"The place you're going is too far, I've never been there. Let me tell you about a place I've lived in for over a decade. You guys often ask me why I'm so afraid of the cold."
"Besides my poor physical condition, it's actually the trauma left in my heart by those years. In the cold winter, the strong north wind could sweep me away."
Wen Zhixian covered his mouth and laughed with joy.
Zhou Jiao laughed along, unconcerned. "It started snowing heavily in October. At first, the wind was like a knife, but I could bear it. But later on, it got worse. I was so cold I didn't even notice it. When I got back to the kang, I felt cold and itchy, and I often had the shivering sensation."
"We used to hibernate during the winter, but now we can't. Besides being cold, we're also hungry. We have two meals a day: boiled cabbage with cornmeal sprinkled on top. Even if we go out to work during the day, the most we can eat is two extra steamed buns."
"One year, many strong laborers in the village were starving. They heard that working on the dam would not only fill their stomachs but also save them 15 steamed buns in half a month."
"Everyone who could run had gone. Twenty days later, a few people managed to carry one person back to the village. The women who stayed at home burst into tears when they saw this."
"Do you know why they're crying?" Zhou Jiao smiled when he shook his head. "Except for one whose legs were frozen to a pulp, the other two had bandages wrapped around their hands that were covered in blood from the frostbite."
"It was so cold, the ground was frozen like stone. My blisters on my hands burst, and when I got hurt, the blood froze before it could even flow out. Then I dug again, and the wounds opened again. This cycle repeated itself, leaving the cloth strips covered in more bright red bloodstains than black."
"Even with such work, they were reluctant to give it up. After sending back a disabled person, they would turn around and go back to do the next one. I was curious at the time, so I asked."
"They told me that this was already easy work. The farm work on the team would be even more tiring in the spring. They would rather work on the dam than on the busy farming season. At least they wouldn't go hungry."
Zhou Jiao glanced at the silent kid and said, "I don't believe you aren't afraid."
"Oh, by the way, I heard the weather is even colder in the Great Northern Wilderness. Besides bringing extra coats, remember to bring plenty of good medicine. There's a lot of development going on there now, and there's a huge expanse of wasteland waiting for you to move on. Aside from the short three months of summer and autumn, you'll have to work hard throughout the cold winter."
"You'd better bring a few extra quilts. Since there are so many people going there at once, they'll definitely have to stay in thatched adobe houses. If there's no fire in there, you'll freeze to death. No, maybe one of those thatched houses that will collapse if the wind blows. I guess I'll have to bring a tent with you, too."
"Sister..." Wen Zhixian drew out his voice and looked at her sadly.
Zhou Jiao raised her eyebrows and asked in surprise, "What's wrong? How about I see what I can pack at home and bring it all to you?"
"You just don't want me to go over there!"
"How is that possible? You've achieved much more than your sister, me."
The naughty kid snorted and turned his head away.
Zhou Jiao just wanted to slap his stupid brain to wake him up. Sighing, she continued, "Xiaoxian, I'm not exaggerating. The conditions over there are definitely more difficult than I said."
"But my teacher said that over there they can catch roe deer with sticks and scoop fish with ladles."
"Then your teacher must not have mentioned the wolf pack?"
Wen Zhixian looked at her, lowered his head and said, "Several of us classmates have made an appointment, I can't be a deserter."
Zhou Jiao couldn't help but poke him, "You don't want to go to college yet, right?"
"sister……"
Zhou Jiao quickly raised her hand to interrupt: "That's enough! If you keep making such a weird noise, I'll beat you up, believe it or not?"
Wen Zhixian laughed with joy.
"You fool! Why wouldn't you contribute to your country and society? Why do you have to travel so far and overestimate your abilities? All those years of studying have gone to waste. What does it mean to be a hero who understands current events?"
"Still have an appointment? Young man! Just wait and see when they set off." Zhou Jiao stood up and slapped him on the head. She was really intolerable! She had wasted a lot of her saliva.
Wen Zhixian rubbed his head and saw that she was about to leave, "Sister, where are you going?"
Zhou Jiao waved her hand behind her and said, "I'll ask Auntie to make some noodles for you, young master. Go take a shower and clean up quickly."
Wen Zhixian lowered his head and smelled himself, then curled his lips in disgust.
Zhou Jiao walked out of the room and was about to finish instructing her aunt when she saw Cheng Ruzhu already dashing into the kitchen full of energy. Look... they're all spoiled!
"Jiaojiao, you still have a way. I knew these three bastards would listen to you."
"I dare not take credit for it." Zhou Jiao smiled and shook her head. "Aunt, it's better to send him to work early. It's not like he won't have the opportunity to study while he's working."
Cheng Ruzhu was frightened by her eldest son this time and nodded quickly, "Let him go in the next two days." After thinking about it, she asked worriedly, "Do you think he won't use delaying tactics to sneak away?"
"That's why I said to quickly arrange for him to go to work." Zhou Jiao was also worried that this naughty boy would be goaded by his classmates and run away without permission again. "Take a few days off and take him to my aunt's place."
Cheng Ruzhu also understood this logic, "Then I will leave tomorrow, do you have anything to take with you?"
Zhou Jiao shook her head. "No need. Just tell my dad I'm fine."
"No one bullies you at work, right?"
Zhou Jiao shook her head. She had been busy collecting statistics lately, attending several meetings with the leaders, and she was always the one who had the temerity to pick a fight.
"I don't know how Xiaowu is doing?"
Zhou Jiao smiled. Although her husband couldn't leave the school, he wrote letters whenever he had time, and occasionally sent messages through others. It seemed like he was enjoying his life.
After Wen Zhixian finished eating the noodles, Zhou Jiao saw that it was getting late, so while Cheng Ruzhu was out, she took him to the main room to say goodbye to the old couple Wen. When she came out, she saw the naughty child had become docile.
She patted his shoulder and said, "I really want to go to the Northeast to play. When your brother-in-law and I return to our hometown, we'll take you with us. Don't sneak away. If I catch you, you're done."
Wen Zhixian smiled and nodded, "Sis, you're the only one at home anyway, so you can live here."
"No, it's too far to go to work tomorrow." Zhou Jiao paused, "Xiaoxian, remember you are the eldest grandson of this family and the eldest of three brothers."
Wen Zhixian blushed and nodded seriously, "Sister, I know what you mean."
"You naughty kid! Go in and keep the old man and the others company."
Wen Zhixian watched her ride away on her bike before returning to the main room.
In the bedroom, Old Man Wen looked at his eldest grandson happily as he came in and said with a smile, "Did you send your sister off? Did Miss Zhou have any instructions for you?"
Wen Zhixian chuckled and rubbed against the old man, "My sister reminded me that I am the eldest grandson of this family and the eldest of three brothers."
Grandpa Wen patted his grandson's head with satisfaction. "You haven't understood the profound meaning of her words yet. What she said to you is all valuable advice. Whenever you encounter problems in the future, recite these words silently. They will help you mature."
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