Chapter 6

“No, she’s not a bad person, at least she doesn’t have any bad intentions.” Chen Jingbai pushed Sun Jiabao, “Alright, you should go back to work now, it won’t be good if the scorekeeper sees you.”

Sun Jiabao scratched his head, thinking that Chen Jingbai had a point. Although He He was sharp-tongued, she hadn't really done anything wrong. "Alright, I'll go back to work now."

He was also afraid of being caught by the scorekeeper and having his work points deducted. Work points were hard to earn to begin with, and losing half a point at once would be like taking away half his life.

The rice harvesting continued until dusk. After the scorekeeper finished inspecting the team members' work progress, he weighed and checked the rice. Once he found no problems, he filled in everyone's work points for the day in the notebook and then reported them out one by one to check for any errors in the registration.

Once everything was confirmed to be correct, the scorekeeper called it a day and dismissed the team.

The brigade had no electric lights, so all the finishing work had to be done before dark, otherwise it would be bad to go back in the dark.

Today was the first time He He had earned seven work points. Holding Zheng Xinxin's hand, she said happily, "I didn't expect that earning seven work points wouldn't be so tiring. I'm really amazing today."

"Yeah, yeah, you were really amazing today. I've never seen you get more than five work points before."

Zheng Xinxin was somewhat skeptical of He He's first statement: "But are you sure you're not tired? I'm almost exhausted, my arms and back are killing me, and you're not tired at all?"

He He's arms didn't ache at all. She could easily lift those light stalks of rice. If her arms were longer, she could lift even more at once. She's always been strong, so lifting this amount of rice was no problem for her.

However, He He doesn't like to talk about her strength, lest someone push all the work onto her because of it.

That's how it was when we were little. Not long after He Shuying came to her house, they went to the market with Wang Fangrong. Wang Fangrong bought a bunch of bananas, but she didn't have enough money to pay for other things, so she asked the two of them who would carry the bananas. Eight-year-old He He raised her hand and easily carried the bananas.

Then, while praising her, Wang Fangrong put all the things she bought into He He's hands to carry. When they returned, Wang Fangrong and He Shuying were empty-handed, while He Shuying's hands were full of things. When they were almost at the gate of the compound, Wang Fangrong pretended to take the things back from He He's hands.

At the time, He He didn't think much of it; on the contrary, she felt that she was amazing for being able to lift so many things. But she suffered that night. Children's hands are delicate, and even if they are strong, such heavy things will hurt their hands. That night, her palms hurt so much that she couldn't sleep.

Later, when they went to the hospital, Grandma rushed over and found out that Wang Fangrong had made the child carry a lot of heavy things. After scolding Wang Fangrong, she earnestly taught He He that these were not things she needed to do, and that she should just focus on her studies.

He He said, "My hands are fine, it's just that bending over is a bit tiring."

Zheng Xinxin shook off their clasped hands, "You really underestimated yourself before. If you ask me, it would be great if you could just get seven work points a day. Didn't you say that your dad thinks you're inferior to your older sister in everything? Tell him that you can get seven work points in the Qianjin Brigade, and I'd like to see if he still thinks you're just a good-for-nothing."

He He lowered her eyes, but in an instant she raised her head and lifted her chin, her words somewhat fierce: "I don't need his affirmation. Let him say whatever he wants. Even if he thinks He Shuying is better than me, that's just his bad taste."

"His taste is terrible," He He said with certainty, kicking hard at a small pebble blocking her path.

Seeing that He He was unwilling to mention his father, Zheng Xinxin did not dare to continue to upset He He, so she immediately stopped the topic. "Our Hehe was really amazing today. Tomorrow I'll treat you to soda at the convenience store."

The brigade's small shop was opened a few years ago by the brigade leader so that the people in the brigade could buy some non-staple food without having to go all the way to the commune. Later, the small shop also stocked some snacks that children liked, so that the naughty children in the brigade wouldn't have to go to the commune to buy them and might get into trouble on the way.

Upon hearing that there was soda to drink, He He immediately said, "There's no time like the present, so please treat me to soda now."

