Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart
Chapter 82 - 81: The Beginnings of Involution

Chapter 82: Chapter 81: The Beginnings of Involution

After the meeting, the folks of the Ten Miles Team spent the busiest leisure time during the farming off-season.

One naturally busy with the construction of the elementary school.

Li Dahe marked a piece of land between the team headquarters and the grain drying yard, planning to build eight rooms: five classrooms, two teachers’ offices, and one teacher’s dormitory.

This location was also chosen by him and Accountant Zhao after pondering overnight. It wasn’t the flattest and easiest place to build, but it was where the most foot traffic was.

That way, they were also not afraid of any bad people coming to the school to snatch the kids.

Even though they also felt that no one would want those little rascals even if they were given away for free.

After marking the territory, the village’s experienced builders started the lively construction, and Second Uncle Li began making desks and chairs, with wood shavings flying around his courtyard all day and night.

The second major event in the team was mainly done by the aunties.

They diligently made up "lies" about Miao Hongqi, trying their best to create an atmosphere as if there had been a Miao Hongqi among the Educated Youth Corps four years ago, even fabricating a few deeds she had done.

Then they reminded each other daily.

Although everyone thought that the old shrew of the Miao Family would not come back, they still pondered every day, while weeding, watering the fields, and even while catching insects.

They even covered the graveyard and put up a tombstone.

While the villagers were busy, the educated youths were also not idle.

Miao Hongqi’s health improved, and the number of people taking care of her changed from two to one. It had been some days since the female educated youths had a full attendance.

But their work points were never missed.

Male educated youths covered the work of those absent.

No one took the lead; it was just Sun Guanghui silently pulling weeds in Miao Hongqi’s assigned field.

Then, the others followed.

The men in the Educated Youth Corps were indeed blockheads. It took them three days to remember they should report to the team leader after Wang Shumei reminded them...

The team leader and the scorekeeper carefully checked the previous days’ fields and made up the points for Miao Hongqi and the absent female educated youths.

Their actions were impressive to the aunties; previously, they always said these guys were tight-lipped, but now —

"Look, those seven blockheads are coming."

’The Seven Blockhead Brothers’ indeed took some leading role, and the young men in the village came to help out when they had nothing to do, even Zhao Zhuangshi was scolded and chased by Uncle Guan, coming every day to work two rows of fields.

On the day of the Summer Solstice, it rained. This gave the villagers a sigh of relief, as rain on the Summer Solstice meant no shortage of water; the hearts of these farmers, who relied on the heavens for their sustenance, were no longer anxious.

"Hezi, how about we go mushroom picking tomorrow?"

By the kang table, Wen Lan lifted her head from the math problems and asked despondently while looking at the curtain of rain.

Tell them —

"The commune doesn’t have that many teachers, just sent a principal down. It mainly relies on you educated youths to take responsibility, needing to recruit six private teachers altogether. After the school is built, you all take the exams, and those with high scores get the positions."

The pay for private teachers isn’t as good as that for public teachers, a subsidy of five yuan per month, but they can earn points, ten points a day!

In fact, in this era, rural education was mostly supported by private teachers, and educated youths comprised more than half of these private teachers.

Lately, everyone in the Educated Youth Corps fervently read books; even Comrade Tiechui from the health post was stuffed with a set of textbooks by Lin Nianhe.

To compete for work points and subsidies, the official race of involution began.

Lin Nianhe sat on a chair with a book of quotations, seemingly flipping through leisurely, but in reality, her brain was working at high speed, memorizing frantically.

It was only during collective review sessions that she realized her biggest problem in studying —

She only knew a few well-known lines from the quotations of the great man.

While almost everyone else knew them by heart.

This was a big deal, and Lin Nianhe could only hurry to memorize as fast as she could.

Yet she dared not admit she couldn’t memorize, only maintaining a calm and collected facade.

After all, in this era, those who don’t know the quotes are the odd ones out.

Lin Nianhe recited a passage, then finally responded to Wen Lan’s words: "No, I’m going to read."

"Eh?" Wen Lan was already bombarded with learning, her head nearly exploding, "Come on, it doesn’t rain very often, and tomorrow there will be lots of mushrooms on the mountain. Let’s pick some to improve our meals."

As she spoke, she slapped Wang Shumei’s thigh: "Meizi, don’t you agree?"

Wang Shumei shivered, and the pencil in her hand dropped onto the kang (a traditional heatable brick bed), the tip broken.

She picked up the pencil, looking painfully at the shortened tip, then turned and glared fiercely at Wen Lan.

Wen Lan, resting her cheek on her hand, watched the rain obliviously, completely unaware of Wang Shumei’s resentment.

In Sister Lan’s eyes, only a fist in front of her could be considered a threat.

Lin Nianhe silently finished reciting the passage, put down the book, stretched lazily, and walked to the window.

The distant Qingshan Mountains were shrouded in a layer of mist, blurry and indistinct, like an invisible barrier locking up the village.

She held a porcelain mug to drink water, standing at the window for a long while unmoving.

Wang Shumei’s thoughts were interrupted, and she casually asked, "Nianhe, what are you thinking about?"

"I’m wondering... how many children will be able to leave the mountains in the future."

Lin Nianhe was lost in thought and unintentionally spoke her mind.

Wen Lan shot her a look: "Leave? Why go out? It’s so much hassle to get an introduction letter!"

That look said: silly girl.

"Cough cough cough..."

Lin Nianhe choked.

She rolled her eyes at Wen Lan and sat down in her chair.

"Hey hey, speaking seriously," Wen Lan asked again, "how about going mushroom picking tomorrow?"

Lin Nianhe: "No!"

Wang Shumei: "No!"

Wen Lan clicked her tongue: "What’s with you two..."

Lin Nianhe put down her book and flashed a smile toward Wen Lan: "Sister Lan, how’s the math homework coming along? Don’t say I didn’t remind you, the two months’ allowance is enough for you to go home for New Year..."

Sister Lan was motivated; she no longer wanted to go mushroom picking.

Sister Lan dove back into the ocean of mathematics, and the world became quiet.

The world was silent for ten minutes, then Aunt Li arrived.

She was originally heading straight to the backyard, but passing by the front yard, she spotted Lin Nianhe through the window.

She went straight inside, smiling: "Oh, you girls are studying, I’ve come at a bad time."

"No problem," Lin Nianhe stood to offer Aunt Li a seat, "Auntie, please sit."

As she spoke, she was about to pour water for Aunt Li.

Aunt Li stopped her, a bit embarrassed: "Well, Miss Lin, I’ve actually come to ask a favor."

"Aunt Li," Lin Nianhe frowned, somewhat displeased, "we’re so familiar; what major issue is worth your plea? Just say it, I’ll do what I can."

Her voice was soft and sweet, very comforting to hear.

Aunt Li smiled, her eyes crinkling: "Alright, I won’t stand on ceremony with you—your Brother Xiao Shan is getting married soon, right? I’m really short on cloth tickets, do you have any spare? Could you lend me five yards?"

Aunt Li hurriedly added: "Once we divide up the tickets after killing a pig at New Year, I’ll definitely repay you."

Hearing that it wasn’t a massive request, Lin Nianhe agreed: "Alright, Aunt Li, have a seat, I’ll go get it."

As she spoke and stood up, she didn’t notice her sleeve catching on a nail at the edge of the table.

With a "rip," a smiley face appeared on her clean white shirt.