county seat

Lin Xueyin finally agreed to substitute teach at the commune primary school. After all, teaching was a much easier and more respectable option than working in the fields, so she had no reason to refuse. However, there was no immediate urgency. Teacher Zhang, who had taken a leave of absence, had just left, so it wouldn't hurt to suspend classes for a few days.

Right now, she has more important things to do - go to the county town.

It had been almost two weeks since she arrived at Hongqi Commune. The snacks she had brought with her were quickly consumed, and the malted milk had run out, leaving her mouth bland and tasteless. More importantly, before leaving, her father, Lin Guodong, had secretly slipped her an address and name, telling her that if she encountered any real difficulties, she could go to the county town to find "Uncle Chen." Her father had been subtle at the time, saying only that he was an old acquaintance and had some connections in the county.

She had previously thought she could handle it on her own and hadn't taken it seriously. But now, after the torment of farm work and Zhao Xiaofeng's harassment, she felt it was time to pay this "Uncle Chen" a visit, at least to get to know him; who knew him well enough to be of use in the future.

On the day she went to the county town, Lin Xueyin was up before dawn. She had specially changed into a half-new blue Lenin suit. Although it was also made of cotton, it was tailored to her body, highlighting her slender waist and making her look much more energetic than her usual baggy work clothes. She also secretly applied some of the vanishing cream she had brought with her; its subtle fragrance brightened her mood.

When they arrived at the gate of the commune compound, a tractor was already waiting there. In the truck bed sat several commune members and educated youth who were also heading to the county town, including Li Hongmei and two other female educated youth she was not very familiar with. Li Hongmei saw the carefully dressed Lin Xueyin, snorted, and turned her head away.

The man driving the tractor was none other than Old Zhang, the man who had picked her up last time. Seeing Lin Xueyin, he grinned, "Lin Zhiqing, are you going to the county town? Come on up and hold on tight!"

The ride was just as Liu Xiaoling had predicted: incredibly bumpy. Lin Xueyin clutched the side of the truck bed, feeling as if her internal organs were about to be tossed out. The others seemed accustomed to the ride, chatting and laughing cheerfully amidst the bumps. Li Hongmei even deliberately laughed and joked loudly, occasionally glancing at Lin Xueyin, whose face was pale and trying to suppress her discomfort, with a hint of gloating pleasure.

After finally reaching the county town, the sun was already high in the sky. The tractor was parked at the gate of the County Revolutionary Committee compound. Old Zhang instructed us to gather there and return at 3:00 PM, and then he drove the tractor to collect supplies.

Only when her feet once again stepped onto the smooth streets of the county town did Lin Xueyin feel alive again. The town wasn't large, with only two main streets, gray buildings, and various slogans painted on the walls. But compared to the Red Flag Commune, it was already a bustling place. There were more pedestrians, bicycles jingling by, and even the occasional green jeep or two.

Lin Xueyin didn't rush to the supply and marketing cooperative. Her first target was the state-owned restaurant.

Following the faint aroma of food, she quickly found the Red Flag State-Owned Restaurant at the intersection. Pushing aside the heavy cotton curtain, she was greeted by a warm, tangled odor of cooking oil, food, and the distinct warmth of a crowd. The hall, with more than a dozen tables for eight people, was nearly full, a bustling atmosphere.

Lin Xueyin found an empty seat in the corner against the wall and sat down. Her eyes lit up when she looked at the wooden menu board hanging on the wall.

"Comrade, what would you like to eat?" A waiter wearing a white apron and with an indifferent expression came over with a small notebook in his hand.

"I want one serving of braised pork, one serving of tomato and egg soup, and two taels of rice." Lin Xueyin ordered without hesitation. Braised pork! The rich, oily sauce she missed even in her dreams!

"Four ounces of grain coupons, half a pound of meat coupons, one dollar and twenty cents." The waiter quickly quoted the price.

Lin Xueyin calmly took out the national food coupons and money her mother had prepared from her shoulder bag. When the fragrant, glistening braised pork and steaming hot rice were served, she felt her mouth water. It had been a long time since she had eaten such a decent meal.

She ate quickly, taking small bites. The soft, glutinous pork belly melted in her mouth, and the sweet and sour tomato soup moistened her parched throat. This long-lost delicacy almost made her want to cry. This was how life should be!

Her oblivious look as she enjoyed her meal contrasted sharply with the other diners, most of whom were dressed simply and ordered frugally, drawing a lot of attention. But she was oblivious, or perhaps didn't care.

