After eating and drinking her fill, Yu Yin put the child to sleep and went downstairs, where the group of people were still there.

"Sister-in-law, I need to talk to you about something."

This was probably the first time Wang Wen had asked for a favor, so he spoke somewhat unnaturally and his tone was strange.

"What's up?"

"We're asking if we could exchange some food with you, like pickled vegetables, side dishes, or if we bought meat and could come here to improve our meals like we did today. Don't worry, we'll learn to work and not just wait to eat."

After listening, Yu Yin began to think about it seriously.

It's 1970 now, and there are still more than ten years until liberation. Could I take advantage of this opportunity to make some extra money? Since everyone here is an acquaintance, I'm not afraid of them reporting me; there's still some room for maneuver.

"It's not something we can't consider, but as you know, the outside environment is like this. If I get reported, I'll be in trouble."

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, we know the seriousness of this matter and won't go around saying anything. There's no other way, the work is not easy, but the food is really bland and watery. We are still growing, and I'm afraid we won't be able to stand it for long."

"Alright, you guys keep it quiet. I don't want my house to be raided for no reason one day."

"Alright, you're so kind!"

“You should keep these canning jars from now on. I don’t have that many. I’ll pack some for you in bamboo tubes today. I’ll buy some earthenware jars another day; those can hold a lot.”

Yu Yin used the fired bamboo tubes to fill a bucket with each kind of pickled vegetable, with kimchi being the most plentiful. She prepared the kimchi brine, and everything could be pickled.

Especially the green beans and cucumbers in the space, there was so much fruit, there was no point in keeping them, so most of them were made into pickles.

"These pickled vegetables are most susceptible to oil damage. Be careful when picking them up, and use clean, oil-free, and water-free chopsticks, otherwise they will all go bad."

Wang Wenye and his group brought three bags of milk powder and two cans of malted milk powder today; they've already used up everything else.

"Sister-in-law, look, how do we calculate this?"

"Didn't you take a lot of milk powder? If you can't use it all, come back for more when you finish it."

"That won't do. That was a gift for my nephew and niece to meet, so it doesn't count."

Qian Weiguo said hurriedly. Although he spoke slowly, he understood everything he needed to know. He could sense his sister-in-law's goodwill. Perhaps it wasn't directed at them, but they were the beneficiaries.

"In that case, consider this meal as my gift to you."

Both sides were very sincere, so they didn't refuse anymore. The young men each carried two bamboo tubes back home.

This sumptuous lunch left an indelible mark on their life in the border region, and even decades later, the taste of it still seems unforgettable.

Leaving aside Lu Shuqi and the others who left, Lu Shurui, who had been listening to the whole thing, looked puzzled and didn't know why Yu Yin had agreed to their request.

"Don't you understand?"

"Well, to be honest, we don't make much money. The main problem is that you're working too hard."

"It's not just about making money, although that's an important reason. The children are growing up, and there are so many expenses. It's good to have the opportunity to earn some money. Another reason is that I want to give these children who are away from home some warmth. Even many years later, when they look back on their life in the border areas, it won't all be about the hard work, the heat, and the humidity. There will also be some beautiful things, delicious food, and beautiful scenery..."

Yu Yin's words made Lu Shurui fall into deep thought, recalling how difficult it was when he first arrived.

I'm not used to the food, language, environment, etc. I'm gritting my teeth and persevering every day, but I don't know how long I can keep going or when I'll collapse.

Sometimes he felt that Yu Yin was very world-weary, with more experience and sorrow than someone her age should have.

Once they talked things out, they felt much better and decided to work together to leave something behind for their youth!

Wang Wenye and his companions, thoroughly enjoying their meal, carefully carried their bamboo tubes—their lifeline, from which they would rely on for food from now on. Their sister-in-law was quite particular; she had brought over a dozen bamboo tubes of food, big and small, enough to last for several days. They would have to carefully check their money when they got back; they couldn't waste it and had to save it to trade with their sister-in-law for food.

The group, with Wang Wenye as its leader and even Lu Shuqi joining in, formed their own little clique.

"Wang Wenye, where have you been? What are you carrying?"

The housing in the educated youth settlement consisted of rows of thatched houses, with male and female educated youth living separately. However, there was a small square nearby, which served as a place for group activities.

You have to pass through this small square to get in and out, so it's not surprising to run into acquaintances here.

"I didn't do anything, just went to my sister-in-law's house to exchange for some food."

Bartering is now permitted, but buying and selling with money privately is not allowed. Tell them it's okay to exchange things; no one will find fault with that.

"What good food can we possibly have here? It's all cheap wild vegetables. Even the supply and marketing cooperative doesn't have anything good. How are we going to survive?"

Hao Lijia complained arrogantly, her words unintentional and easily caught off guard.

"Shut up, Hao Lijia, what are you saying? Do you want to die?!"

Qian Weiguo lowered his voice and said, "What kind of place is this? People come and go all the time. If someone tries to cause trouble, a single letter of complaint will be enough to get them into serious trouble."

"I...I didn't mean to, it's just..."

"This is the border, thousands of miles from home. Be more careful in the future and avoid trouble. Too much trouble won't help."

Wang Wenye spoke coldly and walked away without looking back.

The girls with Hao Lijia looked at each other, realizing they had taken her words to heart.

That's Wang Wenye, the arrogant figure in the compound. Even he has to restrain himself. What right do they have?

"Brother Ye, if we don't watch out for Hao Lijia's personality, she'll get what's coming to her. I've heard that she's offended everyone in the dorm these past few days."

Qian Weiguo and his friends were all from the same compound, though not the same one, but they had known each other since childhood. Things weren't peaceful outside, and the compound wasn't a safe haven either; there were plenty of problems. Many of the uncles they knew had been taken away and never returned.

They came here from Kyoto not entirely for training, but also to avoid trouble.

A couple of years ago, a lot of troublemakers emerged, causing quite a stir in Kyoto and resulting in many deaths. Their older siblings were mostly sent to the army, but it was difficult to manage them; too many eyes were watching, so they could only be sent to the border regions.

Following Sister Lu's instructions, Wang Wenye and the others placed the bamboo tubes they had brought back in a shady place, knowing that they would be responsible for feeding them from now on.

Yu Yin was also thinking about what else she could make to eat. Then she had an idea: she would rest again and have Lu Shurui catch some fish to use in her space, and make small fried fish that would go well with rice and keep well.

Yu Yin recalled the aloof spirit spring water, which refused to accept any living creatures that could excrete waste; anything placed inside would become still. However, the lotus roots Yu Yin placed inside were fine and grew quite large.

The fish and shrimp raised in the large basin have grown quite a bit, and Yu Yin has eaten them several times already, but it's not easy to come up with an excuse. It's not easy to find a man with a sharp mind; every time she speaks, she's on tenterhooks, afraid of being exposed.

Thankfully, everything is going smoothly, life is enjoyable, the baby is healthy, and my mindset is becoming more and more peaceful.