In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

With enough cloth and cotton stockpiled at home for the winter, a major worry has finally been resolved.

However, Yang Huai-ren's worries did not seem to lessen with the temporary abundance of material goods; on the contrary, they became even heavier because of his own "uselessness."

As autumn deepened, more than a month later, Yang Huai-ren's leg injury had finally healed to a near-complete state.

The swelling had long since subsided, and the bruising had cleared up. Although the injured area still occasionally felt sore and uncomfortable on rainy days, he was able to throw away his crutches and walk freely on flat ground, even jogging a few steps without feeling any pain. This was nothing short of a miracle for him, who had once thought he would be left with a disability.

An improvement in health should have brought joy and renewed energy. However, Yang Huai-ren's face showed little joy; instead, it was often shrouded in a faint, lingering cloud of worry.

He often paced back and forth in the small east courtyard with his hands behind his back, looking at the gray sky, or staring blankly at the old locust tree in the corner of the courtyard whose leaves were almost all gone, sometimes for a long time.

Especially during meals, looking at his wife and daughter's new clothes and the sumptuous food on the table, and then thinking that almost all of this was earned by his son.

As a father, he spent his days idly at home, doing nothing. A strong sense of loss, uselessness, and guilt arose within him, entwining his heart like vines and making him lose his appetite.

He is not yet forty years old this year, in his prime. He was once the eldest son on whom his family placed great hopes. He was educated, knew how to do accounting, and had done chores, supporting his family.

Now he has to rely on his underage son to support the family, and he has become a freeloader, which makes him feel very uncomfortable, and his spine doesn't seem as straight as it used to be.

"Ugh……"

That evening at dinner, Yang Huai-ren shoveled rice into his bowl and couldn't help but sigh deeply again, his voice filled with helplessness and self-loathing.

Chu Yuanjun glanced at her husband, silently picked up a piece of stir-fried cabbage with her chopsticks and put it in his bowl. Her lips moved, as if she wanted to say something comforting, but she didn't know where to start. In the end, she could only let out a silent sigh.

She understood her husband's feelings and the hurt he felt about his pride and self-esteem as a man, but she was powerless to change the situation.

Yang Guangming saw his father's expression and sighs and knew that he was feeling very frustrated and was eager to find a job to help ease the burden on the family and regain his value and place in the family.

In fact, as soon as Yang Huai-ren's leg injury had healed and he was able to walk with crutches, he had already started asking around for job opportunities.

He contacted former colleagues, inquired whether his former employers still needed accountants or clerks, and even humbled himself to ask some old acquaintances he still kept in touch with for help.

But in today's world, with war and chaos, economic depression, and shrinking industries, there are many unemployed people. Finding a stable job that can make a living is easier said than done.
The replies he received were mostly "There are no vacancies at the moment," "Let's wait and see," and "Even the employer is laying off people these days." Each setback made him feel increasingly gloomy.

"Dad, your leg has just recovered, but it still needs some consolidation. You should rest for a while longer and don't rush back to work," Yang Guangming said, putting down his chopsticks, trying to comfort his father.

Yang Huai-ren shook his head, his brows furrowed, and his tone was somewhat agitated: "What are you going to raise? If we stay any longer, he'll become useless! The household expenses are so high now, rice, flour, coal, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, none of them are free."

"It's all because of you running around, copying books, translating... It breaks my heart!"

He sighed heavily again, put down his rice bowl, seemingly having lost his appetite. "Guangming, you know a lot of people and have many connections. Even learned people like Mr. Zhu value you. Help your father inquire around and see if there's any work I can do, even if it's just physical labor, guarding the gate, or running errands! Your father can't just sit idle like this!"

Seeing the almost pleading look in his father's eyes, Yang Guangming sighed inwardly.

He was well aware of his father's distress.

However, in the months that followed, until the end of the Pingjin Campaign and the eve of the liberation of Beiping, the situation only became more and more turbulent. Outside the city, artillery fire raged, while inside the city, prices soared, order was chaotic, and secret agents ran rampant.

