Chapter 56
◎Zhou Shunian’s Letter (Revised)◎
In the afternoon, they harvested corn. Yuan Xiaohua didn’t come to pick corn. She had asked Teacher Yao for leave to rest at the school.
With a snap, Tangtang deftly broke the corn from the stalk. Soon, the bamboo basket was filled with a basket of corn.
Sun Xiangrong moved her bamboo basket next to Tangtang. “Hey, Tangtang, do you want to know why Yuan Xiaohua took leave?”
Tangtang was not curious about this, but she knew that if she answered no, Sun Xiangrong would definitely pester her about why she didn’t want to know, so she had to stop her corn-picking and said, “Why did she take leave?”
“Diarrhea.”
Tangtang frowned. “Is it serious?”
“I think it’s quite serious. She’s been running to the latrine since after lunch. She’s almost exhausted.”
“Hey, Tangtang! Where are you going?”
“Help me ask Teacher Yao for leave. I’m going to the mountains for a bit.”
After saying that, Tangtang left the cornfield, leaving a bewildered Sun Xiangrong behind. She simply asked for leave for both herself and Tangtang and ran after her.
Tangtang carried a bamboo basket and went up the mountain. This mountain was much steeper than their Yuhuai Village’s Dagu Mountain, but it was also rich in natural resources.
Sun Xiangrong caught up with her, panting. “Tangtang, what are you doing?”
“I remember there are a few common herbs in the mountains that can stop diarrhea…” As Tangtang spoke, she saw a purple-flowered plant growing on the edge of the earthen cliff. Her eyes lit up. She picked up a tree branch and started to dig at the root of the plant. The rhizome was thick and nodular, with a grayish-yellow skin.
After returning to Xiashan Village Primary School, Tangtang had Sun Xiangrong borrow a handful of wheat bran from a villager in the production team. She washed the dirt off the surface of the Atractylodes rhizome, sliced it, and stir-fried it in an iron pot with the wheat bran, then soaked it in water.
“You can take this to Yuan Xiaohua. Let her drink it while it’s hot. It can stop diarrhea.”
Sun Xiangrong’s eyes widened. “Tangtang, you’re amazing! Is there anything you can’t do?”
“When we had stomachaches before, my mom would treat us like this.” Tangtang’s attitude was indifferent. “You should go quickly. Don’t tell Yuan Xiaohua that I made it.”
…
After saying that, Tangtang went back to the fields to pick corn cobs.
…
Yuan Xiaohua ran to the latrine again. Her legs felt so weak she had no strength, and she was trembling. Her face was also sallow, and she looked like she had suffered a lot.
“Drink this wheat bran and Atractylodes tea. It’s for diarrhea.”
Yuan Xiaohua took the tea from Sun Xiangrong and took a sip. The taste was a bit strange, but it was quite comfortable to drink something warm.
“How is it? Are you feeling better?”
Yuan Xiaohua’s stomach had been rumbling before. After drinking this wheat bran and Atractylodes tea, her stomach quickly quieted down. She sat down on the stool and no longer had the urge to run to the toilet. “I think I’m feeling better.”
“Do you know who made this wheat bran and Atractylodes tea?” Although Tangtang had told her not to tell Yuan Xiaohua, Sun Xiangrong just couldn’t stand to see Yuan Xiaohua bite the hand that fed her and not appreciate a kind heart.
“Didn’t you make it?” Yuan Xiaohua’s two thin eyebrows were tightly furrowed.
“How would I know that stir-fried Atractylodes with wheat bran can stop diarrhea? It was made by the Su Xintang you hate the most! She went up the mountain to dig up the Atractylodes and came back to make this tea for you. For a selfish and vain person like you, who let Tangtang help draw the blackboard newspaper, and that blackboard newspaper was basically all drawn by her, but you took all the credit for yourself! It’s only because she’s kind-hearted. If it were me, I wouldn’t have bothered with you!”
Sun Xiangrong’s words were deafening.
Yuan Xiaohua looked at the enamel cup in her hand, a little stunned, her fingers unconsciously curling.
Was she really wrong?
After returning from the agricultural learning activity in Xiashan Village, everyone was very tired and listless.
As soon as Tangtang returned to the classroom, she saw Yuan Xiaohua hold up a large red-covered notebook to her. “This is the prize for the first place in the ‘Grasp Both Learning and Labor’ blackboard newspaper competition. This honor should belong to you. I’m sorry, I selfishly stole your labor.”
Remembering something, Yuan Xiaohua found the certificate that had been pressed under her books. Her fingers slid over the words “First Prize, Yuan Xiaohua,” and she tore the certificate to pieces.
“Su Xintang, I’m sorry.” After saying that, Yuan Xiaohua bowed to Tangtang, her body almost bent at a 90-degree angle.
