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

Liu Jia didn't pay much attention to how the harvested grain should be distributed, since this had been the way things had been for so many years and the distribution method had long been established as a system.

Instead, Liu Jia thought of many things about the joy following the autumn harvest.

Thinking back to a few years ago, when he was still a teenager, Liu Jia often sneaked into the cornfield to steal sweet stalks to eat.

After the corn harvest, the children would build a small hut around the corn stacks, where they would spend half a day nestled together.

Back then, I followed my second and eldest brothers around like a puppy, but when they couldn't keep up, they kicked Zhou Caixia out.

As a result, Zhou Caixia fought with them quite a few times.

Despite their fight, the group was back together happily after a night's rest.

Thinking about the past, Liu Jia felt a mix of emotions.

Time flies so fast; in the blink of an eye, they've all grown up.

"What are you thinking about? You're daydreaming."

Seeing that Liu Jia didn't speak, Zhou Fengshou quickly turned his head and saw that Liu Jia's eyes were fixed straight ahead, as if he was thinking about something.

Liu Jia's thoughts were pulled back. "Uncle Zhou, do you think the village will still be as lively as before after the household responsibility system is implemented?"

"lively?"

"That's right. In the past, the autumn harvest was the happiest time for us. We could play however we wanted and do whatever we wanted."

When talking about the past, Liu Jia's face was full of nostalgia.

Zhou Fengshou smiled at Liu Jia, then sighed.

"I'm sure those teenagers aren't so happy. They'll all be theirs from now on, and who wouldn't want to grow more crops? I bet it'll take both adults and kids working together."

Liu Jia did not refute Zhou Fengshou's words.

That's certainly the truth.

Back when we worked in the production team, everyone was on time and at the appointed time. To put it bluntly, we were just going through the motions, getting by day by day.

As long as you don't fall too far behind others, everyone gets the same work points.

But the household responsibility system is different. If you're lazy, you're only being lazy in your own household, and the results will show in the harvest.

Therefore, in order not to fall behind others, everyone will definitely use all their labor force.

So much so that they worked from dawn till dusk, wishing they could spend the entire day in the fields.

As Liu Jia imagined the scene in his mind, Zhou Fengshou added, "The countryside is truly changing."

"This is a good thing; this policy will definitely bring about earth-shattering changes."

Liu Jia didn't say it aloud, but he believed that it wouldn't be long before Zhou Fengshou would see with his own eyes everything he had imagined.

"Third Brother, are you still talking? I've already dug up the bamboo shoots, what are we going to do with them?"

Liu Jia and Zhou Fengshou were half talking and half chatting when Zhou Caixia returned carrying a bamboo basket.

Zhou Caixia originally wanted to take a small item with her when she left, but she changed her mind before leaving.

Sure enough, Liu Jia's eyes widened when he saw the bulge on Zhou Caixia's back.

"Zhou Caixia, how determined are you? Are you going to dig up the entire bamboo forest?"

Zhou Caixia pursed her lips.

"This is nothing! If this bamboo basket wasn't overflowing, I wouldn't be back now!"

"Okay, you're different now than before. You can go for who knows how long. If I want to eat this again, who am I supposed to ask?"

"I just want to eat my fill right now. This isn't much. Get everything ready and I'll start peeling bamboo shoots now."

As Zhou Caixia spoke, she put down the bamboo basket and quickly took out a kitchen knife from the kitchen.

However, while Liu Jia and Zhou Fengshou were talking, Zhou Caixia deftly made a cut on the bamboo shoot, then peeled it off with both hands.

Liu Jia kept laughing, but Zhou Caixia didn't seem to care.

There was a bamboo grove on the edge of the village, and they had practically grown up there.

When it comes to peeling bamboo shoots, Zhou Caixia naturally uses her hands to pinch them.

