Chapter 113: The Rebel

The two of them came over to talk about the new sent-down youths, especially after the commotion caused by the previous group. Yun Yingying, ignoring Yun Jingjing's disdainful glance, sat beside Han Li and asked, "What do you plan to eat for lunch? I can ask my sister to cook for us."

Yun Jingjing? (Maybe I should just sell off this sister of mine.)

Han Li replied, "Anything is fine with me, the sooner the better, so everyone can rest more."

"In the morning, everyone was talking about the new sent-down youths arriving today. What kind of people would come this time of the month? Surely they’re not all from that troublesome group, are they?"

Han Li said, "It's hard to say. Maybe their countryside placement times differ, or perhaps some were forcibly sent down due to low ideological awareness. Of course, it’s possible some are from that troublesome group you mentioned. But since we don’t live in the sent-down youth dormitory, most nuisances won’t bother us. Just live your own life well."

While the two were chatting, Yun Jingjing had already prepared the meal: coarse millet porridge, corn cakes, some shepherd’s purse dumplings, and fresh radish leaves picked from the yard dipped in sauce. The lunch was all set.

After they left, Han Li unusually skipped his afternoon nap. He left the street gate slightly ajar, released the wolfdogs, and went down into the cellar. After a night of marinating, the strips of lean meat were well seasoned. Han Li strung them all up, but hanging them in the cellar wouldn’t do. So he hung them beside the beehive, shielding them with branches. The bees flying around served as natural guardians, so the drying meat wouldn’t be discovered.

The wolfdogs drooled at the sight of the meat but remained obediently seated without making a sound. Pleased, Han Li fed them some pig ears and snouts as treats.

After work, he remembered the charcoal he had made yesterday and thought to check on it. Han Li didn’t want to carry it back in a basket to avoid getting covered in black soot. So he borrowed a cart from the village committee and headed straight to where he had made the charcoal, without going home first.

He broke open the outer layer of mud and saw that the wood hadn’t turned to ash. Breaking a charcoal piece showed a solid, even texture—it looked well made. He loaded all the charcoal onto the cart and refilled the kiln with dried grass and wood, lit it up, sealed it simply, and headed home. By then, his hands and face were covered in black soot, resembling a coal miner just out of the pit.

At his doorstep, he met Village Chief Zhao leaving the sent-down youth dormitory.

"You’re impressive, burning your own charcoal."

"I learned from someone last time; didn’t expect to get it right on the first try."

Zhao broke a piece, nodded approvingly. "This quality’s pretty good, and it's made from oak. Oak charcoal here lasts the longest. Burn more in winter, you won’t suffer as much. If only all the sent-down youths were like you."

"I just have some strength. The comrades aren’t all bad."

"Heh, let’s hope so."

Zhao walked away shaking his head. Han Li glanced at the dormitory and wondered if the newly returned sent-down youths would measure up.

Han Li shook his head. Well or not, it’s none of his business. He pulled the cart into the yard. The Yun sisters came over to help unload, but Han Li stopped them. There wasn’t much charcoal, no need for everyone to get covered in soot.

Yun Yingying sent her sister off to cook and stood by Han Li’s side.

"Han Li, why did you decide to burn charcoal?"

"You don’t chat much with the villagers, do you? The winter here can’t be comfortable with just the heated brick bed. A charcoal brazier raises the room temperature. Don’t you remember the tradition of ‘Shujiu’—the coldest days—when we eat hotpot? With this charcoal, we can easily set up a pot. Imagine us in the freezing cold, sitting inside, dipping some cabbage—it feels nice, doesn’t it?"

"But we don’t have a copper pot."

"We’ll use a clay pot. Having a hotpot is already good; no need to be picky."

"True, we’re far from home now, in the northeast."

"Besides, charcoal has one more important use. Once I finish the experiment, I’ll tell you."

While they talked, Han Li finished unloading and returned the cart to the committee.

At the committee, Han Li saw Sun Yong and Jiang Xiaoli with several new sent-down youths. Sun Yong asked after seeing him, "Comrade Han, did you fall into the stove? Why do you look like this?"

