It gets light early this time of year. Even though it's only a little past four o'clock, it's already quite bright outside. The hardworking villagers have already gotten up and started working. Just standing at the door for a short while, I could see several people heading down the mountain.
I glanced at myself briefly, and for once, I had a few seconds of self-reflection. Had I been a little too reckless? But these days, time flies by. If I can eat my fill, why shouldn't I?
Of all things under heaven, eating is the most important.
Seeing that there was still time, I quickly and decisively put the pot on the stove, heated up a bowl of eight-treasure porridge, and a few small steamed buns.
After a bowl of porridge, I felt refreshed and even the morning chill was dispelled.
"Jian Zhiqing, are you ready?"
Just as she put down her bowl, she heard Tan Yajun's voice from outside. Jian Dan responded simply, picked up her small basket, locked the door, and went outside. Tan Yajun's temples were still damp with moisture, and Jian Dan immediately smiled.
"You just got up too?"
Tanya Jun also smiled.
"I was thinking of getting up early, but we talked too late last night. If Lin Zhiqing hadn't called me just now, I would still be asleep."
They simply locked the gate, then turned and walked side by side toward the village entrance.
"I especially don't want to get up when it's time to rest,"
"Especially when you have to get up for something, right?"
"Yes, yes, if nothing else happened, I would probably wake up much earlier, right when it's time to go to work."
If something happens, I definitely won't be able to get up.
Simply carrying a basket on his back, he lacked energy and seemed quite listless early in the morning.
"Ugh, I regretted it just now. I finally got a day off, why did I have to torture myself by getting up so early? Wouldn't it have been better to sleep in?"
"You lazy little girl!"
The old man drove his oxcart over and heard this sentence. Seeing Jian Dan's weak and listless appearance, he felt a little sorry for him.
"Didn't you rest yesterday? Why are you so sleepy?"
"What kind of work do you need? Go call your Uncle Guangming and ask him and his wife to help you. Is the garden still standing?"
"Come on up, sit here."
Jian Dan sat on the right side of the old ox, which was also the front of the car, essentially the passenger seat, while Tan Yajun naturally sat close to her companion.
Calling for help is definitely out of the question, but the offer of kindness is something I simply accept.
"Third Master, the garden is finished, but when it comes to transplanting the seedlings, we'll definitely have to trouble Third Madam and Auntie again. Anyway, I don't know how."
The old man pointed his whip at her, and he laughed in anger.
"You don't know how, yet you're so self-righteous?"
A simple chuckle.
"Then I'll learn how to grow cabbages and radishes. But I can't grow a whole garden of cabbages and radishes, can I? Oh, don't worry, I'm so smart, I'll definitely learn it in no time."
Uncle Liu wanted to say something, but then he thought that this was just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old child, and a helpless child, so he swallowed his words. Jian Dan only felt that Uncle Liu's gaze was a little strange, but didn't think much of it.
"Third Master, are the seedlings in the garden going to be moved out soon? Did my Third Grandmother take my seedlings with her?"
Of course she brought it; she went in with them several times, but it was just for casual conversation.
This will solidify things, and the oxcart has arrived at the village entrance. Waiting for them are not only the new educated youth, but also several villagers.
The two of them took a quick look and exclaimed, "Wow, six new educated youths, all of them, not one missing!"
But what does it mean that Lin Dongfang is so far away?
He nodded as a greeting and spoke briefly to Tan Yajun in a low voice.
The old man stopped the car.
"Those going to the commune, get on the bus."
In a moment of distraction, I realized that Lin Dongfang, the educated youth from earlier, had already taken a long stride and sat down behind Liu Sanye. The others were a step behind and also got onto the oxcart one after another. With everyone gathered together, the cart was now full of people.
Once outside the village, Jian Dan continued to tease in a low voice.
"Third Master, your car can be considered a special car for educated youth."
The old man hummed.
"What do you think? Who has the time to keep going out? Going out costs money."
The other educated youths behind them couldn't help but feel envious of the close and familiar relationship between Jian Dan and the driver.
Several of the female educated youths were a bit sarcastic, and Tang Cui glanced at them.
"Jian Zhiqing and the old man driving the cart seem to know each other quite well. They're talking very intimately."
Beside her was Wang Hongmei, and on the other side was an aunt from the village. The aunt didn't seem to think much of it and was still smiling.
"Of course, not only Third Uncle, but everyone in our village is very close to Jian Zhiqing,"
“The newly arrived educated youth don’t understand. Without Jian, who knows what our village would have been like last year?”
Tang Cui's eyes flickered.
"Auntie, didn't Jian Zhiqing come last year? How come she's so familiar with you all?"
Yes, did you know each other before?
Besides, she's just a young girl, what help could she possibly give the village?
Could it be...?
Wang Hongmei chimed in as well.
"Yes, she's a sent-down youth like us, so she should be part of our group. Isn't being so close to the villagers undermining the unity of the sent-down youth?"
"No, it's..."
The person next to her tugged at her arm and gave her a wink.
"Ah, no, that's not it."
Last year was Jian Zhiqing's first time here, but after she arrived, she helped the village a lot, so everyone in the village was grateful to her. She is still young, and in our eyes, she is just like our own child.
That's why it feels so familiar.
Tang Cui couldn't quite tell whether she was disappointed or what, but after hearing this, she lowered her eyelids.
Su Hong glanced at it, then remained silent without saying anything.
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