Since the stove was already lit and the small room with the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) was warm and cozy, Chen Shuning decided not to sleep in the space but to sleep outside instead.
After finishing her noodles, Chen Shuning looked at the dark sky outside and thought that no one would come to visit now, so she locked the door and went inside to change into the cotton pajamas that her mother had made for her.
After finishing packing, Chen Shuning glanced at the time and realized it was only six o'clock, but the sky was already completely dark. Chen Shuning, who had always enjoyed being alone, suddenly felt particularly looking forward to her upcoming winter hibernation.
She found some of her favorite snacks and winter essential milk tea in her online storage, picked up a book, and sat down by the kang (heated brick bed) to eat and read.
She simply tossed aside the comic books she bought from the recycling center because she thought they were dirty, and had no intention of reading them.
The next morning, Chen Shuning, who was used to waking up early, was able to get up without an alarm clock. She ate a simple sandwich and milk from the space and then started packing her gear for the mountain.
She was still wrapped up like a dumpling, but since she was going up the mountain, Chen Shuning specially found strips of cloth to tie her trouser legs and cuffs tightly, and tied a scarf, hat and gloves on.
Seeing that he was completely wrapped up, Chen Shuning was satisfied. He picked up the bamboo basket, locked the door, threw the key into his spatial storage, and went to the front yard to find Wang Chunni and Xu Laidi.
However, perhaps Chen Shuning arrived a little too early, as Wang Chunni and Xu Laidi had not yet finished their meal.
Upon seeing Chen Shuning arrive, Xu Laidi quickly put down her bowl and ushered her into the house, saying somewhat apologetically, "I was planning to come and wake you up after dinner, but I didn't expect you to be up even earlier than us. But Shuning, doesn't your leg hurt? Are you sure you can make it up the mountain today?"
Xu Laidi was thinking that she, who was used to doing farm work, still had sore arms and legs after walking those roads yesterday, and she was afraid that Chen Shuning would push himself and suffer in the end.
"I soaked my feet in hot water and massaged them for a long time before going to bed last night, so I felt fine when I woke up this morning."
Speaking of this, Chen Shuning was still a little guilty. Because he was afraid that his arms and legs would hurt, he drank a large cup of spiritual spring water last night. So this morning, Chen Shuning felt comfortable all over and had no problems at all.
However, upon closer inspection, Xu Laidi and Wang Chunni did not look well, so Chen Shuning felt somewhat guilty for not being able to share the spiritual spring water with his friends.
Xu Laidi actually believed Chen Shuning's explanation and said with a regretful look, "Oh, I wish Chunni and I had boiled water and soaked our feet last night. We were really exhausted yesterday. We went to sleep right after dinner, so our legs and feet are still sore and swollen this morning. I don't know if we'll be able to walk up the mountain today."
"That's right, I don't even want to go anymore, my feet hurt too much. Shuning, you know so much. Let's soak our feet in hot water tonight and see if it helps."
Wang Chunni, who was still chewing on a multigrain steamed bun, chimed in, saying that compared to Xu Laidi, who always did chores at home, she was just as exhausted as Chen Shuning, who never did any chores at home.
Hearing Wang Chunni's words, Chen Shuning felt even more guilty and explained somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm really sorry, Chunni. I was too tired yesterday and forgot to tell you to soak your feet in hot water before bed."
Chen Shuning wasn't lying about this; she genuinely hadn't remembered. Having gotten used to using the spiritual spring water to relieve fatigue, she had truly forgotten those ordinary methods of relieving fatigue.
If Xu Laidi hadn't asked so suddenly, she wouldn't have remembered.
Chen Shuning felt genuinely guilty, while Wang Chunni seemed completely unconcerned, waving her hand dismissively and saying, "It's alright, it's alright. Soaking today is the same. Everyone was exhausted yesterday, so it's understandable that you forgot. Besides, Lai Di and I went straight to sleep after dinner and didn't even wash the dishes, so even if you told us, we probably wouldn't have soaked. We were just too tired, so I've decided that if there's no oxcart, we definitely won't go to town anymore."
Speaking of this, Wang Chunni seemed to suddenly remember something and said, "By the way, Shuning, what do you think Yang Wanqiu is thinking? Before, when Shen Wenge was chasing after her, she ignored him. Now that he had that kind of thing with Wang Wenfang, she actually got involved with him again."
What is she after anyway?
"What's the point? It's for the benefits, of course. Didn't you see the bicycle Shen Wenge rode yesterday? It looked brand new. Back in school, Yang Wanqiu always liked to hang out with classmates from well-off families."
When it comes to bicycles, Chen Shuning did want to buy one, so it would be more convenient to go back and forth to town. However, she thought that bicycles were already hard to buy at this time, and it would be even harder to buy a women's bicycle that was suitable for her.
Besides, the fact that she built a house as soon as she arrived was already enviable enough. If she bought a bicycle as well, it would be too conspicuous. So, after thinking about it, I decided against it. At worst, I would just do as Chunni said and not go to town if I didn't have an oxcart.
Just as Wang Chunni and Xu Laidi put down their bowls, they heard Liu Shumei calling from outside: "Are you all packed up? We're getting ready to go up the mountain."
The two, who were not in a hurry at first, became anxious after Liu Shumei shouted. They didn't even have time to clean up the dishes before putting on their coats, and like Chen Shuning, they covered their faces with scarves, grabbed gloves and bamboo baskets and ran outside.
In the past, Chen Shuning and other new educated youths would just follow everyone to the foot of the mountain to pick up branches and firewood, and they never went into the mountains.
So the new educated youth who were going into the mountains for the first time seemed quite excited. Even Yang Wanqiu, who didn't usually like to participate in group activities, came to the front yard early to wait.
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