Early in the morning, the kang (a heated brick bed) in the educated youth compound was heated. Li Weidong and Yu Wenjiang, who had been freezing all the way, drank ginger water cooked by the female educated youth and gradually recovered.
Yu Wenjiang introduced himself to the group of educated youth. He was small, clever, and had a sweet tongue, so he quickly blended in and won a lot of favor.
Meanwhile, Xie Yuyao returned to her residence, dressed, and used the spiritual spring to boil a pot of ginger and brown sugar water.
The dark brown ginger soup sloshed in the pot, and a pungent, spicy aroma wafted up with the steam, accompanied by the sweetness of brown sugar.
She scooped a spoonful into a bowl, blew on the ginger soup, and drank it.
Not long after, I suddenly shivered, and a warm current spread from my stomach, which felt very comfortable and dispelled a lot of the coldness in my body.
The spring water enhanced the energy of the ginger candy, resulting in a synergistic effect where 1+1>2.
Xie Yuyao poured out the water from the kettle, filled it with ginger and brown sugar water, and then put the rest into the soup pot.
"Yaoyao, the temperature has dropped so suddenly, are you cold?" Yang Shumei had just gone to the front yard, and now that Yu Wenbo had settled things in, she came back.
"No, we bought a lot of clothes yesterday, which will come in handy." Xie Yuyao finished filling the ginger soup container and then washed the pot. "How was your day? Did you buy everything?"
"I've bought everything—all sorts of spices, duck meat, dried tofu, and stuff like that. How's it going on your end?"
"all the best!"
The two agreed on the night before last: Yang Shumei would be responsible for purchasing raw materials, while Xie Yuyao would be responsible for going with Zhao Honghui to investigate the black market.
Now that everything is ready, they just need to get started. The two looked at each other and smiled.
"Bring me a bowl, you can have a few sips too."
Yang Shumei scooped a spoonful of ginger juice into the bowl herself, saying, "How much ginger and sugar did you put in?! Just the smell is enough to make me feel spicier."
Not long after she drank it, she felt a reaction all over her body. "Yaoyao, how did you cook this? I feel so much warmer after drinking it."
"Hot soup, of course it'll warm you up, so I added a little more ginger and brown sugar. Come help me move this kettle to the front so Yu Wenbo can drink it to ward off the cold."
So, one person carried the pot, and the other carried the kettle, and they walked together to the educated youth compound in front.
Zhao Honghui and Huizi sat in the main room, drinking water and chatting with the male educated youth.
Seeing Xie Yuyao and the other person approach, Zhao Honghui got up and quickly walked a few steps out to take the soup pot from her hands, helping to carry it into the house and place it on the dining table.
Everyone recognized the smell as ginger tea. Wu Lihong said, "Yaoyao, we also made ginger soup and specially saved a bowl for you. How much ginger did you add? Why is it so spicy?"
"Spicy food helps to ward off the cold." Xie Yuyao handed several bowls of food to Zhao Honghui, Huizi, Li Weidong, and the others who had returned with her.
Yang Shumei also handed the kettle to Yu Wenjiang, instructing him to save the ginger soup in the kettle for Yu Wenbo to drink, one bowl with each meal.
Soon, Hui Zi's voice rang out, full of praise: "Thank you, Zhiqing, the ginger soup you made is so delicious. I feel much warmer after drinking it."
Others who tried it also said it was incredibly delicious, and that it must have contained a lot of ginger and brown sugar.
Watching this scene, Zhao Honghui knew exactly what the key was. He smiled gently as he looked at Yao Yao, his eyes filled with tender affection.
"Yu Wenbo is back!" A loud voice came from the courtyard gate. It was the brigade leader, Party Secretary Liu, and Accountant Li who had heard the news. Accountant Li was carrying a bag.
"Just got back." Li Weidong went out to greet them and led the three to Yu Wenbo's room.
Looking at Yu Wenbo, who was lying half-reclined on the bed with a pale face and skin so thin that only a layer of skin remained on his face, the group felt pity.
The brigade leader sighed and said, "You poor kid, you've suffered a lot this time. Now that you're back, take good care of yourself. Our brigade has a clinic now, so if there's any medicine you need, let Xie Wa Zi give it to you first."
“Yes, it’s time to hibernate. Take good care of your health so you can be a strong young man again next year,” Secretary Liu comforted him.
Accountant Li pointed to the bag he had just put down, "After the educated youth compound collapsed, each educated youth received a daily ration during their stay. Although you didn't stay there, the brigade leader still included your ration, which was about ten kilograms."
The brigade leader also said that the brigade headquarters would distribute the grain when the weather got better, and with the work points he had accumulated, it would be enough to last until next year.
Yu Wenbo was very grateful: "Thank you all. I will definitely take good care of myself and get back to work as soon as possible."
The Qingshantun brigade did not rush to send him back or abandon him just because he was unable to work; it was much better than he had imagined.
“Captain, I have a favor to ask. This is my third brother, Yu Wenjiang. He stayed to take care of me, but the letter of introduction is due soon. Could you accept him to come to Qingshantun to work in the countryside?” Yu Wenbo pointed to Yu Wenjiang beside him and told the others about their decision.
"You'd better think this through. It's easy to become an educated youth, but it's difficult to return to the city," the brigade leader said sternly.
Yu Wenjiang briefly explained his own and his family situation, saying, "Uncle, if I stay here, I can take care of my older brother and earn work points to support both of us. Please accept me; I will definitely work hard."
The captain looked at his thin and small appearance and knew that it would take him several years to train properly.
However, after learning about their family situation, he abandoned the idea of sending Yu Wenbo home after his injuries had healed.
It's good that Yu Wenjiang stayed; at least it will ensure that Yu Wenbo has food to eat.
"Alright, I'll apply to the commune. You'll have to handle things on your own back home." The brigade leader agreed after a moment's thought.
Yu Wenjiang said happily, "Thank you, Captain. I will contact my family as soon as possible and have my mother register at the educated youth office."
He didn't expect it to go so smoothly; there are still many good people in the world!
After the team leader and his group offered a few more words of comfort, they set off to leave. Xie Yuyao, Zhao Honghui, and the others saw them off at the gate, then took out the large and small bags they had bought the day before from the van and called Hui Zi to go to the backyard.
Hui Zi hadn't been to the new house yet. Looking at the enclosed courtyard, he exclaimed in praise, "It's good to have a wall. It prevents anyone from sneaking in and protects our privacy. As for the safety of our belongings, you don't need to worry too much."
He then recounted the true story of his maternal uncle.
Hui Zi's eldest uncle once rode his company's new bicycle to the countryside on business. Halfway there, a torrential downpour started, and the road was full of mud, so he couldn't ride the bicycle and had to carry it on his back.
But the road was slippery, and he sprained his ankle and couldn't carry the bicycle, so he parked it on the side of the road and went back to the commune first.
No matter how valuable a bicycle is, nothing is more important than yourself.
The place was in the middle of nowhere, and he was already mentally prepared to have his car stolen. He planned to pay for a new one himself to compensate his company, so he didn't go back to look for it.
A week later, his leg injury had healed, but he still had to go to the countryside to run errands and finish his work. Halfway there, he saw his bicycle still parked by the roadside, untouched.
So many people come and go on this road every day, yet not a single one has ever entertained the thought of stealing.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
