Chapter 98 The Moon Over the Past
The school also moved from Wayaobao to Yan'an City. This phase consisted of four brigades with a total of 1,362 students.
The facilities inside were as rudimentary as ever, with no amplification equipment, so the teachers had to shout during class. Xie Ning was alright, as not many students attended her classes and her voice wasn't injured. But the leaders who gave lectures were having a much harder time.
She had also attended the leader's philosophy lectures; his voice was hoarse, but full of energy, carrying a passion that was not found in other classrooms.
Xie Ning announced the end of get out of class after assigning the day's memorization tasks. The students rushed out in a swarm, something they weren't usually this eager to do after class. Xie Ning was a little puzzled.
Back in the courtyard assigned to her, she saw Erniu excitedly coming to greet her, "Sister Changning! Let's go dancing!"
ah?
"There's a dance party in the square, and lots and lots of people are going. Let's go too! You've been so busy all year, take this opportunity to relax and unwind!"
Xie Ning grabbed Erniu's hand, "It's fine to go, but first tidy up. Get some hot water to wash your face. Did you go to the vegetable garden today? You look all dusty. Wash yourself off and change into something nicer. Don't you have a new military uniform that you haven't worn yet? Wear that one."
Erniu then noticed that there was mud under her fingernails, and she turned around and rushed off to boil water.
Xie Ning gestured to Xiao Yang behind her to put the box inside, then asked with a smile, "It's not easy to have some entertainment, Xiao Yang, don't you want to go and have some fun?"
Xiao Yang scratched his head and said nonchalantly, "No, I want to go to the street and get some lambskin, then send it back to Guihua so she can make some sheepskin coats. Although winters in the south aren't as cold as here, the damp cold there is still unbearable."
He couldn't send letters or things before, but now that things have finally eased up, he has to send something home. He joined the army when he was very young, which made his mother worry. Now that he's grown up, he's still involved in the revolution, and his wife is also worried about him along with his mother. He feels guilty.
But he knew that someone had to stand up, otherwise, if the Japanese invaded the south, how could he protect his family all by himself? Only when more and more people took up arms like him could the elderly, women, and children behind him be protected.
Moreover, he was disappointed with the authorities; perhaps with a change of government, they could finally act like human beings.
"By the way, Changning, can I exchange some Chinese currency with you? I want to send some money home."
They use border currency here, but the currency issued by the border region only circulates here. Most people prefer legal tender and silver dollars.
Xie Ning didn't give Xiao Yang legal tender, but silver dollars instead, and instructed him, "These days, no currency holds its value, so use silver dollars. Tell your wife in your letter later, and don't let her get carried away and exchange silver dollars for legal tender."
Although she didn't know when the currency devaluation happened, it's always good to be prepared.
Xiao Yang trusts Xie Ning's words completely and never asks for reasons, which is why Xie Ning occasionally gives Xiao Yang more advice.
After everyone left, Xie Ning opened the package that had been sent to her. It was sent by Ms. Lin Qin, and it had been sent a while ago, but it had only just reached Xie Ning.
Last November, the authorities cracked down on the National Salvation Federation, and Principal An, one of its members, was implicated and imprisoned. However, Principal An, who had foresight, sent Lin Qin to the United States in advance, even though she was unwilling.
This letter was written by Ms. Lin Qin to Xie Ning before her departure. At that time, she had already learned of Xie Ning's whereabouts from the newspaper. She was both happy and worried. She was happy that Xie Ning was still shining in a place she did not know, but worried that Xie Ning would not be used to such a barren place. Moreover, the Labour Party was in a very bad situation, and she was very worried about Xie Ning.
Then there's her inner confusion. With the domestic situation in chaos, some of her family members had already moved to the United States. Now, for her safety, her husband has also sent her to the United States to reunite with their children.
She was getting old and no longer had the fiery passion and enthusiasm of those young people. Sitting in the courtyard watching the snow fall, Lin Qin felt her body growing colder and colder.
"Nothing is entirely up to us except our own thoughts."
This is the last sentence in Ms. Lin Qin's letter.
"Sister Changning~" Erniu poked half her head in and spoke softly. She didn't want to disturb Xie Ning, but it was getting late.
Xie Ning lowered her eyelashes, carefully put away the letter in her hand, and then got up to tidy up.
Seeing Xie Ning start changing her clothes, Erniu excitedly ran over to help, but after hesitating for a moment, she asked, "Sister Changning, are you unhappy?"
Xie Ning gently shook her head. "I'm not unhappy, it's just that someone is sick in the heart, and I'm thinking about how to prescribe the right medicine."
"ah?"
"This... Sister Changning, you know how to make medicine for the heart?" As the saying goes, a heart ailment requires a heart remedy, and she does know that!
"No, but I can look at the books that person read and try to understand her feelings. That should help me find a match. But it seems there aren't any books by Descartes here..."
"Who is Descartes? Is he very important?"
"Yes, that's impressive."
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