Chapter 41: Chapter 41 You’re back Chapter 41: Chapter 41 You’re back Qiao Qingyu was dressed in a beige Lenin outfit made of wool fabric, black trousers, and black leather shoes, looking just like a girl from a big city.
The canvas bag Qiao Qingyu carried on her back was one she had made herself.
The base was deep yellow canvas, topped with pale yellow fabric forming a sunflower design.
The colors were similar and did not stand out too much, but the overall effect was refreshingly clear.
Naturally, it attracted quite a bit of attention, and there were even people who pulled her aside to ask where she had bought the bag.
Qiao Qingyu cheerfully told them that she had made it herself, and at that mont she also noticed that the vendors in the Xiji of Yushu County had already started copying her rainbow and patchwork bags.
So of them looked passable, while others were patchworked haphazardly and quite an eyesore.
You should know, colors aren’t just matched indiscriminately.
Qiao Qingyu found a newly opened restaurant, ordered a bowl of rice, a dish of stir-fried pork slices with dried chili, and a bowl of egg soup.
After a full al, it was ti for the bus to Xiaxi Commune to depart.
There was only one trip a day: it left Yushu County at 12:30 pm and arrived at Xiaxi Commune at 1:30 pm.
Then it rested a bit, and at 2 pm it departed punctually from the Commune back to Yushu County.
Spring farming had already begun, so there were fewer people visiting the county town. The weather had ward up a bit, allowing windows to be opened, and that reduced the pungent slls considerably. But even so, Qiao Qingyu felt like each bus ride was a trial.
If it weren’t for the long distance, she would have really liked to bike there.
Of course, taking a horse-drawn carriage wouldn’t be too bad either.
If it hadn’t been prohibited, she would have even considered buying a horse and building her own carriage.
Qiao Qingyu went straight to Mr. Qian’s office.
Mr. Qian had lost weight these past couple of days, and being older, he couldn’t work alongside others every day. But his presence alone significantly boosted the morale of the commune mbers.
However, there were many matters at the commune recently, so he had sent a capable assistant to replace him.
Seeing Qiao Qingyu, he was delighted, promptly offering her sugar cubes and pouring her tea.
Then, hearing about the matters with the County Machinery Factory from Qiao Qingyu, Mr. Qian was even more delighted. He wasn’t a stubborn man and certainly understood that machinery had greater power than human labor.
He clapped his hands joyfully, “If everything can be repaired, that would be wonderful. We could use the least amount of ti to complete the land reclamation and then sow the thousand silk hemp and Barley Grass.”
“Yes, I checked the commune’s statistical report yesterday. Not every year do we face sandstorm weather, but it’s still important to be cautious. The earlier the seedlings erge, the better, because the roots of thousand silk hemp and Barley Grass are fairly robust. Only very large sandstorms could pose a problem,” Qiao Qingyu noted.
“That’s really great,” Mr. Qian’s confidence doubled.
Looking at Qiao Qingyu, he marveled at how capable the girl was, even managing to bring in plowing machines.
You should know, the commune had never managed to secure the use of the few plowing machines in the county.
Regardless of the environnt, scale, and output, the Xiaxi Commune was among the poorest in the county—if not the last, then second-to-last. They hoped this year they would be able to turn things around.
“Vice Director Qian, you don’t have to go to the wasteland and be busy anymore. Once the machinery is fixed, Yu Factory Director will call you. Then we can go and drive the tractor back ourselves. By the way, doesn’t our commune have quite a few tractor drivers? Arrange them all when the ti cos.”
“Don’t worry, Qingyu, I’ll take care of it,” assured Mr. Qian as he straightened his back, feeling increasingly energetic.
Then, he had the tractor drivers take Qiao Qingyu to inspect the wasteland area.
It had only been five days since Qiao Qingyu’s last visit, yet the place had changed dramatically.
As far as the eye could see, the land had been turned over; so were plowing at the front while others were preparing the ridges behind them.
This would certainly expedite things considerably.
However, reclaiming the wasteland was indeed a formidable task.
By this ti, the sun had already descended halfway down the distant mountains.
The sky wasn’t clear, so it appeared much darker.
It was also ti for everyone to clock off from work.
Qiao Qingyu followed everyone back to the commune, she had intended to ride her bike ho alone, but Mr. Qian didn’t trust her to do so, seeing that it was about to get dark, how could he allow Qingyu to go back by herself?
Thus, he loaded the bicycle onto the tractor and took Qingyu back to the family courtyard. By the ti they reached the entrance of the courtyard, it was completely dark.
The study class had the day off, so Qingyu rode straight ho on her bicycle.
When she passed by Sister-in-law Li’s house, she suddenly stopped her bicycle…
Ahead was her ho in the family courtyard.
Normally the gate was bolted shut, but today it was left ajar.
The old mud-brick house was enveloped in a dim yellow light.
Qingyu felt a sudden tightness in her chest, unable to define the feeling that arose. She knew it ant He Xiuyu had returned; counting the days, he had actually co back more than a week early.
She didn’t walk forward, her hands gripping the handlebars tightly, her brows slightly furrowed.
She was very unaccustod to seeing lights on in the house when she returned ho.
Ever since she began living independently, darkness always awaited her at ho in the evenings. She would have to press the switch herself to instantly brighten the gloomy room.
This had beco a habit.
The light inside the mud-brick house wasn’t bright. The bulb emitted a warm light and wasn’t high wattage, but it made Qingyu feel sowhat uneasy.
This was not right.
She shouldn’t have this kind of psychological barrier.
She hesitated, preparing to adjust her mood before entering the courtyard, but just then, the ajar door was pushed open, and Sister-in-law Li, holding an empty bowl, caught sight of Qingyu standing nearby, lost in thought. She exclaid in surprise, “Qingyu, you’re back?”
Qingyu nodded imperceptibly, and sohow, her little face was a bit serious.
The night was dim, and Sister-in-law Li did not notice Qingyu’s odd expression. Although Qingyu had returned late, she wasn’t worried, because every ti Qingyu went to the commune, Mr. Qian would arrange for a tractor to take her back.
“…Your Xiao He is back. I just made a pot of hot noodle soup, and I’ve left you a big bowl…” Sister-in-law Li chattered on.
Finally, Qingyu snapped out of it. She wheeled her bicycle into the courtyard and leaned it against the wall.
The door of the house was also open; it was obvious that He Xiuyu had heard so noise.
He stood at the doorway, casting a shallow gaze at Qingyu, who had just returned ho at this ti.
Qingyu felt sowhat awkward as if unsure of what expression to return with.
Fortunately, Sister-in-law Li was there.
Qingyu walked up to He Xiuyu, and her mood eventually returned to normal. She smiled, “You’re back.”
That sentence was strange.
It was like a pebble tossed into a tranquil lake.
Creating ripples that silently spread out in every direction.
He Xiuyu nodded slightly and humd in acknowledgent.
After entering the house, Qingyu realized that two children were sitting on the kang bed. One was Xiao Hu, and the other was a very pretty little girl with delicate features.
Without a doubt, this was surely He Xiuyu’s older brother’s daughter, He Xuerong.
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