“Alright, they’re pressing me so hard, I can’t shirk this work now,” Liu Jia said, looking at Zhou Fengshou. “Uncle Zhou, where are your peppercorns and star anise? And it would be best if you could get me some cinnamon as well.”

Having said everything that needed to be said, and with his daughter craving something sweet, Zhou Fengshou had no choice but to stand up with Liu Jia, mutter a few more words under his breath, and go to the kitchen to find some seasonings.

Liu Jia came to Zhou Caixia's side.

“I noticed you’ve been craving so much since you came back. You weren’t like this before. I can cook bamboo shoots for you, but I’m afraid you won’t be able to finish them.”

Liu Jia did not scare Zhou Caixia.

Bamboo shoots are delicious, but eating too many can upset your stomach.

I had only meant well by making a pot of hand-peeled bamboo shoots for Zhou Caixia, but if she felt unwell after eating them, that wouldn't have been my intention.

Zhou Caixia licked her lips, looked at the tender white bamboo shoots in front of her, and sighed again.

"There's nothing I can do. It's all my fault for not knowing you could cook so many delicious things before. Otherwise, I wouldn't be so hungry."

"After you get married, you can have Brother Li cook delicious food for you every day. Then you won't have to embarrass yourself like this anymore, or people will laugh at you."

When Li Zhenhe was mentioned, Zhou Caixia's eyes narrowed into slits.

"Li Zhenhe, you know what, I think his cooking skills are pretty good. Although he's not quite as good as you, he's still passable. At least his cooking tastes better than mine."

During the time Liu Jia was away, Li Zhenhe would visit Xili Village every few days, and each time he came, he would bring Zhou Caixia some little trinkets.

Sometimes it's food, sometimes it's something to use, and it's always the same.

When it's mealtime, Li Zhenhe will also eat at home.

Over time, the family naturally became familiar with each other, and Li Zhenhe also learned to cook.

As they spent more time together, Zhou Caixia increasingly felt that Li Zhenhe was a good person.

Gradually, Zhou Caixia also came to understand.

Zhou Caixia knew that she and Liu Jia could never be together, but she was content to have found Li Zhenhe, someone she could rely on.

Zhou Caixia also has her own unique perspective on Liu Jia.

We grew up together and I did like it.

For a long time, especially after Liu Jia married Guo Xiaoyan, Zhou Caixia was trapped in her own emotions and could hardly get out of it.

But now, looking at Liu Jia, Zhou Caixia felt relieved.

"Why are you making fun of me? I can eat the food he bought seriously and give some fair comments. Li Zhenhe is more than happy about that."

Liu Jia smiled and, taking advantage of the moment when Zhou Caixia wasn't using the kitchen knife, helped peel the bamboo shoots.

"When are you getting married? Weren't you still discussing the date when I left? How come it's been so long and you still haven't decided?"

Zhou Caixia didn't even lift her eyelids. "We have to wait until my sister and Zhao Xiaochao finish their business before we talk about ours. There's no rush."

"You're not in a hurry, but I'm worried that Brother Li will be anxious."

“He’s not in a hurry either. We’ve talked about this before. We have similar thoughts, and we’re getting along well now. It doesn’t matter whether we get married sooner or later.”

Upon learning that Zhou Caixia and Li Zhenhe were getting along well, Liu Jia finally felt relieved.

“I met a classmate named Liu Xiaohu in college. His family is in the food business. I was thinking of visiting him sometime and turning our bamboo shoots into canned goods.”

Just a moment ago, Zhou Caixia was absent-minded.

Upon hearing Liu Jia's words, he immediately perked up, his eyes widening in surprise.

"What? Third Brother, you're saying bamboo shoots can be canned? Will anyone eat them?"

"Of course people eat them. We live in a bamboo forest and don't think much of bamboo shoots, but those who have never eaten bamboo shoots before treat them like treasures and are very fond of them!"

"So, when will this project start? Does that mean we'll stop selling bamboo? Otherwise, once the bamboo shoot business grows, we won't have enough raw materials."

