AYLS – Chapter 87

A few years ago, it wasn’t unusual for someone to faint from hunger, but now, if someone actually faints from hunger inside the compound, that’s big news.

Especially since the one who fainted was a new comrade who had just arrived from the capital.

For newcomers, the army’s logistics department always issued allowances in advance. And coming from a big city, there was no way they didn’t have at least some supplies with them.

Many people were talking and speculating, rushing over to Lin Qiao to find out what happened.

Lin Qiao: “…” Could she really say that she suspected the person had supplies but refused to eat, essentially staging a hunger strike? She herself had almost fainted from hunger back then.

But that was not something she could say—it would affect Li Yan’s reputation.

No matter how naive and sweet she had been before, after living here for so long, she now understood how people in this era thought. She also increasingly appreciated Gu Huayuan’s careful intentions toward her back then.

So when it came to the matter of Li Yan, she hadn’t said anything reckless, brushing it off with the excuse that she had been too busy lately and hadn’t had time to interact with Li Yan.

When Gu Huayuan returned in the afternoon, she hurriedly asked, “Should we go take a look?”

After all, Zhang Tuo had just arrived, and he really got along well with Gu Huayuan. In an unfamiliar place, shouldn’t she and Gu Huayuan give him a hand?

Her father had often taught her before that one shouldn’t only wait for help from others; one should also actively help others in order to receive help when needed.

Gu Huayuan, however, didn’t want Lin Qiao to suffer that kind of grievance.

Despising that his wife was a chicken farmer, and yet he should rush to help? Gu Huayuan wasn’t some fool who would disregard his wife just for the sake of a brother.

“No need. Comrade Li Yan also feels embarrassed about fainting and doesn’t want anyone to see her. If you had fainted back then, would you want others to come see you?”

Lin Qiao immediately empathized. “True, it would be pretty embarrassing. So… should we send some food over?”

Hearing “food,” Gu Huayuan couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. “No need. Zhang Tuo and I aren’t formal with each other. If he needs something, he’ll come to me. Sending something over would make it seem like we’re looking down on him and embarrass him.”

Lin Qiao asked, “Really?”

“Of course. Didn’t you want some good food before? I went to get it myself, didn’t I? Men think differently than you women do.”

Lin Qiao pouted. “Different? You just cling to face and make yourselves suffer. And it’s always women who bear the brunt. Forget it, I won’t bother then. Actually, my relationship with Li Yan isn’t that good either. I don’t want to go show her a cold face.”

She had food, but she would rather give it to Ermie, Zhenzhen, or to Sister-in-law Wang, Sister Zhang, and other army wives she got along with, and even the children in the compound.

At least they would say thank you. But Li Yan wouldn’t.

If it weren’t for Gu Huayuan and Zhang Tuo, she wouldn’t even glance at someone like that.

Since Gu Huayuan had said so, she naturally didn’t meddle and focused on her own matters.

Lin Qiao stopped paying attention to Li Yan and her husband, but the others in the compound did.

After all, fainting from hunger was still a rather strange occurrence.

Sister-in-law Wang and Sister Zhang went to check on her and offer comfort.

Zhang Tuo actually understood why Li Yan acted this way: one, she wasn’t used to life here; two, she wanted to leave.

But facing the army wives, he could only say that Li Yan was suffering from poor health due to not being used to the local conditions, which affected her appetite, so she ate very little.

Sister Zhang, as the regiment commander’s wife, took good care of the young couple, advising Li Yan to take care of her health and even bringing her eggs and soybeans for nourishment.

Yet Li Yan ignored everyone. Having previously interacted with many leaders and their wives in the performing arts troupe, and with her own in-laws living in the capital’s military compound, she didn’t feel the need to be polite to the wives of officers. She still acted according to her own temper, fully immersed in her suffering.

Sister Zhang felt embarrassed and eventually left the clinic area with Sister-in-law Wang, pressing her lips together.

