Chapter 21
He He looked down at her toes, thinking about how to talk to Zheng Xinxin about this. She didn't want to tell the truth, as she didn't want others to know her little thoughts. "No, it's just... I suddenly felt that it wasn't good to order people around like this. After all, we're just ordinary friends, and it's impolite to always bother him."
Zheng Xinxin suddenly realized that He He had become more understanding. "That's good. It's not good to always bother him. As long as we don't have any conflicts, that's fine."
Over the past two weeks, everyone has seen that He He has indeed changed a lot and become much better, which puts Zheng Xinxin at ease.
He He knew that Zheng Xinxin believed her story, and then teased, "I think Zhao Dechuan should appoint you as the women's director of our educated youth settlement. You're the best at mediating conflicts."
Zheng Xinxin patted He He's arm and said reproachfully, "You just know how to make fun of me."
The two whispered to each other for a short while. After the educated youths received their rations, several male educated youths carried several large bags of grain back and forth, and everyone returned to the educated youth settlement together.
Back at the educated youth settlement, Zhao Dechuan called out to everyone that they would have a good meal that night. So everyone busied themselves in the woodshed, even bringing out the cured meat they had made during the Lunar New Year, making it as elaborate as a New Year's Eve dinner.
Everyone was happy to receive their grain. After dinner, they chatted in the open space of the canteen, talking about their hopes for the future and their own ambitions. They also discussed going to the commune's grain station the next day to exchange their remaining refined white rice for brown rice, or for national grain coupons to send home.
He He went to bed early tonight so that she and Zheng Xinxin could go to the commune meat processing plant early tomorrow to buy meat and make stuffed peppers. She had been looking forward to the stuffed peppers all year round, and she was happy that she could finally eat them tomorrow.
Early in the morning, He He, who usually gets up the latest and sleeps the most soundly, got up on her own without Zheng Xinxin having to call her.
After the two finished getting ready, they ran into Zhao Dechuan, who was also going to the commune, as they were about to leave. So the three of them went to the commune together.
Zhao Dechuan was still sighing: "You two got up so early? Jiabao and the others are still sleeping. They said that the busy farming season is finally over, and they can sleep until the sun is high in the sky before going to the commune in the afternoon. They swore last night that they would go to the commune early in the morning, but it's all gone now."
He He covered her mouth and laughed. How come those boys were even lazier than her and Xin Xin? They couldn't even get up.
“You can’t believe their nonsense. Chen Jingbai, such a hardworking person, is he still sleeping?” Zheng Xinxin laughed.
Zhao Dechuan shook his head: "No, Jing Bai got up earlier than me. He left as soon as it was light. I don't know what he went to do."
He He seemed to be deep in thought, guessing that Chen Jingbai had probably gone up the mountain to collect medicinal herbs. She had run into him several times before, and he would pick the herbs and then sell them at the commune's supply and marketing cooperative, and sometimes even at the county's black market.
Zheng Xinxin nodded in agreement, saying, "He is hardworking; no one in our educated youth settlement is more capable than him."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zheng Xinxin realized that what she said was inappropriate. "Pah, pah, pah, that's not what I meant." She had gone too far by saying that only Chen Jingbai was capable at the educated youth settlement in front of Zhao Dechuan, as if she had completely disregarded Zhao Dechuan.
Zhao Dechuan laughed heartily, not minding at all, "Jing Bai is capable, and he's not afraid of hardship at such a young age."
If he had to name the educated youth he admired most, it would be Chen Jingbai. He was young but had great ambition. If it weren't for his family's bad class background, he would have made a name for himself long ago.
Zhao Dechuan then asked, "What are you going to the commune to buy so early?"
Seeing that He He didn't reply, Zheng Xinxin thought for a moment and then chatted with Zhao Dechuan. Everyone would know when she cooked, so it was better to say it now: "We went to the meat processing plant to buy pork. We were afraid that if we went too late, they would all be gone, so we got up so early."
Zhao Dechuan smiled and said, "No wonder you all got up so early."