After eating and drinking her fill, Lin Xueyin felt full of energy. As planned, she went to the county supply and marketing cooperative first.

The supply and marketing cooperative indeed offered a much wider variety of goods than the commune's sales outlets, but many items still required special coupons. Lin Xueyin used her national food coupons and cash to buy two pounds of egg cakes and a pound of fruit candies, along with some toothpaste, soap, and other daily necessities. She was also pleasantly surprised to find Dengta brand soap and Pechoin vanishing cream for sale. While inferior to her usual brand, they were still quite good, so she bought two of each.

After finishing the shopping, seeing that it was still early, she took a deep breath and took out the neatly folded piece of paper from her underwear pocket. On it was written an address in pen: Room 201, Building 3, Revolutionary Committee Family Compound, Dongfeng Road, Chen Mingyuan.

After asking several people, she finally found the relatively clean and quiet family compound. Standing at the bottom of the third building, she straightened her clothes and hair, gathered herself, and then went upstairs.

Her heart was pounding when she knocked on the door of Room 201.

The door opened, and a middle-aged man in a gray Mao suit and glasses, with an elegant demeanor, stood at the door. He looked at her with some confusion: "Comrade, who are you looking for?"

"Excuse me...are you Uncle Chen Mingyuan?" Lin Xueyin tried her best to make her voice sound sweet and well-behaved.

The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, pushed his glasses, and looked at her carefully: "I am Chen Mingyuan. You are..."

"Hello, Uncle Chen. I'm Lin Xueyin, Lin Guodong's daughter." Lin Xueyin quickly introduced herself and handed over a bag of fruit candies and egg cakes she had just bought at the supply and marketing cooperative. "My dad asked me to come see you."

"Guodong's daughter?" Chen Mingyuan's face flashed with surprise and realization, and then he enthusiastically stepped aside to let her in. "Please come in, please come in! Oh, Lao Lin wrote to me a few days ago and mentioned you! I didn't expect you to be this big!"

The room was small, simply but neatly furnished, and filled with a scholarly air. A kind-looking middle-aged woman emerged from the inner room, and Chen Mingyuan introduced her as his wife, surnamed Wang.

"Hello, Aunt Wang." Lin Xueyin greeted obediently.

"Okay, come and sit down." Aunt Wang greeted her with a smile and poured her a cup of hot water.

After a few pleasantries, Chen Mingyuan asked with concern, "Xueyin, are you getting used to life in Hongqi Commune? Life in the countryside is tough. If you have any difficulties, please tell your uncle."

Lin Xueyin's heart warmed, and her nose felt a little sore. But she knew she couldn't get too involved on their first meeting, so she just smiled and said, "Thank you, Uncle Chen, for your concern. I'm fine. The brigade is taking care of me and just arranged a substitute teaching job for me at the elementary school."

"Substitute teaching? That's great!" Chen Mingyuan nodded. "Using your expertise is better than working in the fields. Old Lin's biggest concern in the letter was about you, worried you wouldn't be able to endure the hardship." He paused, lowering his voice. "Just stay there and relax. Teaching is a good job. Get your feet on the ground first. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to the county to see your uncle."

He didn't take on too many responsibilities, but the concern in his words and his promise to "come back to him if you need anything in the future" put Lin Xueyin's heart at ease. She nodded obediently, sat for a while longer, chatted about her father's recent situation, and then stood up to leave. Chen Mingyuan and his wife invited her to dinner, but she declined, saying she had to drive the commune's tractor.

Leaving the Chen residence, Lin Xueyin felt her steps lighten. This trip to the county town had been quite fruitful. Not only had she enjoyed a hearty meal and replenished her supplies, but more importantly, she seemed to have found a small "supporter." While she might not need it, the feeling of having someone behind her gave her a bit more confidence as she faced the uncertainties of the future.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, she returned to the gathering point on time. Li Hongmei and two other female educated youth had also returned, carrying only small items such as needles and thread. Seeing Lin Xueyin carrying large and small bags, especially the greasy snack buns, their eyes were full of complicated expressions.

The return trip was still bumpy, but Lin Xueyin found it less unbearable. Gazing at the vibrant sunset, she thought to herself, "In a couple of days, I'll go to the commune primary school and take a look." Teaching... maybe it really would be easier than working in the fields? At least, she wouldn't have to get blisters on her hands anymore.