91: Chapter 80: Military Service 91: Chapter 80: Military Service Manbao finished the last grain of rice in her bowl and touched her small belly, saying, “Mother, I’m full.”

Ms.

Qian ate slowly, reached out to touch her protruding belly, and smiled, “Go play then.”

It was only then that Manbao began to worry about their finances, “Mother, what about the money we got from selling the Indian pennywort and yams?”

Ms.

Qian said, “Your Second Brother took it to buy cotton and cloth for you.”

Manbao was taken aback.

Zhou Wulang and the others lifted their heads, and with a chopstick between his teeth and teary eyes, he looked at Manbao, hoping she would argue with their mother for their interests.

But that was impossible.

Manbao hadn’t yet figured out the relationships and scratched her head, asking, “Why do I need to buy cotton and cloth?”

“Your clothes are getting shorter, and you’ve joined the school.

Winter is coming, so you’ll need a new set of clothes.

If it weren’t for the lack of money, I would’ve liked to make you an extra set to change into.”

Manbao was no fool.

She counted on her fingers how much money they made from the yams and the Indian pennywort, “That’s 1,200 coins, all spent?”

“Not all, just your share is gone,” Ms.

Qian would certainly not deceive her children with the price.

What if the children became foolish in the future?

So she said, “1,200 coins wasn’t all yours.

After paying the community share, you still have to give some to your Second Brother and Third Brother.

There’s not much left for you.”

Manbao did her own calculations and found it was true, so she didn’t mind.

She had always been indifferent towards money.

Zhou Wulang couldn’t hold back and hurriedly asked, “Then, Mother, what about ours?”

Ms.

Qian glanced at him and did not speak.

Old Zhou spoke up, “You?

Do you still have the nerve to ask the family for money?

In a couple of years, you’ll need to get married.

Does marrying not cost money?

From now on, whatever money you make goes to your mother.

Once you’ve settled down, you’ll have your own private stash just like your brothers.”

Zhou Wulang muttered, “Silang hasn’t even started discussing marriage, why would I be so quick?”

Speaking of this, Old Zhou turned to look at Four and asked, “Silang, how’s the land clearing going?”

Zhou Silang, who had been eating diligently, lifted his dark face and said, “I’ve cleared all the tree roots and picked up the stones.

Now I’ve started tilling the ground.”

Old Zhou nodded, “Let Five and Sixth help you these next few days.

You’re not so young anymore, and you should learn more skills.

Old Lady Bai has just arrived in the village to build a house and has started recruiting workers.

You should join them—it pays 30 coins a day, which is more than carrying sacks of grain in the county.”

Old Zhou had decided that all four older sons would go, and Five and Sixth would take Silang’s place in the fields to clear the land, hoping to earn another sum before the New Year.

After the meal, he also specifically called Manbao over to calculate how much the four brothers working for a month could earn for the family.

That was easy to calculate.

As Manbao was figuring it out, she remembered something, “This year there’s labor service.

Third Brother can’t go for a whole month.

Let me recalculate.”

The adults of the Zhou Family were stunned, and Old Zhou grabbed her hand abruptly, asking, “What did you say, labor service this year?”

“Yes,” Manbao said, “from October 22 to November 21, a total of one month.”

Old Zhou, “Who told you that?

Did it happen to be our village’s turn?”

Ms.

Qian and the others also sat up straighter.

Zhou Wulang said, “Manbao saw the notice at the County Governmental Office.

The Chief hasn’t come to notify us yet.”

Old Zhou then felt his waist for his tobacco pouch and, finding nothing, simply stuffed his empty tobacco pipe into his mouth, silent for a moment.

Zhou Dalang took the initiative to ask Manbao, “What exactly did the notice say?”

Manbao had a good memory and, although she couldn’t repeat it verbatim, she gave the gist of it.

Zhou Dalang understood and said, “It’s not selective service, then.

It means every family in the county has to take part.

Because there are many people, that’s probably why it’s only for one month.”

“Even one month in the deep winter is enough for people to endure,” Old Zhou said, “The county magistrate really did pick a time!

If he wanted labor service, right after the autumn harvest would have been a much better time.

How can anyone dig in this freezing weather when the ground is hard as rock?”

Ms.

Qian closed her eyes and said, “That’s the county magistrates’ concern.

We just have to take care of ourselves.

Third, when working, conserve your strength.

If your body can’t take it, don’t force it.

Report it and let your brothers go in your stead.”

She said, “Your family doesn’t just depend on you alone.

You have many brothers to take turns.”

Zhou San agreed.

Ms.

Qian then instructed Junior Ms.

Qian, “Starting from tomorrow, cook an extra handful of grain to nourish Third’s body for a month.

Make sure he’s well-fed and able to endure the work.”

Junior Ms.

Qian complied without complaint.

It was tradition in the Zhou Family to nourish whoever was due for labor service well ahead of time.

Only, they usually received the news late, typically only ten days in advance.

How dreadful was labor service?

Not to mention Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang, even Old Zhou, who hadn’t been conscripted for many years, couldn’t help but shudder when he remembered the days of toil from his youth.

The atmosphere in the Zhou Family’s home that evening was rather somber.

Being young, Manbao couldn’t remember much and didn’t understand why the knowledge of the upcoming labor service made everyone so despondent.

But she was obedient, didn’t fuss or ask too many questions, and only lay with bright, shiny eyes at the edge of her parents’ bed watching them.

Ms.

Qian touched her small head and said to Old Zhou, “Labor service is a serious matter.

Since we know about it, we should still speak to the village chief tomorrow, let him inquire whether it’s true.

If it is, the villagers can prepare earlier.”

Old Zhou agreed, then after a moment of silence said, “Make sure the food we prepare for Third is substantial.”

Ms.

Qian whispered, “I know.”

Seeing Manbao with her round eyes wide open, Ms.

Qian smiled at her and said, “Don’t worry, your Third Brother is always healthy.

He’ll come back safe and sound this time too.”

“Mother, isn’t labor service about digging water conservancy projects and repairing roads?

Our village often does that too.”

Ms.

Qian replied, “That’s different.

Road repairs in the village just involve patching potholes while people help out when they have time.

Home is right around the corner—how can that be the same?”

As for the water conservancy, that’s just a bit of digging at the start of spring.

“The labor service in the county is different…” But as to what was different, Ms.

Qian didn’t tell Manbao.

No matter how much she asked, Ms.

Qian would just smile and say, “You’re still young, you’ll understand when you’re older.”

Manbao then pouted and turned to ask Keke.

The system searched in the encyclopedia for a while and then became silent.

After a long while, it said, “During the historical period in which the host now resides, records show that labor service was very arduous, and it was normal for people to die.”

Manbao shivered and quickly asked, “Could my Third Brother die?”

“Labor service is obligatory work, and even though the County Governmental Office disburses some food, the amount is quite small.

One mainly relies on the food they bring themselves to fill their stomachs,” the system said.

“Moreover, October marks the winter season, which is the coldest time of the year.

Once sick, it’s easy for a person to die.”

Manbao instantly became concerned, “Can Third Brother not go?”