Yan Xiang'an kept his word. After about half an hour, he had the two get off the ox cart and picked up two other Educated Youth instead.
They stopped by the roadside for about ten minutes during the journey, allowing everyone to catch their breath and have some dry rations, before finally arriving at Xianghong Brigade.
It was just after work hours, and they encountered many villagers along the way, all looking at the new Educated Youth with disdainful eyes.
"Anzi, why are there so many more people? You should've fought for better ones for us."
"Uncle, what am I supposed to fight for? Other Production Teams have just as many people," Yan Xiang'an replied.
"They all look weak and fragile. You should've gotten some strong ones for our Production Team."
"Auntie, these assignments were decided long ago. I don't have any say in this. Why don't you go talk to the Educated Youth Office yourself?"
"Coming right before the autumn harvest, they're just going to eat our grain for free."
…
The ox cart stopped at the entrance of the Brigade Headquarters. Yan Xiang'an jumped down from the cart: "Get all your luggage down. The Brigade leader will take you to the Educated Youth Spot."
After all the luggage was unloaded, he led the ox away.
Soon after, a middle-aged man hurried over. The man had dark skin, a sturdy build, wore straw sandals, had several patches on his clothes, and wore a serious expression.
"Welcome everyone to Xianghong Brigade. I'm Brigade leader Yan Weiguo. Please take your luggage and follow me to the Educated Youth Spot."
"Since you've just arrived and don't have any work points yet, the team will lend you grain on credit. You can repay the Brigade with work points earned by year-end, or purchase it directly from the team."
"In the future, as long as you work diligently, you won't starve. But the team has its rules. Although you're not locals, now that you're at Xianghong Brigade, we're one family. As long as you behave properly, you'll surely have a good life here."
The Brigade leader didn't want to take in Educated Youth either, but this wasn't his decision to make.
Since the first batch of Educated Youth arrived, there had been many conflicts with the villagers, which gave him quite a headache.
The veteran Educated Youth from the Educated Youth Spot had also returned from work and were washing their hands in the courtyard.
"This is Li Qiang, the person in charge of the Educated Youth Spot. If you have any matters here, you can consult him."
The buildings at the Educated Youth Spot were left by former small landlords. They looked much sturdier compared to the thatched huts in the village.
The two largest rooms were divided into male and female dormitories. With three new female Educated Youth arriving, the large kang became crowded, making the original three veteran Educated Youth somewhat unhappy.
The room was dimly lit. Song Xiu Jun chose a spot against the wall, wiped it clean, and laid out her bedding. Since it wasn't winter yet and not cold enough to need heating the kang, any sleeping spot was fine. But come winter, this position wouldn't be as warm as the end of the kang.
She didn't have time to socialize with the other Educated Youth either. After quickly washing her face and body, she lay down on the kang and fell asleep.
Although it was dinner time, everyone was too exhausted to have any appetite.
This was the best sleep she'd had in days – she slept straight through until daybreak.
She was awakened by the movements of the veteran Educated Youth getting up. The other person smiled apologetically and went out with an enamel basin and towel.
Only after waking up did she finally feel ravenously hungry. New Educated Youth could take one day to settle in before starting work.
But the veteran Educated Youth couldn't rest. Li Qiang said to everyone with a smile: "We'll host a welcome dinner for you all tonight to get acquainted. You can go to the commune to buy things today, or rest some more."
Song Xiu Jun stretched lazily. The grain owed by the Brigade Headquarters to the new Educated Youth had been delivered directly to the Educated Youth Spot by the Brigade leader last night, but she had been asleep and didn't know about it.
"Xiu Jun, want to make breakfast together?" The speaker was the girl who had been sitting opposite her on the train, named Zhang Ruolan.
"Sure," she nodded readily, scooping a bowl of corn grits from her own grain bag.
Wang Guifang hurriedly handed over her own grain: "Could you make a bowl for me too? I need to use the outhouse."
Song Xiu Jun and Zhang Ruolan exchanged glances.
"Fine, since you're not helping cook, you'll clean the kitchen later."
Wang Guifang smiled awkwardly: "Alright, I wasn't trying to slack off anyway."
