It’s no wonder those Educated Youths want to take the college entrance examination to return to the city. There are subsidies at the university, and after graduation, there’s a job waiting as an official worker.
"That is indeed the case."
Zhao Tianhe thought of Zhao Tianlei, who had also graduated from high school.
"Third Brother, if you sit the college entrance exam, you might be able to pass, too, since you’ve attended high school."
Him, take the college entrance exam?
What about the two kids at home?
"It was luck that got me into high school."
Zhao Tianhe still urged, "Third Brother, if sister-in-law gets in next year, there will be a gap between you two. By then, sister-in-law will be a college graduate while we remain villagers. So, Third Brother, you should take the college entrance exam too, even if it’s just for a junior college. That way, you’d also be a college student and could earn some extra money during the summer and winter holidays."
One could not deny that Zhao Tianhe truly considered Zhao Tianlei’s well-being.
He was worried that once Educated Youth Yun soared into the sky with a university degree, she would disdain Third Brother for being just a villager.
Many of the brigade’s members had been deserted by the female Educated Youths, leaving their husbands and children behind.
They left without looking back.
Third Brother was so good, he completely deserved Educated Youth Yun.
"I’ll think about it." Zhao Tianlei hadn’t thought about taking the college entrance exam since it was reinstated.
But now, Zhao Tianhe’s words undeniably stirred some desire in him.
Zhao Tianhe did not believe that a single persuasion would make Third Brother agree.
As the two entered the mountains, they got busy with their tasks.
Setting traps, venturing deeper into the mountains to find wild walnut trees.
The nuts on the outer mountains had already been picked clean by other brigade members, but no one dared to go deep into the mountains for fear of wild boars they couldn’t fend off.
"Third Brother, is this enough?"
"Enough, enough." They had picked two bags full, which would last them a while.
The two then went to check the traps and came across hares. A hare has three burrows, and they were in luck, catching quite a few.
"Send one to Xiao Yang’s house."
Fang Chaoyang was the weakest among the four of them and had the poorest household. His parents had passed away, leaving him with a sister and grandmother. His uncles never helped and would even abuse the siblings.
But after Zhao Tianlei met Fang Chaoyang, his uncles didn’t dare to openly bully him and his sister anymore, as Zhao Tianlei had taken care of Fang Chaoyang’s cousins.
"Sure, I’ll drop it off on my way."
Meanwhile, Zhao Tianlei, carrying a large basket on his back, encountered quite a few brigade members on his way home.
"Zhao Laosan, what have you got in there?"
Curious about what was inside his carry basket?
"Walnuts. Couldn’t find any at the foot of the mountain, had to go deeper to pick them."
With little nutmeat and hard to crack open, nobody would venture deep into the mountains just for walnuts.
It was almost lunchtime, and Yun Xiaoxiao saw that Zhao Tianlei hadn’t returned yet. There was still some pork head meat and a bit of the last bone soup left. She planned to make twice-cooked pork with pickles, which they had in several jars in the kitchen, including ones for pickled vegetables and salted vegetables.
She steamed a large pot of sweet potato rice.
For a person from the twenty-first century who rarely ate coarse grains, the occasional serving felt quite delicious.
Since the male lead had returned just two days ago, Yun Xiaoxiao noticed that Da Bao and Xiao Bao were very fond of him.
"Just waiting for you to come back to cook."
During the meal, Zhao Tianlei brought up the matter of the homestead, "This afternoon, I’ll plant some radishes and cabbages so we won’t be without vegetables for the New Year."
There would be vegetables to eat.
"I have no objections."