Reborn in 1979, with a female educated youth lying next to me.

Turning her head to look out the window, Guo Xiaolan forced a smile onto her face.

She secretly laughed at herself, wondering why she was so sentimental.

It's normal that I and Liu Jia were never on the same path, so it's not normal that we couldn't get along.

Especially after Liu Jia went to university, the distance between them grew further and further.

Now, besides wishing Liu Jia well, I have no other expectations for him.

Even so, Guo Xiaolan's sense of loss could not be erased.

Listening to Guo Xiaoyan recount everything about Liu Jia, Guo Xiaolan felt both envious and somewhat saddened, unable to even describe her current feelings.

Guo Xiaolan's expression softened only after Guo Xiaoyan brought up another topic.

……

Early in the morning, Liu Jia left the courtyard.

"Third son, where are you going so early?"

Zhang Guilan was sweeping the yard when she saw Liu Jia carrying two bottles of wine and hurriedly asked him what was wrong.

Liu Jia walked up to Zhang Guilan and said, "I'm going to visit Uncle Zhou. I've been staying at home for the past two days since I got back, and I haven't had a proper chat with Uncle Zhou yet. I'll go visit him."

“Of course, your Uncle Zhou helped you a lot after you left. He’s an elder, so you should go and see him when you come back,” Zhang Guilan said, putting down the broom and heading to the south room. “Wait a moment, I’ll go get a basket.”

"Mom, what are you doing with the basket?"

"Pack up the wine. Aren't you afraid people will think something if you just carry it to your Uncle Zhou's house like this?"

Just before entering the house, Zhang Guilan said something.

Liu Jia stood there, puzzled and stunned.

I grew up in Zhou Fengshou's house and it was common for me to freeload. Now that I'm back from university, isn't it normal for me to bring some things to visit Zhou Fengshou and his wife?

Why bother hiding it?

Before he could figure out what was going on, Zhang Guilan had already handed Liu Jia a bamboo basket.

"You're using this to hold wine?"

"Yes, you put the wine in, and I'll cover it with some chives."

Liu Jia's eyes widened.

I simply can't understand what my mother did.

It was a perfectly normal thing, but she did it so cautiously that she didn't know how to explain it if someone asked her.

"Isn't it?"

Although he asked with a smile, Liu Jia did not stop Zhang Guilan's series of actions.

After placing the two bottles of liquor in the bamboo basket, Zhang Guilan picked up the sickle by the well and cut two bunches of chives from the vegetable garden, placing them on top of the two bottles of liquor.

After finishing all that, Zhang Guilan patted the dirt off her clothes and said with a smile, "Alright, go ahead!"

Liu Jia smiled helplessly, "Alright, I'm leaving now. By the way, don't wait for me for breakfast, I'll eat at Uncle Zhou's house."

"There's food at home, why don't you eat it and instead go to Uncle Zhou's house? Why don't you eat a couple of bites before you leave?"

"No, no, there won't be enough time later."

Having only been back for a few days, Liu Jia was thinking about how to make the most of her time.

Zhou Fengshou's house is not far from Liu Yutian's house, and Liu Jia did not ride a bicycle when he went out.

Walking down the street, many people greeted Liu Jia when they saw him.

Especially when they saw Liu Jia carrying a basket, everyone asked curiously what was going on.

Liu Jia's answer was also quite normal: go check on Zhou Fengshou's house.

Seeing that the basket contained chives, many people stopped asking questions.

It was only at this moment that Liu Jia realized how cautious his mother was.

Just as Liu Jia was about to reach Zhou Fengshou's house, he suddenly saw Zhang Dalaba.

Liu Jia didn't have a good impression of this old woman.

I wasn't planning on greeting Zhang Dalaba, but he came over on his own initiative, his eyes darting around.

Before he could even speak, he had already craned his neck to peek into Liu Jia's basket.

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. Sanzi, where are you going?" Before Liu Jia could answer, Zhang Dalaba turned his head and looked in the direction of Zhou Fengshou's house. "Are you going to the captain's house to deliver a gift?"

