Rebirth in Famine: She Thrives by Lucky Space-Chapter 863: Jing Chu

The boys were carefree, not at all worried about what Qu Xiaoli was concerned about.

"My big brother should bring me back some bullet shells when he returns. I mentioned it to him last time."

"Yeah, I want some too. By the way, my mom said my sister-in-law is a nurse."

"That’s great, she can be with my big brother."

The two laughed softly, truly like young people who don’t know the taste of sorrow.

Jing Chu, on the other hand, was very anxious, eagerly waiting for the grain to be distributed. That way, she wouldn’t have to come back for a few months.

She didn’t like it here, longing to be by Jiang Xinyu’s side, where she felt safe.

Guodong went to help Chen Hui with work; all the educated youths were there.

In the past six months, Chen Hui had to haul soil clods almost every day, and with the ones Old Yang gave, it was enough to enclose the courtyard.

There wasn’t much work now, and the weather hadn’t frozen yet, so Chen Hui decided to take the opportunity to enclose the courtyard.

Thanks to two bowls of milk each day, Ding Xiaojuan looked much better and had gotten used to the taste of goat milk, even liking it a lot. Personal sheep-raising wasn’t allowed; otherwise, she’d definitely have one. Even Chen Hui, who drank diluted goat milk every day, looked much healthier.

The six male educated youths were strong lads, and after two years, they got quite strong. So they worked very fast.

Ding Xiaojuan and Wu Hong did the cooking. Jing Chu didn’t come over; she didn’t like those people.

Actually, Jing Chu had a strong personality; she wouldn’t even pretend for people she didn’t like.

But Zhao Xiaoli sent over a pound of smoked meat since she couldn’t do the work herself and just brought something.

Jing Chu worked with the brigade. Female comrades now were responsible for slicing sweet potatoes and pumpkins.

Jing Chu wore gloves, sitting on a mat, her hands never idle.

Two village girls sat beside her, "Lv Zhiqing, where’s your brother?"

"Xiao Liu, Xiao Hong, my brother’s gone to help Chen Zhiqing."

"Why didn’t you go, Lv Zhiqing?"

"I can’t do heavy labor, and for cooking, there’s Wu Zhiqing and Ding Zhiqing, so there’s no need for me. I might as well come to work."

"True, Lv Zhiqing, are you going to stay at your relative’s house again this year?"

"Yes, my brother and I want to spend the New Year at our relative’s."

"That’s so nice, having relatives nearby. Was it that time they came looking for Old Yang?"

"Yes, that’s my aunt’s husband; we call him Uncle Wei."

"Why not call him uncle?"

"Because Uncle Wei and my dad have a good relationship; they all know each other, so they just call each other what they like."

"I see. I heard from my dad that the rotary tiller, seeder, and corn shellers were all made by your Uncle Wei?"

"Yes, my Uncle Wei used to be a factory director."

"That impressive?"

"Isn’t it? My Uncle Wei was wronged, but now it’s all cleared up. However, my Aunt Jiang doesn’t want to leave here, so the family stayed."

"Why not go back? Isn’t your aunt holding back your Uncle Wei by staying here?"

"How could that be? My aunt is quite impressive herself; she’s also a director and a college graduate."

"Both husband and wife are directors?"

"Yes, my aunt’s even more capable than my Uncle Wei." In Jing Chu’s eyes, no one could compare to Jiang Xinyu.

"Lv Zhiqing, I’m so envious of you. All your family members are workers, so how did you end up coming to the countryside?"

Jing Chu knew Xiao Hong meant no harm; in the village, there were only these two girls she could talk to.

"Our coming here was arranged by my aunt."

"City life is so good; why come to our place? You don’t know how tough the years of hunger were; we almost couldn’t make it." Xiao Liu sighed, not understanding why city folks would endure such hardships when they had it good.

"Those years were tough for everyone. But my aunt went abroad a few times and brought back a lot of food, so we weren’t so badly off. She would always make us something nice to eat."

The two young girls envied Lv Zhiqing. During those times, they were barely surviving.

Lu Fengzhen sat nearby, listening to the girls chat, all the while thinking of that handsome child. Her mother scolded her, saying if she had thoughts of remarrying, she should find someone practical. But she didn’t like anyone else; her heart was set on Mr. Lv.

Thinking of this, Lu Fengzhen had a bitter smile, not even knowing the person’s name.

People were already inquiring about the Lv siblings. She had already secretly turned down a lot for them.

Just by looking at the two of them, it was clear they wouldn’t stay here.

"Lv Zhiqing, I forgot how to write my name the way you taught me," Xiao Liu said, embarrassed.

Jing Chu put down the vegetable knife, took off her gloves, and wrote on the ground, one stroke at a time.

"Xiao Liu, watch carefully. You must know how to write your own name."

Xiao Hong also leaned over, "I can write my name."

Xiao Liu scratched in the dirt for a while, "I’ve remembered. I’ll practice every day from now on."

"I’ll teach you how to write the characters for ’man’ and ’woman’, so you know which bathroom to enter if you go to the city."

Watching the three girls, Lu Fengzhen felt envious, remembering her own youth; now, she felt old.

"Let’s hurry and get back to work. The team leader was just watching us."

The three girls laughed and continued working.

"Lv Zhiqing, I’m really envious that you know how to read and write. You could teach us if you don’t go to your relatives’ place."

"I have to go to my aunt’s house; I like their home, plus there are five younger siblings. Let me tell you, the youngest one my aunt gave birth to looks so much like my Uncle Wei, and he’s adorable."

"Well, there’s nothing to do until you come back then."

"No problem. I’ll teach you to read when I return."

In the yard where women and girls sliced sweet potatoes, much gossip circulated, but as long as they kept working, the team leader didn’t mind.

"Lv Zhiqing, why are you the only one here today?"

"Auntie, my brother’s gone to help Chen Zhiqing."

"What about Zhao Zhiqing?"

"Her belly’s grown big; this kind of work is uncomfortable for her."

"Zhao Zhiqing is so lucky. What woman isn’t working in the fields even with a child on the way?"

Jing Chu kept quiet, greatly disliking this group of gossipy older women. That was other people’s business, what did it have to do with them?

"Lv Zhiqing, you’re not that young anymore; do you need an auntie to find a match for you?"

Jing Chu restrained her anger, "No need, I’m not starting a family here."

"You’re still young; settle down while it’s a good time. Look at Zhao Zhiqing; her life is so much better settled down. She doesn’t even need to work in the fields."

Jing Chu kept her head down and worked, simply ignoring them.

"Yes, Lv Zhiqing, there’s nothing bad about being here, women should settle down when they’re of age. Waiting too long to become an old maid isn’t good."

A few women chattered on about Jing Chu’s situation, becoming more and more exaggerated.