At the factory, Zhou Caixia was in charge of the quality of bamboo baskets, but as she spent more time there, her horizons broadened considerably.

Upon hearing Liu Jia's plan, Zhou Caixia instinctively realized that it was definitely not just about displaying bottles and cans of food.

If there is a greater need in the future, will that bamboo forest be enough?

"Silly girl, have you forgotten how bamboo grows? It grows horizontally!"

"So many bamboo shoots sprout every year, we can't even harvest them all, and you won't let us cut down the bamboo? What are you thinking?"

"Let me tell you, what I just said will not affect our normal operations at all. You can continue doing what you were doing."

As soon as Liu Jia finished speaking, Zhou Caixia breathed a long sigh of relief.

"You scared me to death! I was really worried that something might change again," Zhou Caixia said, her brows suddenly furrowing.

Suddenly, Zhou Caixia thought of something else.

Originally, I was thinking of talking to Liu Jia about it, but I was so focused on the bamboo shoots that I suddenly forgot about Li Zhenhe.

The mention of change sent a chill down Zhou Caixia's spine.

"What's wrong? Is there something you need?"

Realizing something was wrong, Liu Jia lowered his voice and asked a question.

Zhou Caixia raised her head, about to speak, but then looked around uneasily.

Finding no one in the yard, especially not Zhou Fengshou, Zhou Caixia finally spoke.

"Third Brother, I have something to tell you. Have you seen Li Zhenhe since you came back?"

"Yes, I saw him. Didn't Brother Li come the day Second Brother went to see his wife?"

Liu Jia was puzzled, not understanding why Zhou Caixia would ask such a question.

These past two days, apart from Guo Jianjun being unable to come due to other matters, Li Zhenhe has been busy helping out.

However, I had too many things to do and didn't have time to sit down and have a detailed chat with Li Zhenhe.

Liu Jia guessed that nothing should be wrong with Li Zhenhe.

First of all, he didn't say that.

Secondly, Li Zhenhe is not someone who can keep things to himself.

He always shows his true feelings on his face.

But now that Zhou Caixia was being so serious, Liu Jia had some doubts.

"What is it? Just tell me quickly, don't dawdle, this isn't like you."

Zhou Caixia pouted.

"Third Brother, Li Zhenhe wants to take a vacation."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jia's heart skipped a beat.

Even the bamboo shoots he was holding almost fell to the ground.

"What? Taking leave? Did something happen at home or what? Why would you need to take leave?"

Li Zhenhe's workplace is the Hongxing Supply and Marketing Cooperative!

He worked as a driver for the supply and marketing cooperative!

That's a job that most people would kill for, how can you just take a vacation like that?

Besides, there are only so many positions in state-owned enterprises these days, and so many eyes are watching. If he quits, someone else will definitely take his place.

To put it bluntly.

That's a perfect match.

If someone else has taken your spot, they might not be willing to make room for you when you try to go back.

Even Li Zhenhe couldn't understand such a simple principle?

Liu Jia's surprise was within Zhou Caixia's expectations.

Zhou Caixia waited until Liu Jia's expression softened before she spoke.

“I also feel it’s a bit of a pity, but I see he’s really determined, and I can’t persuade him otherwise. Judging from the looks of it, he probably hasn’t told you about this yet.”

"No, that Brother Li is really something, why didn't he say anything about something so important!"

Unintentionally, Liu Jia's voice became louder.

"What's the big deal? Sanzi, who's in trouble?"

The moment Zhou Fengshou's voice came over, Liu Jia and Zhou Caixia were both stunned.

"Oh no, how did Dad hear that? What should we do, Third Brother?"

Liu Jia didn't say anything, but quietly gave Zhou Caixia a reassuring look.

Nevertheless, Zhou Caixia's hand holding the kitchen knife began to tremble.

It's true what they say, what you fear most is what happens.