Interstellar Educated Youth:Farming In The Seventies

Chapter Five

The heavy wooden wheels of the ox cart creaked loudly as it bumped along the winding mountain trail toward Red Star Commune. Dust kicked up in golden clouds beneath the afternoon sun, painting the surrounding pine forests and wild bamboo thickets in a warm, rustic glow.

Near the back of the cart, Liu Mei leaned heavily against the wooden railing, letting out a soft, delicate wail. She clutched her forehead, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she cast a helpless glance toward Tang Bo and the wealthy boys. "Oh... the road is so terribly rough. My head is spinning... I don't think my fragile stomach can take much more of this."

Tang Bo immediately puffed out his chest, reaching into his pack to offer her a folded spare coat, but Su Qing and Fang Rong quickly pulled their tailored wool hems away to avoid touching her. Su Qing adjusted her sunhat, whispering behind her hand to Fang Rong, "Honestly, an hour on a dirt road and she acts as if she’s made of glass. How embarrassing." Fang Rong gave a subtle, disdainful nod, looking down her nose at the dramatic display.

Watching the spectacle from the far corner, Gu Chenchen leaned back against a heavy sack of grain, a cold, mocking smirk playing on her lips. In her past life, she had surrendered her own warm blanket and meager rations to comfort Liu Mei during this exact journey, only for the girl to turn around and steal her work credits months later. Now, seeing Liu Mei pull the exact same green-tea performance, Gu Chenchen merely closed her eyes and let out a soft sneer, completely unbothered.

Up front, Lin Fan sat right beside Zhao Feng. The violent bumps of the cart vibrated through his frail, unaccustomed frame, making his knuckles pale as he held onto the wooden bench for stability. Yet, his dark eyes were wide and bright. Every jolt sent the crisp scent of rich humus, wild pines, and damp mineral earth rushing into his lungs. To him, the rough ride was an absolute luxury—he was surrounded by living nature.

Zhao Feng glanced down at the pale youth sitting beside him. Seeing Lin Fan’s trembling fingers and flushed cheeks, the captain’s chest tightened with quiet, protective concern. The poor boy is in absolute physical agony from this mountain track, yet he suffers in silence without uttering a single word of complaint, Zhao Feng thought, mentally scolding himself for taking the rough shortcut.

Clearing his throat, Zhao Feng’s deep voice boomed over the creaking of the cart, cutting through the chatter. "Listen up. We’re ten minutes from the village. You’ll be assigned beds at the Educated Youth Dormitory, but before we land, you need to know who to deal with—and who to stay away from."

The youths fell quiet, listening intently as the captain continued.

"Red Star Commune is peaceful, but keep your eyes open. First, stay away from Auntie Zhang down at the west end. She’s the village gossip; if you sneeze near her yard, the whole brigade will hear by dusk that you have lung trouble. Second, watch out for Wang Er, the village loafer. He’s lazy, hot-tempered, and loves picking fights with city youths to steal cigarette coupons. If he bothers you, come straight to me."

Zhao Feng glanced back over his shoulder, his stern gaze locking onto the arrogant wealthy boys before resting gently on Lin Fan. "Do your work, keep out of petty feuds, and don't wander into the deep forest behind the mountain after dark. Respect the land, and the land will feed you."

The dirt track narrowed into a jagged ledge carved directly into the mountain's flank. Below, a roaring mountain stream churned over gray boulders, its spray misting the wild ferns and thick moss lining the trail.

Without warning, the ox cart's right wheel plunged into a deep, hidden rut beneath the loose gravel. The heavy wooden frame lurched violently to the side with a sharp, sickening creak of iron and timber.

Lin Fan, caught completely off guard by the sudden jolt, lost his precarious grip on the wooden rim. His frail body swayed over the open air, momentum dragging him headfirst toward the edge of the cart.

Before a cry could even leave his throat, a massive, warm arm shot out. Zhao Feng’s military-honed instincts kicked in instantly—his broad arm wrapped firmly around Lin Fan’s slender waist, hauling him backward and pulling him flush against his broad, solid chest.

The impact was sudden and warm. For a suspended breath, the world shrank down to the steady, thunderous thrum of Zhao Feng’s heartbeat against Lin Fan’s back and the heavy, protective grip holding him securely against the cart's wooden bench.

Zhao Feng’s breath caught in his throat. He had braced himself to catch a full-grown young man, but holding Lin Fan felt almost frightening. The youth was shockingly lightweight, his waist so narrow that Zhao Feng’s calloused fingers seemed to wrap halfway around him. Beneath the thin fabric of his shirt, Lin Fan felt delicate, as if a single rough movement might break him.

Lin Fan blinked, his dark eyes wide with surprise as he looked up. Their faces were inches apart, the mountain breeze tossing soft locks of hair across Lin Fan's flushed cheeks.

