Chapter 324: A Familiar Routine
Isn’t this exactly the scene from when she first came to the brigade?
Hmm? Are these four the new educated youth who joined this year?
They were all good-looking—handsome boys and beautiful girls—sure to stir the hearts of the young men and women in the brigade.
Their long-quiet youth hostel might finally become lively again.
Just as she rode her bike under the big willow tree, the captain called out: “Xiyue, stop for a moment.”
“Captain, what’s up?” Ning Xiyue braked quickly and came to a smooth stop in front of him.
The captain pointed to the four awkward young people. “Let me introduce you: these are the four new educated youth in our brigade. I happen to have some things to take care of. You’re right here, so help me take them back to the hostel.”
“Alright, but Captain, I can only take them back. I still need to go to the clinic,” Ning Xiyue said apologetically.
“That’s fine. I’ve already explained things to them. When Wu Guifang and Zhao Jianshe finish work at noon, they can help arrange things. You just take them back. Conveniently, two of them can share a room, so no need to separate them. That’s it, I’ll be off now.”
The captain nodded and hurried off toward the neighboring brigade with his ox cart.
Ning Xiyue watched him leave, then looked at the four confused new educated youth the captain had left in her care. She sighed inwardly—how coincidental that she happened to meet this exact scene right under the big willow tree. A little awkward.
She smiled kindly at the four newcomers: “My name is Ning Xiyue. Like you, I’m an educated youth in this brigade. Since the captain has entrusted you to me, carry your things and follow me. I’ll take you to the youth hostel.”
“Thank you,” they all said politely, lifting their luggage and following her.
To accommodate them carrying luggage, Ning Xiyue pedaled her bicycle slowly, moving a few strokes forward and back to ensure everyone could keep up.
The group behind her was cooperative and calm, causing no trouble.
One of them, a petite girl no taller than 1.6 meters, jogged a few steps to keep pace with Ning Xiyue.
“Can I call you Xiyue?” she asked cautiously.
Ning Xiyue looked at her and thought she looked like a child, with a round face and baby fat, her head as round as a dumpling. She couldn’t help but speak gently, like she would to a little kid in the brigade: “Sure, that’s what everyone in the youth hostel calls me. What’s your name?”
“Hello, Xiyue. My name is Tang Xiaohu. My dad named me ‘Little Tiger’ because I have a pair of little tiger teeth. I’m eighteen years old.”
Tang Xiaohu pointed to her little teeth with a cute smile.
Ning Xiyue looked and indeed saw a pair of little tiger teeth—it was a fun name.
But she was eighteen? Her appearance made her look much younger—a proper little loli.
“I’ll remember it. Cute name, and your little tiger teeth are adorable too,” Ning Xiyue smiled and nodded.
“Thank you. Your name is nice too. Here, have some candy,” Tang Xiaohu said, taking two fruit candies from her pocket and offering them to Ning Xiyue.
Seeing this familiar routine, Ning Xiyue smiled knowingly. When she first arrived at the youth hostel, she had also offered a piece of candy to Guifang to make friends.
Now the tables had turned, and it was her turn.
“Thanks, just one is enough,” Ning Xiyue said, taking one candy and letting go of the other.
“No need to thank me,” Tang Xiaohu happily pocketed the remaining candy.
On the way, Tang Xiaohu started chatting with Ning Xiyue: “Xiyue, I want to ask—how many educated youth are there in our hostel?”
“Exactly ten, and with you four added today, it’s fourteen.”
Ning Xiyue didn’t hold back on the information that could be known once someone entered the hostel. Since she had taken one candy from Tang Xiaohu, she returned the favor by sharing some useful knowledge—just like she had asked Guifang back then.
So along the way, Tang Xiaohu asked questions, and Ning Xiyue answered as much as she could, ensuring that the candy was worth it.
Seeing the two of them chatting animatedly, the remaining three became curious and stepped closer to listen.
One of them, a strong male named Li Dadan, followed Tang Xiaohu’s approach and tried to make friends using a local specialty—Jinshi fried dough twists.
Li Dadan and Tang Xiaohu were two extremes: Li Dadan was a tall, broad-shouldered man, 1.9 meters, while Tang Xiaohu beside him made him look even taller—a striking contrast. The combination was like a towering wolf and a cute loli.
The other two were of normal build.
The boy, Gao Yang, looked gentle and refined. To break the ice, he revealed that his friends gave him the nickname “Little Lamb,” so others could call him that freely.
The remaining girl, Sun Meimei, was stunningly beautiful, with a cold, aloof aura. Her face was always tense, giving off an unapproachable vibe. So far, she hadn’t said a word, just quietly listening.
Ning Xiyue didn’t mind. Everyone had their personality, and she only needed to mind her own business.
On the way to the hostel, Aunt Xing was busy in the fields and became curious when she saw Ning Xiyue with the newcomers.
She called out: “Xiyue, who are you bringing? Are they new educated youth?”
“Yes, Auntie. They just arrived today. I met them on the road, and the captain asked me to bring them back. You keep busy; we can chat later.”
“Alright, alright, go ahead,” Aunt Xing waved happily, but her eyes lingered on the four new youth behind Ning Xiyue.
Ning Xiyue waved back and smiled.
No doubt, the clinic would be lively this afternoon.
She continued leading the four, and amidst the greetings from the aunts along the way, they finally reached the youth hostel.
“Come in. There are empty rooms in the hostel—one for boys and one for girls. No need to trouble anyone. Go in and arrange the space yourselves. Get familiar with your surroundings. I need to go take care of something.”
Ning Xiyue pushed her bicycle further in. Sun Meimei, who hadn’t spoken at all, suddenly ran up in front of her. That tense face now looked embarrassed as she stared at Ning Xiyue.
What?
What is she trying to do?
Ning Xiyue patiently asked: “Is there something you need?”
