When they got to the hostel, there was only an old man on night duty who seemed familiar with Xiao Chenye. He approached to chat, the old man shuffled around, checked their letters of introduction one by one, and handed over the room keys.
"Thanks for your trouble."
The old man waved impatiently, "Go quickly, it's the middle of the night, truly a hard time."
Turning around, he started rambling to Xiao Chenye, "You brat, you promised to drink with us old men before, and then ran off in the blink of an eye. I almost couldn't catch you!"
"What's the rush!" Xiao Chenye's gaze lingered on Wen Ran, "I'll come find you when I've got some free time."
"Alright."
Wen Ran and Bao Wenxuan shared a room, and due to limited conditions, they couldn't bathe, only wipe themselves clean. Even so, Wen Ran felt completely refreshed.
The days on the train were simply unbearable.
Bao Wenxuan's eyes lit up when she saw Wen Ran emerge, "Then I'll go in."
"Alright!"
She had damp hair hanging down, busy tidying up the bed.
"Knock knock knock."
The door sounded.
Wen Ran felt wary, "Who is it?"
Outside, Xiao Chenye lightly coughed, "It's me."
"Creak~"
The door opened a small crack, revealing Wen Ran's pretty face, surprised.
"Brother Xiao, is it really you?"
"Ahem," Xiao Chenye handed over iodine, cotton swabs, and gauze, "I see there's a wound on your forehead, would you like to treat it?"
The wound on her forehead?
She lifted her damp hair, revealing the scar under the strands, which had already crusted.
It looked quite fierce.
"No need," Wen Ran smiled, "Thank you, Brother Xiao, this wound has mostly healed."
"That's good."
He took back the items and advised, "I am staying nearby, don't open the door to strangers in the middle of the night. These walls aren't soundproofed well, and if anything happens, call me immediately."
"Alright, thank you."
Wen Ran was genuinely grateful; Xiao Chenye was young yet held a position in the county transportation team, proving his capability.
Moreover, capable people like him are respected in the countryside; maintaining good relations with such people clearly had more advantages.
"No need to be polite; you're a hero too."
After exchanging a few polite words, they each returned to their rooms to sleep.
Early the next morning, at dawn, Wen Ran, half-asleep, embarked on the journey back to the countryside.
The Great Northeast truly deserved its name; resources were abundant, and the land was rich. A short distance away, uninterrupted mountain ranges stretched out.
Towering forests and chirping birds.
It appeared that the Silly Deer Team formed a settlement around the foothills.
Rounding a bend, a gigantic ginkgo tree came into view. In the midst of summer, its lush leaves were full of vitality.
Xiao Chenye turned off the truck, "I'll go call someone, you two tidy up your things and you'll be able to get off soon."
"Alright, thank you."
Xiao Chenye felt slightly flustered, his heart racing, as he scratched his head, "No need to be polite with me; on this journey, you've been thanking me nonstop."
Wen Ran followed the flow, "Okay, Brother Xiao!" She was quite adept at going along with the situation, "Originally, I thought politeness never caused any harm. But since Brother Xiao puts it this way, I'll be less formal with you.
Could I trouble you to help carry my things later?"
"No problem."
He made a gesture, jumped out of the truck, and shouted, "Uncle, where are you? I've brought the educated youths back."
"Coming, coming!"
As soon as Xiao Chenye finished speaking, a man in his fifties ran out of the house, with kindly-looking eyebrows, though with hair...
Calling it one shoot in a thousand acres wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"Oh hey, these educated youths really had a tough journey coming here," the team leader lamented, having heard about the train incident, "When disaster strikes, there's often fortune afterward. Hurry up, I'll take you to get familiar with the area."
Everyone got off the truck, and after Xiao Chenye helped Wen Ran with her things, he said a few words and left; his mother was eagerly waiting.
If she found out he was at the team but didn't rush home, the old lady's fire poker would dance like a whirlwind.
Just thinking about it made his backside ache.
As the truck disappeared from view, everyone looked sickly and weary.
The team leader first pulled out a list to call names.
"I'll call the roll now~"
"Zhang Sisi."
"Here!"
"He Aiqin."
"Here..."
Altogether, thirteen people were sent to the Silly Deer Team.
Six female educated youths, seven male educated youths, judging by the sparring on the road, Wen Ran could only feel her gums hurt; none were simple characters.
Especially that Zhang Sisi, always stirring up trouble.
After counting the numbers, the team leader rubbed his bald head, unable to help but worry. The higher-ups were truly not considerate, dropping thirteen needy bean sprouts, how could he possibly take care of them?
"Before you leave, I have a few words to say."
The team leader clasped his hands behind his back and cleared his throat, "Let me introduce myself first; I'm Bi Jianguo from Qingshan Commune, the team leader of Silly Deer Team.
You can call me Bi, Uncle Bi, whatever. Our rule here is: as long as you're not dragging us down, causing trouble, or making disturbances, I generally won't bother you."
Bao Wenxuan couldn't help herself, whispered to Wen Ran, "Is it okay if I slack off?"
Wen Ran: "…Should be okay?"
Indeed, her question hit the mark with Wen Ran.
If she could avoid working, she naturally wouldn't want to do it. She had money and resources, wasn't going to hold the team back even by slacking off; she could support herself, this confident.
While Bi Jianguo talked, he led the educated youths to the point for them, chatting away on the road.
The educated youths dragged their bags, grumbling.
This educated youth point was really too remote.
The point differed from their imagination, lacking a large yard; it was just a row of shabby little houses, with two small vegetable plots opened up by the entrance, with vegetables inside growing well.
Near the building were two large water tanks; behind them was a pile of wood, with a small standalone hut adjacent. Wen Ran observed closely, guessing it was the kitchen.
"Zhang Zhiqing, are you there?"
Soon, the door opened, and a male educated youth stepped out, tall and slender, catching Wen Ran's gaze.
The perfect image of a young noble.
"Uncle Bi," Zhang Zhijie coughed, looking frail all over, "Are these the new educated youths?"
"Yes, take care of the arrangements."
Bi Jianguo turned to Wen Ran and the others, "This is the leader of the educated point, Zhang Zhijie. If you have any problems, go to him. If he can't solve them, come to me."
Zhang Zhijie surveyed the new educated youth, frowning, "Why are there so many?"
Bi Jianguo hesitated, "Any problem with that?"
"We have ten bunks left, fitting seven men is more than enough but for female educated youths, we only have three spots left, leaving three with nowhere to go."
Alright, Wen Ran knew, conflict was about to break out.
She closed her eyes, and before she could speak, she was shoved off balance.
If Bao Wenxuan hadn't instinctively caught her, Wen Ran would have fallen flat on her face.
Looking up, it was Li Gaolian.
Clutching her bag, while everyone was still reacting, she dashed inside first. Zuo Xinyue glanced at Wen Ran, sheepishly, "Sorry, she's not usually like this."
Wen Ran: "…"
She plastered a fake smile, not sparing them, her tone sulky as she delivered the soft dig, "It's nothing, just remind her next time to bring her eyes along when she walks."