"Are these from our village?"
Captain Zhao looked at the six young men and women in front of him, and his head suddenly felt heavy.
In the past, there were more educated youths in their village than in other villages. Now six more have come. How will they be accommodated...
The commune officials were also embarrassed. After all, these people knew that their place was not a difficult place, so they sent it here specially. It was really troublesome to offend them.
"Captain Zhao, we have to follow the instructions from above and let these young people receive re-education from poor and lower-middle peasants. The large number of you means that the commune has entrusted you with important responsibilities!"
Everyone can say nice things.
Captain Zhao is used to listening to it every year and collecting it every year, so he can't make things difficult for the commune cadres above.
He looked at these fair-skinned young people and sighed inwardly. There was nothing they could do.
"Okay, of course we know that we must follow the party's leadership." He waved his hand and asked these people to get on the bullock cart.
"Dazhuang, let's go."
The young man driving the bullock cart waved his whip, and the wooden wheel spun, raising a pile of dust. Qian Li at the back of the cart had no time to cover it, and her face was covered in dust.
"Ahem!"
But before she could get angry, the bullock cart jolted so hard that her lunch almost shook out. When she turned around and saw the cow dung on the road, Qian Li's face turned pale and she immediately vomited.
When Captain Zhao heard the sound, he stopped Da Zhuang and asked, "Is everything okay?"
Qian Li felt uncomfortable vomiting and was speechless.
Seeing this, Yunling took out a candy from her pocket. She made it herself and it was miraculous in treating motion sickness and vomiting. Before coming here, she made a small iron box at home and took it with her.
"Take this in your mouth, drink more water, and take it slow."
Qian Li saw the translucent brown candy and threw it into her mouth without thinking.
As soon as the medicine entered her mouth, she felt the cool mint flavor mixed with the sweet sugar flavor. It was not bitter but not very sweet either. After holding it for a while, Qian Li no longer felt uncomfortable.
She whispered thank you, her face was slightly red, and she was no longer as proud as she was on the train.
When Captain Zhao saw that she was okay, he asked her to continue on her way.
Brian, on the other hand, shouted to rest for a while before leaving, "Lily was feeling uncomfortable just now. Let's rest for a while before leaving. It's not that urgent."
Qian Li didn't want to stop. If she was delayed on the road for a while, she would feel more uncomfortable. She might as well rest early when she got there. But now she felt the smell of cow dung entering her mouth when she spoke, so she didn't have time to stop her.
Captain Zhao glanced at him angrily and said sternly: "It's already afternoon when I pick you up at the train station. It takes three hours to go from the county town to the village by oxcart. It's already time to get there, so you still have to go. After tidying up the house, it’s hard to tell what time I’ll be able to sleep at night.”
"If you want to take a rest, I won't stop you. We have nothing to do after work anyway." He took a puff of cigarette with an indifferent attitude, but made it clear that he didn't want to spoil him.
Brian choked and looked at the few people around him who didn't speak for him. He snorted coldly and turned off the fire.
Yunling smoothed things over and took out a few candies and distributed them to everyone, "If anyone feels uncomfortable, take one and let's get there early and have a rest."
No one objected, and the oxcart arrived at the village safely, just as the villagers were leaving work.
"Captain Zhao, you're back!"
"Hey, these tender-skinned ones will suffer a lot if they go to the ground."
"Go home and cook. There are these educated youths here every year. They have nothing to see."
"Why are you talking? People in the city look different. Look at those few, they are so handsome!"
The aunt pointed at Yunling, Qian Li and the others, looking at them like monkeys.
Qian Li lowered her head, a little shy, but Chu Songlan and Yun Ling let them see it openly.
Shao Hua raised his head and glanced at Yun Ling, seemingly surprised that she had adapted well.
Captain Zhao stretched out his neck and shouted: "Go back, everyone, go back and cook quickly, don't block the road!"
The crowd dispersed.
Soon we arrived at the educated youth point.