He was really worried about letting his father go out to work at this time. If he encountered any danger, such as stray bullets, fleeing soldiers, or accidents caused by chaos, he would regret it too late.

With him secretly supporting the family, at least they have enough to eat and wear, and safety comes first.

But it's not a solution to not find something for my father to do, and to let him keep sighing and doubting himself. People can easily get sick if they are idle for too long, especially if they have something on their mind.

After a moment's thought, Yang Guangming had an idea. Since he couldn't go out and take risks for work, he would find him something equally important and indispensable that he could handle.

"Dad, I've been keeping an eye out for jobs. I'll let you know as soon as I find a suitable one," Yang Guangming said reassuringly. Then, his tone turned serious. "But right now, there's something really important that I need your help with. No one else can really handle it."

"What is it? Tell me!" As soon as Yang Huai-ren heard that there was something to do, and it was an important matter that "only he could do," he immediately perked up. He even straightened his back unconsciously, stared intently at his son, and his previous dejection vanished.

Chu Yuanjun also looked over curiously and stopped clearing the dishes.

"That's it."

Yang Guangming had already prepared his speech and spoke calmly, "Professor Zhu introduced me to some foreign language translation jobs a few days ago. They are several recent articles on engineering machinery by foreigners. They are very important and quite difficult, but the pay is also high."

Teacher Zhu said that the other party was very satisfied, and the payment was settled according to current prices, so it was relatively high.

If all goes well, I should receive about 600 gold yuan in translation fees tomorrow.

He deliberately quoted a figure higher than the previous fabric purchase to amplify the impact.

"Six hundred yuan!"

Yang Huai Ren and Chu Yuan Jun exclaimed in surprise again, even more shocked than when they heard about the five hundred yuan last time.

Even with soaring prices these days, this amount is still a considerable sum that can make any ordinary family's heart race.

"Yes, six hundred yuan."

Yang Guangming nodded firmly, then a hint of worry appeared on his face. "But, Dad, Mom, you've seen how fast money is depreciating now."

So much money is too much to handle! I need to spend it as soon as possible and exchange it for something.

But I have to rush to finish my translation these two days, and time is tight, so I really can't find the time to queue up.

"Dad, now that your leg is healed, could you please help me queue up so I can spend this money as soon as possible?"

He turned his gaze to his father with trust and entrustment.

He paused, then emphasized, as if stating a stark reality: "A day's delay, or even half a day's delay, could mean a loss of tens or even hundreds of yuan! That loss is far greater than the meager earnings you'd make from finding an ordinary job! We can't afford to lose that!"

Yang Huai-ren was completely stunned by his son's words. Losing tens or hundreds of yuan a day? That's practically cutting off a piece of his own flesh!
But considering the recent rapid rise in prices he had witnessed firsthand—the money that could buy five pounds of rice in the morning might only buy three pounds in the afternoon—he had to believe that his son's words were not an exaggeration.

This is no longer about buying things; it's about racing against time and battling against ever-shrinking purchasing power.

Faced with such a huge, tangible loss, Yang Huai-ren immediately felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and the worry on his face was replaced by a sense of seriousness, urgency, and solemnity as if he had been entrusted with a critical mission.

He was no longer an idle man, but a key figure responsible for protecting family property and preventing major losses.

"You're right! This money must be spent as soon as possible! We can't afford to waste a single moment!"

Yang Huai-ren slapped his thigh hard, his voice becoming louder and more resolute, "But...light."

He then thought of a practical problem and frowned slightly, "These days, queuing to buy things can easily take up most of the day, and you still might not be able to buy anything."

Most stores have purchase limits, so even if I queued all day, I probably wouldn't spend much. Six hundred yuan—how long would that take?

He felt somewhat powerless.

That's exactly the effect Yang Guangming wanted.

