Chapter 69: Unbearable Weight
Later, after she returned to the educated youth camp, Zhang Hongying asked Lu Mingjiang and Lu Dongping, "How do we handle this?"
Lu Mingjiang didn't say anything, but looked at Lu Dongping, his eyes clearly saying: You can do whatever you want!
Lu Dongping leaned back in his chair and poked into the fire pit with a pair of fire scissors: "Let's do what we have to do. How much meat was cut off when the pig was slaughtered, how much is left after smoking, and how much is the discount? You can discuss with Dad. It's hard to calculate this thing, it's just a rough estimate. If she wants to buy it, then buy it. You give the meat and she gives the money, which is good. You can see how much you sell to her and how much you keep, so I can have an idea in my mind. Tomorrow I will ask her how much she needs. If not, we can get some from uncle." It was rare for the little girl to speak up, so she had to be satisfied no matter what.
Lu Mingjiang then slowly expressed his opinion: "Then let's do as you say. What she buys will count as purchases, and what we give as gifts will count as gifts. Everything is clear and there will be no more problems in the future. As for the meat, we've done it in previous years when there was no meat. She gave me money and tickets, and anyone with money and tickets can buy meat anytime they want. Bacon is something that only people in big cities can enjoy. Here, there's nothing we can do except smoke it. If we don't smoke it, we won't be able to eat it without money and tickets. It's not a rare thing."
Since he said so, there is naturally no problem.
The next morning, Wen Wan came over and Lu Dongping asked her how much meat she wanted.
She was completely unsure. She glanced at the meat hanging from the beam above the fire pit and mentally calculated. Since it was only being sent once, it would be pointless if there were less. She needed at least two pieces at home. But there were more people at the Xu family, so four pieces? That would make it easier to divide. If there were less, how would they divide it? If the eldest uncle had some and the second uncle didn't, it would obviously create conflict.
She stretched out her finger and looked at Lu Dongping eagerly.
Lu Dongping reached out and quickly squeezed her hand: "Six pounds?"
"No, six! Just the big ones with smoked ones on them, six. My family wants two, and my grandpa's family has a lot of people, so they want four."
Zhang Hongying agreed from behind the stove: "Okay, six pieces. We're roasting the fire downstairs right now, so the meat is hot and can't be taken out. After dinner, everyone will go out, so turn off the fire and let it air dry for a while. Come back in the afternoon and have Lu Dongping take it down, and you can choose."
After breakfast, Lu Dongping had to go to the fields to work if he didn't go to the commune. Wen Wan, Lu Chun'e and Lu Donglin went together to pick grass for pigs with baskets on their backs.
We didn't walk too far, just followed the ditch in front of the educated youth site.
There are lush green wheat fields on both sides of the ditch.
One December, Wen Wan followed Zhang Hongying and Lu Chun'e to pick pig grass several times and could recognize a lot of it.
The goose intestines and curled ears grass at the edge of the field, the pigweed seedlings and sheep's hoof sprouts in the wheat field - they are very fresh and tender in the chilly spring weather.
Wen Wan, carrying a backpack, a basket and a small shovel in her hands, squatted down and shoveled the pig grass out of the basket, wiping it off with the dirt. Her movements were a bit clumsy with the backpack on her back. Lu Chun'e and Lu Donglin were used to it. They kept the basket inside the backpack, pulled the pig grass in their hands, and threw it into the backpack. Wen Wan envied their neat movements and tried to throw it into the backpack in the same way, but it was not smooth.
Once the backpack is filled with some things, it will no longer be appropriate to lie down like this and press your back.
Lu Chun'e put down the backpack, placed it on the edge of the stone step, and called Wen Wan: "Sister, come and put the backpack here. It will be more convenient for us to carry the basket into the field." When the basket is full, just pick it up and pour it into the backpack.
Wen Wan went over and put the backpack down, then glanced at the nearby path: "Is this okay? Will someone take the backpack away while we're not paying attention?"
Lu Donglin said, "Don't worry, this piece of land belongs to the team. Most of them are working in the fields right now, so no one comes here. Besides, we're not going far, we're just in the fields nearby. If we go too far, we'll definitely have to move."
That being said, there is no problem.
Wen Wan poured the pig grass in the basket into the backpack and went into the wheat field with the two of them.
Chatting while picking pig grass.
We talked about home, production team, and then school.
Lu Chun'e is now in the first grade of junior high school and will be in the second grade next semester. She is a very hardworking girl and studies very seriously, but she just lacks a little bit of talent.
"Our teacher said that the early bird catches the worm and diligence can make up for lack of talent, but I just can't keep up. Those good students in our class study like they are playing. They never take books or homework home after school, but they know everything the teacher teaches." He said without stopping his hands.
"When I was in elementary school, my grades were pretty good. I was always among the top students. I thought I was pretty good back then. But after entering junior high school, I realized it wasn't because I was good, but because elementary school taught me Chinese and math, and as long as I put my mind to it, I could do well. Junior high school was different. There were so many more courses, and I always felt like I didn't have enough time. I couldn't focus on what I was studying."
