A few days later, Lao Han and the others noticed that Lao Zeng's attitude towards Song Yan was the same as before. So, that was the end of it!
Life in the brigade was peaceful yet busy. A message brought back from the commune reignited the public discussion that had calmed everyone down.
Widow Wang was sentenced and was supposed to be sent away. But because she was pregnant, her sentence was postponed. Unexpectedly, she miscarried. They couldn't send her away in that condition! Widow Wang has been staying at the police station ever since. It's also because the division of labor in some departments isn't very clear these days. Staying at the police station is not much different from being in prison.
Song Yan knew about this; Li Yuanzhao went to inquire about it.
Those who went to the commune heard that Widow Wang would be dragged out tomorrow for a "educational meeting".
The reason this matter was brought up again was that the county head emphasized the situation of Qingshan Brigade at a meeting. The commune began to pay attention to it again.
Jiang Xiaoxiao dragged Song Yan, who didn't want to go, onto the brigade's horse-drawn cart and headed straight for the commune...
Widow Wang was filthy, and half of her hair had been plucked out. She was so thin she was unrecognizable. People around her kept throwing stones, rotten vegetable leaves, and other things at her.
I heard it's going to last three days!
Widow Wang's current predicament is not worthy of sympathy. However, Song Yan was somewhat afraid and warned her to be even more cautious in her actions, lest she end up in the same situation.
Just as the excitement surrounding Widow Wang had subsided, a new wave of excitement erupted from the village.
He Jianian and Wu Meili start arguing all the time now.
These past few days, gossip has been circulating in the village about how someone's wife, who hadn't conceived in years, has gotten pregnant, and so on.
Then another piece of news spread like wildfire: the cages that had gone missing from the brigade had suddenly reappeared. Mentioning the cages brought back a flood of memories. Back then, Wu Meili had given the Wei family a real run for their money; how was she now? The cages were back, weren't they? They had scared Cheng Yousuo half to death back then.
Then the matter of Wu Meili and He Jianian was brought up again by everyone. They talked about it with great enthusiasm.
Song Yan sincerely reflected: I just wanted to return the cage! I didn't expect everyone to think so much.
Then there's Huang Guoqing and Liu Xiuwen. The villagers say they're always sticking together. Actually, they've only been seen walking together a few times.
Huang Guoqing wrote home. His parents didn't come, but they sent him money so he could get married in the village.
Chang Xiaohu would study to read whenever he had time. At first, he followed Wei Ping and Wei An. Or to be more precise, the two children found that their uncle, who liked them, knew more characters than they did, so they chased after him to teach him to read.
How much could Wei Ping and Wei An remember? They finished teaching them in no time. Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Yan taught Chang Xiaohu whenever they had time.
Now Chang Xiaohu has learned pinyin and can use a dictionary. He spends all his free time with a dictionary and his elementary school textbooks, though he's switched to second-grade textbooks this year, and it looks like he'll be switching to third-grade textbooks soon.
Wei Ping and Wei An are in a hurry; they want to exchange their first-year textbooks for second-grade ones…
The atmosphere of studying at home became increasingly intense, to the point that Song Yan started to worry. The two children were too young; they weren't in a rush.
This time of year is usually the most gloomy time in the production brigade, because it's the lean season when food is scarce. But this year, every household has extra income, so they can secretly buy some grain to supplement their income, making life a little easier.
Soon it was time for Chang Xiaohu to start work. These days, education wasn't valued much. His class was inconsistent in their work, only going back and forth sporadically. Whenever there was a holiday, Chang Xiaohu would rush back home; later, he simply started commuting from dawn till dusk, no longer living at the school. He brought all his wages, ration coupons, and grain allowance back and handed them over to Song Yan.
Song Yan thought for a moment and accepted everything the boy had given him. This half-grown boy was practically eating his father out of house and home; his meager food supply wouldn't be enough for him. He could stay at home; the ration coupons were fine there. As for his wages, Song Yan planned to save them to buy a bicycle. With a bicycle, the boy wouldn't have to walk to and from work, which would be much more convenient.
The days passed peacefully, and spring sowing quietly arrived.
It's not time to cut grass for the cattle yet, so Song Yan can't stay home. Right now, all the work is done manually, and by the end of the day, Song Yan's whole body aches.
Now you can see the advantages of having an elderly person at home. When you come home, there's hot food and hot water.
Jiang Xiaoxiao, who is usually very diligent, didn't even bother to pick up the table after finishing her meal.
Wei Ping and Wei An were so thoughtful. They brought a foot bath for Song Yan and Jiang Xiaoxiao. They poured the prepared warm water into the foot bath, ladle by ladle, so that the two of them could wash their feet.
Jiang Xiaoxiao and Song Yan were deeply moved.
The next day, Song Yan and Jiang Xiaoxiao had help. Spring planting was finished and school was on holiday, so Chang Xiaohu returned.
Chang Xiaohu intended to help out all day. Song Yan didn't dare let him do that. If someone disliked her and reported her for being lazy and pleasure-seeking, Song Yan would be in serious trouble.
Every afternoon, Chang Xiaohu would help Song Yan with her work. Song Yan never hesitated to help. But with Chang Xiaohu there, she could sit and rest.
Cheng Youfu, like Song Yan and the others, was doing eight work points a day. Being a young boy, and working hard with his older brother and sister-in-law helping him out from time to time, he was always the first to finish. After finishing his own work, he would go and help Song Yan. With Chang Xiaohu's help, Song Yan didn't have much work left either. After Song Yan finished, the two young boys would then help Jiang Xiaoxiao.
If Chang Xiaohu can't come to help, Cheng Youfu will help both of them by himself.
Song Yan and Jiang Xiaoxiao have help every day. Li Yuanzhao is extremely envious.
Li Yuanzhao kept saying, "I want to adopt a younger brother too." Shen Hanyang didn't say anything. Now she was the accountant, recording the work points reported by the group leader every day. She also helped distribute farm tools, etc. Her work was easier than working in the fields.
In the spring, Shen Hanyang also wanted to weave earthen baskets. But cutting willow branches was hard work. Pan Bo had been helping her all along, and now the two were quite close. They went to work together every day and came home together. They were just one step away from confessing their feelings. But everyone tacitly agreed in their hearts.
Amidst this busyness, something new happened in the production brigade. Two more educated youths arrived this year, a man and a woman. The woman's name was Dong Mingming, and the man's name was Gao Weijie. After these two educated youths arrived, the educated youth settlement became quite lively.
Li Yuanzhao and the others were exhausted after a long day of work. Gao Weijie and Dong Mingming just stared at them helplessly. They hadn't even heated the fire with any hot water. Considering it was their first day there, Li Yuanzhao, Shen Hanyang, and Pan Bo didn't say anything. Pan Bo tended the fire, while Li Yuanzhao and Shen Hanyang cooked.
After a long day of work, I'm exhausted, so I just cook whatever's available. It's nothing special, just enough to fill my stomach.
Dong Mingming was furious. "It's my first day here, and you can't just not welcome me, you can't give me this to eat."
Gao Weijie's family was relatively well-off, and the cornbread and corn porridge had no appetite for him. He remained silent, offering no objection to Dong Mingming's words.
Oh my, that's so bizarre. Food is so precious these days. You didn't contribute a single grain. We're giving you food, what more could you want?
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