Chapter 10

The Dongfanghong Brigade

After bidding farewell to Wang Xiuxiu’s family and the elderly couple, Xia Wanyang left her address with them before stepping off the train with her large parcel and suitcase in tow. The train station was bustling with activity. The energy and excitement from when people first boarded had long since faded, replaced by exhaustion and a sense of disorientation. Most people looked dusty and weary.

Outside the station was even livelier, with ox carts, tractors, and even a crooked mule cart parked haphazardly. As soon as the crowd emerged, the drivers began shouting to attract passengers:

“Kaoshan Brigade, Kaoshan Brigade!”

“Hongqi Production Team!”

“Dongfanghong Brigade, over here!”

“Xiangyang Brigade is in this corner!”

Xia Wanyang was jostled by the crowd but managed to keep her balance while holding her large parcel, which obstructed much of her view. However, being fairly tall, she could still see the path ahead. She made her way to the Dongfanghong Brigade’s tractor, set her luggage on the ground, and looked up to see the person sent to pick them up.

It was Zhou Su, Zhang Shiye’s close friend.

Zhou Su’s face turned beet red at the sight of the young woman in front of him. “Com…rade, welcome to the Dongfanghong Brigade. I… I’m Zhou Su, here to, uh, pick you up!”

Xia Wanyang smiled. “Hello, I’m Xia Wanyang, a sent-down youth assigned to your brigade.”

At this point, Zhou Su’s neck was as red as his face. He hurriedly picked up her luggage and placed it on the tractor, then tried to compose himself. “Uh, it’s been a long journey for you. Please get on the tractor and rest for a while. We’re still waiting for the others to arrive—there are ten people in total, and you’re the first.”

“Alright,” Xia Wanyang replied, climbing onto the tractor and sitting down with a small cushion she took out.

Not long after, four men and two women approached together. After confirming their names on the list, they all boarded the tractor.

After waiting another ten minutes, three more people arrived, noisily making their way over. Their voices reached the group before they did.

“Li Xiang, can’t you be a bit more considerate? What’s so hard about helping me carry my luggage? Are you even a man?”

Li Xiang snorted. “Whether I’m a man or not is something my future wife will know. Why do you care?”

Xu Jiaojiao rolled her eyes and, spotting Zhou Su standing nearby with the list, shouted, “Hey, you! Hurry up and help with my luggage! Is this how your brigade welcomes sent-down youth?”

Zhou Su walked over, took the luggage from her hands, and said evenly, “You must be the last three: Xu Jiaojiao, Li Xiang, and Wang Jing.”

Xia Wanyang turned her head to look and couldn’t help but chuckle—what a coincidence! They were all familiar faces. It seemed life here wouldn’t be boring.

“Wanyang, is that really you?” Li Xiang exclaimed exaggeratedly.

Xia Wanyang waved at him with a smile, but before she could lower her hand, Xu Jiaojiao’s sharp gaze fell on her. Seeing Xia Wanyang’s neat and elegant appearance and her increasingly delicate features after just a few months, Xu Jiaojiao couldn’t help but feel a surge of jealousy. She immediately sneered. “Well, if it isn’t the Xia family’s precious daughter. No sleeper compartment for you this time, huh? Forced to ride on a tractor with the rest of us?”

Xia Wanyang gave her a cool glance. “If you’re bored, go lick a toilet and stop yapping at me. I’ll sit where I want—if you’re envious, just say so! Being ugly isn’t your fault, but making a fool of yourself is.”

Embarrassed and furious, Xu Jiaojiao retorted, “Don’t think you’re so great just because you got a sleeper seat! I didn’t want to compete with you. If I wanted, my dad could’ve reserved an entire train car for me!”

Li Xiang turned pale at her bold claim. “Xu Jiaojiao, are you crazy? Do you even think before you talk in front of all these people?”

Xia Wanyang laughed so hard tears came to her eyes. “Xu Jiaojiao, is that thing around your neck just for height? Tsk, you really are an idiot. Don’t worry; I’ll write to my dad later and let him know Comrade Xu Zhengguo is so rich he could reserve a whole train car for his daughter!”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Zhang Heping, the brigade leader, interrupted as he walked over. “Is everyone here?”

