After shoveling the snow and returning inside, Zhuang Zhimeng roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn on the earthen stove in the kitchen. Several people gathered around the fire to warm themselves and chat. Once they were cooked, whoever wanted some could help themselves.

The men followed local customs, putting their hands in their sleeves. If they had pipes, they would have looked even more like locals. Of course, Zhuang Zhiwu had one hand in his sleeve.

"Zhimeng, we don't have any leave to visit relatives this year, so we'll have to spend the New Year by ourselves. We'll still have to go to the educated youth settlement, right?"

Jiang Yanxia remembered that this was only their first year together, and they hadn't yet received their family visit leave, but as educated youth, they still wanted to get together.

"Yes, we should go there. We'll see when the time comes. Captain Lin will definitely come and let us know which day it is, and then we'll go!"

"I heard that a male educated youth was able to return to the city! His family used connections to get him a job, and he can go back to work after the New Year!"

"What? Are you envious?"

"It's not that I'm envious, it's just that I feel quite emotional."

Actually, I don't really want to go back to the city. There are so many people in my family; my two older sisters and I are crammed into one room! It's nothing like the spacious place we live in now! We can even grow our own vegetables here. If we went back to the city, we wouldn't be able to get many vegetables; they're all rationed!"

Zhuang Zhimeng nodded. That's true. Sometimes it's not so easy to get vegetables in the city. You have to queue up to buy them, and if you're late, they're gone.

"Who is going back to the city?"

Su Mengmeng didn't have much contact with the educated youth at the settlement, so he really didn't know.

Jiang Yanxia saw that he really didn't know, so she explained to him, "It's Ma Mingkang. I heard that he went to the brigade leader a few days ago to prepare the procedures, and he will be able to return to the city after the New Year."

“Oh, him! I know him. He’s been working in the countryside for four years now. He’s worked hard every year to get back to the city, but he was afraid that the brigade leader would have a bad impression of him and affect his quota to return to the city. Now he’s finally got his wish.”

"There aren't many educated youth left in those educated youth settlements!"

Zhuang Zhimeng was unaware of this matter.

"That's right. There are only four educated youth left in the settlement. With the three of us, there are only seven educated youth."

"I estimate that new educated youth will arrive in the spring!"

An Qingbai listened to their conversation without interrupting. He was busy peeling potatoes. The potatoes were small, but they were especially soft and tender when roasted, which Zhuang Zhimeng loved.

After peeling a potato, he put it in Zhuang Zhimeng's hand, watched her eat it, and then peeled another one.

After eating two of Zhuang Zhimeng's, she stopped eating, otherwise she wouldn't be able to eat anything else later.

"By the way, Meng-ge'er! I've never asked you before, why did your family give you this name?"

Zhuang Zhi always wanted to ask him about it, because it sounded like a girl's name.

"I heard from my mom that my dad always wanted a girl, but it turned out to be a boy, so he reluctantly accepted it."

Moreover, when I was born, my dad thought my eyelashes were exceptionally long and adorable, so he gave me this name despite everyone's objections.

My mom disagreed and ignored him for two days, but it didn't work, so we ended up calling him that!

Don't let my cute name fool you, I'm really tough, look at my muscles!

Su Mengmeng showed off her biceps to Zhuang Zhimeng and Jiang Yanxia.

Zhuang Zhimeng…

Jiang Yanxia…

"Brother An, tell me! Aren't I brave?"

Seeing that the two of them ignored him, Su Mengmeng wanted to find an ally.

"That's right! You're incredibly brave! No one can compare."

An Qingbai gave him a perfunctory compliment, just to save face.

Su Mengmeng…

"Zhimeng, the brigade leader said that the village will be showing a movie in a few days. I'm so excited! Shall we bring some snacks with us?"

Jiang Yanxia felt a little hungry just thinking about the movie.

"Okay, how about we stir-fry some broad beans and peanuts then?"

"That's great! Zhimeng is the best!"

"Little sister, can we go see a movie?"

Zhuang Zhiwu heard that the village was going to show a movie, and he wanted to see it too; it would surely be a lively event. The army also showed movies, and there were even performances by a cultural troupe, but who doesn't like watching movies?

When her second brother asked her, Zhuang Zhimeng didn't know either, so she looked at An Qingbai.

"Yes, you can go anywhere in the village. It's right in the threshing ground. People from other villages will also come to visit."

Zhuang Zhiwu was relieved to hear that he could watch it.

"Zhimeng, we'd better get there early to grab a good spot!"

"Okay, I'll go early then."

"I wonder what movie they'll be showing? Zhimeng, do you know?"

"I heard from Aunt Wang that they basically show the same few movies in rotation. I guess this time they'll be showing Tunnel Warfare."

"I really enjoy watching this; I can watch it over and over again!"

Zhuang Zhimeng nodded in agreement. She had indeed seen it before, though not from this era, and she was quite looking forward to watching it again.

Zhou Kangcheng couldn't get a word in edgewise, but he wasn't bored because he loved sweet potatoes. He kept eating roasted sweet potatoes, which were soft to the touch and had a sweet, chewy texture.