“Does Xiaocao have a problem with Song Zhiqing (educated youth)? She seemed like she really dislikes her,” one of the aunties muttered as a few women gathered to gossip after Xiaocao left.

“Who knows? Xiaocao’s been acting more temperamental lately. I heard her family’s trying to find a match for her, but she doesn’t want to marry and got into a big fight with them. Her grandma even gave her a beating,” another aunt whispered in a hushed tone, as if sharing a secret. “And there’s something else—my son told me he saw Xiaocao bringing things to Luo Zhiqing before.”

“Really? You mean Luo Zhiqing, the one who’s supposed to marry Jiang Xiaowan?”

If Song Wei had heard the girl’s voice just now, she would have recognized her as the same girl who was secretly meeting with Luo Yecheng when she and Li Juan stumbled upon them.

Meanwhile, Song Wei and Heidan had returned to the shared residence for the educated youth, where they found everyone’s attention suddenly fixed on them. From the looks on their faces, Song Wei knew that the incident with the Lin family had spread.

“Song Zhiqing is so generous. That was a watch! Se didn’t ask for compensation for the broken watch, and now she’s even feeding and housing him,” sneered Xu Laidi, unable to hold her tongue any longer. Her eyes and voice dripped with envy.

If that were her watch, she would’ve cherished it and protected it like a treasure.

Is Song Wei stupid or what? The watch broke, and not only did she not make anyone pay, but she took in Heidan as well. What good is a young child who can’t do any real work? That watch was worth over 130 yuan!

Song Wei gave Xu Laidi a look but didn’t respond. She just picked up her things and headed straight to her room. Heidan followed her, carrying the firewood to the back courtyard, where he dropped the load and quickly ran to Song Wei’s room, eager to check on the rabbits.

Frustrated, Xu Laidi stamped her foot. “What’s her problem?”

Gao Le smirked, leaning against the door frame with a handful of sunflower seeds. “Isn’t it obvious? Song Zhiqing doesn’t want to pay attention to you?”

Zhao Su was very grateful to Song Wei for her idea and also chimed in with a smirk. “Exactly. So what if it’s a watch? She can handle it however she wants. Why are you so worried about it?”

Xu Laidi hadn’t expected them to defend Song Wei. Red with frustration, she snapped back, “I’m only trying to help her out! You guys just don’t appreciate it.”

Gao Le scoffed. “Please. Just not getting into fights with her is about all the help you’re capable of giving. No one’s buying that you’re ‘looking out’ for her.” He finished his sunflower seeds and, still grinning, strolled off to the back courtyard with Zhao Su in tow.

The two of them, now able to avoid too much labor and still earn their three work points each day, felt light and carefree—almost like they were on vacation compared to how exhausted they used to be after a full day’s work.

By the time they reached the back courtyard, Song Wei had already taken out the rabbits. She pointed to the pile of firewood that Heidan had gathered for Gao Le and Zhao Su.

“That’s for you two,” she said. Gao Le quickly handed Heidan a dime for his work, grinning broadly.

“We’ve collected five bundles today!” Gao Le boasted. Heidan had gathered one, the young girl from the village had contributed another, and another boy had brought three.

Since Heidan had spent most of the day with Song Wei helping gather mushrooms and walnuts and roasting a rabbit, he only managed to gather one bundle. The girl’s strict family, which favored boys over girls, required her to do many chores, so she could only bring one bundle before having to rush back home. The young boy, on the other hand, was motivated by the chance to earn money and had eagerly gathered three bundles, earning three dimes.

Even though a bundle of firewood only cost a dime, Gao Le and Zhao Su found themselves spending nearly eighty cents a day to hire help. If they kept it up, they’d be spending over 20 yuan a month—more than the monthly salary of a factory day laborer. This plan was only sustainable for Gao Le and Zhao Su, who could afford it; most people couldn’t spare that kind of money.

When Gao Le and Zhao Su left, Song Wei and Heidan busied themselves spreading out the mushrooms and walnuts. They’d have to set them out to dry in the sun tomorrow morning.

“You keep an eye on things here. I have to go see Li Juan for something,” Song Wei told Heidan.

Heidan nodded earnestly, focusing on spreading the mushrooms in an even layer so they wouldn’t rot overnight. Every so often, he sneaked a glance at the basket, where six baby rabbits were wriggling. His face lit up with excitement each time.

Meanwhile, Song Wei headed out with some pine nuts she’d dried earlier, looking for Li Juan.

“Li Juan, would you mind helping me toast these pine nuts later? I also need to prepare some mushroom paste,” she said when she found her.

Li Juan, who was already hard at work tending to her own responsibilities, nodded. “Sure. I can help you with it tonight,” she replied cheerfully.

There was only one large iron pot for communal use in the dormitory, so they would have to wait until the others had finished using it.

“Thank you,” Song Wei said, thinking that she’d cook one of the rabbits tomorrow and share the meal with Li Juan as repayment.

Leaving the pine nuts, she headed back to her own room to work out what to do with the rabbits. They would dig if left loose on the ground, so she needed to find a cage for them. Since it was already late, that would have to wait until the next day.

For now, she kept the three large rabbits tied and put the six babies in a basket. Heidan enthusiastically made a little nest for them out of dry grass and began feeding them leaves he’d gathered on the way down the mountain. Watching the tiny rabbits munch on grass with their fuzzy mouths filled him with joy.

For the three adult rabbits, he tossed some grass in front of them and let them eat on their own.

“Heidan, come on. Bath time,” Song Wei called from the backyard, where she’d set up a tub of water.

“Coming!” Heidan ran out, his little face flushed as he clutched his clothes and shyly stood by the tub.

“I can wash myself,” he mumbled, embarrassed.

Song Wei stepped away. “Alright, call me when you’re done.” She couldn’t help but chuckle at his shyness.

While Heidan washed up, Song Wei returned to check on Li Juan, who was busy toasting the pine nuts. “I’ll handle the stirring,” Song Wei offered, knowing her own strength would make the job easier.

Li Juan, not one to argue, focused on tending the fire and brought up Heidan. “Are you really planning to take care of Heidan? Your food rations must be running low.”

While she sympathized with Heidan, raising a child was a big responsibility.

“I’ll manage,” Song Wei replied confidently.

In the wasteland where resources were incredibly scarce, she could support herself. With the resources she have here, if she can’t support herself and a little kid, then her previous life must have been lived in vain. Besides,
Heidan was also trying hard to support himself, so it wasn’t a big pressure for her.