To please others? It's better to please yourself.

Two months ago, another group of educated youth arrived here. After observing them for a few days, Xu Jianshe could tell that none of them were short of money.

One of the educated youths he was looking for was a man named Zhang Mingyang: he was well-off—after all, not everyone could afford to eat at a state-run restaurant every few days.

I wouldn't be a sucker—I'd rather spend the money at a state-run restaurant than buy meat to cook at the educated youth settlement. What if a bunch of people surrounded me asking if I'd give it to them?

Don't take advantage of others, but more importantly, keep your mouth shut and have a plan in mind.

The next morning, when Zhang Mingyang came alone to collect the farm tools, Xu Jianshe said to him, "Zhang, do you have time? I want to talk to you about something."

Zhang Mingyang looked at this "independent" educated youth and said, "What's the matter, Xu, the educated youth? If it's not too long, just say so; if it's too long, then wait until I finish work at noon."

"Okay, we'll talk about it when you get off work. You can go home a little later at noon."

After the lunch bell rings, everyone who's worked hard all morning rushes home for lunch. It's only because it's not the busy farming season that we have time to go home and rest; otherwise, who would have the time to run back and forth like this?

By the time Zhang Mingyang came to find him, Xu Jianshe had finished packing. "Zhang Zhiqing, if you don't mind, come sit at my place and say a few words." It's not safe outside; too many people are watching him.

Zhang Mingyang knew there was something she couldn't say in public: "Okay, Xu Zhiqing, let's hurry!"

They arrived at Xu Jianshe's house one after the other. Xu Jianshe opened the door, turned around, and bolted it shut. Zhang Mingyang's eyes flickered after seeing this.

When the two arrived at the main room, Xu Jianshe poured two bowls of water from a thermos. Zhang Mingyang didn't stand on ceremony and gulped them down in a few mouthfuls.

"Zhang Zhiqing, I won't waste any more words. I'm getting ready to go back to the city."

Zhang Mingyang looked at the other person in surprise: "Congratulations, Xu Zhiqing! What brings you here today?"

"When I first came here, this house was dilapidated and completely empty. My brother-in-law had the roof, the kang (heated brick bed), and the courtyard wall repaired. As soon as I left, the village committee took the empty house back. Didn't I just let someone else benefit from the money I spent?"

"So I wanted to ask Zhang, have you ever thought about moving out? What do you think of my house?"

Zhang Mingyang never expected such a good thing to be waiting for him, so what was there to hesitate about? He immediately said, "That's great! I've had enough of living at the educated youth settlement for the past two months." To be honest, this was the first time he had ever known what it meant to "find it hard to turn your life around."

"Then I'll show you around, and you can see if there's anything here that you can use. It'll all be charged. If you don't need it, I'll take it with me, since I paid for it myself. Do you want the work points? If not, I'll exchange them for grain and take them with me." Xu Jianshe gave the other party a heads-up beforehand to avoid any awkwardness between them later.

Zhang Mingyang said he understood, that no one's money comes easily, and that acquiring these things was not easy.

After looking around, Zhang Mingyang found that apart from Xu Jianshe's clothes and personal items like washbasins, everything else was useful to him. From large items like water tanks, tables, and boxes to small items like cutting boards and kitchen knives, everything was essential for daily life.

Moreover, he won't be able to return to the city for a short time; it will take at least two or three years.

With both parties willing and eager, they quickly reached an agreement on the price.

Xu Jianshe turned around, took out the rental agreement from the box, and took Zhang Mingyang to the brigade leader's house.

Captain Cao accepted the cigarette Xu Jianshe offered without saying anything. He then rewrote a rental agreement for Zhang Mingyang and charged him 20 yuan for four years' rent.

"Uncle Cao, could you please write another slip to transfer my work points to Zhang, the educated youth?"

Captain Cao took a deep drag, exhaled rings of smoke, then wrote out a transfer slip for the company points, stamped it with the company seal, and handed it to Zhang Mingyang.

Zhang Mingyang knew in his heart that he and Xu Jianshe were even. He put the two certificates away and walked out of the brigade headquarters.

"Young Xu, are you leaving?" Captain Cao asked the young man in front of him.

"Yes, please help me with the paperwork, Uncle. I'm so grateful for your help these past two years." Xu Jianshe thanked the other party for his care. Although it was because of his third sister's husband, he still benefited from it no matter what.

Knowing that he had relatives in the police force and that the brigade leader was looking out for him, the villagers were envious but dared not make a move. Even if someone wanted to scheme to marry him, they didn't dare to use force.

Captain Cao didn't waste any time and quickly issued the certificate. "Then hurry up, don't let this last hurdle cause any mistakes. Uncle's getting a little impatient!"

Xu Jianshe took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, placed it on the table, and turned to leave.

I spotted Zhang Mingyang standing under the big tree at a glance.

"When are you leaving?" Zhang Mingyang asked.

"Leave now, because things might change if we delay. I hope Zhang Zhiqing will keep this a secret for now. You can move in tonight." Xu Jianshe didn't want to stay a moment longer, afraid that something else might happen.

Although he'd only been in Caojiazhuang for two months, Zhang Mingyang had heard quite a bit about Xu Jianshe from others. He completely understood the other man's feelings. "Then get back to work. Have a safe trip!"

Xu Jianshe nodded gratefully and handed Zhang Mingyang both his regular keys and spare keys from his pocket. Upon seeing this, Zhang Mingyang's opinion of Xu Jianshe improved considerably.

It seems he should learn from Xu Zhiqing and be as cautious and thorough in his work from now on.

Xu Jianshe quickly returned home and packed up his remaining clothes, shoes, bed sheet, mosquito net, towel, washbasin, teacup, lunchbox, toothpaste, toothbrush and other personal belongings, which amounted to about half a sack.

Other necessities, such as clothes and quilts, were packed and sent back on the same day that Xu's mother's telegram was received.

Taking advantage of the fact that there were few people outside and the news hadn't spread, Xu Jianshe took a shortcut and ran all the way to the town. He went to the police station to handle the household registration transfer, then took a bus to the county, and then changed buses to the city.

It was already dark when he arrived at the train station. He bought a ticket for the 8 p.m. train and left that night. Only when the train left H city did he feel relieved.

He felt like a frightened bird, and the thought of it made him feel heartbroken. Whenever this happened, he would silently curse his eldest brother and his wife, wishing they could eat nothing but northwest winds and yellow sand every day!

……

曹庄

After Xu Jianshe left, Zhang Mingyang turned around and asked the team leader for an afternoon off.

When they arrived at the educated youth settlement at noon, everyone had already finished eating. Fortunately, a bowl of rice had been specially left for him in the pot. Zhang Mingyang didn't complain about the small amount; he picked it up, ate it in big mouthfuls, and then lay down on the bed to rest.

After everyone went to work in the afternoon, he packed his things and moved them to his newly rented house. Everyone carried their own food; there wasn't much to share. He'd just say hello when everyone came back in the evening!

Zhang Mingyang was filled with anticipation for his new life, thinking that he would be able to sleep in his own room that night.