Song Wei brought the fish over to Li Juan; cooking wasn't her strong suit, so it was natural to seek out her kitchen-savvy friend for help.
Li Juan's eyes lit up with joy, squinting in delight at the prospect. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to cook up a rare treat like this with such minimal effort?
"Hey, do you know how to make mushroom sauce?" Song Wei asked.
"Of course!" Li Juan responded without hesitation. "I learned it from Auntie in the village a few years back. I even have a jar left; want to try it?"
Song Wei nodded eagerly. She'd definitely like to try it.
"Do you think you could make all my mushrooms into sauce in two days?"
"That much? Sure, as long as we have the ingredients, we could do it in a day. But it'll need to cool completely before it can be jarred."
Song Wei nodded. "Great, I'll leave my mushrooms with you, then."
While Li Juan cooked, Song Wei grabbed a stick and went to knock down pinecones from the trees, intending to shell the nuts and roast them, along with some chestnuts she'd found. She planned to prepare some mushroom sauce in large jars and gather more mountain goods to send to her "big brother" soon.
From her memories, she knew her military brother, though rarely home, had always sent money to make sure his little sister was well provided for. He even sent thoughtful gifts from time to time. Sadly, most of those gifts had ended up with her ungrateful father, who'd given them to his new wife's daughter instead.
Song Wei intended to write her brother a letter, explaining her life in the countryside and the real situation with their father's new family, so he wouldn't keep sending them money in ignorance.
In her past life, Song Wei had been an orphan, so discovering she had a brother in this life was like finding an unexpected treasure. Though it felt a bit like borrowing someone else's luck, she couldn't help but want to protect this newfound family connection.
She also had an uncle, a scientist, who had once used his connections to get her brother his spot in the military. But due to political issues, her uncle was denounced for having spent time abroad and had been sent to a reeducation camp two years prior. She didn't know where exactly, nor if her brother had any news on his whereabouts.
"Song Wei! Dinner's ready!"
After gathering pine nuts, Song Wei heard Li Juan calling her back.
Apparently, her harsh words to their neighbors yesterday had had some effect, as no one dared wander near them today. They even managed to carry the freshly-cooked fish into their room without attracting attention, allowing them to enjoy their meal in peace.
The two dug into the deliciously tender fish. Li Juan quickly felt full, while Song Wei, almost as if making up for lost time, devoured the rest along with a few sweet potato buns. Her eating wasn't rushed or messy, but her pace was fast, and she left her plate spotlessly clean.
Song Wei's pretty face and graceful eating style were pleasant to watch, though her hearty appetite made Li Juan feel full just by looking at her.
"Song Wei, do you have enough food?" Li Juan finally asked, a bit worried.
When the new residents had arrived, each of them had received 20 pounds of coarse grain and 30 pounds of sweet potatoes — enough for about a month. But at Song Wei's rate, it looked like her rations would be gone in ten days, at most.
However, Song Wei seemed unbothered. "My brother will send more food for me soon," she replied calmly.
In truth, she was lying; her plan was to go to the county in a few days, send her brother a package, and then see if she could buy food on the black market.
Li Juan took her word for it, feeling more envious than concerned — how lucky Song Wei was to have such a thoughtful brother.
After the meal, the two got to work washing the mushrooms when the team leader stopped by. Both Song Wei and Li Juan knew he was here about the plan they had discussed with him yesterday, and their eyes sparkled with anticipation.
They immediately went over, looking at him expectantly like two eager puppies.
The team leader cleared his throat, giving them a wary glance as he tapped his tobacco pipe. "Alright, I discussed it with the other team leaders. It's possible, but we still need to ask the other Zhiqing what they think."
Song Wei nearly blurted out that the others wouldn't mind, but she caught herself and instead called everyone together.
In total, there were twelve youths at the commune: seven men and five women. Song Wei, Bai Yunjiao, Gao Le, and Zhao Su were the new arrivals, while the others were older residents.
Once the team leader explained the proposal, everyone turned to look at Song Wei and Li Juan.
Xu Laidi sneered, "Some people think their little patch of vegetables is some kind of treasure, hoarding it like gold. As if anyone actually wants their stuff!"
Song Wei rolled her eyes. "If you don't want it, then don't eat it."
The team leader's face turned serious. "I'm here to hear your opinions, not to break up fights."
Gao Le shrugged. "I'm fine with it. Honestly, it sounds good to me."
Zhao Su nodded in agreement. "I'm on board too." Anyway, he would never grow his own vegetables; it was way too much work.
Even now, he was distracted by his own problems, thinking that if he didn't find a cooking partner soon, he'd go crazy eating watery gruel.
Luo Yecheng frowned."This is not good. It is not conducive to the unity of the Zhiqing."
Song Wei shot back, "And yesterday's behavior was, in your opinion?"
Luo Yecheng was left speechless.
"That was just a one-time thing."
"Oh, so you can guarantee that Xu Laidi or anyone else won't try to steal vegetables from Li Juan in the future? Or that they'll actually grow their own?"
He couldn't guarantee anything.
Apart from Luo Yecheng and one other guy who had a crush on Bai Yunjiao, the rest of the group voted in favor of the plan. Yesterday's argument had left an impression, and most were happy to have their own small vegetable patch; at least this way, they could avoid squabbles over food.
With the majority in agreement, the decision was made. The team leader laid out a few rules.
"Each of you is allowed a plot behind your room, no larger than three square meters. Whether you put up a fence is up to you."
Song Wei and Li Juan happily agreed, thanking him profusely.
Luo Yecheng and Xu Laidi, on the other hand, looked less than thrilled. But with the decision made, they forced smiles as they bid the village leader goodbye. The moment he was out of sight, their expressions turned sour again, with Xu Laidi glaring resentfully at Song Wei and Li Juan.
Song Wei raised an eyebrow. "What's the problem? Want to fight?"
Xu Laidi backed down immediately, grumbling to herself. It wasn't fair that Song Wei, with her soft appearance, was still so strong.
Too excited to sit still, Li Juan followed Song Wei to her room, chattering non-stop about how they'd arrange their little garden.
"Song Wei, what do you plan to plant? Maybe we should trade with some village aunties for radish and cabbage seeds. Winter's coming, so it's pretty much all we can grow."
"Maybe not just those," Song Wei replied thoughtfully. A sudden idea struck her. "We could get some other seeds too."
Li Juan shook her head knowingly. "Trust me, those are the only crops that'll survive this early frost. Nothing else will grow."
Song Wei didn't argue, though she wasn't convinced. She planned to experiment a little.
"I'll get some extra seeds, just in case. If they don't grow now, I'll save them for spring planting."
"You're right," Li Juan agreed, "I have some extra vegetable seeds. I'll share some with you."
They weren't the only ones discussing this; the others were planning too.
"Are you planning to grow veggies?" Gao Le asked, eyeing his friend.
His look said it all: great, you plant them, and I'll just help myself when I need some.
Zhao Su, rolling his eyes, replied with a deadpan look, "Do I look like someone who can grow veggies? That's two points a day for you."
Gao Le scoffed, "Like you're working any harder for the same two points."
Meanwhile, the guy who had taken to following Bai Yunjiao around puffed his chest out, eager to please. "Bai, just leave your garden to me. I'll plant everything for you!"
