Chapter 2632 - 1516

"Chen, the amount is correct."

"Great, please sign your name here."

Director Chen took out a book for Ding Ning to sign; it was a receipt for the fee.

After Ding Ning signed her name.

Director Chen took out an envelope from his pocket and said:

"Girl, earlier during our transaction, I didn’t mention how much this job would earn you. The market price for this job is between 800 to 1,000 yuan. I’ll give you 1,000 yuan, is that okay?"

"Alright, Chen."

"Then, count it."

"Okay."

"Girl, sign your name here."

Director Chen nodded after Ding Ning counted the money. He took out a receipt, already signed, showing that the transaction payment had been received.

Each party gets a copy, both signed, and the transaction is completed.

Ding Ning signed her name and took her own copy of the paper.

She then placed the two envelopes into her handbag, actually in a box within her spatial bag.

She didn’t put them in another courtyard house because she hadn’t visited it yet and wasn’t sure of the situation inside.

"Girl, if you have any issues in the future, find your Chen. As for selling your house, think about it. Since you’re confident you’ll get into college, make sure to pay attention to the admission letter."

"Okay, if I need anything, I’ll definitely find Chen. Chen, don’t find me annoying."

"Hmm, with so much money in hand, you need to be cautious and not tell anyone. I’ve asked others to keep it confidential. As long as you don’t say anything, before your admission letter arrives, this matter won’t leak."

"Yes, if anyone asks me, I’ll just say I’m asking about the job and the pension, for sure I’ll evade and say it hasn’t been processed yet."

"Yes, I’ve already instructed the people in the team not to tell anyone."

Ding Ning said goodbye to Director Chen and left the office. Passing through some departments, she nodded to people, and when asked, she only said she wanted to inquire about work.

Ding Ning reached the factory’s gate, nodded to the gatekeeper, left, and felt there was still time left.

She planned to stroll on the street and spend the tickets she hadn’t used yet, remembering she hadn’t collected this month’s grain allocation.

Most people would collect next month’s grain in advance.

In times of food shortage, people would line up before dawn; their turn to collect grain afterwards would ensure they got high-quality grain. If they couldn’t get grain later, they would never find such good grain.

Many places lacked grain, and if you were late, nothing could be done without food.

Things have improved in recent years. Ding Ning was sick a few days ago, so she couldn’t get the grain. It ended up saving the grain.

The neighbor next door was concerned, but without holding the grain book personally, there was nothing they could do.

In her memory, Ding Ning subconsciously shared locations where food stamps were stored with the neighbor. That person helped collect the grain, gradually found out the items in their room, and took their family’s savings.

Ding Ning went to the supply and marketing cooperative first to shop extensively, carrying big bags that made others envious.

She dared not purchase too much from one place, using up tickets nearing expiry, left the cooperative, and headed to an alley with fewer people to store the items in her spatial bag.

The next stop was to collect grain.

With her parents gone, their grain allocation vanished, leaving only her monthly supply.

Parents left some food coupons which can be used in restaurants.

Ding Ning also thought about the land in her space and bought some seeds at a seed company, then inquired at a pharmacy about herbal seeds.

Shopping cost quite a bit.

Seeds for food crops were quite expensive; she bought some beans, wheat, rice, upland rice seeds, sorghum seeds, and some vegetable and coarse grain seeds.

At the pharmacy, she bought cotton seeds and some herbal seeds, acquiring just a few ginseng seeds.

She also got a few wild ginseng seeds.

Ding Ning purchased all these, spending over 100 yuan today after earning 4,000.

Money is hard to earn and quick to spend.

This over 100 yuan is equivalent to six months’ wages for many workers.

For temp workers, it’s a year’s salary.

Of course, she bought these items previously for family use or consumption.

Now using them for herself could last a while and provide sustenance for a long time.

The most important aspect is having these seeds; after planting them, food scarcity won’t be an issue.

Ding Ning wasn’t ready to return; despite buying meat buns in the morning, she still wanted to use the meat coupons, storing some food in her space, heading to a state-owned restaurant, not the one near her family building.

In the restaurant, she ordered a plate of braised pork, a bowl of white rice, and a meat stir-fried noodles.

She packed away the stir-fried noodles in an aluminum lunchbox.

She savored the braised pork and white rice.

It’s dining hour, with many people eating, not everyone could order braised pork. Even for those who did, it wasn’t for one person.

Ding Ning alone spent half a pound of meat coupons, 200 grams of grain coupons, and 3 yuan.

She didn’t realize many jealous glances were cast her way.

With many diners around, tables without braised pork had noisy children.

"Braised pork, I want braised pork."