“Mom, when we get back later, we can catch the tractor ride!” Song Sanbao said. “New educated youths are arriving today, so the brigade leader arranged for the tractor to pick them up.”
“How do you know?” Lin Ruxia asked curiously.
“I heard Gou Dan say it yesterday,” Sanbao replied proudly.
“Gou Dan?” Lin Ruxia almost laughed at the name. Thankfully, none of the Song children had names like that.
“He’s the brigade leader’s son,” Sanbao explained.
“Oh, I see. That’s good,” Lin Ruxia said, feeling relieved. Walking back would’ve been exhausting.
At 2:30 PM, the four of them headed to catch the bus. On the way back, although Song Dabao and the others looked happy, they weren’t as loud and excited as before.
After arriving at the commune, Lin Ruxia got off and waited. About half an hour later, people carrying luggage began arriving.
“Look, it’s the brigade leader!” Song Xiaobao pointed excitedly at a tractor.
Lin Ruxia looked over—it was indeed the same brigade leader who helped divide the family yesterday.
She walked over to greet him.
“Zhicheng’s wife, what are you doing here?” the brigade leader asked.
“Brigade leader, can we ride the tractor back later? We just split the family yesterday, so we had to buy a lot of things. With so many items and the kids being small, it’s hard to carry everything,” Lin Ruxia said pitifully.
The brigade leader looked at her—she did look frail, and she was pregnant. He nodded in agreement.
The Dafengshou Production Team received three new educated youths this year—two women and one man, all seemingly from good families. The leader was already worried.
Lin Ruxia observed them:
As Lin Ruxia studied them, they also looked at her. Her fair skin and unique temperament made her stand out in the rural setting.
After greetings, they boarded the tractor and headed back.
On the way, they chatted.
“Zhicheng’s wife, what did you buy? That’s quite a large bag,” the leader asked.
“We just split the family, so we needed to buy everything—especially for the children,” she replied.
One of the new female youths asked, “Is she from the village?”
“She’s also an educated youth,” the leader explained. “She came down from the capital ten years ago.”
“Hello, I’m Lin Ruxia,” she introduced herself.
“What a coincidence! We’re also from the South District of the capital!” Zhao Zhiqing said excitedly.
Meanwhile, the arrogant Li Zhizhi kept staring at Lin Ruxia.
“Have we met before?” Li suddenly asked.
“That’s unlikely. I haven’t been back home in ten years,” Lin Ruxia replied calmly, though she suspected Li might recognize the original owner’s twin sister.
To avoid further probing, she quickly changed the topic.
After returning to the village, the tractor dropped Lin Ruxia off at her home.
“Mom, you’re back!” Fourth and Fifth Bao ran over excitedly.
The children quickly helped carry the heavy sack inside.
Later, the younger kids gathered around Sanbao, listening eagerly as he described the trip to town.
Lin Ruxia ignored them and began preparing dinner:
The aroma spread throughout the house—and even to the neighbors.
“Just split the family and already eating meat?” a neighbor muttered jealously.
Inside the Song household:
Song’s eldest sister-in-law saw her son sniffing the air.
“Want to eat meat?” she asked.
“Yes!” he answered immediately.
“Then go ask your cousin to get some from your third aunt,” she suggested.
The girl, tempted by the smell, agreed.