On the way, the two women grumbled, saying they had never seen anyone like her.

Sister-in-law Wang recounted her last visit where she hadn’t even stepped inside the door, which Sister Zhang found incredible.

“I was thinking of recommending some administrative work for her, since she’s an intellectual from a big city—a rare talent. But now, it seems her mindset isn’t right. In life and work, education is secondary; mindset is most important.”

“That’s true. Speaking of which, I have to mention Lin Qiao. Her mindset is excellent, even though her difficult past interrupted her studies and she didn’t get a diploma.”

The two sighed over Lin Qiao’s situation.

Li Yan stayed at the hospital until dark, rested a bit after her injection, and then returned home.

Zhang Tuo carried her through the dark compound, feeling physically and mentally exhausted.

He had wanted to see Gu Huayuan, to talk and borrow a few things.

But thinking of Li Yan’s disdain for Lin Qiao, he didn’t have the face for it.

Besides, Gu Huayuan and his wife hadn’t gone to see them today, which already showed Gu Huayuan’s attitude.

For Li Yan, he had distanced himself from his family, left a job he loved, come to an unfamiliar place, and even developed a rift with his brother…

Finally reaching the house, Zhang Tuo placed her on the bed and sat at the table.

He looked around the room, found the iron pot, set up the stove, and put on water.

He boiled eggs with brown sugar.

Li Yan still wanted to fast and not eat, but her body was too weak; instinctively, she accepted the food.

Zhang Tuo sat at the table, not eating himself, just watching her. “If you faint from hunger again, I won’t care.”

“You’ve seen the conditions here. Don’t waste medical resources. Li Yan, this isn’t the capital. We have no luxury to act willfully. We can only try to live this life properly.”

Li Yan held the bowl and cried. “Living here… it’s too hard.”

“Who doesn’t suffer? Who lives comfortably here? All those army wives work in the fields for work points. The Lin Qiao you despise—isn’t she raising chickens too? You have to face reality. This is the Northwest Construction Corps, not the performing arts troupe you used to be in.”

“Is there really no way to go back?”

Li Yan still held a sliver of hope, wishing to return to the capital, even if she had to stay home forever.

But Zhang Tuo mercilessly shattered that fantasy. “No way back. Your household registration isn’t in the capital anymore. Even if you return, you’ll be sent back. You might even be arrested.”

Patience and emotions have limits. Exhausted, he no longer had the mood for romance. He only wanted to settle life and live peacefully, without further troubles.

Inside the room, only the sound of Li Yan’s sobbing could be heard.

By the next day, the whole compound was buzzing with gossip. They said the new comrade, Li Yan, couldn’t adapt to the local conditions, had fallen ill, and couldn’t eat properly, so she fainted from malnutrition.

For the rough-and-tumble people of the 1960s, “not adapting to local conditions” was a bit hard to understand.

Life was life anywhere—if you had something to eat, any place could be called home.

Some people whispered behind her back, guessing that this was probably a “rich girl’s disease”—she had been too accustomed to good living and couldn’t handle hardship.

Li Ermei joined in the gossip.

Her impression of Li Yan had never been good, and now it had worsened—she disliked her even more than she had disliked Su Weizhen before. Quite a bit more.

That evening, while chatting with Lin Qiao and Su Weizhen, she told Su Weizhen, “That person looks down on people even more than you do.”

Lin Qiao said, “Don’t say that, alright? That’s their business. Besides, Comrade Zhang Tuo is still Gu Huayuan’s brother. It’s not good for us to talk behind their backs.”

Li Ermei retorted, “As women, can’t we gossip a little? Those men control everything too tightly.”

Lin Qiao frowned, “If you have the energy for that, then put it to use helping me raise chickens. Let’s try to expand the chicken farm sooner.”

Su Weizhen asked with concern, “How’s the chicken farm doing now?”

“Once the chicks hatch in a few days, we’ll get started. The logistics department has already decided, and the locations are chosen. Next, it’s all about our results.”