Bai Yunjiao looked at him with a soft, appreciative gaze. "Thank you, Comrade Ma. You're such a kind person," she said sweetly.
Yet the moment she turned away, her expression shifted with barely concealed disdain. What a fool. He had been here for so long and was only earning so few work points every day, yet he was still helping me. She barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. But if he was willing to be a sucker, she wasn't about to turn him down.
Meanwhile, Xu Laidi silently cursed Song Wei and Li Juan under her breath, but eventually, she shuffled over to the backyard to plan out her own small plot. Like it or not, she didn't want to be left without any veggies.
The same went for three of the other guys.
Li Juan, meanwhile, came outside under the moonlight to start planning her own plot. She figured she'd follow Song Wei's advice and start chopping bamboo the next day to build a fence around her garden. Knowing Xu Laidi, it wouldn't be long before she tried sneaking veggies again.
Seeing Li Juan, Xu Laidi let out a huff, but Li Juan ignored her completely.
The next day, Song Wei woke to the sound of the village's work bell. As she went outside, she noticed Luo Yecheng chatting with Liu Linlin.
Without hesitation, she walked straight over.
"Comrade Luo, you're getting married next month, right?"
Hearing her mention his upcoming marriage, Luo Yecheng assumed Song Wei was finally feeling jealous and remorseful. He'd thought it was only a matter of time before she came around.
Beside him, though, Liu Linlin's face darkened, her eyes clouding with disappointment. She had arrived in the countryside on the same train as Luo Yecheng and had immediately been charmed by his bookish elegance. When they'd both been assigned to the same commune, she'd thought it was fate. But instead of her, he had chosen to marry some farm girl. She bitterly blamed Jiang Xiaowan, thinking she'd forced herself on him, spreading rumors until Luo Yecheng had no choice but to marry her.
If Jiang Xiaowan didn't have a bunch of brothers and a father who was the village secretary, Liu Linlin would have stormed to her house ages ago.
"Song Wei, you know how I—" Luo Yecheng began, trying to explain.
But Song Wei cut him off, her voice icy. "Quit flattering yourself. It's been days—where are my ration tickets?"
Luo Yecheng's words died in his throat. He looked embarrassed, having assumed her demands were just an empty, jealous threat.
"Song Wei, let's not act rashly. We can talk this out," he implored. But he had no way of producing those tickets—they were long gone, especially the bicycle ticket he'd sent home, hoping his family could use it to get him a job in the city.
But jobs were scarce, and even with the bicycle ticket, securing a way back to the city was proving impossible. He'd given away the ticket and gained nothing in return. Now here she was, demanding it back, and he had no way to fulfill her request.
Song Wei crossed her arms, tapping a finger thoughtfully against her chin. "Can't give it back? Then I suppose I'll just go to your future father-in-law during the wedding and see if he'll help pay me back. And until you pay up, stay out of my sight, or I might just slap you."
After threatening Luo Yecheng, Song Wei turned on her heel and went off to work.
But Liu Linlin rushed in front of her, stopping her. "Comrade Song, don't you think you're going too far? You gave those things to him willingly, and now you're taking them back? Is that what a person of integrity does?"
Liu Linlin stepped closer, head tilted back to appear more intimidating, but Song Wei, who was slightly taller, just rolled her eyes. Extending a finger, she pressed it to Liu Linlin's forehead, pushing her back a step.
"Stand back. I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea and thinking we have something inappropriate going on here."
Gao Le and Zhao Su, who had just walked out, choked with laughter.
Cough, cough… This girl really had no filter.
Liu Linlin, though, didn't understand Song Wei's dig, even as she took a few steps back in confusion.
Song Wei continued, "Tell me, what's my relationship with Luo Yecheng?"
Without thinking, Liu Linlin replied, "You two have nothing to do with each other!"
"Exactly," Song Wei said, crossing her arms. "So, if there's no relationship, why'd he feel entitled to accept my tickets?"
Turning to Gao Le and Zhao Su, who were openly eavesdropping, she asked, "If I offered you my ration tickets, would you take them?"
They both shook their heads in unison.
Gao Le straightened, pride in his voice. "I'd never accept a girl's tickets. That'd be shameless."
Zhao Su nodded in agreement. "My mom always says if a girl gives you something for no reason, she probably wants something from you. And if I can't give her what she wants, I'd better not take it in the first place."
Song Wei shot them an approving look, making the two grin with pride.
Luo Yecheng, however, looked like he'd swallowed something sour.
"Did you hear that?" Song Wei asked Liu Linlin. "I gave him those tickets because I thought he liked me too. If he didn't, then why would he accept them?"
Song Wei's usual gentle demeanor vanished, replaced with a queenly authority as she brushed past Liu Linlin's outstretched hand.
"Wait up, Song Wei! Let's head to work together!" Gao Le and Zhao Su called, following her with renewed admiration.
Left behind, Liu Linlin stood in shock, her thoughts spinning. One part of her agreed with Song Wei, while another voice insisted Luo Yecheng must have had no choice.
"Brother Luo…" she murmured, but Luo Yecheng ignored her, too annoyed to respond. He found himself irritated by how easily Liu Linlin had been cornered by Song Wei's arguments. Where was the fire he'd expect from her?
"We should go to work," he said curtly, leaving her to trail behind, torn between her frustration and a creeping sense that Song Wei might have a point.
No, she told herself, shaking her head. Luo Yecheng's a good man. He must have accepted her help out of sheer necessity. He'd never use someone like that.
Convincing herself, Liu Linlin hurried after him, calling out, "Wait for me, Comrade Luo!"
It seemed that Song Wei's lively energy—whether skillfully shelling corn or arguing with the old women over gossip—had given everyone the impression that she was anything but sick. So this time, even with her head wrapped in bandages, the team leader didn't let her sit and do easy work with the grannies.
"Song Zhiqing, your head's healed up, right?"
Song Wei blinked innocently. Should she nod or shake her head?
"Good. Then go join the others in the fields. You'll be helping plant cabbage seedlings today." The team leader left no room for discussion.
Song Wei sighed, "Oh, alright."
Oh well, work is work.
Planting required two people: one to dig the holes, the other to place the seedlings. For every two acres planted, each pair earned ten work points. To earn the maximum points, they'd have to plant four acres in one day.
Since it was Song Wei's first time planting, the team leader paired her with someone experienced. But with her delicate looks and fair skin, it was clear that nobody wanted to pair up with her, fearing her inexperience would cost them precious points.
When the leader pointed to two women to partner with her, they both flat-out refused. Everyone else kept their distance, like she had the plague.
Song Wei: smiling on the
The team leader sighed, noting her strange resilience, and finally paired her with Gao Le, another Zhiqing (educated youth). "You two can work together."
He quickly assigned them a local woman to show them the ropes, then made a quick exit.
The Ping'an Brigade was split into four squads, with the educated youths scattered across each. In Song Wei's third squad, there were three educated youths in total. Besides her and Gao Le, there was an older youth who, while not quite up to local standards, still earned six or seven points a day.
Gao Le, on the other hand, was a bit of a disappointment. Tall and broad-shouldered, he looked every bit capable. But neither he nor his friend Zhao Su had lived up to expectations.
At first, the third squad's leader had been thrilled to get Gao Le. Now he wished he could go back and slap himself for ever being so excited. Working with Gao Le was like dragging a ball of chain.
