Go back to the past to plant trees

The taste of the mutton left all four of them wanting more. For those who hadn't smelled meat in a long time, it was a delicacy from heaven.

After finishing their meal, Zhao Jinquan and Zheng Erqiang continued their carpentry work, while Feng Cheng picked up his book again.

Feng Cheng had originally planned to assemble the crystal radio, but when he thought of Zhao Jinshui's words about having someone give it to him so easily, he gave up the idea. Although Zhao Jinquan would stop him, Feng Cheng still didn't want to hear those words; it would be awkward whether he refused or not.

Zhao Jinshui lay bored on the kang (a heated brick bed), watching Zhao Jinquan and the others do carpentry. Zhao Jinquan was currently working on a wooden tube for a flashlight. They had made two in the past two days, but both broke and were unusable. This was the third one.

Zheng Erqiang assisted from the side, and if Zhao Jinquan got tired, he would also take over the operation.

"Erqiang, why don't we go back tomorrow? This place is no fun at all."

After staring blankly for a while, Zhao Jinshui suddenly discussed with Zheng Erqiang.

It was so boring here, and he'd only been here three days and had already worked for three days. Zhao Jinshui was afraid to stay any longer, knowing there would be more work for him to do. He knew his fourth brother was capable of such things. He figured he was just idling around anyway, so he suggested they go and do some work over there, like when they went to catch the ground sheep today. His brother insisted he go, as he couldn't stand seeing him idle. So Zhao Jinshui wanted to go home. He could relax at home, and there were more people in the team, so he could find someone to hang out with and not be so bored.

"go back?"

Zheng Erqiang hesitated. Unlike Zhao Jinshui, he hadn't come here to have fun. He had come here to build a good relationship with Feng Cheng. Why was he going back after only two days?

The food rations have been brought, as have the blankets and clothes. Are you going back in just two days? To be honest, Zheng Erqiang was a little reluctant.

“If you’re bored or don’t want to work, you can go back by yourself. Don’t drag Erqiang along. I still have work to finish here. Erqiang has to stay and help me with the work.”

Before Zheng Erqiang could even speak, Zhao Jinquan immediately refused on his behalf. "Are you kidding me? The camp has finally found someone to chat and work with, and you want to send him away? What are you thinking?"

Zhao Jinshui argued, "I'm not lazy. I was just thinking that we need to prepare for winter at home, and it must be quite busy. I need to go back and help out. I can't just stay here playing!"

Zhao Jinquan glanced at him, knowing full well that he was being stubborn: "I didn't ask you to come. You insisted on coming along. If you want to go back, go back by yourself. Anyway, it's not snowing, and you know the way back well."

Zheng Erqiang also said, "Jinshui, if you want to go back, you can go back first. I want to stay here for a few more days. I want to learn how to do carpentry from Jinquan, and I also want to learn how to make a stone mill so I can make one for my grandma."

After learning how to make tofu from Feng Cheng, Zheng Erqiang wanted to try it himself. It wasn't difficult; all he needed was a stone mill. He could make it anytime he wanted at home, and since he didn't have much to do in the winter, he could take some time to make it.

"If you're not going back, I don't want to go back alone either. I'll stay here with you for a few more days!"

Zheng Erqiang wasn't going back, and Zhao Jinshui didn't dare go back alone either. It wasn't safe in the wild right now, and Zhao Jinshui was also thinking that he had brought several days' worth of rations, so he had to finish them before going back, otherwise he would be at a loss.

“That’s perfect. Before it snows these next few days, come with me tomorrow to get some firewood. After hibernating for most of the year, the firewood in the camp might not be enough.”

"what…!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinshui's expression instantly fell. "It's almost snowing and you're only now saying we don't have enough firewood? You just wanted to give me something to do since you saw I came here!"

To be honest, Zhao Jinquan really wanted to find him something to do. Zhao Jinquan didn't want his cousin to keep coming here. With his lazy attitude and his habit of always asking others for things without any shame, Zhao Jinquan was afraid that if Feng Cheng spent too much time with him, he would dislike him more and more.

The same thing happened when we went to catch the ground sheep today. Zhao Jinquan was afraid that when he was at home making tofu, he would just pick it up and eat it, so he called him out.

Letting him chop firewood tomorrow is fine too. I just don't want him to be idle at the camp. Anyway, the more firewood the camp has, the better. If we don't use it all in the winter, we can use it next year.

Furthermore, we need to let this guy know that he's not here to eat, sleep, and play games leisurely. He's here to work, and the work is very hard. Only then will he stop wanting to come here every few days.

Make him lose all illusions about life here, so that even if you ask him to come later, he might not be willing to.

Zhao Jinshui suddenly wanted to go back, but he had already said he wouldn't go back, and now he was changing his mind, which made him feel a little embarrassed.

The next day, Zhao Jinquan pulled Zhao Jinshui out of bed early in the morning, called Zheng Erqiang, and the three of them went out to chop firewood.

Feng Cheng wanted to go with them, but Zhao Jinquan didn't let him go. He told Feng Cheng to stay at the camp and cook, mainly because Feng Cheng wouldn't be able to do much work there anyway.

There wasn't much firewood near the campsite, just a thicket of bushes and weeds. Although these things didn't burn very well, having some was better than having none.

Without a carriage, the three of them went out for half a day, and each of them carried back a large load of firewood, which consisted of dry grass and thorny branches. If burned, it should last for half a day or a day.

After lunch, Zhao Jinquan took some people out again.

For three days in a row, the group went out to gather firewood early every morning. At first, they made two trips a day, but as the firewood in the vicinity ran out, they went to more distant areas, which meant they could only make one round trip a day.

Zhao Jinshui was dragged to work every day, his face drooping. The initial joy he had shown was completely gone. He longed to go home, but he was too ashamed to admit it.

The only thing that made him somewhat satisfied was that the food here was decent, even better than at home. But he worked himself to the bone every day, and all he could eat was a little better food. It would be one thing to have a salary, but to have no salary at all was another. How could anyone be satisfied with that?

In particular, Zhao Jinquan also mentioned that the nursery here will be expanded next year, and he will be too busy to handle everything. He invited Zhao Jinquan to come and visit when he has time and help out with the work.

If it weren't for those words, Zhao Jinshui would have thought he wouldn't stay long next time he came, maybe just half a day or a day. But now, he doesn't want to come even for a day, and just wants to go back as soon as possible.

This is pure exploitation of labor. I don't even want to do my own work, why would I come here to do this? I may be idle, but I'm not stupid.