Chapter 102: The Many Facets of Life

Yun Yingying, having received Han Li’s assurance, went to help in the outer room with a bright smile. Their conversation was clearly heard by the few people cutting oil and tending the fire there.

Yun Jingjing looked at her sister with a faint smile, while the others each had their own thoughts. At this moment, Yang Xiuying spoke up.

“When the time comes, I want to catch a wolverine too. It’d be best if each of us could catch one. Aunt Zhang told me that wolverine fur is very useful—it has no fishy smell and is excellent at keeping out the cold. If each of us had one to lay on the kang bed, those cold days would be much more comfortable.”

Han Li sat on the kang but didn’t respond to her words. If wolverines were that easy to catch, Lord De wouldn’t have gone so hungry for three days.

However, Han Li couldn’t stay inside forever; it would be impolite. But when he went to the outer room, some of them were still idle and didn’t need his interference.

Thinking that free labor shouldn’t be wasted, Han Li said to them, “Then you might as well help me steam two baskets of cornmeal buns. We’ve added a few wolf-dog hybrids at home, and they eat quite a lot.”

Yun Yingying was still thinking about hunting with the dogs, so she confidently patted her chest and agreed first. “You can count on us sisters for this small task. But once those wolf-dogs are trained, let me take them for a walk around the perimeter.”

Seeing her enthusiasm, Han Li nodded and agreed to her request.

At this time, Yang Xiuying asked, “Han Li, you got seven letters all at once yesterday, right? They’re from your classmates?”

Hao Hongmin had already handed the letters to Han Li that morning. Although two had new addresses, he hadn’t had a chance to read them yet.

Han Li replied, “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I almost forgot. After breakfast, I went straight to work. By noon, I was covered in dirt. Washed up, ate, rested a bit, and then went back to work. I still haven’t had time to read them.”

Yang Xiuying remarked, “Your classmates really have perseverance. Don’t you feel moved by their sincere efforts?”

“It’s not as complicated as you think,” Han Li said. “It’s just normal correspondence among classmates, sharing experiences of rural life and learning about local customs. It’s a way to broaden our horizons.”

At that moment, Yun Jingjing suddenly had an idea. She said to Han Li, “Could you tell us about the places your classmates were sent to? We’d like to learn more.”

It was just about understanding the lifestyle and customs in other rural areas—nothing secret. If it involved privacy, she could skip reading. It was just a way to find some amusement in dull days.

“Coincidentally, I haven’t read them yet. I’ll open and read them aloud for everyone,” Han Li said.

He took all the letters except for two from unfamiliar addresses and one from his family. He casually tore one open, glanced over it, and began to share.

The classmate who wrote this letter was sent to an area further east of Shanghe Village, where conditions were much worse.

In one house, three sides—south, north, and west—were all kang beds, with only a small space near the door to store things.

Otherwise, it was similar to Shanghe Village, with kang cabinets and kang tables.

However, the village’s atmosphere was poor, with all sorts of troubles frequently occurring.

The second letter was from a classmate sent slightly south, where the situation was very grim.

Villagers there were in severe conflict with the educated youth; neither side tolerated the other.

The root cause was that the educated youth had nearly wiped out all the fish in the river, leaving villagers without fish for almost a year.

Because of this, a local who had taught the youths how to build fish weirs became despondent and took rat poison.

After the incident, his wife revealed the whole story.

At first, out of pity, they had taught the youths how to make fish weirs and repeatedly warned them to use large mesh nets so as not to catch all the fish, as that would be cruel.

The youths agreed, but no one expected that the next day they built a completely destructive trap.

They caught both big and small fish in sacks, hauling them back by the bagful to their dormitory.

The youths feasted daily on whole fish, salting the surplus.

The local had urged them multiple times to dismantle the fish weirs.

But the youths insisted that natural resources couldn’t be depleted, claiming scientific backing.

They dismissed the local’s concerns as superstition and threatened to report him if he complained further, scaring him into silence.

Soon enough, the river was emptied of fish.

Once this spread, the villagers were furious, but the youths refused to admit fault.

They blamed upstream depletion for the absence of fish and denied responsibility for the local’s death.

