Chapter 18: Xiangyang Production Team
After Shen Yuzhu finished washing up, she didn't see Qiao Wangshu. After a while, the door was pushed open, and she was carrying two lunch boxes. Hot noodles were placed on the table, along with vegetables and eggs, which looked very appetizing.
"You treated me to a nice room, so I'll treat you to a meal. Come and try my cooking; I made it at the guesthouse."
"Where did you get these eggs and vegetables so late at night?"
Qiao Wangshu raised her hand and rubbed her two thumbs together. "With money, why worry about not having things?"
Shen Yuzhu didn't say anything, picked up her chopsticks and started eating the noodles. Her cooking skills were always good. After such a long train ride, being able to eat a bowl of hot noodles made her feel very comfortable.
only......
She remembered that in her previous life, Qiao Wangshu's family had never sent her anything, and she herself lived a very frugal life. She wondered how much these two bowls of noodles would cost her.
"Get some rest after you finish eating. I'll wash the lunchbox, you don't need to lift a finger. I'm so grateful to you for making me sleep so well tonight."
"No need to thank me. I can't stand those three people's faces. It's fine for us to live together."
Qiao Wangshu smiled, picked up her lunchbox, and went to the washroom.
The next morning, after everyone finished packing, they set off again, this time on a tractor. The road was incredibly bumpy, and when they got off, their faces were frighteningly pale. They hugged trees, bent over, and vomited violently.
Shen Yuzhu leaned against a tree, and it took her a long time to regain her strength. Looking at the familiar educated youth settlement not far away, she finally felt a little relieved. They had finally arrived.
"Oh dear, I've really suffered a lot."
"We've finally arrived. If we hadn't arrived soon, I would have died here."
Lu Guangzhi, the head of the Xiangyang production team, drove two oxcarts to pick up the people. Seeing the miserable state of the young masters and ladies, he sighed and said, "Goodness, these are like autumn leeks, each crop is worse than the last."
He expressed doubt about whether this stuff could be properly grown in the countryside.
"Alright, alright, fellow educated youth, I am Lu Guangzhi, the brigade leader of Xiangyang Production Team who is here to pick you up. These are the old educated youths from your educated youth settlement, Comrades Wang Jinxing and Wang Liping. From now on, you will live at the educated youth settlement. If you have any difficulties, you can go to them. If you encounter something that cannot be solved, come to me."
After finishing his speech, Lü Guangzhi shook hands with the person in charge of transporting the educated youth, and then led the group toward the village.
The former educated youth settlement has been renovated and expanded quite a bit. Nine educated youths came this year, which is not a large number, but there is enough room for them. The old educated youth settlement is no longer inhabited and is considered a dangerous building.
Lu Guangzhi was making plans in his mind, but his eyes never left the nine newly arrived educated youth.
Good heavens! The people who are being assigned to him are either skinny and weak. Look at that little girl, so delicate and fair-skinned, can she even lift a hoe?
The one next to her is better; he's broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, and looks like he's got a lot of strength—he's the kind of guy who can do the work.
Zhang Shujuan and Wang Yanhong felt a little uncomfortable being watched by the brigade leader, so they quickened their pace and hid in the crowd, pretending not to see them.
Wang Jinxing and Wang Liping didn't show any expression when they saw the new educated youth. As long as they didn't cause them any trouble and just behaved themselves and did their jobs well, that would be fine. Otherwise, just assigning them farm work would be a nightmare.
Finally arriving at the educated youth settlement, Wang Jinxing and Wang Liping began to allocate beds and private plots.
"The educated youth settlement is a large dormitory. Your luggage has been delivered to your rooms. You can choose your own bed. The private plot is behind the educated youth settlement. Each person will have two fen of land. The brigade will also give each of you two hundred jin of grain. Work hard. There will be more grain distribution in winter. Pack your luggage and go to the brigade headquarters later to find Captain Lü to collect your rations."
Lu Guangzhi nodded. When the educated youths came, it was usually just this kind of thing. He glanced at the group and saw that no one else had any objections. Wang Yanhong was even about to go inside to get her luggage. He nodded and prepared to leave first.
Shen Yuzhu suddenly raised her hand.
"Wait a minute, Captain. Can I stay in that old house next to our new educated youth settlement? I have a cough, especially at night. Everyone is tired after a long day. If I don't get a good night's rest, it will be my fault. So, can I have a room by myself? I will pay for the repairs myself."
"What? You're going to live in that old house over there?"
Shen Yuzhu nodded. "It's not that I'm being dramatic, I'm just really worried about affecting the other comrades, delaying the mission's food supply, and hindering everyone's progress. Don't worry, Captain, I'll pay for the house repairs myself. It's just that I'm new here and don't know anyone. Could you help me ask around and see if any of my fellow villagers can help me out with better materials? Thank you, Captain."
"That house over there isn't small. It's for a young girl like you. I'll renovate half of it and divide it into two rooms, which will be enough for you. But it will cost quite a bit!"
“It’s alright, Captain. I came here voluntarily, not just for a day or two. You can provide the labor and materials and fix it properly. I definitely won’t let the villagers suffer.”
She spoke eloquently and even bowed to Lü Guangzhi. He could still speak, after all, she was the one who was paying for it.
Besides, it can also bring extra income to the villagers, so why not do it!
"Okay, I'll find someone to arrange it right away and try to get it done for you in the next couple of days."
"Thank you, Captain, you're such a kind person."
Lu Guangzhi blushed as the young girl praised him. The city girl was so sweet-talking; her compliments made him feel so happy.
After he left, everyone's expressions were different. Wang Yanhong glanced at her and said, "What cough? I think you're just being delicate. You've only just arrived and you've already ruined the unity. You're really a worry."
"You slept with her before? You said she has a cough. When we were in the provincial capital, she slept in the same room as me. She coughed all night, and it gave me a terrible headache. If you don't mind, then Comrade Shen, don't spend any more money to stay elsewhere. Just keep bothering her, just keep bothering her."
"You're close to her, of course I'll side with her. Besides, what does her spending money have to do with me? I..."
"Shut up, stop arguing. This is a youth settlement, not your home. Take your luggage and find your beds. Also, everyone here has to cook. Two people per group take turns cooking. If you don't want to eat at the youth settlement, find a fellow villager to share with. It's up to you."
After Wang Liping finished speaking, she went inside. She had worked all day and was exhausted. It was her turn to cook dinner, so she didn't have time to listen to their idle chatter.
Wang Jinxing was easier to talk to, so he smiled and led a few male educated youths into the house.
When Shen Yuzhu entered the room, she leaned close to Qiao Wangshu and said, "Thank you!"
"You're welcome. If I weren't broke, I wouldn't want to live with these gossipy women."
She spoke frankly, just like her personality. Shen Yuzhu smiled and glanced at her, but the smile instantly froze on her face the moment she entered the female educated youth dormitory.
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