Chapter 140: Female Educated Youth 10

The argument between the two was overheard by all the Sent-down Youth. Some couldn’t help themselves and burst out laughing.

Zhang Li was truly on the verge of tears this time. However, she had no ground to stand on if she spoke up. The other girl was just “kindly” offering comfort; it was her own fault for being ungrateful.

Ren Xin leaned in closer to her and nodded with absolute certainty. “It’s more than just a pickle jar. Isn’t this exactly the smell of stinky feet from fermenting sauerkraut? Comrade Zhang Li, you really need to pay attention to your personal hygiene. You’re undermining the unity among us Sent-down Youth. If everyone stops gathering together because of you in the future, how will you find opportunities to label people¹ with political crimes?”

With a loud wail, Zhang Li ran out crying.

One of the male Sent-down Youth looked around at the group before chasing after her. Ren Xin thought for a moment: what was that guy’s name again?

Book Spirit Number One: “Li Wei!”

Ren Xin realized that using the Book Spirit as a notepad was becoming quite convenient!

Book Spirit Number One: “…” It really had a big mouth. Why did it bother helping this old mountain ginseng!

Ren Xin was displeased. “You can call me wild, but you can’t call me old. I don’t like hearing that! Haven’t you ever heard of an ‘Atmospheric Beauty’ ginseng? One toss of my head and I’ll charm the life out of you!”

Book Spirit Number One: “…” Please, spare me your divine powers!

The female Sent-down Youth’s room was cramped, filled with beds and a chaotic mess of piled clothes, shoes, and trash. It was truly filthy and disorganized.

Among the veteran Sent-down Youth, a girl named Chen Fanghua said apologetically, “We have to head out to the beach so early in the morning to forage that we didn’t have time to tidy up the room. We’ll do it right now. Just wait a moment!”

Fan Zhili, the designated mood-maker, stepped up. “No worries! When I’m at home, my room is even messier than this. My mom is always nagging me. Besides, you have to work in the fields, so it’s completely understandable.”

Ren Xin couldn’t understand it. This didn’t look like the result of just one day without cleaning. She wanted to sneak away and leave this place.

Book Spirit Number One: “Stop right there. You are a ginseng with a grudge to settle, have you forgotten?”

“That little grudge can be settled whenever it’s convenient. It’s not worth making myself suffer for it.”

No matter how much Book Spirit Number One tried to persuade her, Ren Xin simply wouldn’t listen. Finally, it gave up. Fine, let her do whatever she wanted.

Unexpectedly, Ren Xin suddenly said quite sensibly, “I think you’re right! Then I won’t leave.”

Book Spirit Number One: “…” You make me sick!

Ren Xin’s bed was located right by the door. Fine, at least it was ventilated.

Where there are many women, there are many arguments. Sure enough, when Zhang Li returned and saw that her bed had been assigned to the innermost corner, she was unhappy.

“Why do I have to live here? I don’t accept this.”

Ren Xin said languidly, “You are sabotaging…”

Zhang Li shut her mouth instantly. She never expected that her habit of labeling others—a tactic that had never failed her before—would become a boomerang that struck her right in the bullseye.

Everyone worked as quietly as mice. There were quite a few female Sent-down Youth, but the male side was much more spacious. They had already introduced themselves and were hitting it off like brothers.

Chen Jianbin came over excitedly to find Fan Zhili and the others. “Let’s go! Since there’s nothing to do, let’s go see the ocean.”

This suggestion was met with approval from all the new Sent-down Youth, except for Ren Xin.

Fan Zhili asked Ren Xin, “Aren’t you going? That’s the ocean! I’ve never seen it before.”

Ren Xin shook her head. “Right now, I just want to take a bath and unpack my luggage. You guys go have fun.”

“Alright then. I’ll need a bath after I’m done playing too, otherwise, I’ll end up smelling like a pickle jar.”

Zhang Li: “…” Who exactly was she stabbing in the back?

Once the others had left, Ren Xin noticed that the veteran youths, Chen Fanghua and Lyu Zhaodi², had also gone along. This gave her the perfect opportunity to take out her things.

She rummaged and pulled things out: bedsheets and quilt covers were standard, a thermos and a water cup were also needed, then toiletries, a change of clothes, food…

The straw mat needed to be replaced, but who could she find to get a new one?

When in doubt, find the Auntie. The Auntie was her only connection in this village.

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Translator’s Notes

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1. label people: A common practice during the Cultural Revolution where individuals were assigned political ‘labels’ (such as ‘counter-revolutionary’ or ‘rightist’), often leading to severe social and physical persecution. ↩
2. Lyu Zhaodi: The name ‘Zhaodi’ (招弟) literally means ‘beckon a younger brother,’ a common name given to girls in traditional families that favored sons, expressing the hope that the next child would be male. ↩