Yunling looked at the only blue brick house in the village, feeling a little surprised.
Captain Zhao introduced: "This used to be the ancestral hall in the village. Later, it was massacred by the Japs. There were only a few people left in the village and it was abandoned. The people in the village now are all people who moved from other places during the famine years." . Later it was changed into the residence of cadres when the army was stationed, so they are all single rooms, not Datongbu."
"You don't need the main hall in front. The educated youths live in the tile-roofed houses in the back, and each house has a kang. It's early autumn and it's not needed yet, but you have to save more firewood to keep it warm in winter. Maodong. Fortunately, this area is next to the foot of the mountain, so it is convenient for you to collect firewood."
There are four neat rows of tile-roofed houses behind the main hall, with a total of twenty houses. There are also large open spaces on both sides. Some houses have enclosed the surrounding land as private land, growing some vegetables and coarse grains.
Captain Zhao introduced as he walked: "There were a total of seventeen educated youths in the past. Eight of them got married in the village and no longer live in the educated youth camp. There are 11 houses left here. You can choose for yourself."
He shook his pipe and after explaining the general situation, he added another sentence: "I understand the situation of the families of the educated youth who come to our village, but since they are here, they have to work hard. No matter how powerful they are, they have to work for me." Foraging in the ground. If you cause trouble, don't blame me for being rude."
Seemingly feeling that the atmosphere was a bit serious, he sighed and explained patiently: "A few years ago, there was a male educated youth who stopped working after he arrived. He spent all day sneaking around and getting entangled with several lesbians in the village. Later, he was reported by the members. After arriving at the commune, he was sent to a farm for rehabilitation within a few days, and he hasn't come out yet. I heard that his family is from the capital."
Captain Zhao really has nothing to say to these educated youths. It would be nice not to cause trouble for him.
"Okay, you can choose your own house. If you need anything, go to the house next to the brigade at Sanchakou in the village to find me."
Captain Zhao left without any regrets.
Chu Songlan poked Yunling and asked her, "Where do you want to live? It's safer for us to live together."
Yunling had no objection to this. It was indeed safer for girls to live together than to live alone.
"I want to live in the innermost room on the north side." She has a quiet temperament, and the innermost part of the alley is especially quiet at the foot of the mountain.
She can also circle a piece of land behind the house to grow some vegetables and herbs. Then she can open a back door and go out to the mountains more conveniently.
Chu Songlan nodded, pointed to the house next to her and said, "That's it, I'll live next door to the east of you, let's go."
Qian Li heard their discussion with sharp ears. After thinking about it, she immediately followed and occupied the next door on the other side of Chu Songlan.
Without thinking, Brian went to the opposite side of her.
Shao Hua walked unhurriedly to the southernmost room in the innermost room, which was the door opposite Yunling.
The remaining one was a young man from Shanghai named Wei Guoqing. He was tall and fierce, but had a dull personality. I didn't hear him say a few words along the way. Seeing that everyone had gone to the same place, he took the vacant room opposite Chu Songlan without thinking.
The six people all live in two rows of houses on the north side, and they are clearly separated from the old educated youths.
Chen Liang, the person in charge on the west side, came back from work and heard the commotion but didn't go to see it. After eating first, he came over and asked twice symbolically if there was anyone who needed help.
Brian chatted with him for a few words, and the two of them seemed to hit it off immediately. They had a passionate fight and didn't care about anyone else.
Yunling visually estimated that the house was only forty square meters, and the average bedroom in a rural house was about that big.
In this room, accommodation, eating, and studying are all in one place. There is no toilet. You have to go to the public toilet in the village, but it is still much spacious compared to the Tongzilou in the city.
However, Yunling was used to living in a courtyard house at home, and when she moved to this kind of house, she still sighed and thought that she should get used to it quickly!
The sunset is endless in the sky, and the fire clouds are on the top of the mountain, as if they are about to ignite the entire green mountain.
"If you don't go out for the morning glow, the sunset will travel a thousand miles. Tomorrow will be a good day."
