Chapter 24: The Educated Youth Stays Overnight (Part 2)

The next morning.

It was rare for Mu Mian to see her father at home on a weekday morning. Usually, by the time she got up, Comrade Mu Fugui had already left for the commune.

But now, having a bicycle made a difference—at least he could leave half an hour later.

Last night, mosquitoes got into the room, and Mu Mian had been bitten awake in the middle of the night. She didn’t sleep well after that, so she was still drowsy in the morning.

She sat motionless on the doorstep, looking like an unfocused porcelain doll.

Liu Shuangcui called out, “Stop dawdling. Wash your face—you’ll feel more awake. Tonight, I’ll burn some mugwort in your room to keep the mosquitoes out.”

Mu Mian let out a big yawn and sluggishly walked into the yard. She scooped up some water from the basin and splashed it onto her face.

The cool water instantly cleared her head. As if suddenly remembering something, she belatedly glanced toward her brother’s room.

The door was closed. Mu Mian asked, “Educated Youth Nie hasn’t gotten up yet?”

Liu Shuangcui replied, “She left early. I wanted to keep her for breakfast, but she said she still had some dry rations and didn’t want to trouble us.”

“I figured she wouldn’t feel comfortable staying too long. Besides, since she just arrived, she must have a lot to sort out today, so I didn’t insist.”

Mu Mian responded with an “Oh” and didn’t ask any more questions.

That was understandable. If she were in Educated Youth Nie’s shoes, she probably wouldn’t want to inconvenience others either.

The days went on as usual.

After breakfast, when the whistle signaling the start of class blew, Mu Mian packed her newly bought books and raced to school with Xu Lele. She spent both morning classes absorbed in her reading.

By the afternoon, the sky had turned slightly overcast.

A breeze blew, though it was still warm. Even so, it was better than the scorching sun.

A few kids had made plans to dig for earthworms by the river, as the damp ground there had plenty.

Mu Mian figured it had been a while since she had rewarded the old hen at home, so she grabbed a small shovel and a bottle and tagged along.

Yesterday, their hen had only laid one egg in total. She wasn’t sure if it was due to the heat or if it wasn’t eating well.

Xiao Chengzi and Dazhuang ran ahead, playfully chasing each other. Mu Mian, feeling hot, walked leisurely at the back with Xu Lele.

When they arrived at the riverbank, they were surprised to see Shi Xiaolian there. Her mother, Tian Hongjuan, was washing clothes nearby.

Feeding pigs was an easier task compared to working in the fields, but the biggest advantage was the flexible schedule.

As long as the pigs were taken care of, the rest of the time was her own.

Mu Mian greeted her, “Auntie.”

Tian Hongjuan smiled warmly and glanced at the tools in Mu Mian’s hands. “Here to dig for earthworms? Xiaolian’s digging too.”

Shi Xiaolian, who hadn’t been too keen on digging, silently glanced over. She had originally come to help her mother with the laundry, but her mother had deemed her too weak to wash clothes properly.

Before Tian Hongjuan even finished speaking, Xu Lele had already run over to Shi Xiaolian.

From her perspective as a true child, since they had caught fish together before, that made them playmates.

It was just a pity that this new playmate lived too far away. Going to fetch her every time would be too much trouble.

Mu Mian also walked over and flashed Shi Xiaolian a big smile.

Shi Xiaolian: “……”

No matter how bright the smile was, she still had no idea where to find ginseng.

Mu Mian didn’t actually mean anything by it. She was simply still in a good mood.

Seeing Shi Xiaolian reminded her that just two days ago, she had unexpectedly received a windfall. Of course, she was still happy about it.

When in a good mood, even digging for earthworms seemed easier.

Mu Mian dug one up with every scoop, quickly filling half the bottle.

Xu Lele, being easily distracted, soon abandoned the task and ran off to pick wildflowers.

The sun, which had been momentarily hidden by clouds, reappeared. Mu Mian started feeling hot and found a shady spot under a tree to rest.

She had only been sitting for a minute when she saw Nie Sihui approaching with a bucket to fetch water.

Nearby, Xiao Chengzi noticed her as well. He looked puzzled and asked, “Sister, who’s that? I’ve never seen her before.”

Mu Mian replied, “An educated youth. She just arrived yesterday.”

Xiao Chengzi scratched his head. “Oh, another one? This one looks prettier than the others.”

So far, there had only been four educated youth in total. Two men, Qian Xun, who taught first through fourth-grade math, and Tan Hongbo, who had arrived last spring.

The other two were women, Jian Mulan and Tang Rongrong, who had arrived last autumn.

In terms of looks, Nie Sihui was indeed the most attractive.

But when it came to education, Mu Mian wasn’t sure about Nie Sihui’s background. She did know that Jian Mulan had finished high school, making her the most educated person in the brigade.

Jian Mulan taught fifth grade, and the students really liked her.

Mu Mian playfully patted the little boy’s head. “So young, yet already knowing who’s good-looking.”

Xiao Chengzi spoke with confidence. “Of course! My mom is prettier than my fourth aunt.”

Mu Mian: “……”

That was true. Aside from being a little older, his fourth aunt’s features were quite plain compared to her little aunt.

Mu Mian, never one to pass up on drama, teased, “If Gutou hears that, be careful—he might not play with you anymore.”

Xiao Chengzi wasn’t the least bit worried. “No way. Brother Gutou says the same thing.”

Mu Mian: “……”

Well then, truly a pair of ‘filial’ children.

