Ch. 9: Chapter 9: A New Task

Of course, it wasn’t a purchase—she gave three yuan to Aunt Chong, and in return, the woman gifted her three pounds of sugar.

This wasn’t a poor exchange; it was a fair trade.

After leaving Aunt Chong’s house,沈乔 went to another home to trade for some dried vegetables. In Shanghai, everything required coupons, so food was especially difficult to come by.

She thought to herself that when the mailman arrived next time, she would send these items back, along with some to her parents—three packages in total. No matter the outcome, she owed this family, and it was time to repay them.

Carrying her bundles,沈乔 returned to the youth team’s compound. To others, it simply looked like she had received money from home and was now spending it.

After all, that’s how it used to be. One house would exchange eggs, another would offer some meat, and these were rare, prized items.

沈乔, too, longed for eggs, since the communal meals hardly had any oil.

But just thinking about how one egg cost five cents, and a work point was only worth four cents last year, made it hard for her to indulge. She still had basic necessities to ensure, and her living expenses for next year were uncertain, so she could hardly bring herself to eat anything extra.

There were many things she had to endure.

沈乔 looked at her hands, feeling the weight of reality. Life, in all its cruelty, left its mark on her—every small act of labor now left its trace on her body. She had grown used to carrying the hoe every day, even though the blisters had barely healed.

But the fatigue remained; her body simply wasn’t used to this level of strain.

She had to push herself to keep working. Sometimes, it was a struggle to hold on, and no amount of leniency from the scorekeeper could change that.

That day,沈乔 woke up feeling off. She went to the outhouse and realized that her period had come.

The first day was always the hardest, and though she gritted her teeth, she still went to work. In the past, she would have definitely taken a leave of absence, but not now.

Her movements were slower than usual as she made her way to the fields. She greeted the scorekeeper weakly, her already pale face looking even worse.

The scorekeeper noticed something was wrong and asked, “Are you okay,沈知青?”

At this time, when the focus was on production, if anyone was slacking off, the brigade officials would find ways to make them work. When沈乔 had first arrived, the brigade leader tried to get her to work harder, but she had quickly collapsed from exhaustion and had to stay in the hospital for several days, with the brigade covering her medical expenses.

Since then, everyone had known that沈乔 was physically weak. Although she wasn’t known for being the most diligent, they had learned to turn a blind eye, simply because no one wanted to deal with the hassle.

But things were different now.

沈乔 took a deep breath and said, “I’m fine.”

The scorekeeper still had his doubts. He couldn’t understand how someone who had always worked so diligently since the New Year could suddenly be so off.

However, he didn’t want to make a fuss, so he simply warned her, “If you’re struggling, just let me know.”

沈乔 nodded and bent down to pick up stones from the ground.

Before long, she felt a bit dizzy, and she stood up, leaning against a tree to catch her breath.

After a while, she opened her water flask and drank some brown sugar water.

She couldn’t afford to skimp on things like oil, salt, and sugar, which were essential to replenishing her strength.

The flask was military issue and worked well; the water inside was still warm, just right for a mild sweat.

Perhaps it was just her mind playing tricks, but沈乔 felt a little better after drinking the sugar water. She took a few deep breaths and returned to her work.

Seeing her strong will, the scorekeeper gave her two points.

沈乔 glanced back, knowing it was more than deserved, and gratefully nodded. She wondered if she would even be able to keep these points by afternoon.

She knew her real issue was the lack of fat in her diet. Her body, already frail, was struggling under the strain of hard labor. With insufficient nutrition, she began to think about trading for eggs at the brigade leader’s house.

It was lunchtime, and the brigade leader, Zheng Chong, happened to be home. When he saw her pale face, he was alarmed and asked, “Are you alright?”

No matter the brigade, the health of the youth was always a top priority. The commune repeatedly emphasized that they should be well cared for, especially since they were so young and far from home. Unlike some brigades, which were notorious for making things difficult for the youth, this one was more understanding.

沈乔 couldn’t see her own face, so she had no idea how alarming she looked. She smiled and said, “I’m fine. I just wanted to ask, do you have any eggs at home?”

The youth team raised chickens, but every time they made steamed egg custard, each person only got a spoonful. She didn’t get much, so if she wanted eggs, she would have to trade for them.

Zheng Chong, not too familiar with his family’s supplies, gave the floor to his wife.

Aunt Chong, a woman who could immediately tell what was going on, asked, “You still have brown sugar, right?”

沈乔 did have some. She took the eggs back and boiled them with the brown sugar to make a hearty bowl.

After eating, she felt much better. The feeling of being full was something she hadn’t experienced in days.

However, she steeled herself to go back to work in the afternoon. But the scorekeeper assigned her a new task, saying, “Zheng Chong wants you to go to the river to find Zheng Zhong.”

Zheng Zhong?

Having been at the brigade for seven years,沈乔 wasn’t very social, but she knew the names of everyone. She hadn’t heard of this one, so a puzzled expression appeared on her face, though those around her understood immediately.

Li Liyun, one of the other youths, pulled her aside and said, “He’s the one who’s here to give you work points.”

沈乔’s confusion cleared up, and she nodded, saying, “Oh, that guy.”

Everyone in the youth team knew each other’s physical conditions. Even though no one knew why she insisted on working, Li Liyun quickly urged her, “Go on, hurry!”

Walking under the envious gazes of the others,沈乔 made her way to the river.

The river was the brigade’s main water source, and with the rainy season approaching, it was essential to clear the mud and sand to prevent flooding.

This wasn’t an easy task. People had to stand in the water, up to their knees, bending down all day long, with their hands and feet turning white from soaking.

沈乔 knew her body wouldn’t handle this job today. The task wasn’t for her to do; it was for Zheng Zhong, who was already working in the river.

His nickname, “The One Who Delivers Work Points,” had spread among the youth, so沈乔 hadn’t recognized his full name immediately.

Now, standing there, she took in his appearance: dark skin, a strong, muscular build, and deliberate, efficient movements. His jaw glistened with sweat, and his brows were perpetually furrowed, giving him a serious, almost stern expression. He didn’t seem curious about anything, even when沈乔 stood there.