Jisheng’s County Becomes a Transportation Hub

After traveling for a day and a night, the train finally arrived at Huaxian County just after noon the next day.

Lu Aiguo kept a watchful eye on Su Huazhu, while Song Luoshu disembarked with a group of fellow young intellectuals (known as “Zhiqing”), followed closely by Song Luoyun.

The local Zhiqing office had already arrived at the train station to await their arrival.

As soon as they saw the young intellectuals get off the train, they immediately called out loudly:

“Young intellectuals from Mengtou Township, please come here to assemble.”

“Young intellectuals from Mengtou Township, please come here to assemble.”

Upon hearing this, Su Huazhu, Song Luoshu, Song Luoyun, and the others who were heading to the countryside with them rushed towards the Zhiqing office personnel from Mengtou Township.

Lin Aiguo, still carrying his bag, quickly followed behind.

His responsibility was to look after these children.

Half an hour later, all the Zhiqing from Mengtou Township had gathered.

They then boarded the bus to Mengtou Township. Upon arrival, people from the various production teams were waiting to take them to their respective destinations.

“Brother Lin, thank you. You’ve worked hard on this journey. We’re here now. With the Zhiqing office personnel and so many other Zhiqing here, we should be safe now.”

Su Huazhu was especially grateful to Lin Aiguo for his escort.

It was thanks to him that their journey had been so much easier, and they didn’t feel as scared.

Especially since Song Luoshu had gotten carsick shortly after boarding the train.

Fortunately, Lin Aiguo had experience, and with the motion sickness medicine prepared by Qiao Jiuru, Song Luoshu had slowly recovered after half a day.

“Brother Lin, what my cousin Su said is right. There are so many people traveling together, and we’ll be arriving soon. Thank you so much, Brother Lin.”

“Thank you, Brother Lin.”

Song Luoyun and Song Luoshu also expressed their gratitude to Lin Aiguo.

They felt much more secure with him around. Without him, they would have suffered and been constantly anxious.

They were deeply thankful.

Lin Aiguo saw this and, after a moment of thought, agreed with their words.

“I’ll wait until you’re on the bus before I leave.”

It was a good opportunity to help them with their luggage and make things easier for them.

Su Huazhu and the others agreed.

With Lin Aiguo there, they felt more at ease and secure.

The bus station wasn’t far from the train station, only about a 20-minute walk.

They soon boarded a bus to Mengtou Township. Under the guidance of the Zhiqing office personnel, the group of Zhiqing rushed onto the bus.

After Lin Aiguo loaded their luggage onto the bus, he waved goodbye to Su Huazhu and the others.

The bus ride from Huaxian County to Mengtou Township would take about two hours.

The bus was packed to the brim, with everyone squeezed together like sardines.

Fortunately, the quick-thinking Song Luoyun managed to secure two seats for Su Huazhu and Song Luoshu, so the two girls were not as uncomfortable.

Two hours later, the Zhiqing disembarked the bus under the guidance of the Zhiqing office personnel, and they had finally arrived in Mengtou Township.

After getting off the bus, the fifty or so Zhiqing, with their large and small bags, followed the Zhiqing office personnel to the Mengtou Township People’s Commune, where representatives from the various production teams were waiting to receive them.

The production teams that came to receive the Zhiqing had already finished lunch and arrived one after another.

They timed it just right, so the Zhiqing didn’t have to wait long.

Soon, they were taken to their assigned teams.

“Su Huazhu from Dashan Village, Song Luoshu, Song Luoyun, Liu Wei, Li Jin, and Shang Xiaoyun.”

Finally, it was Su Huazhu and her companions’ turn.

The person who came to meet them was the production team’s leader, Bai Qingshan, along with an elderly man.

Upon hearing their names called, Su Huazhu, Song Luoshu, and Song Luoyun quickly grabbed their luggage and reported to them.

Along with them were three other young people.

Bai Qingshan looked at the six young people standing in front of him, his eyes lingering a bit longer on Su Huazhu.

“Comrades, I am your team leader, Bai Qingshan. It’s getting late, and night is falling quickly, so we must head back immediately. Follow me.”

As he spoke, Bai Qingshan gestured for the Zhiqing to follow him as he turned and led them to the place where the ox cart was waiting.

“This is Uncle Xi, who manages the ox cart for the production team. You can call him Uncle Xi. Put your luggage on the cart. The girls will ride the cart, and the boys will walk. If anyone gets tired, we’ll take turns riding.”

With plenty of experience in receiving Zhiqing, Bai Qingshan had everything arranged clearly, leaving the Zhiqing with no complaints.

Sure enough, no one had any objections to his plan.

After about half an hour of walking outside the People’s Commune, Bai Qingshan, who had been leading the ox cart, finally turned to Su Huazhu, who was sitting on the cart.

“You must be Su Huazhu, right? I’m your Uncle Qingshan. I received a letter from your family a few days ago and learned that you would be coming to our production team. Your grandfather and the others haven’t been back in decades, and I never expected that you, of all people, would be the one to return.”

Bai Qingshan said with deep emotion.

The people from his village had always regarded the Qiao family as their own.

Though the Qiao family only came back once a year, whenever they did, not only would the whole village benefit, but talented individuals in the village would also have the opportunity to leave the mountains, completely changing their lives.

The Qiao family had done a great deal for Dashan Village.

So when they learned that Qiao family’s granddaughter would be coming to the production team, everyone was extremely excited.

Even Bai Qingshan, who never personally went to pick up Zhiqing, had come to meet her—mainly to bring Su Huazhu back.

“Uncle Qingshan, I only learned before I left that my grandfather once lived in our production team. After my grandfather and uncle left, no one from the family remained.”

Su Huazhu wiped away her tears as she choked up, “I did see my grandfather when I was very young, but I never imagined that after my family fell on hard times, the connections left by my grandfather would help us. I’m so happy.”

“Don’t cry, child. You’re home now.”

Uncle Xi, who was driving the ox cart ahead, turned back to comfort her.

The Qiao family had been gone for twenty years, and he felt sorrowful hearing about their departure.

“Good girl, you’ll be fine here. All the uncles and aunts will take care of you, and you won’t suffer any hardships.”

Bai Qingshan had already decided that he would ensure Su Huazhu was well taken care of in the production team.

It was a consensus shared by everyone.

“Uncle Qingshan, my parents said that when we come to the production team, we shouldn’t expect special treatment or be treated differently. We’ll work just like everyone else. We can’t let down the uncles’ and aunts’ reputations. It wouldn’t be good for our family’s name.”

To everyone’s surprise, Su Huazhu shook her head, refusing to be treated specially.

This was her parents’ request, and she didn’t want to be singled out—it would make enemies.

Most importantly, her parents and siblings would soon be sent to the neighboring production team, and if anyone found out about their relationship, it would cause a huge problem.

Su Huazhu knew what mattered most.

“Alright, alright, you’re just like your parents.”