Before Zhou Jiao could come up with a solution, the whistle started blowing again.

When they reached the river, it was a different team. Zhou Jiao and Zhao Yuanyuan teamed up to carry the earthen baskets and bamboo baskets. As for Zhang Guoqing, he was known for his brute strength and was naturally assigned to carry the bamboo baskets.

Under the illumination of gasoline lamps everywhere, the faces of the people on both sides were tired, but they still gritted their teeth and worked hard, as if they could not feel the fatigue. Amidst the laughter and joy, each face was filled with unconcealable youth and positivity.

This vigorous and progressive spirit is admirable. What kind of mentality is that? Zhou Jiao didn't know, but she truly felt what it meant to be selfless and to be like a family.

The temperature dropped even lower at night, but at least she didn't have to walk barefoot, constantly worrying about being bitten by hibernating snakes at the bottom of the river. Zhou Jiao was very satisfied with her work as a porter.

She followed Zhang Guoqing's advice and put a towel on her shoulders.

The bamboo basket weighing over 100 kilograms weighed on her, and Zhou Jiao stumbled and almost fell to the ground. It seemed that she had overestimated her ability to bear the pressure.

Zhao Yuanyuan tried to shift her weight as much as possible, looking worriedly at Zhou Jiao in front of her. She wondered if this silly kid, who usually twisted her ankle even walking on dirt roads, would ever walk at night?

The dirt road, once worn by people, was full of mud and mud, so it was not uncommon for someone to slip and fall. Straw sandals were more practical than cloth shoes at this time, as their roughness increased friction.

The night was deep, and the north wind was blowing. None of the people working so hard felt the chill; many had taken off their coats and were working furiously. On this cold night, everyone was focused on doing more, more. Those who fell to the ground climbed back up, clapped their hands, and started again.

So many people have worked hard, their sweat covering the earth. In the cold winter and the scorching summer, there are always these people working hard for tomorrow.

Zhou Jiao gritted her teeth, not daring to respond to Zhao Yuanyuan and the others. She worried she'd lose her temper if she spoke, and even more worried she'd be a serious liability to them. Looking at the classmates passing by, she felt helpless. No wonder so many families these days want tall, strong, and capable wives. Someone like her should be considered disabled.

After taking a sip of water, Zhou Jiao gently touched her shoulder and couldn't help but frown. Her shoulders had been swapped so many times that this one was starting to swell and ache. She looked up at the moonlight, wondering how much longer she could bear it.

Facing Zhang Guoqing's eyes that turned away from her every time he passed by, she fought back her tears and smiled brightly at him. Zhou Jiao knew that she had been defeated by life and her hypocrisy.

There are so many things to learn and understand in one's lifetime. Whether it's Zhou Xiaozheng or Zhang Guoqing, they can't support her 24 hours a day and let her learn slowly.

Zhou Jiao should have the courage and perseverance to overcome it on her own.

With a thud, Zhou Jiao fell to the ground for the third time that night. She immediately looked at Zhao Yuanyuan, who was laughing heartily—luckily, she was alright.

She saw Zhang Guoqing running towards her in the distance, carrying a load of bamboo baskets, and quickly stood up. Not caring about the mud on her body, she quickly asked Zhao Yuanyuan for help. The two of them picked up the remaining mud and quickly slipped away.

No one was like the two of them, carrying a full bamboo basket and returning to their starting point, which was always only a little more than half full. No wonder Lin Zi and the others secretly laughed at Zhou Jiao and the others for eating the mud.

Although it was impossible for Zhou Jiao and Zhao Yuanyuan to have eaten mud, Zhao Yuanyuan fell twice due to Zhou Jiao's drag. At this moment, the two of them looked like clay figures, and it was no wonder that they were less than the weight in the bamboo basket. At night, when they met unfamiliar people, they really didn't recognize these two girls.

By the end of the night, the students at the bottom of the river finally gave out and began to slow down. Zhou Jiao breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that no matter how motivated you are, there will always be a time when your mind can no longer control your body. Humph, let you be motivated!

The pace slowed down, and we met classmates along the way and started chatting with each other. The atmosphere was no longer as tense as it was at the beginning. But everyone was really hungry and sleepy.

