Chapter 9

Summer cheerfully kept up with Leonardo's brisk pace.

Logan took a few quick steps and effortlessly caught up with them.

The primary school of Tanxi Village was located opposite the village office. The village's supply and marketing cooperative, clinic, and barbershop were also in this area.

Leonardo led Summer and Logan to the village office but didn't go directly to the school. First, he handed them two sickles and a hoe.

As they left the village office with the tools, Leonardo said to Summer and Logan, "Since classes were suspended in '66, this school hasn't reopened. No one has tidied it up for years. The grass inside is taller than people now. It's your job to clean it up."

Holding her sickle, Summer replied, "Don't worry, Captain Leonardo. We will take care of it."

Leonardo turned to Summer with a smile. "Summer, you seem more lively today than usual. Is something making you happy?"

She used to be quite quiet and reserved.

Summer smiled and said, "It's just that you entrusted me with the responsibility of being a teacher."

Leonardo laughed heartily. "Since you're so happy, make sure you do a good job and set a good example for the children in our village."

Logan chimed in, "Captain, rest assured, we will."

Hearing Logan speak, Summer glanced at him briefly, thinking that he was indeed good at putting on an act. In front of the village officials and the team, he was completely different from how he behaved with their peers.

Leonardo would never imagine what Logan was like when he was with their group.

If given the choice, Summer would rather not work with Logan. Logan despised her, treating her like a fool, and probably didn't want to work with her either. But this was arranged by the village, and they had no say in their partners.

So Summer thought it best to keep a safe distance from Logan. They were just colleagues, not friends.

At the school gate, Leonardo took out a key to unlock the gate. The iron bars of the gate were rusted and bent.

Leonardo handed the key to Logan, saying, "There's only one key to this lock. Now I'm entrusting it, and the school, to you."

Logan took the key, and he and Summer followed Leonardo into the school.

Inside, the courtyard and the building were indeed overgrown with weeds, some taller than a person. Leonardo pulled out a handful of weeds and said, "You also need to recruit students. There aren't many school-aged children in our village. After the school closed, even fewer continued their studies. Only three children from our village go to school at the Shazhuang Brigade and the commune. You have a week to clean up and recruit students. Is that enough time?"

Before Summer could think it over, Logan immediately answered, "Captain, a week is enough. After seven days, you and the secretary can attend the opening ceremony."

Summer glanced at Logan, who had spoken so confidently that she didn't add anything.

Leonardo patted Logan on the shoulder with a smile. "Alright, I believe you can do it. From now on, you don't need to join the work team. Like other teachers, you will receive a monthly salary."

Logan smiled and acknowledged. He and Summer saw Leonardo out, waving as he left, then returned to the courtyard.

The school was small, with just two buildings—one for classrooms and one for the office—and a bathroom.

Summer didn't initiate conversation with Logan. She walked through the weeds, stepping them down to create a path, dividing the schoolyard in half. 

After setting the boundary, she said to Logan, "Don't worry, I won't take advantage of you. This line separates our areas. We each take care of our half."

Logan had no objections and began working with his sickle.

Leonardo had barely left when Logan started working vigorously. Summer silently scoffed and began her work, keeping as much distance from Logan as possible.

As the weeds fell, the sun climbed higher in the sky.

At the base camp, Henry and the others didn't go to work after breakfast. Instead, they gathered in the boys' dormitory to play cards.

Henry, Charlie, and Gabe were playing poker, while the others watched. Their excitement filled the room, almost lifting the roof.

Just then, someone shouted, "Hello, Captain Leonardo!"

The room fell silent as everyone turned to see Leonardo standing in the doorway. They scrambled to hide the cards, with Gabe covering them with a messy blanket.

Henry stood up with a smile. "Captain Leonardo, what brings you here?"

Leonardo had entered silently, seeing everything he needed to see. He coldly asked, "What do you think?"

Henry, still smiling, said, "Captain, we had some trouble with breakfast today. No experience, timing was off, and we ended up with food poisoning, running to the bathroom all morning. That's why we didn't go to work. You're not angry, are you?"

Leonardo laughed bitterly. "Angry? Why would I be angry? If you don't work, you don't earn points, and you don't get food. You're the ones who'll be hungry, not me."

Cecilia muttered, "Missing half a day's work isn't a big deal, right?"

Leonardo's temper flared. He glared at Cecilia and shouted, "Just half a day? You've been slacking off plenty! Have some shame! Do you have any shame?!"

Cecilia trembled and fell silent.

Henry quickly interjected, "Captain, we do have shame. We really got food poisoning. Otherwise, why wouldn't we work?"

Leonardo pointed at him, "Henry, don't try to fool me! I may be a countryman without much education, but I'm not stupid! The organization sent you here to experience the hardships of rural life, not to play around! Didn't you learn anything from visiting the Shazhuang Brigade's camp?!"

His words cut through the group, leaving them silent.

Leonardo took a breath and continued, "You can skip work, but there are consequences. You got half a year's worth of food, just enough until the autumn harvest. If you don't earn enough work points, you won't get more. You'll have to make up for the lost points to get food. Our brigade doesn't support freeloaders. If you can't earn your keep, you won't get food. Begging won't help without an introduction letter. Let's see how tough you are!"

With that, Leonardo stormed out.

The group remained silent until he was out of earshot. Then they relaxed, grumbling, "It's just half a day's work, not a big deal."

Jack calculated, "Actually, it is. A full day's work earns ten points, barely enough for a few cents. We boys earn more points, but you girls earn less. We've been slacking off, and the record keeper is watching, deducting our points."

The reality sank in, dampening their spirits.

Grace said, "I hate this place. Always working under the sun, never enough to eat. If only we could go back to the city."

Mike reminded her, "We just got here. Returning to the city isn't an option. Some old-timers have been here for years."

Grace snapped, "I can't even think about it?"

Their mood darkened, but Henry reassured them, "Don't worry. I won't let us starve. If our points fall short, we'll find another way."

Everyone trusted Henry, feeling reassured. They soon resumed their game, laughter filling the room once more.