Rebirth of Wu Tong

Chapter 4

The master's family had already risen, and as guests, it was only appropriate for Wu Tong and Chu Qing not to sit idly. Hastily getting off the kang and putting on their shoes, they entered the main hall. There, they found Yu Lei holding a porcelain jar, sipping hot water, presumably having suffered from the cold outside. Meanwhile, Madam Yu looked at her son with immense pride, offering caring words like "drink slowly" and "be careful not to choke." Wu Tong couldn't help but sigh with envy. If her mother were still alive, she would probably feel fortunate as well.

"Are you Wu Tong and Chu Qing? Hello, I'm Yu Lei, a few years older than you. You can call me Brother Yu..." Apparently, Madam Yu had already informed her son about the guests. Yu Lei, upon seeing the two young girls, wasn't surprised. However, a gentle blush adorned his handsome face. After all, he was a young man in his early twenties, and encountering pretty girls still made him a bit bashful.

"Hello, Brother Yu..." The two girls greeted openly. Wu Tong, with her innocent appearance, didn't blush at the sight of the opposite s*x. As for Chu Qing, she matured later and, having grown up playing with mischievous younger brothers and boys, still had a pure and unpretentious outlook on the opposite s*x.

Seeing the two girls being at ease, Yu Lei, too, relaxed. He quickly became acquainted with Wu Tong and Chu Qing. Being close in age and having common topics, the three engaged in lively conversation. Despite Yu Lei's ambitious and sometimes unscrupulous ways to achieve his goals, Wu Tong admired his talents and knowledge. Yu Lei was not only knowledgeable but also witty and humorous in conversation, courteous in his demeanor. It's no wonder he had admirers not only in the small mountain village but also in the nearby small county town. If he were born into a more favorable environment, his future would indeed be limitless. Unfortunately, fate placed him in this impoverished and inconspicuous mountain village, forcing him to resort to some less honorable means to stand out. In this moment, Wu Tong's view of him lacked personal emotions, becoming more objective. Perhaps his feelings for her in the past were genuine, but love, no matter how sincere, couldn't surpass future prospects.

After spending some time at Madam Yu's home, Chu Qing bid farewell, pulling Wu Tong along. Their tasks for the day were not small, and they couldn't spend all their time in one place, even though they felt comfortable and happy at Madam Yu's. As the two left, disappointment flickered on Yu Lei's face. It had been a long time since he had such a thorough conversation with someone, especially the charming Wu Tong, a young girl he found admirable for her broad knowledge and unique perspectives.

Wu Tong, with her doll-like face and a voice that was clear and crisp, appeared younger than her actual age. Others unintentionally treated her like a child. As for Chu Qing, being the eldest at home and accustomed to taking care of mischievous younger brothers, she unconsciously cared for those around her. Wu Tong, being only a year younger but looking more delicate, became her focal point of attention. When the two young women, led by Chu Qing like she was holding a child, appeared, the fellow educated youth didn't find it unusual. Instead, they teased, "Oh, here comes Chu Qing. Is your little sister feeling better now?"

Chu Qing, always good-natured, had dealt with these people while seeking a doctor for Wu Tong and had become familiar with them. She replied with a smile, "Yes, thanks for your kind words. My little sister is much better now. We came to thank you all, our lifesavers."

Wu Tong also showed a shy and modest smile, sincerely expressing her gratitude. People in this era were still simple and straightforward. Most of the young people came to this challenging place for the lofty ideals of socialist modernization. While some were compelled by circumstances, the majority willingly embraced the challenge. Regardless of the practical significance of their actions, their sincerity and initial intentions were commendable and admirable. Wu Tong genuinely respected and admired these young people filled with passionate ideals, even though they were not aware of the complex realities they would face.

