Siheyuan: Yan Jiekuang's carefree life

This train was a special train for educated youths. All the people on board were educated youths, and all the people who got on along the way were educated youths, so the safety was pretty good. Even so, Yan Jiekuang did not take it lightly, and he was always alert even when he was sleeping at night.

The train kept moving forward, and the atmosphere on the train became more and more depressing. It was not because we were getting closer to our destination and farther away from home, but because we were confused about the future. The further north we went, the colder it was. On the second day on the train, everyone gradually put on the thick clothes they brought with them.

The train traveled for almost five days. At 9:45 am on the fifth day, the train stopped at Dami County Station, the station before Harbin. After hearing the broadcast, Yan Jiekuang got off the train with the other educated youths. At this time, Yan Jiecheng had already taken Yan Jiekuang's luggage to the platform.

Yan Jiekuang found Yan Jiecheng and said, "Thank you, brother!"

Yan Jiecheng handed the luggage to Yan Jiekuang and said, "Be careful. When you get there, send a telegram home to let them know you're safe!"

"I understand!" Yan Jiekuang echoed, and quietly looked at Yan Jiecheng and asked, "Brother, do you have anything else to say to me?!"

Yan Jiecheng asked awkwardly, "Jie Kuang, you don't live at home anyway. Can you lend me your house first? Don't worry! Your sister-in-law and I have already applied for a house from our company. We will move out as soon as we get one. If you're worried, I can write you a receipt."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Okay! I'll lend you the house. Go back to see dad! And write a receipt."

"Hey!" Yan Jiecheng responded and said with a smile, "Then I won't bother you. Go quickly! I've asked around and there's someone waiting for you outside the station."

"Got it!" After watching Yan Jiekuang get on the bus, Yan Jiekuang picked up the small shoulder pole he had prepared in advance, placed the luggage on both ends of the pole, and walked out of the station carrying the luggage.

"People from Shengli Commune, come this way!"

"This side of Anjia Commune!"...

After leaving the train station, Yan Jiekuang heard a series of shouts. Soon, Yan Jiekuang found the location of Shengli Commune. Yan Jiekuang walked over and said, "Comrade, my name is Yan Jiekuang. I came to Shengli Commune from the old city as an educated youth."

The staff of Shengli Commune's Youth Office quickly found Yan Jiekuang on the list and said, "Get in the car! We'll set off when everyone is gathered."

"Hey!" Yan Jiekuang responded, walked to the side of the tractor, put the luggage on the tractor first, and then climbed onto the vehicle swiftly. Yan Jiekuang looked up and exchanged a glance with Su Zihui. Yan Jiekuang said, "What a coincidence!"

Su Zihui smiled and said, "I didn't expect that I would be riding a tractor with you here."

Yan Jiekuang sat down next to Su Zihui, then looked at the two tractors next to him and saw that the people he knew on the train were all on the first tractor. Yan Jiekuang came to his senses, took out a few White Rabbit candies from his pocket and handed them to Su Zihui, saying, "Meeting is fate. I'll treat you to some candy!"

Su Zihui took one and said, "I'm craving for candy, so I won't be polite." Then Su Zihui peeled off the candy wrapper and put the candy in his mouth. After chewing it for a few times, Su Zihui asked, "How old are you this year?!"

Yan Jiekuang replied, "I'm 18." Then he asked, "What's the matter?!"

"Only 18?! You look really old, like you're even 81." After saying that, Su Zihui couldn't help laughing.

Yan Jiekuang touched his chin and muttered, "Am I really that old?!" Then Yan Jiekuang came to his senses and said, "It's better to be older! So that others won't miss me." Then he asked, "How old are you?!"

Su Zihui replied: "I am 17, one year younger than you."

Yan Jiekuang looked at Su Zihui and said arrogantly, "I see that you are more than one year younger than me. But since we are both from the Forbidden City, I will protect you from now on!"

"Humph!" Su Zihui understood the meaning of Yan Jiekuang's words, snorted lightly, and asked, "How long do you think we should stay here?!"

Yan Jiekuang replied thoughtfully, "It depends on luck. If you're lucky, you might be able to go back after staying for three or four years. If you're unlucky, you can't say for sure."

Su Zihui then asked: "Yan Jiekuang, is there anyone else in your family?!"

Yan Jiekuang was stunned for a moment and asked, "Why are you asking this?!"

Su Zihui replied, "I'm just asking casually." Then he asked, "Isn't it okay to ask?!"

Yan Jiekuang laughed and said, "There's nothing you can't ask. I have both parents, and I'm the third child in the family, with two older brothers and a younger sister. You've seen my eldest brother, he's the one who brought me food on the train. My second brother is now an educated youth in Zuojiazhuang. My sister is still in school. My father is an elementary school teacher. My mother is at home. My eldest sister-in-law works in a department store. Our family is that simple."

Su Zihui said: "I have both parents, and I am the fourth child in the family. I have three older brothers and two younger brothers. My parents and three older brothers are all in the army. If I don't come, my two younger brothers will come."

Yan Jiekuang was not stupid. He had already seen from Su Zihui's clothes that she was not simple. He did not expect that Su Zihui was actually a child of a rich family. Yan Jiekuang said, "Since you are here, you should make the best of it. Since you are here, don't think too much. You should face every day happily." After saying that, Yan Jiekuang stuffed the remaining candy in his hand into Su Zihui's hand.

Just as Su Zihui was about to return the candy, another person came up. Su Zihui could only glare at Yan Jiekuang and put the candy away. More than half an hour later, everyone was there. The three tractors were now full of people. Although the tractors were a little crowded, Yan Jiekuang was still very gentlemanly and used his body to help Su Zihui make a slightly more spacious space.

After another three hours of bumpy ride, we finally arrived at Shengli Commune. The tractor stopped in the courtyard of the commune. The educated youth got off the tractor one after another. After everyone got off the tractor, the staff of the educated youth office took out a list and assigned the educated youth to the various villages below.

Coincidentally, Yan Jiekuang and Su Zihui were both assigned to a place called Qingshan Village. They were accompanied by six other people, four men and two women. The four men were Tang Jianjun and Wang Jianqiang from Shanghai; Song Hean and Wang Sibao from Jinling. The other two women were Wang Liqing from Quancheng and Xu Yun from Haicheng.

Following the instructions of the Youth Office, Yan Jiekuang and his eight companions walked to a large locust tree with their luggage. The old man squatting under the tree smoking saw Yan Jiekuang and his eight companions coming and asked in a cold voice, "Are you eight people assigned to our village?!"

Tang Jianjun said, "Uncle, if you are from Qingshan Village to pick us up, then there are eight of us."

The old man nodded, turned to the young man behind him and said, "Gou Wa, check the list. And collect their notices."

"Hey!" Gou Wa responded, took out a notebook from his pocket, flipped through two pages, and turned to the name list. He read out the notices for each person on the list. Three minutes later, Gou Wa handed the notebook and notice to the old man and said, "Third Grandpa, everything is ready."

The old man took the things from Gou Wa's hand, looked at Yan Jiekuang and the others, and said, "It's time for dinner now. I'll give you an hour. We'll gather here again in an hour. If you're comfortable with it, you can leave your things here and we'll help you keep an eye on them."

"What's there to worry about?!" Yan Jiekuang put his luggage next to the ox cart and said, "Uncle, thank you for your help."

Su Zihui also put the things next to Yan Jiekuang, said hello to the old man, caught up with Yan Jiekuang, and asked: "Where are you going?!"