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As the year drew to a close, the post office was bustling with people sending and collecting mail.
Zheng Wenwen and Wang Xiaowei had already written their letters, so they just needed to buy stamps and drop them off. Ye Xin, however, was used to writing her letters here and hadn’t expected the crowd. All the tables were occupied, but thankfully, there were extra pens available. She grabbed one and spread her letter paper against the wall, ready to write standing up.
Zheng Wenwen raised an eyebrow, surprised by Ye Xin’s unconventional method. “Why didn’t you write at home first?”
Ye Xin offered an apologetic smile, not wanting to explain herself. “I’ll be quick,” she replied.
Wang Xiaowei, ever the gentle one, encouraged her, “Take your time; no need to rush.”
Having mentally drafted her letter beforehand, Ye Xin wrote swiftly:
First, she expressed her gratitude to her older sister for sending her twenty yuan, noting that she was now able to support herself through her own efforts and wouldn’t need to send her money anymore. “You can keep it for yourself,” she wrote.
Then, she shared her joy at how much the family enjoyed her dried vegetables, stating that she still had plenty left. She decided to send ten pounds back home for the winter stews, which would add some much-needed variety to their meals.
As she reached the part about her mother’s unexpected pregnancy at an older age, Ye Xin felt a rush of mixed emotions. The only word that came to mind was “shock,” and she could think of nothing more profound than wishing her mother “good health and safety.”
Finally, considering the slow postal services of her time, she penned a few lines to wish them a happy New Year, hoping the letter would arrive by late December.
She finished her letter and folded it neatly into an envelope, affixed the stamp, then collected about ten pounds of assorted dried vegetables from her backpack to mail alongside it.
After that, she retrieved the twenty yuan from her money order. Even though she didn’t particularly need it now, she felt it was important to honor her sister’s thoughtful gesture. She noted in her mind that she owed her sister fifty yuan, which she would repay in the future.
Once she had completed her errands, Ye Xin stepped out of the post office and found Zheng Wenwen and Wang Xiaowei waiting for her. “Sorry to keep you waiting!” she said.
Wang Xiaowei smiled warmly. “It wasn’t long at all.”
Zheng Wenwen nodded, her face brightening. “You were quite fast! I thought we’d be waiting ages!”
The three of them then decided to explore the town and do some shopping.
Primarily, it was Zheng Wenwen and Wang Xiaowei who had things to buy; Ye Xin had already completed her shopping in the morning, and her purchases were packed away in her backpack. So now, she was simply waiting for them.
The supply store was crowded, and Ye Xin stood outside, watching her friends struggle to squeeze in among the throng. Inside, the noise was deafening, and it was hard to distinguish one person from another. She shook her head, reflecting that while queuing is a good habit, many people still hadn’t embraced it.
Not in a hurry, she found a sunny spot, basking in the warmth as she waited. It was quite relaxing.
After what felt like a long time, Zheng Wenwen and Wang Xiaowei finally emerged, their headscarves askew from the chaos inside.
Zheng Wenwen let out a huge sigh. “Buying something felt like going into battle!”
As Wang Xiaowei adjusted her scarf, she apologized, “Sorry to make you wait, Ye Xin.” It was reminiscent of Ye Xin’s own words when she had stepped out of the post office.
Zheng Wenwen added, “We had to help others carry their things, and we bought quite a bit, which took some time.”
Ye Xin laughed, “No worries! Did you still want to buy anything else?”
Zheng Wenwen sighed again. “I wanted to get some meat, but it’s all sold out. We live so far out that when we come to town, there’s rarely any good meat left. Today, we were especially unlucky.”
Ye Xin felt at a loss for words, not wanting to offer to buy anything for them or Shen Zhuo.
They continued browsing with their baskets, enjoying their rare trip to town, even if they didn’t buy anything.
As a young urban intellectual who had spent considerable time farming in the countryside, Ye Xin often felt a bit stifled and needed to unwind from time to time.
At the agricultural market, she spotted peach saplings, each about forty centimeters tall, their bare branches wrapped in corn husks and straw to keep their roots moist. An elderly man, weathered by time, noticed her interest and called out, “These can be planted right away! They’ll bloom in the spring after the New Year, and they’ll be beautiful! Why not buy a couple, young lady?”
