Restarting life in Siheyuan

Chapter 104 Walking on the road

One day later, the students had already brought food and water bottles early, some even wore big straw hats, and gathered in groups at the school gate.

Seeing that the time was approaching eight o'clock, Zhu Xuefeng and Xia Yuhong had not arrived. The squad leader was a little anxious. Zhu Xuefeng took the lead. Everyone was here, and the organizer was gone.

"Didi," the horn rang several times, and the students subconsciously gave way. Two trucks came with half a shed on the not-so-wide road. A closer look revealed that they were cars from a steel rolling mill.

The truck came to the school gate and stopped, ignoring the students who were trying to avoid it.

In the surprise of the students, the cabs of the two trucks opened, and Zhu Xuefeng and Xia Yuhong jumped out respectively.

Zhu Xuefeng raised his hands and signaled, and then the students became quiet.

"Today, the steel rolling mill specially arranged this event in order to educate students on patriotism. We are going to the mountainous areas of Yanqing and to the poor and lower-middle peasants in the mountainous areas."

“To understand how our working people worked hard and relied on themselves in difficult times, we must also listen to the revolutionary masses’ revolutionary deeds and understand that our victory did not come easily.”

"This time it is the DW organization of the steel rolling mill. Comrades from the steel rolling mill office, publicity department, and driver class sent us to receive education. Everyone is welcome!"

Most of the students were confused. A few were somewhat aware, but when they heard the applause, they still subconsciously applauded hard.

Xiao Ma from the factory office, Xiao Liu from the publicity department, and driver Uncle Wang also came out to say hello to everyone.

"Okay, now hang the banner on the car."

Xia Yuhong hurriedly took down four banners from the car: Strong support for high school graduates to receive revolutionary re-education!
With the help of the driver, everyone hung up the banner. The students were inexplicably excited and seemed to be more interesting.

"Now, please ask the squad leader to divide the students into groups and arrange for the students to get on the bus. We will set off immediately!"

Xia Changqing, Liu Jiaqi and Zhu Xuefeng got into the first car. After Huang Shaohua and Zhou Qianqian organized people to get into the second car, they also climbed into the first car and handed the second car to deputy squad leader Wang Zhuo.

There were some flags piled up in both carriages, so there was no need to arrange this. The students happily put up the flags, and for a while the flags covered the sun. It was so lively.

Now the other four members of the preparatory team were confused throughout the whole process. It was not until both teams boarded the truck that Zhu Xuefeng briefly introduced the situation.

The steel rolling mill is responsible for all study expenses throughout the process, including food, accommodation and transportation. Students are responsible for their own tickets, but they have to submit several study reports.

Xia Changqing excitedly punched Zhu Xuefeng. This movement just made everyone confused.

Originally, Secretary Chen's plan was to use loudspeakers to promote patriotic education before leaving the city. Zhu Xuefeng felt that the noise was too loud and raised objections on the grounds that it would disturb the work of other agencies and groups in the city. Secretary Chen did not insist on it, so he gave up.

Just like this, I walked around the factory area, and then walked out of the city along Dongzhimen. I attracted countless looks along the way.

The destination was Yanqing County in CP District, which had just been transferred from Zhangjiakou a few years ago. At this time, Yanqing County was still sparsely populated, with only more than [-] people.

We soon left the city. As expected, the hills outside the city were all bare. It must have been repaired by the firewood collectors, which seriously damaged the ecological environment.

It was a long way out of the city, and after passing Changping, the crowds became even sparse, and finally I saw the rolling green hills. The continuous green hills were still very beautiful, for students who basically never left the city.

The two cars became even more lively, with more than 20 people in each car. Most of the students were traveling far away for the first time. In the end, everyone unanimously agreed to sing "We Walk on the Road".

(Published in 1963, here is a preview)
We are walking on the road

High-spirited and high-spirited,

…leading the revolutionary ranks,
Overcome the thorns and rush forward.

go ahead!go ahead!
The revolutionary momentum is unstoppable...

The two cars started singing at the same time, and even the driver started singing together. The singing floated far and wide on the mountain road...

