Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

Zhou Chen and Chen Dabiao returned because the woman who was arrested with them was the daughter of the deputy director of the town's textile factory. Respect for the deputy director had to be given, and after friendly negotiations, the commune ultimately reprimanded them for indecent behavior, fined each of them twenty yuan, and sent them home.

When the two were brought back by their families, they ran into Zhou Rui, who was chatting in the village. Zhou Chen's sinister gaze was like a knife, seemingly intent on piercing Zhou Rui. A cold smile crept onto Zhou Rui's lips. With Zhou Chen's brain, it was nothing but impotent rage. A look? Could a look kill someone?

The busy farming season has begun, starting with the potato harvest. The entire Jiaolongxia Village is like a machine that has been plugged back in, rumbling and starting to run. Zhou Rui carries small rice cakes to work every day, along with a small bed, which he can easily spot in the field.

"Ruiwa, you brought Little Rice Cake to work again?"

"Yes, ma'am. There are no adults at home, and my younger siblings have gone to cut pig feed, so I had to bring them along."

"You made a really good little basket. Covering it with a mosquito net keeps out the wind and mosquitoes. How did you come up with that idea?"

"It wasn't my idea. I saw people from the city making it in town, and I came back to learn how to make it."

"You've raised the child so well, even better than children with parents. You've put in so much effort."

"Hmm."

He also ran into his grandparents and his uncle's family. However, Zhou Rui simply greeted them briefly and didn't linger. The villagers didn't gossip; they all knew why Zhou Rui was there. The intense farm work had numbed them, and his uncle's family didn't have the energy to scheme or plot anything, so things remained relatively calm.

After digging up potatoes, it's time to harvest corn, soybeans, and wheat; there's absolutely no time for rest.

"Ruiwa, come here for a second," Zhao Youzhi shouted loudly from the edge of the field.

Zhou Rui put down his sickle and walked over: "Grandpa Zhao, what's the matter?"

"Well, the harvest has been going on for almost twenty days without a break. The villagers are exhausted and can't keep up. We were thinking of sending you up the mountain to get some meat to help them recover and boost their morale."

Zhao Youzhi was deeply worried. The two busy farming seasons each year were arduous tasks, requiring him to both educate the villagers and ensure their physical health.

"Aren't there hunters in the village? Weren't you assigned any tasks?"

"Sigh... It's all arranged. I don't know if it's just bad luck or what, but we haven't made much of a profit each day. You saw it this week too, there's barely any oil in that big pot at the village entrance. Nearly four hundred people in the village, excluding the elderly and children, are working, and on average, each person doesn't even get a single piece of meat."

"Everyone looks exhausted, and this will continue for another month. I'm so worried!" Zhao Youzhi seemed genuinely worried; his brows were so furrowed that it looked like he could trap a mosquito between them.

"I really don't know. I always cook at home and don't go to the village entrance to buy vegetables." Zhou Rui had eaten the village's big pot dishes before, but he didn't like them because they didn't want to add too much oil and spices.

"Okay, I'll go then. But that means no one will take care of my little Niangao, and Pingwa and An'an will have to stay home to take care of the kids." Zhou Rui also took the opportunity to make a condition in exchange for his younger siblings being able to rest at home and not have to get up early and come home late every day.

"Your situation is special, so I've approved it. But let me make this clear beforehand: this is a brigade-level task, so the work points won't be as high as last time. Five work points for a pound of meat—that's the price for hunters in the village." Zhao Youzhi took a puff of his cigarette. "Also, this time I'll pick a few people from the militia team for you to lead. Whether it's hunting or carrying things, having more people is always better."

Zhou Rui looked up and pondered.

"Don't worry. I only picked honest people, they won't hold you back." Zhao Youzhi thought Zhou Rui had ulterior motives, so he quickly assured him.

"Okay. I'll go get to work now. I'll organize the equipment tonight, and I'll head up the mountain tomorrow morning." Zhou Rui turned to go back to the fields to finish his work for the day.

Zhao Youzhi grabbed Zhou Rui's arm: "Don't go. I've sent all the militiamen I've selected to the brigade headquarters. Go and talk to them about the things to do on the mountain, so they can be prepared."

Zhou Rui blinked. It seemed the village chief was prepared and certain he would agree to take people up the mountain.

Zhou Rui carried Xiao Nian Gao on his back and a rattan crib in his hand as he walked into the brigade headquarters. There were three people sitting in the headquarters: a middle-aged man and two young men.

The middle-aged man was Zhao Changshan, the militia captain, probably over forty, I'm not sure. Anyway, he was of the same generation as Uncle Changhai from the health clinic. Liu Qingguo was more familiar with him, since he was in the same group as Zhou Rui, just twenty years old this year, and greeted Zhou Rui as he came in. There was also a man named Chen Xueqin, whom I hadn't met before, but whose face I recognized; he was also in his early twenties.

Zhou Rui glanced at it and saw that each of the four major surnames in Jiaolong Gorge had one, which was quite neat.

"Let him lead the team, he's not even fully grown yet. If you ask me, it would be better for the captain to lead the team," Chen Xueqin muttered under his breath.

Zhou Rui listened but didn't say anything, only glancing at Zhao Youzhi. "This is the honest man you were talking about."

Village Chief Zhao was a little embarrassed and glared at Chen Xueqin: "Alright. Didn't we agree when we were choosing people that you would follow orders? I've given you a leader, so you have to listen to him. Otherwise, you can quit now to avoid causing trouble and dragging us down on the mountain."

Seeing that Chen Xueqin had offended the village chief, Zhao Changshan quickly tried to smooth things over: "Village chief, please don't take offense. Chen Xueqin was just talking nonsense. He's quick and efficient, and he's a good shot. He definitely won't be a burden."

"Alright, since you're vouching for him, then I'll just ask you: if he causes trouble up the mountain, then I'll hold you accountable." Zhao Youzhi quickly put Zhao Changshan on the defensive, so with the militia captain keeping him in check, Chen Xueqin couldn't get out of trouble.

Zhou Rui finally understood: Chen Xueqin clearly looked down on him. Zhao Changshan might not think highly of him either, but being older, he kept his thoughts to himself. Only Liu Qingguo from their third group treated him relatively well. After all, they were in the same group, familiar with each other, and knew that Zhou Rui had given them ideas during the spring plowing and burning season, showing his intelligence.

The village chief gestured for him to come forward and say a few words.

Zhou Rui was not intimidated. He believed that if he accepted the task, he had to do it well, otherwise he would rather not have accepted it at all.

"Since the village chief appointed me as the leader, let me say a few words. Everyone here is older than me, and Uncle Changshan is an elder, so I'll speak frankly. The leader is the head of the team. Once we're in the mountains, everyone listens to the leader, even if he's wrong."

"We can discuss things afterward, but when orders are given, we must carry them out resolutely, just like the militia on a mission. If you think I'm not suitable to be the leader, you'll have to wait until after we come down the mountain this time."

Zhou Rui glanced at everyone, and seeing that no one had any objections, he continued.

"Finally, everyone should prepare as usual for militia training. Also, bring a warmer coat; we might not be able to come back tomorrow, and it's cold in the mountains, so don't catch a cold. Meet at my house at five o'clock tomorrow morning. That's all, dismissed."

Zhou Rui assigned tasks with swift and decisive action, just like in his previous life.