Xu Aili had just bathed and also had dirty clothes to wash. Thinking that she and Shen Zhiqing were part of the same batch of Educated Youth, and that Shen Zhiqing seemed easy to get along with, she felt inclined to befriend her. “Shen Zhiqing, Zhang Zhiqing said that river is easy to find—just follow this main village road to the end. I need to wash clothes too. Shall we go together?”
Shen Jingyao, who was carrying her basin and about to return to her room, stopped upon hearing this. “Sure, let’s go together.” Having company sounded nice, especially since she had nothing else to do that afternoon. Starting tomorrow, they would begin work, leaving little time for laundry later.
Delighted by her agreement, Xu Aili hurried back to her room, gathered her dirty clothes into the basin, and brought it out. Both her parents were ordinary workers, and with a younger brother at home, she had volunteered for the rural assignment. Her parents had been supportive, providing all necessary supplies and even letting her bring the rural settlement subsidy from the Subdistrict Office.
The two left the Educated Youth Point and followed the main road to its end, where a small river indeed flowed. By the riverbank, a few seven- or eight-year-old girls and elderly women were already washing clothes. The river was shallow and clear, with stones visible at the bottom.
Shen Jingyao found a flat rock, set her basin down, and took out a bar of soap. From the moment they arrived, the locals had been staring at them. Their basins were rare in the village—most households used wooden basins, as buying new ones required both money and ration coupons, making it impractical. In less particular families, everyone shared a single basin for washing faces and feet, while more fastidious households separated face-washing and foot-washing basins.
When Shen Jingyao produced the soap, some elderly women clucked their tongues, thinking these Educated Youth had no sense of thrift. Who used soap for laundry? They relied on soapberries or simply pounded clothes with a washing pestle.
The young girls, meanwhile, stared at Shen Jingyao’s clothes—pretty, clean, and entirely free of patches. Moreover, she was beautiful, fairer than the steamed buns made for New Year’s and lovelier than any girl in the village. The little girls began to yearn for city life, wondering if they, too, could become like her if they were urbanites.
Xu Aili also had a bar of soap, brought from home, but only a small piece remained. Since her clothes weren’t particularly dirty—just a bit smelly—she decided not to use it, reluctant to waste it.
Shen Jingyao paid no mind to the onlookers. She was thoroughly enjoying herself, having never washed clothes by a river before. The novelty delighted her. She soaked the clothes in the water, rubbed them with soap, and watched lather bloom instantly. A few scrubs imbued the fabric with the soap’s fragrance, and she rinsed the foam away in the river. The water wasn’t cold yet, though in another month, it would turn bone-chilling.
Xu Aili finished first, placing her clothes in the basin and watching Shen Jingyao play with the bubbles. A faint smile touched her delicate features—this Shen Zhiqing was still like a child at heart.
Shen Jingyao had only washed her trousers and top. Her undergarments were stored safely in her Space; she had no intention of washing such intimate items by the river.
In the courtyard of the Educated Youth Point, there were clotheslines for drying laundry. After returning, the two hung their clothes on the lines.
There was sunshine today, and the clothes weren’t thick, so they should be dry by tomorrow.
While working in the fields, Zhou Muyan’s mind wandered, wondering what Yao Yao was doing.
Tomorrow, the newly arrived Educated Youth would also start working in the fields. He decided to assign Yao Yao to his own team.
He could keep her under his watchful eye and take care of her. Yao Yao was delicate and wouldn’t be able to endure the hardship—letting her go through the motions would be enough.
In the evening, when the veteran Educated Youth returned from work, Shen Jingyao saw sweat on each of their faces, and they looked utterly exhausted.
Their expressions were blank, too tired to speak.
Chen Weidong and Feng Tianzhu exchanged glances. It seemed life would become difficult starting tomorrow.
That evening, Zhang Yanhong and Wei Meixia were again in charge of cooking, and the new Educated Youth handed over their rations—contributing as much as they would eat.
Shen Jingyao contributed one Wotou and a portion of Corn Dregs Porridge. Any more than that, she simply couldn’t finish.
“You two, come into the kitchen and take a look. Starting tomorrow, it’ll be your turn to cook,” Wei Meixia said to Shen Jingyao and Xu Aili.
From then on, the four of them would take turns, giving each a day off now and then.
Shen Jingyao and Xu Aili followed her into the kitchen to observe how meals were prepared.
Shen Jingyao thought that even if her house were repaired immediately, it would still be some time before she could move in. Until then, she had no choice but to eat at the Educated Youth Point.
While the female Educated Youth cooked, the male Educated Youth, upon returning from work, took carrying poles and buckets to fetch water.
Similarly, they brought Chen Weidong and Feng Tianzhu along. Starting the next day, they would also have to fetch water, so they needed to know where to go.
That evening, there was only one dish at the Educated Youth Point: stir-fried shredded potatoes.
Shen Jingyao watched as they cooked, using an oilcloth to wipe the bottom of the wok—hardly any oil was used at all.
She sighed inwardly; life in this era was truly arduous.
Living like this for a long time, people became thin and gaunt, with almost no overweight individuals in sight.
Still, compared to the famine years when people resorted to eating tree bark and Guanyin soil, this was much better.
After dinner, everyone rested in the courtyard.
Shen Jingyao returned to her room and took out about half a catty of brown sugar from her Space, wrapping it in pastry paper, along with a catty of Sponge Cake.
Seeing her holding items as if she were going out, Xu Aili asked, “Educated Youth Shen, are you heading out?”
Shen Jingyao didn’t try to hide it. “I’m going to the Brigade Leader’s house on some business,” she said before leaving.
Wei Meixia curled her lip, her face full of disdain. “She’s probably trying to avoid labor by bribing the Brigade Leader.”
At these words, everyone’s expressions shifted. Lin Jianjun immediately spoke up sternly, “Educated Youth Wei, watch your words. Educated Youth Shen likely has other matters to discuss with the Brigade Leader.”
“We Educated Youth are a collective. I don’t want any unfounded rumors spreading.”
Since Lin Jianjun, the person in charge of the Educated Youth Point, had spoken, they had to show him some respect.
Wei Meixia rolled her eyes. So pretentious, always playing the goody-two-shoes.
The others, however, were curious about Shen Jingyao’s visit to the Brigade Leader. They didn’t believe she was trying to bribe him to avoid work.
After all, since Shen Jingyao’s arrival the previous day, aside from her striking beauty, she had kept a low profile—not drawing attention to herself, speaking little, and giving off a quiet, reserved impression.
He doesn’t seem like someone who would have ulterior motives.