Xu Ning picked a few cucumbers from her small private plot and soaked them in cold water, planning to make a cucumber salad for lunch.

When Wei Lanlan arrived, Xu Ning was gnawing on a cucumber. Seeing that Wei Lanlan was drenched in sweat, she grabbed one from the basin and handed it to her, asking, “Why were you running so fast?”

Wei Lanlan took a few bites of the cucumber before replying, “This year, our village has a spot to recommend someone to the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University.” ^[1]It is an educational institution designed for workers, farmers, and soldiers, a concept often seen in socialist or revolutionary settings.

Xu Ning had heard about it from the village chief’s wife a few days ago, but she hadn’t paid much attention. Based on her experience, she knew she wouldn’t be considered. Even if she were eligible, she wouldn’t leave now. Her whole family was here—what would they do if she left?

After finishing her cucumber, Xu Ning asked, “Has it been decided?”

“It’s already confirmed. Who do you think in the educated youth camp is eligible to go?”

Xu Ning replied, “There’s no rule that says the spot has to be given to someone from the educated youth. There are still plenty of other people in the village.”

Wei Lanlan sighed, “Yeah! There are still a few high school graduates in the village. Oh, by the way, Xia Qing is going back to the city. Her mother had two fingers cut off by a machine at work, so she’s going back to take over her mother’s job. She’ll be leaving in a couple of days.”

Xu Ning said, “Let me know when she leaves, and I’ll come along to see her off.” After all, they had been educated youth together, and there had been no real conflicts between them.

Xia Qing left two mornings later. Xu Ning picked a few cucumbers and tomatoes from the field for her to take along for the journey.

She knew that the educated youth camp’s small private plot only had a few plants, and even before they had fully grown, someone had already picked them to eat.

When Xia Qing saw Xu Ning come over and bring cucumbers and tomatoes, she was moved and said, “Thank you, Xu Zhiqing! When you come back to Beijing, you must visit my home. My address is…”

Xu Ning smiled and said, “Sure! I’ll come find you when I return. The cucumbers and tomatoes are already washed, so you can eat them on the way.”

Sitting on the ox cart, Xia Qing looked at the cucumbers and tomatoes in her bag, feeling emotional. She had been here for more than a year, and her interactions with Xu Ning had only ever been a quick greeting.

When she first arrived, Li Fengjiao and Lin Qiuhua had told her that Xu Ning was difficult to get along with, although later on, she found their words to be untrue.

Still, she had maintained a distant attitude, believing it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. She had never thought of befriending Xu Ning, and yet now, as she was about to leave, Xu Ning had prepared something for her. Among the educated youth, they usually just exchanged addresses, nothing more.

Old Chen, the cart driver, noticed the girl had been staring at the cucumbers and tomatoes in a daze since she got on the cart.

With a grin, he said, “Xu Ning’s cucumbers and tomatoes are pretty good, aren’t they? That girl is very hardworking. I often see her carrying water to irrigate the vegetables when I head to the cowshed in the morning.

In the afternoon, when I bring the cart back, I sometimes meet her, and she’ll pick cucumbers from the field for me to eat. I can’t refuse! She’s such a kind-hearted girl. No one in the village has anything but praise for her and her brother.”

Xia Qing nodded in agreement and said, “She’s a really nice person.”

In truth, Xu Ning wasn’t exactly as wonderful as they made her out to be. When she decided to go to the educated youth camp to see Xia Qing off, she noticed that the cucumbers and tomatoes in the private plot were ready to be picked again.

This year, she had planted a little more of both, and they were producing well. There was already half a basket of them at home, and she had stored some in her secret space too. So, she casually picked a few, washed them, and brought them along.

If Xu Ning had known about the conversation between Old Chen and Xia Qing, she would surely have sighed and thought, “What a beautiful misunderstanding.”

Meanwhile, the village was in an uproar over the spot for the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University. The village chief was having a headache over it. In the end, they held a meeting and decided to let the eligible candidates draw lots to determine who would go to school.

