He sniffed and continued,
"Actually, if it weren't for my dad's comrades and my mom's leaders and colleagues protecting me these past few days, I might not have made it this far alive."
But it's a favor if someone helps me; I always have to rely on myself.
I thought, it doesn't really matter whether I'm from the city or the countryside, I'm alone, as long as I'm alive, that's enough.
Liu Weimin and his companion also realized it.
First, he is an orphan, but a descendant of a martyr;
Secondly, although we have come here, we are not without any support.
Third, he has trained for several years and is somewhat skilled;
Fourth, they might not be short of money.
Liujiatun has always been poor, and the commune hasn't assigned any educated youth to the village in recent years. The two of them didn't think too much about it. This child didn't seem unreasonable, so it shouldn't be a problem for him in their village. No matter how poor they were, they could always find enough food for one child.
“Child, once you come to Liujiatun, you are a member of Liujiatun. Treat it as your own home. There are no scoundrels or cheaters in our village. Everyone is hardworking and can endure hardship. They have no bad intentions, but almost none of them have been to school. There are very few who can even read. If those old women say anything that you don’t like, just tell your uncle, and I will talk to them.”
To say that it's simple and completely reassuring is impossible, after all, we've only had contact with these two people so far, and it's unwise to judge a book by its cover.
"Uncle, what you're saying is treating me like an outsider! What elder doesn't criticize their children? I don't know anything right now, I have to learn everything from my aunts and uncles. If you say something like that, how can I have the nerve to go?"
"Haha, you silly child."
Liujiatun truly lives up to its reputation as the poorest place. It took more than an hour to get from Anji County to Xiangyang Commune, even though the roads in the county town were relatively smooth.
When they arrived at Xiangyang Commune, Jian Dan saw that the sun was about to set in the west. She secretly glanced at her watch and saw it was 2:50 pm.
The August sun relentlessly radiated its remaining heat. The two people in the car were too exhausted to speak, their heads drooping. They could only sigh occasionally at the wasteland by the roadside. Their lips were dry and cracked, and when they spoke, bright red blood would almost seep out. They clearly hadn't brought any water, and judging from the empty car, they probably hadn't brought any food either.
Thinking of the drought she had just mentioned, her heart sank. Had it gotten that bad?
"Uncle, how far is it to the village?"
Liu Weimin turned around and pointed to the house that was left behind.
"See that? That's the commune. Just follow this road, go around the mountain in front, and you'll get there."
Even with her super-normal 5.2 eyesight, she couldn't see a single shadow of the mountain after staring for a long time. "I can't even see the shadow of the mountain," said Uncle Liu.
"It's still a long way off. It'll take more than three hours by oxcart. If you're tired, you can lie down for a while."
A simple pout.
“That would be quite a hassle to come out.”
"Haha, our village is remote, but not isolated from the world. Normally, I take a bus out once a month, and most of the villagers also come along if they have something to do. Some even get up early and walk there."
After just a few words, several bloody streaks appeared on his lips, but his expression remained unchanged, clearly indicating that he was already used to it. It was heartbreaking to see.
Indeed, no matter how much a book says, you still have to see it with your own eyes and experience it firsthand to find the truth.
The bundle beside his legs contained only personal belongings for show. He pulled out a chipped enamel mug from it, and after thinking for a moment, he found a military water bottle. It was in good condition, though not brand new. It was clearly well-preserved and had been brought back by Jian Liye a few years ago. The original owner had always treasured it, and it still had more than half a bottle of water inside.
They unscrewed the lid and poured more than half a cup of water into the enamel mug. The gurgling sound of the water seemed to bring a touch of coolness to the scorching heat. The two of them couldn't help but turn their gazes toward each other, their lips moving involuntarily.
The little girl turned around, holding the military water bottle in one hand and a large enamel mug in the other, emanating wisps of cool air.
"Third Master, Uncle, I forgot, I also brought water. That's why this bundle is so heavy."
Liu Weimin swallowed hard, offering a reluctant refusal.
"No, no, no need. We're used to it. You should put it away and drink it yourself. Put it away."
Her gaze, however, remained uncontrollably fixed on the view, and Jian Dan didn't offer any further advice.
"Uncle, I can't lift it anymore!"
As luck would have it, the old ox cooperated, and the oxcart really did bump around. Liu Weimin quickly caught the jar, holding it steadily with both hands, and not a single drop spilled.
He simply tilted his head back and drank the rest of the water from the kettle. The enamel mug remained firmly in his hand, and he sighed.
"Uncle, believe me, there's always a way out."
He rummaged through his bundle, pulled out a jug, and shook it.
"Look, I still have some."
He even winked at him, and Liu Sanye in front of him was already swaying a bit. He pointed to the sky again, and Liu Weimin stopped arguing. He moved forward a little and simply put the water to the old man's lips. Without letting him refuse, he took the initiative and poured most of it down. The old man was afraid of spilling it, so he didn't dare to move around. It went very smoothly, but after drinking it, he looked distressed.
Looking at the remaining food scraps, Liu Weimin thought for a moment, then made a tough decision and cleaned them up himself, though he felt a pang of heartache.
"You child, these things are so precious these days, it would be a waste to give them to us."
Simply tie the bundle securely.
"Uncle, I don't like hearing what you're saying. Everyone's life is precious. If someone falls to the ground, it can still nourish the crops, let alone a person. How can you say it's a waste?"
On such a hot day, it's easy to get heatstroke.
Let me be blunt, and please don't take offense, but you're not eating or drinking properly. Yes, you might be able to save a little bit of food, but then you're not taking care of your health. What if, let me tell you, you collapse? What will your auntie do? What will your children do?
"With this severe drought, the family has lost its breadwinner. You're leaving this woman, all alone, helpless and desperate? Are you suggesting the whole family just wait to die?"
"Please don't call this selfish."
Putting everything else aside, yes, you are the village chief, and it is your responsibility to lead the villagers to survive. This responsibility rests on your own survival. If you, as their leader, are gone, then the village will truly be leaderless, and the villagers will have even less hope.
“I may be speaking harshly, but you and Third Master are experienced and have gone through a lot, so you naturally understand these principles. It’s just that you can’t bear to see the villagers suffer.”
Uncle, believe me, there's always a way out.
The oxcart swayed slowly, accompanied by the clear voice of a young girl.
Liujiatun was the poorest village in Xiangyang Commune. In recent years, there haven't been many educated youth sent to the countryside. The few that did were mostly given to wealthier villages. So, strictly speaking, Jian Dan was the first batch of educated youth sent to Liujiatun, the first and only one in the first batch, and the only one to date.
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