Braised pork, braised fish, stir-fried shredded potatoes, egg drop soup, and rice.

Su Huazhu and the other two ate to their hearts’ content, feeling utterly happy and satisfied.

However, they still felt that this grand lunch wasn’t as delicious as last night’s chicken soup—the meat was tender and fresh, and the broth was incredibly tasty.

From last night until now, they were still savoring the lingering taste.

When they were in Beijing, they had eaten chicken and drunk chicken soup too, but somehow, it never tasted as good as last night’s.

They wondered if the chickens in the Northeast were different from those in Beijing—perhaps it was the meat quality or the environment they were raised in?

By the time Su Huazhu and the others finished this hearty lunch, Li Jin and his group had already eaten and left.

When they left, they didn’t come over to say goodbye to Su Huazhu’s group, and Su Huazhu and the others pretended not to see them either.

In the end, Su Huazhu carefully packed a box of braised pork, a box of braised fish, and a box of dumplings into her backpack.

This backpack was actually given to her by her mother last night. Her mother said she had secretly made it during the days Su Huazhu was sent to the countryside, but just hadn’t had the chance to give it to her until now.

After leaving the state-run restaurant, Su Huazhu, Song Luoyun, and Song Luoshu first went to the supply and marketing cooperative to shop.

The post office wouldn’t open until the afternoon working hours.

In addition to buying two pounds of biscuits and two portions of pastries for the family, as well as a pound of milk candy and two pounds of brown sugar, Su Huazhu also bought some for herself—just half the amount.

Song Luoyun and Song Luoshu bought the exact same items, each with their own share.

While browsing after shopping, Su Huazhu happened to notice that there were small stoves for sale at the innermost counter of the supply and marketing cooperative. Her eyes lit up instantly as an idea came to her, and she excitedly walked over.

To her surprise, the small stove didn’t require a ration coupon but cost 3.5 yuan.

Still, Su Huazhu didn’t hesitate at all—she immediately paid and bought it using money and tickets.

This small stove could be used for cooking or boiling water. Although it was a bit small, it was very convenient. They wouldn’t have to wait for others to finish using the communal stove and pot anymore.

Now that they had the stove, they needed a pot. Fortunately, she had brought industrial coupons and soon bought a pot that fit the small stove perfectly.

When Song Luoyun and Song Luoshu saw the stove and the pot, they immediately understood what Su Huazhu was thinking.

Since they didn’t have industrial coupons, the two siblings offered to pay half the money.

Su Huazhu originally didn’t want to accept, but not accepting might make them overthink it, so she took the money.

The three of them didn’t have much else to buy, and there wasn’t anything they particularly lacked at the moment. Anyway, anything that could still be used would continue to be used—until it was completely worn out and couldn’t be repaired anymore.

After finishing their shopping, they went to the post office, which had just reopened not long ago.

Song Luoyun and Song Luoshu wrote letters home together, while Su Huazhu sent letters to Uncle Zhang and her own older brother.

The letters had been written the night before by Qiao Jiuru and Su Huayuan when they found out she was going to the commune—they had entrusted them to her to mail.

After reading her brother’s letter, Su Huazhu was moved to tears.

At last, the whole family was back in touch, and everyone was safe and sound.

It was getting late—when they left the post office, it was nearly three in the afternoon. It would take another two hours to walk back to Dashan Village’s production team from the commune, so the three of them didn’t dare to delay and quickly started walking back.

Two hours later, around 5 p.m., they returned to the educated youth camp.

Li Jin, Liu Wei, Shang Xiaoyun, and the others had already returned after eating at the state-run restaurant. But the three of them—Su Huazhu, Song Luoyun, and Song Luoshu—hadn’t been seen all afternoon.

It wasn’t until dinnertime that they saw the three return, carrying a small stove and a small pot.

“Typical of people from that kind of background, so rich,” someone muttered.

“They even bought a stove and a pot. Who knows, maybe next they’ll build themselves a house.”

“Are they really here to support rural development? Their life is better than ours!”

Shang Xiaoyun, Feng Juan, and Fang Xiaoyu were clearly envious.

Among all the educated youths, the three of them were probably the worst off.

Especially Feng Juan and Fang Xiaoyu, who had already been at the production team for two years. With no financial support from home, life had always been tight for them, and they were constantly envious of the other educated youths.

They were also the ones who had taken the lead in ostracizing Su Huazhu’s group and looked down the most on their background.

The other educated youths, after learning that Su Huazhu and the others were children of “stinking intellectuals,” chose to distance themselves as well.

Su Huazhu and Song Luoshu ignored their sarcastic comments completely—didn’t even spare them a glance.

They first put the small stove and new pot into the little tool shed nearby, then locked the rest of their purchased items in a trunk.

Soon after, Su Huazhu slung on her backpack, took Song Luoshu by the hand, and led Song Luoyun away from the educated youth camp.