The commune wasn't far away; it would take a little over an hour to walk there. If we had bicycles, it would be even faster, but unfortunately, we didn't have any.
He He wasn't unwilling to talk along the way, but she was too tired. Zheng Xinxin and Zhao Dechuan walked quickly, and she couldn't walk anymore halfway. Her breathing became heavier, and listening to their conversation, she was too exhausted to say a word.
"Take a break, I'm exhausted. You guys are walking so fast, can you slow down a bit?"
Zheng Xinxin and Zhao Dechuan were both taken aback.
Zheng Xinxin: "Brother Dechuan, let's slow down. We were walking too fast just now, and Xiaohe can't keep up."
Zhao Dechuan nodded: "Okay." He hadn't paid attention to He He just now.
The three of them took breaks here and there. He He looked at the rows of low buildings and straight roads ahead, and took a deep breath. They had finally arrived. She glanced at her watch. It was 8:55. They had walked for an hour and a half.
She was a little excited: "We're finally here. I'm so tired. Next time I'll definitely borrow a bicycle from the brigade leader. Walking is exhausting. Or I'll wait for the oxcart that the brigade uses to transport vegetables to the supply and marketing cooperative. I'll never have to walk again. I wonder if I'll be able to ride the oxcart today."
The brigade had two mu of land for growing vegetables, and vegetables were delivered to the supply and marketing cooperative every week. Each time, the oxcart could seat two or three people. Some of the wealthier members of the Qianjin brigade would hitch a ride on the oxcart when they needed to go to the commune. On the return trip, after delivering the vegetables, they could ride even more. It only cost one cent per trip, so He He was happy to ride.
Zheng Xinxin helped He He up and said, "You're so tired. Let's see if there are any oxcarts from a large group at this intersection this afternoon."
Uncle Liu, who drove the oxcart for the brigade, would usually appear at the crossroads at 3 p.m., wait for about 15 minutes, and then return to the city. Members of the Qianjin Brigade who needed to take a ride would wait there.
He He nodded repeatedly, "I hope the oxcart will come today."
Zhao Dechuan chuckled: "Then we'll part ways here. I'll walk back this afternoon, and I'll probably get back before you. Be careful on your way."
Everyone was going to different places. He He and Zheng Xinxin said it was no problem, and then parted ways with Zhao Dechuan, who was going to the grain station.
Today is a workday for city dwellers, and there aren't many people on the road. The two walked along the newly built commune road and found their way to the meat processing plant.
They said they weren't going to meet anyone, but there were still a few people queuing at the meat processing plant. He He stood on tiptoe, looking at the little meat left on the table; the best pork belly was all gone.
He He said to Zheng Xinxin, "There's no more pork belly."
Zheng Xinxin, who was also standing on tiptoe and looking at the table, was also a little disappointed. Pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat is the best for stuffing peppers, but it's good to have meat at all. Sometimes, though, you might not be able to get any.
Thinking this, Zheng Xinxin pointed to the front leg meat on the table and comforted He He, saying, "It's okay, there's still front leg meat. Although it's a bit lean, it's still delicious. It's good that we were able to buy meat. Luckily, we arrived relatively early."
He He thought it made sense; it was good enough to have meat, and one shouldn't be picky. People should know how to be content.
When it was their turn, they used their tickets to buy a pound of pork shoulder, which cost 80 cents a pound. The staff at the meat processing plant wouldn't give them more; each person could only buy a maximum of one pound.
After receiving the meat, Zheng Xinxin placed the foreleg meat in the basket on her wrist and covered it with a cloth. In those days, you couldn't show off your wealth after buying meat, especially since they had to return to the Qianjin Brigade from the commune, which meant there were even more uncertainties.
The two then went to the supply and marketing cooperative. The commune's cooperative was small, unlike the ones in the provincial capital. After buying green peppers, Zheng Xinxin browsed around with great interest.
He He had no interest in shopping. She handed the broken flashlight to the store staff and waited for them to fix it. One good thing about the supply and marketing cooperative was that they could repair electrical appliances, but it took a long time, usually two or three days. She didn't know why they were taking so long.