Not only was Gao Le useless, but he dragged everyone else down. They'd tried talking, yelling, even threatening him, but nothing worked. He was as slow as ever, acting as if the tiniest bit of work might kill him. Worse, whenever someone got frustrated with him, he'd tear up like he was the victim.
Now that Gao Le had been paired with Song Wei, the others were visibly relieved. They could finally relax without worrying about being stuck with him. "Good luck out there, Song and Gao Zhiqing!" they called out, barely hiding their grins.
Song Wei and Gao Le exchanged uneasy glances.
"You've done this before, right?" Song Wei asked, eyeing him doubtfully.
Seeing the happy faces of the villagers, Song Wei had a sinking feeling.
Gao Le, looking sheepish, replied, "A little."
He even held up his fingers to indicate just a little bit.
Song Wei hadn't yet realized how bad it was going to be. After watching the woman's demonstration, she thought, How hard could it be? Gao Le, eager to help, picked up a hoe to start digging the holes, while Song Wei followed with the seedlings.
But no sooner had Gao Le raised the hoe than—
"Whoa, almost took my foot off!" Gao Le gasped, patting his chest in relief as the hoe barely missed his toes.
Song Wei: speechless
Yep, karma had found her in the worst possible way.
Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Didn't you say you could do this?"
Gao Le shrugged sheepishly. "I said a little."
To emphasize, he held up his fingers, barely spaced apart.
Song Wei wanted to roll her eyes. He really wasn't exaggerating.
"Move over. I'll do it."
Gao Le obediently handed her the hoe.
"So, how many work points do you manage in a day?"
Puffing up proudly, Gao Le held up two fingers. "I earn two! All by myself!"
Song Wei's eyebrow twitched. "Fantastic."
With that, the others finally saw what "don't judge a book by its cover" really meant.
Song Wei took over the hoe with surprising speed and strength, quickly making her way down the row. By the time Gao Le had planted a single seedling, she'd already moved a good five meters ahead.
Gao Le's jaw nearly hit the ground. "Slow down, Song Zhiqing!"
You're making me look like a weakling, he thought miserably.
Song Wei: Why isn't this a solo job? Now, thanks to her "helpful" partner, it would take forever. She'd planned to go to the mountains, maybe hunt, or visit the black market to exchange goods for her brother.
Helping Gao Le was costing her big time.
But leaving him to struggle on his own would only drag things out longer, and the brigade had a rule: everyone had to finish before anyone could leave. Glaring at him with increasing intensity, Song Wei gripped the hoe.
Gao Le shivered under her look. "Uh… if you need me to do something, just say it."
He forced a fawning grin, worried she might accidentally clobber him with the hoe.
"Get moving. The faster we're done, the sooner I can go to the mountains."
Gao Le looked miserable. "I'm trying, but my body just won't keep up."
"Maybe you don't need that body," she said coolly.
"C'mon, Song Zhiqing! Let's be reasonable. I'll talk to the leader—how about I just take two work points, and you get the rest?"
Seeing that he knew when to compromise, Song Wei gave a dignified nod.
Gao Le scurried off to ask, only to return a moment later, looking dejected.
"Leader said no."
Song Wei: sigh
Under her increasingly dangerous stare, Gao Le suddenly pulled a ticket from his pocket, his survival instincts kicking in.
"Song Zhiqing… want a meat coupon?"
She looked down. It was a ten-pound nationwide pork ticket.
In this era of scarce resources, pork was a luxury that people scrambled to buy whenever it became available. And to purchase it, you needed a meat ticket, which she didn't have.
Meat tickets were rare treasures. City workers had a few ways to get them, but for rural people, they were almost unattainable. Some villagers might get only one meat coupon a year. Rural folks did have one advantage, though—living near the mountains or raising chickens at home meant they had other sources of protein.
Song Wei, casting a quick look around, cleared her throat and swiftly slipped the meat ticket from Gao Le's hand.
"Are you sure about this? Even if I do all your work, it's not worth a meat coupon."
Gao Le rubbed his hands, eyes filled with hope. "Well, actually… I was wondering if you could help me out for a few more days. Winter's coming, and my buddy and I need to gather firewood, but…"
He wore a pitiful expression. "We… we can't carry it."
He couldn't have made his uselessness more obvious.
"Wait—so money isn't an issue for you?" Song Wei raised an eyebrow.
Gao Le shook his head quickly. "My friend and I were sent down here because we just sat around at home, annoying our families. So they shipped us out together, but our families still send us plenty of stuff every month."
So, even though Gao Le and Zhao Su barely earned two work points a day, they didn't worry. While the older villagers frowned upon these two young men for their lack of work ethic, Gao Le and Zhao Su were perfectly content to put up with the scorn.
Song Wei guessed that their families must have had their reasons for sending these two pampered boys to the countryside, though neither seemed to realize it.
"Since money isn't an issue, I'll give you a tip. Try hiring the village kids to bring you firewood, and just pay them by the bundle," Song Wei suggested.
Gao Le's eyes lit up. "Why didn't I think of that?"
"Just pay a kid about one mao per bundle if it's around ten pounds," she advised.
"Only one mao?" Gao Le asked in surprise.
Without replying, Song Wei turned back to her task. In the sunlight, her pale skin almost glowed, giving her a delicate appearance, but she wielded the hoe with surprising strength and skill.
Nearby, the villagers couldn't believe their eyes.
"Wait… is that really Song Zhiqing?"
They were starting to wonder if their eyes were playing tricks on them.
"I think so?"
Just then, Song Wei came over, beaming at the aunts and greeting them cheerfully.
"Song Zhiqing, how are you so fast?" one of the women asked.
"Oh, I'm strong! Just one good swing, and the soil is ready," Song Wei replied easily.
Her skills weren't just in brute force—her endurance was exceptional, too. Even her frail-looking frame didn't hold her back.
"Alright, I'll get back to work," she said with a wave, moving on and leaving the others in stunned silence.
The aunts looked at each other, dumbfounded.
Who knew she'd be this capable?
Gao Le trailed behind, grinning goofily.
"Gao Zhiqing, aren't you going to hurry up and catch her?" someone teased him.
The villagers who had turned down the chance to pair with Song Wei were starting to regret it. She might have seemed weak, but she'd proven them all wrong with her speed and strength.
After finishing one acre, Song Wei was still going strong and ran back to help Gao Le plant seedlings.
With her handling most of the work, Gao Le was left doing the bare minimum, which was just tossing the seedlings into the holes.
Unlike digging, planting required constant squatting, which wore on her lower back. They had only committed to planting one acre, so the job didn't take too long, though they added another half-acre to earn a full five work points.
The scorekeeper: speechless
For Gao Le, this was the first time he'd finished work so quickly. He practically strutted around, proud as a rooster. Meanwhile, Song Wei hurried off to the mountains, and Gao Le decided to leave the hard work to others. With Song Wei's advice in mind, he strolled off with his hands behind his back to find his friend.
"Zhao Su! Brother, I'm here!" he called cheerfully.
Zhao Su was baffled. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"
Zhao Su was exhausted, his shoulders slumped as he planted seedlings. His partner—a seasoned village woman—looked at him with an expression bordering on despair.
