Brigade Leader Zhao hurriedly fetched some eggs, and even brought along half a bag of malted milk powder that his daughter in the city had prepared for him: “Take good care of yourself. Remember, if you can’t handle it, come down and call for us. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I know,” Zhao Rencheng replied, holding the heavy bag of eggs, feeling deeply moved. He understood how precious the eggs and malted milk powder were, but considering the workload he was about to face over the next ten days, he didn’t refuse. He planned to return the items to Uncle Zhao once he was better.

“Go on up the mountain now. By the way… do your parents know?”

Brigade Leader Zhao knew that Zhao Rencheng had grown distant from his parents, but he couldn’t help asking.

“They don’t know, and it doesn’t matter.”

Zhao Rencheng felt genuinely irritated at the thought of his family.

“Alright, alright, go up and rest. Take good care of yourself. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone disturb you,” Brigade Leader Zhao urged, accompanying him to the foot of the mountain. He couldn’t help but nag, “Why do you insist on living up there? If anything happens, I wouldn’t even know!”

“I’m a grown man. Nothing will happen.”

Zhao Rencheng began his ascent.

Brigade Leader Zhao watched from below, feeling deeply concerned.

He took a couple of puffs from his cigarette.

This stubborn kid, already at this age, still without a wife or children. What’s going to happen to him?

Look at him now.

Even if something happens, there’s no one around to take care of him.

He’s not stupid. He knows the kid is just saying that to avoid worrying others.

Brigade Leader Zhao shook his head and went to find his wife. They needed to find a match for this stubborn boy.

He can’t stay a bachelor forever.

*

After Zhao Rencheng went up the mountain, he didn’t waste any time. He slung his rifle over his shoulder, put on a mask, and headed deep into the mountains.

He needed to retrieve some goods so he could get the tools to make shoes.

The news of his leave quickly spread through the Brigade. Brigade Leader Zhao only told outsiders that he wasn’t feeling well, but to those closer to him, he explained the specifics.

Brigade Leader Zhao’s wife, Shi Yanchun, asked, “Is he really alright?”

“From the way he looked, I don’t think he was lying. He must be in a lot of pain lately and can’t work, so he took leave. But he has medicine prepared. It was prescribed by a military doctor. Besides, think about it, since he came back, this is the first time he’s taken leave. It’s probably just a once-a-year thing.”

Brigade Leader Zhao speculated.

Everyone nodded.

Thinking about Zhao Rencheng being alone, they started considering finding him a partner. It really wouldn’t do for him to live like this, with no one to help him if something happened!

Shi Yanchun was also worried. “When he first came back, I thought about introducing him to someone. I even brought a girl to meet him, but he didn’t show up. When I tricked him into coming, he ended up scaring the girl to tears.”

Brigade Leader Zhao fell silent.

This stubborn kid!

He really doesn’t make things easy.

Shi Yanchun slapped her thigh: “In my opinion, we shouldn’t look for someone too gentle. We need someone feisty, someone who can keep him in check!”

The familiar families stared at Shi Yanchun.

She felt a bit embarrassed. “What? Isn’t that right?”

Brigade Leader Zhao: “Keep him in check? What are you thinking?”

This kid wasn’t favored as a child, yet he managed to keep his own family in line. Now, no one in the brigade dares to provoke him.

And you want to find someone to keep him in check?

That’s just wishful thinking.

Shi Yanchun felt a bit awkward and rubbed her knees. “I just thought of it suddenly. Alright, alright, everyone think about it. If you know anyone suitable among your relatives or friends, let me know. I’m going to cook now.”

Everyone went back to their own house.

Shi Yanchun noticed the eggs were gone and asked Brigade Leader Zhao, “Did you give them to Xiao Cheng?”

“Yes.”

“Just eggs? Why didn’t you give him some cured meat too?” Shi Yanchun nagged. “Eating meat is good for the body. We still have two pieces of cured meat at home.”

“I looked, but couldn’t find it.”

“I hung it up. Look up.” Shi Yanchun led him to the kitchen and pointed to the ceiling. Sure enough, there were two pieces of cured meat.

Shi Yanchun smacked him in frustration. “You’re so lazy, never coming into the kitchen. Look, you don’t even know what we have at home.”

Brigade Leader Zhao looked up at the reddish-black cured pork, then walked away with his hands behind his back. “I’m going out to ask around and see if there’s a suitable girl for him.”

Shi Yanchun snorted.

Thinking of Zhao Rencheng, she sighed again. This kid…

Ah.

So pitiful.

I hope he can find a good match soon.

She scooped water into the pot, preparing to cook peanut porridge.

Brigade Leader Zhao, meanwhile, wandered outside. It was dinnertime, and people were either eating inside or chatting with neighbors at their doorsteps.

Suddenly, someone stood in front of him.

Zhang Yunxi smiled at him.

Brigade Leader Zhao instinctively took a step back. “Zhang Zhiqing, what do you want?”

“Brigade Leader, I’m craving meat. Can you tell me how to buy some? You have no idea, I haven’t had any oil in my diet lately. I feel dizzy and my vision is blurry. It’s really affecting my work. This won’t do. I’m an educated youth, I need to contribute to the motherland, to our Brigade…”

“Hold on!”

Brigade Leader Zhao couldn’t take it anymore. “You can’t take leave to go to town right now, and the meat from the commune is hard to get. Alright, I’ll go ask at the neighboring brigade tomorrow. There’s someone there who works at the pork factory.”

“Really? Thank you so much! Here’s the money and the meat ticket. Just bring back whatever you can. If possible, get two bones as well.” Zhang Yunxi handed him the money and tickets.

Brigade Leader Zhao took them. “Alright, go back now.”

“Sure!”

Zhang Yunxi had just asked on a whim.

She had heard that the brigade leader’s daughter worked as a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative and had good connections, so she decided to give it a try. Otherwise, when she went to visit Zhao Rencheng tomorrow, she wouldn’t feel right without bringing him something good to eat.

After all, he had helped her three times.

Once in town.

Once with the gloves and hat.

And then with the incident involving Zhao Mo. If he hadn’t stepped in, it wouldn’t have been resolved so quickly.

Hearing that he had suddenly fallen ill and needed to take ten days off, Zhang Yunxi was a bit stunned.

After all, they had just been talking in the afternoon.

But she heard it was a recurrence of an old injury.

Zhang Yunxi decided she would make him some bone broth tomorrow, along with a serving of fish-flavored shredded pork.

And some greens.

She would deliver it to him early.

The next day, Brigade Leader Zhao brought the meat to Zhang Yunxi. He helped mainly because he knew that Zhang Yunxi would share good food with Zhao Mo.

They were all like his own children.

Brigade Leader Zhao hoped she could live well.

Zhang Yunxi checked the meat—about a pound—and the two bones. She immediately went back to the kitchen, cut a piece, wrapped it up, and brought it to Brigade Leader Zhao’s house. She handed it to Shi Yanchun and, without waiting for her to say anything, turned and ran off.

Brigade Leader Zhao returned home shortly after.

Shi Yanchun said, “Why did Zhang Zhiqing give us meat? Is she after the Worker-Peasant-Soldier university quota?”

Brigade Leader Zhao was momentarily stunned.

Thinking about how he had bought her the meat.

He shook his head. “I got her some pork.”

Shi Yanchun weighed it in her hand. “But she gave us so much. It must be at least two taels.”

Brigade Leader Zhao: “Maybe she’s just a overly generous fool.”