Xia Xiao felt very grateful to everyone, for they possessed the valuable traits of simplicity and kindness, and their concern and enthusiasm also showed Xia Xiao that there were quite a few people who were compassionate and righteous.
In the evening, after Xia Xiao finished practicing her calligraphy, she thought the production team would soon be finishing up for the day and wanted to go to the team leader's home to express her gratitude, but then Xia Xiao became worried.
The food coupons and the five yuan sent by her original family, she did not intend to spend, but now she could not afford any sort of gift. One should bring a gift when visiting, especially when giving thanks for a lifesaving favor—how could she show up empty-handed? In this period of communal eating, the original host did not have any surplus grain, so Xia Xiao was in a predicament.
From the original host's memory, the production team leader Gao Guoqiang had two sons: the eldest, Gao Jiazhi, and the second son, Gao Jiaxing, who was the one who saved the original host.
Gao Jiaxing was sixteen years old, attending junior high school at Guangming Middle School.
Thinking of Gao Jiaxing still in school, Xia Xiao looked at her just-used Hero fountain pen and fell into silence; she remembered that this pen was the original host father's favorite—a gift from his leaders for his good work performance.
Before the original host left for the countryside, her father had given her this pen, hoping she would write back often.
Although she had become the original host, she could not bring herself to give away the pen her father had given her.
Xia Xiao's eyes then fell on the original host's two coats, one belonging to the host herself, and the other a gift from her brother, given the consideration that Xia Xiao would need an extra coat to keep warm during the winter months spent in the countryside.
Though winters here did not bring snow, and were not as cold as in S City, a coat was still necessary.
Considering her small stature and the fact that, as an educated youth, she would still need to work and earn work points, she thought about the necessity of keeping warm. If she gave away one coat and the other became wet from rain, she would have nothing to wear.
In the end, Xia Xiao still used the food coupons and the money; after all, she could earn these back later. So she took the coupons and money to the cooperative store in the production team.
Although she had the original host's memories, everything in this era was still very unfamiliar and new to Xia Xiao.
At the cooperative store, Xia Xiao bought some white flour, a pound of brown sugar, and a calligraphy brush and ink, then, carrying her purchases, she headed toward the team leader's home.
By coincidence, just as she arrived at the entrance to Gao's house, Xia Xiao met Gao Jiaxing on his way back from school.
"What are you doing at my house?" Gao Jiaxing, with a stern face, looked down at Xia Xiao.
Xia Xiao was startled; she had not expected a sixteen-year-old boy to have such an aggressive demeanor. Gao Jiaxing was dark-skinned with long limbs and a robust figure, towering close to one meter eighty in height. If Xia Xiao did not know that Gao Jiaxing was the same age as the original host, she might have mistaken him for a man in his twenties.
Wasn't this the age when kids often couldn't get enough to eat? How could Gao Jiaxing have grown so tall and strong?
The original host was actually thirteen and looked to be no more than one meter fifty in height. Compared with Gao Jiaxing, Xia Xiao couldn't bear to look and reminded herself that actually, the original host and Gao Jiaxing had a four-year age difference, not one, so there was still a lot of room for growth.
"Gao Jiaxing, I came to thank you," Xia Xiao said, preparing to hand over the things she brought.
"I know, now you can go," Gao Jiaxing said plainly as he opened the door and went inside, no longer paying attention to Xia Xiao.
Xia Xiao: "..." Holding the white flour and sugar as well as the pen and ink that she intended for Gao Jiaxing but hadn't given, she wondered whether to go in or not. But since he hadn't invited her, should she even enter?
"Educated Youth Xia, what brings you here?"
A voice from not far behind Xia Xiao made her turn around, recognizing the production team leader's wife, Zheng Xianghong. Recalling Yang Xuehua's story about Gao Jiaxing getting chased around with a stick by his mother for sucking out poison to save her, Xia Xiao shuddered with apprehension and quickly said, "Aunt Zheng, I'm feeling much better and came to thank Brother Gao for his rescue and also to visit Captain Gao and Aunt Zheng."
Xia Xiao did not directly call Gao Jiaxing by his name in front of Zheng Xianghong, considering Gao Jiaxing was the younger son, and was three years older than the original host. Although it felt a bit awkward to call him Brother Gao, Xia Xiao did hold a slight intention of ingratiating herself.
These people, including herself, could only return to the city after the special period had ended, and not everyone qualified to go back, nor could anyone just leave. Some returned through the college entrance exam.
After eighteen or nineteen years, they would be over thirty, so Xia Xiao felt it was necessary to establish a good relationship with the Gao family, and now presented an excellent opportunity.
Being a girl sent to the countryside in such a remote area—where there were many good people, but also some bad—it would be beneficial and harmless to form a rapport with the Gao family.
"It's cold outside—standing at the door like that," said Zheng Xianghong. "Come in, quick." She then looked at the bag in Xia Xiao's hand, reproaching, "Educated Youth Xia, you should've just come without bringing anything. Whether it's saving a life or not, anyone would have done the same. You take these back; you have it tough enough as it is."
Xia Xiao smiled, "Aunt Zheng, I might be young and not understand much, but I know that if it weren't for Brother Gao saving me, I wouldn't be alive now, much less standing here in good health. My family doesn't even know about this yet, otherwise, they surely would have come themselves to thank Brother Gao for saving my life. These gifts are just a small token of my appreciation. If Aunt Zheng makes me take them back, I'd feel awkward coming to visit next time."
"You city folk are all about these formalities," said Zheng Xianghong, shaking her head as she ushered Xia Xiao into the house.
Once inside with Zheng Xianghong, Xia Xiao placed the purchased white flour, sugar, and writing brush and ink on the countertop. She felt that whether one was from the city or the countryside shouldn't matter, but since Zheng Xianghong mentioned it, she listened, though she had no intentions of taking the items back with her.
She was expressing thanks for saving her life, not bribing—Xia Xiao remained forthright in her actions.
"That brat, what are you doing locked up in there? Xia Xiao is here, and you won't even come out," Zheng Xianghong shouted at the closed door, looking as though she might kick it open.
Xia Xiao quickly said, "Aunt Zheng, there's no need; I'll just sit for a moment and then leave. This brush and ink, please pass them on to Brother Gao for me; I hope he can make use of them."
Unfortunately, Xia Xiao couldn't stop her; Zheng Xianghong kicked the door, which swung open with a clang.
Zheng Xianghong's imposing manner startled Xia Xiao, and inside the room, Gao Jiaxing was shirtless, applying herbal medicine to his body.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Gao Jiaxing's face showed dissatisfaction and as he glanced at Xia Xiao, he shuffled his body uncomfortably.
Yet with the wounds all over his body, every move he made was visible.
Zheng Xianghong exclaimed, "Are you fighting with people again? Tell me, why don't you focus on your studies? Did your mother waste good money sending you to school so you could goof off?" Saying this, Zheng Xianghong, brandishing a broom from near the door, prepared to strike at Gao Jiaxing.