This led to outright hostility between villagers and educated youth, a situation persisting over a year.

Even though fish have since returned, relations remain strained.

The new educated youths suffered from this conflict, becoming practically unwelcome in the village.

After Han Li finished, the room fell silent.

Especially the young women—they felt their lives were hard enough as it was.

If the whole village turned against them so that they couldn’t even trade for vegetables or eggs, how could they survive?

Fortunately, their own village didn’t have so many troubles. Except for Liang Wu’s family, who liked to take advantage, the other villagers were mostly amiable.

Han Li paused, then tore open the third letter. This classmate was quite peculiar, her writing brimming with pride.

She admitted she couldn’t endure rural life after such a short time and had resorted to a trick to avoid labor.

Using some unknown channel, she had obtained a medical certificate for a contagious disease similar to tuberculosis.

When writing the letter, she had already arranged to return to the city and was likely nearing the Fourth Nine City.

Yang Xiuying’s eyes brightened upon hearing this. “Can we use this method to go back to the city too?”

Yun Jingjing immediately poured cold water on her. “That method works, but you’ll be ruined. Returning with a contagious disease requires follow-up examinations. If they find you faking it, it’ll be recorded in your file. Your life will be much harder—no jobs, no promotions, nothing. That file will follow you forever.”

Yang Xiuying wouldn’t give up and asked, “Is there no other way?”

Yun Jingjing replied, “There is. You can have someone help you avoid the follow-up exams. But since it’s a contagious disease, you won’t be allowed to live at home. The neighborhood committee will assign you some shabby place, and they’ll check on you regularly. No factory will hire you, so no income. Reapplying for rural work is impossible unless your family can support you for life. Unless you have connections to erase those records, it’s best not to try.”

Yun Jingjing’s words were essentially accurate, reflecting the harsh reality.

Yang Xiuying fell silent with a bitter expression; the others also quieted.

Seeing this, Han Li put away the letters and went outside to train the wolf-dogs.

While he was in the yard, Qi Zhaodi came in carrying a basket.

“Han Li, guess what I found in the mountains today?”

Han Li looked at the excited girl, puzzled. What could she find wandering nearby?

“What good thing?”

Qi Zhaodi set the basket before Han Li, overflowing and covered with wild vegetables.

After removing the vegetables, Han Li saw two naturally shed deer antlers.

Though Han Li couldn’t identify the species, the antlers had many tines, indicating a strong, mature stag.

Male deer use their antlers to display strength and compete for mates.

After the mating season, however, the large antlers become burdensome.

Many deer shed their antlers before winter to conserve energy for the cold months.

They regrow again the following spring.

As Han Li examined the impressive antlers, Qi Zhaodi stammered, “I heard these antlers are excellent medicinal materials. How much do you think I could get if I sold them? I want to calculate if I have enough money to buy cotton fabric for clothes.”

Naturally shed antlers are medicinal but wouldn’t fetch enough to buy much cotton.

If one didn’t mind the trouble, they could be boiled down into deer antler glue, which sells for a higher price.

Qi Zhaodi was soon to face this hardship, and Han Li’s heart softened.

“How about you give me these antlers? I’ll make deer antler glue to send home for my family’s health. Leave the cotton clothes to me—I’ll try to get them for you as soon as possible.”

Qi Zhaodi asked, “Can these antlers really get me a whole set of cotton clothes?”

“Not now, but after making the glue, it’ll be close. If it falls short, I’ll make up the difference.”

Qi Zhaodi was at a loss for words, doubtful that these antlers could buy her clothes.

But she had no other options. Warm clothes had become urgent.

She’d heard from villagers that after some years here, it would snow in the autumn harvest.

Now that she was starting to live well, if she didn’t want to freeze to death, she had to accept Han Li’s kindness.

“Han Li, thank you so much. I haven’t even repaid you for the clinic visit yet, and now you’re helping me again like this. I know this isn’t worth that much. If it falls short, you must tell me—I’ll find a way to pay you back no matter what.”

While Han Li’s home bustled with activity, smoke and fire once again enveloped the village committee office.

(End of chapter)