After the two agreed to collaborate on making money, Yan Xiang'an stealthily slipped out of the courtyard.
However, he was spotted by Zhang Ruolan from the neighboring Educated Youth Spot. After he had gone far enough, she came over and knocked on the door.
"Xiu Jun, was that Yan Xiang'an who just came out of your courtyard?"
Song Xiu Jun nodded frankly.
"Xiu Jun, don’t be foolish. Although he’s the Brigade leader’s son, he’s not a good person. He’s famously lazy in the team, often avoiding work and idling about. His reputation in the village isn’t good."
Zhang Ruolan spoke earnestly: "Good looks can’t fill your stomach. If he can’t support a family in the future, you’ll suffer greatly."
Song Xiu Jun gave her a speechless glance: "I just saw that he was going to the commune today and asked him to bring me back a piece of pork."
Zhang Ruolan looked at the fatty meat nearby and breathed a sigh of relief: "After all, we’re going back to the city eventually. It’s not suitable to find a partner in the village."
Song Xiu Jun knew she meant well and smiled, but explained: "I don’t plan to return to the city."
"!" Zhang Ruolan couldn’t help but rub her ears. She was still young—surely she wasn’t going deaf already.
"I have no relatives left in the city. Going back would be the same. I might as well settle down in the countryside. I really like Xianghong Brigade," Song Xiu Jun said with sincerity.
Her ultimate goal had always been to find a scenic place to retire—that had never changed.
But Zhang Ruolan didn’t believe her. What Educated Youth wouldn’t want to return to the city? She herself already longed to go back; the work was just too exhausting. During the autumn harvest, she fell asleep every night with tears in her eyes.
"Never mind, let’s not talk about this. It’s time to go to work," Zhang Ruolan thought that perhaps Song Xiu Jun just wasn’t tired enough. After a couple more years, she’d come to her senses.
Song Xiu Jun locked the courtyard gate, and the two walked side by side toward the threshing ground.
Halfway there, they saw the male Educated Youth Zhao Shuwen standing under a tree by the roadside, talking to a young unmarried woman from the team.
The girl shyly lowered her head slightly and stuffed an egg into his hand: "Comrade Zhao, this is for you to eat."
Zhao Shuwen was holding a red quotation book. As soon as he saw Song Xiu Jun and the other, he repeatedly refused: "Comrade Wang, I can’t take your egg. One shouldn’t receive rewards without merit."
The girl’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Zhao Shuwen with admiration: "Comrade Zhao, you’re so cultured."
Zhao Shuwen felt a hint of pride, glancing sideways at Song Xiu Jun: "Comrade Wang, you flatter me."
The girl tucked the egg into Zhao Shuwen’s pocket: "Anyway, thank you for lending me the book, Comrade Zhao. Please accept this egg—it’s not worth much, and you need to nourish yourself. Farm work is hard."
Zhao Shuwen sighed softly: "Well… alright then, Comrade Wang, you’re too kind. We Educated Youth have come to the countryside to be re-educated by the poor and lower-middle peasants. Since we’ve come to Xianghong Brigade, we’re like family. Teaching you a few characters is nothing at all. I’ll accept the egg, but please don’t be so polite next time."
The girl twisted her braid, nodded, and smiled: "Then it’s settled. Next time, I’ll join you in reading again." With that, she trotted away.
Seeing her run off, Zhao Shuwen spoke somewhat sheepishly: "The people of Xianghong Brigade are truly simple and kind-hearted."
He quickened his pace to catch up with Song Xiu Jun and the other: "Comrade Song, Comrade Zhang, good afternoon. Here, have this egg to eat." He took the egg out of his pocket and offered it to Song Xiu Jun.
"I'm truly ashamed, it's just that I know a few more characters than most."
Song Xiu Jun's gaze swept over the eggs before settling on Zhao Shuwen's face, her eyes still carrying a glint of calculation.
"No need."
"Comrade Song, your injury has just healed, you need nourishment. Don't stand on ceremony – we're all Educated Youth here, we should unite and help each other."