Her “our” naturally included Su Weizhen.

Li Ermei didn’t know this, but she patted her chest to show she wouldn’t hold anyone back.

Su Weizhen said, “Lin Qiao, once the chicken farm expands, how about I come back and help you raise chickens?” She had thought about it for a long time and decided to make full use of her freedom to do something for the army, for this era. Seeing Lin Qiao’s enthusiasm, she couldn’t hold back.

Lin Qiao: “…” Raising chickens is really that good?

Li Ermei was dumbfounded: “…Are you out of your mind?”

Su Weizhen muttered, “If you can’t talk properly, then don’t speak.”

Li Ermei: “No, really. You have such a great position, why leave it to come here?” She couldn’t understand at all.

Su Weizhen said, “I just want to work with you all. Mainly, my job at the office is just… so-so. For someone in an office position, it’s hard to get promoted. Also, the county is far from here, and commuting every winter and summer is tough.”

Lin Qiao nodded. “That’s true.”

Li Ermei said, “I just think it’s a shame.”

“No shame at all. Old Xu’s salary is enough for us to live on. I can take care of the chickens properly, and the organization won’t mistreat me. Even if it’s not as good as my previous job, I’ll be happier. Life’s about being happy, isn’t it?”

Li Ermei was especially envious. This couple lived comfortably, which gave Su Weizhen the confidence to make any decision.

She also found Old Chen annoying again!

Since Su Weizhen had said this, Lin Qiao naturally welcomed her. And since Zhenzhen could use her “golden touch” to help, she couldn’t reveal it publicly. If Zhenzhen came to the chicken farm, her skills would definitely improve the farm’s expansion and breeding, while also earning the rewards she deserved.

“Zhenzhen, if you’re willing to come back, I’ll be really happy. You can also help everyone here catch up, and it’ll be more convenient for you to work here. When you have time, let’s go talk to Sister Zhang together.”

“Mm!” Su Weizhen nodded happily. “Maybe on Sunday when I have a day off.”

“Alright then.”

Li Ermei, seeing them decide, sighed, “So it’s settled, huh? Ah, what a great position.”

“I can give it to you, if you want. But you’ll only be on the front lines, which might be tough.”

A ready-made good position.

Li Ermei inevitably hesitated for three seconds, then firmly refused.

She still preferred raising chickens. She wanted to learn a skill.

Mainly, she felt she and Old Chen wouldn’t stay here forever, and if the unit’s position was hard to transfer, she’d still have to leave.

Better to learn a skill now so she could work as a breeder when she returned home.

That evening, while waiting for dinner, Lin Qiao shared the good news with Gu Huayuan. Her team was truly getting more and more talented.

The only worry was whether there would be enough space here and whether other sisters would object, since everyone had been learning technical skills for so long, eagerly waiting for more positions to open.

Gu Huayuan served the dumplings onto the table and said, “Didn’t you say Comrade Su Weizhen was willing to give up her county position? Let her ask Sister Zhang if anyone here wants to go to the county. The coal field there must have good benefits; maybe someone would want it.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Lin Qiao clapped happily. “Zhenzhen even said she was planning to sell her position. I’ll suggest that to her later.”

Gu Huayuan handed her chopsticks and asked with a smile, “Do you want to go work in the city?”

“I’m not going,” Lin Qiao immediately stated. “I’ll stay here to raise chickens. Expanding the farm is my goal; I can’t give that up. Besides, if I go to the county, I’ll be far from you. That wouldn’t be convenient for us to build our relationship.”

Hearing that last part, Gu Huayuan’s throat went dry. He rubbed his nose. “No need to build it; it’s fine.”

“Fine? I don’t think it’s enough!” Lin Qiao pouted.

If it were enough, the progress bar wouldn’t creep up so slowly, like squeezing toothpaste. Hmph! Men’s words couldn’t be trusted.