Chapter 258: Visiting the Elders (Part 1)
“You still have two days before work starts, and your workplace is at our Daliu Team, while you’re living at Dahua Team. Traveling back and forth takes time, even by bicycle. It’s definitely less convenient than living at our team.”
Ning Xiyue tapped the envelope with her finger. “This letter can come in handy now. You get it?”
“I don’t get it.”
Ning Qingyuan shook his head in confusion. His thoughts weren’t on the same wavelength as Ning Xiyue’s at all. After a second, his mind took an unusual turn:
“At the interview they said, to save costs, people who live nearby won’t be given a work shed, and we can’t find someone else either.”
“Brother, that’s not what I mean. Besides staying in a work shed, there’s a better way for you to stay at Daliu Team.”
Ning Xiyue sat next to her brother, leaned close, and whispered:
“Look, our youth hostel has an empty room since those two male comrades were taken away. No new sent-down youth have arrived yet. I was thinking, if we can figure this out and you can officially become a youth of our team, you could live here. We’d be close, and I could keep an eye out for you — much more convenient, right?”
After saying this, Ning Xiyue returned to her seat, watching Ning Qingyuan for his reaction.
“Can this really work?”
Ning Qingyuan considered it for a moment. Her suggestion appealed to him. If it succeeded, he’d be in the same youth hostel as his sister. He could know if she needed help, assist her promptly, and wouldn’t have to worry about her being bullied — a very good arrangement.
“Of course it can work. Now is the perfect time.”
Seeing her brother’s receptive attitude, Ning Xiyue explained why this was the right moment.
“You’re now in the coal-mining work team as a warehouse manager, and the warehouse is at Daliu Team. Moving here would make work easier. This job guarantees your meals and even lets you earn money. Moving you won’t affect either team, it doesn’t affect points, and it doesn’t matter which team your household registration is with.”
“That makes sense.” Ning Qingyuan suddenly understood and agreed with her reasoning.
“We know someone in the youth office. Aunt Lin said she’s a top person there — with just a word from her, it can be arranged. This afternoon, we’ll bring a few things and visit the elder to get a sense of the situation.
“If that doesn’t work, we can ask Mayor Huang for help. With all the leaders we met in town recently, one small matter of youth household registration shouldn’t be a problem.”
Ning Xiyue was optimistic.
This wasn’t a huge issue anyway. Both teams are under the same commune and geographically close. Framing it under ‘work hard for the country’ made it easy to handle, even without connections.
Mining work was currently the focus of the entire Song City, Da’an County, and Yongchuan Commune. Local leaders would likely be willing to make special arrangements. Right now, the chance of success was higher than ever — Ning Xiyue estimated ninety percent. If they didn’t seize this opportunity, who knew when another one would come along.
Ning Qingyuan was completely convinced by her argument. He set down his cup, looked up firmly, and said: “Alright, sis, let’s do as you say. We’ll visit the elder in the youth office, Aunt Shen.”
“Great. Let’s pack up and go. Your first day of work coincides with our team’s start of spring plowing. I’ll be busy then and won’t have time for this. We need to settle it today or tomorrow.”
Ning Xiyue then took a backpack, squatted by the cupboard, and packed some items: malted milk powder that her brother had given her, two packs of dried mushrooms they had harvested together last autumn, and two pieces of homemade cured meat wrapped in newspaper.
One set — malted milk powder, dried mushrooms, and one piece of cured meat — was for the elder in the youth office.
The other set — the second pack of mushrooms and the other piece of cured meat — was for Taotao. Everything was homemade to avoid mistakes.
A little gray cat, recently released from her spatial storage, peeked curiously from the edge of the backpack.
“Xiao Hui, go play over there. We’re going out for a bit. Guard the house.”
After speaking to Xiao Hui, Ning Xiyue handed the packed backpack to her brother, pushed her bicycle out, and locked the door. Ning Qingyuan unlocked the bicycle at the gate. The siblings rode toward town.
Xiao Hui slipped quietly out of its small dedicated door and sat at the kitchen doorway, watching them ride away.
At Yongchuan Town, outside a small courtyard.
Ning Xiyue held a small note and looked at the house in front of her, smiling contentedly. “This is it. Aunt Lin’s address is exactly here.”
“I’ll knock.”
Ning Qingyuan parked the bicycle and walked to the door. Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door opened.
An eleven or twelve-year-old boy stepped out, holding a spinning top. He walked excitedly, stopping when he saw Ning Qingyuan and Ning Xiyue at the door, his expression wary.
“Who are you? What are you doing at my door?”
Ning Qingyuan lowered his hand and smiled politely. “Hello, friend. We’re looking for Shen Qingxia. We’re her juniors, here to pay our respects.”
“Mom, someone’s looking for you.”
The boy saw his friends waving from nearby. Hearing Ning Qingyuan, he shouted into the yard and ran excitedly toward them.
“Who is it?!”
A bright voice rang out from inside the courtyard.
Ning Xiyue and Ning Qingyuan tidied their clothes, carrying the items for Aunt Shen from the backpack.
Ning Qingyuan held the malted milk powder and dried mushrooms; Ning Xiyue carried the piece of cured meat, feeling a little nervous as they waited for the elder to come out.