Song Xiu Jun raised her hand to block the eggs he was offering forward. The wound on her head had long healed, leaving a faint pink mark. Since the injury was at her hairline, it had created a small gap in her hairline.
She had scar removal ointment in her space, but she wasn't in a hurry to apply it, planning to let the scar fade gradually.
Seeing her refusal, Zhao Shuwen didn't insist, instead tucking the eggs back into his pocket: "Are you heading to the threshing ground? I'm going that way too, let's go together."
"Comrade Song, have you finished organizing your new residence? Do you need our help? If there's anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask."
Zhao Shuwen was quite envious that Song Xiu Jun could live alone, but he didn't have money to build a house. When he was sent down to the countryside, his parents had only given him one hundred yuan and made it clear they couldn't provide any further assistance, so returning to the city was impossible.
However, if he were to date Song Xiu Jun, wouldn't that mean he could live there too?
Although this woman seemed quite aloof and had that ugly scar on her head, given that she had money, it wasn't completely unbearable.
Zhao Shuwen's calculations were clear, though Song Xiu Jun remained unaware of his thoughts.
Even if she could hear them, she wouldn't care anyway. Right now, her mind was completely occupied with moving house, contemplating what else she could acquire to make her life more comfortable.
Threshing ground.
As soon as Song Xiu Jun approached, she saw Wang Danniang waving enthusiastically at her.
"Little Song Educated Youth," Wang Damei handed her two dried corn cobs, "Today's task is shucking corn kernels."
Sitting with Wang Damei were other old women from the production team. When they saw her, they all started chattering with concern: "Little Song Educated Youth, we heard you moved to a new house today. Are you holding a housewarming feast?"
Wang Damei could immediately tell what these people were after. Before Song Xiu Jun could respond, she came to her rescue: "Shoo, shoo! Whether she holds a housewarming feast or not is none of your business. If you want to attend a housewarming feast, bring a fifty-cent red packet each first."
Li Gaiying curled her lip: "Damei, this is Little Song Educated Youth's business. Why are you being such a busybody?" Ever since Song Xiu Jun had rejected the blind date setup last time, she had taken a strong dislike to this young educated youth. Her fourth son was such a fine young man.
This Little Song Educated Youth was a delicate girl from the big city who couldn't do any work properly, incapable of managing household affairs. If not for her having some money, which family would want such a daughter-in-law?
"Little Song Educated Youth, if you hold a housewarming feast, this old woman will come help you. Why talk about red packets among fellow villagers? If you ever need anything in the production team in the future, just come find this old woman for help," she patted her chest, putting on a considerate appearance.
"That won't do, Old Woman Li. My housewarming feast will have meat dishes. If you come empty-handed, I won't let you through the door," Song Xiu Jun was nobody's fool – would she let herself be taken advantage of for the sake of saving face?
Li Gaiying had always been one to bully honest people in the production team, counting on them being too embarrassed to refuse.
She never expected to be thwarted twice by Song Xiu Jun.
"Hey, you little Educated Youth, why so stingy? You've still got a long way to go in this brigade," she said resentfully.
"What? If I don't host a moving-in feast, are you planning to make trouble for me later? Does Old woman's family hold so much sway in the brigade?" Song Xiu Jun directly called out her implied meaning.
Li Gaiying glared: "With such a sharp tongue, you'd better watch out or no one will marry you."
"Thanks for your auspicious words, Old woman," Song Xiu Jun replied indifferently. Aunt Li just had a bit of a contrary personality – nothing worth taking seriously.
She pulled a pair of gloves from her pocket and put them on, her palms red and swollen from shelling corn kernels.
"Look at this, can't even handle a little hardship. You pampered young ladies from the big cities," Li Gaiying said with sarcasm.
"Aunt Li, don't group us together with Song Zhiqing," Wang Guifang suddenly interjected, "We're not afraid of hard work." As she spoke, she cast a contemptuous glance at Song Xiu Jun's hands, adding, "And who would dare call themselves a young lady these days anyway."