He then presented a plan he had already devised: "Dad's thinking is right. If we're going to spend the money, we have to spend it efficiently and not waste time."

What I mean is, we can find more people to line up together and then split up.

Even if it costs money to hire someone, it's worth it! It's better than having money rot in your hands. All things considered, the wages are a drop in the ocean compared to the losses caused by currency devaluation.

Hearing this from the side, Chu Yuanjun couldn't help but interject, with the selfless spirit of a mother: "How about... I join the queue too? The more people there are, the more things we can buy. I'm just sitting at home doing nothing."

"No way!" Yang Huai-ren and Yang Guangming objected in unison, their attitudes resolute.

Yang Huai-ren frowned, his tone carrying an unquestionable protectiveness: "It's very chaotic outside right now, and the places where people queue up to buy things are a mixed bag, with all sorts of people. Fighting and brawling over a spot is common."

It's too unsafe for a woman like you to go alone! What if you get bumped into?

He absolutely could not let his wife take that risk.

Yang Guangming nodded, his tone gentle but firm: "Mother, you just stay home and take good care of Jingwan and Jingyi, and also arrange the winter clothes and bedding. That will be a great help. There are too many people queuing up, and it would be more worrying for us if you went. Father and I will figure something out."

Seeing that both father and son were resolute, Chu Yuanjun knew they were worried about him. He felt both warm and somewhat disappointed, so he had no choice but to give up and said softly, "Then... take care of yourselves."

Seeing that his wife was no longer insisting, Yang Huai-ren breathed a sigh of relief and then pondered for a moment before saying:

"If we're hiring someone... the best candidates are Master Liao and the two Jiao brothers from the courtyard."

Master Liao is honest and strong; the Jiao brothers are righteous, and it's safe with them around.

They're all doing odd jobs now, it's hard to find work, and they're struggling to make ends meet. If we pay them, they'll definitely be willing.

Besides, they are all neighbors I know well and trust, so I feel at ease entrusting them with my money to buy things.

Yang Huai-ren's analysis was very logical and reasonable.

Besides these three, there really weren't any more suitable candidates. After all, entrusting a large sum of money to them for procurement requires trust; who else could you trust?
"Alright, please, Master Liao, Brother Jiao, and Second Brother Jiao."

Yang Guangming made the decision, affirming his father's choice. "Dad, this matter is entirely in your hands. What needs to be bought, how to allocate manpower, where to go and which queues to stand in—it's all up to you."

You should negotiate the wages with them, pay them the market rate, or even a little more generous, so they don't suffer financially. These days, trustworthy and hardworking people are harder to find than money.

This trust and delegation of authority gave Yang Huai-ren a long-lost feeling of being respected and needed.

He nodded vigorously, his face shining with a sense of having found his direction: "Okay! Leave it to me! I'll definitely arrange this properly and turn this money into something tangible!"

Yang Huai-ren finally had something important to do, which gave him a long-lost sense of value and confidence to support his family.

In the evening, Yang Guangming returned from Teacher Zhu's house as usual—he still went there every afternoon, a routine he never missed, and the only reasonable explanation for his "income"—and then handed six hundred yuan in gold notes to his father.

He pretended that he had just received the payment from Teacher Zhu.

"Dad, here's the six hundred yuan translation fee. Please keep it." Yang Guangming handed over the money, a thick wad.

Yang Huai-ren took the thick wad of money, feeling his palms burning and its weight.

This was the first time in his life that he had ever held so much money in his own hands—even though it was in rapidly depreciating gold yuan notes.

He carefully counted each bill one by one, then solemnly tucked it into his inner pocket, pressing it down with his hand as if he were receiving a heavy responsibility. "Also..."

Sunshine Ming continues to pave the way for future funding sources, adding:
"When Teacher Zhu heard that we were going to hire people to queue up to buy things, he and several of his close colleagues and gentlemen also had some gold yuan notes that they wanted to spend as soon as possible and exchange them for physical goods to preserve their value."

