Although Mingzhu had never lived in the educated youth compound and hadn't spent much time with them, she was cheerful and could get along with most people. These girls weren't fussy either, so they got along quite well, at least outwardly.
In addition, as fellow educated youth, regardless of other factors, Mingzhu was the first child of her generation among them, so the attention she received was always different.
It's alright that Mingzhu and Lin Dongfang got married, since their marriage was legitimate and their families were together.
Li Yan and Chen Jianguo were relatively accepting of this, since they were both sent-down youth and were in the same situation, so they could understand each other.
But Du Xiuling's kind of relationship is what makes people conflicted.
Realistically speaking, if someone wants to find someone to rely on, and it's a matter of free choice in love, without harming anyone else, then there's absolutely no problem with it.
What's troubling is that the educated youth all shared a wish: to one day return to the city, to the familiar place they knew, to the clean and tidy city, to earn a monthly salary, to buy the pretty clothes and snacks they liked, and to no longer live the life of working themselves to the bone all year round and still not having enough to eat, no new clothes, and no snacks.
They neither want nor deign to let their lives be on the same level as these peasants, but this arrogance alone is clearly not enough to support anything. Didn't you see how pragmatic Du Xiuling is?
Although she was sharp-tongued and didn't know how to manage a household, she was a literate young woman who didn't cause trouble. The villagers didn't have a very good impression of her, but they didn't hate her either. It wasn't difficult to find someone like her in the village.
If things remain the same as before, that's fine; we're all in the same boat.
Now that Du Xiuling has opened this door, many people are in turmoil.
She envied her for escaping the swamp where they had suffered together, but her own firm beliefs began to waver; neither side seemed right.
After Du Xiuling's relationship became public, the educated youth frowned more and more, became more and more silent, and laughed less and less.
Those who have been here longer, like Tan Yajun, are a little better off. After all, they have seen everyone they needed to see in Liujiatun, so they are just feeling a little sad now.
Lin Zhaodi, who was not favored at home, was initially anxious, but when she thought about it again in the quiet of the night, she realized that returning to the city was something that others looked forward to and longed for, but for her, it might not necessarily be a good thing.
I do the same work, but at home, all I get are a few nice words and almost nothing else. I work myself to the bone for a month, and not a single penny of my meager salary goes to me.
But after leaving home, her standard of living didn't change much. She still couldn't get enough to eat, and wild vegetables and coarse grains were still just as hard on her throat. But no one was pointing fingers at her or telling her what to do. Every work point she earned with her sweat would be exchanged for grains of food to fill her stomach. No one would eat her food while nagging her that she was doing this wrong, that wrong, or that she should have done it this way or that way.
Here, she is herself, she is free.
Among the group of educated youth, Lin Zhaodi was the first to calm down.
The others gradually came to understand, more or less. Conflict and hesitation were of no use. They could either continue to stick to their convictions or follow the path of Li Yan or Du Xiuling.
The educated youth compound calmed down, Lin Dongfang's son turned one month old, and soon Jian Xin also returned.
I didn't even go to see it, but this first glimpse really scared me.
Who is this pitch-black little thing? And where is her fair-skinned little sister?
Seeing the simple expression on his face, Cheng Chao, who had just brought the person back, also felt a little embarrassed.
Honestly, regardless of the training, this kid is incredibly wild. He spends all his time running, sparring, and doing obstacle courses with them. Except for the fact that his height and strength are quite different when sparring, he can catch up with them almost in no time.
Later, once he got used to it, he would run around the field whenever he had free time, and could play with anyone he could find for half a day. Whether it was competing or coaxing children, he was a very young kid and became very familiar with the entire camp. When Cheng Chao came back as a nurse, he didn't even dare to recognize him.
Jian Wenxiu was so shocked that he went to fight Lin Zhengde that very day.
"elder sister!"
Thankfully, the voice was still that familiar, sweet, childlike voice.
It's so simple, I don't even know what to say. Even her little hands and exposed forearms are bronze-colored.
"No, what did you take her to do? How did you get her sunbathed like this?"
Looking at the villagers peering over from the foot of the mountain, Cheng Chao pursed his lips and whispered,
"Hey girl, could you let us in first? We'll be surrounded by onlookers soon."
Jianxin simply stepped aside, and Jixiang and the others immediately rushed over. However, they stopped abruptly when they got close, circling around Jianxin several times before confirming that this black man was indeed their little master.
"Woof woof woof..."
Seeing that even the dog was so confused it didn't recognize him, Jian Dan couldn't help but laugh.
"You guys are really something. The sun is strong, but it doesn't have to be this hot!"
After closing the door, Cheng Chao breathed a sigh of relief, but turned around with a helpless expression.
"It was already dark when I got back."
Upon entering the house, I first cut them a watermelon from the backyard. I was surprised again by Jian Xin's hearty way of eating it.
"No, how did you teach me? You turned a perfectly good young girl into... a little bandit?"
Cheng Chao burst out laughing, then quickly turned his head and coughed.
"It's not that exaggerated, it's not that exaggerated,"
"Sister, I'm not a little bandit!"
The little girl was still unhappy and pouted as she retorted.
Quickly and simply comfort them.
"Yes, no, our Xin Xin is not like that."
He turned and glared at Cheng Chao.
"What happened?"
Cheng Chao pulled the stool to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and lowered his voice.
“It really was like this when I came back. Uncle Jian got really angry and got into a fight with Uncle Lin. His wounds even reopened.”
"However, Uncle Jian didn't bother with her anymore."
"Girl, let me tell you, I asked around, and she was just having trouble adjusting for the first few days. But she got used to it in less than three days. That girl, she gets up faster than anyone else the moment she hears the reveille in the morning, running and circling with everyone. Some of the new recruits aren't even as fast as her; some fell behind, and she was calling out to them, 'Those who run fast get treats, those who run slow don't get any!'"
"puff!"
It was so simple and straightforward, I burst out laughing.
"Are you just going to let her act like this?"
"Putting aside whether it's pretentious or not, the effect is quite good, and the overall speed has increased a lot. However, when my uncle heard about it, he immediately told the kitchen to make a few more varieties, just in case people in the canteen thought our camp was a scam."
"Even Chef Zhang from the cafeteria said that in all the years he's been here, the food has never been this plentiful. Before, it was just cornbread, porridge, and pickled vegetables, but now they've made it into all sorts of fancy dishes!"
Jian Dan immediately wanted to cover her face. What a brat!
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