So tired, so hard.

Su Huazhu had only been here less than a week, but she already deeply understood how tough and difficult life was for the farmers.

During this past week, she really didn’t want to think about anything — mechanically repeating the same work in the field: digging, digging, digging, digging…

She, Xiao Shu, and Xiao Luo were in one group, assigned to one and a half acres of land.

The three of them worked from morning till night and gradually got used to it.

Fortunately, the production team of Dashan Village was quite humane toward the educated youth—they didn’t force them to earn a certain number of work points per day.

However, the production team did have some bottom lines and conditions.

First, no one was allowed to skip fieldwork.

Second, the minimum work points had to be no less than those of Xi Ge (a local person).

Beyond that, you could take as many work points as you wanted—ten, twelve, fifteen—it was unlimited.

But if the work points were too low and the allocated grain ration wasn’t enough to eat, the production team wouldn’t take responsibility, though they allowed you to buy grain with money.

This way, neither the villagers nor the educated youth had any complaints.

The more you worked, the more you earned; the less you worked, the less you got.

There was a bottom line but no ceiling.

On the first day of work, Su Huazhu and Xiao Luo both signed up to take the Xi Ge’s standard work points, while Xiao Shu, being younger, was limited.

So Huazhu and Xiao Luo let her try with two points.

That first day, they were assigned one acre of land.

All three were working the fields for the first time and were confused about how to proceed.

Then, Bai Qingshan’s wife came over with her two daughters-in-law.

“You must be Huazhu. I’m your Aunt Bai, and these are your two sisters-in-law—just call them Eldest Sister-in-Law and Second Sister-in-Law.”

Liu Chunlian smiled warmly as she introduced herself and the two daughters-in-law behind her.

They were there to help.

“Hello, Aunt, Eldest Sister-in-Law, Second Sister-in-Law.”

Su Huazhu shyly greeted the three women.

It was her first day and she didn’t know anyone.

Song Luoshu and Song Luoyun nearby also hurried to greet Liu Chunlian and her group, knowing clearly that they were here to guide them on their work.

Sure enough, Liu Chunlian and the others didn’t waste time—they immediately explained their purpose.

“Huazhu, Auntie is here to teach you how to work. Your Eldest Sister-in-Law and Second Sister-in-Law will teach those two. If you don’t understand something, just ask, don’t be shy.”

Liu Chunlian personally took on the task of guiding her niece-in-law—this was her responsibility.

Su Huazhu, Song Luoshu, and Song Luoyun nodded gratefully and thanked them repeatedly. It was really wonderful to have such professionals guiding them.

They could avoid many detours and wouldn’t have to struggle so hard once they learned the right techniques.

One-on-one guidance was very effective.

At least now, the three knew how to use their strength properly and conserve energy, and also knew to wear gloves when working.

More importantly, Liu Chunlian also told her many things about the production team.

Even the details about the educated youth’s point system, this aunt knew clearly.

“Huazhu, don’t think that the atmosphere at the youth work point is so good now without much trouble. Back then, it wasn’t like this at all.”

“When the educated youth first came to the countryside, we didn’t know how to interact with them. We treated them like our own villagers: whatever work was needed, they had to do it. But how could city kids endure such hardship?!

They couldn’t work, got moody easily, didn’t know how to work, and caused trouble for more than a year. Eventually, our respected elders in the production team discussed and decided to tailor the work points and grain purchase system based on their actual ability and situation.”

“The production team was quite benevolent, and the youth had no reason to cause trouble anymore. This way everyone was happy—those who could work more earned more.

But Huazhu, Auntie tells you, you have to be smart. Don’t go helping others with their work. If your grain ration isn’t enough to eat, just tell Auntie.

With so many households here, everyone can give you a bite to eat; they can support you. If someone bullies you, come find your uncle or aunt, understand?”

That last sentence was something her father-in-law and a few elders emphasized many times.

Liu Chunlian also took special care of Su Huazhu, since she was a descendant of the village’s benefactors, something the old generation remembered well.

Su Huazhu kept nodding as she learned.

She understood, and she wasn’t foolish—she definitely wouldn’t help others with their work.

If bullied, she wouldn’t be easy to mess with either.

Before she left home to go to the countryside, Qiao Jiuru prepared all kinds of medicine for her and also gave her three self-defense items:

Itchy powder, dust, and hallucinogenic powder.

Among them, the itchy powder was hung close to her neck.

Anyone who dared harm her would have it ready to use.

Su Huazhu, Song Luoshu, and Song Luoyun were quick learners.

After an hour’s instruction from Liu Chunlian and her group, the three had already grasped the essentials.

After completing the task, Liu Chunlian and the two daughters-in-law finally felt assured and left.

This scene naturally caught the eyes of other educated youth, who could only feel envious but could do nothing.

After all, the production team treated all educated youth equally.

Beyond the basic requirements, you could do as you wished.

Such a production team already beat more than ninety percent of others.

To live comfortably, you either earned the highest work points or took the least and had money.

Otherwise, you just quietly earned your points and supported yourself without causing trouble.

So, Su Huazhu lived quite well at the youth point, and no one could cause trouble there.

The first day of work went smoothly.

The three all completed their tasks successfully.

After about five days of adaptation, Su Huazhu and the others discussed and took on half an acre more.

Their steady and hardworking way of earning work points caught the attention of Bai Qingshan’s family. The three persisted in their hard work, which surprised everyone.

At the youth point, Su Huazhu and the others lived together with the older educated youth.

Wanting to eat alone was inconvenient, but everyone was still adjusting.

Fortunately, everyone had their own lunchbox with their own food inside, which was steamed together.

Su Huazhu’s breakfast was a big bowl of sweet potato porridge and a boiled egg.

Lunch was steamed rice with five slices of cured meat, pickled vegetables, and two sweet potatoes.

Dinner was similar.

Song Luoshu and Song Luoyun had basically the same meals, except two fewer slices of cured meat.

The siblings could eat like this mainly because half came from their family’s supplies and money, and the other half was agreed upon by themselves—they wouldn’t have energy to work otherwise.

Once they adapted to this labor intensity and wild vegetables grew in the fields, they couldn’t eat rice every day anymore. When they first came, they had no stored food or vegetables.

“Cousin, I just heard someone say that some people sent down have arrived at nearby Baigou Village…”