Ye Xin nodded enthusiastically. “Sure, I’ll take two.”
After she paid for the saplings and was leaving, Zheng Wenwen asked, “What are you going to do with these? They’re not even edible.”
Ye Xin smiled. “It’ll be nice to see them bloom.”
Zheng Wenwen raised an eyebrow, feeling Ye Xin was being a bit impractical. “Isn’t Shen Zhuo going to scold you for wasting money?”
Ye Xin beamed, “What could he possibly say? Even if he’s the one growing the vegetables, I’m the one helping sell them, so I deserve half the credit.” Besides, she had grown those vegetables too.
Zheng Wenwen could hear the conviction in her voice and fell silent for a moment, unable to counter.
Wang Xiaowei glanced at Ye Xin and remarked, “You seem to be getting along quite well with Shen Zhuo.”
Ye Xin chuckled. “If we weren’t getting along, I wouldn’t be with him!”
As they chatted while walking, the trio nearly traversed the entire town, buying everything they needed. By eleven o’clock, it was time to head home.
On their way back, Zheng Wenwen teased Ye Xin, “The other day, when I called you, didn’t you say you couldn’t walk and needed Shen Zhuo to carry you? And here you are, walking now!”
Ye Xin shrugged, a touch exasperated. “He could give me a ride because it was on his way. Now he has class—am I supposed to wait all day for him?”
They continued their leisurely walk, chatting along the way.
During their conversation, Ye Xin learned that Zheng Wenwen had arrived last year and was preparing to go home for the New Year. She had written her letter today to notify her family.
Wang Xiaowei, on the other hand, had come to the countryside in 1965 and had been living here for almost six years. She had returned home twice, once in her second year and again last year, but she wouldn’t be going back this year.
When they discussed visiting home, Wang Xiaowei sighed, “My family is in the Northeast, which is quite far. It takes three or four days just to get back, and the same to come here. Each trip feels like such a hassle.”
Ye Xin gasped, “That sounds exhausting!”
She continued, “So you’re from the Northeast, Xiaowei? No wonder you’re so tall! I have to look up to see your face!” Ye Xin guessed she was around 1.72 to 1.73 meters tall.
Zheng Wenwen couldn’t help but laugh. “Xiaowei is indeed tall, but it’s partly because you’re shorter. When we first saw you, we thought you were only eleven or twelve!”
Ye Xin, barely reaching 1.6 meters, sighed, “I can’t help it!”
Wang Xiaowei consoled her, “You’re still young; you might grow a bit more! Honestly, I think you look a little taller than when you first arrived!”
Ye Xin perked up, nodding enthusiastically. “I measured myself last time I went to the county town, and I have grown a little!”
Previously, she had thought of Wang Xiaowei as somewhat forgettable, but now she realized how mature and warm-hearted she was—a true older sister figure who was both gentle and understanding.
Eager to learn more, Ye Xin asked, “Xiaowei, it must have been tough to come all the way here from the Northeast, right?”
Wang Xiaowei replied, “The journey is challenging, but I actually prefer it here. It’s much warmer. Where I’m from, it starts snowing in October, and by now, the snow can be waist-deep! It gets so cold that we hardly go outside in winter; we just hibernate at home. The landscape is barren, with only white snow and dark tree branches. It’s nothing like here, where the mountains are still green, and the trees are vibrant—it’s almost like winter doesn’t exist!”
Ye Xin nodded in agreement. “That’s true! ‘The northern country’s beauty, a thousand miles frozen, ten thousand miles of snowflakes.’ It’s beautiful but far too cold for any outdoor activity.”
Wang Xiaowei agreed. “Exactly! That’s why I love it here more.”
But Zheng Wenwen chimed in, “It’s not all perfect here, either…”
“The spring is so humid that things easily get moldy, and people tend to fall ill; the summer brings heavy rains that can ruin the crops,” Zheng Wenwen lamented.
Ye Xin turned to her, curiosity piqued. “Where are you from, then?”
Zheng Wenwen replied, “I’m from the neighboring province. The climate is quite similar to here, though it’s not as mountainous. It’s much easier to go home; I can be back in just a day or so.”