Yunling took in a breath of the smell of green mountains, mixed with the smell of fire and wood smoke. It was quiet and peaceful, without losing the fireworks of the world. Everything was as quiet as a pool of water, completely without the turmoil and chaos in the city.
Her restless heart also calmed down a little.
As long as you live a good life here, your family won't worry and you won't cause trouble for them.
Yunling lay on the window looking at the distant mountains, whispering to herself softly: "Everything will be fine."
She cheered up, put down her baggage, and borrowed a broom and rag from Sun Qian, an old educated youth, to clean up the ash in the house. However, the ash on the kang could not be swept clean. Yunling remembered that she had just entered Sun Qian's house. When I arrived, I saw a layer of straw mat spread on her kang, and I had some plans in my mind.
She had to go to the captain's place.
When I went out, I happened to see Shao Hua closing the door. Since I wasn't familiar with him, I just smiled, said hello and left.
Shao Hua was about to say something, but stopped and looked a little gloomy.
Yunling took the opportunity to knock on Chu Songlan's door, stuck her head at the door and asked her: "I'm going to go to the captain to ask if I can find someone to build a stove and buy some furniture and other equipment. Do you want to come with me?" ?”
Chu Songlan was worried about how to cook in the future, so she dozed off and took a pillow, and decisively agreed: "Let's go together!"
Seeing that Yunling was carrying a bag, she also took a pound of brown sugar from the bag.
It's easier to ask for something!
When Qian Li heard the commotion, she quickly ran over and asked, as if she was worried that they wouldn't take her with them, "Where are you going?"
Chu Silan was not used to the attitude of the young lady on the train before, so she did not reply.
Yunling could see that although this little girl was arrogant, she was also naive. She still maintained a high-profile and arrogant style when going to the countryside, which showed that she was careless, but being careless did not mean she was a good person, but she still said kindly: "We are going The captain asked if we could buy some supplies."
After the ordeal in the bullock cart, Qian Li lowered her head no matter how arrogant she was. Now, like a newborn bird, she was grateful for Yunling's piece of candy and felt that she was a nice person and he could hang out with her. .
"I'll go with you." Then he looked at their expressions and asked cautiously, "Is it okay?"
Yunling thought it would be okay to go together. Maybe the captain would help because there were so many of them.
"Then prepare some gifts. It doesn't need to be too much. The main thing is to take the money and come with us."
Qian Li immediately went back and picked up half a bag of White Rabbit toffees, and followed the two of them obediently, never leaving.
When the three of them left the educated youth spot, they saw Shao Hua in front of them from a distance. After walking for a while, they found that they seemed to be the same destination.
Qian Li waved her hand happily: "Comrade Shao! Are you going to the captain's house too?"
All four of them were carrying something in their hands, and no one was empty-handed.
Yunling looked at it and saw that what he was holding looked like tea leaves.
Shao Hua looked at Yun Ling first, and then nodded to Qian Li: "Let's go together."
The four of them found the brigade leader's house. Zhao Youzhi had already finished his meal and was sitting on a bench in the yard smoking a cigarette. He watched them arrive at the door and wondered: "What are you doing?"
Shao Hua: "Captain Zhao, we have just arrived here and are not familiar with the place. I was thinking that you are the captain here, so I would be right to contact you if I need anything."
Come on, here to cause trouble.
Captain Zhao knocked the cigarette pole on the ground, shook the ashes, and said expressionlessly, "Let's go into the room and talk."
Captain Zhao's wife saw the four of them coming in. Her eyes first fell on the things in their hands, and she immediately greeted them with a smile: "Old Zhao, are these the educated youth children who just arrived today?"
Zhao Youzhi knew what kind of temper his wife was, so he rushed her to the kitchen: "Go, go, pour some hot water out of the thermos."
Wu Chunli curled her lips. She loved money, but she didn't do anything against her principles. She usually accepted gifts from others and did some practical things. She helped people find connections and introduced jobs without delaying important events.
