Chapter 16: Joining Forces

Jiang Xiaoman lazily lifted her head, blinking her large eyes. “What’s up? Just say it.”

Zhou Yichen carefully considered his words, trying to make his suggestion sound reasonable rather than self-serving.

“Look, I’ve just settled in here, and I’ve got all the pots and pans set up.”

“The youth brigade over there is crowded and noisy. When several people cook together, it’s probably quite inconvenient.”

“So, how about this: from now on, we share meals together. What do you think?”

Jiang Xiaoman was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, apparently not expecting such a proposal.

Then, a gleam of delight burst forth in her bright eyes, even more radiant than when she first discovered the warm kang bed.

“Share meals?”

She suddenly sat upright on the kang, still cross-legged, leaning forward slightly with an eager expression as she looked at Zhou Yichen.

“Great! Great! Why didn’t I think of that?”

She slapped her thigh with a crisp sound, her agreement decisive and without hesitation.

“Yichen, your idea is absolutely brilliant!”

Seeing her so readily agree, Zhou Yichen breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

“Do you trust me that much? Aren’t you afraid I’ll take advantage of you, making you cook every day while I freeload?”

Half-joking, half-serious, he teased her.

Jiang Xiaoman waved her hand dismissively, showing no concern at all. Her adorable doll-like face was filled with a matter-of-course expression.

“Pfft! Who are we kidding?”

“We’ve been childhood buddies, playing in the mud, poking bird nests, wearing split-crotch pants together. Are we really going to quibble over something like this?”

She paused, her tone turning more serious, revealing some of her own considerations.

“To be honest, I don’t really want to share meals with the others at the youth brigade.”

“You know how it is—when there are many people, there are many issues.”

“Today you work harder, tomorrow I work less; today you get an extra spoonful of vegetables, tomorrow I get a smaller ration...”

“In the short term, everyone might be polite and avoid conflict, but these countryside days will be long. Over time, small trivial matters could cause disputes and resentment.”

Jiang Xiaoman pursed her lips slightly, evidently wary of the inevitable petty friction that comes with communal living.

“As for me, you know me best—I’m straightforward and easygoing, not fond of beating around the bush.”

“Sharing meals with you would be completely different!”

Her bright eyes fixed intently on Zhou Yichen, her voice filled with unreserved trust and reliance.

“We’ve grown up together as inseparable brothers. I know your temper, and you know my ways, as clearly as looking into a mirror!”

“We’re not just good friends, we’re brothers!”

“If we share meals, there won’t be any problems! I wholeheartedly agree! It’s settled!”

Jiang Xiaoman grew more excited as she spoke, as if already envisioning a bright future. Her smile became even more radiant.

Suddenly, she hesitated.

“By the way, Yichen!”

---

“What about Zhao Weiguo and Lin Xiaoyue?”

“We’ve been cooking together these past two days.”

“If it’s just the two of us now, won’t they be left out?”

There was a trace of concern in Jiang Xiaoman’s tone. After all, they were all companions sent to the countryside.

Zhou Yichen thought for a moment, then said, “If we share meals, they can share too.”

“My place is only so big. Sharing with you is because of our childhood bond—it’s different.”

“As for Zhao Weiguo and Lin Xiaoyue, honestly, we only got to know them after arriving here. We’re not that close.”

His tone was candid, revealing his true feelings.

Jiang Xiaoman tilted her head, thinking it over, but didn’t argue.

Her round eyes blinked as she murmured softly, “Yichen’s right.”

“Lin Xiaoyue is quiet and gentle, so that’s manageable.”

“It’s just that Zhao Weiguo…”

She puckered her lips and snorted lightly, clearly displeased with him.

“I just feel there’s something about him… can’t quite put it into words, but I don’t like him much.”

She wrinkled her dainty nose, searching for a fitting description but gave up.

“People are just strange sometimes.”

Jiang Xiaoman sighed.

“First impressions really matter.”

“Some people, even on first meeting, feel like old friends and can become close buddies.”

“Others, well, they might just exchange a glance and sense a clash, finding each other irritating no matter what.”

She rested her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful.

“Zhao Weiguo and I probably fall into that second category.”

After saying this, she chuckled to herself, as if shaking off a burden.

“Let’s not think about it anymore!”

She suddenly slapped the edge of the kang and nimbly jumped down from the warm earthen bed, moving with a lively spring in her step.

“It’s getting late, Yichen. I need to go back to the youth brigade for a bit!”

While speaking, she dusted off any dirt that might have clung to her clothes.

“If we’re going to cook together, I better move my ration over soon!”

Jiang Xiaoman clenched her small fists, full of enthusiasm.

“Can’t just mooch off you, right?” She winked brightly at Zhou Yichen.

He nodded and stood as well.

“Perfect, I’ll go with you.”

---

He walked to the corner and bent down to pick up a bundle of dry firewood that Captain Wang Zhenshan and the others had brought earlier.

“When we cooked at the youth brigade, we borrowed firewood from Captain Li. Now that we have our own, it’s time to return theirs.”

He didn’t like to take advantage of others and saw no reason to do so.

Jiang Xiaoman nodded vigorously. “Right, right! Let’s go!”

Without further delay, the two set off.

Zhou Yichen carried the bundle of firewood, neither too heavy nor too light, while Jiang Xiaoman bounced along beside him. The red scarf around her neck swayed with her movements like a flickering flame, adding vitality to the quiet village dusk.

The youth brigade was not far from Zhou Yichen’s small courtyard, just about a hundred meters away, around a bend.

The sun was nearly set, leaving only a final splash of magnificent sunset glow on the horizon.

Soon, they arrived at the familiar mud-brick houses of the youth brigade.

The veteran youths had already returned from work.

The courtyard quickly grew lively, filled with the clatter of pots and pans and the laughter of young men and women.

When they saw Zhou Yichen and Jiang Xiaoman—especially Zhou Yichen—everyone’s eyes lit up, their smiles warm and welcoming.

“Oh! Yichen, Xiaoman, you’re back!”

“Come in, come in!”

Several sharp-eyed male youths quickened their pace to greet them, voices overlapping in friendly chatter.

The female youths peeked out from the house, their gazes mostly fixed on Zhou Yichen, marked by clear curiosity and a subtle hint of admiration.

This afternoon, they had clearly heard on the brigade loudspeaker that Zhou Yichen, the new urban youth, had suddenly become the health worker of Xiangyang Brigade!

A health worker! That was highly valued in the countryside. They didn’t have to labor as hard as the others and earned more work points, unlike the others who toiled all day yet earned barely any.

In these times, everyone had headaches and fevers. Getting along well with the health worker was all benefit, no harm.

“Comrade Yichen, I heard you’ve become our brigade’s health worker? Congratulations!” Li Weidong’s face beamed with a broad smile.

“Yes, yes, Yichen, you’re really impressive! So young yet your medical skills are so good!” another chimed in, full of admiration.

Faced with this sudden warm reception, Zhou Yichen simply smiled gently, maintaining his usual modest and courteous demeanor.

“You’re too kind.”

He nodded slightly. “I just got lucky. I learned a bit from my elders before, nothing to boast about.”

“I’ll need everyone’s guidance in the future.”

Though humble, his words made everyone think he was concealing great skill, raising their esteem for him.

Zhou Yichen didn’t linger on small talk. Approaching Li Weidong, he said, “Captain Li, we borrowed firewood from you when cooking before. We’re returning it now.”

Li Weidong was momentarily surprised, then laughed heartily, waving his large hand.

“Yichen, you’re too polite!”

“It’s just some firewood! Used it, that’s all, no big deal!”