Chapter 4 Your Brother Came to Deliver Something

Li Dahe had been busy all morning, and after getting home, he wolfed down a bowl of rice and fiddled with his thinning hair while drinking some water.

The increasingly sparse sensation made him furrow his brows.

It's tough being the brigade leader...

"Is Uncle Team Leader at home?"

This unique address startled Li Dahe so much that he trembled, and unintentionally plucked out another strand of his hair.

He was about to tell his wife to hide for a bit when he heard her already answering, "Yes, I'm here! Oh, young comrade, you look unfamiliar; are you one of the new Educated Youth? What a handsome face, come in and talk."

Li Dahe: "..." That damned wife of mine!

His face a grimace, he got off the kang bed with his hands behind his back and walked out, indeed to see that hair-wasting little bastard in his yard.

Lin Nianhe was all smiles as she took out a paper-wrapped bundle from her bag and stuffed it into Aunt Li's hands: "Aunt, this is something my mom asked me to bring for the children at home to enjoy."

Aunt Li felt the paper bundle, piece by piece – it must be sugar candy from the city, weighing a good half a jin.

She was delighted inside, but put on a stern face and said, "What are you doing, girl? Take it back!" She attempted to shove the paper bundle back into Lin Nianhe's bag.

Lin Nianhe dodged, and still with a hearty laugh, said: "Aunt, my mom really did send it especially for you. If you don't take it, she will definitely punish me. Please have some sympathy for me."

"Oh my, no need to be this formal." Aunt Li smiled, no longer resisting.

Li Dahe watched this whole drama unfold, his heart pounding, fearing that Lin Nianhe's next words would be to inform him she was unwell and couldn't work the fields.

If that were the case, he definitely couldn't accept this gift.

He cleared his throat and asked her, "Educated Youth Lin, did you come because you have something you need?"

"Uncle Team Leader, you just mentioned someone was going to the commune this afternoon. I was wondering if you could send a telegram home for me to let them know I'm safe," Lin Nianhe asked.

Li Dahe was taken aback.

These city girls really know how to waste money; wouldn't a letter be enough to report her safety? Why the need for a telegram?

But this was trivial; he nodded and agreed: "Sure, what do you want to send?"

Lin Nianhe immediately took out a piece of paper and a coin from her bag and handed them over: "Thank you, Uncle. I've written down the content and address already, this is for the telegram fee. If it's not enough, please front the money for me and I'll repay you."

"Alright," Li Dahe took it, glanced at the few words on the paper, and told her, "This is too much money."

Lin Nianhe was not too familiar with the prices of the time and could only put on an 'I don't understand anything' expression, looking innocently at Li Dahe.

Li Dahe felt somewhat weary; he really wanted to rush to the commune and firmly ask whoever was in charge, who sent this delicate flower over here!

Now, not only did he have to worry about the kid's well-being, but he also had to make sure she didn't sell him out.

Watching Li Dahe's ever-changing expressions, Lin Nianhe moved closer to Aunt Li and asked in a gentle voice, "Another thing... if it's convenient, could you help me bring back a pot? A clay pot will do."

She had all kinds of pots in her space and didn't need a big iron pot for cooking alone; pouring a bit of oil wouldn't even cover the pot.

She could run to the Cooperative Society herself to handle this, but by asking the brigade leader, it was as if the leadership had approved her cooking on her own, precluding the front yard folks from making a fuss with her.

Aunt Li looked at the sweet-talking, soft Lin Nianhe, then squeezed the sugar in her hand, her brows shot up as she scolded Li Dahe, "Why the long face? Look how you scared the child!"

Li Dahe: "..."

Aunt Li gave him a sharp look, then instantly softened when she turned back to Lin Nianhe: "Alright, I'll have your Brother Xiao Shan bring it back for you on his way, are you planning to cook for yourself?"

"Mhm, I saw there was a stove in the woodshed," Lin Nianhe smiled again, "I'll cook myself, to save from overheating the kang."

Aunt Li had only casually asked because of the sugar and seeing Lin Nianhe's pleasant smile reminded her of her own daughter. She softened a bit and said, "Alright then, I'll send Xiao Shan to the Cooperative Society right away to get things sorted quickly, so it doesn't delay your cooking in the evening."