"Recovered, that's good. Be more careful in the future. Your health is the capital of the revolution, and you can't afford to be careless..." A seemingly honest and upright young man named Li Aiguo advised. He, too, came from the capital, and naturally, he paid more attention to Wu Tong, who also hailed from there. When Wu Tong was in a deep sleep due to illness, it was him who walked through rain and snow to the neighboring village to fetch a doctor. He was a reliable and kind older brother, well-respected and popular among the educated youth.

"Such a pampered young lady like her, how could she endure hardship? Hmph..." This girl, Li Lin, who seemed to dislike Wu Tong for some reason, voiced her disdain. Wu Tong couldn't recall where she came from, as she didn't bother remembering insignificant people. However, she vaguely remembered Li Lin as the mean girl who made both her and Chu Qing, inexperienced young girls, suffer. Li Lin might appear straightforward and lacking in cunning, but beneath her seemingly blunt exterior, she had plenty of hidden motives.

"Got it, Brother Li. I'll be more careful in the future..." Wu Tong ignored the malicious remarks from the unpleasant girl and replied with a smile. Having lived for so many years, she knew that some people disliked you for no reason, and there was no need to waste time resolving conflicts with such psychologically disturbed individuals. The more you compromised, the more ruthless they became. The best way to deal with such people was to ignore them directly. Then, when they tried to mistreat you, respond without hesitation. Only then would they restrain themselves. Otherwise, peace would be elusive.

Being directly ignored by Wu Tong left Li Lin feeling embarrassed. Since no one else spoke up against Wu Tong's supposed impoliteness, she could only stomp back to her room with heavy steps, seething with frustration. This small episode had no impact on the lively conversation among the others.

"Oh, by the way, have you both been assigned your work?" Li Aiguo looked at the two slender and young girls with some concern. If the leader assigned these two girls to the production team, he wasn't sure if they could handle the labor. Even he, a tall and strong young man, returned home exhausted every day. How could these two petite girls endure it?

"We've been assigned. We're both going to work as teachers at the school. I'll be teaching Chinese, and Xiaotong will be teaching math..." Chu Qing was quite satisfied with this arrangement. After all, even if they were determined to dedicate themselves to the noble ideals, no one wanted to toil in hard labor with their face to the ground and back to the sky. Moreover, the two came from big cities and had little experience with farming. Sending them to work in the fields would not be a wise idea. As long as they didn't cause trouble, it should be fine. They still had some free time, after all.

In the current schools, students spent half their time studying and the other half doing labor. However, there were no formal

textbooks; they used locally printed teaching materials, mainly reading articles from newspapers in class. The school didn't follow a regular curriculum; the whole class discussed and studied the theory of proletarian dictatorship. However, labor was a fixed part of their daily routine. From two in the afternoon until dinner, students were engaged in various forms of labor. Even though the quantity might be less, they still had to work. Wu Tong and Chu Qing were quite satisfied because, despite the labor, they still had half a day of free time.

As noon approached, the two, who were a bit tired, bid farewell to the welcoming group and returned home. With their tasks completed, the two girls, who weren't too interested in socializing, preferred to stay in their humble but private space. Although the cottage was simple, it was a temporary haven they could call their own, making them feel a sense of security.

After a simple lunch, the tired duo chatted for a while and then retired to their respective rooms for an afternoon nap. With no entertainment available and even books being f*******n, they had limited options for passing the time.

Once Chu Qing made sure her neighboring friend was sound asleep, Wu Tong closed the doors and windows and entered the mysterious space. The strange environment remained the same, with damp and soft black soil and dense white fog, maintaining an eerie silence. Alone in this silence, Wu Tong felt a bit frightened. However, her instincts assured her that there was nothing to harm her. She mustered the courage to explore this mysterious place.

As expected, there were no clues. Wu Tong could only reluctantly attribute it to the "aftereffects" of her rebirth. After all, with such a miraculous phenomenon as soul return, a mysterious space wasn't that surprising. Wu Tong looked at the dark soil beneath her feet, pondering a faint idea.