"Thank you, Captain," Lin Fan murmured, his voice soft, slightly breathless, and entirely sincere.

A sharp heat rushed straight to Zhao Feng’s ears, spreading down his neck beneath his faded military collar. He released his grip quickly, though his hand lingered on the boy's shoulder just a second longer than necessary to ensure his balance.

"Hold on tight," Zhao Feng barked out, his deep voice carrying a sudden, flustered roughness as he turned his gaze rigidly back toward the mountain path. "The roads out here don't spare city folk who don't watch their step."

Watching from the back of the cart, Liu Mei bit her lip in annoyance at the captain's instant rescue, while Gu Chenchen merely smirked, leaning back against her grain sack with satisfied indifference.

Up front, Zhao Feng stared straight ahead, his calloused palm still tingling from the faint lingering warmth of the boy's waist. He's far too fragile, the captain thought, a tight, stubborn protectiveness taking root deep in his chest. I'll be damned before I let the brigade cadres throw this boy into the heavy logging pits.

The ox cart crested the final mountain ridge, and Red Star Commune unfolded below them like a broad emerald canvas. Nestled in a lush, bowl-shaped valley, rows of rustic mud-brick houses with straw-thatched roofs were scattered among vibrant green rice paddies and terraced fields. Plumes of pale woodsmoke curled lazily from chimney pots into the clear mountain sky, carrying the heavy scent of burning pine, damp topsoil, and roasting sweet potatoes.

The immediate reactions among the educated youths could not have been more different.

Tang Bo wrinkled his nose in visible disgust, pulling his wool scarf over his mouth. "Is that... manure? We're going to be living in a pig sty!" Beside him, Su Qing and Fang Rong pulled their skirts tight, staring in horror at the roaming chickens and muddy paths. Liu Mei immediately leaned her head back, letting out another theatrical sigh for the wealthy boys to hear.

Across the cart, Gu Chenchen stared down at the village square with cold, quiet eyes, recognizing the exact spot where her past life's tragedies had begun—and resolving never to be taken advantage of again.

For Lin Fan, however, the view was breathtaking. He gripped the wooden cart railing, his dark eyes sparkling as he took in the sheer abundance of life: deep, dark loam stretching across the valley, unchecked wild brush, and rows of thriving green crops. It was a living ecosystem, completely unblemished by metallic gray dust or toxic fallout. His chest swelled with pure, unadulterated awe.

The cart ground to a halt in the central square beneath the wide shade of a massive, ancient locust tree. Waiting near the brigade office was a weathered man in his late fifties, his face carved with deep, sun-baked lines and a long wooden tobacco pipe tucked into his belt. This was Village Chief Sun. Beside him stood his plump, sharp-eyed wife, Auntie Sun, wearing a clean indigo apron and carrying a heavy tray of steaming enamel mugs.

"Old Zhao! You finally brought the city youths!" Chief Sun called out, knocking his pipe against his leather shoe as he stepped forward with a broad, gap-toothed smile.

"Welcome, welcome!" Auntie Sun chimed in, setting the tray down on a wooden bench. "You children must be parched and bruised after that mountain trail. Drink some hot boiled water!"

Tang Bo stepped down first, scowling as he looked around. "Where are our private living quarters, Chief? And when do we receive our specialized office assignments?"

Chief Sun let out a dry, booming laugh, exchanging a glance with his wife. "Private quarters? Office assignments? Son, out here, everyone shares the communal kang beds, and your assignment is whatever field needs weeding!"

Before Liu Mei could step forward to put on her delicate, tearful routine to request a better bed, Auntie Sun’s sharp, experienced eyes scanned the group. The moment Liu Mei tried her helpless act, Auntie Sun handed her a plain enamel cup with a crisp, unsentimental smile that instantly cut off the girl's drama.

Then, Auntie Sun’s gaze landed on Lin Fan as he prepared to climb down. "Oh, my goodness... look at this young man," she murmured softly, her heart softening at his pale skin and thin frame. "He looks like a delicate porcelain doll. Will he survive the field work?"

Before Lin Fan could jump down from the high cart, Zhao Feng was already there. Moving with sudden, protective haste, the tall captain offered his broad, calloused hand, taking Lin Fan’s elbow to steady his gentle landing on the dirt ground.

Auntie Sun caught the unusual attentiveness in her notoriously stoic, aloof team captain. Her eyebrows shot up in subtle surprise, a knowing, amused glint flickering in her eyes as she watched Zhao Feng quickly let go of the blushing youth's arm.

Lin Fan stepped onto the unpaved square, his cloth shoes sinking slightly into the soft, cool dirt. Looking at Chief Sun and Auntie Sun, he offered a quiet, genuine smile. "Thank you for the water, Auntie. It's an honor to be here."