Zheng Xinxin patted her pockets. Luckily, she had brought some money with her when she went out today, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to invite He He to drink soda today.

"Come on, come on, you knew I had money on me, didn't you?"

He He chuckled, and the two of them practically flew to the convenience store.

Following behind them, Sun Jiabao asked, "Where did these two go again? It's almost dark, and they left without saying goodbye. Aren't they afraid they won't be able to get back to the educated youth settlement after dark?"

In the countryside, when it's completely dark and the moon hasn't risen yet, it's pitch black. If you're unfamiliar with the area, you might accidentally wander into a pond in the dark.

Hearing Sun Jiabao's words, Zhao Dechuan, who was walking at the back, frowned and said, "Who left first? Why didn't they say anything? What if they encounter danger?"

Zhao Dechuan actually had someone in mind, most likely He Hetong and Zheng Xinxin, because those two tend to drift away from the group.

Zhao Dechuan was the educated youth who stayed in the Qianjin Brigade the longest, for eight years. Therefore, Zhao Dechuan was always the leader of the educated youth settlement. He handled matters big and small very well and was very enthusiastic. The other educated youth were very satisfied with him as the leader.

Sun Jiabao said, "He He and Zheng Xinxin, I don't know where they went."

Zhao Dechuan knew it was the two of them and sighed, "I'll go see which of you men will take the lead at the rear."

Sun Jiabao guessed that He He and Zheng Xinxin had gone to the brigade's small shop. They, as educated youth, were not familiar with the locals in the brigade, and they had never seen He He or Zheng Xinxin get close to anyone in the brigade. Where else could they go besides the small shop?

"Jing Bai and I will go take a look. You can keep an eye on the team, Captain."

Sun Jiabao also wanted to go to the convenience store to buy some snacks. Now that He He and the others had separated from the group, he didn't have to worry about being scolded by the captain.

Zhao Dechuan: "Alright, then you can go. Take them back as soon as possible, preferably before dark. Be careful."

Sun Jiabao grabbed Chen Jingbai and was about to leave, saying obsequiously, "Understood, understood."

Before Chen Jingbai could say he was willing to go, Sun Jiabao pulled him away. After walking a distance, he finally managed to pull his hand away. "I think you want to go to the convenience store yourself. If you want to go, fine, but you dragged me along too."

All the talk about finding He He and Zheng Xinxin was a lie. If he hadn't wanted to go to the convenience store, he would have stayed put even if someone had dragged him there.

Sun Jiabao chuckled, "It's fine if you and I just keep it to ourselves, don't tell anyone. Hurry up, we can't even see He He and Zheng Xinxin anymore, don't lose them later."

“We won’t get lost, we’ll all go to the convenience store.” Chen Jingbai paused, then added, “Let’s hurry, before it gets dark.”

It's easy to guess that He He and Zheng Xinxin went to the convenience store.

The two men were tall and strong, and with a few big strides they outpaced He He and Zheng Xinxin's jog. In no time, they caught up with He He and Zheng Xinxin ahead of them.

Sun Jiabao called out to He He and Zheng Xinxin, "We finally caught up with you two. You were walking so fast. The captain sent us to find you."

He He and Zheng Xinxin turned around at the same time, and in the dim light, they could see that Chen Jingbai was next to Sun Jiabao.

Zheng Xinxin blurted out, "Chen Jingbai is here too." She then turned to Sun Jiabao and said, "You make it sound so high-sounding, but you clearly wanted to come to the convenience store yourself."

Sun Jiabao retorted, "The captain specifically entrusted me with protecting the two of you; it's too dangerous at night." Is it so easy to guess what he's thinking? How does everyone know?!

Zheng Xinxin chuckled, giving him a look that said, "Do you believe me or not?"

He He remained expressionless, took Zheng Xinxin's hand, and stood next to Chen Jingbai. After standing there, she quietly tugged at Chen Jingbai's clothes.

Chen Jingbai felt his clothes being pulled down by a light yet sudden force. He turned his head slightly and glanced at He He.

He He looked up at Chen Jingbai with a faint smile, her brown eyes sparkling.