"Zhao Zhiqing, pick up the pace! We're falling so far behind!"
She was on the brink of losing her precious work points and seemed ready to explode.
"I'm going as fast as I can," Zhao Su replied, nearly in tears. "Can't you go a little slower?"
The woman scowled at him. What a waste of good height and muscle!
Gao Le chuckled, enjoying his friend's misery. "Come on, Zhao Su! You're falling behind by a good eight meters!"
Zhao Su shot him a glare. "Mind your own business, Mr. Two-Points-a-Day."
With a smug grin, Gao Le said, "Not today. Today, I earned three points, and I'm done with my work."
"What?!"
Zhao Su was so shocked he practically yelled, drawing the attention of everyone around.
"You got three points and you're done?"
"No way!"
Knowing his friend well, Zhao Su could hardly believe it.
Gao Le puffed up with pride and whispered that Song Wei had done most of the work. "She's crazy strong."
The other educated youths had already picked up on this; they'd seen her hauling trees down the mountain and carrying loads that seemed way too heavy for her frail frame.
It's like some real-life 'delicate Lin Daiyu uproots a willow tree' situation, he thought.
"She's fast and even took care of my share of work," Gao Le added, amazed.
Zhao Su looked envious. "Do you think if I offered her some coupons, she'd work with me?"
Gao Le shrugged. "Probably not. I think she likes going into the mountains more."
Zhao Su glared at him with jealousy that was almost tangible.
"Zhao Zhiqing, are you going to work or not?" the woman snapped, seeing that Zhao Su had paused his planting again.
Under her fierce gaze, Zhao Su ducked his head and continued. "I… I want to go home…"
He was miserable, to say the least.
Meanwhile, Gao Le chuckled. "You have fun. I'm off to find some village kids to help us with the firewood."
Ignoring Zhao Su's resentful look, Gao Le slipped away, happy to leave his friend to fend for himself.
On her way back, Song Wei ran into Heidan. The little boy was carrying an oversized basket, stuffed to the brim with pigweed.
"Heidan."
Hearing her voice, Heidan's thin, dark face lit up, and his unusually bright eyes sparkled. He turned around but nearly toppled over from the weight of the load he was carrying. Song Wei quickly stepped forward and grabbed the basket, helping him steady himself.
Heidan didn't seem at all scared from nearly falling; instead, his eyes shone even brighter as he looked up at her. "Sister Song!"
Song Wei's expression turned serious. "What are you doing here? And why are you gathering so much pigweed?"
Heidan thought she was angry, and a look of panic crossed his face. "Sister Song, please don't be mad."
He was terrified—the only person who had ever shown him kindness was now upset with him. Song Wei softened her tone and crouched down to remove the basket from his back.
"I'm not mad at you," she assured him gently. "But you're too young to earn work points, aren't you? Who made you gather pigweed?"
In the Village, livestock was collectively raised, including the five pigs. Pigweed collection was usually assigned to young people who were just old enough to work but not ready for heavier tasks. Two loads of pigweed counted for one work point, but this job only required two people. Heidan was obviously too young for it.
Heidan pressed his lips together, about to answer, when a rough voice interrupted.
"Heidan! I told you to gather pigweed, not slack off. I'll teach you a lesson!" A teenage boy of about eighteen strode over, clutching a stick. He was followed by several other boys his age. Judging by their swagger and the smug way they carried themselves, it was clear they were young troublemakers from the village.
Heidan, his voice low but steady, said, "I already gathered enough pigweed."
He didn't want Sister Song to get caught up in his problems. "Sister Song, you should go."
But Lin Youfu, the ringleader, was already looking her up and down with a sleazy grin, whistling as he did. "Who's this city girl? Pretty cute."
Song Wei responded by pretending to gag, dry heaving dramatically. "Oh, sorry, I think my ears got contaminated. I feel sick." She grimaced, looking thoroughly disgusted. Does this guy actually think he's attractive? Seriously?
Lin Youfu and his buddies' faces darkened, the sneers fading from their faces.
"Hey, Youfu, I think she's one of the educated youth," one of them whispered.
Heidan anxiously stepped between Song Wei and the older boys. "I've gathered the pigweed already, cousin. You can just take it."
"Move it! And you, think you can insult me? I'll teach you a lesson today." He was already scheming. His mother had been arranging possible matches for him, but none were as pretty as this educated youth in front of him. He figured he'd take some liberties, and then ask his mother to arrange a marriage. Marrying a city girl would certainly be a huge status boost.
Lin Youfu assumed that Song Wei was an easy target, given her delicate appearance. But as he reached toward her, his hand was suddenly twisted back. In one swift motion, Song Wei snapped his fingers out of place.
"Aaaghhh!" He let out a shrill scream as she smiled sweetly.
"Let's be honest—you guys look downright pathetic," she said. "Greasy hair, cheap clothes… Honestly, you look like oily pigs let loose from the pen. Whose farm forgot to lock you in?"
Then, without warning, she gave him a hard slap that sent him spinning around and crashing to the ground. She shook her hand, looking mildly annoyed. "Wow, tough skin. My hand actually hurts."
She turned her sharp gaze toward the others. Her eyes, usually soft and charming, now sent shivers down their spines.
"Wh-what are you all scared of?" one of the boys stammered, trying to rally them. "It's one against four! We'll take her down!"
As the four of them charged, Heidan lunged forward and latched onto one of them, sinking his teeth into the boy's thigh.
"Argh!" The boy shrieked in pain.
Within less than a minute, five boys lay sprawled on the ground, groaning. Song Wei casually dumped Heidan's load of pigweed on top of them.
"Pathetic," she sneered. "You're old enough and still make a child do your work? What a bunch of weaklings."
She took Heidan's hand and walked away, not looking back.
"You're staying at my place tonight," she said, squeezing his small hand reassuringly.
If Heidan went home, she knew the Lin family would make his life miserable. She had no regrets about teaching them a lesson, but she felt responsible for protecting Heidan from any backlash.
The poor kid… stuck with such awful relatives.
Just then, she heard a low growl. She glanced down to see Heidan's face flush as his stomach grumbled.
"Hungry?"
He nodded, his small face turning red. "They didn't leave me anything to eat today."
Seeing him like this, Song Wei's heart ached. The Lin family really are heartless.
"Come on," she said, squeezing his hand. "Let's get you something to eat."
She had brought back two fish the previous day; one was still alive, though barely. That morning, she'd cleaned it and seasoned it. Now was the perfect time to cook it up.
"Do you know how to cook fish?"
She wasn't the best cook herself. Her dishes turned out edible, but taste? Depends entirely on luck.
Heidan shook his head. "I've never made fish, but I can cook. I can try."
So Song Wei led him back to her place, essentially recruiting him as her tiny kitchen helper while she took charge of the fire. She was generous with the oil, telling him to add more, so the fish turned out quite fragrant.
Fortunately, the others hadn't returned yet; otherwise, they'd have had something to say about the smell.
However, they weren't entirely alone.
Gao Le, drawn by the aroma, sheepishly knocked on Song Wei's door.
Song Wei opened it, eyeing him suspiciously. "What do you want?"
"Um… can I trade for some meat?"
He held up a small handful of dried noodles.
Song Wei shrugged. "Sure!"
