Shitou and Goudan led her toward the east side of the production team. There were rolling hills there—more like a low mountain: not very tall, but quite large. The villagers all called it East Ridge.
When they reached the foot of the hill, Shitou said, “We’ll be cutting pig grass nearby. You can gather firewood here too. Over there is the East Ridge River. If you want to dig land, you’ll need to borrow tools from the team’s tool shed.”
Educated Youth Hu smiled. “Thank you! You guys go play—I’ll look around.”
Hu Jiaojiao wandered around the area, not idle at all. Whenever she saw dry branches, she gathered them into a pile to take back later. Walking further in, she noticed several willow trees by the river. Seeing Shitou and the others weaving grass hats, she took out her kitchen knife and selected some long, suitable branches, cutting a few.
She planned to weave a basket when she got back. She had learned this as a child from her grandfather. She found it interesting and had followed him around to learn. Whether or not it was beautiful didn’t matter—it was practical.
She bundled the willow branches on the spot and carried them in her hand. On the way back, she tied the dry branches together with the willow twigs as well. After calling out to Shitou and the others, she headed back.
Back at the educated youth compound, she sat at the doorway to rest, stripping the willow branches in her hands while thinking about what to weave first. Soon she crossed four willow rods into a base and began wrapping a long one around them, tightening each strand carefully. Before long, the basket began to take shape.
She clamped the frame between her legs as she worked—the tighter the weave, the sturdier the basket. Otherwise, it would come out loose and fall apart easily.
She was so focused that she didn’t notice what was happening around her. Just as she was finishing, she heard Lin Yang exclaim, “Educated Youth Hu, you can even weave baskets?”
She looked up briefly. “Just a little,” she replied, then lowered her head and continued working. She tucked in the last strand, checked for loose ends, and trimmed them carefully with her knife.
This one didn’t have a handle—she planned to use it for storing her grain.
Next, she carried in the water that had been sitting in the sun and poured it into the bathing tub, preparing for a wash that night. Even if she bathed in her private space, she still had to put on a show—otherwise people would think she wasn’t clean.
She carried another bucket and left it in the sun again. Meanwhile, she listened to the others chatting about going to the commune the next day to buy supplies, send letters home, and rest before starting fieldwork. After all, they had come to build the countryside, not for a vacation.
They sat around chatting idly in the yard, while Hu Jiaojiao kept working. Using the remaining willow branches, she wove a smaller basket with a handle, put it inside, then refilled the tub. One more bucket in the sun would be enough.
She lit her small stove again and began cooking some porridge. After eating and washing, it would be about nightfall.
Meanwhile, Lin Yang and the others were discussing finding someone to build a stove—just eating biscuits wouldn’t keep them full.
Su Yi stayed in her room all afternoon, busy with something unseen. Hu Jiaojiao guessed she was working in her “farm space”—after all, the heroine would rely on it to make a fortune.
Hu Jiaojiao mixed coarse and fine grains, added less water, and cooked a thick porridge. By the time it was ready, the older educated youths had returned. Zhang Yan had already cooked—a thin porridge and pickles, just like usual.
Seeing Hu Jiaojiao’s thick porridge, they all thought she didn’t know how to manage her life.
Li Aihua couldn’t help herself. “Educated Youth Hu, you’re not even working in the fields yet, and you’re eating such thick porridge. What a waste.”
Hu Jiaojiao rolled her eyes, carried her pot back inside, and ignored her.
Li Aihua muttered, “You’ll regret it if you don’t listen to advice,” but Hu Jiaojiao was already slurping her porridge with homemade pickles.
The others had to wait until the older youths finished using the stove before cooking. Fortunately, they hadn’t started fieldwork yet—otherwise they wouldn’t have made it in time.
After eating, Hu Jiaojiao closed her door, went into her private space, and enjoyed a proper bath. Afterward, she came back out and deliberately made some water noises in the room. Whether anyone was listening or not, she had to be careful—she couldn’t leave any suspicious signs.
She carried out basins of water and poured them onto a patch of land she had chosen. By morning, the soil would be just right for turning over.
With her hair half loose, she took out paper and pen and began writing a letter home. She described herself as extremely miserable—being pushed around on the train, eight people crammed onto one kang bed, villagers unfriendly to educated youths, and so on.
At the end, she asked for ration coupons if possible, or any way to get her back to the city. She added a line saying how much she missed them.
After folding the letter, she went back into her private space and slept there for the night.
Early the next morning, she went to the tool shed and borrowed a hoe. The ground was still slightly damp—not sticky—perfect for digging.
She swung the hoe and turned over the land she planned to plant, carefully breaking up clods and leveling it.
By the time she finished, the other youths were just waking up. Seeing the plot she had already prepared, they all thought: she’s definitely not lazy.
Li Gang even took a few extra looks, seemingly considering something—maybe whether to pursue her.
If Hu Jiaojiao had known, she would’ve smacked him.
Su Yi looked at the neatly prepared land and praised, “Educated Youth Hu, you’re really capable. Clean up—we’re going to the commune soon.”
Hu Jiaojiao finished her last swing. “Okay.”
After returning the hoe, washing up, and eating two eggs from her private stash, she slung on a military-style shoulder bag, carried a basket and an aluminum lunchbox, and headed toward the village entrance with the others.
Some took an ox cart (one cent per ride), others walked. At the entrance, several village women were already seated, carrying baskets or back carriers.
They greeted Old Liu, the driver, and got on. Soon, the cart set off.
At first it was quiet, but gradually the women began chatting, glancing at the new youths without speaking to them.
The youths chatted among themselves, and before they knew it, an hour had passed—they had arrived at the commune.
“Back at four in the afternoon,” Old Liu said, then lay back and smoked his pipe.
Their first stop was the post office. Hu Jiaojiao bought stamps and envelopes and sent her letter. She even wondered if she might find rare misprinted stamps—but saw nothing special.
Zhang Yan asked why she bought so many.
“In case I don’t have time later. I’ll prepare letters in advance and have someone send them.”
Zhang Yan nodded—she wasn’t willing to spend money on frequent letters.
Next, they went to the scrap station.
Hu Jiaojiao picked up a small broken wooden box and some metal rods. Zhang Yan asked what they were for.
“You’ll see later,” Hu Jiaojiao said.
At checkout, she paid fifty cents and even gave the attendant some fruit candies.
Afterward, they went to the supply and marketing cooperative. Supplies were limited.
At the meat stall, Hu Jiaojiao spotted three large bones. She bought them for twenty cents and asked the butcher to chop them.
Then she and Zhang Yan went to a state-run restaurant.
At first, Zhang Yan hesitated, but Hu Jiaojiao persuaded her to treat herself. They ordered plain noodles.
Later, Hu Jiaojiao secretly returned to buy braised pork to take away, hiding it in her private space.
On the way back, Su Yi openly carried over a jin of pork, drawing everyone’s attention.
A village woman even touched it and tried to invite herself over for dinner.
Su Yi snapped back sharply, embarrassing her into silence.
Hu Jiaojiao thought: wherever the heroine goes, drama follows.
Back at the compound, Lin Yang’s group had already built a stove.
Su Yi suggested cooking pork dumplings. Everyone helped, and by dusk, the dumplings were ready.
Even the older youths were tempted. Su Yi generously gave each of them one dumpling to taste.
The new youths, meanwhile, ate slowly, dipping their dumplings in vinegar and garlic—simple, but satisfying.
Lin Xue suddenly said, “I miss home.”
Her brother patted her shoulder silently.
Hu Jiaojiao also thought of her parents, but after a full meal and a bowl of dumpling soup, that feeling of homesickness faded.