Chapter 8: Dafeng Village

“Master, is this bus going to Chaoyang County? Yihe Town, Chaoyang County?” Zhao Heping confirmed, afraid of getting on the wrong bus.

The driver patted Zhao Heping’s arm. “Yes, yes! Get on quickly; we’re about to leave.”

Wang Shuning hoisted her two large bags onto the bus. It was already packed, with people standing in the aisle.

Most were young people, likely educated youths going to the countryside.

After finally stowing her things, Wang Shuning gripped a seatback.

Five minutes after they boarded, four more people came, and the bus was completely full.

The driver closed the door, ready to depart, when two more people ran up.

Someone shouted, “Master, it’s full! Drive!”

But the driver opened the door again.

Wang Shuning felt like a squeezed sandwich; if she loosened her grip, she’d fall.

After leaving the station, the older woman selling tickets opened her small bag and started collecting fares.

Normally, fares varied by distance, but everyone on this bus was going to Chaoyang County, so it was quick.

City D station was the starting point, and Chaoyang County bus station was the end. The fare was twenty cents for the hour-and-a-half journey.

The bus was crowded. Even with the windows open, the air was stagnant.

The bumpy road made Wang Shuning increasingly uncomfortable, but she endured it; there were no motion sickness bags like in the 21st century.

Only a dirty trash can was in the corner.

She managed to hold it in, but others couldn’t.

Two girls sitting down asked for the trash can and vomited repeatedly, filling the bus with a foul smell.

“Ugh,” Wang Shuning started to feel nauseous.

As more people vomited, the ticket seller told the driver to pull over.

The moment the door opened, Wang Shuning pushed past people and ran out, crouching in the grass to vomit.

She vomited her breakfast, the water she drank, and stomach acid.

The smell was so bad that many people got off.

Lü Beichu and Zhao Heping watched from a distance.

Guo Jingyi and Zhang Meili patted Wang Shuning’s back.

The bus was bumpier than the train, yet Zhao Heping and Guo Jingyi didn’t get motion sickness, perhaps used to vomiting on the train.

After a while, the driver, seeing fewer people vomiting, shouted, “We’re short on time. Everyone back on board!”

A boy surprisingly gave Wang Shuning his seat because she looked so weak.

An hour and a half later, the bus stopped at Chaoyang County bus station.

Outside were ox carts with signs for different towns.

They found the cart for Yihe Town; only two people were on it.

The driver said the previous cart, already full, had left.

He counted the people, checked their names against a list, and confirmed they were all going to Yihe Town before leaving.

Zhang Meili, sitting by the rear wheel, asked, “Grandpa, how long until Yihe Town?”

The driver shouted, “An hour.”

Wang Shuning closed her eyes; she felt more tired than after a day’s walk.

At least the ox cart didn’t make her nauseous, and she could see the scenery.

Fields lined the dirt road; people were working in them.

Wang Shuning’s eyes grew heavy; she hugged her knees and buried her head.

“Wang Shuning, wake up. We’re here.”

She opened her eyes groggily; she had actually fallen asleep.

Many educated youths were waiting for their village representatives.

“You five are going to Dafeng Village. The village chief is there; go straight there,” the driver pointed.

When they approached, the village chief was sitting on the roadside, lost in thought.

He stood when they arrived.

He Daniu looked at the three women and two men, sighing inwardly. “Show me your documents.”

Wang Shuning showed him her document from the street office.

He Daniu waved his hand. “Get on. We’re going back; there’s a lot to do in the village.”

The ride from Yihe Town to Dafeng Village took forty minutes.

The other villages hadn’t arrived yet, so those educated youths were waiting in the town square.

Wang Shuning found it strange but didn’t ask.

Zhao Heping said cheerfully, “Chief Niu, is our village the best in town? That’s why we’re leaving first.”

He Daniu glanced at him and continued driving. “Ours is average. Today at noon, He Zhaofeng fell on a large rock by the paddy field and hit his head. I rushed him to the clinic in town, so we left early. Otherwise, we’d have come later.”

Zhao Heping’s smile faded. “Oh.”

The ox cart was very bumpy. The road from Yihe Town to Chaoyang County was passable, but the road to Dafeng Village was barely a road.

Potholes were everywhere.

The surroundings were poorer; the houses were smaller and more dilapidated.

They finally reached the village. He Daniu told them to get off and tied up his ox.

“This is the educated youth dormitory. Wait here; I’ll get the village chief,” He Daniu went towards the fields.

The village chief soon arrived.

He Haiming glanced at Wang Shuning, Zhang Meili, and Guo Jingyi. He looked most approvingly at Lü Beichu—tall and strong, clearly capable of working.

“The dormitory is full, so you five can’t stay there. But don’t worry; the village leaders arranged for you to stay with villagers.”

Wang Shuning looked at the small dormitory; she wondered how many educated youths were in Dafeng Village.

“Come, I’ll show you your lodgings,” the village chief led the way, their pace slow.