The noodles would be enough for three meals. With the deal made, the three of them sat around the little table, digging into the meal.
Heidan's face glowed with happiness. This was the best meal he'd ever had! But perhaps out of habit from the Lin family's treatment, he mostly picked the vegetables from the fish soup.
Song Wei placed two large pieces of fish in his bowl. "Eat up, or that big brother over there will eat it all."
Gao Le was already wolfing down the fish, enjoying every bite. Heidan glanced at him nervously and, fearing his fish might indeed be taken, quickly took a few bites. Then, in a sweet gesture, he picked up a piece and offered it to Song Wei.
"Sister Song, you eat too," he said, then shot Gao Le a warning look. Don't you dare take Sister Song's food.
After eating an entire fish, Song Wei was still a bit hungry, though Heidan, holding his little belly, let out a satisfied burp.
His eyes sparkled as he looked at Song Wei, resolving firmly in his heart to stick with her no matter what—she was his best bet against ever going hungry.
Gao Le had also eaten his fill and was sprawled across a bamboo chair, making the delicate piece of furniture look almost comically small beneath him.
Meanwhile, Song Wei stirred a handful of noodles into the leftover fish soup—it was the provisions Gao Le had brought over to "share." She knew how to cook noodles, at least.
Heidan and Gao Le watched her intently as she ladled herself a big bowl of noodles and began eating. Unbothered by their stares, Song Wei continued to eat heartily.
"Do you guys want some too?" she asked casually.
Heidan shook his head. "I'm full already."
Gao Le, looking hopeful, asked, "Could I?"
Song Wei glanced at him with a deadpan expression. "No, I was just being polite."
Gao Le: "…"
Honesty at its finest.
Ignoring Gao Le's reaction, Song Wei continued to eat, her soft cheeks puffed out as they filled with noodles, adding a touch of cuteness to her already gentle appearance.
But…
For someone who looked so petite, it was surprising how much she could eat.
Gao Le's gaze drifted to her stomach, puzzled at how she managed to pack it all in.
Once she was finished, Song Wei didn't hesitate to shoo Gao Le away and prepared to head up the mountain.
"Wait, kid," Gao Le called out to Heidan, "let's make a deal?"
"I want you to bring me some dry firewood, and I'll pay you for it."
Heidan's eyes lit up, but he didn't agree immediately; instead, he asked how the deal would work.
"I'll pay you three cents for every ten-pound bundle of firewood you bring me," Gao Le offered.
Even dried firewood was heavy, and Heidan, scrawny as he was, would have no problem carrying a ten-pound bundle.
"Deal!" Heidan agreed quickly, eager not to let the opportunity slip.
"How much do you need?"
"As much as you can bring. My buddy and I both need it. You can ask a few of the other village kids for help, but don't go talking about this too openly, got it?"
Buying things under the table was one thing, but openly exchanging cash for goods wasn't acceptable.
Heidan nodded, his small face flushed with excitement. "Don't worry, I understand."
Though he didn't have many friends in the village, Heidan was clever. He could use this as a chance to build some alliances, so he wouldn't be all alone if he ever got bullied again.
He already began mentally sorting through which kids would be good to bring in, knowing he'd need to be smart about it and not just involve anyone.
Song Wei didn't interrupt his thoughts, simply leading him toward the mountain.
"Sister Song, do you like walnuts?" Heidan asked after a while.
"Are you talking about that walnut tree from the other day?"
They'd met for the first time under a walnut tree.
Heidan scratched his head. "No, not that one. That tree has hardly any walnuts left. This other place is farther away and a bit dangerous."
"How dangerous are we talking?" Song Wei asked.
"It's down by a steep cliffside."
"Then let's go!" Song Wei replied without hesitation.
Turning down a good thing would be foolish.
The area was indeed farther away, and fairly remote. Song Wei wondered how Heidan had even discovered it.
The trail was filled with thorny bushes and cockleburs. By the time they reached the destination, her clothes and hair were dotted with burrs.
Her two long braids were nearly covered in them, giving her the look of someone wearing a helmet made of cockleburs.
Pulling them off stung, and they left her hair a mess, frizzed by the prickly burrs.
She'd entered the mountain neat and fresh, but now she looked rather disheveled, with tangled hair and wrinkled clothes.
Noticing her state, Heidan stole a guilty glance her way. "Sorry, Sister Song. I forgot about the burrs."
With his short hair, Heidan hadn't had as much trouble with them. Song Wei, on the other hand, had long hair in two braids, making it a hassle to pull all the burrs out. All that brushing had been for nothing.
But when she looked up and saw the walnut trees below in the valley, she instantly forgot about her appearance.
Down in the valley, several walnut trees were visible, loaded with green-skinned walnuts, and there were likely plenty of old fallen nuts on the ground.
This was a treasure trove.
"No problem," she said with a grin. "Let's go gather some walnuts!"
Her eyes sparkled as she began looking for a way to get down into the valley.
The cliffside wasn't too steep, and there were enough footholds that she could easily climb down on her own.
But with Heidan there…
"I'll go down first, and you can follow behind me."
Heidan nodded in agreement. Being a village kid, he was surefooted and unafraid, even on mountain trails.
Gripping vines and branches along the way, they soon made it halfway down the cliff.
Song Wei was the first to reach the bottom, using a few rocks to jump down the last stretch.
She looked up and saw Heidan still coming down. "Don'tworry, I'll be here waiting for you."
Heidan nodded, continuing his careful descent.
But just as he reached for a clump of grass for balance, Song Wei noticed a small, bright-red cluster of berries near him, tucked into a crevice on the cliffside. Recognizing it, she called out, "Heidan, wait! To your left—that plant with the red berries—isn't that bone-setting herb?"
Heidan looked puzzled. "Bone-setting herb?"
"It's a medicinal plant," Song Wei explained, excited. "If you can grab it, it'll be really useful!"
Bone-setting herb was rare and valuable, especially in its natural form, with potent healing properties.
Due to radiation, edible plants were scarce in the wasteland, so learning about herbs and their benefits had been one of her favorite pastimes. It helped her dream about the pre-apocalyptic world, imagining flavors and scents she'd never get to experience.
Heidan glanced back at her, face brightening at the idea of helping her. "I'll try!"
The plant was wedged into a tricky crevice, and it took Heidan several tries to tug it free. But then he lost his footing and stumbled, tumbling down the last few feet.
Instinctively, Song Wei moved to catch him, stabilizing them both as she gripped a vine nearby. Heidan looked up, his face pale but amazed that he wasn't hurt.
"Are you okay?" she asked, patting his back gently.
Embarrassed, Heidan lowered his gaze. "Sorry, Song Jie… I couldn't grab the plant for you."
Song Wei's smile softened as she tousled his hair. "Hey, no worries! I can climb back up and get it. And you're safe, so that's what matters."
As Song Wei finished speaking, she climbed back up the slope and, with a gentle tug, pulled the bone-setting herb from its spot, then safely jumped back down.
She tucked the herb into her basket. "Come on, let's go gather some walnuts."
The walnut trees here were huge, and there was more than one.
The branches above were heavy with fist-sized green walnuts, resembling small green pears, while the ground beneath was littered with fallen ones, most with skins already darkened to a brownish-black.
These decayed shells came off easily, revealing the walnuts inside with just a little poke.
