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

Sun Shaoping, Tian Runsheng, and Jin Bo, three boys from Shuangshui village were assigned to Class 1, Grade 1. Zhao Dongchuan walked to the gatehouse at the school gate, explained his purpose to the old man, registered, entered the school, and found Class 1, Grade 1.

The class was in session at that time. The head teacher arranged for everyone to study an editorial article from the People's Daily. The student who was reading the newspaper was a very stylish guy. He was dressed fashionably and had a watch on his left hand. He was obviously the child of a wealthy family.

"This person is probably Gu Yangmin," Zhao Dongchuan thought.

Zhao Dongchuan glanced at the class and soon saw Sun Shaoping and the others. They were sitting in the back, staggered in front and back. Sun Shaoping in particular was tall and sat in the back row.

Zhao Dongchuan greeted the head teacher at the door. The head teacher saw it out of the corner of his eye, turned his head to look at Zhao Dongchuan, walked out and asked, "Young man, what's the matter?"

"Hello, I'm from Shuangshui Village. I'm looking for Sun Shaoping and Tian Runsheng. Our village secretary Tian Futang asked me to bring some things to them."

"Oh, okay, I'll help you call them." When the head teacher heard that it was a matter entrusted by the village secretary, he was not embarrassed.

Sun Shaoping was reading a novel quietly under the table with his head down when he suddenly felt as if someone was calling his name. He hurriedly stuffed the book into the table and looked up, thinking he had been discovered.

At this time, Jin Bo and Tian Runsheng, who had heard the head teacher shouting that someone was looking for them, had already stood up. Jin Bo even came over and pulled him out.

Sun Shaoping followed him out of the classroom with a bewildered look on his face, and saw Zhao Dongchuan waiting for them. Only then did he realize that it was not that his conspiracy had been exposed, but that this educated youth brother had come to see them.

"Brother Dong, why are you here?" Sun Shaoping looked at his friend from the same village with a happy face.

Jin Bo and Tian Runsheng were not very familiar with Zhao Dongchuan. They would just say hello when they met in the village. So when they heard Zhao Dongchuan coming to find them, they felt a little surprised.

"Let's talk while we walk. Take me to your dormitory."

So Sun Shaoping and the others took him to their dormitory. As they walked, Zhao Dongchuan said to Tian Runsheng, "Yes, I came to the county to send a letter home. Secretary Tian asked me to bring you and your sister some pickled vegetables that your mother prepared for you."

He raised the package in his hand. Soon they arrived at the dormitory, Zhao Dongchuan unwrapped the package, took out the vegetable jar and handed it to Tian Runsheng, and then picked up a few large meat buns wrapped in oil paper.

"I also brought you some big meat buns. I don't think your school has these. Eat them quickly." Zhao Dongchuan then shared the three meat buns left in the restaurant with them.

"Thank you, brother." At this moment, Sun Shaoping, Jin Bo and Tian Runsheng also hurriedly thanked him, and they were drooling as they looked at the big meat bun.

It’s not their fault. Even though Jinbo and Runsheng’s families are better off, the food they eat at school isn’t as delicious as the big meat buns.

But they felt a little embarrassed and hesitant.

"Eat it. I've already eaten this morning. Eat it while it's hot before it gets cold. I brought it especially for you."

Sun Shaoping, Jin Bo and Tian Runsheng started eating. A big meat bun was finished in a few bites, with their mouths full of oil.

"Are you guys doing well in school?" Zhao Dongchuan asked.

"It's pretty good, but the classes at school are usually editorial writing, and we also have to do manual labor, which is pretty tiring," said Sun Shaoping, wiping his mouth.

"Thank you, Brother Dong, for trouble you to bring me the vegetables. I like the pickled vegetables my mother makes the most." Tian Runsheng looked happy.

"You still have to work in the afternoon, so I'll give this vegetable jar to your sister," Zhao Dongchuan said to Tian Runsheng.

"No need to trouble you. I will take this vegetable jar to my second uncle's house and give it to my sister this afternoon," Runsheng replied.

"Okay, then I'll leave all of these to you. I have to go to the county post office later, so I'll leave first." Zhao Dongchuan didn't care.

After saying goodbye to them, Zhao Dongchuan left the school and asked for directions along the way to the county post office. When he arrived at the post office, he explained his purpose to the staff, who asked him to buy stamps and envelopes.

Zhao Dongchuan paid for stamps and envelopes, put the letter he had written earlier in the envelope, wrote his home address on it, consulted the staff about the zip code, put stamps on it, and dropped it into the mailbox nearby.

In the letter, he wrote about his situation here and reported to his family that he was safe, following the principle of reporting good news but not bad news. In the letter, he also specifically mentioned that he wanted his parents to find him a set of "Self-Study Series of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry" and expressed his wish to study hard.

The series of books called "Self-study Series of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry" is a powerful tool for the college entrance examination. Many people relied on this series of books to get into college.

Zhao Dongchuan believed that his parents here would feel relieved and happy when they received this letter. These were what he could do for the original owner at present, and he would definitely be filial to his parents in this life in the future.

He originally wanted to submit his prepared poems to a journal, but now he has no idea which one to submit to, and he doesn't even know the zip code or mailing address.

Zhao Dongchuan was a little confused for a moment. He thought of the poet Jia Bing who worked at the Huangyuan City Cultural Center in the plot. He must know all this, but he knew Jia Bing, but Jia Bing didn't know him.

Zhao Dongchuan planned to go to the county cultural center first to check the relevant information. If that doesn't work, he could ask a staff member. There will always be a way.

Zhao Dongchuan left the post office and pushed the cart on the street. At that time, most of the houses in the county were just bungalows, with slogans such as "Chairman Mao's Great Banner" and "The Great Communist Party of China" written in red on a white background on the tall walls.

The road surface was a flat, compacted one, with traces of stone slabs visible in some places. There were people pushing carts, riding bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and groups of pedestrians on the road, and occasionally a green military vehicle passed by.

The sound of human voices, livestock and bicycle bells formed a chorus, which was really lively.

As he walked and looked around, Zhao Dongchuan felt as if he was traveling in a remote town. Everything around him was so new. He was full of curiosity and stopped from time to time to look at the scene in front of him. He even thought how nice it would be to have a camera at this time so that he could take many photos, which would definitely be the memories of an era in the future.

He had temporarily forgotten about going to the county cultural center and just walked slowly.

When people passed by him, some people would look at him a few more times, thinking he was a little strange.

The young man was wearing an old khaki suit. He had a delicate face, looked clean, and had a natural demeanor. When he looked around, he felt as relaxed and comfortable as if he was strolling around his own yard.

Zhao Dongchuan followed the crowd and suddenly he found himself in front of a tall archway with a shining red star on the top and five big characters "Serve the People" below. On the left was written "Shaanxi Province Yuanxi County Revolutionary Committee" and on the right was written "Yuanxi County Office Compound of the Communist Party of China".