The small cart bed was placed at the corner of the field, and an excited Da Bao and Xiao Bao were put inside.

The two little ones stood on the cart bed, thrilled as they looked toward the Western Zhou.

They could now see farther and higher—it was so much fun!

They loved this little cart bed and loved coming to the fields.

Feng Zilu looked at his two little brothers with envy, but he knew he was a big kid now, and the cart bed was too small for him—so he didn’t get on.

“Gege (big brother), eat.”

Standing on the cart bed, Da Bao noticed his brother’s envious face.

Generously, he pulled a milk candy from his pocket and handed it to him.

“Da Bao can eat it himself. Gege has some too.”

Feng Zilu hadn’t expected his younger brother to be so kind.

He was deeply moved and, while politely refusing, he took out the milk candy from his own pocket to show him.

“Gege has one too. I have one as well.”

“Everyone has some.”

Seeing that his older brother also had candy, Da Bao was overjoyed.

Smiling sweetly, he nodded his little head and spoke in a milky voice.

Xiao Bao, beside him, also nodded his small head vigorously and clearly said two strong words:

“Have some.”

Feng Zilu was so happy that he immediately hugged his little brothers, Da Bao and Xiao Bao.

He really adored them—they were so well-behaved, obedient, and thoughtful.

Qiao Jiuru was working nearby.

Even though they now had the cart bed, she still couldn’t fully relax.

Thankfully, the sowing work would be completed in a day or two.

After that, the tasks would shift to weeding, loosening soil, spreading manure, and watering the fields.

After playing with Da Bao and Xiao Bao for a bit, Feng Zilu quickly went to help his grandfather.

He could earn work points, two or three per day, which meant he’d also get a share of food.

“Old Feng, Zilu’s quite grown up now. Shouldn’t he be going to school?”

Su Huaiyuan, who was working nearby, glanced at the serious young Feng Zilu and asked in a low voice.

“Zilu is already over eight… I don’t know if he can go to school. There’s no elementary school in this production team. The nearest one is in Dashan Village’s production team.”

Old Feng hadn’t yet inquired whether his grandson could attend school, but he did know where the school was.

The thought made him feel worried, and he sighed.

“Why not ask the brigade leader? I don’t think the team would stop a child from going to school. Even if he can’t go yet, you can start teaching him yourself. No matter the situation, lacking education will always be a disadvantage.”

Su Huaiyuan had already learned from his wife that they’d likely be politically rehabilitated and return to the capital in about five years.

The same would go for Old Feng.

By then, Zilu would be thirteen—old enough for junior high.

Old Feng took it to heart.

After hesitating a moment and glancing at his grandson, he nodded firmly.

“I’ll find time to ask. And in the meantime, I’ll teach him more myself.”

Whether Zilu could go to school or not, Su’s words were right—being illiterate just wouldn’t do.

..

Dashan Village Production Team

“Uncle, we’d like to request a day off tomorrow.”

Before lunch break, Su Huazhu and Xiaoshu approached the team leader, Bai Qingshan, to request a day off.

“All three of you?”

Bai Qingshan knew the three of them always did things together, which was why he asked.

“Yes, the three of us.”

Su Huazhu confirmed, and Xiaoshu nodded eagerly beside her.

“Alright, I approve.”

All the crops had been sown in time. As long as less than one-fifth of the team wasn’t asking for leave all at once, Bai Qingshan would approve. Especially for the educated youths—he almost never refused them.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

“Thank you, Team Leader.”

After getting their leave approved, Su Huazhu and Xiaoshu were thrilled and repeatedly thanked Bai Qingshan.

Then, one after another, more educated youths came to ask for leave, and Bai Qingshan approved them all.

“Tonight, let’s eat a little less, go find my parents, and come back a bit late. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the commune to buy things.”

Su Huazhu had already made plans. She couldn’t wait to see her parents. If it weren’t for concerns about gossip, she wouldn’t even want to come back tonight.

“Okay, cousin, let’s head out early.”

Xiao Luo was equally excited. She and her brother had long regarded the Qiao Jiuru family as their own and sincerely saw Su Huazhu as their elder cousin.

That evening, after finishing work and dinner, the three split up to find Lian Ailian and Fu Qiusheng.

“Lian-jie, we’re going to visit our elders tonight. We might be back a bit late.”

“Brother Fu, we’re going to visit some elders tonight and will probably return late.”

Lian Ailian and Fu Qiusheng didn’t know exactly which elders they were going to see, but after nearly two months of living together, they’d heard that Su Huazhu’s family had ties with nearby production teams.

Not to mention how the older women in the team—like aunts and sisters-in-law—all doted on Su Huazhu.

In the production team, Su Huazhu could trade things freely. Even if she ate eggs every day, no one except other educated youths would say anything.

“Then be careful on the road. If we’re already asleep when you return, just call out and wake us.”

Lian Ailian and Fu Qiusheng were willing to give Su Huazhu that kind of respect. They didn’t envy her like others did, but they also couldn’t do much about others’ exclusion—so they just expressed their own kindness.

“Thank you, Lian-jie.”

“Thanks, Brother Fu.”

The three were overjoyed and thanked them repeatedly.

Then, ignoring others’ curious glances, they grabbed their satchels and left the educated youth compound.

Even though it was already the end of May, it was still bright outside. The three walked down the road without a trace of fear—only excitement and anticipation.

“We walk on the great road…”

The land stretched wide and endless, a sea of hopeful fields.

Su Huazhu couldn’t hold back the surge of emotions inside her.

A song sprang to her mind, and she began to sing it aloud.