Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

When Zhou Rui strolled to the village committee, the sun was almost past the treetops.

The courtyard was quiet and deserted. Only when you pushed open the door did you see Zhao Youzhi sitting in a chair, puffing on his pipe. The cigarette glowed and smoldered, making you wince from the smoke.

"Ruiwa, stop dawdling. Go home, grab your rifle, pack three days' worth of rations, and head to the village entrance right now."

Zhou Rui froze on the threshold: "Grandpa Zhao, what you're saying is completely unfounded. I don't even know where I'm going or what I'm going to do. I can't just wander around the mountains with a gun, can I?"

Zhao Youzhi slammed his pipe hard against the sole of his shoe, his face darkening.

"Something happened at the farms in Daxing and Hongwei in the east. Packs of wolves came down from the mountains and wreaked havoc. Several educated youths were bitten and seriously injured, and two of them have already died."

"The Yunduo County Revolutionary Committee ordered that all production brigades, except for those that left behind a portion of their armed forces, should go to support the farm, eliminate the wolf pack, and maintain the farm's security."

"How could this be?" Zhou Rui leaned on the table, his hands in disbelief. "Doesn't the farm have its own armed forces? How could it be attacked by a pack of wolves?"

Zhou Rui was somewhat familiar with these farms; they were the Beidahuang Production and Construction Corps.

Each farm is equivalent to a regiment, and in addition to the ordinary educated youth engaged in production, there is also an armed company with all its members carrying guns.

I heard they have not only submachine guns, but also machine guns and mortars. How come they can't even deal with a pack of wolves?

"Have you forgotten the constant friction on the northern border lately?" Zhao Youzhi sighed.

"All the armed companies of the Corps have been sent to the border for military exercises to show their strength. Even the soldiers from the county armed forces department have gone with them. What's left are all the militia from our various brigades."

"Alright, enough with the nonsense." Zhao Youzhi stood up, pulled Zhou Rui, and walked out.

"Hurry home and get ready. We're leaving soon. The commune's vehicle is waiting in town."

Zhou Rui rubbed his feet together, refusing to move, deliberately slowing down his pace.

"Isn't it necessary to leave someone in the village in case of trouble? It's safer for me to stay and guard the village. The kids at home are still young, and Qiuyue's injury from a while ago hasn't fully healed..."

"Stop right there!" Zhao Youzhi swung his arm, almost causing him to stumble.

"Qiuyue's injury has been healing for almost half a month, and she's been able to get back to work long ago. I was being lenient with you the other day by not urging her to go back to work, but you've taken advantage of that."

"Besides, you two have been married for over half a year, how come there's not a hint of pregnancy?"

Zhou Rui was speechless for a moment, looking up at the white clouds in the sky, not knowing how to respond.

We can't exactly tell Grandpa Zhao that they haven't consummated their marriage yet.

"What about the village guards...?" He lowered his voice, wanting to say a few more words.

"Zhao Changshan from the village will stay behind with the four militiamen who made the mistake as punishment. The rest of the militiamen, plus you hunters with guns, all go. Don't bring shame to our Jiaolongxia Production Brigade."

Zhou Rui walked home with a helpless expression, muttering to himself, "What kind of punishment is this? This punishment would be much better if it were me."

"Zhao Changshan will stay behind with four militiamen who made mistakes, as punishment for them to guard the village."

Zhao Youzhi patted him on the back: "The rest of the militia, plus you guys who are good at hunting in the mountains all year round, all go. Our Jiaolongxia Brigade can't show weakness in front of other communes."

Zhou Rui walked home with his shoulders slumped, muttering to himself, "This isn't punishment at all. I'd be happy to stay if I were in his shoes."

These words reached Zhao Youzhi's ears, and he couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. He shook his head inwardly, thinking that this kid was still too young to understand his good intentions.

The Revolutionary Committee kept a record of all these missions to support the Production and Construction Corps. Not only could they accumulate experience upon returning, but they might even be able to win a medal.

In future elections for village cadres, these will be solid achievements that can be presented in a respectable manner.

Zhou Rui packed his things quickly and efficiently when he got home; he never procrastinates once he's promised something.

He didn't have time to steam new buns, so he would knead the leftover rice into tight balls and stuff them into a cloth bag, not caring whether it would last for three days.

With a gun on his back and a slingshot in his pocket, how could he possibly go hungry after a trip into the mountains?

Lin Qiuyue hurriedly packed wine, salt, and spices into his bag. These were things Zhou Rui often carried, and she always remembered them.

People were already lined up in the open space at the village entrance. Including him, five hunters, and ten militiamen, a group of fifteen people made up a procession and headed towards the commune, followed by hunting dogs from several families.

"Ruiwa, now we brothers are fighting side by side again."

Gu Jiacheng put his arm around his shoulder, laughing even more happily than when he had hunted two wild boars with his father.

His father, Gu Dayong, was too strict, and he could only truly relax when he was with Zhou Rui.

"Okay, let's team up, and bring Qingguo along too." Zhou Rui nodded calmly.

Although he doesn't care what happens, he feels more comfortable with familiar people.

"By the way, did you send the money from selling the clubs the last two times to Hu Dongmu?"

Zhang Zhenbei was always reliable. After selling the wild ginseng, he immediately sent the news to Zhou Rui. Zhou Rui had to stay home to take care of the children and couldn't leave, so Gu Jiacheng ran errands for the rest of the money.

"I delivered them all long ago. I even helped him exchange the change for grain coupons and industrial vouchers. Now his family is considered a hidden big household in the village; nobody knows their background."

Gu Jiacheng grinned, the feeling of making a fortune in silence was even better than having the money in his pocket.

"Aren't you a big spender too? Why aren't you happy?" Zhou Rui teased him casually.

"Sigh... my mother locked them all in the closet." Gu Jiacheng's face fell instantly.

"They said that once I get married, all the money will be managed by my wife. Right now, I can't even find a ten-yuan note in my pocket. I only have a few cents or dimes of pocket money. It's not even enough to buy a pack of good cigarettes."

"So, I've lived this long, and even after getting married, I'm still not in charge of my own household?"

Zhou Rui laughed so hard his shoulders shook, showing no intention of sympathizing with him whatsoever.

"How dare you laugh at me!" Gu Jiacheng slapped him on the shoulder.

"The first time I was given 3,500 yuan, after which I spent it all and I had 3,467 yuan left. I deliberately hid 167 yuan and gave the rest to my mother to save."

"She searched me thoroughly, even prying open the soles of my shoes, and left me with not a single penny!"

He leaned closer, looking distressed. "Ruiwa, teach me how to hide some money from Mom without her finding out? How do you always manage to keep money on hand at home, even when you're trying to appease Qiuyue?"

Zhou Rui glanced at him sideways, puffing out his chest: "Me, hiding money? I'm the boss in my own family, and Qiu Yue never interferes with how the money is spent."

Gu Jiacheng's shoulders slumped instantly after hearing this, his face filled with the expression of "Why is my life so miserable?"

Seeing his expression, Zhou Rui stopped teasing him. They were friends who had gone hunting in the mountains together and stood up for each other against wolves; he couldn't bear to see him suffer.

"You were dumbfounded the first time," Zhou Rui whispered, offering him advice.

"You hid all your change, so it's impossible for you to have only large bills after you've bought things. That's how your mother found out."

"What do we do now?" Gu Jiacheng's eyes were almost brimming with tears.

"Ever since I failed to hide the money the first time, my mother has stopped believing me."

"Every time my mother and I went to the forest farm to get money and came home, she would search my body, even my underwear..."