After the frail beauty went to the countryside, she went crazy with scientific research.

Chapter 225, Episode 0233: Leng Xingran and the others arrive in the Northwest
A pack of cigarettes had a significant effect; Zhang Ze didn't even need to ask anymore, as the male educated youth had already proactively told them what to pay attention to.

1. Each person has a daily water quota, which is half a basin of water per person per day. This half basin of water includes both drinking and other uses.

The male educated youth highlighted this point to remind them that some older educated youth would use various methods to trick new educated youth out of their water when they first arrived and were unaware that water was rationed.

2. Every day at six o'clock sharp, we had to gather at the big square at the foot of the mountain. New educated youth would be led by soldiers to do exercises, while old educated youth would practice military boxing and other similar exercises.

3. Meal times are also regulated, and points will be deducted for being late or exceeding the time limit.

……

The male educated youth listed more than a dozen regulations, many of which they were unaware that they would definitely violate.

After the male educated youth left, the five of them unanimously gave Zhang Ze a thumbs up.

"Well done."

This pack of cigarettes is such a great deal!

Zhang Ze was so flattered that he scratched the back of his head and chuckled.

All six were quick-witted and rushed into the cave to tidy up.

The cave dwellings for the men are quite large, about 50 square meters. They were once occupied, and there are already 1.5-meter-wide wooden bunk beds inside, one set on each side and one set directly opposite the door, for a total of six beds.

There's a 7-square-meter kitchen partitioned off next to the door, complete with a stove, cabinets, and everything else you need to put your pots and pans in.

Ren Yan's place is much smaller; it's only 15 square meters and completely empty.

Fortunately, there was a wooden plank bed available here, and Leng Xingran and Xu Zhichuan went to inquire and helped her carry one back.

There were six of them traveling to the Northwest together. Uncle Leng Si had also used his connections to get them sleeper tickets by train, so they brought everything they could. Although it was a bit of a hassle to carry it all the way, it saved them a lot of trouble now, and they basically had everything they needed.

The group quickly cleaned and tidied up the cave dwelling, and then dispersed without any further discussion.

An hour later, everyone returned and sat around outside the cave to gather information.

Zhang Zexian, the most active member, spoke up first: "I found out that the educated youth in the Production and Construction Corps are divided into different areas, a total of seven areas. Our area is the sixth area, which is responsible for planting trees. The first and second areas have gone to build railways. The third, fourth and fifth areas are not known exactly what they are doing. Some say they are opening up mountains, some say they are digging tunnels. The sixth and seventh areas are responsible for planting trees."

Liu Jie spoke second: "The educated youth who led the way didn't tell us everything, so I won't go into detail. I'll write it down later so everyone can remember it clearly, especially [pointing to the right] there, there's a research institute there, and it's a place you absolutely must not go near."

Everyone's expressions turned serious, and they all nodded solemnly.

Xu Zhichuan continued: "The supply and marketing cooperative is near the residential area. It's about a ten-minute walk from here. There's also a small market next to the cooperative where villagers from the surrounding area exchange their goods."

Zhang Ze was shocked: "They're allowed to trade freely here?"

Xu Zhichuan rolled his eyes at him. "Didn't you hear what I said? It's not a sale, it's an exchange. This was specially approved by the higher-ups."

Most of the Northwest is poor, extremely poor. Many people have never had a full meal by the time they are in their twenties.

With the support of higher authorities, and the fact that there are many educated youth from the Production and Construction Corps here, each with some money in their pockets, the villagers can exchange some local specialties or handicrafts for a few cents, enough to at least have a decent meal.

Everyone realized this and rolled their eyes in unison.

In other words, their future salaries may not all be theirs, right?

Ren Yan: "I also heard about this from the female educated youth. They all said that this place is very poor. Almost no one can get enough to eat, and water is also very difficult to obtain. If a village has a well, it is the place that girls within a hundred miles are most willing to marry."

Leng Xingran: "I found out that the captain of the Sixth Battalion was transferred from the neighboring unit. He looks very fierce, but the people I asked all said he was very responsible. On the contrary, the deputy captain seemed to be afraid of him."

"I know this deputy battalion commander." Liu Jie's eyes flickered, and one could sense the dangerous aura emanating from him.

Everyone was surprised to see him like this. The unruly Liu Jie was the Liu Jie they liked. The Liu Jie who seemed somewhat gloomy now felt very unfamiliar to them.

When he noticed that people weren't discriminating against or rejecting him, but only looking at him with curiosity, Liu Jie couldn't help but lower his head and smile softly.

Everyone: "???"

What's wrong with this?
"His name is Liu Libing. I should call him my third uncle. On the surface, he is my grandfather's adopted son, but in reality, he is my grandfather's illegitimate son. My grandmother was angered to death by my grandfather and his mother."

All five people present wore the same shocked expression.

Is this something they can listen to?

Please show some respect; we're not at a point where we can discuss such private matters.

The group exchanged glances and, without prior arrangement, began to change the subject.

Liu Jie regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth. He also didn't think he was close enough to these people to tell them about his family's scandals.

Fortunately, these people didn't treat his family's affairs as a joke; they chatted amongst themselves, trying to steer the conversation away from this heavy topic.

However, the atmosphere was ultimately affected, and the scene was awkward no matter how you looked at it.

Fortunately, someone quickly broke the awkward silence.

Knowing that Leng Xingran and the others would arrive today, Lin Yuexi went home to rest last night. After getting up this morning, she and Zhang Hongying were busy preparing. The two of them are now walking this way.

"Something's happened to the Liu family. The eldest son of the Liu family has been found to have committed a serious error and has been locked up."

Lin Yuexi was stunned for a moment, not realizing which Liu family her mother was referring to.

The Liu family in Beijing that her mother could talk about consisted of two families: one with members mainly in the military, another with members in politics, one with an old man still alive, and the other supported by their eldest son who was a minister.

A thought flashed through my mind: Liu Jie's mother was unlikely to care about people who had nothing to do with their family because of Liu Jie's family. So, the Liu family in question must be Liu Jie's family.

"Is it Uncle Liu, the deputy director of the cannery?"

"Yes, the cannery's accounts were short nearly 20,000 yuan. Old Wei discovered this during the year-end audit, but he kept it to himself and traced it back to Boss Liu through the finance department."

"Boss Liu and the head of the finance department had an affair, and the two of them embezzled more than 19,000 yuan in just one year."

Zhang Hongying turned her head to the side, and Lin Yuexi did not notice the murderous intent that flashed in her eyes.

Although she didn't see it, Lin Yuexi knew that her mother must be very angry at this moment.

Liu Laoda's wife, Yang Aihua, had a very good relationship with her mother. In the original owner's memories, Yang Aihua often came to their house to play. She was a little chubby, always smiling, and looked like a very blessed person.

"If the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too; the old don't understand, and the young follow suit," Zhang Hongying murmured.

Lin Yuexi pretended not to hear, "Mom, I heard that the educated youth in the Production and Construction Corps have a really tough time. Can Third Brother and the others handle it?"

"Is being a soldier tough? Your second brother could handle it, so how dare he say he can't?"

That makes perfect sense; she couldn't refute it at all.

Leng Xingran, who was summarizing with everyone outside the cave dwelling, suddenly sneezed loudly for no apparent reason.