Chapter 45 : The Envy of Educated Youths

“How was your first day working in the fields? Are you getting used to it?” Nangong Ruochen looked at Yun Siying standing by the window. Seeing that she looked fine and not tired at all, he was a little surprised, but still asked with concern.

“I’m okay. I was working with Lin Zikang clearing wasteland. He works slowly, so I can keep up with him,” Yun Siying replied. She couldn’t help but swallow her saliva when she smelled the fragrance of the food.

“That’s good. Go wash your hands and rest for a bit. When Han Yuecheng and the others get back, we’ll eat,” Nangong Ruochen said as he continued cooking.

Yun Siying took off her gloves and scrubbed her hands by the well. Fortunately, there weren’t any grass stains, otherwise, they would’ve been hard to clean. She returned to the room and asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”

“No need. Just go rest in the corridor and wait for dinner,” Nangong Ruochen said while staying focused on his cooking. He thought to himself that she was so petite, he should look after her more.

The other educated youths could already smell the aroma of meat from afar it was coming from the educated youth camp. They didn’t even need to guess who was cooking. Chen Siming said with a touch of envy, “Han Yuecheng, Chen Banghua… you guys are eating meat again today.”

He wasn’t lacking money, but he didn’t know how to cook. He used to buy some meat every month, but every time, only one or two bites actually made it into his stomach. Once, he went a month without buying any meat, and people started gossiping about him. Since then, he had stopped buying meat altogether. Whenever he wanted it, he’d order a braised pork dish at a state-owned restaurant, delicious and satisfying.

Nangong Ruochen was an excellent cook, and the others had decent financial conditions too. They weren’t the kind to take advantage of others, but the three of them still didn’t agree to let him join their meals and there was nothing he could do about it.

“Yep! Just from the smell, I can tell Nangong made braised pork today.” As they spoke, the two quickened their pace.

Everyone could only watch with envy. Some people had tried to mooch off them before, but were dealt with swiftly. The three came from military families and had real skills, one person could take on four or five others. After a few incidents like that, no one dared to mess with them or their food anymore.

“Yun Siying, you’re off work too. How are you adjusting to fieldwork?” the two asked kindly as they walked into the yard and saw her.

“It’s alright, but I’d rather be picking pig grass,” Yun Siying replied with a smile. She hadn’t seen them around during the day.

“Work for a few more days, then talk to the team leader. It should be fine,” Chen Banghua said, knowing that the team leader was reasonable. There weren’t strict rules for the educated youths, as long as they handled their own food rations and didn’t cause trouble, everything was fine.

“Hurry up and wash your hands, it’s time to eat,” Nangong Ruochen called out when he saw the two had returned. He wasn’t sure if Yun Siying was hungry, but they still had to wait for these two guys.

“Alright, we’re coming.” The two took out their training tools and went to the well to fetch water and wash up.

Yun Siying went inside and helped set the table, placing out bowls, chopsticks, and stools. The two men came into the room, picked up their bowls and chopsticks, and said to Yun Siying, “Siying, don’t be shy. Nangong’s cooking is amazing, you’ve got to try it.”

In addition to the soft, fluffy steamed buns made from two-grain flour, there was a loofah soup, bright in color and fresh in taste, refreshing and pleasant. The braised pork was a rich red, full of aroma, melting in the mouth, fatty but not greasy. Lastly, the cold cucumber dish added a crisp, refreshing touch to the meal.

The meal was not only nutritious but also incredibly tasty and appetizing. With food like this, every bite felt like a kind of joy, making one feel intoxicated by the taste of happiness. After eating, Yun Siying didn’t even want to cook for herself anymore.

After the meal, Chen Banghua started cleaning up the dishes. Nangong Ruochen was very pleased with his initiative. He said to Yun Siying, “It’s your first day working, you must be tired. Go take a nap first, these two will take care of cleaning up.”

“Thank you,” Yun Siying replied cheerfully and went to rest in the room.

Han Yuecheng and Chen Banghua felt that although they hadn’t yet completed their mission, their lives were actually quite good. They could eat meat regularly, and it was even cooked by their boss. They never imagined they would be able to enjoy such a luxury.

While the people here were full and energetic, Lin Zikang and Shen Subai were slumped in the yard with miserable expressions. Both looked utterly exhausted from the morning’s farm work. Shu Ruxue, who had some experience, wasn’t in such a sorry state as the other two.

Lin Zikang looked at his dirt-stained white shirt and black pants with distress. The blisters on his palms were burning and painful to the touch. “It’s only been one morning and my hands are already like this. It hurts just to touch them. How am I going to survive in the future?” he said painfully.

“My hands are the same, covered in blisters. They hurt so much. My back aches too. The sun’s blazing, and just thinking about going back to work this afternoon makes me feel like life is hopeless,” Shen Subai said. Even though he had Shu Ruxue taking turns with him to clear the wasteland, he was still exhausted and miserable.

“Comrade Li, why don’t you seem tired at all?” Lin Zikang, bent over and unable to straighten his back, looked at Li Zhengyang and asked in confusion. Before coming to the countryside, he often did chores at home, but it never left him this worn out or sunburned.

“You get used to it over time. When we first arrived, we were just like you. We slowly adapted,” Li Zhengyang replied gently, a trace of sorrow in his eyes.

After hearing that, the other educated youths went silent and hung their heads. Before coming to the countryside, they had never done farm work, many hadn’t even done much housework. But now, they had to deal with food that wasn’t nearly as good as back home, and they worked in the fields every single day. They went from being completely clueless to gradually learning the ropes. Only they truly understood the hardship involved.

“Yinyin, Yun Siying isn’t going to keep all that money to herself, is she?” At the dinner table, Xu Ziying warmly picked up some food for Shu Ruxue.

“Of course not, Mom, Dad you have to make her come home soon. Not only can you get over 1,000 yuan from her, but with her looks, the Xue family will definitely be satisfied. And considering Xue Zhiqiang’s condition now, you could also receive a generous dowry,” Shu Ruxue said. She hadn’t returned to the educated youth camp after work, her mother had called her home for dinner.

Her father, Li Gang, couldn’t earn work points in the fields, so he often went up the mountain and sometimes brought home wild pheasants or rabbits as snacks. That’s why the Li family occasionally got to eat meat. Shu Ruxue planned to stop by every few days for a meal.

“Yinyin, eat more eggs. Your mother made these especially for you,” Xu Ziying said, seeing Shu Ruxue picking at the chicken in the pot. She felt heartache and quickly picked up an egg with her chopsticks for her daughter.

“Thanks, Mom. Your eggs are still as delicious as ever,” Shu Ruxue said excitedly. For as long as she could remember, her mother had always picked food for Yanyan, Minglang, and her brother. She never imagined that one day her mother would pick food for her so tenderly.

“If you like it, eat more. Yinyin, how much money will they send you from Kyoto?” Xu Ziying asked again.

“They said they’d send me 200 yuan first,” Shu Ruxue replied honestly, touched by her mother’s rare concern.