But they either have to attend classes or are too old to queue up and grab the food.

He asked me to inquire if we could help him with the process. He'll bring the money over in a couple of days.

This was naturally an excuse Yang Guangming came up with to continue issuing gold yuan in the future.

The few thousand yuan of "dirty money" in his hands could only be spent in batches under the guise of "translation fees" and "helping teachers and friends," so that it could be exchanged for increasingly abundant supplies for his family.

Yang Huai-ren had no suspicions. On the contrary, he felt that this showed his son's close relationship with Teacher Zhu and his trust in his family. He was also proud to be able to do things for these learned gentlemen, so he immediately nodded in agreement without hesitation.
"No problem! Mr. Zhu's business is our business! Tell him to rest assured, once the money is handed over, I will definitely handle everything perfectly for them! I guarantee that their money will be converted into tangible goods!"

For him, spending 600 yuan was the same as spending 1200 yuan; it was just a matter of hiring one more person or queuing a few more times. He was happy to help Teacher Zhu and the other gentlemen, seeing it as a good way to build connections and reputation.

With a clear goal and a "heavy responsibility" on his shoulders, Yang Huai-ren's mental state changed completely. His previous listlessness vanished, and he became energetic, walking with a swagger.

After dinner, he and Chu Yuanjun immediately huddled together under the dim oil lamp in the main room, took out paper and pen, and began to carefully plan what to buy with the six hundred yuan and how to allocate it.

The lamplight cast the shadows of the two people deep in discussion onto the wall, creating a particularly warm atmosphere.

"We definitely need to buy food. Although we still have some that you bought before, the more the better. Who knows how long this chaotic world will last?"

Yang Huai-ren neatly wrote the word "grain" on the paper and drew a line below it: "Rice, flour, cornmeal, mixed beans, buy whatever you see, and prioritize buying those that keep well."

"We also need to stock up on coal. We rely on it for heating and cooking in winter; it's our lifeline for getting through the winter," Chu Yuanjun reminded him, his face showing concern.

Lord Chu Yuan wrote the two characters "coal" on the paper, his handwriting was elegant.

"I'll buy more of these condiments like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, since they can be stored for a while. They'll probably be harder and harder to buy in the future."

"Soap, matches, lamp oil... these daily necessities are also indispensable, as they are all consumables."

"If you see any meat for sale, even if it's a bit expensive, buy some to nourish the children and yourself. Translating the manuscript is mentally taxing..."

Yang Huai-ren glanced at his two daughters, who were playing quietly on the small bed in the inner room, occasionally whispering softly. He lowered his voice and spoke to Yang Guangming, his eyes filled with a father's love.

The couple quickly compiled a long shopping list, covering all aspects of their lives.

Yang Guangming listened attentively without interrupting, only occasionally adding tea, letting his parents meticulously plan ahead.

He was happy to have some free time and to see his parents regain control of the family planning process.

As long as his father has something to do and a goal to pursue, and is no longer preoccupied with finding a job, his purpose is achieved.

For him, spending these ever-depreciating gold yuan notes to help the reliable and trustworthy neighbors in the courtyard, giving his father something worthwhile to do and help him regain his confidence, and at the same time further replenishing the family's savings, was a win-win situation.

As for what to buy specifically, that's not the most important thing; anything that's useful for daily life is fine.

Having finished his calculations and filled out the purchase list, Yang Huai-ren put down his pen with satisfaction, blew on the still-wet ink on the paper, and said to Yang Guangming:
"Guangming, go to the front yard and invite Master Liao and the two Jiao brothers over. I want to talk to them about this and see if they have time tomorrow."

"Okay, sure." Yang Guangming responded and got up to leave the east courtyard.

Night had fallen, and the courtyard was quiet, with only faint lights shining from the windows of each house and indistinct voices.

Before long, Yang Guangming led Liao Dazhuang and the Jiao brothers back to the east courtyard.

