The educated youth residence in front of them was actually built with blue bricks and tiled roofs. It looked like it had once belonged to a wealthy landlord.
“This used to be the landlord’s house. There are plenty of rooms, so you can choose whichever one you like. The boys and girls will live on separate sides. Don’t cause any trouble between the sexes.
Tomorrow you’ll have the day off. You can go to the commune to buy what you need. In the afternoon, go to the brigade headquarters to collect your grain. Each of you has a subsidy, and it has all been exchanged for grain. But it only covers one year, so use it carefully. After that, you’ll have to earn work points to exchange for food.
There are also two senior male educated youths living here. The rooms with locks on the doors belong to them. As for meals, you can discuss that among yourselves.”
With that, he returned to the brigade headquarters.
“Qinglan, I’ll stay and help you clean up,” Zhou Beihan said as he set down his luggage.
“Sure, thank you. I’ll treat you to a meal tomorrow. Are you going to the commune?” Ye Qinglan invited.
“I’ll come to the educated youth residence at 6:30 tomorrow morning,” Zhou Beihan said, planning to ride his bicycle.
“Great. Help me pick a room—one that doesn’t leak when it rains. I don’t want to get soaked.”
With that, she walked into the house.
Zhou Beihan followed behind her. Tan Siyu had already chosen her room, and everyone else had picked theirs as well.
Ye Qinglan walked into an empty room. It wasn’t very large, only about twenty square meters. It had probably been a servant’s room in the past.
Ye Bailian kept staring at Zhou Beihan, her eyes full of determination to win him over.
Ye Qinglan pretended not to notice. If Zhou Beihan could really be lured away so easily, then he wasn’t worth keeping.
“Qinglan, this room gets plenty of sunlight, and the roof doesn’t have any leaks. The tiles should all be in good condition.”
As he spoke, Ye Qinglan walked over.
“Not bad. I’ll take this one.”
She was very satisfied with her newly acquired boyfriend.
Zhou Beihan quickly began cleaning the room.
Ye Qinglan fetched a basin of water. There was a hand-operated well in the courtyard. She took out a rag and scrubbed the large heated kang bed.
The floor was packed dirt, so it could only be swept clean.
She also took out a stack of old newspapers to paste onto the walls.
Ye Qinglan went into the kitchen to make paste. She mixed two scoops of flour with water, then boiled it until it became thick and sticky.
“Beihan, the paste is ready. Come help me cover the walls.”
“Alright, Qinglan.”
Zhou Beihan worked efficiently. He had already finished cleaning, and the newspapers were pasted neatly and smoothly.
“Done! Mission accomplished!”
Ye Qinglan wasn’t very tired, but she really wanted to heat some water to wash her hair.
“Qinglan, I’ll head home now. If you need anything, come find me. My house is right next to the brigade leader’s home.”
After saying that, he picked up his luggage and left.
Ye Qinglan first heated some water to wash her hair, then filled a kettle with boiling water. She took out some pastries to fill her stomach.
Just then, the two senior educated youths returned from work.
When they saw so many new arrivals standing in the courtyard, they immediately fetched water to wash their hands before heading to the kitchen to cook.
After dinner, they called everyone into the main hall to discuss meal arrangements.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Chen Tao. I’m twenty-three years old, from Kyoto, and I’ve been sent to the countryside for five years.”
As he spoke, he glanced at all the female educated youths.
“My name is Zhu Ziqiang. I’m twenty-two years old, from Sichuan Province, and I’ve been here for four years.”
After speaking, he glanced at Ye Bailian.
The new educated youths also introduced themselves.
“My name is Zhu Guohua. I’m nineteen.”
“My name is Ran Xiangrong. I’m nineteen.”
“My name is Cao Aijun. I’m nineteen.”
“My name is Zhao Weimin. I’m twenty.”
“My name is Xu Yan. I’m nineteen.”
“My name is Tan Siyu. I’m eighteen.”
