
Although Lin Mujin was anxious to go home to finish her manuscript, she did not miss the opportunity to buy groceries on the way.
I spent ten dollars to buy a portion of redwood fish, and fried it. Last time, everyone in my family said it tasted good.
I bought a pound of pork belly for fourteen dollars.
A pound of chives costs 4.5 yuan.
A pound of cucumbers costs four yuan.
"Do you want to buy some other vegetables..."
Lin Mujin thought to herself, by then the table would be filled with so much green that her cousin would be anxious.
After thinking about it, I decided to forget it. Maybe they have already broken up. My cousin didn't say anything because he was concerned about my uncle's injury, or he still wanted to save the relationship.
"Let's buy some more eggs."
Eggs are rich in protein and easy to absorb. She has recovered and the lump behind her head has completely disappeared, but her uncle is still recuperating.
"Grandma, how much are your eggs? 70 cents each! So expensive?! And they're going up..."
In the end, Lin Mujin only picked out twenty slightly larger eggs.
This trip cost me about fifty dollars, and I lost almost half of the royalties I had just received.
No wonder an average Hong Kong family in this era has to spend about 40% on food (reported in the newspapers), food is really not cheap.
"Uncle, I'm back. I'll help you get some sun outside."
Lin Mujin got home, put the meat and vegetables away, and said to the old man.
Although it is best to rest your injured legs and feet and not move around too much, a subdivided flat is obviously not a suitable place for recuperation. People still need to see the sun often, which is not only good for the body, but also for the mood.
I helped the old man sit on the stool by the wall and said, "Uncle, call me when the sun gets hot."
After giving the instructions, he went into the house to finish his manuscript.
Because I received the manuscript fee, I am now very motivated. In addition, I have an outline and I am not stuck, so my speed is naturally two points faster.
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"Is there a happy event at home? The food is so delicious." The eldest cousin asked with some confusion.
There were meat patties and fish stir-fries. It had been a long time since we had such a sumptuous meal at home.
Lin Mujin cleared her throat. "I have good news to announce. My novel has been accepted. It's ten dollars per thousand words. I calculated that I'll probably earn around a thousand dollars per month."
She didn't say much, just the bottom line.
After all, this is my first article, and if I say too much, I’m afraid my family will think too much.
The old man was very happy, "You little girl, you refused to tell me even when I asked you during the day."
Lin Mujin said coquettishly, "I just want to announce it in front of the whole family."
Lin Muli asked anxiously, "Sister, which newspaper is it? I'll buy a copy when the time comes and keep it as a souvenir."
My cousins also echoed him, all with proud expressions.
Lin Mujin's smile was a little stiff. What she feared was what came true. Xiaopowen, please keep an eye on Ma Jinyi. "Ahem... I can't say. You know, there's a kind of person who has two faces. When writing novels, they can write freely and freely. In real life, they are 'good and clever'. I am that kind of person, so please don't try to find out my pen name, otherwise I might not be able to write anymore."
My cousin was worried that she wouldn't be able to write and thus wouldn't make any money, so she quickly said, "We won't ask, we won't ask."
After saying that, he looked at his cousin and younger brother, stared at them and made a promise.
Lin Mujin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she had gotten through this hurdle for the time being.
Uncle Lin suddenly remembered that Ah Jin seemed to have mentioned that she wanted to submit an article under his name, but he didn't ask.
In order to change the subject, Lin Mujin turned to look at Lin Muli, "You haven't been home lately. Where have you been?"
Lin Muli swallowed the fish in his mouth and said, "It's just a short-term job, earning three yuan an hour."
Cousin Lin asked, "It's a lot less than being a tutor, so why don't you become a tutor?"
Lin Muli's face was wrinkled into a bun, but the others laughed.
They all knew the reason. Last year, Lin Muli encountered a weird student while tutoring. Not only the student but also his parents were weirder than the other. So he became afraid of ropes after being bitten by a snake once.
Lin Muli added, "My temporary job is to help the pharmacy prepare medicinal materials, which can also be considered as learning a skill."
Lin Mujin noticed it keenly, "Ah Li, do you like Chinese medicine?"
Lin Muxi scratched his head and said, "A little bit."
Lin Mujin patted his shoulder and said, "Since you like it, then do it."
After saying that, he lifted his buttocks, as the bricks he was sitting on were a bit painful.
There is only one stool in the house, which is now the old man’s exclusive seat.
The family continued to talk and laugh while eating, as if all the haze was about to dissipate.
After dinner, Lin Mujin took her cousin downstairs.
"Is there something wrong?" my cousin asked straight to the point.
Lin Mujin glanced around, "Brother, you and Sister Rongrong...?"
Cousin Lin didn't answer but asked, "What did you see?"
Lin Mujin didn't expect her cousin to be so perceptive. She pursed her lips and said, "I didn't see their faces, so it's not necessarily true. It was just a young man and woman driving a convertible. They were talking and laughing... quite intimate."
Cousin Lin took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. He glanced at his sister and put the cigarette back into the cigarette box.
Lin Mujin's eyes widened, "Brother, when did you learn to smoke?"
Cousin Lin smiled wryly and said, "I just learned it not long ago."
Lin Mujin understood that this person learned to smoke because he was under too much pressure.
He snatched the cigarette box away and said, "You used to dislike the smell of cigarettes. Stop smoking! Smoking is harmful to your health."
It is still good to avoid it when you have just learned it but have not yet become addicted.
"Brother, I will share the responsibility of the family with you in the future."
Cousin Lin paused as he tried to take back the cigarette box. "You're not going to school anymore?"
Lin Mujin shrugged, "Brother, my grades won't allow me to pass the exam."
Cousin Lin advised again, "You are still young, you can repeat one year."
Lin Mujin still shook her head. She had studied for twenty years in her previous life and had really read enough.
Besides, studying will delay your earning.
Seeing her firm attitude, her cousin rubbed her head and said, "Don't worry about Rongrong and me, and don't tell your uncle. Our Ah Jin has grown up."
Lin Mujin's cheeks felt a little hot, and her heart felt sour and soft. Was she being praised? "I won't tell Uncle, but Sister Rongrong hasn't shown up yet, so Uncle probably has some idea in his mind."
She also understood that it was best for outsiders not to interfere in matters of the heart, but she still advised, "Brother, there are always beautiful women out there, you have to be open-minded."
Cousin Lin rubbed her head again and said, "Be careful not to worry too much or you'll get wrinkles."
Lin Mujin protected her hair, "My hairstyle!"
He took two steps away, then remembered that he had something else to do. "Brother, does your factory accept blueprints? What's the approximate price?"
This is also the method she thought of to quickly cash in.
She has not studied design specifically, but her vision is definitely advanced and unique, and she has some basic painting skills, so she is capable of selling drawings.
"Our factory doesn't accept them," Lin explained. "You know what kind of buns we make? The boss cuts them out from foreign newspapers. The chefs can make similar ones after just a few glances."
Lin Mujin understood, it was a fake.
This has nothing to do with her, but it's a pity that one of her ways to make money has been blocked.
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