As the twelfth lunar month approached, snowflakes were floating in the sky over Northeast Province. Su Jin, wearing a military coat, was led outside by Lu Shiyi. The road out of the village was covered with thick snow.
Today is the last big market in the county before the twelfth lunar month. The villagers are using their work point subsidies to prepare for the New Year.
Lu Shiyi carried a bamboo basket and led Su Jin to the place where they could ride the ox cart. Many villagers had entered the county town in advance, and it cost 2 cents per person to ride the ox cart.
"Su Zhiqing, are you going to the county town to attend the market too? Come with us?" Huang Huaer led Wang Dahong to the county town.
"Aunt San, Xiao Jin is from the south and has never experienced the northern winter. She is still cold even though she is wrapped in such a thick military coat." Lu Shiyi explained for Su Jin.
There is a clear difference between the north and the south in winter. The south is not as cold as the northeastern province, so people stay at home during the winter. But people in the south have to work in the winter.
"This is the first time I see snow, and it's really cold." Su Jin listened to Lu Shiyi and continued his words.
The village women, with whom Huang Huaer had a very good relationship, all came over to them.
"This is just light snow, we can still go out. If the snow gets heavier, we won't even be able to go out the door." Huang Huaer explained to Su Jin.
The village women looked at Lu Shiyi and Su Jin's backs and were curious about their relationship.
"What's the relationship between Minister Lu and Su Zhiqing? They must have known each other before, right?" The few of them started gossiping as they walked. "I've never seen Minister Lu patronize any girl."
Su Jin followed Lu Shiyi to the place where they were going to take the ox cart. After they got on the cart, many educated youth also came, and some of them wanted to buy a lot of things.
The market before the New Year is the largest and has the most abundant goods. Many villagers grow vegetables and other things just to exchange them for New Year ingredients or to earn some money to supplement their household expenses.
"There are many big fairs before the New Year. You can buy more of some consumables that can be stored. The prices are the cheapest throughout the year." The old educated youth informed the new educated youth in advance.
The old educated youth also hope to help the new educated youth, as it is very cold during the New Year in Northeast China.
"You four girls had better buy more brown sugar and the like. Brown sugar at the market doesn't require a ticket." Lin Teng informed the four of them like an older brother.
"We also need to buy gala oil. Don't skimp on it just to save money. If your hands get frozen later, your nausea will recur," Hu Xi warned them. "Lin Teng and I didn't pay attention back then, and we ended up with this disease."
"Sister Hu, I remember a folk remedy that's specifically for treating frostbite." Su Jin looked at Hu Xi, whose eyes were exposed. "I'll write it down for you later. You can try it. The ingredients used are mostly kitchen scraps that can be found everywhere."
Hu Xi's eyes lit up. If the disease could be cured, she would certainly be happier, as both she and Lin Teng could use it.
"How long will it take to take effect?" Lin Teng looked at Su Jin. He and Hu Xi were the first educated youth. They were two years apart in age. After getting along with each other and having similar personalities, they decided to get married in the village.
"It should be healed in a dozen days." Su Jin remembered what was said on the Internet, that soaking the frostbitten area would be effective in a dozen days.
"Xiaoxi and I are getting married on the 16th of the first lunar month. It would be even better if she could be cured." Lin Teng found that after going to the countryside, his family felt guilty and always felt that they owed him a lot.
However, Lin Teng saw no hope. He didn't want to get married in the village at first, and Hu Xi was the same. After Su Jin's group of educated youth arrived, Lin Teng went to the educated youth office for a meeting and heard that except for sending them to university, very few educated youth could return to the city.
After returning from the meeting, Lin Teng informed the old educated youth of the new spirit of the Youth Office. He had no hope of returning to the city, so he no longer hid his feelings and confessed his feelings to Hu Xi.
"Really?" Su Jin looked at the two of them, "Congratulations."
"When did you get the marriage certificate? And you kept it a secret from all of us!" Huang Ying complimented the two with a smile.
The first two groups of educated youth got along very well with each other. They all went to the countryside with the same goal.
As more and more people went to the countryside, they were also defeated by reality.
Huang Ying married the eldest son of the village accountant. The couple has a harmonious relationship and now has a 4-year-old son. The accountant and his wife are both generous people. In Huang Ying's opinion, parents-in-law like the accountant are much better than those in the city.
"Huang Ying, why did you bring your Xiaoyuan out?" Hu Xi noticed that there was a child in Huang Ying's arms and asked in a low voice.
"My father-in-law is busy settling accounts before the New Year, and my mother-in-law is cleaning the house. We took Xiaoyuan out to buy New Year's goods." Huang Ying's husband walked beside the ox cart. "Xiaoyuan is eager to go to the market, otherwise my father-in-law and mother-in-law will be reluctant to let her go."
Su Jin looked at the little girl opposite who was staring at her with her almond-shaped eyes, and took out a piece of White Rabbit from her coat pocket and handed it to her.
"Call me sister!" Su Jin was the youngest among the educated youth, and the children of the older educated youth should call her aunt.
"Su Zhiqing, this won't do." Huang Ying looked at the White Rabbit candies and quickly refused. "White Rabbit candies are only sold in the provincial capital. Save them for the children who come to visit you during the New Year in the village."
"Sister Huang Ying, Xiaoyuan is well-behaved and cute. I'll give her a sweet kiss in advance." Su Jin stuffed it into the little girl's gloves. "During the New Year, would you like to come to your sister's house with your mother?"
"You should call her Auntie." Huang Ying helplessly reminded Yuanzi, "Su Zhiqing, I heard you're from the south? Take advantage of this market to prepare things for the New Year. It will probably snow continuously during this period, and you won't be able to go out in the cold."
"Sister Huang Ying, just call me Xiao Jin," Su Jin remembered Lin Teng mentioned that Huang Ying was also an educated youth from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. "I have made thick cotton clothes and pants, so I should be able to go out."
"People like us from Jiangsu and Zhejiang all go through the same thing in our first year," Huang Ying said, shaking her head. She couldn't help but think of her first year in the commune. "When I first arrived, I made thick cotton clothes, thinking they would last me through the winter. But just as the twelfth lunar month began, I was frozen sick for several days. If it weren't for the help of the old educated youth, I really wouldn't have been able to get through it."
Su Jin listened carefully to the experiences of the old educated youth and thought about what kind of New Year's goods he should prepare.
The ox cart stopped at a parking spot in the county town, and the old man Yang who was driving the ox cart told everyone that the ox cart would be waiting there at 4 pm to take people back.
Some villagers would go back early, so they had to walk back carrying bamboo baskets.
"Xiao Jin, hurry up and buy New Year's goods, don't delay." Huang Ying found that Lu Shiyi was always with Su Jin. He didn't talk to her, but she could see his possessiveness.
Lu Shiyi's identity is not simple. Given his attitude towards Su Jin, no sensible person in the village would attack Su Jin, for fear of being retaliated by Lu Shiyi.
"Hold Xiao Yuanzi and don't let her out of your sight. Several girls have gone missing during market days in Jiangsu and Zhejiang." Su Jin reminded Huang Ying, "It's definitely better to be careful."
After she finished speaking, Su Jin followed Lu Shiyi to buy New Year's goods. He slowed down his pace and waited for her to catch up.
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