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Not long after everyone had finished washing up, Sun Dongxu returned from outside. Upon seeing the group in the courtyard, he grinned widely.
“Yo, everyone’s up! Looks like I’ve about guessed the time correctly!”
“Camp Leader Sun!”
A young man just began to speak when Sun Dongxu interrupted him.
“Wait, wait, wait, Comrade! We’re all comrades here. You can call me Comrade Sun or Old Educated Youth Sun, no need for all the formalities. Titles like ‘Comrade’ or Camp Leader’ are just for the villagers to hear.”
The group smiled slightly at his words, feeling a bit closer to this “Camp Leader” after all.
Only Wen Nuan knew that despite what Sun Dongxu said, in reality, he quite enjoyed being called “Camp Leader.” It was as though he really were some kind of experienced leader.
To put it plainly, he had an addiction to authority! He was somewhat hypocritical. The Sun Dongxu everyone was seeing now was just the version he was putting on.
In reality, Sun Dongxu wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic. In his heart, he was indifferent toward everyone. When she was targeted by others in the past, this “Camp Leader” never once stepped in to mediate.
He simply stood by, coldly watching her struggle on her own. Since Zhang Zhenzhen’s family had a good background, every now and then, she’d have a big meal, and that could allow him to profit from it as well.
As for Wen Nuan, she was nothing but a poor soul—someone who couldn’t even feed herself properly or keep warm.
“Then I’ll call you Comrade Sun. My name is Li, Li Datong. I wanted to ask if there’s anywhere in the village that sells cabinets.”
“Hello, Comrade Li. I was just about to talk to you about this. Since you’ve just arrived, you must have a lot of things to buy.
I’m back now to mainly introduce you to some of the little rules for the educated youth here, and then I’ll take you to get your rations and help you get some furniture.
But right now, there’s no buying and selling going on. We’ll be exchanging with the locals. They need vouchers, and we need cabinets. It’s not a business deal, understand?”
“Understood… I misspoke just now.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. These are small things. Over time, you’ll all get to know how things work.”
Sun Dongxu looked the two new educated youths up and down. His sharp eyes flickered with calculation. Just from their clothing and appearance, Sun Dongxu mentally categorized them into ranks, judging their worth.
“Next, let me tell you about the meal arrangements for us educated youths. Now, at our place, everyone eats together in a collective.
The men are responsible for chopping firewood and fetching water, while the women handle cooking and washing the dishes. We follow a rotating schedule, and each person contributes their share of rations based on their own appetite—what you contribute is what you get.
The vegetable garden in the women’s dormitory was started by the senior educated youths, of course. If you choose to eat together with everyone, then the vegetables from the garden can be shared by all.
However, if you prefer to eat separately, you’ll have to set up your own garden and provide your own cooking pot and stove. The supplies in the kitchen here are all for the senior educated youths.”
Sun Dongxu paused for a moment here, then continued, giving some details about working hours and the rules for receiving rations.
“Alright, that’s all I have to say for now. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me at any time.
Now, I’ll take you to the brigade office to collect your rations and also show you where Zhang the carpenter’s house is!
As for the meal arrangements, don’t rush it. Take your time to think it over before making a decision.”
“Then thank you, Comrade Sun. Being newcomers, we’re lucky to have such a warm and responsible Camp Leader like you. Otherwise, we’d really be at a loss!”
“Oh, no, no, it’s nothing. It’s all part of my duty. You’re being too polite!”
Watching Sun Dongxu, who was practically floating with pride from the flattery of several of the men, Wen Nuan turned her head and rolled her eyes. It was truly a bit of an eyesore.
The group followed Sun Dongxu in a grand procession toward the brigade office, but Wen Nuan was busy contemplating how to move out of the educated youth camp.
She had no desire to mix with these hypocritical people day in and day out. It was a waste of time. With that kind of idle time, she might as well focus on improving her skills.
Speaking of which, her Yin-Yang Tai Chi Fist had never found the right opportunity to be put to use. She was still at a beginner’s level.
To truly improve her practical abilities, she needed to practice diligently and consistently. After all, martial arts wasn’t something that could be mastered in a short time.
So, even for the sake of practicing martial arts, she couldn’t stay in the educated youth camp forever. Not only were there too many people, and too many eyes watching, but there was also no privacy at all.
The real problem was figuring out how to move out and where to go. Since the senior generation of educated youths didn’t have the resources for this, they hadn’t paid attention to such matters.
After all, back then, it wasn’t about anything other than working all day or figuring out how to avoid Zhang Zhenzhen and the others’ pranks.
At the brigade office, Accountant Zhao Xigui was sitting at a desk, busy with his calculations, looking as though he were completely immersed in his work.
“Knock, knock…”
Sun Dongxu knocked on the door twice before walking in.
“Uncle Zhao, are you busy? I brought the new educated youths here to collect their rations!”
Zhao Xigui put down his pen and couldn’t help but sigh. He glanced at the new educated youths behind Sun Dongxu, pursed his lips, and said:
“There are just two new educated youths, right? The brigade leader told me about you. Are you going to use your work points to pay, or are you paying with your own money?”
When he mentioned the latter option, Zhao Xigui deliberately emphasized the words, making it clear he was hoping they’d choose to pay with money.
After all, there wasn’t much food left in the brigade’s stores, and the accounts didn’t have much money either. If the new educated youths opted to pay with their own money, the brigade’s accounts would get a little boost.
Unfortunately, most of the educated youths still chose to use their work points to settle debts. After all, people with families as well-off as Zhang Zhenzhen’s were rare.
Although most of the educated youths had brought some money with them to the countryside, the amount was limited, and they kept it for emergencies. No one wanted to spend their money on things like this.
Wen Nuan, though she had money, was still modest and chose to use her work points to settle the debt, as she knew she could earn them back.
When she first arrived in the countryside, she earned a work point or two in the first few days, but later, it was mostly around six work points on average.
In the countryside, a woman who could earn six work points was already considered quite capable. Many of the older women in the village had praised her for it. Unfortunately, her character was too timid.
However, in this life, she didn’t have to work that hard. Earning six work points regularly would be enough. After all, most of the female educated youths at the camp could only manage six work points.
A few, like Zhang Zhenzhen, could only earn a single work point. If it weren’t for their families’ subsidies, they would have starved to death in the countryside.
After taking care of the rations, Sun Dongxu led everyone on a tour around the village.
He made sure to point out the brigade leader’s house, as well as the houses of several other village leaders. Finally, he showed them the location of Zhang the carpenter’s house.
Once the rations were delivered back to the educated youth camp, Sun Dongxu returned to his work, while the new educated youths went together to Zhang the carpenter’s house.
On the way to Zhang’s house, Li Datong took the lead in starting a conversation.
“Comrades, what do you think about the meal arrangements? As new educated youths, should we eat together with the Senior educated youths?”
“Let’s eat together! Otherwise, we’d have to buy a pot and get other things. That’s not so bad, but buying an iron pot requires industrial coupons. Do you have any?”
Mentioning industrial coupons, everyone fell silent for a moment. At this time, industrial coupons were a valuable commodity. Not only could they be used to buy iron pots, but many other things required them as well!
Unfortunately, industrial coupons were in limited supply, and there was often more demand than supply.
Wen Nuan actually had quite a few, but she wasn’t about to rush into being a fool. At times like this, selfless devotion was definitely not the way to go.
“Since none of us have industrial coupons, I guess we’ll just have to team up with the Senior educated youths!”
“Actually, teaming up isn’t that bad. We can share the vegetable garden, and besides, we don’t have the experience the Senior educated youths have.”
“You’re right about that!”