AYLS – Chapter 130

The work at the chicken farm required major changes. Lin Qiao and Su Weizhen discussed it and agreed they needed a feasible plan before making any changes.

They couldn’t act on impulse — thinking of one thing today and another tomorrow.

And although the veteran soldiers appeared supportive, that was only because they had good manners; it didn’t mean they were genuinely convinced by the two of them. So for their first step, they had to proceed logically and convincingly.

The very first task was still to hatch the chicks and then manage them separately.

Once people could see results — and comparisons — they would naturally be convinced. At that point, implementing new measures would be twice the result for half the effort.

So on the first day, Lin Qiao and Su Weizhen didn’t bring up any issues. Instead, they respected the original workflow of the veterans.

Some of the veterans even joked that they thought the two newcomers would put on a big show the moment they arrived, but unexpectedly, they had lowered their flags so quickly. They seemed sensible — not blindly commanding others.

What the veterans feared most was a comrade who had no ability and no understanding of the situation, yet came in barking orders.

Not cooperating would go against a soldier’s instinct for obedience, but obeying such chaos would still feel like nonsense.

This way was much better.

Lin Qiao and Su Weizhen overheard their discussion, but neither felt offended.

They simply planned to let their future results speak for themselves.

On their way back at noon, the two continued discussing how to launch their work.

“Let’s meet again tonight,” Lin Qiao suggested. “We can discuss our understanding of the place and go over everything thoroughly.”

Su Weizhen nodded. “No problem. I’m just afraid your old Gu will think I’m monopolizing your personal time.”

“He would never,” Lin Qiao huffed, remembering what Gu Huayuan had done that morning. Her heart filled with a mix of embarrassment and irritation.

Seeing her expression, Su Weizhen instantly understood the situation — they were all in the same boat.

“Xiao Qiao, I already discussed it with Xu Yuanzheng. Once the chicken farm is running smoothly, we plan to have a child.”

“Huh? Why suddenly bring this up?”

“It’s not sudden. We’ve been thinking about it for a while. It just felt unstable before. Now Yuanzheng says he’s basically settled here, no major transfers expected. I also plan to root myself here. Once the work’s done, it’s time to have a child. When do you plan on having one? We should stagger it; otherwise the workload will be tough.”

“I’m not in a hurry. I’ll definitely stagger with you,” Lin Qiao said earnestly. “It’s just… when do you plan to start?”

She was worried she might have left by then.

“That depends on our work progress. No rush, it’s just a plan.” Su Weizhen smiled sweetly.

Lin Qiao thought it over. She couldn’t just leave everything behind. Today’s situation made it clear: the place really needed people to do the work.

And now that Su Weizhen planned to have a baby, it would definitely affect her ability to work for a time. That meant greater responsibility on Lin Qiao’s shoulders.

Fine. Maybe she should delay leaving again?

The more she thought about it, the more she felt her mood ease.

Back in her room, she talked to Fat Cat about her decision, saying she was acting out of responsibility and had no choice.

Fat Cat chuckled. “You don’t even know when you’ll complete your mission. How are you so sure you can leave anytime you want?”

Lin Qiao immediately became upset. “What do you mean? You’re not tricking me again, are you?” Her tone was on edge.

After all, she had been duped several times before. If Fat Cat lied to her again, she really wouldn’t be able to tolerate it.

Fat Cat said, “I’m not lying this time. Once the progress bar is full, you can go back. I just want to remind you — after all this time, has the progress bar moved much? At this rate, leaving won’t be so easy.”

Lin Qiao stared at the progress bar crawling slower than a snail, feeling a bit frustrated. “That’s only because I haven’t really tried yet. Once I finish my work, I’ll go all out.” For example, showing off affection—she’s been too busy to even have the time.

Fat Cat said, “Then I wish you success. I’ve wanted to leave here for a long time too.”

Lin Qiao deliberately asked, “If you leave here, where will you go?”

“Of course back to my original world. The program the master set for me says that once I complete your tasks, I can return.”

Hearing this, Lin Qiao was still half skeptical, but she relaxed slightly.

Fat Cat wanted to leave after completing its tasks, which aligned with her own goal.

As for whether Fat Cat might be lying, Lin Qiao didn’t want to think too much about it for now.

She couldn’t handle that outcome.

At noon, Gu Huayuan returned from the canteen with food. Since Lin Qiao had just arrived and started working, and he was busy too, there was simply no time to cook at home.

Lin Qiao looked at the plain brown rice with not a drop of oil and sighed.

Previously, when they were in the undeveloped construction corps, the food was terrible, but that could be excused because the area was desolate. Here, though, this was a guarded border—

Even the kindest people here still ate poorly.

Gu Huayuan thought she was complaining about the food and said, “There’s meat on the first of every month. This place is far from the towns, so buying meat isn’t easy. The procurement team goes out only once a month. That’s the only time we can buy anything.”

Right now, the old hen couldn’t lay eggs because she was hatching chicks, and the household had no nutritional supplements at all.

“No need. I don’t need them. It’s just that seeing everyone like this today made me feel sad.” She described to Gu Huayuan what she had seen and heard.

“They’ve all been to the battlefield and sacrificed so much, yet even a bite of meat is hard to come by. It hurts my heart.”

Gu Huayuan said, “Oh, so that’s why.”

“What? You still think it’s not enough?”