But she still greeted them warmly: "You guys sit down and I'll get you some hot water."
Yunling smiled and replied: "Sorry, Auntie."
The captain watched Wu Chunli enter the kitchen before asking: "Tell me, what do you want?"
Shao Hua smiled decently: "Actually, it's not a big deal. When I was cleaning up the house today, I found that there were a lot of daily utensils missing. There were no brooms, brooms, and mats. We also had to build the stove and door for cooking. So we just I want to come together and ask the captain to see if anyone in our village can do this, and we will pay for it."
These people are not short of money, and their wages don't cost much.
Captain Zhao thought about it and realized that it was indeed not a big deal. Those educated youths had also come to him before when they first came here, and it was his wife who helped organize the matter.
He called out his wife: "Tell them how to calculate it."
Aunt Wu rolled her eyes at him, it was my mother who had to come.
Then he flexed his fingers and came one by one: "The best masons in our village are the village head Liu's family. I will take you to him later. He is careful not to fool people. We aunts can help with weaving straw mats." If you do, each of you will have to make two kang mats. You kids are so delicate that you might dislike the kang mats if you have one. Also, you have to hang a straw curtain at the door to keep out the cold in winter, so that’s at least three."
"We can also make cooking brooms and other things. As for iron pots and kettles, we can't find them. Those things are expensive, and they are all old at home."
Chu Songlan added: "There are also cabinets."
Aunt Wu slapped her legs suddenly and added: "Yes, yes, come to Lao Wang for carpentry work. You tell him what you want first. I think he can make it for you in a few days. Just go and get it. I will take you all there in a moment." Recognize this person, and you can just find him yourself from now on."
Several people discussed it, and after more than ten minutes, they found that everything that needed to be purchased was written down on the piece of paper that Shao Hua brought.
Yunling nodded: "Auntie, look at this price, how much should we pay?"
Aunt Wu pointed her fingers and calculated several times, "The village usually gives eggs in exchange for eggs, but you didn't have any when you first came here. You can only pay wages. You don't have a pot and can't provide food, so the wages are more."
"Lao Liu's side will give you three yuan per person, and Lao Wang's side will calculate it based on the wood and craftsmanship alone. We can pay a total of four yuan for the odds and ends, but you have to go to the commune's supply and marketing cooperative for the pots, bowls and basins. Buy it, no one in our village can do it.”
Straw mats are collected outside for even three cents, and cooking brooms and brooms are not much money in total, but Aunt Wu and the others weave them carefully, and the educated youths need more.
Nowadays, the wages of workers outside are less than one yuan a day, so the exorbitant prices for these things are not considered exorbitant.
Yunling smiled and paid: "Auntie, if you are free now, can you take us to find someone?"
The four of them put down their things. Captain Zhao refused repeatedly, which made Aunt Wu feel a pain in her body.
He refused: "It's my responsibility for you to come to us for resettlement. You don't have to give gifts, and we can't accept them."
Yunling shook her head and pushed the things over, "Captain, we appreciate your kindness, but Aunt Wu will have to work with us for a while and she will be very tired. These things should be given to you and Aunt Wu."
She saw a few small wooden toys on the kang, and then advised: "Besides, these brown sugar toffees are reserved for the children. You can also serve tea while you drink it, and the pastries can be tasted by the whole family. They are all useful." "
The other three nodded, piled the things in one place, and then stood behind Yunling, looking like "You can just keep it."
Captain Zhao thought of his greedy little grandson. Aunt Wu saw that he was a little shaken and answered: "Oh, it's all the children's wishes. It's not good if I don't accept it."
"Then keep it. It's only allowed this time. It won't be like this next time."
The captain secretly sighed. Now that he has collected his things, he will inevitably have to take care of her if something happens in the future. His mother-in-law is very enthusiastic, but he knows that the original group of educated youths will not stop.
I'll be very busy in the future.
"Old lady, take them there." Captain Zhao waved his hand helplessly.
