Chapter 6: Returning to the Village

“When I first went to the countryside, I didn’t bring many things with me, so I had my family mail them over,” Tang Wan said.

The others remained silent; what they thought in their hearts was unknown. After all, Tang Wan had brought more luggage than other educated youths when she arrived, and they had all noticed that.

But Tang Wan looked like a pampered child from home; no one understood why she had to go to the countryside. Otherwise, she could have at least bought a job and wouldn’t have to suffer through this rural hardship.

By now, it was no longer the beginning. Everyone knew that once educated youths were sent down, except for the few positions reserved for worker-peasant-soldier university students, there were almost no other chances to return.

Those who first went down basically ended up marrying and having children in the villages.

Regardless of what they thought, Tang Wan sat down holding her parcel, preparing to return.

On the way back, Tang Wan was surprised not to see Qin Zheng.

Missing this vehicle meant having to walk back.

But even when Uncle Qin was driving the ox cart back, Qin Zheng didn’t show up.

Without Qin Zheng on the cart, the atmosphere among the passengers was livelier than on the way there.

Moreover, most people were carrying things in their arms on the way back, so few were sleeping.

By the time they reached the village, it was almost dark. Since all the educated youths had gone to town that day, they didn’t need to cook dinner; they had bought things back from town.

Tang Wan specifically bought two pieces of cloth this time to make bed curtains. With so many people living together, changing clothes wasn’t convenient, and more importantly, it wasn’t easy to enter the space.

After returning, Tang Wan tried to hang up the curtains. She first went outside to find a sturdy stick, cleaned it, then tied it with a rope to fix it. She also nailed some nails into the wall—borrowing a hammer from the brigade.

Other female educated youths also made curtains, but none were as extravagant as Tang Wan’s, who used two large pieces of cloth to surround the entire bed. The others just hung a small curtain at the front for changing clothes.

Tang Wan did nothing else after coming back; this was her first task.

Once everything was done, Tang Wan took out a bag of biscuits. “Sister Yan Hong, thanks for helping me with the nails. This is what I bought in town today; here, have some.”

Song Yanhong was an educated youth who had come here last year. Seeing Tang Wan struggling alone earlier, she came to help after tidying up.

“No need, it was just a favor. I can’t accept your things, these are good stuff—you keep them yourself,” Sister Yan Hong refused.

Tang Wan put the biscuits directly into her hand. “Please take it. Without your help, I wouldn’t know how long it would have taken me.”

Seeing Tang Wan so determined, Song Yanhong accepted the gift.

Tang Wan genuinely meant it. Apart from some sarcastic remarks from Li Qing on the first day, the other two educated youths didn’t have a pushy personality, nor bad intentions.

Especially Sister Yan Hong, who was very kindhearted. Tang Wan was willing to share some things with her.

But Tang Wan’s generosity surprised the other educated youths.

At this time, biscuits and similar snacks were not only more expensive than meat but also rationed. Usually, they were bought to be given as gifts.

Although it was clear Tang Wan’s family was well-off, no one expected her to be so generous.

Tang Wan didn’t know what they thought. After finishing the bed curtains, she hurried out to wash up.

After washing, she began unpacking the parcels sent from home.

The parcel was quite heavy, clearly containing many things. Along with the items was a letter.

The letter listed what was inside: Tang Wan’s clothes, some new items from the department store in Beijing city, and the rest were food items—specifically beef jerky and some imported snacks—packed full.

There were also some ration coupons.

Tang Wan had already brought many ration coupons when she first went down, but this time the coupons were even more comprehensive, including industrial coupons and cloth coupons—quite a lot.

Although the Tang family wasn’t short on coupons, the original owner had already brought many when sent down. Now, receiving so many again showed just how favored the original owner had been in the JSG household.

After unpacking, Tang Wan got onto the bed.

Of course, she didn’t sleep immediately but first tidied up the things inside the space.

She took a sip of spring water. The beauty benefits were unknown, but it definitely strengthened her body. As she drank, the fatigue from a whole day out instantly vanished.

It was indeed a good thing and should come in handy. If only she could return to the Tang family to care for her father’s health—he had suffered many injuries in the battlefield years ago.

With this thought, she knew realistically, even if she returned to the city as soon as possible, it wouldn’t be until the New Year that she could go home for a visit.

So she had to put that matter aside for now.

Ignoring the spring water outside, Tang Wan looked at the things she bought today. She hadn’t realized how much until she got inside, where it took up two full shelves.

The most eye-catching were three large lunch boxes, neatly stacked together, giving a sense of security.

Then there were things bought from the supply and marketing cooperative: malted milk powder, candies, biscuits—four or five packs each, which could be considered reserve food.

Then there were things she just brought in—some unpacked from the parcel and some she had brought down initially—chocolates, beef jerky, high-end snacks, and sugar.

Also, compressed biscuits from the army, which her brother had specially brought back from the military. He worried that his sister might starve in the countryside. Though he was hit by Tang father for saying this, he still firmly insisted Tang Wan bring these along.

Tang Wan looked at the fully stocked shelves, mostly food. Some necessary items still needed to be purchased, but the town’s supply and marketing cooperative was small and didn’t have everything. Next time, she would probably need to go to the city department store.

After organizing everything, Tang Wan put the coupons she received today together with the previous ones.

She had bought so many things today but spent only a few yuan, not even using the money stored in her space. Tang Wan once again marveled at the current prices.

Finally, after leaving her space and lying down on the bed, Tang Wan remembered Qin Zheng. She couldn’t just take the three big lunch boxes without paying. She planned to find a chance tomorrow at work to send the money and, at the same time, give him a share of the things she bought in the space. He had helped her many times.

Batangas

Thinking this, Tang Wan prepared to ask about Qin Zheng’s situation tomorrow when going to work.

She hadn’t seen him return from town today. The last time at his house, it seemed he lived alone, so rushing to visit might not be appropriate.