Putting everything else aside, within two days of starting work in the spring, the educated youth in the compound began to fall ill one by one, which angered the brigade leader to the point that he spoke out:
"Since you're sick, then rest. But let me make this clear: without work points, there's no food. Our brigade doesn't support idlers."
If I don't go to work tomorrow, I'll report it to the educated youth office. Didn't you say you couldn't do it? Then transfer me to another place, like a farm! Or the Northwest, anything is fine, as long as our brigade doesn't want me anymore.
Also, even if you don't leave, you can go and clean the cowshed or pigsty; the brigade is short of people specifically for cleaning.
Even so, these educated youths were slow and dawdling when they went to work. It wasn't until the autumn harvest and the distribution of grain that they realized their grain was far less than that of the older educated youths. They knew that the grain in their hands was not only not enough to last until the autumn harvest, but it would be a problem even for the following spring. Only then did they realize how frightening it was.
But when they went to the brigade leader, he said, "You can buy grain on credit, or you can buy grain, but it's all miscellaneous grains and sweet potatoes; nothing else."
However, most of these educated youths went to the countryside in response to the country's call, and they didn't have much money at all, so they could only buy on credit.
However, the brigade leader also said, "You can buy on credit, but next year, whether it's work points or rations, the amount you buy on credit will be deducted, and only what's left will be paid to you."
At first, they didn't think it was true, but when the grain was distributed again, they realized that what the brigade leader said was true. They also realized that they should stop dawdling when they went to work and started to work seriously to earn work points.
During the spring planting season of 1969, I didn't earn 12 work points a day like I did the first year. Instead, I earned 8 work points. I was three months pregnant and had just passed the danger period. Also, I didn't lack food, so there was no need to sacrifice my child for food.
Now, my third brother earns 75 yuan a month, plus military service allowance and rewards for completing tasks, which adds up to quite a bit.
Another thing is that I have a lot of supplies in my own space. Most importantly, I raised two pigs this year. Since I can't earn more work points, I'll raise two pigs. A couple of days ago, I also raised a few chicks. I'll keep two to lay eggs, and the rest will be slaughtered and eaten when they grow up.
Not long after the start of spring, when the snow was slowly melting, the Revolutionary Committee came to the production team again. This time, however, they went directly to the educated youth compound. No one knew the specifics of the visit, but my third brother mentioned it on his way back.
I overheard the aunties in the production team chatting during the spring planting season about what exactly happened.
"Aunt Liu, did you go when the Revolutionary Committee came to the educated youth compound that day?"
Why didn't you go?
"It's strange, really, who reported it?"
"Who can argue with that? This once or twice is quite annoying."
"Exactly, I think they're just bored and have nothing better to do."
"It's true, these new educated youths are practically no different from robbers. The brigade leader provided them with so much firewood, but it still wasn't enough, so they even stole from the older educated youths."
"Who says otherwise? In our opinion, it is! It's because they don't share a bed; otherwise, they wouldn't be short of firewood."
"But there's not enough room for everyone!"
"Who can argue with that? This youth housing complex is just an empty courtyard from the old village. They're lucky they even have a place to live."
"That's really true."
"But who stole it?"
"I don't know, we haven't investigated yet, we don't know what alibis they have."
"Do you think it's possible that someone might have embezzled or something?"
What is embezzlement by someone in charge?
"Yes! His ninth aunt?"
"Embezzlement refers to the act of a custodian appropriating or stealing property under their care."
"Could those whistleblowers also be him?"
"I don't know about that, but anyway, it's none of our business."
"That's really true."
After hearing what they were saying, I realized that Aunt Jiu might actually be right, but it wasn't that strange.
It wasn't long before she found out that it was true, and she had even dealt with this person herself. It was none other than Han Jiaojiao.
Putting everything else aside, ever since I transferred to Xiangyang Brigade, she's been trying to get close to me all the time, or she'll just stroll around my door. Besides that, ever since last autumn when we were distributing grain, she was the first person to ask me if she could move in with me after seeing my third brother.
“Li Zhiqing, it must be so boring for you to live here all by yourself. How about I move in and keep you company?”
Thinking about what she said, I immediately realized that her real intention in wanting to move in with me was not what it seemed!
I never expected Han Jiaojiao to be so shameless. It's infuriating! No, I can't get angry. If I really get sick from anger, who knows how she'll be laughing to herself? Dream on. I'll just ignore her.
When her third brother returned, she told him that the normal "Revolutionary Committee" visit was actually Han Jiaojiao's doing.
"You don't need to worry about this, I'll handle it later."
How to handle it?
You'll find out then.
It wasn't until a few days before the autumn harvest that I learned how my third brother had handled things: the "Revolutionary Committee" had taken her away directly. Later, I heard that Han Jiaojiao had fabricated facts and framed others, and was thus sent to an even worse place to work in the countryside.
When I returned and saw my third brother, I asked him how he got there.
"He learned it from her! Report him!"
"report?"
"Yes! She wasn't well-liked at the educated youth compound. Not only that, she also lied about how much grain a new educated youth had stolen from her. When the new educated youth found out and confronted her, she still denied it to the death. The new educated youth couldn't stand it, so he reported her."
How do you know the number is wrong?
"The accountant's son told me. Last time he came back, he happened to run into him chopping wood at the foot of the mountain, and they chatted for a bit before he found out."
"So how did you let the new educated youth know?"
"Of course! There weren't just two people at the foot of the mountain back then; there were many other children who were not yet adults."
"In other words, this whole thing was just something the women in the production team were talking nonsense about, and the new educated youth found out about it, which is why they confronted Han Jiaojiao."
"yes"
"That's true. Although I haven't been here for very long, I know Han Jiaojiao a little bit. She likes to act generous and magnanimous in front of others, but I never expected her to be this kind of person behind the scenes."
"Just know it, don't worry about it."
"Yes, I won't mind."
Just a few days after the autumn harvest, I started having stomach pains, and I don't have any elders at home.
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