Yang Xiaole saw that everyone had left, so he went back to his room and took out a rare book.

"Water Margin"

He borrowed this book and had to return it when school started.

He opened to Chapter 25, where Wang Po plotted with Ximen Qing.

He flipped a few more pages.

...

The mandarin ducks play in the water, the phoenixes fly through the flowers. Xi Zizi's branches grow together, beautifully and harmoniously.

...

The taste of stealing time is truly delightful.

...

After reading for a while, Yang Xiaole felt that it was tasteless and lacked a certain flavor.

In the past, he was like a little white dragon in the waves.

Ah, he had to quickly recover his health.

He checked the time and estimated that it was almost time for lunch.

He closed the door and entered the space again.

Inside the wooden house, he picked up a black pottery bowl and smelled the tofu in front of his nose.

No sour taste.

He smelled the unfinished pork ribs, but there was no taste either.

This made Yang Xiaole very happy.

If it was really like this, this thatched cottage could be used as a temporary storage room. He could store the pigs he killed and the freshly picked vegetables here.

He went to the fields, where the green beans had grown enough to be picked.

The chili peppers were also ripe.

The scallions were getting old, so he picked some as well.

...

He stored the harvested items in the thatched cottage.

He drank some well water to moisten his throat before leaving the space.

Outside, he heard a lively noise and thought it was the person who had just sold their braided hair.

But when he saw someone installing something on a wooden pole not far away, he curiously walked over.

Was this electricity?

"Gousheng! What are they doing?"

As he approached, a group of children were gathered here, and they asked Yang Wensheng.

Gousheng turned his head when he heard the voice and grinned. "Oh, they said they are installing a radio transmitter for the production brigade, just like the one in our school."

Yang Xiaole took a curious look.

He thought it was electricity!

The construction workers finished installing the wires on the electric pole and slowly descended using iron rings.

Yang Qingwen, who was standing nearby, immediately handed a cigarette to Ma Ganshi. "Ma Ganshi, there are not many left. Go eat in the brigade first, and then work in the afternoon."

Ma Ganshi happily took the cigarette, took off his straw hat, and wiped his neck with a black towel.

Then he smiled and said, "Alright, I'll go eat and then work in other villages. I'll also taste the food in your 6th brigade."

He gathered the tools on the ground and put them in a beige nylon bag.

After checking several times, he made sure nothing was left behind.

At this time, the bell in the canteen rang again, and the children scattered and hurriedly ran home to get their bowls and chopsticks.

"Third Brother, hurry up, the meat will be gone if we're late."

Xi Zi sneaked out from the crowd and said to him before running back.

Yang Xiaole followed suit and went back home.

"Xiaole!"

In his thoughts, Yang Qingwen called out to him.

"Hey!"

Yang Xiaole turned around and responded.

Yang Qingwen smoked his dried tobacco and said, "I told your dad to tell you, the literacy class must be started. Our village has more people who can read and write, and you write the best. You and Gousheng will be in charge together."

This novel is available on "pawread dot com".

It had only been a few years since the liberation, and education in the suburbs of Beijing started late. Not many people had completed primary school, and it had only started to increase in recent years.

Yang Xiaole was already considered one of the more educated people in the village.

He was also known as the perennial top student.

Without giving him a chance to object, Yang Qingwen took the electrician with a horn and went to the canteen to eat.

"Hey, Xiaole! Why aren't you going?"

Gousheng came to his side and asked him.

Without waiting for him to answer, Gousheng smiled and said, "My grandpa said I can earn work points. I'll be able to save some money at the end of the year."

After thinking for a moment, Yang Xiaole smiled and said, "We'll see when the time comes."

"Hey, you're really silly! Why don't you go?"

Gousheng laughed and ran back home.

At the entrance of his house, Xi Zi carried a small bamboo basket with bowls and chopsticks for the family.

When she saw him, Xi Zi tried to please him. "Third Brother, I'll prepare the meal for you. In the afternoon, tell Mom to take out the canned food for us to eat. We have several cans!"

"Alright, go ahead. We'll have one can in the afternoon!"

Not only did Fourth Brother want to eat, but everyone else did too, including him.

"Okay, I'll go now!"

Xi Zi happily carried the basket and ran forward in her worn-out straw shoes.

Yang Xiaole followed and arrived at the canteen.

Dad, Mom, and Big Sister were already in line here.

Yang Xiaole quickly got his own food: pork and cabbage stewed with potatoes, egg soup, and two large steamed buns.

While everyone was squatting and eating, Yang Qingwen stood in the middle of the courtyard, smoking a cigarette.

Then he said to everyone, "Yesterday, the superior's instructions have been conveyed to everyone. Our commune and production brigade are going to start a factory... Yesterday afternoon, those who were called by name should pack their things. Tomorrow morning, we will take our livestock from the 6th brigade and go to the Jingxi Coal Mine to transport coal. The rest of you, cut down the trees in our village. They will be used as fuel in the future."

He looked at Yang Qingwu and said, "Qingwu, you will lead the team this time. Make sure to complete the task. Remember to bring the food and exchange it for food coupons there. Eat at the mine and the commune canteen."

Yang Qingwu nodded lightly, "Understood."

As soon as Yang Xiaole heard this, he knew what was going on.

He hurriedly asked Yang Guangzhi, "Dad, if Qingwu Grandpa is going, are you going too?"

Yang Guangzhi took a bite of the steamed bun and mumbled, "Hmm, yes! Xiaogang is also going. Most of the male labor force in the village is going. We are responding to the call from above!"

Hearing this, Yang Xiaole slowly chewed the food in his mouth.

It had finally come.

Now, the things at home couldn't be guaranteed anymore."By the way, school is starting in a few days. Let your mom take you and your big sister to the middle school in the district. Send her off to school. Your big brother and I can't go. You're smart, you should go with them."

Yang Guangzhi said while eating his meal.

Yang Xiaole nodded lightly. It was a good opportunity for him to secretly give his big sister some money.

Otherwise, with mom's stingy nature.

She could really let big sister survive a year on cornbread and pickled vegetables. How could she have the energy to study then!

At this time, Yang Qingwen was making arrangements.

After lunch, everyone went back to their homes.

When they returned, Wang Qiuju and big sister took out a few steamed buns from their pockets, a total of four.

Yang Xiaole looked at her taking out the things and glanced outside: "Mom, you just brought them back so openly? Won't there be any trouble?"

"No problem at all. The commune director was supposed to come for an inspection today, but he didn't show up. There was too much food made, and many people got a share!"

Wang Qiuju said while taking out the things.

However, Yang Xiaole could tell that there might be a bit more, but it was still limited.

He guessed that it was probably obtained through backdoor channels, maybe from Yang Qingwen's daughter-in-law, Huang Caihua!

He shook his head and didn't say anything more.

Meanwhile, Yang Guangzhi was gathering the household items, the remaining iron pot, kitchen knife, scissors, nails...

After gathering everything, Yang Guangzhi carried them all away to the team committee with a carrying pole.