“It’s nothing. It’s much better than before. You know, before Huaguo was established, what did our troops eat every day? At the worst times, there wasn’t even grass roots to eat. Even in enemy-occupied bases, food was scarce. Back then, we didn’t think about what we wanted to eat; anything edible was enough. I remember my father telling me that when harvests were good, they’d collect a lot of sweet potatoes.”

Lin Qiao said, “Sweet potatoes are sweet.”

Gu Huayuan sighed, “And you had to eat them every day, with no oil or salt, no proper rice or grains?”

Lin Qiao: “…”

“The soldiers’ stomachs would churn with acid, yet they still had to eat. That was the better situation. Sometimes on the battlefield, logistical support was insufficient, and not a single grain of food was available. You’d fight on an empty stomach.”

“So now you can understand how the veterans feel, right?”

Lin Qiao, her eyes red, tightly pressed her lips and nodded. “I understand, but I can’t accept it. I feel like they deserve a better life.”

“Fool, everyone thinks that, but you have to consider the circumstances. Our country was just founded, practically from scratch. We’re doing quite well now. Slowly. My mother used to tell me that as long as we, the people, govern ourselves, we can create everything with our own hands. All we need is time.”

Lin Qiao was extremely moved. “Mom was right. We really can create everything. In the future, everyone will definitely live very well. Everyone will eat white rice, meat whenever they want, and even throw away what they can’t finish.”

“Nonsense! Who dares do that? You’d get criticized!”

Gu Huayuan said sternly. Having lived through the revolutionary era, he truly couldn’t tolerate wasting food—not even talking about it lightly.

Lin Qiao tapped her head. “Right, they should be criticized! I’ll criticize anyone I see in the future!”

Gu Huayuan laughed. “Well then, Comrade Xiao Qiao, it’s time to eat. If you don’t eat now, it’ll be wasted.” Lin Qiao quickly held her bowl and ate heartily. Even if the food didn’t taste great, she still stuffed it in her mouth and swallowed.

After finishing, she solemnly told Gu Huayuan, “Gu Huayuan, I’ve decided. I’ll stay here and raise the chickens properly. I want to do more things.”

Gu Huayuan, eating as he watched her, said, “You just arrived, of course you should stay. Let me be clear, we won’t be leaving here for ten or even eight years. Don’t worry.”

Lin Qiao: “…Forget it, we won’t be going together anyway.”

Determined, Lin Qiao was full of energy.

After finishing her meal, she went to find Su Weizhen to discuss work.

Gu Huayuan, once again left aside, couldn’t help feeling a little jealous.

She had just arrived, and now she was getting close to work.

Oh well, one can’t be greedy.

Gu Huayuan also left for training. Every day here was intense; not a moment could be wasted.

If it weren’t for Xiao Qiao, he wouldn’t even return home—meals finished, he’d immediately train the troops. Slacking off even slightly here could cause serious problems.

Not long after stepping out, he was caught by the two brothers, Sheng Wen and Sheng Wu, who insisted on participating in the chicken-raising work.

Gu Huayuan said, “Are you quitting the army to raise chickens?”

Sheng Wen, in a rough voice, said, “As long as there’s food, we’ll work.”

Gu Huayuan said, “Don’t talk like old society laborers. Is school out and you’re bored?”

“No, I just don’t want to go to school or go home. Anyway, my parents don’t care about us; they only care about other children.”

Sheng Wen complained.

Sheng Wu also felt wronged.

Gu Huayuan understood their situation. Sheng Tuan Zhang and his wife had been in the army for many years. Because they were busy, the two brothers had grown up in their hometown. Later, Sheng Tuan Zhang was transferred here, got promoted, and decided to settle here permanently. They brought the children from their hometown.

Unfortunately, just as the children arrived, war broke out at the front.

The sister-in-law at Commander Sheng’s house was truly a kind person. She had taken in and raised the orphans of several martyrs.

So when the two brothers arrived at this place, the first thing they faced was suddenly having many more brothers and sisters in the household.

Moreover, in their daily interactions, their parents were strict with them but spoke gently to the other children. They found this very unfair. Coupled with their fiery temper, they often caused a commotion every few days.

Actually, situations like this at Commander Sheng’s house were nothing new to Gu Huayuan. Back in those days, so many people had died that many children were left behind. There was no distinction between one’s own child or someone else’s—they were all raised together.

When his mother had passed away, if his father hadn’t still been alive, he would have been taken in by someone else.

Gu Huayuan wanted to guide the two brothers, but a child’s temperament couldn’t just be fixed.

They had just agreed earlier today, and yet as soon as something happened on the way home, they immediately changed again.

Earlier, they had been thinking about joining the army, and now they were insisting on going to the chicken farm. Every day was something different.

“First of all, the chicken farm isn’t my responsibility. Second, you’re too young, which doesn’t meet the rules. And lastly, you don’t have the education—raising chickens requires knowledge, you understand?”

“Raising chickens requires knowledge?” the two brothers exclaimed in surprise.

Gu Huayuan said, “Of course. To raise them well, you have to learn. If you can’t even understand the manuals later, then don’t go creating trouble for the organization. Focus on your studies. Alright, I have to go train now. You two, go back and do your homework.”

With that, he left.

The two brothers looked at each other for a long while, both reluctant to go back.

After thinking it over, they decided to head straight to the chicken farm to hang around and see Xiao Qiao.

Sister Xiao Qiao looked gentle, so she should be easy to talk to.