The songs were loud and loud, one after another, until everyone's voices were hoarse and they were talking to each other. You looked at me, I looked at you, and then laughed together...

Xia Yuhong was extremely depressed. If she had known she would be riding in the carriage, she would be embarrassed to sing in the cab, so it would be better for the driver to let go.

The driver was obviously inspired by the singing, and kept going forward and forward, driving very fast. The classmates who were making a fuss didn't pay attention at all, and there was no need for motion sickness medicine.

As a result, it only took three hours to reach the foot of the Great Wall, almost an hour ahead of schedule. This revolutionary song did improve labor efficiency, but at the cost of everyone being shaken to pieces, but with the high morale, no one could Motion sickness.

According to the division of labor, Zhu Xuefeng was responsible for contacting the local area, so after getting off the bus, Zhu Xuefeng, Xiao Liu from the Publicity Department and Xiao Ma from the factory office went to the nearest Xiguan Village and found the village party secretary.

Xiguan Village is not big, with less than 100 households and more than [-] people in the village, but it is considered a big village nearby. There is little cultivated land and the population is widely distributed. Villages and villages are built according to local conditions.

The village party secretary, surnamed Liu, is very enthusiastic. He is very happy that the students come to receive education and offers all support to do a good job in revolutionary education.

The car drove to the village canteen, and the students helped unload the car. The steel rolling mill canteen provided some rice, corn, cob ballast, a small amount of vegetables and very little meat. In addition, the students all brought their own dry food, which should be enough to eat.

It is very difficult for mountain villages now. It is impossible to entertain guests for free like in previous years. Even dozens of people cannot afford to receive them, so they all bring their own food.

There was still a lot of corn drying in the square at the entrance of the canteen. It must be that the spring corn has not been processed yet. Several women looked at it and kept chasing away the approaching hens.

It was almost lunch time, and meals were being eaten in the village canteen. Most of the students had never been to the countryside, but Zhu Xuefeng really wanted everyone to visit the canteen.

The villagers ate rice porridge made of multigrain and sweet potato, so thin that there were not even a few grains of rice visible. There were also some green vegetables, Japanese melons, cucumbers and cut pickles. There was no meat at all. A few men were nibbling on steamed buns.

A few people who had finished eating in a hurry said that the bowls were clean and there was no need to wash them. The villagers who had not finished eating were wiping their steamed buns in the bowls. Zhu Xuefeng had seen eating in the canteen of Niu Village, so there was no surprise, but the classmates Extremely shocked indeed.

"This is what they eat. This is lunch. Also, why don't the children and women come to eat?"

The village chief, whose surname was Yan, reluctantly explained a few words to everyone in a low voice.

"These people who come to eat will have to work in the fields for a while. It's their turn after they finish eating..."

Liu Jiaqi and Zhou Qin even shed tears on the spot, but were persuaded by Guo Ting and Chen Rui.

Zhu Xuefeng exchanged grains from the village for some sweet potatoes. At noon, the students ate sweet potato and multi-grain rice, which they all made by themselves. Although the craftsmanship was not very good, the food was still much better than that in the village.

After lunch, the driver drove back to the city and made an appointment to pick us up in the afternoon of the third day.

……

Nowadays, there is not enough food in the city, but no matter how hard it is, a worker in a steel rolling mill still has more than 40 kilograms per month (heavy physical labor), high school boys 28 kilograms, and girls 25 kilograms. This is because the standard has been lowered this year. Later, it used to be 31 for boys and 28 for girls.

Although most of them are whole grains, they are close to one pound a day. The reason why he is not full is that Zhu Xuefeng believes that the key is not having enough food and water, and not being hungry all the time.

In later generations, there are a few people who can eat thirty kilograms of grain in a month, but there is still no oil or water. But if you want oil and water, you have to breed, and breeding consumes grain. There is no solution.

I really miss Grandpa Yuan, and I don’t know what progress his research has made now. Zhu Xuefeng’s biology high school was okay, but he has never been exposed to it again. With this little knowledge accumulation, he can’t even make a seedless watermelon, let alone give it to him. Hybrid rice has accelerated.

(End of this chapter)