“Granny Liu, what nonsense are you talking?”
“This is the Zhiqing the team leader brought back. The girl’s still young!”
Another old man with sharper eyes studied Lin Jiaojiao’s features and explained to Granny Liu, who had mistaken her for someone else.
“Wrong person?”
“But this girl looks exactly like the team leader’s wife did when she was young.”
“Am I right? Xiaoshunzi?”
Granny Liu was so excited that she even blurted out the team leader’s childhood nickname.
“She really does look very similar.”
“When I first saw Lin Zhiqing, it was like seeing my wife in her younger days.”
“Alright, folks, I won’t keep chatting with you all. I need to get these two settled in first.”
It wasn’t until then that Zhang Jiyao understood why the team leader had been acting so strangely.
It turned out he’d encountered someone who looked very familiar.
Come to think of it, Comrade Lin Jiaojiao did bear some resemblance to the team leader.
There were many similar features around the eyes and brows.
But Zhang Jiyao didn’t dwell on it. There were plenty of people in the world who looked alike.
Having a similar appearance had its advantages though—at the very least, Comrade Lin Jiaojiao would receive some special care from the team leader.
The two were quickly brought to the Zhiqingyuan, where the team leader said to Zhang Jiyao.
“The men’s dormitory is over here. Go on in yourself—any empty bed is yours.”
“As for Comrade Lin Jiaojiao, the women’s side is already full, and there’s no extra space for now.”
“You’ll stay at my place for a few days. I’ll talk it over with the village accountant later and figure out where to put you.”
In truth, they had already discussed it beforehand—they planned to arrange for the female Zhiqing to stay with villager families.
They’d place her with a family that had daughters, so the two girls could share a room. It would be convenient that way.
But ever since he’d seen Lin Jiaojiao, the team leader had changed his mind.
This girl looked too much like his own family. He needed to take her home and let his wife see her.
“Okay, Uncle Team Leader.”
“I’ll follow the organization’s arrangements.”
Lin Jiaojiao didn’t refuse. She didn’t particularly want to live in the dormitory herself.
But staying with strangers was also inconvenient. She’d see later if she could manage to get a room of her own.
And so, Zhang Jiyao watched helplessly as Lin Jiaojiao was led away by the team leader.
He entered the dormitory and indeed found only one empty spot.
This long row of connected earthen bunks was divided into small sections, distinguished mainly by where each person’s bedding was placed.
He put his luggage in the space that belonged to him.
Then he surveyed the layout of the room.
“Ugh!”
He’d known life in the countryside would be tough, but he hadn’t expected it to be this tough.
Six people shared this one room. Winter was manageable, but he had no idea how they’d get through the summer.
Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it. Though resigned, he began tidying up his area seriously.
Meanwhile, Lin Jiaojiao followed the team leader all the way to his home.
The team leader’s house was better than the other houses in the village.
It seemed to have been extended, with plenty of rooms visible.
The courtyard was also large, enclosed by walls built from massive stone blocks.
They looked extremely sturdy and provided good privacy.
She liked the layout of the house, but the thought of living with strangers still made her feel tense inside.
“Comrade Lin Jiaojiao, take a look around the courtyard first. I’ll go prepare a room for you.”
It was work hours, so no one was at home.
The Daduizhang walked to his youngest son’s room and carried all of his belongings into the other sons’ room.
He even took a broom and carefully swept the entire place clean.
Then he replaced the old straw on the bed. All this bustling took half an hour.
Only then did the room start to look presentable.
“My youngest boy, don’t blame your father.”
“That little comrade outside is likely your sister. I have no choice but to put you out for a bit.”
The Daduizhang murmured these words silently in his heart, then called Lin Jiaojiao in.
“You’ll stay in this room from now on.”
“In a bit, I’ll go get your grain rations. From now on, you’ll eat with us.”
“If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll go fetch your auntie and have her take a look at what else needs to be prepared.”
The Daduizhang worried that, being a rough and careless man, he might inadvertently neglect the young girl.
So he planned to go call his wife back.
Lin Jiaojiao hurriedly thanked him. Looking at the clean and tidy room, this special treatment warmed her heart.
She set her backpack on the bed, and once the Daduizhang had left, she finally relaxed entirely.
After resting for a while, she took the wooden basin in the room, fetched some water, and wiped the table down again.
The straw mat and everything else—she tidied it all up once more.
Only then did she put her own things in place.
She pulled a thin blanket out of her Space and set all her toiletries on the table.
She couldn’t take out anything else for now, because she’d only arrived carrying a single backpack—bringing out too many items would raise suspicion.
She’d ask where the Gongxiaoshe was tomorrow, then head to town to stock up on some supplies.
Along the way, she’d pretend the supplies from her Space were mailed over from her hometown and bring them back.
She had no intention of skimping on her own comfort in life—these things just had to be done.
Since she’d chosen to travel light on the road, she couldn’t complain about the trouble once she arrived.
What she didn’t know was that when the Daduizhang’s wife learned a girl who looked exactly like her had arrived, tears nearly spilled from her eyes.
The couple kept saying that this girl just might be their daughter.
And they hoped she was their daughter.
That way, the wish they’d held for so many years could finally come true.
To find their daughter again and enjoy the joy of family reunions.
The Daduizhang’s wife walked with such a rush that even the Daduizhang was left behind in her dust.
Along the way, she ignored everyone who greeted her.
All she could think about was going to see that girl.
“Daduizhang, what’s wrong with your wife?”
A nosy villager asked along the way.
“Nothing. She’s probably just in a hurry to use the latrine.”
“You all get back to work. Finish early, and you can head home and rest early.”
The Daduizhang brushed it off with a few words and hurried home himself.
“Look at the Daduizhang and his wife—what’s gotten into them? Why are they rushing like that?”
Someone muttered quietly behind them.
“Who knows? Maybe they really do have to pee!”
Not everyone was interested in other people’s business.
Sure enough, one person glanced over and then went right back to burying their head in their work.
Rather than worrying about all that, it was better to do what the Daduizhang said—finish the work early and get home early to rest.
With all the fieldwork that never seemed to end these days, who had the mind to care about what others were doing?
Still, some people joined in the gossip, and a few even said the kitchen must have caught fire.
In short, there were all kinds of people.
As for the Daduizhang and his wife, the two of them soon made it back home.
However, just as she was about to step through the courtyard gate, the Daduizhang’s wife suddenly stopped in her tracks.
“Why aren’t you going in?”
The Daduizhang, who had caught up behind her, panting, asked in confusion.
“Their father, does that girl really look exactly like I did when I was young?”
Perhaps because they were about to meet, the Daduizhang’s wife had instead grown nervous.