Zhang Hongmei didn't know how to answer; saying no seemed a bit arrogant.

"I think it's better to have a balance between work and rest."

“You’re the only one who wants to work in the village. Didn’t you ask the teacher?” Er Ya knew that Zhang Hongmei didn’t want to stay at school.

"Not yet, I'll ask the teacher when I get back this week. I still want to keep an eye on the pipes on the mountain."

"You're so bold, what girl would act like that?"

"Actually, even though we've been there so many times, there have been very few truly dangerous situations."

"We still can't be careless."

"Hongmei, if you could take some time off, the three of us could do the work we did last year." Zhuzi, being a boy, was responsible. He was always in school and rarely helped his family, so he always felt bad for them. Therefore, whenever he was home, he would always take on the hardest and most tiring work.

Zhang Hongmei considered the possibility of taking leave and felt it was worth a try.

The three of them finally got off the bus in the village and walked around chatting without feeling tired.

It was already 3 p.m. when we arrived in the village. Everyone was making preparations, including preparing farm tools, seeds, and seedlings.

When Zhang Hongmei got home, she first went to fetch water, then tidied up the house inside and out before taking a shower in her spatial dimension and then going to the old lady's house.

"Grandma, I'm back."

"You're back after only two weeks?"

"What, you don't want me to come back?"

"You brat. Are you adjusting well to life in the city?"

"It's alright, except I can't make it to fetch water every day, but otherwise it's not bad."

"Hongmei, you're back?"

"Jingze, shouldn't you be leaving now?"

"Yes, I was planning to go to the city to see you, but I didn't expect you to be back?"

"I had nothing to do on Saturday and Sunday, and I was bored by myself, so I came back."

"Hongmei, don't go to the cafeteria for dinner. Eat at home tonight. We'll have dumplings."

"The dumplings for the farewell, the noodles for the arrival, Grandma, you're so good to my brother Jingze."

"I'll treat you well in the future too," Liu Changhe's wife said with a smile.

"My wife has always been good to me, there's no need to be any better, otherwise Brother Jingze will get jealous."

"You little rascals, you three stay here, I'm going to tidy up and make dumplings."

"Hongmei, how was your political class?"

"We didn't have textbooks, but they managed to get us radios, and everyone was reading newspapers."

"Did you manage to get your hands on this year's newspaper?"

"Yes, you can't subscribe, but you can go to the post office every Saturday to pick up what they've read."

Liu Jingze frowned and remained silent.

"It's okay, this is fine too, it saves money."

Liu Jingze ultimately said nothing, realizing he had no way to resolve the issue for her.

Zhang Hongmei ate sauerkraut dumplings for dinner and then went home.

I still feel at home here; I feel at ease when I come back. Maybe it's because I've been here since I opened my eyes.

The next morning, Zhang Hongmei made steamed buns with red bean paste, mainly because she didn't know what to give Liu Jingze, so she just made some food.

I steamed a big pot of it. It's still cool now, so we can eat it until we get off the bus.

Once the steamed buns were cooked, I carried the bowl, covered it with a cloth, to the old lady's house.

"Grandma, I brought you something delicious."

"What's good to eat?"

"Bean bag."

"Hehe, you prepared this for Jingze, right?"

"Yes, I'll keep it for him to eat on the train. I put in a lot of brown sugar, it's so delicious."

"You've already eaten? You're trying to fool me."

"Why even try? White flour, red beans, brown sugar—even a fool could make this taste delicious. Give it a try." Zhang Hongmei picked one up and handed it to the old lady.

"Mmm, it's quite delicious, sweet!"

"I knew it! Where's Jingze? He's going to the city to catch the train today, right? I remember he said school starts on the 25th or 26th, isn't that right?"

"The notice came that it's the fifth day of the second lunar month this year. He went to fetch water and will be home soon."

Actually, Liu Jingze was carrying water to Zhang Hongmei's door when he saw it was locked. He was quite disappointed and had no choice but to go home.

I heard Zhang Hongmei's voice as soon as I got to my doorstep.

"Hongmei, you're here."

"Hehe, Brother Jingze, I steamed some red bean buns for you to eat on the train."

"That's great! The food on the train is ridiculously expensive and not even good. Hongmei, what time are you leaving?"

"I want to take the noon bus back. What about you, Jingze?"

"Let's go together. I'll be leaving soon. I'd like to stay at your place tonight."

"I see, then okay."

"What? Is there something else you need in the village?"

"No, I just don't want to leave. If I leave, I'll have to leave sooner or later."

Liu Jingze really couldn't understand Zhang Hongmei. The only thing she cared about here was her family; there wasn't much else she cared about.

Logically speaking, Zhang Hongmei has no parents and no other relatives here, so why is she so dependent on this place?

"Jingze, have you packed all your things? Are you taking an oxcart or walking?"

"I had a lot of stuff, so Uncle Maocai drove me to the village."

"Okay, I'll go back and pack up now, and I'll wait for you at home."

Zhu Zi and Er Ya also went along, but they didn't bring any food. There were still more than twenty days until the spring planting holiday.

Zhang Hongmei didn't take anything; the only things left in the house were sweet potatoes and potatoes in the cellar.

Once in the car, Liu Maocai took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to Zhang Hongmei. "Hongmei, this is your letter. It's from the army."

"Okay, judging from the notes, it should be a letter from Brother Er Lengzi."

"By the way, Uncle, we still have quite a few sweet potatoes and potatoes in our cellar. If you need to grow seedlings, just have my Aunt get them. It's fine if we use them all."

“I understand. If it’s not enough, just go get more. I heard from Er Ya that you want to come back for spring planting? Actually, you don’t need to come back. Just focus on your studies. The village still has plenty of work points for you, so you won’t be short of food rations.”

"We'll see. If the teacher gives me leave, I'll come back. If not, then this is the only option."

"As long as you are all well, we are content. It's just that the years are bad, otherwise we would have definitely organized a celebration for Jingze."

"Hehe, my great-grandmother also mentioned my third uncle's idea, but I didn't allow it. Food is scarce right now, so let's wait until I have a job and can earn money, then I'll treat everyone to a proper meal."

Zhang Hongmei and Er Ya leaned against each other, whispering. Zhu Zi also started talking to Liu Jingze about his studies.

Upon arriving in the village, Liu Maocai didn't rush to leave, mainly because Liu Jingze had too much luggage.

When the car arrived, the five people loaded their things onto the bus, making the ticket seller grumble in disapproval. Zhu Zi couldn't stand it and said, "My brother Jingze is going to the capital to attend the Capital University, so of course I have to bring my luggage."

The ticket seller stopped grumbling. At that time, very few people could go to university, so she didn't want to offend anyone.

In fact, Liu Jingze didn't listen to her at all; she was just an insignificant person.

The three of them always take the bus now, and the ticket seller already knows them, so she doesn't even look at their letters of introduction, and she didn't ask for Liu Jingze's either.