Chen Jingbai just stared at He He, but before he could look away, He He quickly turned her head away and stopped looking at him.

Chen Jingbai felt a tug at his heart.

What exactly does she mean?

The convenience store wasn't far away, and the group quickly arrived at it. It wasn't dark yet, and an oil lamp was already lit in the store.

The group greeted him politely, "Hello, Uncle Li."

The shop wasn't big, and when the four of them came in, the small shop became crowded.

The shopkeeper is a retired veteran who is 75 years old this year. He followed the anti-Japanese war and the united front forces all the way across the country. After the founding of New China, he also participated in several battles. As he got older, he retired from the army and returned to his hometown to live out his roots.

The old man was very easygoing. When he saw people coming over, he glanced at them but didn't put down the newspaper he was reading. He said energetically, "You've finished work? Buy something and take a look."

Those who come to the convenience store to buy things, except for those who need them urgently, usually spend a long time choosing. Li Shancai is not in a hurry and just lets them choose. When he sees that they are young people, he is even less in a hurry.

In the past, young people mostly came to buy snacks. They loved to pick out the snacks they wanted to buy, like treasures.

Zheng Xinxin readily agreed, "Give me two bottles of soda, do you have strawberry flavor?"

Li Shancai didn't expect the little girl to choose so quickly. He took out two bottles of soda from the shelf behind him. "Here you go, the strawberries you wanted, it's 26 cents in total. Do you want me to break them open for you?"

Soda was expensive, so it didn't require coupons. A bottle cost as much as a pound of rice, so ordinary people couldn't afford it. The small shop didn't keep much stock, only ten bottles a month. This was only because Li Shancai himself loved drinking soda and used his connections to get it from the commune's supply and marketing cooperative.

Zheng Xinxin: "Pry it open!"

After Zheng Xinxin paid, the old man had already pried open the soda bottle, and Zheng Xinxin picked it up and handed one to He He.

Li Shancai: "If you bring the bottle back, I'll give each of you three cents back, but whether you keep it or not is up to you."

Zheng Xinxin: "I'll bring it to you another day when I have time."

"No rush, the bottle collectors won't be here until the end of the month." Li Shancai then looked at Chen Jingbai and Sun Jiabao, "What do you two boys need?"

Chen Jingbai shook his head, indicating that he didn't need anything.

Sun Jiabao: "Give me a bag of roasted melon seeds."

The sunflower seeds came in packets, each packet about the size of a palm, wrapped in old newspapers by Li Shancai. They were priced at one cent per packet, and no coupons were required.

After Sun Jiabao paid, he took the melon seeds in his hand, and the four of them said goodbye to Li Shancai and left the convenience store.

Sun Jiabao tore open the old newspaper and gave each of the other three a small handful.

He He and Zheng Xinxin weren't embarrassed at all. When Sun Jiabao asked them to reach out and take the melon seeds, they eagerly turned their palms up and waited for Sun Jiabao to put the seeds in their hands.

Chen Jingbai didn't want them at first, but Sun Jiabao insisted on giving them to him, so he accepted the melon seeds.

Sun Jiabao cracked open some sunflower seeds and said, "These sunflower seeds are so fragrant."

Chen Jingbai held the melon seeds in his hand; the hard shells pressed against his palm, making their presence impossible to ignore.

Sun Jiabao and Zheng Xinxin chatted happily.

He He tugged hard at Chen Jingbai's sleeve, forcing him to slow down.

Chen Jingbai glanced at He He with suspicion, only to see He He's lips move mysteriously. It was dark, and Chen Jingbai couldn't see He He's lips clearly, but he managed to make out that He He was telling him to slow down.

He didn't know what He He was planning, but he still slowed down and waited for the two of them to walk behind Zheng Xinxin and Sun Jiabao, falling a little behind.

He Hecai tiptoed and whispered in Chen Jingbai's ear, "Chen Jingbai, come to the back of the house after you go back."

The rural dirt roads were full of gravel, and He He was walking on tiptoe. Just as she finished speaking and was about to put her foot down, she accidentally stepped on a large stone, swayed, and her lips brushed against Chen Jingbai's earlobe.