Chapter Six: Planning to Find a Job

After finishing dinner, the three of them all went back to their rooms.

The Su family lived in six rooms in Changqing Brigade, all made of rammed earth. The main house consisted of a hall and a kitchen. On the left side lived Elder Su and his wife; on the right side, two rooms were occupied by Su Youren and Su Youde's family. Of the two rooms on the left, one belonged to Su Yaozu, and the other to Su Dawei's family.

There was a small room in the courtyard that originally housed the two daughters, but after they married, it was converted into an outhouse.

"Chuchu, we’re going to make a fortune!"

After entering the space, Su Dawei saw Su Yanchu’s haul from the day: a wooden box full of gold. Exchanging that gold for cash would allow the family to start a business once the reforms opened up the economy.

“I read a similar story in a book before. I was going to try my luck in the afternoon and unexpectedly ran into Su Qiqi. I discreetly followed her for a while. She truly is the author's own daughter—opportunities always come her way. And now, I got to seize this opportunity for her!”

Su Yanchu recounted her afternoon adventure in full.

"Chuchu, you’re amazing—no wonder you’re my daughter!" Su Dawei said proudly.

"You’re wrong. I was the one who taught her," Qin Jiuhong rolled her eyes.

"Yes, yes, my wife’s the best teacher!"

Seeing her reaction, Su Dawei quickly corrected himself and planted a kiss on her cheek.

Qin Jiuhong blushed but said nothing. Su Yanchu was already used to Su Dawei’s strong survival instincts mixed with his affectionate displays.

“Daughter, what’s our next step?”

“We should find a chance to quietly exchange some of this gold for cash,” Su Yanchu suggested.

“I’ll do it,” Su Dawei volunteered. “I’ll go to the black market.”

While food was non-negotiable and couldn’t be sold, gold could.

Having learned martial arts in his previous life, Su Dawei knew the black market would offer a better price—but the risks were too high.

“Better to go to the state-run gold shop,” Qin Jiuhong said, genuinely worried he might get into trouble.

“Safer.”

The state did buy back gold, albeit at a lower price.

“Alright.”

After some thought, Su Dawei decided to go to the state-run store.

“Let’s sleep for now. We can deal with everything tomorrow,” Qin Jiuhong said to them.

After all, the gold was safely stored in the space and could be used for anything later.

“Okay.” Su Yanchu, tired from the day, went to bed early since she had to get up early for school.

...

Meanwhile, late at night, Su Qiqi couldn’t stop worrying about the box of gold hidden in the mountains. Carrying a flashlight and a small shovel, she went up the mountain in the dead of night.

Carefully, she approached the big tree where the box had been buried during the day. She noticed the dry grass was neatly arranged over the spot.

...

Su Qiqi hurriedly dug and looked inside—the box was empty.

“How could it be gone?!” Her mind went blank.

She was the only one who knew about it!

But then she realized Su Yanchu must have also gone up the mountain that afternoon.

There was no proof yet, but she had to find a way to get her gold bars back.

That gold was hers—no one else could take it.

...

Unaware that Su Qiqi had already checked the spot, Su Yanchu headed to the commune's junior high after breakfast.

The school was about three kilometers from the Su home, over an hour’s walk.

At school, Su Yanchu found her seat according to memory, sat down, and took out her textbooks.

Knowledge changes fate; she was determined to get into a good vocational school.

After reading for a couple of minutes, her stomach rumbled loudly.

The next moment, a steaming bun appeared in front of her.

“Su, this bun is stuffed with cabbage and pork!”

Su Yanchu turned to see her chubby deskmate, Xue Xiaodong, smiling at her.

“Does your family never feed you?”

Su Yanchu said nothing and ate the bun.

After finishing, she explained, “I exercise a lot in the morning, so I digest quickly.”

Xue Xiaodong’s family situation was completely different. He was the beloved child of the commune, though still living in the production team. His father worked in the city but hadn’t been allocated a house yet.

His grandfather was the production team leader, his uncle held a position in the commune, and his mother was the Women’s Federation director.

They had two children: an older sister who was married but had no children yet, and Xue Xiaodong himself, who often helped support his maternal family.

Su Yanchu and Xue Xiaodong shared a revolutionary friendship, having known each other since first grade. He sat next to her during exams to copy her answers while bringing her food every day.

“Su, do you plan to attend high school or vocational school?”

“Vocational school,” Su Yanchu replied.

“With your grades, it should be no problem,” Xue Xiaodong said. “I’m going to vocational school too.”

“Given your grades, that might be tough,” Su Yanchu teased.

Xue Xiaodong usually copied her answers, so his grades were poor.

“I’ll study hard,” he said firmly.

“Then good luck,” Su Yanchu replied, returning to her book.

At noon, Su Yanchu ate in the school canteen—boiled cabbage and shredded potatoes, with little oil.

Later, she found a chance to enter her space, where she ate steaming buns and canned chicken.

After school, she went home.

As soon as she set down her bag in her room, Su Qiqi stormed in angrily.

“Where’s the stuff?”

“What stuff?” Su Yanchu feigned ignorance, though she understood perfectly. “Third cousin, what are you talking about?”

Su Qiqi fell silent and began searching the room.

She hadn’t come during the day because Su Yanchu had locked her door.

“Su Qiqi, get out!” Su Yanchu grabbed her collar and threw her out.

“This isn’t a place for your madness.”

“Su Yanchu, did you go up the mountain yesterday?”

Su Qiqi, still unwilling to give up after being thrown out, asked.

“I did!” Su Yanchu said confidently. “I saw a poisonous snake in the mountain, killed it, and brought it back!”

“That box belongs to me. Give me back my things!” Su Qiqi demanded.

“Cousin, what are you talking about? I don’t understand!” Su Yanchu looked innocent.

But this matter wasn’t going to end so easily. Su Qiqi glared at Su Yanchu and then turned away.

Once Su Qiqi left, Su Yanchu breathed a sigh of relief.

Shortly after, Su Dawei and Qin Jiuhong returned.

“Chuchu, I took the afternoon off to sell some of the gold bars at the gold shop,” Su Dawei said.

“I exchanged over a thousand yuan.”

“In a couple of days, we’ll check the black market for jobs to buy. I’ll buy one first.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Third child, third child, open the door for me!”