The late night whistle blew, and this time no one continued, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Back at the farm, everyone dispersed to wash up. Zhou Jiao didn't bother to take Zhang Guoqing's towel. She splashed water on her face several times and rubbed it several times before she dared to take it and wipe it. Looking at the black water on her face, she felt so disgusted that she wanted to vomit.

After hurriedly drinking a bowl of corn porridge, Zhou Jiao greeted Zhang Guoqing in a daze, followed Zhao Yuanyuan into the house, lay down on the kang and fell asleep.

Zhang Guoqing watched her leave with worry, wanting to go back in but feeling inconvenient. He stood there, waiting for a long time, but no one came out of the room, and his thoughts raced. Finally, Li Qinglin and the others, unable to bear watching any more, pulled him back.

Aside from a few occasional times, the couple had never been separated like this before. Zhang Guoqing lay on the kang, listening to the snoring beside him, unable to fall asleep. If his estimate was correct, there would be no shortage of such activities in the future. However, Zhou Jiao's health was too weak. How to proceed in the future was a question worth pondering.

Zhang Guoqing gently removed Zhang Yuntao's hand from his abdomen and rested his hands on the pillow. He couldn't forget the scream Zhou Jiao made when he accidentally bumped into her. He didn't know if the girl had listened to him. Had she forgotten to apply the ointment?

Then he thought of his child, wondering if he would cry or make a fuss at Zhang Guofu's house tonight. Thinking of this, he wanted to rush home that night.

After a sleepless night, before dawn, Zhang Guoqing heard the whistle and left the room. He looked across at the house not far away, but saw nothing unusual. He didn't rush over to urge them, but just stretched his arms and legs in the yard.

Soon, the teachers' calls, whistles, and loudspeakers came together, and finally, people began to get up and go out to wash.

Zhang Guoqing had been waiting for Zhou Jiao to appear, carrying a tray of water. Seeing her limply leaning against Zhao Yuanyuan, he felt so distressed he just wanted to drag her home. Because of the crowd, he hurried over and took a look. He saw that the girl didn't take it seriously at all, her shoulders noticeably hunched. He then looked at her hands. He had picked the blisters himself, and she hadn't applied any ointment.

Zhou Jiao noticed his sullen expression and immediately reacted. She stood up straight and gave him a silly smile. She had remembered to apply the medicine before going to bed last night, how could she have forgotten? It seemed that she had collapsed and passed out. Yes, she had passed out, definitely not sleeping normally.

After another two vegetable dumplings in the early morning, it was Zhou Jiao and her group's turn to head down to the riverbed. Standing barefoot in the mud once again, any sleepiness vanished.

To avoid worrying Zhang Guoqing, she endured the excruciating pain, gripped the shovel tightly, and toiled away. To distract herself, she began to think of her son, telling herself, "It's almost done, it's almost done." Didn't she see that the work was only a short distance away and she could go back to school after finishing it?

The wound on her hand should have been broken, and the stabbing pain made Zhou Jiao start to refuse to give in. She listened to Zhao Yuanyuan's gossip expressionlessly, bending down with a blank expression, stretching her waist and holding the shovel high. But the observant Zhang Guoqing could still tell from the throbbing veins in her neck that his wife was holding on.

He looked up at the sky again. It was completely dark, and he had no idea when dawn would arrive.

Sighing inwardly, Zhang Guoqing slowly moved closer to her, trying to do as much as possible to ease her mind. He had initially worried about others looking at him and his wife with strange eyes, but he realized everyone was busy cleaning up, doing their own work. For a moment, no one had the time to meddle.

Nearing noon, a group of people began to cheer one after another. Everyone looked at each other's embarrassment and laughed.

It's over, finally over. We were able to finish half a day early, thanks to the dedication of the entire school. We pulled each other back to the farm, not even bothering to wash up, but wolfing down our sweet potato rice.

After resting for more than half an hour, Zhang Guoqing, led by all the teachers in the school, held up the flag, took big strides, and walked forward quickly.

Farewell, farm! Farewell, an unforgettable experience in high school!