"Hello... Hello... classmates, good afternoon everyone, can you hear me now?"
Xuemei was reading the Little Red Book with other classmates in the classroom when she heard the principal's voice coming from the school loudspeaker.
"To serve the people, fellow students and comrades, in view of your high enthusiasm, the school will suspend classes starting today to allow you to have more time to participate in the activities you want to participate in. The school, teachers, and staff strongly support you."
Most of the students in the class became excited when they heard this, put down their books, and gathered together to discuss the upcoming activities in Kyoto. Only a few students sat in their seats and did not join the discussion.
"Xuemei, what the principal just said is that there are no classes now and you can go home and do whatever you want."
"Yes, Yaoyao, you must not go." Xuemei said and signaled with her eyes to the group of people who were having a passionate discussion.
Luo Yao nodded. When the two of them put their books away and prepared to leave the classroom.
The class monitor He Jun called them.
"Liu Xuemei, Luo Yao, won't you go with us tomorrow?"
"I have to go home this afternoon to put my things back. It's not convenient to take a bus to my home. Why don't you go first?" Xuemei said normally.
"What about Luo Yao?"
"I...I want to go home too."
"Your home is in the county town, why don't you come with us tomorrow?"
"Yaoyao is still waiting for me. You know we have the best time together."
"Yes, you guys go first! I'll wait for Xuemei to come with me."
"Okay, then you can make a decision sooner and join in sooner."
Xuemei and Yaoyao nodded.
When they reached the playground, they slowed down their pace. Luo Yao patted her chest and whispered, "What's wrong with this squad leader? Why is he so troublesome today?"
"Stop talking. Let's go to the cafeteria to have lunch first. After lunch, you can go home. You'd better stay at home for the time being."
"But I don't have anything at home. I usually eat in the school cafeteria. I'm not good at cooking, so I'll just leave it at that."
"I have a can of chopped radish and peppers and half a can of mushroom sauce left in my dorm room. I'll get them for you later. When you get home, take your food allowance and buy the rest of this month's food."
"Xuemei, you're so nice. Come back with me after dinner! My brother sent me a few pounds of beef jerky yesterday. I'll bring some back for you. I was planning to give it to you today, but my mom told me not to bring it to school and make others jealous."
"Your mother is right. You have to be extra careful recently. You have to stay away from people when you have something good. Got it?"
"I see. You said the same thing as my mother. No wonder she told me to listen to you more at school. Come home with me later to get it, okay?"
"Okay, if there's something delicious, of course I'll go."
"Xuemei, why did you bring the backpack with you?"
I'm going to the supply and marketing cooperative and the scrap yard later. I might not come out for several months after I get home this time. Xuemei said this as she handed Luo Yao the chopped pepper radish and mushroom sauce.
"It's been a while since I last saw you."
"I'll be back when school resumes."
“That’s all we can do.”
Xuemei went to Luo Yao's house to get some beef jerky and then walked towards the supply and marketing cooperative. She bought five pounds of pork bones, three pounds of dried kelp, and two cans of oranges, spending a total of one yuan and sixty cents. She put the things in a backpack and walked towards the scrap station.
The county's waste disposal station has a large room for storing waste. The door is open during the day and doesn't close until after 6 p.m. Next to the large room is a small, ten-square-meter room. The elderly man on duty usually sits in front of this room. In winter, he sits in the small room, warming himself by the fire, with the door open so he can see anyone approaching.
When Xuemei arrived at the purchasing station, the old man was eating with his lunch box.
"Serve the people, comrade. I want to buy some newspapers to paint the walls and some old books to practice calligraphy."
"Be careful and don't take anything you shouldn't. Can you go in and look for it yourself?"
Xuemei entered the large room. No one was inside, and the old man was focused on eating and looking at the street. Xuemei quickly put the beef jerky into her space before starting to look for something else.
The scrap yard was littered with broken furniture and vases. Xuemei took advantage of the old man's inattention and placed two jewelry boxes, a few pieces of wood, and some unbroken vases in the space. Just as she had placed the last item, she heard footsteps outside. She quickly walked over to the books, picked up a stack of newspapers in one hand, and a torn book at random with the other.
As soon as I took it, the old man brought in a few people.
"Comrades, look, there's only this little girl inside."
"How long has she been in here?" asked the leader.
"Comrade, this little girl has been here for almost twenty minutes."
"The leader turned around and looked at Xuemei and said, 'Why did you take so long in here? Why haven't you left yet?'"
"Comrade, I'm here to look for some recent newspapers to use for plastering the walls at home, and I'm also looking for some old textbooks and discarded books to take home."
"Give me what you have."
"What are you doing with the recipe?"
"My mom and I both cook terrible dishes. My dad and his family dislike us. I saw this recipe when I was looking for a textbook just now. I want to take it home and learn how to cook."
The leader returned the things to Xuemei and asked, "Is that backpack yours?"
"Comrade, yes."
"Bring it here, let's check it out."
Xuemei took the backpack behind her, opened the tattered cloth on the basket, took out the meat bones, canned food and dried kelp inside, and then turned the basket upside down and shook it on the ground.
The leader found nothing suspicious about Xuemei and said, "Okay, comrade, this is a routine inspection. Please don't mind."
"Serving the people, comrade, I understand."
After Xuemei and the others left, she took some newspapers and the things she had in her hands, put them in a backpack, went to the old man, paid him, and left.
By the time Xuemei left the recycling station, her underwear was soaked. She hurried back to her dorm, packed her quilt and other belongings, and placed them in her backpack and schoolbag. While no one was looking, she quietly placed some items that might cause misunderstandings into the space. Then, she put her backpack on her back, grabbed her schoolbag, and headed for the county train station.
While waiting for the bus at the station, another group of people came and searched everyone in the station and arrested several people.
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