Chapter 4: Troubled by the Lack of Food

Working and cooking day after day, half a month passed in a blur of busy activity.

With the autumn harvest finished, the public grain was handed over without needing the help of the young volunteers, allowing them a period of leisure.

Zhong Yuxiu and the other volunteers gradually became familiar with one another, learned each other's temperaments, and adapted to the local life, their days flowing smoothly and comfortably.

Once the public grain was delivered, the team distributed food rations. Zhong Yuxiu received one hundred and fifty pounds of corn; even with her work points for half a month—ten points a day—she couldn't have earned so much. But as she was newly arrived, the team made sure to look after her. Except for the grain allotted for fifteen days of work, the remainder would need to be repaid over the next half year.

Gazing at the grain stored in the kitchen cellar, Zhong Yuxiu was deeply troubled; hers was the smallest share. She would have to do hard labor soon—without enough to eat, where would her strength come from? This little bit of grain would have to last six months.

"Don't worry, I've got more than three hundred pounds of rations—I can share some with you for now," Jiang Mei said, guessing the cause of her frown as she stared at the grain.

"Thank you, Sister Jiang Mei," Zhong Yuxiu replied, grateful for the offer, though she had no intention of accepting it.

She needed to find a way to earn more rations; relying on the brigade wouldn't fill her belly. Even Jiang Mei's three hundred pounds seemed a lot, but it was meant to last half a year and barely sufficed, with wild vegetables mixed in just to manage a filling meal.

"Sister Jiang Mei, Yuxiu, what are you two discussing?"

The two turned at the sound, seeing Sun Ruhong, Yan Rushan, and Wang Yishan enter the courtyard. Sun Ruhong pointed to Yan Rushan’s hand, "Come quick, Yan's caught a big rabbit—we’re going to have meat tonight!"

Zhong Yuxiu followed Sun Ruhong’s gesture and saw Yan Rushan holding the rabbit by its ears, the creature still alive and kicking; joy welled up within her, savoring the thought of meat she hadn’t tasted in so long, her eyes shining brightly.

"It really is a rabbit, Sister Jiang Mei—should we braise it, or stir-fry?"

"You little glutton," Jiang Mei teased, then turned serious. "Yan Rushan, you’ve worked hard. You two skin and clean it, and we’ll stew it soon. The harvest just ended, a good time for everyone to get some nourishment."

"Alright," Yan Rushan replied quietly, heading toward the well. Wang Yishan went to the kitchen for a knife and basin. The two worked together to slaughter the rabbit and drain the blood, mixing it in a basin with salt to coagulate, making blood pudding soup—another delicacy.

Luo Jianmin and Feng Jianjun came out of the house, delighted at the sight of the rabbit. Villagers rarely ate meat, and the volunteers even less so; among them, only Yan Rushan was slightly better off, the others couldn’t afford to buy meat.

"Comrade Yan, you’re impressive!"

Yan Rushan lifted his eyelids indifferently, placed the rabbit beside the well bucket, "Here, it’s yours now."

"Alright then," Luo Jianmin said happily, eager for a meal.

Feng Jianjun smiled, "Let me help too."

With Wang Yishan, Luo Jianmin, and Feng Jianjun handling the rabbit, Yan Rushan was freed. His gaze swept over the three female volunteers, lingering a moment longer on Zhong Yuxiu’s face.

"I’m going to wash up," he said, heading to the kitchen.

Zhong Yuxiu followed, diligently fetching water for him to wash his hands. "Brother Yan, did you catch the rabbit in the mountains?"

"Yes." Yan Rushan glanced at her curiously, took the warm water from her, and washed away the blood.

"Are there many wild animals in the mountains? What kinds?"

Yan Rushan frowned, shooting her a look. "The mountains are dangerous—there are big creatures."

"I was just asking. Take your time washing, Brother Yan. I’ll go out now." Zhong Yuxiu smiled and left, thinking: large game would be ideal!

Yan Rushan watched her graceful figure disappear, his frown deepening. "She truly is a little glutton," he muttered. He’d need to keep an eye on her.

Rabbit and potato dumplings filled a heaping basin, and the seven ate with abandon; when their chopsticks finally rested, only scraps remained.

With a new craving awakened, the next day Zhong Yuxiu seized the chance, sneaking up the mountain while everyone napped.

Yan Rushan heard movement, came out of his room, and caught her tiptoeing away; intrigued, he followed, watching as she headed toward the mountain. For such a young girl, she was remarkably bold.

Once in the woods, Zhong Yuxiu unleashed her psychic powers, but found nothing in the outskirts. She twitched her ears, glanced back—no one in sight. Her psychic ability, though reduced to level five, was still keen after years of use.

Someone was following her.

Zhong Yuxiu wound her way along thickly vegetated paths, using the dense foliage to lose her pursuer; only when she reached the deep forest did she spot a few wild pheasants and rabbits. Using her powers, she quickly caught one pheasant and three rabbits, all within half an hour.

Delighted, she headed downhill. At the foot of the mountain, her joy was interrupted—a tall, upright volunteer stood waiting: Yan Rushan.

"Comrade Yan..."

Yan Rushan glanced at the wild game in her hands, understanding immediately though his expression remained unchanged. "Have you learned to hunt?"

"I haven’t, but they’re all quite stupid—easy to catch."

"Easy to catch?" His gaze was serious and steady; if he didn’t know how well the mountain creatures could hide, he might have believed her.

"They really are easy. They just freeze up when I approach," she said—psychic powers bound them, so they couldn’t move.

Yan Rushan pondered, looking her over. "Are they really so easy? Next time, I’ll go with you."

A classic case of inviting trouble upon oneself. Zhong Yuxiu had a headache—this man was too shrewd.

"You were following me earlier?"

"What do you think?"

"Hmph, you lost my trail. What can I say?"

Her quick retort left Yan Rushan speechless, staring at the young girl before him. After half a month of sun, her face had a healthy glow, with a hint of blush from constant movement.

"What will you do with the game?"

"Take it back, of course. The pheasant will be stewed, and the rabbits traded for grain when I have a chance; with so little grain, it won’t even last three months." She had no idea how much grain she could get.

Confident and proud, the girl’s demeanor prompted Yan Rushan to douse her hopes with cold reality. "You can’t freely barter in town, and the village won’t trade grain. If the villagers see what you have, it becomes communal property—not allowed to be bought or sold."

"Is that even possible?" Zhong Yuxiu was stunned.

"If you trust me, give me the rabbits. I’ll trade them for grain for you now; you shouldn’t show up yourself—it’s not safe outside." Not only unsafe, the county town was chaotic, and she was a young, pretty girl.

Zhong Yuxiu looked down at the game, then up at the young man before her. "Of course I trust you. I’m just curious—why does game I catch become communal property if villagers see it?"

"Everything is collectivized, including mountain resources."

"So if I catch game in the future, I won’t be able to trade it for grain?" Wasn't this already 1976? Why was it still so strict?

She seemed unfamiliar with the era’s ways, lacking even basic knowledge. Yan Rushan studied her quietly. "I have channels to trade for grain; don’t ask where or how."

Zhong Yuxiu relaxed slightly. At least this man hunted as well—perhaps he often traded goods.

"Brother Yan, I’ll have to trouble you from now on." She handed over the rabbits.

"No trouble at all, Brother Yan when you need something, Comrade Yan when you don’t. You’re good at this." He took the rabbits, ignored the stunned girl, and strode away.