That afternoon, waves of people came to the educated youth settlement, all to see An Moxue, and the visit didn't end until dark.

An Moxue felt that she was like the monkey in the zoo.

The next morning, after breakfast, An Moxue pulled Chu Dongmei to put on thick clothes, took salt, matches, a few sweet potatoes, and a wood-chopping knife, and the two of them went into the mountains.

"Mo Xue, is it really that bad? You've even come up the mountain to hide."

"As for being a monkey for people to watch and make fun of! Hurry up and go! I'll hunt some wild game for you to eat."

The two of them slowly climbed the mountain.

"Dongmei, what's on this mountain? Have you heard of it?"

"The mountains here are small, and there are only pheasants and rabbits. I haven't heard of anything else."

"It's alright, that's enough. Catching one rabbit is fine, but you have to come with me. We'll find a rabbit burrow. We'll cut some dry grass when we see it; we'll need it to smoke the rabbit later. If that doesn't work, we can find a pheasant too. It all depends on your luck; if you're lucky, you might catch one."

"Quickly, let's go to more places. I refuse to believe we can't catch a pheasant or a rabbit."

The two of them crossed two small hills and came to a small hillside. Suddenly, An Moxue said, "Dongmei, be careful, we've found pheasant tracks. Look. We need to keep our voices down."

After walking for a few more minutes, under a large tree, An Moxue spotted a pheasant. She gestured for Chu Dongmei behind her to be quiet, then tiptoed forward a few more steps. Suddenly, she flung out her wood-chopping knife, and with a 'thud,' the knife impaled the pheasant in the snow, killing it instantly.

Chu Dongmei exclaimed, "Ah! Mo Xue, you're amazing! We've got pheasant to eat today. It's a pity we can't take it back, otherwise a bowl of hot chicken soup in the dead of winter would be so delicious! But roasting it on the mountain would be great too."

"If you have the opportunity, come to me, and it will all be possible."

"I'll try my best to spend the New Year with you next year, but don't count on it this year."

An Moxue thought to herself, "I don't even know where I'll be next year. I wish you good luck, and I hope I'll be there when you can go next year."

"Mo Xue, this chicken is enough for roasting. Let's gather some firewood and roast a few sweet potatoes. Perfect. Let's go, no more catching. We'll have nowhere to put the chickens we catch anyway. Enough to eat is fine."

"Okay, I think there's a sheltered spot a little further down. Let's go there."

An Moxue picked up the pheasant and took out a wood-chopping knife. The two divided the work: Chu Dongmei cleaned the pheasant, and An Moxue gathered firewood. In just a short while, the two lit a fire, buried sweet potatoes under the fire, and roasted the pheasant on top.

Chu Dongmei said, "Mo Xue, if I had known, I would have chosen the same place as you when I went to the countryside. Even if we couldn't go to the same village, it would be better to go to the same place so we could be together when we had free time!"

"How did you make your selections? How come you have people from all over the country?"

"Don't even mention it. It's all your fault. The parents signed us up without giving us any choice."

An Moxue dared not bring it up again, fearing that her friends would start picking fights with her. She quickly changed the subject, asking, "I haven't seen any educated youth organizing study sessions in the past two days. Is that not the case?"

"There were some a while ago, but since we haven't been checking recently, they've gradually disappeared."

"What, you have it where you are?"

"Yes, it always has. The educated youth had to submit an article every few days."

"Oh! It smells delicious. Is it almost ready?"

"We'll have to wait a while; they'll taste best when they're golden brown."

"Judging by your practiced movements, you must have eaten quite a lot!"

"Yes, there are mountains behind where I live, so catching these isn't difficult. But there are also wild boars and wolves over there, so it's relatively dangerous. Someone was seriously injured during the winter hunt organized by the village this year."

"It seems that every advantage has its disadvantages, and danger and opportunity coexist."

"Hmm, you've been in the countryside for a few months now, have any guys you like started pursuing you?"

"I didn't find anyone I liked, and I dismissed the few oddballs I found."

"I'm not in a hurry. My mother left a will saying that I shouldn't find a partner or get married before I turn twenty. I've used that as an excuse to refuse all my requests. It's so convenient and saves me so much trouble."

"Auntie's idea is brilliant! I'll use that to refuse next time too."

"You could change it! For example, you have to have a minimum monthly salary, own a house, the house has to be a certain size, and you have to separate your household after marriage and not live with your parents. There's so much room for maneuver."

"You're so clever! I didn't even think of that!"

An Moxue smiled. Modern society demands more: own a house, a car, savings, and have no parents or brothers.

"Alright, come on, have a taste and see how it is?"

Wow, your cooking skills have improved! It's delicious.

"It's from practice. Eat more if it tastes good."

"Mmm." Chu Dongmei was only focused on eating the roasted pheasant and didn't say anything more.

The two of them ate a pheasant and a few sweet potatoes.

Chu Dongmei, supporting her belly, said to An Moxue, "Moxue, no wonder Li Aidang was willing to follow you before! Was it because there was meat to eat? I lost too much in the past."

Chu Dongmei smiled and said helplessly, "No, we just take turns eating different things."

"Oh, so it is! It's okay, I got to eat it today too."

An Moxue felt that she wasn't this lively when she was in the compound; she was quite quiet. Perhaps she was more excited to suddenly see an acquaintance in an unfamiliar environment.

"Let's go, we need to get down the mountain."

Before the two returned to the educated youth compound and went down the mountain, they grabbed a handful of snow and rinsed their mouths.

"Mo Xue, tell me, when will this end? Honestly, it's exhausting!"

"It will be alright."

......

And so, An Moxue stayed with Chu Dongmei for four days.

Today is the day An Moxue left.

At noon, the two went to town and had lunch at a state-run restaurant.

After finishing their meal, the two waited for their train at the train station.

In the waiting room of the train station, An Moxue said to Chu Dongmei, "Dongmei, be careful about that educated youth. If it is, be even more careful. They are often very patient, and ruthless."

"Yes, Mo Xue, I'll be careful, and you be careful too. I really miss you, we haven't spent enough time together yet! And now I'm all alone again."

"Write letters, or send telegrams in case of emergency."

"Um."

......

An Moxue boarded the train back home. Sitting in her seat, gazing at the scenery outside the window, she suddenly remembered a saying: "The journey is slow, and a lifetime is only enough to love one person."

When will the train finally go faster? The carriages are drafty, the windows are drafty, the carriages aren't much warmer than outside, there's a mixed, unpleasant smell, the train is slow, and there are many stops.

Going out at this time of day is truly a nightmare.

As the train gradually disappeared into the distance, she seemed to yearn to return to Anle Village, her home. Although it was a home for her alone, with no one waiting for her, there was anticipation. It was her safe haven, a place where she had no relatives but people who cared about her.

She knew she had fallen in love with that place!