Cheng Chao exhaled, rubbed his face vigorously, and ruffled a handful of his simple hair.
"Okay, I got it, don't worry about it."
There was only one tree, and it had been growing for many years. The fruit was only enough for two people to share, but it was enough to temporarily stave off hunger. Lin Zhengde emerged looking disheveled and dejected.
"Let's rest first, then go get something to eat."
After three busy days, the group carried their belongings down the mountain in batches. They took a different path, which was not as gentle as the other side. It became very steep below the mountainside, and they had to rely on ropes to descend safely.
But there are advantages to this location as well. Not only is it half the distance away, but there are also no people around, so you don't have to worry about being stared at.
Cheng Jin was leading his men to meet them down below. Seeing them come down, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
"You guys are really something. You didn't send anyone back to deliver a message for several days, but as soon as you come back, all you know is to ask for a car."
"Oh my, have you all gone to live like savages? Why are you all dressed like this?"
Even though that's what they said, they still made their cars available immediately so the others could load them.
"Hurry up, hurry up, finish quickly so you can go back sooner. The cafeteria food is ready for you."
Jian Dan didn't work with them, but she spent a few days running around in the forest. The mountains are full of good things, so she was bound to make a harvest, and she wouldn't leave empty-handed.
The basket Cheng Chao is using now was woven by someone he found. It's not very big, but it's enough for him. It's full right now, and Cheng Chao took it back to his unit.
Sitting in the car, Jian Dan was still completely dazed.
"No, you guys are going to be busy soon, right? I'll just go home."
Cheng Jin's first reaction was to target Cheng Chao.
Didn't you ask for leave for your sister?
Cheng Chao was helpless; he had lost all his standing.
"Please, please, this didn't happen suddenly, I haven't told her yet."
Look at this, look at that, think about how easily Cheng Chao asked for leave for her, and even got half a month off at once.
"What happened?"
She's not an important person anymore, is she? What could be so indispensable that no one can do without her?
After going through it in my mind, the only possibility is...
"What happened to Xin Xin?"
"No, no, Old Jian is here, the child is fine."
Cheng Chao sat up straight.
"Hey, don't scare yourself, it's not about those things."
My second uncle has something to do and needs me to go there. He also strongly insists on seeing you and wants us to go together.
I was planning to ask for your opinion, but this happened as soon as we met, so I didn't have a chance to say it. What's your opinion?
"Uh, to the Northwest?"
"Yes, you can come with me. Don't worry about your safety."
I originally thought I'd be stuck in this place for over a decade, but now that I hear I can legitimately and openly go out for some fresh air, I'm naturally happy to do so.
Seeing her hesitation, Cheng Chao glanced at Cheng Jin, assuming she still had reservations.
"What's wrong? What are you worried about? Are you worried about your second uncle?"
"No, not really. But, is it alright to ask for leave at this time? I'm still a sent-down youth, and the autumn harvest is just around the corner."
If someone causes trouble, you can't escape being labeled as an evader of work. No matter what, it's still a bit of a hassle, isn't it?
Cheng Chao was nervous, thinking it was something serious.
"What's this? You've done so much for us. I just told the village chief that the garrison needs your help with some things, and he was overjoyed. Don't worry, it's nothing."
He knows about the good deeds you did before. Even if he knows we're family, it's okay.
"Well, there's nothing we can do. Our family is just so perceptive. My sister hasn't even officially acknowledged us as family yet, and she's already accomplished a ton of good deeds. What can he possibly say about that?"
"This is getting increasingly absurd."
Cheng Jin glared at him, then turned back to comfort Jian Dan. He could probably guess some of Jian Dan's concerns.
"It's alright, don't worry. Even though it's chaotic outside, our commune isn't affected much. Even if someone causes trouble, we're not afraid. Your uncle can still protect you."
She wasn't too worried, but after going to the countryside, her principle was to keep a low profile and not like trouble. She preferred to avoid trouble. But since someone was there to rely on, what was there to worry about?
Suddenly, Jian Dan's heart stirred. She wanted to go out. After arriving in this era, she had been in the capital city and then here. The farthest she had ever been was the county town. All in all, her only trip outside was three days on the train. She was still very curious about the world outside this era.
"Uncle, is Second Uncle's place really that remote? Does it really lack everything?"
It wasn't that she didn't believe Cheng Chao's words; everyone has their own opinion. She wanted to confirm again whether this was similar to or overlapped with her impression of the Northwest. At the same time, she was also considering whether she was just going to take a trip or if she could do something.
"Why,"
Cheng Jinxian sighed.
"I went there a few years ago, it must have been more than ten years ago, right?"
The wind was incredibly strong back then. Your second uncle wasn't married yet and lived in a cave dwelling. The door wasn't sealed properly, and when the wind blew, sand and dust would pour in through the cracks, making the house foggy and dusty all day long. It was really choking.
"Water is scarce. The place to fetch water is at least twenty miles away. The water we fetch needs to be left to stand for two days before it's drinkable. That's about enough for drinking. If we waste even a little bit, then we won't even have enough to drink."
"It's dry over there. Wells don't produce water, and there's little rain. The most common crops grown there are cotton, corn, and wheat. Vegetables are much less common, similar to this place. Each family just grows a little in their front or back yard. If the vegetables grow well, they eat more; if they don't, they eat less. Everyone's used to it."
Normally, they raise cattle and sheep, and hunt in the mountains. Compared to here, they have more opportunities to eat meat over there, since vegetables are scarcer. Also, the people there are more rugged; it's not just the soldiers like your second uncle in his camp, but many civilians also know how to hunt.”
"Really? We can go hunting?"
Cheng Jin chuckled softly at her expectant expression.
"I remember it is, just ask your second uncle when you get there, he'll make sure you have a good time."
A simple clap of hands,
"Very good,"
Then came a barrage of complaints.
“I eat meat here secretly, and it’s lucky that I live far away so they can’t smell it.”
Now when I go up the mountain, I go straight in. Even if I catch a pheasant or something, I hide it. Otherwise, there are always envious people watching me. Although everyone says that this mountain belongs to the collective, and these kinds of small things are generally considered acceptable, it still feels uncomfortable to be watched.
"Yes, you're right."
While it's said that everything belongs to the collective, absolute fairness doesn't exist. Most of the time, the allocation of resources and materials is based on strength and ability. If you have ability, others will respect you, and at the very least, there won't be any deductions during distribution.
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