Chapter 21: Nourishing the Body and Strengthening the Spirit

“Since all the educated youth came from the city, although they have lived in the village for some time, they have not yet fully adapted to rural life... I apologize on behalf of Shu Jun Du and ask for your understanding.” Zhang Yang did not hold Shen Yiming responsible for this incident.

He waved his hand and said, “Everyone should be accountable for their own words and actions. It’s not your fault, so I won’t blame you.”

Only then did Shen Yiming refocus on the matter at hand.

“So, when do you plan to start selecting members for the militia? I heard from the elders in the group that there might still be wolves in the mountains. We don’t know when they might come down to the village again... it’s best to be prepared early!”

Zhang Yang was anxious about this as well. But since the battalion leader trusted him and had entrusted this responsibility to him, he could not make hasty decisions.

“I’ll go door to door today to collect the names of those interested in joining. Once the list is confirmed, we’ll start training everyone to use the rifles,” Zhang Yang said.

Shen Yiming looked forward eagerly. “I’ll head back now and wait for your news!”

The educated youth and Li Huifang thanked him repeatedly before leaving together.

With only family left at home, Zhang Yan comforted the crying Yaya, holding the child while speaking angrily, “Those educated youth from the county town are really bullying people! How is this any different from robbing?”

Even honest and straightforward Li Huifang could hear the domineering arrogance in Shu Jun Du’s behavior just now.

“Yes, young people’s stomachs are empty, and it’s understandable they want meat... but our child risked his life, entering the mountains, fighting wolves, and changing guns. We don’t ask for thanks, but there’s no need to come complaining to our door either.”

Hearing this, Zhang Yang’s heart warmed somewhat.

In his past life, his family’s gentleness had led to being oppressed and bullied in every matter.

Now, given another chance by fate, he vowed not only to feed his family well but also to strengthen their spirits!

So Zhang Yang took this opportunity to share his thoughts with Li Huifang.

“Mother, sister, in others’ eyes, my life is nothing.”

“If something happens, the only ones who will shed tears for me are you two.”

“But if I get hurt, I’ll just become what they call ‘everyone’s property’.”

“Everyone wants a piece of the meat!”

“The world is already harsh; with a few such petty people around, sooner or later you’ll be sold out and still be counting the money for the betrayers!”

Li Huifang and Zhang Yan listened, their eyes filled with emotion.

Zhang Wen and Zhang Fei were also affected.

Little Feifei, just three years old and barely met strangers, had silently admired the pretty educated youth sister she saw earlier.

But now, hearing her brother’s words, she suddenly understood everything clearly.

She even recalled the earlier incident and felt a pang of sympathy for her brother.

“Mother! Don’t let them in!” Feifei said in a muffled voice with tears.

Zhang Wen was equally indignant. “Right! From now on, I’ll guard the door! No strangers are allowed into our home!”

“Brother is the best! No one can bully our brother!” Feifei put her hands on her hips, her small body radiating courage and determination.

How wonderful.

Zhang Yang’s eyes grew moist, and Zhao Dong was wiping tears openly.

He would have been fine if he hadn’t cried, but his tears only ignited Zhang Yang’s anger.

“How can you have the nerve to cry?” Zhang Yang scolded Zhao Dong, “Shu Jun Du must have known you like her and is bullying you because of it.”

“Huh? No way?” Zhao Dong was stunned.

Zhang Yang sighed in helplessness and pulled Zhao Dong aside for a quiet talk.

“I figured it out. You’ve been blinded by a beauty trap!”

“But since you’re my brother, I’ll be blunt with you.”

“The wolves we sold together—when it comes to your share of the industrial tickets, it’s entirely yours; you decide what to do with them.”

“Whether you buy pots and pans for the house or save up to buy a bicycle to chase the educated youth girls, it’s your choice!”

“But if you really marry Shu Jun Du in the future, we’d better keep our distance.”

“That woman is ambitious, and I’m just one person—fragile and vulnerable! I can’t withstand her schemes!”

Zhao Dong’s heart pounded in fear. “Yangzi, don’t talk nonsense! Nothing’s going on! I—I just think she’s pretty, that’s all! Heh heh, besides, there are plenty of pretty girls in the educated youth camp. If not her, I’ll just like someone else!”

Zhang Yang sighed.

What a naive boy.

Does he really think he can win over these educated youth girls?

In his previous life, he had witnessed too many harsh realities.

Many educated youths, once given the chance to return to the city, abandoned their spouses and children...

Even though the villagers treated them well, no matter how good it was, nothing compared to being a high-status city dweller!

Zhang Yang truly didn’t want Zhao Dong to go through all that.

“Dongzi, once we’ve filled our stomachs, we’ll figure out how to make some money... I’ll take you to a bigger city to see even more beautiful women!”

People shouldn’t live like frogs in a well.

Once their horizons broadened, they’d never settle for ordinary educated youth girls!

“The world outside is vast; you’ll have plenty of chances to choose a wife!”

With these words, Zhang Yang felt more hopeful.

He cleaned the cart, returned it to the villagers, and then began preparing to recruit new members for the militia.

In less than a day, the list was compiled.

Zhangjiatun wasn’t large, but including the educated youth camp’s applicants, there were over thirty names!

“Thirty people but only nine rifles—competition for spots is fierce,” Zhang Yang thought.

With limited guns and bullets, he couldn’t just let all candidates touch the rifles immediately.

He needed another way to test their courage!

“Dongzi, get ready. For the next few days, we’re going on night patrols in the mountains,” Zhang Yang said.

Zhao Dong sensed a plan and quickly asked, “Are we taking everyone?”

Zhang Yang shook his head. “Can’t take them all.”

“The able-bodied men of the village are mostly on the list. If we pulled everyone out at once, and something urgent came up needing manpower, there’d be no one left to help.”

“My plan is to split these thirty people into five groups for evaluation.”

“Each time, only six or seven people will join us for the night patrol.”

“Fewer people make it easier to observe and understand them.”

“With limited guns, we must use our resources wisely to select an elite team!”

That very night, Zhang Yang followed the plan and called seven men to join him and Zhao Dong to ascend the mountain.

“Weren’t we supposed to get guns?” someone in the group asked, looking dubiously at Zhao Dong’s spear and firewood knife.

Shen Yiming was among them.

He, too, was puzzled.

He had seen rifles at Zhang Yang’s house—why wasn’t Zhang Yang letting them use them?

Was this young militia captain trying to make things difficult for them just to show off his authority?