As Song Wei told her stories, the three children came running over.
Hearing her describe the grasslands’ scenery and animals, each of them grew curious and full of longing.
“Wow, Sister Song Wei, what do horses look like? What’s a Pallas’s cat? What’s a snow leopard?”
Song Wei replied, “I’ll show you when the photos are developed.”
“Yay! Will you develop the photos tomorrow, Sister Song?”
Song Wei nodded. “Yes, tomorrow.”
She then took out two wolf-tooth necklaces.
“These are also wolf-tooth necklaces, but each only has one tooth.”
Fuwa and Lewa immediately jumped for joy.
“Thank you, Sister Song! We like you the most!” the two children said in unison.
The village chief and Aunt Xinghua were also delighted. After all, this gesture meant Song Wei regarded them as family and cared deeply for their children.
Song Wei had quite a few wolf-tooth necklaces. Since they had hunted so many wolves, they couldn’t finish all the meat and brought a lot back to Nankang Brigade, but she had kept all the wolf teeth.
She had asked Hasanmu and others to clean, polish, and turn them into necklaces. Having enjoyed the meat, they were more than happy to help.
That evening, the two children proudly wore their necklaces and went out to show them off. It was hard to say how much envy they attracted, but Heidan didn’t run out. Although he also preferred to show off, he staying by Song Wei and Lin Zhen’s side after their long absence.
The number of animals at home was growing, and with so many mouths to feed, it would be difficult for an ordinary family to sustain them if not for the abundant resources in the back hills and the fact that the two wolves could hunt on their own.
After arranging a place for the five wolf pups to stay, Song Wei returned to the educated youth courtyard with some dried meat.
When the others saw her, their eyes lit up.
“Educated Youth Song is back!”
Song Wei smiled and handed out the yak jerky.
“I brought gifts for you.”
The yak jerky was delicious. She preferred the spicy version, and Lin Zhen liked it too, so aside from the portion reserved for the wolf pups, the rest had been made into spicy yak jerky—generously seasoned and wonderfully chewy. There was also some wolf meat jerky, though it wasn’t as tasty as the yak.
“Wow, you’re too generous!”
“This is really dried meat!”
Everyone’s faces broke into smiles as they shared the gifts. It had been a long time since they’d had any meat.
Even the two puppies ate better than them, since the little ones often trotted over to Song Wei’s wolves to mooch meat, a luxury the others didn’t have.
“We were just chatting. Come, come! Let me tell you—Zhao Yuyin has moved out of the educated youth point.”
Song Wei was surprised. “Moved out?”
Everyone nodded. Liu Linlin pouted and said, “She said we were isolating her. She’s delusional! I don’t know where she gets her confidence. She always looks at us as if we’re fools. Who could get along with someone like that? And she claims we isolate her—she’s the one who isolates herself from all of us.”
“Isn’t she ridiculous? When Su Fang got the recommendation to attend the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University, instead of congratulating her, Zhao Yuyin sneered and said something like, ‘This university degree won’t even be useful.’”
Song Wei knew exactly what Zhao Yuyin was thinking.
Zhao Yuyin knew what would happen in the future. She looked down on everyone in this world, aware that in just over two years, the college entrance exam would be reinstated. Then, those who had been recommended to attend the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University would find themselves in an awkward position compared to the students who had genuinely tested into university.
“You should all take some time to read more books,” Song Wei advised.
She had no plans to take the college entrance exam herself—she simply didn’t have the ability.
Let alone having lived in the post-apocalyptic wasteland for over a decade, even ordinary people forget most of what they learned in high school not long after graduating from university.
The thought of starting over with studying felt daunting—she’d rather wrestle tigers in the mountains.
Besides, after the reform and opening-up, there would be plenty of ways to build a better life beyond just attending university.
As for studying to serve the country—she didn’t have such lofty ambitions.
The other youth educateds didn’t quite grasp the deeper meaning behind her words.
Song Wei wasn’t sure how to explain it to them either—after all, there were still over two years to go. How could she possibly know what would happen by then?
As it grew late, everyone picked up their stools and returned to their rooms.
Xie Tian was the last to leave. He walked up to Song Wei and bowed deeply.
“Educated Youth Song, thank you. Thank you for helping my mother break free from those two people.”
Song Wei knew exactly what he was referring to.
“No need to thank me. This was what I promised you and Old Ji.”
But how could Xie Tian not feel grateful? After hearing what his mother had endured, he was filled with dread—if they had been any later, he would have lost her forever.
“Where is your mother now?”
At this, Xie Tian’s face brightened slightly. “She’s now in Ping’an Brigade. The village chief helped arrange a rental house for her.”
Mother and son could now see each other every day. What’s more, she had been reunited with her biological father, and her spirits were lifting day by day.
After Xie Tian expressed his thanks once more, Song Wei waved it off, and they each returned to their rooms.
Having been away for so long, she gave the room a quick tidy, laid out fresh bedsheets, soaked her feet, and enjoyed a good night’s sleep.
Early the next morning, Lin Zhen came to pick her up on his bicycle.
Carrying the package and letter to send to her brother, along with the film to be developed, they set off just as the sun was beginning to rise.
They mailed the parcel, dropped the film off at the photo studio, and then Lin Zhen brought gifts to his aunt’s house.
Fortunately, this time his aunt’s household was harmonious, with no drama in sight.
His uncle was just heading out to work when they ran into him at the door.
“Lin Zhen, what brings you here?”
Nian Honggang rubbed his hands together when he saw Lin Zhen and Song Wei. “Come on inside!”
Aunt Lin was cleaning when she spotted them, her face lighting up with surprise.
“You’re back! Come in, come in! Oh my, you even brought such a big watermelon!”
Watermelon was still a rare treat at this time.
But she knew Ping’an Brigade had grown watermelons this year.
Thanks to this connection, their family had enjoyed one not long ago—a real treat for everyone.
Lin Zhen explained, “We picked it from the brigade. It’s much cheaper for us brigade members to buy.”
“Honggang, head on to work. I’ll take care of these two,” Aunt Lin said.
Nian Honggang, honest and good-natured, nodded. “Make yourselves at home. I’ll be off now.”
After he left, Aunt Lin bustled about, bringing out plenty of snacks.
“Don’t be shy! I went back to Ping’an Brigade a while ago, but you two were away.”
Song Wei nodded. “Yes, we went to visit my family.”
Aunt Lin’s eyes sparkled.
“That’s wonderful! So, have you set a wedding date for this year?”
They both nodded, and Aunt Lin immediately clapped her hands in delight. “That’s fantastic! You’ll need to start preparing early for the wedding. Lin Zhen, you must make sure Educated Youth Song wants for nothing.”
Lin Zhen nodded in agreement.
He planned already to buy the “Three Big Items”—a sewing machine, a radio, and a wristwatch.
Since they already had a bicycle at home, there was no need to buy another.
Aunt Lin couldn’t help but admire Song Wei more every time she saw her.
“You must stay for lunch today! I’ll go buy groceries and ask for half a day off—I’ll have someone cover my shift. Make yourselves at home here, and don’t stand on ceremony!”
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