Chapter 16 Arrival at the Youth Educated Point

Sun Wenwen, though she had been looked down upon by Li Changping in her past life, still felt uncomfortable facing his disdainful gaze. If it weren’t for Mu Jingxun, she wouldn’t have come to the countryside.

Li Changping, though the brigade leader, was still just a country bumpkin; what right did he have to look down on her?  Once she became an official’s wife, someone like Li Changping wouldn’t even be worthy of carrying her shoes. “I’m Li Changping, the brigade leader of the Shengli Production Brigade. Get on the ox cart; I’ll take you back.” After looking over the new educated youth, Li Changping gestured for them to board the ox cart. It was almost lunchtime, and he wanted to go home.

If it weren’t for the policy, he wouldn’t have come to pick up these new educated youth. The Shengli Production Brigade already had enough educated youth; now, five more were assigned. He would have to complain to the county Youth League office; they shouldn’t send any more educated youth.

 Their harvest couldn’t support so many people. Other brigade leaders did the same, picking up the new educated youth and leaving. Most brigades used ox carts; only a few used tractors. In the 1970s, tractors were valuable; only advanced production brigades could afford them. The Shengli Production Brigade didn’t have one yet.

Seeing some educated youth arrive on tractors while they were on an ox cart, Liu Yulan complained, “Brigade leader, why are we on this dirty, broken ox cart? Why don’t you use a tractor?  This ox cart is barely suitable for people!” This angered Li Changping.

Did he not want to use a tractor? They simply didn’t have one! Li Changping glared at Liu Yulan. “I wish I could use a tractor, but we don’t have one. If you’re so great, get us a tractor. This is what we have; if you don’t like it, walk back.

” Liu Yulan’s face flushed. She hadn’t realized; he didn’t need to be so harsh. He was just a brigade leader, a country bumpkin! Jiang Li saw Liu Yulan offending the brigade leader and thought she was foolish.  She wouldn’t need to deal with her; Liu Yulan’s personality and intelligence meant she wouldn’t have a good time in the countryside.

 Li Changping didn’t bother with Liu Yulan; after the others boarded the ox cart, he urged the cart driver to leave without waiting for her.  Liu Yulan, seeing this, quickly boarded the cart. The ride to the Shengli Production Brigade took another hour.  Jiang Li and the others sat on the ox cart, looking at the scenery.

 Although the countryside was underdeveloped, with dirt roads and dilapidated houses, Jiang Li felt that the unpolluted environment had more spiritual energy, suitable for cultivation. After an hour, the ox cart arrived at the Shengli Production Brigade. It was lunchtime; the villagers were returning from work.

  Li Changping took the new educated youth to the educated youth center. “Peng Zhiqing, new educated youth have arrived; please arrange for them.” Li Changping left the educated youth to Peng Zhigang, the educated youth center leader, and went home.  Peng Zhigang, seeing the new arrivals, frowned slightly at Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong; they were more handsome than him.  The male educated youth were popular with the village girls; Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong’s good looks would attract even more attention. 

Peng Zhigang felt a sense of rivalry. When Peng Zhigang looked at Jiang Li, he was attracted to her appearance.  She was beautiful but a little thin.  He sensed Jiang Li’s displeasure.  When he saw Liu Yulan and Sun Wenwen, he lost interest.  Sun Wenwen wasn’t bad-looking, but next to Jiang Li, she didn’t stand out. Peng Zhigang introduced himself. “I’m Peng Zhigang, the leader of the educated youth center.

 You can come to me or the brigade leader. But for internal matters, I suggest you solve them yourselves. The villagers don’t welcome us, so try not to cause trouble for the brigade leader.”  Although Peng Zhigang was just a leader of the educated youth center, he sounded very official; Jiang Li didn’t like him.

Sun Wenwen, having been reborn, knew Peng Zhigang better. He was hypocritical; he had seduced many village girls, getting food and drinks from them. He later hooked up with the branch secretary’s daughter, got into college, and never returned.

The branch secretary’s daughter was pregnant with his child but was abandoned.  They later realized Peng Zhigang had used them as a stepping stone to return to the city.