As she turned her head, she noticed Shi Xiaolian watching Nie Sihui’s retreating figure for a few extra seconds.

Mu Mian’s big eyes sparkled.

After sending Xiao Chengzi away, she quickly walked over to Shi Xiaolian, lowered her voice, and whispered, “What are you looking at? Does this Educated Youth Nie seem suspicious? Did she do something?”

That couldn’t be. Based on their interaction yesterday, she had seemed like a decent person.

Shi Xiaolian: “……”

Was she really asking this so directly?

Had their relationship already reached the point where there were no secrets between them?

Shi Xiaolian cast a long, thoughtful look at Mu Mian.

Mu Mian met her gaze, her long lashes fluttering as she blinked innocently.

Looking completely sincere and clueless.

Shi Xiaolian: “……”

After two seconds of silence, she finally said, “No, she just seems like a capable person.”

She wasn’t actually familiar with those educated youth. In a few years, more and more would arrive each year. There were so many that she couldn’t possibly remember them all.

Shi Xiaolian had an impression of Nie Sihui because she was incredibly persistent. Among this group of old educated youths, some had married locals in the brigade, while others had paired up among themselves and gotten married. In any case, none of them had managed to return to the city.

Nie Sihui was the only exception. She had never sought a partner. The aunties in the brigade had introduced her to potential matches, but she always said she wanted to find someone who shared her ideals. She kept searching until the college entrance exams were reinstated, yet she still hadn’t found anyone.

She was among the oldest of the educated youths, yet when the college entrance exams resumed, she achieved the best scores among them all.

Shi Xiaolian still remembered the day the acceptance letter arrived. She happened to be passing by and saw Nie Sihui clutching the letter, crying hysterically.

She didn’t know if Nie Sihui was crying over the hardships she had endured all these years. Perhaps it was because she had been alone for so long that she couldn’t help but take a few extra glances. That moment left a deep impression on her.

Hearing that there were no issues, Mu Mian didn’t ask any further questions. She knew it—there was no way she could be mistaken.

She actually quite liked this educated youth. Nie Sihui carried herself with dignity, knowing when to advance and when to retreat.

Thinking of the other educated youths, Mu Mian’s interest was piqued again. “Don’t you think Educated Youth Qian seems a little off?”

Lately, he had been increasingly careless in class, visibly distracted.

Although rural areas didn’t place much emphasis on education, and most parents had a take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward their children attending school, as a teacher, Educated Youth Qian was still earning work points. If he wasn’t doing his job properly, that was unacceptable.

Shi Xiaozhu wasn’t particularly strict with students, but she was diligent and remembered every student’s situation clearly.

There’s a saying, “Once is an accident, twice is a pattern.”

Perhaps Mu Mian’s shamelessly inquisitive yet matter-of-fact way of speaking had conditioned Shi Xiaozhu. Without much thought, she responded naturally, “Yeah, a freeloader.”

Mu Mian raised an eyebrow. “Who is he trying to latch onto?”

Shi Xiaozhu smirked. “Who else could it be?”

Mu Mian’s eyes flickered with understanding. She had actually seen it twice—Educated Youth Qian chatting with the wife of Accountant Sun.

If there was a family in the brigade with decent conditions, Accountant Sun’s family would definitely be one of them.

And as it happened, Accountant Sun had a daughter who was of marriageable age.

Mu Mian asked, “Did he succeed in the end?”

Shi Xiaozhu shook her head.

Mu Mian continued, “Because Accountant Sun didn’t agree? I remember his wife seemed quite satisfied with him.”

Some people in the brigade indeed liked educated youths, seeing them as cultured city folk.

But others felt that these educated youths were outsiders who would eventually return to the city, making them reluctant to let their sons or daughters marry them.

Shi Xiaolian curled her lips. “There will always be better options later.”

Mu Mian understood instantly. Educated youths kept arriving in waves, and with more choices, Accountant Sun’s wife probably lost interest in Educated Youth Qian.

That woman had a tendency to aim high but lacked the skills to match her ambitions.

Mu Mian had interacted with Accountant Sun’s daughter, Sun Yunyun, twice before. She was straightforward and sharp—definitely not a good match for someone like Educated Youth Qian.

Still eager for gossip, Mu Mian asked, “And then? Did he stop scheming?”

Shi Xiaozhu replied, “He went to the commune.”

Mu Mian raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Don’t tell me he married into a family there?”

Shi Xiaolian’s eye twitched as she glanced at Mu Mian, who, with her big, innocent eyes, looked completely sweet and harmless.

Her words, however, were ruthless.

But she wasn’t wrong. That was exactly what happened—he married into the woman’s family.

Mu Mian was about to continue gossiping when she suddenly heard footsteps running up behind her.

She turned and saw Xu Lele, her cheeks puffed out in frustration. “What are you two talking about? Whispering without me?”

Mu Mian responded smoothly, “Shi Xiaolian was just telling me that she couldn’t solve the problems her sister assigned her. I told her to read more books. The exams are coming up. Have you been studying these past few days?”

Although the school’s rules were quite lax, end-of-term exams were still held every semester.

As soon as she heard this, Xu Lele, who had been fuming just moments ago, instantly deflated like a balloon losing air.

She hadn’t studied. She didn’t like exams.

Mu Mian patted Xu Lele’s head. “Come to my house later and study. I’ll go over the material with you.”

Xu Lele nodded obediently, completely forgetting why she had been angry in the first place.

Shi Xiaolian, who had watched the whole exchange silently: “…….”

She didn’t even know her sister had ever assigned her extra homework.