"I made some charcoal by the river yesterday afternoon and brought it back today."

Jiang Xiaoli said, "Han really knows how to live. He piled up firewood at home and now has charcoal ready."

Han Li smiled, "I’m just an early bird trying to get a head start."

Sun Yong said, "These are the new comrades arriving today. Go wash up quickly; I’ll introduce you to everyone at the dormitory."

"Right, I do look a bit rough to greet everyone like this."

After smiling and nodding, Han Li handed over the cart and left.

After he left, some of the new sent-down youths asked Sun Yong and Jiang Xiaoli about Han Li.

"Captain Jiang, who’s that tall, blackened guy?"

"His name’s Han Li. Like us, he’s a sent-down youth, but he built his own house outside and doesn’t live in the dormitory."

"You can build your own house?"

This caught their attention. They had just seen their living conditions when assigned beds. Though humans are social animals, few like sleeping in large dormitories. If given the chance for a private room, no one would refuse.

Seeing their expressions, Sun Yong knew what they were thinking. He explained the conditions and approximate costs of building a house. Then someone questioned, "How can the brigade have such rules? We build the houses ourselves, but have to hand them over when leaving?"

"Yeah, that’s unreasonable. They’re discriminating against us."

Sun Yong’s heart sank at their words, but he quickly stopped them.

"Quiet! This policy is approved from above. No one’s forcing you to build your own house. If you don’t accept it, you can stay in the dormitory."

Not everyone listened. Some stood up to argue, "Why? We are—this is—"

Sun Yong’s uneasy feeling grew stronger. It seemed the coveted spots at the worker-peasant-soldier university were slipping further away.

"Enough! Have you forgotten the slogans before setting off? Obey the needs of the motherland and accept the people's choice. Now the people have given you two paths: accept these conditions or apply to leave."

Jiang Xiaoli was also a bit troubled. Looking at the room, she was even more pained. Most new sent-down youths kept silent; only two were particularly rowdy, acting as if still at school, shouting and causing trouble.

Their words were overheard by the brigade captain and village chief, so she resolved to keep her distance from them.

However, she had to step in to smooth things over, lest she appear incompetent as the dormitory leader and jeopardize her chance at the university spot.

"Everyone, say less. This is a policy from above. We just need to comply. It’s like being sent down—you didn’t want to come, but you did, right?"

Her words carried weight and silenced them.

Inside, Brigade Captain Liang and Village Chief Zhao smoked, having heard everything outside.

Captain Liang said, "Among these newcomers, there are two troublemakers. Should we give them extra duties?"

Village Chief Zhao replied, "Put them in the first squad. Keep an eye on them so they don’t stir up trouble."

Han Li didn’t take the dormitory matters seriously, but just after finishing his meal, Yang Xiuying came running over.

"Han Li, the dormitory seems to be in an uproar. Should we go watch?"

"Fighting on arrival? Why?"

"I didn’t catch the details, something about cooking."

"No, Sun Yong will call us when it’s time to meet the new comrades. Then we’ll know what’s going on."

"You’re no fun."

"Heh."

"Fine, I’ll find He Mi and the others to go watch."

Soon after Yang Xiuying left, Sun Yong came to call Han Li, but his expression was grim.

Han Li pretended not to notice. The dormitory fuss was just about pots and pans. Even if he didn’t inquire, someone would fill him in later.

They chatted as they walked out, and Sun Yong whispered to Han Li, "Among the newcomers, Mai Weiguo and Xiong Xianjin are quite radical. Be careful."

"Thanks, but I think you, as the captain, have the toughest time. If this goes wrong—"

Sun Yong sighed deeply, then said helplessly and angrily, "I’ve been in the countryside three years. Finally, I’ve earned the chance to study. I don’t want anyone to ruin that. I have no way to go back to the city to work. The worker-peasant-soldier university is my only way out. I don’t want anyone to destroy it."

Grateful thanks to: Saiwai Jiangnan Yu for the 500-point reward.

Thanks to: Book Friend 20220804213935275 for the 500-point reward.

(End of chapter)