“Well… Comrade Sun, you know the situation in our production team. These are the only conditions we have right now. I really don’t have a better solution. Why don’t you all discuss it and try to squeeze in a bit more?”
“Captain, you’re really putting me in a difficult position. The kang in the youth dorm is at most four meters long. Eight people is already the limit. There are already five female youths—adding five more… are they supposed to stack on top of each other to sleep?”
Sun Xuekun had a mild temperament and rarely spoke so sharply. If it weren’t for the lack of options, he wouldn’t have been so blunt.
Zhou Youfu flushed in embarrassment.
Was it that he didn’t want better conditions for the educated youths? The team was just too poor—there simply wasn’t money to build new housing.
“Comrade Sun, you know what the village is like. Just try to make do. If it really doesn’t work, I’ll have someone build another kang tomorrow.”
“But Captain, there’s barely any floor space as it is. If we build another kang, there won’t even be room left to put things.”
“Well, these are the conditions of the team. If you really can’t accept it, you might as well go to the commune and ask to be transferred to a better-off team.”
Seeing that nothing he suggested worked, Zhou Youfu grew frustrated and spoke bluntly.
The commune leaders had only ever offered empty reassurances about sending educated youths—they never actually solved any real problems. He had his own grievances too.
“Um… Captain, I have an idea. Would you consider it?”
Jiang Yan couldn’t help speaking up when she saw the conversation reach a deadlock.
Just hearing that ten girls would have to squeeze onto one kang had already given her a headache—and now they were talking about adding another one in the same room…
She came to the countryside, not to suffer like this.
“Let’s hear it.”
At this point, Zhou Youfu didn’t care who spoke—as long as the problem could be solved.
“Captain, are there any empty houses in the village? I’m willing to pay rent.”
Jiang Yan couldn’t help speaking up when she saw the conversation reach a deadlock.
Just hearing that ten girls would have to squeeze onto one kang had already given her a headache—and now they were talking about adding another one in the same room…
She came to the countryside, not to suffer like this.
“Let’s hear it.”
At this point, Zhou Youfu didn’t care who spoke—as long as the problem could be solved.
“Captain, are there any empty houses in the village? I’m willing to pay rent.”
“Comrade Jiang, you must be joking. Every household here is crowded—there are no spare houses.”
“Then… what if we pay to build one ourselves? But to be clear—if we fund the construction, it would be our private property. The team cannot assign other educated youths to live there.”
“Well…”
Zhou Youfu hesitated.
In the past, there weren’t so many educated youths, and some got married or returned to the city, so housing had always been sufficient.
He had never encountered a situation like this before and didn’t know how to handle it.
“How about this—you all eat first. I’ll go discuss it with the other cadres and come back with an answer.”
With that, Zhou Youfu hurried off.
In truth, he was inclined to agree.
If this worked, building the house would require labor, and furnishing it afterward would also bring income to the villagers.
But even as the team leader, he couldn’t decide everything alone—he still had to consult the others.
After Zhou Youfu left, Sun Xuekun sighed.
Even if this female youth moved out, the rest would still be cramped. The fundamental problem hadn’t been solved.
Maybe he should just quit being the youth team leader—it was too stressful.
Still, complaints aside, he had to shoulder the responsibility for now.
“Since we’ll all be living together, let’s introduce ourselves and get to know each other.
I’ll start. My name is Sun Xuekun, 25 years old. I’ve been in the countryside for seven years. I’m the oldest and most experienced here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask—I’ll help however I can.”
After he finished, he looked at the person beside him, who immediately understood.
“Hello everyone, my name is Wang Peng, 23, from Haishi. I’ve been here for five years.”
Then the other older youths followed in turn.
“Hello everyone, I’m Wu Zheng, 22, from Haishi. I’ve been here for two years.”
“I’m Wang Gang, 20, from Yuanzhou. I’ve been here for one year.”
After the male youths finished, it was the women’s turn.
“Hello everyone, I’m Qian Yunfen, 24, from Yunshi. I’ve been here for five years.”
“I’m Shao Guirong, 22, from Su Province. I’ve been here for three years.”
“I’m Chai Xin, 20, from Tang Province. I’ve been here for one year.”
“I’m Xia Yilan. I’ve been here for five years, from Kunshi.”
“I’m Lü Dan, 20, from Magang. I’ve been here for two years.”
“Now the new arrivals, please introduce yourselves.” Sun Xuekun stepped in smoothly.
“I’ll go first. Hello everyone, I’m Jiang Yan, 19, from the capital.”
“Hello everyone, I’m Zhao Nianze, 20, also from the capital.”
“Hello everyone, I’m Li Jun, 20, from Nan Province.”
“Hello everyone, I’m Zhao Ruicheng, 19, also from Nan Province.”
“Hello everyone, I’m Wang Fangfang, 19, from Nan Province.”
“Hello everyone, I’m Chen Zhaodi, 18, from Nan Province.”
“Hello everyone, I’m Liu Ying, 18, from Nan Province.”
“Hello everyone, I’m Yu Zhaozhao, 18, from Nan Province.”
“On behalf of the senior youths, I welcome all of you. From now on, we’ll be living together, so let’s support each other and stay united.”
As Sun Xuekun finished, the older youths applauded.
“Thank you, everyone. We will.”
The female lead truly lived up to her role—whenever there was a chance to speak, she took it.
Liu Ying had wanted to say something too, but seeing Yu Zhaozhao remain detached, she held back.
Her grandmother had once told her: being soft and indecisive could be both a weakness and a strength. As long as she followed the right, capable person, she wouldn’t go wrong.
In her eyes, the smartest among this group was Zhaozhao—she never started trouble, but she could fight back when provoked. That was just right.
“Since everyone knows each other now, the new arrivals can go inside and rest. Tonight, we’ll cook something nice to welcome you. You can eat from our grain for now—just return it tomorrow after you receive your own supplies.”
This had always been the rule at the youth dorm: vegetables were shared, but grain was divided individually.
“Alright, thank you for your hard work,” Jiang Yan said.
The others nodded their thanks and went to rest.
Yu Zhaozhao and Liu Ying didn’t go inside. Even if they did, there was nowhere for them to stay—better to wait and see what the team leader decided.
As for Jiang Yan’s proposal, Yu Zhaozhao had already made up her mind.
In the original story, Jiang Yan successfully applied to build her own house. Zhao Nianze had done the same.
The remaining nine female youths were left behind, crowded together in the dorm.