Ignoring the ones still hanging on the branches, they focused on the ground, busily picking through what had already fallen.
Before long, their hands were stained black.
Walnut husks release a white sap that darkens over time, leaving a stain that's nearly impossible to wash off.
Song Wei's once fair hands were now pitch black, but she didn't care. To her, food came before everything.
There were so many walnuts on the ground that after filling their baskets to the brim, they still couldn't pick up all of them.
"Lucky I brought a burlap sack," she said with a proud grin, pulling it out.
"We should gather as many as we can while we're here."
With her blackened hands, she cracked open a walnut with a single squeeze. The creamy white nut inside had an aroma that was impossible to resist.
The meat(walnut) looked like a little brain, and once peeled of its thin brown skin, it was tender, white, and inviting.
Song Wei popped one in her mouth, cheeks full as she chewed happily, then cracked one open for Heidan.
"Here, have some."
There was nothing better than snacking and gathering at the same time.
Heidan's dark face beamed with delight.
They continued munching and gathering, filling the burlap sack as they went.
After standing up and stretching, Song Wei turned her head to find several dark things coming towards her.
"Wild boars?!"
Two massive adult wild boars were heading their way, with a few smaller piglets in tow.
These boars were much bigger than the pigs the village kept.
Song Wei's eyes gleamed with a wolfish hunger as she eyed the boars.
The boars, meanwhile, seemed occupied with digging through the ground for fallen walnuts and hadn't noticed Song Wei and Heidan yet.
"What?" Heidan asked, looking in the direction of her gaze. When he spotted the wild boars drawing near, panic crossed his face.
"Sister Song, we have to run! Wild boars are fierce!"
While wild boars were herbivores, they had a reputation for aggression and would attack anything in their sight other than their natural predators.
Each of this adult boar easily weighed over three hundred pounds, larger than any pig in the village. With tusks that sharp, they could easily pierce a person.
Heidan had a lot of admiration for Sister Song's strength, but he wasn't so sure she could take down a wild boar barehanded, let alone two.
Abandoning the walnuts, he grabbed Song Wei's hand to pull her away, but after two steps, he found himself yanked back. Song Wei hadn't moved an inch, her eyes glued to the boars with a hungry, predatory look.
"Meat… so much meat…"
She looked downright fierce, her gaze practically devouring the wild boars.
Heidan was speechless.
"Sister Song we don't have any weapons. We can't fight wild boars like this!"
He was nearly in tears. Why was she more hungrier for meat than he was?
Ignoring his protests, Song Wei picked him up and hoisted him into a walnut tree.
"Hold tight and don't come down."
Then she bent down and grabbed a large, jagged rock.
The boars had finally noticed them. With piglets to protect, the mother boar huffed, scraping the ground with its thick hoof, and then charged at Song Wei.
Heidan clung to his branch, his dark face paling in fear. "Song Jie…"
"If you even think about climbing down, I'll spank your butt."
With that threat, Song Wei took the rock and hurled herself forward, eyes shining with excitement.
Meat, here she came!
THUNK!
The boar missed her, and Song Wei leaped up, slamming the rock down on the boar's skull.
The impact was loud, followed by a sickening crack. The ferocious boar, which had looked ready to trample her, collapsed to the ground with a pitiful squeal.
Watching from the tree, Heidan shivered, nearly losing his grip.
He tightened his hold, eyes wide with disbelief as he saw Song Wei—a girl who looked small and delicate—bring down a boar weighing several hundred pounds with one blow.
Standing over the hefty creature, she looked even more slight and petite. Yet there she was, straddling the boar, swinging the rock down repeatedly with a grin that was half-gleeful, half-maniacal.
The ground shook under the boars' struggles, but the look in Song Wei's eyes was as wild as a predator's.
Watching her, Heidan swallowed nervously, wondering if she might actually be scarier than the boars.
Eventually, both boars lay still. Song Wei was covered in blood spatters, the rock in her hand practically drenched. Her skin, apart from her hands, was pale, and the red stains on her face resembled dark cherry blossoms.
There was a disturbing beauty to it all.
But more than that, it looked like a crime scene.
With a quick swipe of her hand across her neck and face, she wiped away some of the blood, then pounced on the remaining piglets like a predator.
Each small boar weighed about forty pounds. Song Wei grabbed two by the hind legs, dragging them back to their spot while they squealed in protest.
"Heidan, get down here and find some sturdy vines!"
One of the piglets turned to bite at her, and Song Wei smacked it sharply.
"Stay still!"
The blow left the little boar dazed, collapsing in a dizzy heap.
The other tried to take advantage of her momentary distraction to escape, but a swift backhand left it sprawled out as well.
Rubbing her wrist, Song Wei muttered, "One smack and they finally behave."
Heidan climbed down with some vines, looking at the pitiful piglets. He was awed into silence.
"I think they're almost knocked out."
Sister Song was fierce—truly fierce.
But he was even more in awe now.
"Sister Song, that was amazing."
Admiration filled his voice. If he could be as strong as she was, he'd never worry about being hungry again.
Song Wei, covered in blood, flashed him a smile. "Heh, we're eating well tonight."
"But… how are we going to take it all back?"
Her grin faltered. Transporting it wouldn't be a problem—she had the strength and was determined to haul it all home.
But she couldn't afford to be seen bringing boar meat back. If the others in the village found out, they'd want a share, and sharing wasn't an option in her book.
Giving up even a bite wasn't on the table.
"We'll have to find a way to sell it."
There was no way to hide it all.
"Let's stash the walnuts here. I'll check if there's another way out of the valley where we can sneak the boars through."
Song Wei was in need of both meat and money. Worried that the smell of blood might attract other predators, she covered the bloodstains with soil.
While she could handle it, she didn't want to risk Heidan's safety.
She also smeared some mud over the wound on the boar's head before hauling the two smaller boars on her back and dragging one of the larger boars by its hind leg. Together, they weighed close to half a ton, and although it was a strain, she managed to move them.
One day, she thought, she'd get her strength back to its former level—after all, she'd once been able to lift an entire elephant with one hand.
Ahead, Heidan's jaw nearly hit the ground as he watched. Song Wei had once again blown his mind.
His small brain couldn't quite comprehend it. Was it really possible for a person to be this strong?
"What are you doing, Heidan? Let's go!"
Turning back, she saw Heidan staring at her and the boars with a dazed expression.
After a second, he ran up to her, glancing between Song Wei and the wild boars, his mouth open in awe.
"Sister Song… are you always this strong?"
Song Wei shrugged. "I just have a bit of extra strength, nothing too amazing."
And she truly believed that. In the post-apocalyptic world, everything—plants, animals, even humans—had mutated. Compared to people with elemental abilities, physical strength alone was fairly basic.
Her strength made her life more manageable, but it was nowhere near as impressive as those who could manipulate fire or water.
"This is incredible!"
Heidan's eyes sparkled with admiration. "You're the strongest person I know! No one in the village could move a boar this size, but you just dragged it off like it was nothing!"
As he got more comfortable with her, Heidan's awe for Song Wei grew. Like a little chatterbox, he couldn't stop praising her, his childish admiration filling Song Wei with satisfaction.
Who wouldn't like having their own little fan?
Even if the kid was a bit grubby, he was kind of cute in a scrappy way.