The sound of the three people's footsteps was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

All three were somewhat puzzled, wondering what Yang Huai-ren wanted to see them about so late. The Jiao brothers, in particular, were wondering if Mr. Yang's family had encountered some difficulties and needed help, and their steps quickened involuntarily.

Upon entering the main room, Yang Huai-ren invited the three to sit down at the square table. Chu Yuan-jun poured them hot water, and wisps of steam rose from it.

"Master Liao, Da Jiao, Er Jiao, I'm sorry to bother you so late, but there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor." Yang Huai-ren got straight to the point, his tone sincere, with a hint of negotiation and entrustment.

"Uncle Yang, you're too kind. Please feel free to ask us anything! We'll do our best to help you if it's within our power!" Liao Dazhuang said quickly, placing his hands on his knees and sitting up straight.

The Jiao brothers nodded in agreement, their eyes questioning.

Yang Huai-ren then explained in more detail the matter of needing to hire people to queue up for purchasing.

Of course, he still concealed the specific amount, only saying that his family and several close friends and gentlemen, including Teacher Zhu, had pooled together a sum of money, hoping to take advantage of the fact that they could still buy things and quickly exchange it for physical goods such as grain, coal, and daily necessities, so as to avoid the loss of the money being depreciated into worthless paper.

"That's how it is. I'm buying things for so many stores, and now the queues outside are long and the place is chaotic. I really can't manage it all by myself, and I can't keep an eye on everything."

"So I'd like to ask the three of you for your help. I'll pay you the market rate for manual labor, and I promise you won't be taken advantage of," Yang Huai-ren said finally, his gaze sweeping over the three men with expectation.

Upon hearing this good news—that he could help the Shangyang family and earn cash wages to solve his immediate problem of food—Liao Dazhuang was overjoyed. He immediately patted his chest and agreed, his voice booming:
"Uncle Yang, don't worry! Leave this to me! I, Liao Dazhuang, may not be good at much else, but I'm strong, I'm not afraid of queuing, and I can carry things! Just give me whatever you think is fair!"

He seemed impatient.

Jiao Da and Jiao Er exchanged a glance, both revealing expressions of difficulty and determination.

Jiao Da stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yang Huai Ren, his movements swift and decisive, his tone sincere yet tinged with the stubbornness of a江湖儿女 (jianghu children, people of the martial world):
"Uncle Yang, you're being too polite! Mr. Yang has done a great favor for our family, saving my father, and we've been worried about not having a chance to repay him."

This is a small errand, and we brothers will do it without hesitation! If we were to take your wages, would we even be human?
We absolutely cannot accept this money! We'll do this work for free!

He spoke with absolute certainty, leaving no room for negotiation.

Jiao Er also stood up abruptly, replying in a gruff voice, his fists clenching unconsciously:

"Yes! Big brother is right! If we ask for money for doing a little work for someone we've helped, what would we be? What would we be any different from those ungrateful wretches?"

We'll do the job, and we won't take a single penny of pay! Anyone who mentions it will be furious!

His eyes widened, and he seemed somewhat excited.

Yang Guangming listened from the side and was moved, knowing that the two brothers were sincere and would repay even the smallest kindness with great gratitude.

But he couldn't let them work for free, especially for a job that required a lot of time and physical effort; they also needed to support their families.

Yang Huai-ren was also moved by the brothers' sincerity and loyalty, and his eyes welled up with tears, but he remained steadfast in his principles:
"Da Jiao, Er Jiao, I understand your feelings, and Guangming understands them too. We all remember this kindness. But let's keep things separate."

This procurement is not something that can be done in a day or two; it may take some time. We'll be queuing up early and late every day, which is very tiring.

You also have families to support and parents to take care of. We can't let you waste your time.

You must accept this payment! If you don't, I won't dare trouble you with this favor.

He spoke very firmly, even with a hint of "threat".