Zhang Heping addressed the group with a loud voice. “I’m Zhang Heping, the brigade leader of the Dongfanghong Brigade. Welcome, everyone. Since we’re all here, let’s set off!”

Xu Jiaojiao glared daggers at Xia Wanyang before slowly climbing onto the tractor.

“If you don’t want your eyes, just say so. I can help gouge them out,” Xia Wanyang said coldly. “Stare at me like that again, and I’ll make sure you regret it!”

The tractor started moving soon after, with Zhou Su driving. Xia Wanyang, having boarded early, sat in the innermost seat. Zhang Heping sat with the group and shouted over the noise of the engine, “Our brigade is 40 minutes from the city by tractor, two hours by ox cart, and an hour by bicycle. Walking would take about four hours. However, our commune has a supply and marketing cooperative, so your basic needs will be met. You can also trade items with the team members.”

Xu Jiaojiao groaned. “It’s so far! How will we send letters or packages?”

Xia Wanyang sneered silently, Your dad’s going to be in big trouble soon, yet you’re worried about sending mail?

Zhang Heping explained, “There’s a mailbox at the commune for letters. For packages, our team goes to the city once every two weeks. If you want to send or receive something, you can join the trip. There’s a 50-cent fee per person to help cover team expenses.”

The other sent-down youth nodded in agreement. The arrangements were better than they had expected.

Even though the tractor ride only took 40 minutes, the rough, bumpy road left Xia Wanyang with a numb backside despite her cushion. The jarring ride even caused two of the female youth to get motion sick and throw up.

Upon arriving at the destination, Xia Wanyang lifted her gaze to take in the sight before her. A small courtyard enclosed by a makeshift fence of tree branches came into view, simple and rustic in appearance. 

The little wooden gate barely reached her thigh, making it seem particularly small. Inside, the vegetable patch was neatly tended, with several common vegetables growing robustly, adding a touch of vitality and life to the modest yard. 

Behind the vegetable patch stood a gray brick house. Though it looked somewhat old and weathered, it was far superior to the earthen houses scattered throughout the village. The brick structure seemed to carry the weight of time, a witness to stories of the past and the changes that had unfolded. 

After stepping off the vehicle, Xia Wanyang subtly blocked the others’ view and discreetly slipped a pack of *Da Qianmen* cigarettes into Zhang Heping’s hand. She whispered, “Uncle Zhang, my mom asked me to bring this for you! Please don’t refuse!” 

She then acted as if nothing had happened, glancing around as though sightseeing. Zhang Heping pocketed the cigarettes, his spirits lifting. *At least this young woman’s parents know how to show respect,* he thought to himself. 

“This house is pretty good!” Li Xiang exclaimed enthusiastically. 

Seeing the group’s satisfaction, Zhang Heping smiled and said, “You’re all so young, leaving home to support rural development. Of course, the team reserved the best conditions for you. This house used to belong to a landlord, but after confiscation, it was given to the team. It’s quite spacious, with four large rooms. Currently, six male and four female sent-down youth live here. With you all joining, there’ll be 20 people total. I’m not exaggerating when I say we could easily fit another 20 here!” 

The group stepped inside and found it indeed very spacious, though sparsely furnished. There were just two trunks and a small kang table on the raised platform bed, with two copies of the *Little Red Book* on the table. Piles of patched bedding were stacked in the corner of the kang. 

“There’s also a smaller storage room besides these main rooms,” Zhang Heping continued. “If any of you don’t like collective living or find it inconvenient, you can live alone in that room. However, it’ll cost two yuan a month, payable to the team.” 

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xia Wanyang quickly said, “I’ll pay to live there!” 

Xu Jiaojiao immediately chimed in, “I’ll live alone too! I want it!” 

She reached into her bag to take out money, but Xia Wanyang beat her to it, pulling out a large bill and handing it to Zhang Heping. “Uncle Zhang, I’ll pay for five months upfront!” 

She then smirked and raised her eyebrows provocatively at Xu Jiaojiao. 

Zhang Heping tucked the money into his chest pocket. “Alright, when you collect your rations later, remember to get a receipt from the accountant. I’ll pass this money to Shiye for safekeeping!”