He He couldn't wait and paid an extra 50 cents before the staff were happy to fix it for her right away.
The flashlight wasn't seriously damaged. After He He bought a pound of peach shortbread and a pound of pastries, the skilled staff fixed it.
He He picked up the flashlight and tried it out. The flashlight lit up again, and a smile appeared on her face. She had no idea what she had been doing for the past two months without a flashlight.
After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, the two passed by the post office. Zheng Xinxin asked He He, "Do you want to go in and see if your family has sent you any packages?"
He He shook her head, "I'm not looking anymore. Even if I did, I wouldn't want to take it." She was waiting for Cheng Sulin to get it for her; she didn't want to carry it back herself. Her grandparents and uncles had sent all sorts of things, and it was all very heavy.
The ones sent by He Zhongguo were fine; they were just light bills that could be easily taken. However, it wasn't the day He Zhongguo was supposed to send anything yet, so there shouldn't have been any.
Thinking of He Zhongguo, He He slapped her forehead, remembering that she needed to send a letter back home, and exclaimed, "Oh dear, I forgot to write and send a letter to my father!"
She's having such a hard time here, her living expenses should be increased by five yuan!
For the convenience of customers, the post office also has paper and envelopes. As soon as He He thought of this, she immediately pulled Zheng Xinxin into the post office and asked the window staff to spend money to buy letter paper and envelopes.
Zheng Xinxin was taken aback by He He's swift and decisive actions, but she still waited aside for He He to finish writing the letter.
He He wrote very quickly, with only one or two lines in the letter.
After He He finished writing, she capped the pen, put the letter in the envelope, wrote her home address and postal code, bought a stamp, affixed it, handed the completed letter to the staff, and clapped her hands: "Done."
Zheng Xinxin didn't have a penchant for prying into other people's privacy. She kept her eyes away from He He's direction. When He He said it was done, she widened her eyes in shock and said, "So fast? Didn't you write more?"
Stamps cost money, eight cents a stamp, and the envelope and letter paper cost another five cents. When sending a letter, everyone writes until they're full, and after finishing one side, they have to continue writing on the back. Unlike He He, who is rich and doesn't care about such a small amount of money.
He He winked at Zheng Xinxin: "I don't have much to say to my father. A few lines of text are enough to express my sincerity, and that's enough."
She's really sincere about wanting money, and I'm sure He Zhongguo will give her more living expenses.
Zheng Xinxin didn't know that He He's father had remarried and that the stepmother had given birth to a younger brother. Seeing how happy He He was, she didn't say much and just assumed that this was how He He and her father got along.
Zheng Xinxin didn't know what to say: "Shall we go back now?"
He He glanced at her watch; it was 11:30. There was still plenty of time, and the oxcart wouldn't be here anytime soon. She handed her watch to Zheng Xinxin and said, "Let's go to the state-run restaurant for lunch. It's only 11:30 now."
So the two of them finished lunch and wandered around the commune for a while. When it was almost three o'clock, they headed back to the place where the oxcarts were waiting, hoping to be lucky enough to catch one.
The two were quite lucky; just as they arrived, the brigade's oxcart arrived as well. After paying, two or three more women from the brigade arrived one after another.
The educated youth and the women of the brigade couldn't connect, and He He didn't say a word, but the women of the brigade chatted enthusiastically.
Liu Sansao glanced at He He and Zheng Xinxin, then at the things they were carrying. "You two young educated youths, what nice things did you buy at the commune?"
Liu Sansao is a new bride who married into Qianjin Brigade last year. Their brigade was poor and no educated youth came. Before she married into Qianjin Brigade, she was curious about what the educated youth from the city looked like.
After she married into the family, she met him and found that he was indeed quite different from the rural people. He had a more cultured air about him, unlike them who only knew a few words.
And those big bags and small bags she's carrying, you can tell she's rich at a glance. It would be a lie to say Liu Sansao isn't envious; why wasn't she born in the city?
However, the thought that even if these educated youths were from the city, they still had to go to the countryside to live a hard life made Liu Sansao feel much better.
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