Time Travel: Volume 1! Starting from a Small Mountain Village

"An'an, how did you know we were here? Are your family members alright?" The elderly couple pulled their granddaughter into the cowshed and began to ask.

They have been sent down to this place for three years, which not only restricts their freedom but also prevents them from writing letters, fearing that it might implicate others. Yet, their longing for their children has never ceased.

Old Jiang had a son and a daughter. The eldest son was Jiang Nian'an's father, Jiang Bei, and the other daughter was named Jiang Nan.

Having been sent down here, they've long since become indifferent to life and death. The only thing they care about is their families, which is also their motivation to keep going.

“We are all doing well, but we are worried about you, Grandpa and Grandma!” Jiang Nian’an recounted the events that had occurred over the past two years.

"An'an, you said your parents were transferred to the Northwest. Could it be because of us..." Old Man Jiang asked doubtfully, recalling what his granddaughter had said.

"No, Grandpa and Grandma, although Mom and Dad went to the Northwest, they still write back often. And my eldest brother also went to the Northwest, and I heard he even won a merit award in the army!"

Jiang Nian'an's older brother is named Jiang Chen. He joined the army a few years ago and is now a battalion commander.

The location where my grandparents were sent down to the countryside was found out by my eldest brother after he asked his superiors. However, he could only confirm that it was in Hongxing Commune in G Province, but he couldn't find out the exact location.

"Good, good, good! Chen'er has made something of himself!" Upon learning that their eldest grandson was not only unharmed but had also distinguished himself in the army, the elderly couple showed a long-lost smile.

"An'an, how did you find this place?"

"Grandpa and Grandma, I've signed up to go to the countryside, to the Dongwan Brigade next door."

"You've signed up to go to the countryside." Old Jiang was shocked to hear this. They had seen many educated youth sent to the countryside before. These city kids had never done farm work before, and the work points they earned were less than their own food rations.

Many of the educated youth lived worse than the local villagers. The old man Jiang looked worried when he thought about his granddaughter having to work in the fields in the future.

"Grandpa, don't worry about me, I went to the countryside voluntarily!" Jiang Nian'an thought for a moment and continued, "After Mom and Dad were transferred to the Northwest, I was left all alone at home. You know about Second Grandpa and the others..."

"Hmph, we shouldn't have brought them to the capital back then..." Old Man Jiang snorted coldly when he mentioned his younger brother. He knew his brother too well; back then, relying on their parents' name, he not only brought their whole family to the capital but also helped them find jobs.

But after they suffered the misfortune, the younger brother immediately distanced himself from his family. Unexpectedly, he was still not giving up and even went to harass his granddaughter again.

"Grandpa, don't worry, they didn't get the better deal." Thinking that her second grandfather had actually offered to give their house to his eldest grandson as a wedding home, Jiang Nian'an simply sold everything in the house, including the house itself.

"Good, good, good!" Old Jiang agreed with his granddaughter's approach, saying, "An'an, you did the right thing. This is how you deal with such an ingrate."

"You don't need to call him Second Grandfather anymore, since he's already severed ties with me, his older brother."

"I understand!" Jiang Nian'an nodded obediently. She didn't like that second grandfather in the first place. He used to take advantage of her when she visited their house. The reason she addressed him that way just now was because she cared about his feelings.

"Alright, An'an, you should go back now. It won't be good if someone sees you if you stay too long." Grandma Jiang looked around the doorway to make sure no one was watching before saying, "You should also come here less often in the future!"

Now that my granddaughter knows my address and is working in the countryside next door, it's impossible for her not to come, given her personality. I can only advise her to come less often.

“An’an, your grandma is right!” Old Jiang chimed in.

"Okay, Grandpa and Grandma, I'm going back now!" Jiang Nian'an said goodbye to her grandparents reluctantly before leaving Qingmiao Brigade, but she was already thinking about what to bring back for them next time.

She has the money, after all, she sold the house. It's not easy to buy supplies now, and her grandmother seems to be sick. She'll see if she can buy some medicine next time she goes over.

Jiang Nian'an returned to the Dongwan Brigade in the afternoon. The few people in her dormitory ate dinner early, which was unusual for them. There was no other way; they had to start work the next day too.

The next morning, the sound of gongs could be heard early in the morning. The women, who had been there for two days, knew the custom. The first gong sound was usually around 6 a.m. to remind everyone to get up and cook, and the second was at 6:30 a.m.

The third time is at 7 o'clock, when the workers need to gather in the village square, and then the team leaders will assign the day's tasks.

Long Lifan woke up very early; she just couldn't get used to sleeping on this large communal bed. At that moment, she stared blankly at the rafters. "Am I going to have to get up this early every day from now on?"

Although she's very curly-haired and lives in the 21st century, she dislikes waking up early—a common problem for most people these days, struggling to fall asleep at night and get up in the morning. This is why she chose to open her own studio after graduation instead of working a regular job.

"Hu Zhiqing, Jiang Zhiqing, get up." Lin Yue and Liu Pandi, who were standing nearby, had finished making breakfast and then began to urge the two of them to get up.

"No, let me sleep a little longer!" Hu Lili said groggily, her eyes still closed. Jiang Nian'an, standing beside her, remained motionless. She had seen her grandparents yesterday, but their living conditions had saddened her. Therefore, she had spent the entire night thinking about how she could help her grandparents in the future.

The two women exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and simply divided their breakfasts to one side. Since the other party had provided food, they were sure to save some for them.

Hu Lili and Jiang Nian'an ultimately did not eat breakfast. When the gong sounded for the third time, the two had no choice but to follow the crowd to the assembly point in a daze.

When they arrived, the square was already packed with people. Captain Lin Guodong glanced around and saw that the three of them had been assigned to different teams.

"Captain, this isn't right! Why aren't Long and the other two educated youths with them?" Xiang Fang, one of the older educated youths, was displeased with the captain's arrangement.

"Oh, that's how it is. The three of them got the job of cutting pig feed, so they won't be working with the rest of the group!"

"What, cutting pig feed?" Hearing the brigade leader say this, Xiang Fang felt extremely upset. She had been fantasizing that these female educated youths would also have rough skin like them after working in the fields.

"Do you have any objections to the educated youth?" Lin Guodong knew exactly what these old educated youth were thinking, so he said, "If you are willing, you can apply, but let's make it clear first that the work of cutting pig feed will only earn you two work points a day."

Everyone knows that cutting pig feed is an easy job, but it only yields two centimeters a day. Now, they work themselves to the bone and can only get four or five centimeters a day, but even so, the grain they are allocated each year is not enough to eat.

If we make them go and gather pig feed, won't they just starve to death?

Lin Guodong obviously knew all this, but he was also really afraid that if all these educated youths came to help with the pig feed gathering, there would be problems.