Chapter 48 Lin Xiaodou Asks the Team Leader to Change Houses

It wasn’t long before the brigade leader finally returned with a crowd in tow.

The first time the educated youth had come to the countryside, they’d at least had a bullock cart to ride in, so they weren’t particularly exhausted. But this batch was different. Except for Lin Xiaodou, every one of them looked utterly worn out and bedraggled.

Three hours trekking along mountain paths had left everyone aching and weary, their spirits thoroughly drained. The ordeal of the journey had smothered whatever enthusiasm they’d had for rural life. The thought of possibly spending years in such a place filled each heart with resistance.

Zhang Lian had even fallen along the way, scraping her knee until it bled. Already in low spirits, the fall made her feel even worse.

Upon arriving at the compound designated for the educated youth, they were confronted by a row of crude wooden huts. Zhang Lian, who always put on a gentle facade in public, nearly lost her composure.

It was only after a trip to the latrine that Zhang Lian’s emotions finally exploded.

“What is this wretched excuse for a toilet!” she screamed, bursting out after only a brief stay inside.

Back in the capital, even though her family was poor and they lived in the shantytown, there was at least a public restroom. It had squat toilets, was cleaned every other day—decent enough.

But what she’d just seen couldn’t even be called a toilet! There was only a large vat with two planks laid across it, swaying dangerously as you stood atop them. Worse yet, inside the vat was a nauseating mixture of yellow filth and writhing white maggots...

One careless move and you’d fall right in. The image was too much to bear.

She doubled over, eyes brimming with tears, retching uncontrollably.

A few of the older female educated youth gathered around to comfort her.

“Comrade, are you alright? Let me bring you some water.”

“It’s alright, when I first arrived I was so terrified I cried, and didn’t use the toilet for two whole days. You get used to it.”

“Yeah, that’s how it is for everyone. Give it time...”

Other new arrivals chimed in as well, their gentle words creating a warm and sympathetic atmosphere.

Watching this, Lin Xiaodou arched a brow. Apparently, aside from the main characters and their supporting cast, everyone else was fairly normal—helpful, even. There weren’t as many troublemakers in the world as one might think. It was just her misfortune to always run into them.

Once all the educated youth had assembled, everyone began to introduce themselves.

Lin Yang spoke first. He was the head of the compound and the most senior among them.

“I’ve been here just over a year. In that time, three batches of educated youth have come, but only thirteen of us remain.”

A newly arrived young man asked, “Why so few? Where did the others go?”

There were eleven newcomers this time, so surely there had been more before.

Lin Yang replied, “The work here is too hard. Some people found connections and went back to the city or transferred elsewhere; some married into the village. The rest of us are all that’s left.”

Hearing this, the newcomers looked even more bewildered and lost.

Most of them had arrived full of passion for building up the countryside. Yet on their very first day, regret had already begun to creep in.

“It’s alright. Fate brought us together. In a few years, we’ll be able to go back. A little hardship won’t kill us,” an optimistic veteran reassured them with a smile.

Others nodded in agreement. Since they were already here, they might as well work hard; life would always offer some hope.

Lin Xiaodou, armed with knowledge of history, stayed silent. She didn’t know what to say. The female lead, Chu Ling, who had returned with memories of her past life, snorted quietly—“A few years? It’ll be seven before we get out.”

If not for Guoqiang taking care of her in her previous life, she wouldn’t have survived such hardship.

Afterward, the newcomers each carried their belongings into their rooms to settle in. Once everything was in order, they all went to find the brigade leader.

He’d told them earlier to collect their grain rations from him once they’d unpacked. The grain was loaned by the brigade and would be deducted from their share at the end of the year. Of course, if they had money, they could buy grain from the brigade directly and avoid trouble later.

Among the female youth, only Chu Ling and Lin Xiaodou paid for their own grain. Zhang Lian watched with envy but could do nothing about it. Chu Ling had already stopped speaking to her, and as for Lin Xiaodou, they were practically enemies—no chance of sharing rations there.

Once the grain was distributed, the brigade leader assigned a few of the young men and some villagers to carry the sacks back to the compound.

Lin Xiaodou and Chu Ling stayed behind; both had matters to discuss with the brigade leader.

Chu Ling, eager to see the male lead Han Guoqiang, spoke first. “Brigade Leader, the sleeping quarters are all communal, and I’m not used to it. Could I stay with a villager’s family instead?”

He gave her a measured look. “I advise you to stay in the compound—with company, it’s safer.”

Previously, a female educated youth had boarded with a villager, but that family had had ill intentions, and things ended very badly. Since then, he’d been wary of sending young women to live with villagers. In this poor mountain village, many men couldn’t afford a wife. The sight of a delicate city girl was enough to stir trouble.

Chu Ling, having spent seven years in this village in her past life, understood his concerns perfectly.

“Brigade Leader, please just find me a respectable family with few members. I’ll be fine.”

She added, “Preferably a household with a small family and good character. That way, you can rest easy too.”

Han Guoqiang’s family consisted only of his widowed mother and younger sister—a simple household. He was known in the village as an upstanding young man. Not only was he skilled at hunting and farmwork, but also especially filial. The elders all spoke highly of him.

With Chu Ling’s request, the brigade leader immediately thought of the Han family. “There is the Han family—the widow and her children are easy to get along with, but...”

Chu Ling knew she’d succeeded and quickly promised, “I won’t be living there for free. My family sends me money and ration coupons every month. I’ll give them some food to improve their lives.”

“Alright, I’ll speak to the Han family later. You’ll stay in the compound tonight and move over tomorrow morning.” He added, “But remember, this was your idea. If anything happens, don’t come blaming me.”

“Don’t worry, I understand. Thank you, Brigade Leader!” Chu Ling, having gotten her way, left in high spirits.

The brigade leader then turned to Lin Xiaodou, his stern face softening into a kindly smile. “Comrade Lin, is there something you need?”

“Brigade Leader, I’m not comfortable with communal sleeping either. I’d like to live elsewhere.”

“What? You want to move too?” He was surprised, then offered, “The Han family is nice. Why not stay there with Chu Ling?”

Lin Xiaodou shook her head. “I prefer peace and quiet, want to live alone. Is there any spare house in the village?”

She had her own secret—a space so vast she couldn’t let anyone find out.

“Living alone? Absolutely not!” The brigade leader grew anxious. “You’re too pretty to be living by yourself—it’s not safe!”

Lin Xiaodou looked around the courtyard, her gaze settling on the stone table under the old tree.

With the brigade leader watching in confusion, she walked over, placed her right hand under the stone table, and lifted it—over two hundred pounds—clean off the ground.

“Do I really look like someone who isn’t safe?”