Zhang Dalaba had a smile on his face, but the things he said were off-putting.

Liu Jia remained calm and replied casually, "I'll go visit Uncle Zhou's family, but I won't bring any gifts."

“I think so too. You can’t give leeks as a gift. You should at least give some cigarettes and alcohol. That’s what everyone does these days.”

"Everyone has chives, aren't you afraid people won't appreciate them?"

"I thought you, a college student from out of town, would be very knowledgeable, but I didn't expect you to be so clueless about social etiquette."

After saying that, Zhang Dalaba clicked his tongue loudly.

Liu Jia laughed and said, "No matter how much I broaden my horizons, I'm still a villager, a native farmer. Why would I be so particular? I'm not like some people who go out for a stroll and then become all high and mighty."

Liu Jia's words surprised Zhang Dalaba.

What happened?

Is he talking about himself?

I haven't gone out for a walk myself, have I?

When it comes to eyes that are practically touching the forehead, Zhang Dalaba started pondering again.

Seeing Zhang Dalaba standing there in a daze, Liu Jia walked right past her.

Liu Jia was nowhere to be seen, and Zhang Dalaba hadn't even recovered from the shock yet.

A few minutes later, Liu Jia arrived at Zhou Fengshou's house.

It just so happens that Zhou Fengshou's family is having breakfast.

"Uncle Zhou, could you please get me another pair of chopsticks? I haven't eaten yet."

Liu Jia put down the basket and went to find a stool without stopping, just like he was at home.

Zhou Fengshou was already grinning from ear to ear, and quickly instructed Caixia's mother, "Go and get Sanzi a pair of chopsticks, so he can try the fresh pickled vegetables I made this morning. They're so delicious."

Caixia's mother turned to get chopsticks, while Liu Jia had already sat down.

Zhou Fengshou pushed a large bowl in front of Liu Jia.

"Try it, this red pickled vegetable is delicious. I dare say that in the whole Xili Village, if we're talking about the number of pickled vegetables I make, no one dares to claim to be number one."

"Uncle Zhou, you can't show off like that. You're the village head, aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?"

"What's so funny? It's just a pickled vegetable. I'm just telling the truth. You should try it. I put a lot of sesame oil on it."

Liu Jia didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up his chopsticks, took a small piece of pickled vegetable, put it in his mouth, and then took a big bite of the steamed bun.

And I must say, it smells really good.

Seeing Liu Jia's cheeks bulge from eating, Zhou Caixia and Zhou Caijuan kept laughing.

Zhou Caixia, in particular, rolled her eyes.

"Third Brother, isn't everyone saying that the food at university is really good? How come you're eating pickled vegetables with such gusto?"

Liu Jia laughed and explained, "No matter how delicious the food outside is, it's not as good as home-cooked food. Now I really believe what Uncle Zhou said. His pickled vegetables are really delicious."

"Then take some with you when you leave, and bring some back for your dad. I made quite a lot this time."

Braised red pickled vegetables are actually just braised radish strips.

These days, every household would pickle a large vat of radishes with salt and dry them in the sun when the radishes were harvested.

Next year, we'll boil it in water, add a little sesame oil, and eat it as a dish.

The longer dried radish is stored, the darker the color will be after braising.

If you add some Sichuan peppercorns and star anise when braising pickled vegetables, the flavor will be even better.

This kind of braised red pickled vegetable has always been Liu Jia's favorite.

This is also the best dish to eat with rice.

After the meal, Liu Jiaguang ate only pickled vegetables.

"I don't think this pickled vegetable is anything special; the bamboo shoots that Third Brother makes are much better."

Liu Jia was taken aback. "You mean the hand-peeled bamboo shoots from last time? Actually, they weren't really hand-peeled bamboo shoots; they weren't quite classic."

"Third Brother, you're just bragging. It's already so delicious, yet it's not classic enough. What does classic hand-peeled bamboo shoots look like?"

Zhou Caixia tilted her head and looked at Liu Jia, her face full of disbelief.