After a long while, Tangtang finally sighed. She reached out and took the large red-covered notebook from Yuan Xiaohua. “We are classmates. I won’t be so petty. Let’s just let bygones be bygones. Let’s get along well in the future.”
Only then did Yuan Xiaohua raise her head, her eyes filled with grateful tears.
…
In November, Tangtang received a letter from Zhou Shunian from Wanqiu.
The content of the letter was not long. It was mainly to thank her for her constant concern and to say that he had already gotten over the gloom of his mother’s death and had left Wanqiu to work at the Capital Machinery Factory.
After reading the letter, Tangtang’s emotions became excited. As long as Brother Shunian could get over the gloom of Auntie Wang’s death, that was good. If Auntie Wang’s spirit was in heaven and saw him so immersed in the blow of her death, she probably wouldn’t feel good either.
And the work at the Capital Machinery Factory was definitely better than being an educated youth in Wanqiu.
In addition, Zhou Shunian also added a reminder at the end of the letter.
“…I heard that you are already in high school. Although there are no exams now, I still don’t want you to neglect your high school studies, especially in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. At any time, a good learning attitude will benefit us for a lifetime.”
Even if Zhou Shunian didn’t remind her, Tangtang would have done so. From the first day of high school, she had focused on studying mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
Although there were not many formal classes in school, there were still some cultural classes. Every time the teacher gave a lecture, she would listen carefully and take detailed notes of the content. If she didn’t understand something, she would ask the teacher. Although the school didn’t arrange much class time, the teachers were still very enthusiastic and fond of students who were serious about their studies. In addition, Tangtang had also found some very valuable study materials at a recycling station.
Tangtang would often think of her dad’s words: only learning is the only way out in life.
…
In late October, the leaves of the locust trees on both sides of the road had all fallen. Tangtang and the others welcomed their first winter at the county high school. The dry rations in the morning were so frozen they could break your teeth. They could only be tucked into the inner side of their cotton-padded jackets and warmed up with their body heat before they could be eaten. At noon, the large pot of vegetables at the school canteen would have a layer of oil floating on top less than ten minutes after it was served. The cracks in the wooden windows of the girls’ dormitory were sealed with a layer of old newspaper, and the northwest wind howled.
Last year, when Su Juesheng came home on leave, he had brought back two military water bottles. Tangtang had brought the water bottles to school. Before going to bed, she would fill them with hot water and hold them in her quilt. When she woke up, the quilt was still warm.
After a few snowfalls, the county high school had its winter break.
As the New Year approached, the mine gave some of the workers a holiday. Su Juexiao, who had gone to work in the mining area, came back, which made Tangtang’s family overjoyed. Yu Juanfang slaughtered an old hen that had been raised at home for a long time and said that they would have hot pot for dinner. The chicken soup was bubbling on the stove, and the kitchen was filled with fragrance. Tangtang went out with a basket, planning to pick some fresh vegetables from the vegetable patch for the hot pot in the evening.
The muddy road was covered with a layer of snow, and it was easy to slip when walking. Tangtang hadn’t walked a few steps when she saw someone fall on the road, and the dry firewood in the bamboo basket scattered all over the ground.
“Sister Wani!” Tangtang quickly went forward and helped her pick up the scattered dry firewood. “How are you? Are you hurt?”
The scraped palm was stinging, and blood was oozing out. Wani hid her hand behind her back and shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Not long after Wani graduated from high school and returned home, she began to work in the fields. Although she had to help with the housework at home when she was in school, there was undoubtedly a big difference between studying at school and working. Carrying manure, shoveling ashes, plowing the fields, weeding, and harvesting, she spent the whole day in the fields, with not even a moment’s rest. At night, she was so tired that she would fall asleep as soon as she lay down on the earthen kang. It was really too hard.
In the summer, her clothes were so wet they could be wrung out. In the winter, holding the iron-handled hoe was like holding a block of ice. The thick cotton-padded jacket she wore was so heavy that she could barely breathe.
And what made Wani most uncomfortable was that her mother, Yu Yahong, had already started to look for a husband for her.
Wani was the most reluctant to get married. This was even more unacceptable to her than working in the mountains.
Tangtang felt a little sorry for her. She knew that Sister Wani’s ambition was definitely not in farming and getting married. “Sister Wani, what are your plans for the future?”
Wani shook her head. “I’m not willing to get married easily, but for now, there seems to be no other way out besides farming at home.”
The current promotion and recruitment were not open to rural children who had graduated from high school. Wave after wave of high school students graduated from school. Even if there were recruitment opportunities in the future, it would not be their turn, these past graduates who had already entered society.
“Tangtang, you’re better than me. Your dad at least works outside. Maybe he’ll have a chance to find a job for you outside in the future. And your parents dote on you. They definitely won’t let you suffer too much…” Wani sighed and patted her shoulder with her clean hand. “Where are you going?”
