The Beginning of the World: Going to the Countryside as an Educated Youth

Zhao Dongchuan walked along the streets of Mijia Town and found a guesthouse. He took out the letter of introduction issued by the village and paid to reserve a bed for Sun Shaoan.

He remembered this episode. Sun Shaoan was so busy taking care of the oxen that he didn't register for a bed and almost had to spend the night outside. Fortunately, the owner of a blacksmith shop in Henan was kind enough to take him in and he lay by the stove all night.

Now that he knew this, he would definitely not make this mistake again. Why sleep on a board when he has a bed to sleep on?

When he finished registering and returned to the veterinary station, Sun Shaoan had just given the cow a dose of medicine together with the people from the veterinary station. He was now sitting next to the plowing ox with a tired look on his face.

"Dongchuan, where have you been? We just fed the cows medicine and you didn't come to help," Shaoan said with a hint of blame.

"Brother Shaoan, I heard from the people at the veterinary station that they have to give the cow medicine at twelve o'clock at night. It's not good for the cow to move around when it's sick. I think you must stay here."

"So I took the initiative to register a bed for you in the guesthouse in town so that you have a place to sleep at night," Zhao Dongchuan said as he handed Sun Shaoan a receipt.

Sun Shaoan took the receipt and took a look at it, feeling a warm feeling in his heart. Just like he cared about the oxen, Zhao Dongchuan also cared about him. He even felt a little ashamed for a moment. He was a few years older than Zhao Dongchuan, but he was not as considerate as Zhao Dongchuan and even misunderstood him.

"Dongchuan, thank you. I was wrong about you."

"It's nothing. You're also very busy and can't spare the time to think about these things."

"Brother Shaoan, I'm going to the county town now. You've worked hard on this team." Zhao Dongchuan waved his hand and said goodbye to Sun Shaoan.

Looking at Zhao Dongchuan's departing back, Sun Shaoan suddenly felt a little strange about Zhao Dongchuan. From some time ago, Zhao Dongchuan seemed like a different person. He became mature and steady in his speech and actions, and even became an expert at work.

Especially what happened today made him feel a little grateful towards this young man who was a few years younger than him.

Since he was thirteen, he has been trying to support his "rotten" family, which is on the verge of collapse. He has taken on too much. In front of outsiders, he always looks strong, but in fact, he is just a young man in his twenties.

Zhao Dongchuan had already left the veterinary station and arrived at the bus station in Mijia Town, waiting for the bus to Yuanxi County.

Although Mijia Town belongs to another county, it was a big town in the old society. If people around Shuangshui Village wanted to buy something important, if Shigejie didn't have it, they would not go to their original county town, but to Mijia Town in another county to buy it. Mijia Town is not only close to here, but also has a more complete source of goods than their county town - not only goods from the province, but also goods from Beijing and Tianjin.

Mijia Town was at its busiest at this time, with many people coming and going, bringing goods from all over the country. It was unclear whether they were all sent to state-owned stores, as private policies did not allow it. However, the strong demand inevitably gave rise to the "black market."

Of course, Zhao Dongchuan also wanted to make money. Only with money could he improve his living conditions, but the current environment was not suitable. Once caught, he would be sent to a labor camp on the commune's farmland infrastructure construction site. He still needed to think about this matter.

After waiting for about half an hour, the bus arrived. Zhao Dongchuan bought a ticket and got on the bus to Yuanxi County. There were old and young people on the bus, and many familiar people were chatting as if no one was around. The bus was not quiet. Zhao Dongchuan just closed his eyes and rested, and did not say a word.

After arriving in Yuanxi County, Zhao Dongchuan went straight to the post office. Fortunately, the actual scope of the county town at that time was not large, unlike later generations. He quickly arrived at the post office, showed the pickup receipt, and the staff handed him a package.

Zhao Dongchuan put the package on his back and walked towards the county department store. He had wandered around the county before when he came to send letters and contributed articles, so he had some impression of it. Soon Zhao Dongchuan came to the second sales department of the department store. There were not many people at this time. Most people in the county were still working. Only some villagers from the surrounding communes came to buy some kerosene, matches and other daily necessities.

He entered the store and looked around the counter, but didn't see any bicycles. No one paid any attention to him. At that time, the salesperson had a "iron rice bowl" and his service attitude was "hard to describe."

He found a sales girl and asked, "Hello, I want to look at the bicycle, can you show me?"

"You want to see the bicycle? Do you have money? If you don't have money, I won't let you see it." The salesgirl looked at him with disdain and her voice unconsciously became heavier. She felt that Zhao Dongchuan's appearance did not look like someone who could afford a bicycle.

"Xiaofang, what's wrong?" Probably having heard the noise, a middle-aged man walked out of the office.

"Director Hou, this person wants to see bicycles," the salesperson called "Xiaofang" said in a sarcastic tone.

"Hello, I want to buy a bicycle. May I ask if you have it in your store?" Zhao Dongchuan ignored the salesperson's sarcasm and simply negotiated with Director Hou.

Director Hou felt that this man's speech and manner did not seem like that of an uneducated farmer. He spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, looked at people with a serious look, and his accent did not sound like that of a local.

"Yes, come with me and I'll show you." Then he walked into the inner room, which was filled with some large items, including sewing machines, radios, etc., and there were a few bicycles nearby.

"You are not a local, are you?" Director Hou asked suddenly as he walked.

"Yes, I responded to Chairman Mao's call and came to our Yuanxi County to work in the countryside."

"Oh, no wonder, I think your accent doesn't sound like a local," Director Hou said, as if he had already guessed it.

"This is for men, Phoenix brand. It just arrived last month and is priced at 150 yuan per bicycle. By the way, you have a bicycle ticket, right?" Director Hou said to Zhao Dongchuan.

"Yes, I'm all ready," Zhao Dongchuan said with a smile.

"Okay," Director Hou said, and called out to the outer room, "Xiaofang, ask Jin Guangming to come over and take care of it."

"Okay, Director Hou." Xiaofang probably guessed that she had looked down on others, and was a little embarrassed to face Zhao Dongchuan, so she did not come in.

"Director Hou" After a while, a middle-aged man walked in and greeted him while looking at Zhao Dongchuan.

"Are you that~ Xiao Zhao?" Jin Guangming looked at Zhao Dongchuan, who looked familiar, and was a little confused.

Jin Guangming had some impression of the educated youth in this village. When Zhao Dongchuan was assigned to Shuangshui Village, he happened to see him in the village.

"Um, who are you?" Zhao Dongchuan was also a little curious.

"I am also from Shuangshui Village. My name is Jin Guangming. I have seen you before. You are an educated youth from our village."