As they wandered the valley with the boars, they eventually found a hidden exit obscured by thick bushes. Without sharp eyes, you'd never spot it.
By now, it was almost dark. But that suited Song Wei just fine.
It would be much easier to sell the boars unnoticed after dark.
After finally making it out of the valley, they realized they'd crossed over into the neighboring village's territory.
Stealthily, they found a secluded spot in the mountains to hide the boars.
With surprising strength, Song Wei lifted the boars into the trees, hiding them in the thick branches.
"I'll head down and scope things out," she told Heidan. "Think you can guard the boars?"
Heidan's face lit up as he puffed out his chest. "Don't worry, Sister Song! I'll guard these boars with my life!"
His determined look made Song Wei chuckle as she gave his cheek a playful pinch.
The boy didn't have much flesh on his bones; she felt a sudden urge to fatten him up a bit.
"This time of day, everyone's already gone home from the fields, so no one will be coming up here," she said, reassuring him.
By now, everyone would be home for dinner, and any kids would be kept inside by their parents.
Song Wei went down the mountain, eventually finding an elderly man who looked like a local.
She approached him with a polite smile. "Excuse me, sir, is this Fuxing Village? I was trying to visit some relatives but I think I took the wrong path."
The elderly man squinted at her, studying her clothes and face. "No, this here is Hongshan Village. Were you looking for someone in Fuxing?"
Song Wei had given herself a quick disguise before coming down, tying her hair up like a married woman and smudging some dirt on her face. With the evening light dim and the man's eyesight not the best, her act passed easily.
"Oh, I see," she replied. "I'm newly married into Ping'an Village, and my mother-in-law asked me to visit my sister-in-law, who's sick. But since it's my first time visiting her, I must've taken a wrong turn. My husband's off working in town, so he couldn't come with me. I was really worried about finding my way."
The old man's suspicion faded, replaced by a look of understanding. "Ah, no wonder. Well, if you're from Ping'an Village, you'd need to take that main path out to the left."
"Thank you so much, sir. I think I'll just return to Ping'an for now and come back tomorrow in the daylight."
The old man gave her some more directions and then went on his way. Song Wei memorized his instructions, thanked him, and turned back toward the mountain.
When she returned, Heidan immediately leaned out from the tree to greet her. "Sister Song!"
"Good job, kiddo," she said, helping him down and then quickly retrieving the boars from their hiding place in the trees.
"Let's go."
The sky had fully darkened by then, and using her sharp senses, Song Wei managed to avoid the few passersby as they dragged the boars to a small forest near the outskirts of the town.
There were no wild animals in this forest, so she wasn't worried that the wild boar would be eaten.
"Let's go to the town."
It was Heidan's first time in town, and he looked around wide-eyed, peppering Song Wei with questions.
"Are all the houses here tall?"
"They're taller, but the rooms are often small."
"Sister Song, do they eat meat every day here? Do they wear new clothes every day, too?"
"No, they have to use money and tickets to buy meat and vegetables. There is so little meat that many people can't afford it."
Song Wei patiently answered him as they made their way toward the town's center, the dim street lights casting long shadows.
While she had initially planned to sell the meat in the black market, she quickly realized that butchering the boars and transporting the meat piece by piece could draw unwanted attention.
Instead, a new idea came to mind as she thought of the large factories on the town's outskirts.
Most of the factory workers had already gone home for the day, but getting information about the larger factories wasn't difficult. The workers all lived together in a company housing area, so finding someone who knew the details was easy.
With a plan forming in her mind, Song Wei led Heidan to a woman sitting by her doorway, munching on sunflower seeds. Song Wei reached into her pocket and pulled out three large walnuts—just three, but they were big.
"Sister, could I ask you something?" she said in a hushed voice.
The woman's eyes brightened when she saw the walnuts in front of her.
"Ask away, dear! If it's something in this town, I probably know about it."
Song Wei couldn't help but think, At this rate, I might just start coming to you for all my news!
"You see, my mother-in-law back home is sick and needs treatment, which has taken a good bit of money. My husband's older brother works at the textile factory, so I thought to come ask him for help. We left early this morning and only just reached town, so I'm not sure where to find the place. My mother-in-law's really counting on this money."
She played her part as a worried, country woman to perfection.
Heidan's face, on the other hand, was a picture of confusion.
Song Wei had even disguised herself with a headscarf and smeared some dirt on her face to look like a tired, middle-aged woman. With her and Heidan's clothes both worn and dusty, the woman never questioned their story.
"Poor thing. Yes, I know where the textile factory housing is."
Song Wei clasped her hands around the woman's. "Thank you so much, sister! I don't know what we would've done without you. You're one of the kindest people I've met! But, Sister, could you tell me what the factory head there is like? I've only heard he's quite impressive."
One compliment after another, Song Wei showered her with praises until the woman was beaming, and before long, the woman spilled everything she knew—not just about the textile factory but about the other factories, too.
By the time they parted ways, the two were practically calling each other sisters.
Meanwhile, Heidan was still utterly bewildered.
"Let's go to the steel factory," Song Wei said cheerfully.
Heidan looked at her with confusion.
She ruffled his hair. Her hands were grimy from the walnuts, and his hair was greasy and messy, so neither could complain.
When they reached the steel factory housing, Song Wei had Heidan hide and told him not to wander off.
"I'll be right back. Just stay put, alright?"
Heidan nodded earnestly, his big, round eyes shining with determination. "Got it, Sister Song!"
His serious look made Song Wei grin, especially now that Heidan was so much more open and friendly with her. She really liked this little guy.
Just need to wash that greasy hair and give him a trim, she thought. Looks like a wild bush.
With Heidan settled, Song Wei approached the gatekeeper at the housing area.
"Who are you?" he asked, giving her a once-over.
Song Wei pulled out a walnut, her eyes darting around as she leaned in closer.
"Uncle, do you want some pork?"
She'd done her research and knew this gatekeeper had ties to the deputy director of the steel factory. And these days, who didn't want pork? Even just hearing the word made people's mouths water.
The gatekeeper's eyes darted around before he motioned for her to come closer. They huddled together, speaking in hushed voices.
"What kind of pork? Did you bring it?"
"No, but my brother caught two big wild boars. I heard your factory's wanted some meat, so I thought I'd see if you'd be interested before I go to the textile factory."
"We're interested!" he blurted out, then immediately lowered his voice. "Don't move—I'll go get the deputy director. Don't even think about heading to the textile factory."
He repeated his warning a few times before hurrying off, not wanting her to slip away.
Meat was a rare treat these days. Even big factories struggled to procure enough to give their workers an occasional taste. They couldn't always arrange for whole pigs to be brought in from farms, so any opportunity to get meat was taken seriously.
The steel factory's deputy director had barely started his dinner when he heard the news. Leaving his chopsticks, he rushed out, practically dragging the gatekeeper with him. They arrived so quickly that Song Wei didn't wait long before seeing them, with the out-of-breath director in tow.
"Where's the meat?" he asked urgently.
Song Wei got right to the point. "Two wild boars—one over 300 pounds, the other more than 400, plus two smaller ones around 80 pounds in total. Will that be enough?"
The deputy director's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Plenty! Though, to be honest, it's not much once it's divided among all our workers."