Yang Guangming softened his tone and also spoke up, saying, "Brother Jiao, Second Brother Jiao, my father is right. We are already very grateful that you are willing to help."

But even close brothers should keep clear accounts; the wages owed must be paid. This isn't about looking down on anyone; it's about following the rules and putting everyone at ease. Besides, this isn't just a family matter; we're primarily helping someone else.

Otherwise, we'd feel bad and wouldn't be able to contact you again if we needed anything in the future.

Please consider this a gesture of reassurance, allowing us to ask for your help without feeling pressured. Please accept this payment. Otherwise, we'll have to find someone else.

He emphasized his last sentence slightly.

Liao Dazhuang chimed in, though he wasn't good with words, he spoke frankly: "Yes, Jiao Da, Jiao Er, Uncle Yang and Mr. Yang are honest people, they don't want us to suffer any losses. So please don't refuse."

Let's work together to get this done and put Uncle Yang at ease; that's more important than anything else. And if we get paid, we'll feel more at ease working, right?

Seeing that Yang Huai-ren and Yang Guang-ming were adamant in their stance and had gone to such lengths to persuade them to "find someone else," the Jiao brothers would appear distant and unapproachable if they persisted.

Jiao Da glanced at his younger brother, Jiao Er, and saw that although Jiao Er still looked unwilling, he had nodded slightly. Knowing that further insistence would only make things worse, he could only sigh, clasp his hands in greeting, and say:
"Since Uncle Yang and Mr. Yang insist on giving it to us... and they've said it all... then we brothers will shamelessly accept it."

Rest assured, we will do this job perfectly for you! There won't be the slightest mistake!

Jiao Er added sullenly, "Yes, I guarantee I'll get it done!"

"Okay! Okay! It's settled then!" Yang Huai-ren's face showed a relieved and gratified smile. "The wages will be calculated per day..."

He quoted a price slightly higher than the market rate for ordinary laborers, to show his sincerity and his appreciation for their abilities.

"Daily settlement, never late!"

Liao Dazhuang and the Jiao brothers felt that the Yang family was honest and fair and did not take advantage of others. They were grateful and at ease, feeling that working for such an employer would give them motivation and peace of mind.

With the matter settled, the atmosphere immediately became much more relaxed.

The three sat for a while longer. Yang Huai-ren took out the shopping list and, by the light of the lamp, discussed with the others the details of starting to queue up tomorrow.

For example, who goes to the grain store, who goes to the coal shop, and who is responsible for purchasing miscellaneous daily necessities; where to meet, how to divide the work and cooperate; how to transport the purchased goods back, and how to handle special situations, etc.

Yang Huai-ren was very thoughtful, even considering what to do if the queue was too long and he couldn't buy it, and whether he should have a backup plan.

Liao Dazhuang and the Jiao brothers also offered some suggestions based on their own experience, such as which coal shops might have a large supply and which grain shop owners were relatively honest and less likely to overcharge.

Only when they felt that all the arrangements were almost complete did the three of them get up to say goodbye.

Yang Huai-ren and Yang Guang-ming escorted the three to the Moon Gate and thanked them again.

Watching the three figures disappear into the night, Yang Huai-ren breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling as if the burden on his shoulders had lightened, yet he felt an added weight of responsibility.

His tone carried a renewed confidence as he turned to his son and said, "Guangming, don't worry about this. Just focus on your work. I'll make sure you and Mr. Zhu use this money to get things done."

Looking at his father's eyes shining in the night, Yang Guangming smiled and nodded, his tone full of trust: "With you, Dad, in charge of the overall planning and arrangements, I have complete peace of mind. Thank you for your hard work."

Back inside, Chu Yuanjun began to carefully review and check the shopping list filled with writing under the lamplight, muttering to himself as he went.

Yang Huai-ren also joined them, and the couple huddled together, heads touching, discussing in hushed tones under the dim light, their faces filled with focused concentration as they planned for their family and worried about important matters. (End of Chapter)