Late at night, five new arrivals came to the Educated Youth Station.
Although the others were somewhat unwilling, they still followed the station’s senior educated youth Wang Jiancheng out to receive them.
It was late at night, and Liu Yong had not even eaten dinner. He casually said a few words, assigned the newcomers to Wang Jiancheng, and then left.
Guo Shun had already been exhausted after running around all day. He lowered his voice and said to Wei Ye: “Someone will handle it. We don’t need to bother. Let’s go.”
Wei Ye nodded and subconsciously glanced again at the thin little girl before leaving with the others.
Su Qiu sensed the gaze and looked up, but only saw the back of that kind comrade.
“All the educated youth going down to the countryside are not having it easy. Everyone, come in and sit. Male comrades, please help carry the luggage inside.”
Wang Jiancheng, the senior educated youth at the station, warmly welcomed them.
He had been down in the countryside for four years already and was among the older educated youth. He had a cheerful personality and upright character, and he held a high status in the Educated Youth Station, with considerable authority in his words.
The Educated Youth Station had two large rooms and a kitchen outside for cooking.
Males on the left, females on the right. Inside were all long communal kang beds.
Wang Jiancheng led two male educated youth to the men’s room.
The female comrades were handled by senior educated youth Zhao Na.
Upon entering the women’s room, Geng Jiao and Wang Xuefei, who came from Nancheng, were stunned by the row of communal beds.
“Th-this… how are people supposed to live here?”
There was not even the most basic privacy. Although the kang bed was supposed to fit five people, there were already four girls living here. Adding the three newcomers, it was obvious they would be squeezed tightly together just to lie down.
“Just squeeze and live with it. What else can we do? We came down here to suffer, not to enjoy life.”
A girl sitting at the bedside said unhappily.
“Wang Li, they are new educated youth comrades. Watch your tone.”
Zhao Na, who had brought the three female comrades in, shot a glare at Wang Li.
The villagers rejected educated youth, so the educated youth had to stick together. Everyone who came here needed time to adjust. There was no need for sarcasm.
Wang Li pouted but said nothing more.
However, Geng Jiao’s eyes immediately turned red. She clenched her fists tightly and clearly did not want to live in such a place.
Wang Xuefei did not expect this either, but her family situation was not as good as Geng Jiao’s. She had been sharing a room with her two younger sisters at home, so she could still accept it.
“Jiaojiao, it’s fine. You take the innermost spot. Tomorrow we’ll get a rope and hang up a curtain for you.”
Only then did Geng Jiao feel a little better. She held her friend’s arm and whispered: “Thank you, Xuefei.”
“Alright, it’s normal to not be used to it at first. Your three beds have been arranged at the back. Go and lay out your bedding first. You can organize your luggage tomorrow.”
Zhao Na said to them.
Geng Jiao and Wang Xuefei helplessly carried their bundles toward the back.
In truth, Su Qiu also did not find it easy to accept.
The clay kang beds looked extremely crowded. As the saying went: “three women make a drama,” and here there were seven girls living together. Conflicts and arguments were almost inevitable every day.
Sigh, under someone else’s roof, one had to bow their head.
Su Qiu sighed inwardly. Seeing the two of them occupy the inner two beds, she carried her bedding and luggage to the remaining bed.
The other educated youth took the opportunity to observe them.
Geng Jiao and Wang Xuefei were clearly city girls—pretty and refined, their clothes clean, and they even wore small leather shoes.
In contrast, Su Qiu looked thin and small, with yellowish hair and a dark complexion. She looked about fourteen or fifteen years old. Her clothes were washed so often they had turned pale, clearly from a poor background.
Wang Li could not resist speaking again, teasing: “Hey, little skinny one, did you lie about your age to come down to the countryside?”
Su Qiu ignored her completely and focused on arranging her bedding and belongings. She had no intention of dealing with someone so rude who even gave people nicknames.
Seeing that Su Qiu ignored her, Wang Li raised her voice: “Hey! I’m talking to you. You don’t even know basic manners? Don’t you know how to introduce yourself after entering a room?”
“Wang Li! Are you trying to rebel today?”
Zhao Na shot her a warning glance.
“If you keep disrupting order, I’ll deduct your points.”
Normally she could tolerate Wang Li’s loose tongue, but the new educated youth had just arrived and had not even finished putting down their luggage. Moreover, that little girl looked so thin and pitiful—Wang Li was clearly picking on her for no reason.
Being reprimanded twice in front of everyone made Wang Li somewhat unhappy.
“Zhao Na, there are only a few of us here. You’re acting like some official all day. Can’t I even speak?”
“Still talking back? Fine. You don’t need to participate in the weekly braised meat dish anymore.”
Wang Li’s expression changed instantly. She quickly stepped forward in a flattering tone: “Oh, Sister Zhao, I was just asking. I meant no harm. Please don’t argue with me.”
The educated youth here rarely ate meat. The weekly braised meat dish was personally paid for by Wang Jiancheng and Zhao Na.
And the two of them were a couple, so no one dared offend them.
Hearing about the braised meat dish, the others also spoke up in support of Zhao Na.
“Wang Li, have some conscience. Sister Na treats us well. It’s clearly your fault…”
Geng Jiao and Wang Xuefei perked up to listen, while Su Qiu calmly laid out her bedding.
After being criticized by everyone, Zhao Na’s anger also faded.
“Alright, alright, this time I’ll let it go. Wang Li, don’t do it again.”
“Everyone, introduce yourselves to the new educated youth comrades. Since we will be living under the same roof, we’ll be together for a long time. Harmony is most important. No conflicts allowed.”
“I’m Wang Xuefei…”
In the women’s room, Zhao Na was the oldest. She was 22 this year and had already been down for four years. She was Wang Jiancheng’s partner.
Wang Li was 20 and had been here for two years, from Yun City.
The remaining two girls had come last year—one named Yang Yan and the other Zhang Xiaoyue, aged 18 and 19. Both were from nearby counties and looked quiet and honest.
When it was Su Qiu’s turn, hearing her say she was 18, the others were slightly surprised.
Eighteen? She looked at most sixteen.
Everyone privately suspected: could someone so malnourished even do farm work?
Su Qiu did not care about their expressions at all. She simply stretched, then climbed into bed.
“So sleepy. I’m going to sleep first. Please do as you like.”
With this body, she needed good food, good rest, and plenty of sleep to recover. Otherwise, she could not even bear to look at herself.
On the way, while going to the restroom, she secretly ate rice and spicy diced chicken and drank a carton of milk.
The cotton bedding her sister prepared was soft and thick, carrying a faint warm scent from sun-drying. The moment she touched the pillow, she fell asleep.
Su Qiu fell asleep instantly.
The others were shocked.
She… just slept like that.
They had not even finished introducing themselves, yet she had already adapted so quickly.
Next to her, Geng Jiao and Wang Xuefei had not even finished arranging their bedding and were still stunned.
Even Zhao Na could not quite figure out her personality now. She had thought the girl, being so thin and frail, would be shy and quiet—but clearly that was not the case.
She could only say: “New comrades must be tired from the journey. Everyone should sleep early. We’ll talk tomorrow if there’s anything.”