In the educated youth camp, the ones eligible were Ge Hongbin and Sun Hao, who had arrived the earliest. As for the village, there were three candidates: two high school graduates and a model worker.

When it was time to write the lot-drawing slips, the village sent two representatives, and the educated youth camp sent two as well. The village chose Chen Hongjun and the accountant, while in the educated youth camp, both Sun Hao and Ge Hongbin called for Xu Ning, and finally, they also called Yang Wenli.

The four of them stood nearby, watching as the village chief placed the written slips into a bowl and brought it out for the candidates to draw.

Ge Hongbin was quite lucky. He was the last to draw, and his slip said “go to school,” while the other four slips all said “stay behind.”

This selection for the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University was fair, just, and transparent, leaving no room for complaints.

There was still over a month before the school term started, and Ge Hongbin told the village chief that he wanted to go home for a bit. The village chief, knowing that Ge was leaving soon anyway, figured it wouldn’t hurt to let him go and approved his request, telling him not to bother returning and to go straight to school.

When Ge Hongbin was about to leave, Xu Ning originally planned to pick some cucumbers and tomatoes for him and boil a few eggs. But when she saw that his private plot also had plenty of produce, she decided not to pick any and just focused on boiling some eggs for him.

She put four eggs in the pot, but then remembered how, when she and Xiao An first arrived, their cotton clothes were too thin, and they had been too cold to go outside. It was Ge Hongbin and a few others who had helped them by fetching water and cooking meals. She realized she might never get the chance to repay that kindness, so she added four salted duck eggs to the pot to boil along with the chicken eggs.

Xu Ning packed the boiled eggs and salted duck eggs into a small basket, added a few flatbreads, and covered them with a cloth. She then took Xiao An along and headed to the educated youth camp.

They arrived early, before some of the others had even gotten up. Ge Hongbin was inside, packing his belongings. Xu Ning didn’t go inside, but Xiao An went in to greet him.

As soon as Ge Hongbin saw the siblings, he came out right away and asked, “Xu Zhiqing, Xiao An, why are you up so early? Is something the matter?”

Xu Ning smiled and said, “I boiled a few eggs for you to take on the road,” and handed him the basket.

Ge Hongbin hurriedly responded, “Xu Zhiqing, I don’t know how to thank you. I already prepared some food for the trip yesterday. You should take these back for Xiao An to eat.”

Xiao An chimed in, “Brother Ge, just take it. You’ll be on the road for a few days, so it’s better to have more food with you.”

Seeing that he was still trying to refuse, Xu Ning added, “Ge Hongbin, when my brother and I first arrived, the three of you helped us a lot. This is just a small token of our appreciation. If you keep refusing, you’ll be making too much of it.”

Hearing them both speak that way, Ge Hongbin smiled cheerfully and said, “Alright then, Xu Zhiqing, Xiao An, I’ll accept it. Thank you both!”

The educated youth at the camp stood by the door, watching the ox cart fade into the distance, each with mixed emotions. Some felt envy, others jealousy, but none were truly at peace.

How many of them had come to the countryside willingly, genuinely answering the call of duty? Everyone knew life in the city was better. Who wanted to spend their days toiling in the mud? This chance to return to the city openly and with honor was a dream they all secretly longed for.

Perhaps the most disappointed was Sun Hao. He had the same opportunity as Ge Hongbin, but because of a stroke of bad luck during the lot drawing, he missed out. It was only natural that he felt a bit downhearted.

Xu Ning noticed the complex expressions on everyone’s faces, smiled slightly, and then took Xiao An home.

On the way back, she passed by their private plot and saw that the beans and peppers were ready to be harvested. After returning home, she grabbed a basket, planning to pick the beans and dry them, and then gather the ripened red peppers. She would string them together with a needle and thread to hang on the wall, making it easy to grab one whenever needed. It was quite convenient.