"We've made it over this slope," Gu Zhengrong said.
"Uncle, this place is really nice," Chen Enpeng said.
"That's right. Even though our brigade is close to the mountains, because of that, no one in our village starved to death a few years ago. Even if there was no harvest in the fields, at least we could find some food on the mountain, right?"
"That's true, I heard that some brigades lost quite a few people back then," Chen Junjie said.
"Let alone the brigade, even in the city, didn't quite a few people starve to death back then?"
Upon hearing this, not only Chen Junjie was at a loss for words, but even the team leader and I, who were driving the carriage ahead, were at a loss for words. Countless people starved to death during those three years, but the reasons were numerous.
The most important point is that the country's development speed is too slow. If this were the 21st century, how could people still be starving to death? But national development isn't something that can be achieved overnight; isn't it all about learning as you go? Oh well, this isn't something I can consider or decide right now. I should just focus on living my own life.
As we turned the corner, we saw many people at the village entrance, and from afar we heard someone say, "The brigade leader has brought the people here."
"They're here."
"They're here! I see three people sitting on the oxcart."
"Why do I see another child?"
"Alright, hurry up and go ask what's going on."
Yes, yes.
"Captain, you're back!"
"You're back. Alright, stop standing here. Gu Zhenghua, take Chen Enpeng to your house. Gu Zhenglin, take Chen Junjie to your house."
"well"
"Okay, coming right away."
The two people sitting on the oxcart quickly got off, took their luggage off the cart, and the others helped them carry their luggage and followed behind them.
I saw the two of them get off the bus and quickly got off too, to get my luggage. Then I heard the team leader say, "Just follow me, no need to rush to get your luggage."
"Yes, the captain said I understand."
"What did the captain say about the little kid?" asked the person who hadn't left.
"What else can we arrange? She's so young, and a little girl, so she'll definitely have to stay at my house. Alright, we don't need you here anymore. It's not time to get off work yet. If you don't go to work and try to slack off, don't blame me for deducting your work points."
"Captain, no, we're going right now!"
"I'm going right now," he said, and ran towards the field.
It makes me want to laugh. If we don't work now, we won't have any food to eat. Whatever we eat, we have to follow the plan. When will we be able to eat whatever we want? It's only 1964 now. It's another forty years or so until then. This is not laughable, it's pathetic!
The brigade leader didn't say anything, he just drove the oxcart slowly forward, and I followed behind. We stopped in front of a courtyard gate, and I heard the brigade leader say, "Child, we're home. You'll live here from now on."
"Uncle, it's me?"
"Let's move our luggage home first, and then we'll talk again when I return the oxcart."
"Sigh, just say it, I understand."
Just then, someone came out of the house and saw a very old woman. Just as she was about to call out, she heard, "Elder brother, is this the little girl?"
"Yes, Mother, this is her. Come here, young comrade, this is my mother. You can call her Grandma Gu like the other children."
Hello, Grandma Gu.
"Okay, okay, good child, now that you're here, treat this place as your home."
"Sigh." Hearing this, I knew in my heart that everyone in the Gu family knew about our family's affairs.
"Okay, Grandma will help you take your luggage home first."
"No need, Grandma, I can do it myself." She couldn't let the old lady help her; she knew how heavy her luggage was and didn't want the old lady to hurt her back. She quickly ran over and carried it herself.
"Mother, I can manage, you don't need to help," Gu Zhengrong suddenly remembered that the girl was having a hard time carrying her own luggage, and quickly spoke up to stop her.
The old lady didn't think much of it; she just wanted to help in any way she could, so she said, "It's alright, I'm not at the point where I can't work yet."
"No need, no need," I said, quickly taking one in each hand, leaving the captain to take the other one.
The brigade leader, fearing his mother might not understand the gravity of the situation, said, "Mother, please take the children inside first, put the luggage down, and I'll take the rest."
"Okay," she said, then added, "There's not much room at home, so would it be alright if you shared a room with my little girl, Cuicui?"
"It's alright, Grandma Gu, I'm fine."
"That's good, that's good. My little girl is about the same age as my firstborn; she's my husband's only daughter since we were old age."
"That's wonderful, you're so lucky!"
"You're right, aren't you lucky?"
"Come on, this is the room. I cleaned it a couple of days ago."
"Okay, thank you, Grandma."
"No need to thank me, no need to thank me. Everyone in the family is working in the fields at this time. You can pick a little bit, and I've boiled some water in the pot for you to wash up and relax."
"No need for that, Grandma, I can do it myself."
"It's nothing, it's nothing. This is all the work I do at home, just taking care of the kids."
"Thank you, Grandma."
"You're welcome. Please tidy up first. The bathing area is a small room partitioned off next to the woodshed next to the kitchen."
"Oh, Grandma, I can do it myself."
Okay, you go ahead and do your work.
Gu Zhengrong had already brought in the last bag of luggage and hadn't left. It was almost time to finish work and have dinner, so he was tidying up his belongings in the yard. The old lady came out and saw him, then went over and whispered, "Go sit by the gate for a while and watch it. Don't let anyone come in unnecessarily. Let this child wash up properly; it's getting hot, and he must be tired after traveling by train for several days."
"Oh, Mother, I know."
"Okay, I'll go cook."
"Mother, please make some more."
"I don't know that yet, do you think I'm telling you? It's true."
"Mom, that's not what I meant. This child has a big appetite."
"How much can a little girl like you eat? Two steamed buns at most."
"Mother, to tell you the truth, this little girl's appetite is something most people can't match."
"How could that be? You're talking nonsense, I don't believe you."
"Mom, don't disbelieve me, let me tell you the truth, this child is stronger than most people. You have no idea how heavy the luggage she brought was. I was having some trouble carrying just one bag, but she could easily carry two by herself."
"How...how is this possible?"
"Mother, it's true. You have no idea how shocked I was when I saw such a tiny little girl carrying luggage as tall as herself on her back, and another one in each hand. But after coming back, I've come to terms with it. With her size, she won't starve in our little village."
"What you said makes sense, but it's not suitable for ordinary people."
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