"Thank you, Auntie, you're so kind."

"Oh, sweet girl, you have such a sweet mouth."

Lin Nianhe gave Aunt Li some money for the casserole before taking her leave.

Aunt Li turned around, opened the wrapped oil paper package, and was immediately greeted by a milky scent.

Her eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but look back in the direction Lin Nianhe had left, praising, "Despite her young age, that girl sure knows how to get things done..."

On her way back, Lin Nianhe suddenly remembered that she should have bought a water jar.

There were countless plastic barrels in her space, but she couldn't just bring one of those out.

She also needed to hire someone to make furniture as her tiny house was empty, devoid of even a table, chairs, or cabinets.

However, doing so would draw too much attention her way, and she feared that would lead to a lot of gossip.

Lin Nianhe looked towards the distant Qingshan, and after a moment of silence, she smiled.

If they want to talk, let them talk. It's not like I should stop living my life just because others might gossip.

After all, the money was brought from home; even if someone were to investigate, the worst that could happen was that Comrade Old Lin might get a beating from Aunt Lin for hiding private savings.

Lin Nianhe felt that this was a loss she could bear.

With these thoughts, Lin Nianhe felt much lighter and hummed a song all the way back to the Educated Youth Corps.

Lin Nianhe had only just set foot in the Educated Youth Corps when she sharply sensed that something was amiss.

The male Educated Youths were still working, and the three female Educated Youths were still cooking.

It seemed like everyone was busy with their own things, but Lin Nianhe could clearly feel their attention on her.

With a slightly dark gaze, Lin Nianhe walked over to Wen Lan, who was bending down packing her bag, patted her on the back and asked, "Sister Lan, what's going on?"

Wen Lan was nineteen this year, Wang Shumei eighteen; both were older than Lin Nianhe.

Only then did Wen Lan notice that Lin Nianhe had returned. With an excited face, she grabbed Lin Nianhe's wrist and said, "Hezi, your brother came to bring you things!"

"Who?" Lin Nianhe was baffled.

It was true she had a brother, but Lin Huai Zhou was in the Beijing Military District. She hadn't even been able to see him off at the train station, so how could he have possibly come here to bring her things?

Wen Lan, the silly older sister, didn't notice the astonishment in Lin Nianhe's eyes and thought Lin Nianhe hadn't heard her clearly. She dragged out her words, emphasizing, "Your——brother——"

Lin Nianhe was thoroughly confused.

At this moment, Wang Shumei also came out carrying a basin and said to Lin Nianhe with a smile, "Comrade Lin brought a lot of stuff for you. Xiao Lan and I took him to your place, and after he left the stuff, he hurried off, saying he had urgent business and couldn't delay."

Lin Nianhe speculated that maybe one of her brother's comrades-in-arms was nearby and had brought these things on his behalf?

She finally understood the looks she got from the female Educated Youths.

Others might at most be able to go home to visit their families during the New Year, yet here she was, not long after arriving, and already her brother was dropping by with things for her. It was impossible for them not to be jealous.

With a light smile, Lin Nianhe said, "The one who came couldn't have been my brother; he's still in Beijing. It must have been one of his comrades. You guys go on with your work; I'll go check it out."

Lin Nianhe waved to Wen Lan and Wang Shumei and briskly headed to the backyard.

As soon as she walked past the east wall, she slowed her pace and, sure enough, heard people in the front yard saying:

"Educated Youth Lin's family sure dotes on her, she's barely arrived and her things followed right after, afraid she might starve or something."

"I think it's just a front. If they really doted on their daughter, how could they bear to let her go to the countryside?"

"What exactly does Educated Youth Lin's family do? I see the team leader favors her quite a bit too."

"What's the use of a good family background? She'll have to earn her own keep at the end of the day. I don't believe her family can keep supporting their young lady forever…"

Lin Nianhe curled her lips, finding their gossip utterly lackluster and uninteresting.

She pushed the door and entered her empty little house, and immediately saw the large and small bundles taking up almost half the space in the kitchen.

Upon opening one to check, Lin Nianhe was astonished.