After hearing Tian Haiying's account, Zhu Qinghao and Si Tian were once again amazed at the shamelessness of the educated youth.

They, including Tian Haiying, had never seen anyone so ungrateful before.

Tian Haiying originally came to make sticky rice cakes with two people, but she got distracted by gossip and chatted for a long time before remembering her real business.

"Oh right, I came to ask if you two wanted to make sticky rice cakes together. Look at my memory, I overheard some gossip on the way here, and now all I can think about is this, hey!"

Neither Zhu Qinghao nor Si Tian had ever tried local sticky rice cakes before, so they were both curious, but they were also worried that they wouldn't be used to them and couldn't make up their minds.

"Auntie, we've never had sticky rice cakes before. Are they good? If they are, we'll make more."

Tian Haiying didn't know how to describe the texture and taste to them for a moment, so the best way was to let them try it.

But at this time of year, most people staying at home probably don't have any sticky rice cakes stocked up. The ones made at the end of last year were eaten long ago, and this year's harvest hasn't even started yet.

After thinking for a moment, Tian Haiying made a suggestion.

"Many families in our team do it together. Usually, my family does it first, and then it's your Aunt Chunhua's turn. Or, on the day my family does it, you two can come and join in the fun."

I'll make it and let you try it. If you like it, make more; it keeps well and will be a must-have on the table for Chinese New Year.

When Zhu Qinghao and Si Tian heard about the event, they were both very interested and happily agreed to participate.

Zhu Qinghao's main thought was to try the sticky rice cakes. If they were delicious, she would make more, or at least learn how to make them, since her family was there and she wanted to make them for them to try, no matter how good they were.

Si Tian's idea was not entirely the same. She focused on what Tian Haiying said: many aunties in the village would make sticky rice cakes together, and it would take a long time, many days.

Where there are people, there is gossip. She could also get a bite to eat and learn how to make sticky rice cakes. It was really hard not to be tempted.

Seeing that the two girls had agreed, Tian Haiying told them the time that everyone in the team had arranged, and told them to come to her house then. Then she hurriedly went home.

Wang Xiuyu's experience probably served as a wake-up call for everyone. Although the old beggar had been sent to the commune, people were now less willing to go out alone or at night.

After seeing Tian Haiying off, Si Tian was still worried and kept reminding Zhu Qinghao until Zhu Qinghao assured her that she would not go out alone before she went home.

Zhu Qinghao was still feeling down after watching Si Tian return to her own courtyard.

Does she usually appear very weak? Why is Si Tian worried about her instead of herself?

However, Si Tian's worries this time seemed somewhat unnecessary, because after they appeared together in Tian Haiying's side room and learned to make sticky rice cakes together, no similar incidents were heard in the village.

December 28, 1970, the first day of the twelfth lunar month.

Hongshan Brigade delivered bean sprouts again, and Zhu Qinghao and her colleague spent several busy days running around before the delivery.

Together, the two went to each store to check and assess whether the quantity of qualified bean sprouts was sufficient for delivery. They also tried to salvage any stores that seemed unlikely to meet the standards.

Once the goods were successfully delivered and the payment was received in full, coupled with several hundred more orders placed in the village, the villagers were naturally overjoyed.