Chapter 24: Hard to Find a Match

The train attendant, after understanding the situation, went back to report and seek approval from the higher-ups.

Song Yue and Zhang Shumin waited in their seats.

Before long, the attendant returned, saying the leader had approved it. He took the medicine and led them to the kitchen car.

Not only did Zhang Shumin bring out the medicine, but she also took out a small clay pot for brewing it, then followed Song Yue to the kitchen.

An hour later, they returned.

Song Yue sat down to rest for a while and changed her bandage.

As the gauze was removed, the wound on her forehead was exposed to Lin He and Ding Ping, who were sitting across from her.

Zhang Shumin also stared blankly at the wound on Song Yue’s forehead.

Diagonally across, Zhao Zirui caught a glimpse of it unintentionally and froze.

Lin He spoke up. “Comrade Song, this wound doesn’t look like it was caused by someone hitting you.”

Song Yue applied medicine while looking in the mirror. “I fell.”

Lin He was skeptical. “A fall wouldn’t cause this kind of injury, would it?”

“Well, here it is.”

“Tsk.” Lin He clicked his tongue. “You’re definitely going to have a scar. That’ll make it hard to find a match.”

Song Yue finished applying the medicine and started wrapping the gauze. “Then I just won’t look for one.”

Lin He: “….”

Once done, Song Yue packed up her things, leaned back, and closed her eyes to rest.

Lin He glanced at her, a smirk forming at the corner of his lips.

He found her quite interesting.

…

Time flew by.

Just when Song Yue felt like she was about to collapse, they finally reached their destination!

Hearing the announcement, she quickly grabbed her luggage.

Lin He wanted to help, but she refused outright and swiftly took all her things down herself—giving him no chance to intervene.

With her things in hand, Song Yue couldn’t wait to rush to the train car’s exit, eager to stretch her limbs and breathe in fresh air.

The smell in the carriage over the past five days had nearly made her lose her sense of smell.

But just as she was about to leave, Zhang Shumin called out to her.

“Song Yue, wait.”

Song Yue paused and turned around. “?”

Zhang Shumin handed her a package. “Thank you for what you did yesterday.”

“I didn’t know how to properly thank you, so here’s a pack of peach crisps. I haven’t touched them. You should take them.”

Ding Ping, who was collecting his luggage, interjected, “Comrade Zhang, we’re all from the same commune. You can give them to Comrade Song after we get there.”

Zhang Shumin smiled. “But didn’t Comrade Lin mention earlier that the commune is divided into brigades, and the brigades into smaller teams? We might not end up together.”

Hearing this, Song Yue understood immediately.

Zhang Shumin pressed the package of peach crisps into Song Yue’s hands.

“Song Yue, take it. If you don’t, I won’t feel at ease.”

“Alright, I’ll take it.” Song Yue accepted it. “Thanks.”

Zhang Shumin looked at her, eyes slightly red. “I should be the one thanking you.”

Song Yue glanced at the train car exit, where a crowd had already gathered. “Okay, I’m heading out now.”

With that, she slung her bag over her shoulder and strode towards the door.

“Wait—”

Lin He wanted to say something, but she was already gone. He muttered, “We’re all going to the same place, what’s the rush?”

Zhang Shumin glanced at Lin He, then at Song Yue, who was squeezing towards the exit, and chuckled.

They all finished gathering their luggage and waited for the train to stop at the station.

“Ding-ling-ling—”

As the bell rang, the train gradually came to a halt.

The carriage door opened.

Song Yue hurried outside.

As soon as she stepped off the train and inhaled the fresh air, she nearly teared up.

At this moment, she deeply missed modern transportation—especially airplanes.

But nostalgia aside, she needed to check in.

Before departing, she had asked the registration office in Rong City, and they had told her that someone would be there to receive them after they exited the station.

Indeed, upon stepping out, she spotted a middle-aged man holding up a large sign at the exit.

It read: Kuai Zi Mountain Commune Educated Youth Registration Office.

Besides her commune, there were also signs for Qing Shan Commune, Hong Qi Commune, Jian She Commune, and Wa Wa Mountain Commune.

A total of five communes were being received here.

Song Yue was the first to report in.

The middle-aged man checked the list and spoke kindly, “Comrade Song, besides you, there are nine more comrades.”

“We need to wait for them before heading out together.”

Song Yue nodded.

Waiting wasn’t an issue.

The others would be out soon anyway.

The man glanced at the bandage on her forehead and couldn’t help but ask, “By the way, Comrade Song, what happened to your head?”

“I fell.” Song Yue then asked, “Uncle, how should I address you?”

The middle-aged man chuckled. “My surname is Li. I was assigned by the commune to pick you all up.”

“So it’s Uncle Li.” Song Yue discreetly took out a handful of fruit candies and slipped them into his pocket. “It’s our first meeting—please have some candy, Uncle Li.”

Li Jianguo’s eyes twitched. He reached into his pocket, trying to return them. “I have bad teeth. I don’t eat candy.”

Song Yue grinned. “Then you can take them home for your wife or kids.”

Li Jianguo hesitated for a moment. “Well, thank you then, Comrade Song.”

Song Yue smiled. “Uncle Li, Uncle Li—I already call you Uncle. No need to be so formal.”

Li Jianguo: …

This little girl is quick with words. She might get tricked in the future.

Is it too late to return the candy now?

While they chatted, Liu Wei and Li Mei arrived.

“Comrade Song, is this where we’re supposed to be?”

Song Yue glanced at them and nodded. “Yes.”

Li Jianguo registered their names.

Shortly after, Zhang Shumin, Ding Ping, and Li Jun arrived as well.

The last to show up were naturally Li Xinyue, Zhao Zirui, and Lin He.

Li Xinyue and Zhao Zirui each carried a suitcase, while Lin He had a large bag slung over his back and carried extra belongings behind them—looking like their servant.

Liu Wei, who had a slight impression of Lin He, lost all interest upon seeing he didn’t have a suitcase and was carrying luggage like her.

Li Xinyue and Zhao Zirui, a golden couple, instantly drew the attention of many onlookers.

Li Jianguo, seeing their luggage and fancy attire, felt a headache coming on.

Two spoiled ones, huh?

No way—he had to send these two to a different brigade.

“Tsk.” Lin He raised his eyebrows at Song Yue. “You rushed out, but still had to wait for us in the end.”

Song Yue glanced at him. “I just wanted some fresh air.”

Li Jianguo finished registration.

Closing his notebook, he glanced at the ten of them. “Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s go.”

Li Xinyue frowned. “Where are we going?”

Li Jianguo explained, “Comrade Xiao Li, we’ll be taking a vehicle back to the commune now.”

“Huh?” Li Xinyue’s face fell. “We still have to walk to the vehicle?”

She pointed at the other commune groups. “Aren’t they getting directly on buses?”

Following her gaze, Song Yue noticed that Hong Qi, Qing Shan, and Jian She Communes all had buses.

Their educated youths boarded them right away.

Li Jianguo cleared his throat to get their attention before he spoke—