Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 50

Two months ago, a new batch of educated youths arrived here. After observing them for a few days, Xu Jianshe noticed that this group was financially well-off.

One of them, a male educated youth named Zhang Mingyang, was the target he was looking for: he had good conditions—after all, not everyone could frequently dine at state-run restaurants.

He wasn’t a fool—he’d rather spend money at a state-run restaurant than buy meat and bring it back to the educated youth camp to cook. Who would give him food if he did that?

He didn’t take advantage of others, but more importantly, he was tight-lipped and had a plan in mind.

The next morning, when Zhang Mingyang came alone to collect farming tools, Xu Jianshe said, “Zhang, do you have some time? I’d like to talk to you about something.”

Zhang Mingyang looked at this “independent” figure from the educated youth camp and said, “What’s up, Xu? If it’s something quick, you can tell me now; if it’s something long, we can talk after I finish work at noon.”

“Alright, we’ll talk when you’re done with work. Just take your time getting back at noon.”

After the noon bell rang, signaling the end of work, everyone rushed home for lunch. Now that it wasn’t peak farming season, people had the time to rest, otherwise, they wouldn’t have the time to run around.

When Zhang Mingyang came to meet him, Xu Jianshe was already prepared. “Zhang, if you don’t mind, come to my place and sit for a bit. We can talk there. It’s not safe outside; too many people are watching me.”

Zhang Mingyang knew that this was something inconvenient to discuss outside. “Alright, Xu, let’s make it quick!”

The two of them didn’t say much and walked back to Xu Jianshe’s house, one after the other. When they reached the door, Xu Jianshe quickly turned around and locked it. Zhang Mingyang’s eyes flickered as he watched.

Once inside the main room, Xu Jianshe poured two bowls of water from the thermos. Zhang Mingyang wasn’t polite and drank it all in one go.

“Zhang, I won’t waste time with unnecessary talk. I’m planning to return to the city.”

Zhang Mingyang looked at him in surprise. “Then congratulations, Xu. What did you want to talk to me about today?”

“When I first came, this house was run-down, and there was nothing inside. It was my brother-in-law who arranged for the roof, the kang, and the yard wall to be repaired. Once I leave, the commune will take back the house, and the money I spent at the time will go to waste, won’t it?”

“So I wanted to ask, Zhang, have you thought about moving out? What do you think of this house?”

Zhang Mingyang didn’t expect such a good opportunity. Without hesitation, he said, “That’s great! I’ve had enough of staying at the educated youth camp these past two months.” To be honest, it was the first time he realized how difficult it could be to improve his situation.

“Well, I’ll show you around. You can see if there’s anything here you can use; we’ll count it as money. If you don’t need it, I’ll pack it up and take it with me. After all, I spent money on it back then. Also, do you want the public points? If not, I’ll trade them for grain and take that with me.” Xu Jianshe gave him a heads-up, so there wouldn’t be any awkwardness later.

Zhang Mingyang understood. No one’s money comes easily, and buying all these things wasn’t a simple task.

After taking a tour of the house, Zhang Mingyang found that apart from Xu Jianshe’s personal items like clothes and washbasins, everything else was useful to him. From the large items like the water barrel, table, and chest, to the smaller things like the cutting board and kitchen knife, everything necessary for daily life was present.

And since he wouldn’t be able to return to the city for a while, at least two or three years, it made sense to take the offer.

Both of them, one with intent and the other with purpose, quickly agreed on a price.

Xu Jianshe turned around and pulled out the rental agreement from the box. He took Zhang Mingyang to the brigade leader’s house.

Brigade leader Cao took the cigarettes that Xu Jianshe offered without saying anything. He then wrote a new rental agreement for Zhang Mingyang and took 20 yuan for four years’ rent.

“Uncle Cao, could you please also write a receipt transferring my public points to Zhang, the educated youth?”

Captain Cao took a deep drag from the cigarette, exhaled rings of smoke, and then wrote a transfer of public points receipt, stamped it with the official seal, and handed it to Zhang Mingyang.

Zhang Mingyang understood that he and Xu Jianshe were now square. After packing the two certificates, he walked out of the brigade office.

“Xu, are you leaving?” Captain Cao asked, looking at the young man.

“Yes, please help me with the paperwork. I’ve appreciated your care over the past two years,” Xu Jianshe thanked him. Although it was because of his brother-in-law that Captain Cao looked after him, he still received real benefits.

He knew that because he had a relative in the police, the brigade leader took care of him. While people in the village were jealous, none dared to make a move. Even those who might have tried to marry him didn’t dare be too aggressive.

Captain Cao didn’t drag things out and quickly processed the documents. “Then move quickly, don’t let any mistakes happen because of a last-minute delay. I’m starting to feel the pressure!” Xu Jianshe took a cigarette from his pocket, placed it on the table, and walked out.

He immediately spotted Zhang Mingyang standing under the big tree.

“When are you leaving?” Zhang Mingyang asked.

“Right now. It’s better not to delay, things could change. I hope you can keep this a secret for now; you can move in tonight,” Xu Jianshe said, eager to leave as soon as possible, worried that something might go wrong.

Though he had only been at Cao Village for two months, Zhang Mingyang had heard plenty about Xu Jianshe. He completely understood his feelings. “Then hurry up with your work. I wish you a safe journey!”

Xu Jianshe nodded gratefully and handed Zhang Mingyang both the regular and spare keys from his pocket. After seeing this, Zhang Mingyang’s opinion of Xu Jianshe improved even more.

It seemed that in the future, he would have to do things like Xu Jianshe—carefully and thoughtfully.

Xu Jianshe quickly returned home and packed up the remaining set of clothes, a pair of shoes, bed sheets, mosquito net, towel, washbasin, tea mug, lunchbox, toothbrush, toothpaste, and some other personal items, which filled about half a sack.

Other items like clothes and quilts that he still needed were sent back on the same day he received the telegram from Xu mother.

Taking advantage of the fact that there were few people outside and the news hadn’t spread yet, Xu Jianshe took a shortcut and ran all the way to the town. He handled the household registration transfer at the police station, then took a bus to the county and switched to another bus to the city.

By the time he arrived at the train station, it was already getting dark. He bought a ticket for the 8 p.m. train and left that night. When the train finally departed from H City, he felt a sense of relief.

He now felt like a startled bird, and the thought of it made his heart ache. At times like this, he couldn’t help but curse the elder brother and his wife in his heart, wishing that they would eat nothing but the harsh northwest wind and yellow sand for all three meals of the day!

—

After Xu Jianshe left, Zhang Mingyang went to the brigade leader to ask for the afternoon off.

When he returned to the youth station at noon, everyone had finished eating, but they had saved him a bowl of rice. He didn’t mind it being a little less and ate it hungrily. Afterward, he lay down to rest.

Once everyone left to work in the afternoon, he packed up his things and moved them into the newly rented house. Each person took their own food, and there was nothing to share. He just needed to say hello to everyone when they came back in the evening!

Zhang Mingyang looked forward to sleeping in a room of his own that night, filled with excitement for the new life ahead.