Today's junior high school students have to learn about industry, agriculture, and military affairs. They not only have to learn "Basic Knowledge of Industry and Agriculture", but also learn to drive a hand tractor in physics class, learn to mix pesticides in chemistry class, recite Mao's Selected Works and Marx and Lenin in Chinese class, and participate in labor learning in various production teams in agricultural basics class.
The second semester had just begun, but Lu Chun'e felt that she was overwhelmed and unable to cope.
If she was asked to memorize Mao's Selected Works of Marx and Lenin, she could memorize the entire book, which would just take more time and require more recitation. However, she was really not good at the hands-on stuff.
"I'm just telling you. I don't dare to talk about this at home. I haven't even mentioned it to my brother."
Wen Wan smiled: "If you tell me, I won't tell your brother. However, I think you should tell your brother about your current situation. Although your brother is not well educated, I think he is quite capable."
Lu Chun'e smiled and said, "My brother is really amazing. To be honest, with the conditions in the mountains now, having two students in a family is unthinkable. Although going to school only costs a few cents for books, you still have to buy notebooks and pencils. Moreover, if you go to school, you can't work in the fields and earn work points. At the end of the year, when the team distributes rations, if your family's work points are short, you have to pay the team to make up for it. So many children can't afford to go to school, and they all go to the fields to work and earn work points early, especially girls. It's good enough to have food to eat and not starve to death. After all, they will get married when they grow up, and no matter how well you raise them, you will be helping other families raise them."
"If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been able to go to school. I just wanted to study hard and get into high school. After graduating from high school, I could work as a worker in the city. Not only would I no longer need to work to earn a living, but I would also get a salary and subsidies to help support my family."
"Tell me, if I don't get into high school, then all the years of supporting me at home will be in vain, right?"
Wen Wan pressed the already full basket, stood up straight, and stretched. "That's not the case. Whether it's work or study, everyone has their limits. Just try your best. It's good to have goals, but don't put too much pressure on yourself."
"You see, when I was at home, my mother was very strict with me. Besides schoolwork, I had to practice calligraphy, learn needlework, play the piano, and practice dancing every day. My schedule was packed. Since I started school, I almost never went out to play. The happiest thing for me was the Chinese New Year. I didn't have to study on New Year's Eve. On the second day of the first lunar month, I could go to my grandmother's house for a few days, spend time with my cousins, and ride around the city in their car."
"You're better than me. You have your own ideas and goals, which I don't. I studied whatever my mother told me to study, and no matter how unhappy I was, I didn't dare to contradict her. Because she was in poor health, which started when I was born, my whole family didn't dare to make her angry. I did whatever she asked. She wanted me to follow in her footsteps and work in the arts troupe, and I didn't care. But in the end, I graduated from high school, but instead of following her wishes, I traveled thousands of miles to the countryside."
"Life is long, and no one knows what path they will ultimately take. You can't just follow your own will."
Lu Chun'e looked at her and said, "Well, is Auntie very angry that you didn't join the art troupe and came to us?"
"Angry?" Wen Wan looked up at the sky: "She would definitely be very angry if she knew!" Unfortunately, she would never know.
"Sister, you used to have to learn so many things. How did you manage your time? Was it possible?"
Wen Wan turned her head and looked at her with a smile: "Time is like water in a sponge. It seems like there is no water, but if you squeeze it, there is always some."
Lu Chun'e opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Lu Donglin rushed over and said, "What are you two whispering about? Look, my basket is full."
"Tsk, you're talking as if no one's basket is full. Mine is almost full!"
Wen Wan also stood up with them. The solid basket was quite heavy to lift, so she carried it outside and poured the pig feed into the backpack. It was so heavy that it felt like it was about to be full.
"Chun'e, will it be full if I add some more?"
Lu Chun'e said, "How can it be that fast? You have to push down hard. The basket you are carrying is small. I estimate it will take three more pushes."
As he spoke, Lu Donglin came over with a smile: "Sister Wen Wan, let me help you!"
What are you helping me with? I'm helping to mow the grass.
Although Lu Donglin looked young, he was quite strong. He stretched out his hand and pressed a few times, and a large amount of pig grass in the backpack fell down.
By the time the sun was almost setting, the three people's backpacks were full.
Lu Chun'e not only filled her backpack, but also her basket. She sent the pig grass in the backpack to the pig farm, and took the grass in the basket back home to feed her own pigs.
Wen Wan couldn't do it, so she followed their example and pressed the backpack firmly, securing the edges where necessary. Then she squatted down and tried, but couldn't get up for a long time.
A compacted basket of pig grass still has some weight.
Lu Chun'e thought for a moment and said, "Sister, if it doesn't work, you can just wait here for a while. I'll go to the pig farm to hand in the pig grass and then come back to carry it again."
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