“Brother Juexiao is back. I want to go to the vegetable patch to pick some green vegetables. Sister Wani, you should come to our house for dinner tonight.”
A bright light suddenly appeared on Wani’s originally silent face. “Juexiao is back?”
“Mhm, mhm. Sister, you must come to our house tonight.”
After parting with Wani, Tangtang went to the private plot. The vegetables on it were covered with a thick layer of snow, but the green vegetables inside could still be vaguely seen. She brushed away the snow on top and picked some cabbage, spinach, radishes, and cilantro.
Yu Juanfang moved the chicken soup, which was almost ready, to the stove. The chicken soup was mixed with dried mushrooms from the summer and smelled very fresh and fragrant. The vegetables were all washed and cut and placed on the side. Later, they would drink the soup first, then add water to blanch the vegetables. Su Juexiao pulled the roasted sweet potatoes out of the fire. The kitchen was warm, and the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of roasted sweet potatoes.
“Here.” Su Juexiao handed the pulled-out sweet potatoes to his younger brother and sister.
The outer skin of the roasted sweet potatoes was crispy, and the inside was soft, glutinous, and fragrant. The sweet juice was flowing out. It was hot. Tangtang took a bite and felt the sweetness in her heart.
Seeing that the soup in the pot was almost ready, Yu Juanfang said, “Tangtang, Juesheng, which of you will go to the old Su family’s house and call Wani over?”
“I ran into Sister Wani when I went to the vegetable patch this afternoon. I’ve already told her.”
As Tangtang was speaking, she heard a knock on the door. When she opened the door, it was Wani.
Tangtang brushed the snow from her shoulder with her hand, her eyes sparkling. “Sister Wani!”
Wani blew on her hands, stomped her feet, and got rid of the cold on her body before entering the house.
“Third Uncle, Third Aunt, Juesheng, Juexiao.” Wani greeted them, and the family quickly welcomed her to sit inside.
Su Juexiao first served Wani a bowl of chicken soup. “Have a bowl of chicken soup to warm up.”
“Thank you.” Wani took a sip of the chicken soup and felt the cold in her body being dispelled by this bowl of chicken soup.
Juexiao’s appearance hadn’t changed much since he left. He was the one among the children of the Su family’s third branch who resembled Su Huimin the most. He had a relatively gentle temperament, but he was more decisive than Su Huimin when it came to making decisions. His features were handsome, and he was wearing a blue labor cloth uniform.
Wani drank the soup and listened to the family talking warmly around the stove. Juexiao reminded his two younger siblings, “It’s not easy to go to high school. Although there are no college entrance exams now, you must not neglect your studies, especially in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. There’s a saying… a drill bit must be aimed at the cracks in the rock, and knowledge must be rooted in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.”
“Second Brother, we know.” In these years, Su Juesheng had been with Tangtang. He had been to the city to participate in the revolutionary storytelling competition, and he had also worked with Tangtang to create acorn powder, saving the lives of many people who had run out of food. He had received an award in the auditorium of the county revolutionary committee. He had seen the big world outside and would naturally not be willing to be a mediocre and shallow person.
Although he knew that his talent was not as good as Tangtang’s, he was still willing to work hard in his studies.
Tangtang took a sip of the chicken soup. The flavor of the chicken soup had been fully brought out. It was particularly fresh and sweet with the addition of mushrooms. She couldn’t help but let out a happy sigh after taking a sip, feeling comfortable all over.
“Tangtang, Wani, eat more. You both look so thin.” Yu Juanfang put the meat she had scooped out of the pot into their bowls.
“Thank you, Mom.”
Wani held the rim of her bowl. “Thank you, Third Aunt.”
Yu Juanfang remembered something and reminded him, “Juexiao, if there’s any recruitment information at your mine, you must keep an eye out for Wani.”
“Mom, I’ll keep an eye out.” Su Juexiao was a cadre in the coal mine’s propaganda department, mainly in charge of mine news and propaganda. In fact, from the first day he arrived at the coal mine, he had been paying attention to recruitment information. It was just that the personnel at the coal mine were stable, and they usually only recruited coal miners who went down into the pits. He had been very lucky to be recruited by the coal mine back then.
Wani sighed. “Third Aunt, recruitment is not something Juexiao can decide. I probably don’t have that kind of good luck.”
“Wani… do you have any plans for the future?” Su Juexiao hesitated for a long time before he finally decided to ask.
The firelight made Wani’s lowered cheeks red. After a long while, she finally looked up and forced a smile. “Oh, I plan to help out at home for a year or two, and then have my mom find me a suitable young man to marry. The two of us can support each other and live a good life. That would be pretty good.”