Before dawn, Chaoyang Brigade was bustling with activity, as today was the day to hand over the grain tax.
Every household got up early, driving oxcarts or pulling handcarts, the carts loaded with golden grain. Everyone chatted and laughed, looking forward to the smooth delivery of this year's grain.
When delivering grain to the commune, two people would pull a cart, and those without carts would carry it on shoulder poles. Everyone would form a long line and walk together toward the commune.
"Brother Nanxun, why do we have to get up so early to pay our grain tax?"
Lin Qing glanced at her watch; it was only a little past 4 a.m. Was she going to open the grain store so early?
Gu Nanxun reached out and helped Lin Qing up, then steadily pushed the cart forward with the group.
"We set off early to get ahead of the other teams. If we get behind them, we'll have to wait in line for a long time, which will waste a lot of time. Also, it's not as hot in the morning, so we can suffer less."
"Then others can also set off earlier, right?"
Wang Haoran and Chen Bin also pushed a cart behind Gu Nanxun. At this moment, Wang Haoran heard Lin Qing and Gu Nanxun's words and asked in confusion.
"Then let's see who leaves first!"
Chen Aihua, who was next to Gu Nanxun, glanced at the long queue and then spoke.
"Yes, Third Brother is right. I heard we set off at 5 a.m. last year."
"They set off at 5 a.m. last year, but they set off at 4 a.m. this year. It seems that even paying the grain tax is quite a struggle!"
Lin Qing sat comfortably on the grain sacks on the cart and said with a sigh, "It seems that no matter where you go in this society, you can't escape involution!"
Originally, Gu Nanxun didn't want Lin Qing to go with him today, but Lin Qing had never seen the grain tax being handed over before and wanted to join in the fun, so Gu Nanxun had no choice but to bring her along. Chen Aihua, knowing that the grain tax was to be handed over today, eagerly offered to help Gu Nanxun push the cart.
"Hmph! She's just showing off!"
Chen Zhaodi wiped the sweat from her face and diligently helped the male educated youth push the flatbed cart under his hands.
"Chen Zhaodi, can you use a little more force!"
Chen Zhaodi felt she had used all her strength, but the male educated youth pushing the cart kept complaining that she wasn't putting in enough effort. She glanced at Lin Qing, who was sitting leisurely on the cart, looking around, and then at her own disheveled appearance. She felt even more uncomfortable. Why did she have to live such a miserable life when they were both educated youth? But she didn't dare to provoke Lin Qing anymore and could only continue to feel wronged.
Lin Qing leaned against the grain sack, half-lying on the cart, looking around. At first, she found it very novel, but after a while, it became nothing special. Having gotten up very early, and with a gentle breeze blowing, Lin Qing drifted off to sleep in this environment.
After seeing that Lin Qing had fallen asleep, Gu Nanxun stopped the cart, took out a piece of clothing from his basket, and gently covered Lin Qing with it. Then he pushed the cart again, but his movements were more steady.
"Everyone says that Xiao Gu hit the jackpot, but I'd say Lin just had a stroke of good luck too."
"That's right. Everyone was saying that Xiao Gu married a rich wife and didn't look down on himself. Look how well Xiao Gu takes care of people now!"
"Yes, Gu's biological father even came to the door. Look at his imposing manner, he must be a high-ranking official. And look at the man next to Gu, I heard he's Gu's brother. He's quite handsome, I wonder if he's married yet."
"Come on, give me a break. How can you be so greedy? Do you think we can even be interested in them? They're city people, they're going back to the city."
"Why can't I miss them? What's wrong with city people? Those city girls aren't as good as our Yanhong! Our Yanhong is so good! So hardworking!"
"Stop talking. Your daughter is so big and burly, how can she compare to the city girls? The city girls are so fair and clean."
"What good is looking pretty? Can looking pretty put food on the table? It's better to be more diligent and get more work done."
The older woman curled her lip in dissatisfaction, believing that one should marry a hardworking and capable woman; what use was a delicate one?
“People in the city don’t need to farm, so why would they need someone who can do manual labor? Besides, all the young women in the city can work. Can your Yan Hong do that? Look at Xiao Lin, the educated youth. Isn’t she pretty and delicate? But she could also do manual labor! But look at her now, is she working? Because she doesn’t need to!”
The auntie pushing the cart next to her was a rare kind of sensible person. Seeing that her sister was thinking the wrong way, she quickly and patiently tried to enlighten her.
"Think about it again. What a wonderful girl Yanhong is! If she marries into the city, we won't see each other for a whole year. Yanhong is hardworking and capable, which is a good thing, but if she marries into the city, she won't have a city household registration, land to farm, or a job. What if her in-laws look down on her? What will happen to her child? It's better for her to marry into our neighborhood. We all know each other well. Life might be tough, but at least she won't be bullied! She can't starve to death, right?"
"Sigh! You're right, my old sister. I was wrong. It's not easy to marry a rich man. Not everyone has the skills of a young intellectual like Lin."
After saying that, the older woman secretly glanced around, quietly and quickly caught up with her best friend, and then whispered in her ear:
“We can get to know Xiao Lin, the educated youth, more often in the future. I think this girl is a bit strange! Anyone who doesn’t get along with her ends up in trouble. Look at the Gu family, that Li educated youth, and that Chen educated youth over there.”
"Moreover, everyone who got along well with this girl is doing quite well now. Just look at Xiao Gu. She was in such a bad state, but after meeting Xiao Lin, her leg was cured immediately. She also discovered that the person who treated her badly wasn't her biological father. Now her biological father, mother, and brother have come knocking on her door."
"You can't say things like that carelessly. If someone hears you, they might report you. Superstition is unacceptable."
The older woman was helping her husband push the cart when she heard the older woman's words. She stumbled and almost fell, then quickly covered the older woman's mouth and said...
"Don't worry, I'm not stupid. I'm just telling you secretly, I won't tell anyone else. Just remember that."
"Okay, okay, I understand. You should go back now!"
"Okay, I'm going back now."
Seeing that the older woman had gone home, the aunt carefully considered the meaning behind her words. Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed true. Just look at the other educated youth who were close to Xiao Lin; they were all living fulfilling lives. Perhaps Xiao Lin really was a lucky girl. So she secretly made a decision in her heart: she must get closer to Xiao Lin in the future, maybe she could also share in her good fortune.
Lin Qing was unaware that she had become a lucky charm in other people's eyes. At this moment, she was fast asleep, with a faint trace of saliva still hanging from the corner of her mouth.
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