That afternoon, sitting in the courtyard, they considered many possible scenarios, but the one thing they hadn't expected was how bold this girl was.

Before Lin Dongfang could return from where he had run out, there was a knock on the simple door.

Thinking it was Lin Dongfang returning, Chen Jianguo excitedly got up to open the door.

"Go back...who are you looking for?"

Sensing something amiss, Jian Dan also got up and came over, while Chen Jianguo consciously stepped aside to stand guard.

Outside the door stood a girl, about 1.65 meters tall, with a cheerful and outgoing appearance. There was a worried look between her brows, and her head was wrapped in gauze. She was carrying a small suitcase and was dressed nicely, but seemed a little nervous. When she saw Jian Dan, she tightened her grip on her hand.

Simple and unconsciously, she became a little gentler.

"Hello comrade, is there anything I can help you with?"

The girl's voice was a little hoarse, and her tone was slightly hurried, but you could tell she was deliberately slowing down; towards the end, she spoke almost word by word.

"Hello, is this Liujiatun, Xiangyang Commune?"

A simple nod.

"That's right, you're here to find someone?"

The girl visibly relaxed, feeling a bit weak. She quickly grabbed the wall for support, forcing herself to stay awake.

"I'd like to ask, how do I get to the educated youth compound?"

Upon hearing about the educated youth compound, several people in the compound gathered around.

Are you looking for former educated youth?

“We are also educated youth. Who are you looking for? We’re going back soon too, so we’ll take you there directly.”

"Really? That's great! I'd like to find Lin Dongfang. I'm a newly arrived educated youth, my name is Mingzhu."

In other words, what would it feel like if the person they'd been discussing for ages suddenly appeared right in front of them?

They were all stunned.

Mingzhu called out several times before Jian Dan snapped out of her daze and stepped aside in the doorway.

"Come in first, Lin Zhiqing. Hmm, he went to the commune and should be back soon. Come in and rest for a while."

Li Yan and the others, realizing what was happening, also reached out to help carry the things.

"Ah, yes, yes, come in quickly. How did you get here? The village's oxcart didn't go to the commune today either?"

Mingzhu was ushered into the courtyard, where she gulped down a cup of water before finally catching her breath.

“My trip to the countryside was rather sudden. The educated youth office didn’t have time to notify the village to pick me up. I came all the way from the county town.”

Only then did the group notice that her shoes were covered in dust, and upon closer inspection, they also had a hint of red.

From the county town to the commune, and from the commune to the village, it would take half a day to travel by oxcart. It would be much faster than walking. If she had just walked, she probably would have been walking all morning.

Jian Dan felt a surge of admiration. After listening to Lin Dongfang's words, she thought the girl had a good personality and a good first impression. She admired the girl's perseverance in walking from the county town to the village without a single complaint. Jian Dan was starting to like her a little.

The connections between people are just that strange.

Since they were all girls, Chen Jianguo didn't sit down. Instead, he stood at a distance, teasing the little ones while listening intently.

Despite looking tired, he spoke to Li Yan and the others with a smile, showing no impatience whatsoever.

Judging from the simple luggage, it was clear that something had happened. He simply went inside, cut up a plate of watermelon, and brought it out.

"Are you tired? Here, have some water. These are all homegrown, so don't be shy."

Mingzhu was surprised; her family didn't often get to eat watermelons. However, she was indeed tired and hungry, and she wasn't the type to be coy.

"Thank you, I won't be polite. From now on, we're comrades-in-arms, and I hope we can get along well."

Birds of a feather flock together.

Jian Dan's ability to get along with Li Yan and the others is largely due to her personality and way of handling things. Seeing her straightforwardness, Li Yan and the others were also pleased.

"That's right, we're all revolutionary comrades, we should help each other."

After eating watermelon and resting for a while, Lin Dongfang still hadn't returned. It was already three or four o'clock. After a discussion, the group decided to take Mingzhu to find Liu Weimin first. They couldn't let a sent-down youth show up and the village chief not know about it, otherwise they would have to transfer their affiliation and household registration.

Liu Weimin only found out this morning that another educated youth had arrived, and it was someone from Liujiatun who sent the message. He had been sitting in the village office all day waiting, and whether he liked it or not, it was already a done deal.

Besides, he was really worried about someone coming alone, in an unfamiliar place. It was a bit better for male educated youth, but for female educated youth, who knew when they would arrive.

"Brother Aiguo, why is this educated youth situation still going on and on? Two batches came last year, and two batches have come this year, and now another one has been sent over. It's really worrying."

Thank goodness so many didn't come last year, or I really wouldn't be able to survive.

Liu Aiguo didn't like it either, but the higher-ups were assigning it directly and wouldn't listen to their opinions.

"Village chief, are you there?"

It was hot, and the doors were all wide open. Jian Dan and the others started shouting as soon as they entered the yard.

"I heard you, I heard you, what are you doing here?"

Liu Weimin has developed a phobia of Jian Dan. Now, Jian Dan only shows up when she needs something, and seeing her makes his heart jump into his throat.

Liu Aiguo followed behind, glancing at the approaching people.

"Young Jian, is this a new educated youth?"

Liu Weimin then noticed an unfamiliar face.

"Oh, why is it a young girl? Did you walk all the way here?"

After a brief introduction, Mingzhu wasn't intimidated at all.

"Hello village chief, my name is Mingzhu. I am a newly arrived educated youth. Due to some special circumstances, I was separated from the main group. I am really sorry to have caused trouble for the village."

But please rest assured, I came here voluntarily to support rural development, and I am willing to dedicate all my enthusiasm to it. I'll be relying on you from now on.

Liu Weimin opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

"Okay, let's get the formalities done first!"

Liu Aiguo led the way to complete the formalities, while Liu Weimin inquired around.

"What's going on? You know them? Why did you bring them here?"

He knew very well that this little girl didn't like trouble.

"My house is in a good location, so if someone asks for directions, they'll have to go to my house, right?"

That's true. There's only one house at the entrance of the village, so it's the first place outsiders who don't know the way will definitely choose to go.

It was easy to guess Liu Weimin's thoughts. By analyzing the visitor's interpersonal relationships, one could infer his character and temperament, thus reassuring him.

"Uncle, she and Lin Dongfang, the educated youth, are acquainted."

Hearing this, Liu Weimin felt a little relieved. The main problem was that the new educated youth had been causing trouble since they arrived these past two days, and he was almost driven crazy with worry.

"Alright, judging from your attitude, you seem to have a good impression of her. Take her away and tell her everything. The autumn harvest is coming soon, so don't be completely clueless."

"Alright, let's go then."

Mingzhu was surprised to see Jian Dan speaking so easily and intimately with the village chief. It was her first time going to the countryside, but she knew that Lin Dongfang had gone to the countryside and had inquired about it quite a bit, but she had heard almost nothing about how the educated youth and the local villagers had a particularly harmonious relationship.