Chapter 26: Two Familiar Figures

Su An sighed, realizing how much faster bicycles were. 

She estimated she could hunt prey every few days in the future. 

Bicycles would be essential if she needed to go to the county town frequently.

She arrived back just in time for the team members to get off work. Everyone was drawn to her, especially when they saw her riding a bicycle.

In the entire Yutou Village production team, only the team leader’s family had a half-old bicycle.  Su An was actually riding one back!

Oh, Su An, you actually bought a bicycle! My goodness, your family is too rich, right? You can even afford a bicycle? An old aunt asked with shining eyes.

The team members called this old aunt Gou Niang. She had seen Su An on the day she arrived at the production team. 

At first, she had mocked Su An’s beauty, saying it couldn’t be eaten and that she didn’t want her son to marry such a delicate, useless city girl. 

But now, seeing that Su An could earn full work points every day and her family seemed to be well-off, she was starting to change her tune.

If her son married Su An, wouldn’t their family be prosperous in the future?  Su An could do all the work, and they could spend her money. 

Look at that bike!  Wow, it was impressive. When Su An married into their family, wouldn’t the bike belong to them?

Su An didn’t know what Gou Niang was thinking. If she did, she would definitely ask her what kind of pillow she slept on at night and what kind of sweet dreams she had.

Su An met the burning eyes of the team members and said, I didn’t buy this. I spent four dollars to buy parts at the scrap yard and assembled it myself. 

I was lucky today and all the parts happened to be there. Look, this is not a new bike. It doesn’t look good after assembly, but at least it can be ridden.

Everyone noticed that Su An’s bike wasn’t new and looked a bit awkward because the front and rear wheels were different. 

But even so, everyone envied her for having a bicycle.

Gou Niang was a little disappointed. She had thought Su An was very rich.  If her family was truly wealthy, she would have just bought a brand new bicycle.

Su An is really capable. She can even assemble it by herself. How much money can she save?

I think Su An is really capable. Look at how hard she works.

Su An didn’t chat with the team members for long.  She rode her assembled bicycle back to the educated youth point.

The old educated youths at the educated youth point were surprised and envious to see her riding a bicycle. 

Su An explained that she had assembled it herself, so they shouldn’t think she was too rich.

Their envy lessened, and they looked at Su An with admiration.

Sun Xinxin was happy to see Su An riding a bicycle. As a friend, she sincerely wished her sister a good life.

After seeing Su An come back, Sun Xinxin went to prepare dinner. They had one fish left, so Sun Xinxin made boiled fish and stir-fried beans, both of which were delicious.

After dinner, Sun Xinxin helped wash the dishes.  Su An was tired after a long day and needed a shower. 

There was a small shower room at the educated youth point, barely big enough for one person.

While Su An showered, Sun Xinxin watched outside.  When Sun Xinxin showered, Su An watched.

Su An was watching outside the shower room, crossing her legs and swaying her body leisurely. Thinking of the more than 3,000 yuan she had gotten from Li San today, she was happy.

At that moment, Su An caught a glimpse of two people entering the newly built room behind the educated youth site. When she looked closer, they had already closed the door.

She felt a sense of familiarity with the two figures, as if she had seen them somewhere before. She had been at the educated youth site for several days, but she had never seen these two people.

But soon, Su An put away her gossip. After waiting for Sun Xinxin to finish washing up, Su An prepared to go to bed early.

At that time, Lin Aodong informed everyone that they wouldn’t go to work the next morning. The educated youth would go up the mountain to collect firewood together. 

The firewood at the educated youth site was almost gone, so they needed to replenish it.

The educated youth had no objection to Lin Aodong’s decision.

The next morning, after breakfast, they went up the mountain to collect firewood under Lin Aodong’s leadership.

It was Sun Xinxin’s first time going up the mountain, and she felt a bit overwhelmed walking on the mountain road.

Su An suggested, Xinxin, why don’t you go back? I’ll help you collect your share.

When Wang Zhaodi heard that Su An was helping Sun Xinxin again, she said jealously, Su An, this is not good, right? Since we are all collecting firewood together, why shouldn’t Sun Xinxin follow?  The eldest daughter of the capitalist is just hypocritical and can’t stand any hardship.

Su An was about to slap Wang Zhaodi, because she was the only one who could talk.

Sun Xinxin grabbed Su An’s hand and said, It’s okay, An An, I can walk. I’m just not used to going up the mountain for the first time.

I’ll be fine in a while. Anyway, it’s okay for me to go back. It’s good to see the world with you guys.

Su An saw that Sun Xinxin wasn’t lying. The little girl was looking at everything with curiosity. Since Sun Xinxin insisted, Su An respected her decision.

Worried that Sun Xinxin would have a hard time going up the mountain, Su An kept supporting her.  Sun Xinxin could barely keep up with everyone.

When they got to a place closer to the mountain, there was more firewood.  They could knock down dead branches from the trees and pick up dead branches on the ground.

Lin Aodong organized everyone to work together. They piled the dead branches they picked up and tied them with the ropes they brought.

Su An wasn’t as fast as everyone else. After picking up several bundles of firewood, they had picked up all the firewood in this area and had to move to another location.

Lin Aodong told everyone to be careful in the mountains because there were many wild animals.  It would be very dangerous if they encountered one.

Of course, the old educated youth knew this, so he was mainly telling the new educated youth.

Su An was with Sun Xinxin, so she could protect the girl if they encountered danger.  It would be better if they could encounter wild animals so she could kill one.

Su An hadn’t taken a few steps when she heard a cry for help.

Oh no, oh no, there’s a wild boar!

Ahhh, help, hurry, hide.

Help, the wild boar is coming, run.

Su An was excited when she heard that a wild boar was coming.