Wang Jiancheng stared blankly, his unease growing stronger.
"They went to gather firewood,"
After a pause, looking at the various expressions, I felt a little tired.
"How many days do we have enough firewood? It's not cold now, but when it gets cold, the fire in the house can't go out. Without firewood, how are you all planning to get through the winter?"
The educated youth looked at each other, and then Wang Hongmei muttered something.
"Isn't gathering firewood all the work of you male educated youth?"
Wang Jiancheng glanced at it but didn't say anything.
Several female educated youths then joined in the criticism.
"That's right, wasn't that agreed upon long ago? We female educated youth would cook, and you male educated youth would fetch water and gather firewood?"
"Yeah, what's going on? Is there any room for regret?"
"It's so cold, we can't even stretch our hands out. What are we supposed to do? Why don't you go and pick them up?"
This group consisted of six female educated youths and two male educated youths: Wang Hongmei, Tang Cui, Su Hong, Du Xiuling, Chen Hongli, and Wei Shujuan, plus two male educated youths, Wang Jiancheng and Li Jianye.
At this moment, apart from Su Hong and Wei Shujuan leaning against the door watching coldly without saying a word, the four female educated youths were talking one after another, practically trying to trample Wang Jiancheng and Li Jianye underfoot. Even Li Jianye, who usually didn't do his job properly, could tell that what they were saying was wrong.
"Hey? Wait a minute, what are you guys talking about? Yes, we agreed that you would cook and we would fetch water and gather firewood. Whether we did it or not, it doesn't matter, right?"
So what? Are you stupid, or do you think we can't count?
We're talking about cooking. We'll cook together, so we'll be in charge of the firewood.
So what? Can't you understand? I wasn't just talking about cooking, but also about heating your own rooms. What, are you just waiting for the warmth from cooking?
Okay, if you guys think this is fine, then Brother Wang and I have nothing to say.
From now until after the New Year, we'll prepare firewood for you two meals a day. But that's all. When the coldest days of winter arrive, or when it snows heavily, please don't complain to us about the cold or how your hands and feet are freezing, or say we haven't done any work. We're only responsible for cooking; nothing else!"
How could the female educated youth not know? Having been here for so long, they could get the gist of it just by listening to the gossip in the village. They knew that the villagers would head down to the foot of the mountain as soon as they finished work, and they almost never came home empty-handed. They were either carrying two bundles of wormwood or some tree branches. They weren't blind.
Besides, before coming here, who wouldn't inquire about the situation here? It's close to the border and the coldest place in the country. It's famous for being cold. Who doesn't know that?
It's nothing more than thinking that you should slack off whenever possible and take advantage of any opportunity you can.
Wang Jiancheng and Li Jianye shared a room, Wang Hongmei, Su Hong, and Wei Shujuan shared a room, and Du Xiuling, Chen Hongli, and Tang Cui shared a room. This arrangement was specifically made after Wang Hongmei and Tang Cui had a falling out.
There must be quite a few rooms in this courtyard, otherwise how could they be so comfortable?
Seeing that Li Jianye was getting anxious, the others also changed their expressions and stepped forward to say conciliatory words.
Su Hong and Wei Shujuan watched coldly from behind, occasionally exchanging glances. Soon, they huddled together, chattering amongst themselves, before exchanging a knowing smile, clearly having reached a consensus.
While the group was still making merry, the two had already slipped away from the side.
A group of educated youth were exhausted and in a daze. During dinner that evening, Su Hong announced some news with a blank expression.
“Wei and I have already moved our luggage to the small room by the door. Starting tomorrow, we will be living together and won’t be with you anymore.”
"What?"
"What? You, how could you do this?"
They had all just returned from gathering firewood, and none of them had noticed that one piece of luggage was missing from the room. They were all shocked when they heard the news, mainly because there had been no warning at all, and it was too sudden for them.
There were originally six female educated youths. Even if they took turns cooking, they could only cook once every three days. If there were only four of them, they would cook almost every other day. Naturally, Wang Hongmei and the others were not happy with this frequency.
Wang Jiancheng frowned, opened his mouth, and seemed to have figured out why. To be honest, if he didn't know how to cook, he wouldn't want to eat with them.
Li Jianye looked around, then lowered his eyelids and calmly drank his porridge. He had thought about it when the commotion started, and it wouldn't end so easily. Who would want to be a sucker for someone and suffer in the cold with them?
The room by the door isn't big, but it's enough for two people. It doesn't need much firewood; the small room can be heated up. And there's no need to get angry with them. So why wouldn't they hurry up? What are they waiting for?
They're not stupid!
The four female educated youths had argued, cursed, and made a scene, but Su Hong, contrary to her previous indifference, became incredibly resolute.
Regardless of what the others said, the unilateral breakup was a done deal. After the meal, the two of them forcefully took their food and the tableware they had bought themselves back to their room.
Wang Jiancheng and Li Jianye finished their meal in silence and returned to their room quietly.
The remaining educated youth looked at each other, as some things seemed to be beyond their imagination.
Meanwhile, the two girls who had returned to their room with their things exchanged a few silent glances, then simultaneously smiled and burst into laughter, until their eyes were moist.
The next day, Li Yan was taken aback when she saw the two people who had taken the initiative to talk to her.
"What did you say? You two... broke up?"
The usually aloof Su Hong even wore a faint smile, though it was clear she was much more relaxed. Looking at the chaotic scene in the kitchen across the way, Li Yan suddenly burst out laughing.
"You did the right thing."
Following Li Yan's gaze, Su Hong also smiled.
"I think so too, that's so true, it's just a pity, it would have been better if it had happened sooner."
Li Yan comforted her.
"It's not too late now, the weather isn't cold yet."
Since they had already broken up, the two of them didn't dawdle. They took advantage of the fact that the other educated youths were still around and openly moved a quarter of the winter vegetables that they had prepared.
Wang Hongmei and the others were unwilling, but Su Hong's forceful approach was unexpected. Furthermore, in preparing these vegetables, or rather, in their vegetable garden, they had put in less effort than the others. With so many people watching, and Li Yan standing opposite them with her arms crossed and her eyes filled with blatant sarcasm, if they continued to stop them, it wouldn't just be a matter of being shameless.
Li Yan, enjoying the spectacle, also came to help, mainly to annoy people.
As a result, Wang Hongmei and the others were indeed furious, their faces turning bright red, but they didn't dare to make a move.
Wang Jiancheng and the other man watched silently from the side, while Li Jianye let out a barely audible sigh.
"Brother Wang, why don't you want to enjoy this perfectly good life?"
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