“My name is Ye Qinglan. I’m eighteen.”
“My name is Ye Bailian. I’m seventeen.”
“My suggestion is that we cook together. We can all share meals, or split into smaller groups.”
Chen Tao mainly suggested this because he couldn’t cook. The food he made was barely edible.
“I plan to cook for myself. I won’t even use your stove.”
Ye Qinglan only wanted to eat her own food. There were enough supplies in her space to last ten lifetimes.
“That’s fine. What about the rest of you?” Chen Tao asked.
“Ran Xiangrong, Tan Siyu, and I will cook together. We’re classmates, and we have similar tastes,” Zhu Guohua said.
“Then everyone else can cook together. Two people will take turns cooking each day. We’ll all go into the mountains together to gather firewood. After the harvest, there will be plenty of time.”
No one objected.
That afternoon, everyone went to the brigade headquarters to collect their grain.
The brigade leader had them sign their names first before sending them to the accountant to receive their supplies.
“Brigade Leader, we’d like to buy some furniture and straw mats. Which family in the village has a carpenter?” Ye Qinglan asked with a smile.
“Your boyfriend’s family has one. My younger brother makes all kinds of furniture.”
Zhou Jianguo couldn’t resist teasing the young girl.
Blushing, Ye Qinglan hurried off to collect her grain.
Zhu Guohua borrowed a handcart and loaded everyone’s grain onto it.
Since everyone received the same amount, there was no need to worry about mixing up the bags.
After returning to the educated youth residence, Ye Qinglan stored her grain in her room.
She planned to visit Zhou Beihan’s house to buy furniture.
Before leaving, she locked her room.
Meanwhile, Zhou Beihan’s house was lively.
His father’s name was Zhou Baoguo.
His mother’s name was Li Chunxiang.
His eldest brother was Zhou Dongping, twenty-five years old. He had married Qin Baozhu from the neighboring village and had a four-year-old son, Zhou Xu, and a two-year-old daughter, Zhou Tong.
Zhou Beihan was the second son, twenty-three years old and still unmarried.
The third son was Zhou Jingyuan, twenty-one years old and also unmarried.
The youngest was their daughter, Zhou Qingya, who was seventeen.
“Second Brother, how many days of leave do you have this time? Your mother is planning to introduce you to a nice girl,” Li Chunxiang said.
She loved her second son the most, followed by the third.
“Mom, I met a girl on my way home.”
Zhou Beihan said shyly.
“Really? Which family’s daughter is she?”
Li Chunxiang asked excitedly.
“She’s one of the educated youths who arrived today. Her name is Ye Qinglan.”
Zhou Beihan had no intention of hiding it.
“A newly arrived educated youth? Is she pretty? Does she have a good personality?”
Li Chunxiang had no prejudice against educated youths. They were city people with an education, making them a good match for Beihan.
“Excuse me, is anyone home?”
Ye Qinglan called from the entrance to the courtyard.
“Mom, your future daughter-in-law is here!”
Zhou Beihan exclaimed excitedly as soon as he heard her voice.
“What? Should I go inside and change my clothes?”
Li Chunxiang hurriedly straightened her outfit.
“You can come in. The gate isn’t locked,” Sister-in-law Qin Baozhu called out loudly.
“There’s no time to change now. I’ll do it next time.”
Zhou Beihan said as he pulled Li Chunxiang outside to welcome his girlfriend.
“Qinglan, what brings you here? Do you need something?”
Zhou Beihan asked nervously.
“Beihan, I’m here to buy some furniture and straw mats. The brigade leader said your family has everything. Better to support our own people than someone else.”
Ye Qinglan stood there confidently, letting them look her over.
“These are my parents,” Zhou Beihan introduced.
“Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie. My name is Ye Qinglan. I’m eighteen years old and just graduated from high school.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a blush appeared on her face.
“Qinglan, you’re such a beautiful girl.”
Li Chunxiang was someone who appreciated good looks.