Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 254: Banding Together for Warmth

Bai Chen and the others received things with practiced ease, clearly showing that both sides had reached an excellent understanding.

The soup needed to be drunk while hot, and Yi Chichi was given a share too.

With one gulp, her mouth was filled with flavor.

"This soup is delicious."

She looked amazed, and Dun Dun grinned, showing his teeth, "My mom made it with special beef bones."

Then his little face fell, and he switched his tone, "That’s about the only thing she can cook well."

His little adult-like tone made Yi Chichi and the others burst into laughter, Qi Yang teased, "You better not say that in front of your mom, or you’ll get a spanking."

Dun Dun touched his butt and said with a mournful face, "Mr. Qi, you’re too late; I already got spanked today."

"Why?"

"Because her cooking was terrible."

It was indescribably bad, nobody in the family could eat it, and dad looked like he was swallowing poison, bravely eating as if he were ready to die afterward.

"I couldn’t help but say it was bad, told her not to cook next time, and she pulled down my pants and gave me a beating."

Everyone was at a loss for words; there was no good response.

Leaning towards either side seemed meddlesome in mother-child affairs.

So, Bai Chen downed his share of the soup in one go and cleverly changed the topic.

"Alright, it’s time to go to class."

"Yes, Teacher!"

Since the start of after-school tutoring, the children’s academic levels and manners have improved.

As soon as Bai Chen announced class, they obediently went to the room in the Youth Corps Courtyard that had been set up as a classroom.

Inside, the fire wall was burning, making it warm and cozy.

Everything was cleaned up neatly, with three long tables and several benches, facing the wall where a blackboard salvaged from the commune’s junkyard hung.

The desk for storing lesson plans and chalk was very close to the blackboard, allowing for easy writing.

Bai Chen started the first class, teaching mathematics. The lesson plan was prepared in advance, and the first task was to check the homework assigned the previous day.

Yi Chichi stood by the door for a while, watching him patiently explain wrong problems to Dun Dun and the others, correcting them before teaching new content, all the while pondering in her heart.

Should she send Qin Jiu here too?

After considering, she thought it wasn’t suitable, as Qin Jiu’s learning pace was different from Dun Dun and the others.

Old Mrs. Song and the others taught the children according to their individual needs, rather than following a standard curriculum.

Her main task is to expand Qin Jiu’s mind with topics like Olympiad Math and brain teasers.

The formal academic subjects had real experts like Old Mrs. Song, who didn’t need her showing off unqualified skills.

The remaining secondary task was helping Qin Jiu consolidate knowledge and practice spoken phrases.

It was clearly delineated, and bringing him might disrupt the pace.

Thinking this through, she gave up on sending Qin Jiu over.

"How is your class schedule arranged?"

"Three periods in the morning, four in the afternoon, home before dinner."

This schedule was modeled entirely on the school timetable.

Like a modern school, schools of this era, regardless of level, were pretty lax.

Moreover, this situation would continue for some time; at least until changes in college entrance exams would prompt a shift.

Glancing at her wristwatch, she said, "Then I won’t disturb your class. I’ll come to play with you next time."

"Alright, be safe on your way back."

Wang Nan and the others nodded, and Wu Yongfei eagerly said, "I’ll walk you out."

Yi Chichi thought, ...he usually isn’t this eager, he must need something.

Sure enough, as soon as they were out of the courtyard, he said in a rush, "Mr. Yi, can you help out in an emergency?"

"What is it?"

"Lend me thirty yuan."

Yi Chichi looked up at him, "What do you need the money for?"

"I won’t hide it from you, a fellow from my hometown is serving as a youth in the Qingshan Brigade, you know about this, right?!"

"I know."

That fellow from Wu Yongfei’s hometown had come to see him before, a thin and frail young man with poor health. According to Wu Yongfei, he was a premature birth, originally a twin, but the other boy died due to underdevelopment.

Wu Yongfei’s fellow was miraculously strong enough to survive but was frail and often sickly, disliked by his family, considered a bearer of bad luck, and lived a hard life at home.

What’s harder was when the policy of sending youths to the countryside came out, his family eagerly sent him away.

He was among the first batch of youth dispatched to the countryside.

"What happened to him?"

"He broke his leg."

Wu Yongfei wiped his face, "The people at Qingshan Commune were decent enough to send him to the commune hospital and covered part of his medical and hospital bills, but it’s still not enough, and he sought help from me."

Yi Chichi nodded knowingly, "I can lend you the money, but are you sure you’re prepared to shoulder all the consequences?"

Wu Yongfei was stunned for a moment before he realized what she meant, then smiled, "I’m ready; even if he doesn’t repay me, I’ll accept it."

This meant he’d rather take on debt himself than leave his friend unaided.

"Follow me."

She turned to leave, and Wu Yongfei hurried to catch up, "Where are we going?"

"To get you the money."

No one carries thirty yuan—a small fortune—casually; it’s not like money grows on trees.

"I thought you’d call me stupid."

"I’m not that bored."

But, she was genuinely curious about what this fellow had done that made Wu Yongfei willing to incur debt to help him.

After asking, she found out it was a friendship forged from mutual support as pitiful small children.

Plus, there was a life-saving favor involved.

That fellow had jumped into a rushing river to save non-swimmer Wu Yongfei and pulled him out, and luckily both survived.

Unfortunately, Wu Yongfei was only frightened and choked on water, with no further issues.

The fellow, however, injured his lungs and was sickly for over a month, worsening his health.

In this situation, of course, he deserved help; thirty or even three hundred yuan should be managed somehow.

"Why were you two assigned so close when you weren’t dispatched together?"

Wu Yongfei grinned, "My choice; I thought if we could be in the same brigade we could look out for each other, but I was assigned to Kao Shan Village. Fortunately, it’s not far, and we can meet easily."

Speaking of this, he a little worriedly said, "I sincerely thank you for lending me the money, but I must tell you beforehand, I cannot pay it back immediately. Is that okay?"

"That’s okay."

With Yi Chichi’s assurance, Wu Yongfei’s anxious heart settled down completely.

Once he got the money, he took the initiative to write a promissory note and then left.

After he left, Wen’s mother asked her, "Why did Little Witch borrow money?"

Yi Chichi recounted the story, and Wen’s mother was stunned for a while before saying, "They’re all good kids."

Yes, they’re all good kids, but no match for incompetent parents.

"Mom, are you really going to join the yangko dance competition?"

That’s correct, Wen’s mother got selected for the yangko dance competition, and she’s in the waist drum team.

"Yes, I am."

Wen’s mother was delighted, "I haven’t played the waist drum in years, and this year, I’m going for fun."

"Is your body up to it?"

"Absolutely."

She raised her arm, with a look that said don’t underestimate me, "It’s just that my health hasn’t been good these few years, so I haven’t exercised much. Now that I’m better, I’m still quite strong."