"I can't explain it to you. If I come across any of those small bamboo shoots again, I'll make you another pot."

"No, I can't wait that long, Third Brother. Why don't you make me a pot today? Otherwise, once you're gone, no one will know how to cook this dish."

Zhou Caixia looked at Liu Jia pitifully.

Just as Zhou Fengshou was about to say something, Liu Jia readily agreed.

"Okay, then go dig up some bamboo shoots, I'll cook them for you right now."

Zhou Fengshou raised an eyebrow. "Caixia, you're being disrespectful. Your third brother has only been back for a few days, and you're already making him do this and that."

"So what? I just want to eat Third Brother's cooking. It's just a craving, not a crime!"

As she spoke, Zhou Caixia stuck out her tongue, grabbed a hoe, picked up a basket, and went out.

Seeing his daughter like this, Zhou Fengshou shook his head helplessly.

"Uncle Zhou, let's not talk about Caixia anymore. She's going to dig up her bamboo shoots. It won't stop us from talking about serious business."

Liu Jia's expression turned serious, and Zhou Fengshou said nothing more.

Caixia's mother went to get the chives from the basket, and suddenly exclaimed.

"What's wrong? Did you see a bug?"

Zhou Fengshou was puzzled.

Caixia's mother looked at Liu Jia and said, "You child, you're here, why bring wine? Do you really think you're an outsider?"

"Wine? What wine? Isn't that chives?"

"The wine is right under the chives!"

After hearing his wife's answer, Zhou Fengshou looked at Liu Jia with some reproach.

"You kid, really."

"I'm always eating and drinking at your house, so shouldn't I offer you a couple of bottles of wine as a token of my respect?" Liu Jia said with a smile, then quickly changed the subject, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Thank you, Uncle Zhou. You've taken good care of things while I was away."

"Shouldn't we? Why be so formal?"

After Zhou Fengshou finished speaking, he talked about the current situation in the factory. Liu Jia listened attentively, nodding from time to time.

Then, Liu Jia gave a few more instructions on what needed to be done after he left, which Zhou Fengshou noted down.

The last two people talked about the household responsibility system.

"Now, there are clear instructions from above that there will be major changes after the autumn harvest."

Liu Jia's heart tightened. "So fast?"

"No, it's not fast. It's already been implemented in other places. We're just waiting for the autumn harvest here. Many commune members have heard the news and are also looking forward to this day."

Zhou Fengshou told Liu Jia that the policy implemented by the authorities was good, as it could mobilize people's enthusiasm and thus squeeze out more surplus labor.

Liu Jia was surprised by Zhou Fengshou's common sense, and then gave him a thumbs up.

"Uncle Zhou, your thinking is so advanced. Many people wouldn't think of this. I guess most people would think that once they have their own land, they should work hard."

Zhou Fengshou was beaming with pride at Liu Jia's praise.

To be honest, Zhou Fengshou felt incredibly honored to have gained the approval of a young college student.

"We need to think long-term. People are certainly enthusiastic right now, but figuring out how to distribute the resources is a huge undertaking."

Zhou Fengshou stared at Liu Jia, and said with a hint of disappointment, "If you were here, you could have been a great help to me."

"Uncle Zhou, you should make good use of Lai Zi. He's got the makings of an accountant."

Liu Jia was telling the truth; he wasn't exaggerating at all.

Regardless of whether he can get into university, Liu Jia acknowledges his abilities.

Especially their dedication, which is something that ordinary people can't match.

In the process of dividing the harvest, you will inevitably encounter writing and calculating. Being able to keep the harvest with you will definitely save you a lot of effort.

“Okay, if you put it that way, I’ll talk to Laizi in advance and see if he can take leave during the autumn harvest. It would be even better if other teachers could cover for him.”

"It would be best to finalize this before the autumn harvest."

"After all, this involves distributing grain!"

After listening to Liu Jia's words, Zhou Fengshou began to make serious plans.

Liu Jia also offered suggestions from the side.