Transmigrated as an Educated Youth in the 1960s
Transmigrated as an Educated Youth in the 1960s Chapter 61: Military Uniform

After dinner, Xu Ning sorted out the food that Lu Xiaotang brought today, packing it up for him to take to the cowshed.

Lu Xiaotang saw her filling the basket and said, “Just take half over, leave the other half here.”

After saying this, he took out quite a bit of what Xu Ning had just packed.

Xu Ning thought to herself that there was no shortage of food in the cowshed for now, so she let him do as he pleased.

She also had Xu Mo accompany Lu Xiaotang, just in case they ran into someone. They could simply say that they were sending Xu Mo over.

Xu An had finished heating the water and said to Xu Ning, “Sister, the hot water is ready. You can go wash up first.”

After washing up, Xu Ning noticed it was still early and that Lu Xiaotang wouldn’t return for a while, so she sat on the heated kang bed and watched Xu An work on his homework.

Xu An finished writing the last page of small characters, then put his notebook and pen back into his school bag.

He turned to Xu Ning and said, “Sister, I’ve finished my homework for today. Tomorrow, are we staying home to dig the cellar with Big Brother Lu, or going up the mountain to gather goods?”

Xu Ning replied, “Brother Lu said he would dig alone. The two of us will go up the mountain.”

“These days, everyone in the village has been tending to their private plots. We should take advantage of the next couple of days when there aren’t many people around and gather some things from the mountain,” Xu Ning said.

Xu An asked, “Should we invite Mom and Aunt Lu to come along tomorrow?”

Xu Ning smiled at Xu An and replied, “Mom and Aunt Lu already spent the whole day gathering today. When I came back from the city and went to the cowshed to drop off supplies, Uncle Lu mentioned that the two of them went up the mountain early and already brought home several baskets.”

Seeing that there wasn’t much for the two of them to do, Xu Ning took out the yarn Lu Xiaotang had brought back earlier. She began winding it into a ball, thinking she could knit a vest when she had some free time in the coming days.

When Lu Xiaotang returned, the siblings were sitting on the heated kang bed, listening to the radio while winding yarn.

Xu An, seeing him enter, quickly got off the bed and said, “Big Brother Lu, I’ve already heated the water. You should go wash up.”

Xu Ning also got off the bed and said, “Brother Lu, you’ve been traveling for days, and today was exhausting. You should rest early.” With that, she headed to her room.

The next morning, as soon as the sky began to lighten, Xu Ning got up. When she opened the door, she saw that Lu Xiaotang had already dug a deep pit in the ground.

She couldn’t help but marvel to herself, This young man really has energy!

She went back inside to start preparing breakfast since she needed to eat early before heading up the mountain.

There was still some leftover meat filling from the day before, so Xu Ning decided to make stuffed pancakes. She kneaded some dough and planned to cook the pancakes along with a pot of millet porridge.

Just as she finished kneading the dough, Xu An got up. Seeing his sister already making breakfast, he washed his face and came over to help.

The two siblings worked quickly, making a basket of stuffed pancakes, a plate of pickled cucumbers, and some millet porridge.

After the three of them had breakfast, Xu Mo was still fast asleep. Since Lu Xiaotang was at home, Xu An and Xu Ning packed their baskets and headed for the mountain.

As soon as they reached the foot of the mountain, they spotted their mother and Aunt Lu. The two women had already filled a basket and were carrying it back.

Xu Ning thought to herself, Why is everyone so eager? I thought I was already diligent, but they’ve already made one trip back.

She asked, “Mom, Aunt Lu, why are you up so early? Have you eaten?”

The two women quickly responded, “We’ve already eaten. You two head up the mountain quickly. We’ll drop off this basket and come right back.”

With that, they hurried off, jogging back with their baskets on their backs.

Xu Ning and Xu An made their way up the mountain. Xu Ning planned to gather separately from Xu An so that she could discreetly place some of the goods into her space, then gradually take them out as needed.

While the siblings were busily gathering, Lu Xiaotang arrived, bringing Xu Mo along.

Xu Mo, with his small basket on his back, pouted and looked at Xu Ning and Xu An, saying, “Sister, Second Brother, why didn’t you call me? Hmph!”

After that, he took his little basket, found a spot where there were lots of chestnuts, put on his small gloves, and began gathering them into his basket.

Xu Ning watched him, momentarily stunned.

Lu Xiaotang smiled and said, “When he woke up and realized you two went up the mountain without him, he was so mad. He grabbed his little basket and ran straight for the mountain. I had to calm him down, make him eat breakfast, and then bring him up here.”

Xu Ning couldn’t help but laugh. This little guy was too amusing. She had planned to take the first basket back and then bring him along, but who knew he would be in such a hurry.

Seeing a full basket of chestnuts nearby, Lu Xiaotang picked it up, ready to take it down the mountain.

Xu Ning quickly said, “Brother Lu, I can carry it.”

Lu Xiaotang replied, “It’s fine. I’ll take it on my way down. Xiao An, come with me to get another basket,” and with that, he strode down the mountain.

Xu Ning, amused, walked over to Xu Mo, who was still pouting and bent over, gathering chestnuts. She said with a smile, “Xiao Mo, are you still mad? Sister saw you sleeping so soundly that I didn’t want to wake you. I was planning to come down and get you, but you already came up with Brother Lu.”

Xu Mo looked up at his sister and asked, “Really?”

“Of course! Didn’t you see the basket of chestnuts that Brother Lu is carrying down? I just finished filling it and was going to take it back and bring you up.”

Xu Ning playfully tapped Xu Mo’s little nose and asked, “Still mad at your sister?”

Xu Mo, feeling a bit shy, looked down and said, “I’m not mad at you, Sister. It’s my fault for waking up late. Tomorrow, I’ll wake up early and go with you.”

“There’s no need for Xiao Mo to wake up so early,” Xu Ning said gently. “You’re still growing, so you need more sleep to get taller. Don’t you want to be as tall as Brother Lu?”

Xu Mo exclaimed, “I want to be as tall as Big Brother Lu so I can help you with lots of work!”

Hearing this made Xu Ning’s eyes sting with emotion. She said, “Then Xiao Mo has to sleep a lot and eat well to grow tall. Once you’re tall, you can help your sister with all sorts of work.”

Xu Mo nodded earnestly and said, “Sister, I understand now. I’ll make sure to eat and sleep well.”

By the time Xu An and Jianmin returned, Xu Ning and Xu Mo were already happily gathering chestnuts together.

Jianmin spoke up, “Xu Zhiqing, the village is delivering grain to the state tomorrow. My father and brother are going, and my mother asked them to bring back a pound of meat for dumplings. I’ll bring a bowl over for you.”

Xu Ning smiled at him and said, “Jianmin, there’s no need to bring us any. We just had dumplings last night—pork-filled, too. You should enjoy more for yourself.”

She knew that Jianmin was starting to feel embarrassed about how often he ate her food. But in Xu Ning’s mind, the snacks she gave him were no different in value from the cornbread Jianmin once shared with Xu An.

SakuRa[Translator]

Hi! I’m SakuRa (❀❛ ֊ ❛„)♡! Nice to meet you! If you notice any mistakes or if something is unclear, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I appreciate your patience, and I look forward to getting along with everyone! Thank you! ❀˖°

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