While preparing breakfast, Zhang Ruolan asked: "Xiu Jun, are you going to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative?"
Song Xiu Jun had already bought everything she needed days ago. Most items were stored in her space, and she carried a large travel bag stuffed full – nobody knew what exactly she had packed inside.
"Not today. The journey here was exhausting, I'll rest today and go next time I get leave."
She planned to explore the village today.
After breakfast, Zhang Ruolan and Wang Guifang hurried out. If they missed the Production Team's ox cart, they'd have to walk.
Children of various ages could be seen playing throughout the village. Song Xiu Jun casually waved over a little boy: "What's your name?"
The boy had snot under his nose, his face and hands were dirty, but he looked bright-eyed: "I'm Niu Dan."
"Niu Dan, sister will give you candy if you tell me about Xianghong Brigade."
Before she finished speaking, other children crowded around: "Let me! Let me! I can explain better than Niu Dan!"
"Stop! No arguing! Whoever argues doesn't get candy."
The children immediately fell silent.
"I'll ask questions, you answer. No noise."
Song Xiu Jun was truly intimidated by children.
"Who does the best woodwork in the brigade? Sister wants to buy a chest."
The children instinctively looked at Niu Dan. The little boy puffed out his chest proudly: "My grandpa is the brigade carpenter! Educated Youth sister, if you want a chest, come to my grandpa!"
She asked several more questions – where to gather firewood, work rules…
Though the children were young, they knew quite a lot.
Song Xiu Jun gave each child a piece of Fruit Candy. They cherished them, licking carefully before rewrapping and tucking them into pockets.
"Niu Dan, where's your house? Lead the way for sister."
Niu Dan enthusiastically ran ahead, shouting before they reached the door: "Grandpa! Grandma! An Educated Youth sister is here to buy a chest!"
Niu Dan's grandmother hurried out. Her husband had known new Educated Youth were coming, so he'd made several chests in advance that could be taken immediately.
Song Xiu Jun bought one chest and one wooden basin, then exchanged for several eggs at Niu Dan's house.
Noticing her head injury, Niu Dan's grandmother suggested she leave the items and have her son deliver them that evening.
So Song Xiu Jun only carried the eggs back to the Educated Youth Spot. On the way, she saw several children carrying baskets up the mountain and changed direction to follow them.
"What are you going up the mountain for?"
The children answered in unison: "Cut pigweed and gather firewood!"
"How many work points for pigweed?"One child eagerly answered: "One basket equals 1 work point!""
Song Xiu Jun didn't want to work in the fields – she simply couldn't handle that kind of labor.
After parting with the children, she continued wandering through the mountains. While the children worked only in the outer areas, she ventured deeper inside, activating her map update function as she went.
After wandering around for a long time, she finally managed to catch a rabbit. Without meat ration coupons, if she didn't hunt secretly, she'd probably have to wait until the end of the year when the team slaughtered pigs to get a taste of meat.
Song Xiu Jun happily tied up the rabbit, planning to have lunch right there on the mountain.
She ventured a bit further and found a clearing to set up a makeshift stove. After skinning the rabbit and dividing it into two halves, she stored one half in her space for next time and skewered the other half on a wooden stick to roast over the fire. She also threw two sweet potatoes into the flames.
Just as she was adding seasoning, footsteps sounded behind her.
"Caught something, huh? Don't you know, little Educated Youth, that everything on this mountain is collective property?"
It was none other than Yan Xiang'an, whom she had met yesterday. With his hands tucked in his sleeves, he looked at her teasingly.
Without even lifting her eyelids, Song Xiu Jun retorted, "It's work hours now. Are you slacking off?"
Yan Xiang'an plopped down casually beside her. "You little Educated Youth, your tongue is as sharp as ever. I even let you ride the ox cart first yesterday. Don't you know how to be grateful?"
She continued sprinkling seasoning unhurriedly. The aroma of the rabbit meat wafted into their noses, making their mouths water instantly.
Rubbing his hands together, Yan Xiang'an said, "If you share half with me, then we'll be partners in crime."