Suddenly, Zheng Wenwen asked, “Didn’t you introduce yourselves when you first arrived? How could you not remember?”
Ye Xin’s heart skipped a beat; she realized that Zheng Wenwen was quite perceptive. Keeping her composure, she replied, “Well, when I first got here, everything was unfamiliar. There were eight of you from all over the place; how could I possibly remember? Plus, we don’t live together anymore, so it’s hard to keep track.” She offered a sheepish smile. “But don’t worry; I remember now.”
Zheng Wenwen recalled their initial meeting and scrutinized her a little more closely. “You’ve changed a lot since then; you’re like a different person.”
Ye Xin maintained her smile, not knowing how to respond.
Wang Xiaowei gently chimed in, “Leaving the city to work in the countryside is a huge transition. It’s normal to struggle at first, but it gets easier over time.”
Feeling her kindness, Ye Xin nodded appreciatively. “Thank you, Xiaowei.”
Their casual conversation kept the atmosphere light and harmonious, making the journey feel shorter.
By noon, with the sun blazing down, they were walking in the warm sunlight, feeling pleasantly warm instead of chilly, and even breaking a light sweat.
Ye Xin, carrying the saplings in her hands, realized that the walk, though long, wasn’t as tiring as she had expected. She attributed her newfound stamina to her improving physical condition.
Zheng Wenwen and Wang Xiaowei were pleasantly surprised by her energy. Initially, they thought she might be weak and would need to rest often, but here she was, briskly walking with vigor while they were the ones who needed to take a break.
They paused on a slope beside a smooth boulder under a tree. Ye Xin recognized this spot as the very place where she and Shen Zhuo had rested on their return from town.
They strolled leisurely, and around one o’clock, they finally arrived back at the Cool Water Pond.
Having become somewhat familiar with the route, Zheng Wenwen said, “Speaking of which, I’ve never been to your place. Can I come over sometime?”
Ye Xin smiled warmly. “Of course! You’re always welcome.”
After a moment, she added subtly, “But don’t bring too many people; I wouldn’t want to overwhelm you.”
Both Zheng Wenwen and Wang Xiaowei understood the implication. Zheng Wenwen reassured her, “Don’t worry! It’ll just be me and Xiaowei; we promise not to bring anyone annoying along.”
Wang Xiaowei laughed, “We’ll stop by to check out your vegetable garden and learn a thing or two!”
They arranged to visit each other the next afternoon before parting ways.
Even after all the walking, Ye Xin didn’t feel tired; she was simply hungry. Once home, she set down her things and prepared a meal before planting the peach saplings, carefully positioning both near the edge of her vegetable garden.
Next, it was time to work in her space.
The rice fields had already been plowed and were now flooded to grow seedlings. Just a few days ago, she had planted the last batch, and now healthy little sprouts were thriving.
Ye Xin first took the sunflower seeds she had brought home today and set them to germinate before heading out to harvest corn, which was now ripe.
After several hours of work, she felt it was time to prepare dinner.
Just as she was busy in the kitchen, Shen Zhuo returned home. The first thing he said was, “Did you get tired from walking today?”
Ye Xin smiled, “We took our time; it wasn’t tiring at all.”
Shen Zhuo continued, “Do your feet hurt?”
Ye Xin laughed lightly. “No, I’m not that delicate!”
Shen Zhuo said seriously, “I’m not saying you’re delicate. But you’ve never walked that far before; I was worried you might not be able to handle it. If your feet do hurt, let me know, and I can get some ointment for you.”
Ye Xin shook her head, “Honestly, it’s fine. We weren’t rushing; we walked leisurely and even took a couple of breaks. It felt more like a stroll.”
Seeing that she genuinely seemed fine, Shen Zhuo relaxed and turned to chop vegetables and prepare the meal.
During dinner, Ye Xin made a point to ask about his day. Shen Zhuo shared a few mundane details, enjoying the chance to talk with her.
“Oh, by the way,” Ye Xin said casually, “Zheng Wenwen and Wang Xiaowei are coming to visit tomorrow. I think they’re both really nice.”
Shen Zhuo frowned slightly but, seeing her cheerful expression, replied, “It’s up to you.”