"Glad to hear it," Song Wei replied. "Just so you know, these boars are freshly hunted, and the two smaller ones are still alive. Since it's wild boar, the price will be a bit lower. With ration coupons, it's sixty cents a pound; without them, ninety cents. Is that acceptable?"
The deputy director agreed without hesitation. "Done!"
Pork usually cost around seventy cents per pound, and even though wild boar was cheaper, a few hundred pounds of meat was still in high demand. Even if she'd asked for a higher price, he would have been eager to buy it.
Pleased with the quick agreement, Song Wei grinned. "The meat's in a nearby ravine just outside town. Do you have a cart?"
The deputy director immediately called for one and even had his son join them.
Along with the gatekeeper, the three men followed Song Wei outside.
After a bit of walking, Song Wei retrieved Heidan from a hidden spot, startling the men.
"Family circumstances, I can't leave him alone at home, so I brought him along."
The three men nodded, understanding the discretion required in this kind of transaction. Best not to ask too many questions.
They traveled quietly until they reached the spot where the boars were hidden. Under the dim flashlight beams, the men's eyes widened.
"Wow, these boars are huge! They're bigger than anything I've seen at the pig farms, must be over three or four hundred pounds each!"
The deputy director beamed, grinning ear to ear.
"Where's your brother?" the deputy director asked.
Song Wei quickly came up with an excuse. "He had to leave to take care of something."
The director looked at her skeptically.
"Don't worry," Song Wei replied. "With this much wild boar meat, if it wasn't ours, do you think anyone would just leave it out here unattended?"
True enough. Who would dare to leave such a stash of meat lying around?
But the real question was: how were they supposed to weigh these boars with so few people?
Song Wei rolled up her sleeves. "No problem," she said, and grabbed the large weighing scale, tying the wild boar onto the hook.
"I'll lift it," she said.
The scale had a long beam with a hook on one end and a counterweight on the other. It needed two people to hold the beam horizontally while another adjusted the weights.
Song Wei looked slight, while the director's son was sturdy.
"Why not let my son do it?" he suggested, concerned she might collapse under the weight.
"Quit stalling. Let's get it done," she replied.
If I weren't worried about scaring you all, I'd lift it myself.
So the deputy director's son ended up shouldering the beam, his arms shaking slightly under the weight, while Song Wei stood firm as if it was nothing.
"This one's three hundred and twenty pounds," they called.
They lowered the scale and moved on to the next boar.
"This one's four hundred and fifty-two pounds."
"The two small ones together are ninety-one pounds."
"I'll be keeping a few pounds of the meat," Song Wei announced.
The three men hesitated, looking pained.
"But if you take some, it won't be whole," one of them pointed out.
Song Wei almost rolled her eyes. "You're not planning to take it back without butchering it, are you?"
In any case, she was keeping some. It had taken her considerable effort to catch these boars, and she was determined to get a taste herself.
"Just five pounds," she insisted.
In the end, after a bit of back-and-forth, she successfully claimed five pounds of lean, wild boar meat for herself.
The meat had been tallied up, with two hundred pounds sold with ration tickets, and the rest without. Song Wei walked away with 712.2 yuan—a tiring but worthwhile haul.
The deputy director had come prepared, handing over the payment and several ration tickets, some of which included the food tickets she needed.
After helping load the boars onto their cart and watching them head back, she took Heidan and began the walk back to Ping'an Village.
It was a bit of a hike—about two hours on foot.
The walk itself wasn't a problem, but they were both hungry.
"Maybe we should eat something before heading back?"
Heidan's gaze landed on the meat she was carrying, and he gulped.
Out of the five pounds she'd taken, Song Wei set aside about two pounds for the two of them. They found a spot, made a fire, and started roasting the meat.
They didn't have much seasonings, and the lean boar meat was a bit tough and gamey, but out here at night, any food was good food. Both Song Wei and Heidan had gone hungry plenty of times, so they didn't complain.
While the meat roasted, she cracked open the last five walnuts she had and shared them with Heidan.
"You eat, Sister Song. I'm not that hungry," Heidan said, taking only one walnut. He huddled near the fire, its light illuminating his small, grimy face as he curled up, hands clutching his stomach.
He was hungry, but he had eaten some walnuts before and had enough food in his stomach, so he could bear it.
He was used to this feeling; back at the Lin house, he often went to bed hungry.
"Eat," Song Wei insisted, passing him another walnut. "I'm saving room for the meat."
The smell of walnuts lingered in the air, and after hesitating, Heidan looked up at her, smiling shyly.
"Thank you, Sister Song."
His heart felt warm, though his eyes stung a bit. No one had ever been so kind to him before. He couldn't help but hope he'd be able to stay by her side.
Thinking of the Lin family, a hint of sadness crept into his heart.
As he nibbled on the walnuts, Song Wei handed him a slice of roasted boar meat. Both of them began eating, blowing on the meat to cool it before taking bites.
The meat had been sliced and skewered for roasting; though it was a bit thick, it cooked through nicely.
Not the best flavor, but neither of them minded.
Their stomachs somewhat full, Song Wei felt tempted to roast the remaining meat, but she decided against it—it seemed wasteful to cook it all at once.
Feeling recharged, she picked up the pace on the walk back. Even the idea of running into a robber didn't worry her—whoever they encountered, she doubted she'd be the one in danger.
Heidan, though, was struggling to keep up, his small legs working hard to match her stride. Despite his efforts, he was falling behind.
When she finally stopped, he accidentally ran into her leg, bumping his nose.
Heidan rubbed his nose, looking up at her with a goofy smile.
"You goofball," she teased, tapping his forehead before scooping him up and settling him in the basket on her back.
"If you couldn't keep up, why didn't you just say so?"
Heidan curled up in the basket, his wide eyes watching her with admiration. His nose was still a little sore, but now it tingled with warmth.
"I could keep up," he murmured, placing his small hands on the side of the basket and resting his head against her back.
"Sister Song, why are you so nice to me?" he asked quietly.
With Heidan on her back, Song Wei walked effortlessly. "Am I? I just had you help roast the meat."
Her tone was light, no fuss or sentiment.
"If you think I'm nice, then keep helping me find food in the mountains. I get seventy percent, you get thirty."
Heidan sniffled loudly. "You can have it all, Sister Song. I don't need anything."
He had no family and no one to look out for him. As long as he could be helpful to Song Wei, he didn't need anything for himself.
Song Wei laughed. "Right now, you're too young to hold onto anything, but you can leave it with me. Whenever you need it, just come find me. I may have a big appetite, but I won't take advantage of a kid."
After a while, she noticed he'd gone quiet. Glancing over, she saw that he'd fallen asleep, curled up snugly in the basket, leaning against her.
Under the moonlight, Song Wei smiled softly, quickening her pace.
She covered the two-hour walk in just one hour, reaching the education youth quarters to find everyone already asleep.
She brought Heidan into her room, though the kang bed was out of the question—her new bedding was clean, and Heidan was still a bit of a grubby mess. She laid him on a temporary bed she'd set up on the floor.
After putting away her earnings from the day, she soon fell asleep, exhausted.
When morning came, Heidan woke up, startled. Back at the Lin house, this was when his aunt and grandmother would start yelling for him to feed the chickens and gather firewood.
Despite his young age, most of the wood used in the household in the winter came from his little hands.