Chapter 18: Comrade, Bull Carts Have No Passenger Seat

Ye Siran watched as everyone crowded off the train like a swarm of bees, while she lingered at the back, moving slowly. Those who squeezed past even gave her a grateful smile.

Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, she realized she now had a large blue-and-white snakeskin bag in her hands, containing over a hundred pounds of rice and ten pounds of tea seed oil.

The young people ahead were all pushing forward, paying no attention to her—especially since everyone was already dazed from the train’s rocking.

Over the past three days and nights, whenever she had free time, Ye Siran practiced martial arts in her spatial pocket, where time flowed much more slowly than in the real world.

The space was imbued with spiritual energy, and she had managed to cultivate some internal strength in a short time. Carrying a heavy bag in each hand, she followed everyone else effortlessly.

There weren’t many people assigned to receive passengers, and the first off the train were a few delicate young women, whose luggage naturally got priority.

Some of the young male intellectuals struggled with their own heavy loads. Seeing the frail Ye Siran carrying two massive bags with ease, they were filled with determination.

Outside the station, everyone faced the bustling crowd. The reception staff led them toward a line of large trucks.

Each truck had large black characters on white paper pasted along its sides: “Welcome Educated Youth Sent to the Countryside.”

Quma County had many towns, and each truck had a reception person holding a sign for a different town.

Ye Siran, carrying her two large bags, heard a youth calling out loudly while holding a sign: “Educated youth from Quma County, please come this way!”

As she approached, five or six dozen people were already in front of the truck, and she stood at the very end of the line.

“Everyone, line up properly. Names will be called. One at a time—don’t rush,” a man in his forties called out sternly.

Then a young man in his twenties began reading names loudly from a sheet of paper.

Inside the truck stood two youths—one handling luggage, the other helping people onto the vehicle. Outside, two more youths assisted by handing up bags and supporting people as they climbed aboard.

The middle-aged man stood aside, watching, not moving. When Ye Siran’s name was called, he rushed forward to help her lift the luggage—but couldn’t manage it with one hand.

“Dad, I’ll do it.” The young man, who had been helping people onto the truck, quickly stepped forward and grabbed the snakeskin bag from his father.

When he lifted it, he froze. It was so heavy—could he really get it onto the truck? Could he ask his dad to help? Would everyone laugh at him?

Everyone had seen this frail young woman carrying a bag in each hand effortlessly, and now here he was, struggling.

Chen Zihao gave his father a look full of silent accusation: Dad, why did you come over to steal someone else’s work and make me look foolish in front of all these people?

The middle-aged man responded with a supportive glance: Zihao, you can do it. Dad’s counting on you.

He was Chen Wei from the Quma County Armed Forces, personally here to receive the youth—mainly Ye Siran.

He had assumed the pretty young woman at the front was Ye Siran and instructed his son to help her with her luggage—but he had been wrong.

The real Ye Siran, covered in dust, was at the back. He sprinted forward to help, but couldn’t lift the bag with one hand.

Encouraged by his father’s gaze, Chen Zihao didn’t want to appear weak in front of others, so he planted his feet, gritted his teeth, and lifted the snakeskin bag with both hands.

As he staggered and nearly fell, Ye Siran immediately steadied him and effortlessly tossed the bag onto the truck.

Chen Zihao’s eyes shone as he looked at her, awed and excited: “You… you’re Ye the Educated Youth?”

“Yes. Thank you just now—you’re very strong,” Ye Siran said politely. Even though she could have lifted it herself, he had still helped her.

“Hehe… hehe…” Chen Zihao laughed sheepishly, unsure what to say, and went on to lift the other bag.

He had thick eyebrows, bright eyes, and well-defined features. When he smiled, his white teeth shone, making him look warm and sunny.

A nearby youth, responsible for passing up luggage, wanted to help Ye Siran too—but Chen Wei pushed him aside.

He said seriously, “Ye the Educated Youth gets car sick. Go sit in the front passenger seat. I’m Chen Wei from Quma County Armed Forces—welcome to Quma County.”

“Thank you, Comrade Chen,” Ye Siran replied graciously, then followed him to the front seat.

He Yongchang had told her earlier that Chen Wei, the county armed forces head, was his comrade and would take care of her.

And now it had started. Sitting in the passenger seat was far better than standing in the truck. She wouldn’t politely refuse—who knew how far this journey would be!

The youth in the truck all regretted not staying at the back—they could have had the passenger seat too if they had waited!

The first to board, Jian Yueshi, however, was unhappy. “Comrade Chen, I get car sick too. Why does she get the passenger seat while we have to stand?”

“You get car sick and run that fast? Didn’t you see Ye the Educated Youth at the back?” Chen Wei asked sternly.

“….”

Jian Yueshi stomped in frustration but couldn’t argue, glaring at Ye Siran’s back.

“Don’t be mad, Yueshi. It’s our fault for walking too fast—we should’ve gone slower,” her little follower comforted her.

“Hmph! Car sickness my foot—she just wants the passenger seat because she’s pretty,” Jian Yueshi pouted.

The others glanced at her skeptically, thinking: She was covered in dust, we couldn’t see her face clearly.

One male youth, seeing Jian Yueshi was pretty, kindly reassured her: “As for looks, you’re the prettiest. Didn’t you see the reception staff fighting to carry your luggage?”

“Everyone, sit tight. We’re departing now,” Chen Zihao shouted.

As the truck started, he led everyone in singing revolutionary songs:

Educated youth sent to the countryside, hoeing in the sun, rising early to work, making contributions before dawn…

The trucks left the noisy city, heading toward Quma County. At the county, several village heads came to receive the youth.

The wealthy ones arrived in tractors, the poorer ones in ox carts.

Chen Wei personally took Ye Siran to Gaotang  Village Chief, patting his shoulder and whispering: “Old Qu, this is Ye the Educated Youth( Ye Zhiqing). Please take good care of her.”

“Comrade Chen, don’t worry. I will definitely take good care of her,” Village Chief Qu replied excitedly. He knew this person was a county official!

He wondered why a relative of an official would be assigned to the poorest village, Gaotang, instead of a place like Hongxing Village with tractors. Was it because Gaotang had done exceptionally well this year?

Suppressing his curiosity, he warmly said, “I’m the Village Chief of Gaotang Village. Welcome all educated youth to our village.”

“I get car sick—I want the passenger seat!” Jian Yueshi hurried over to the Village Chief, arrogantly demanding.

“…Comrade, our ox carts don’t even have a driver’s seat. Where would a passenger seat be?” Village Chief Qu asked, utterly confused.