With the increasingly frequent letters from Zhou Xiaozheng, a new autumn finally arrived.
The azure sky, red maple trees, falling pine leaves, and white birch forests were all picture-perfect.
Zhou Jiao loved autumn.
Autumn is a season of harvest. The wild fruits spread across the mountains are especially delightful surprises.
Zhang Guoqing carried his son on his shoulders, standing by her side.
"Son, call Mom to go ho."
"Mom..."
Zhou Jiao smiled brightly at the father and son, "Let’s go."
The autumn scenery is best savored slowly and carefully.
For Zhou Jiao’s words, the love-struck Zhang Guoqing gave up riding his bike and strolled with her from the county town to their old ho.
Zhang Guoqing didn’t find the autumn scenery fascinating. To him, the most beautiful view was his wife’s radiant smile and his son’s laughter.
Before reaching ho, Aunt Wang saw their family and quickly approached.
"Jiao Jiao, you’re back? I have good news. From now on, we won’t have to line up to collect food, nor cook daily. We can directly eat in the street communal dining hall."
Zhou Jiao looked at Zhang Guoqing incredulously and laughed, "Aunt, is this news accurate? Where is the communal dining hall on the street?"
Aunt Wang glanced around and whispered, "Absolutely true. Today, Aunt Wang’s daughter-in-law ntioned finding a place to convert into a dining hall. Starting soon, we won’t be allowed to cook at ho. Rember to hide cured at and such."
Zhou Jiao thanked the helpful Aunt Wang and watched her enter the courtyard, exchanging a knowing glance with her husband.
Earlier today, the Old Captain ntioned a reorganization, turning small communes into larger ones, and their Zhang Family Village beca the Third Battalion. It seems the county town has already started taking action.
Returning to the living room, Zhou Jiao thought carefully; their own family had no issues, but Zhang the Second needed to move early. Lin Juhua and the two children weren’t suited for village life anymore. Moving back to the county town early, given Lin Juhua’s culinary skills, she might have an opportunity to help in the dining hall.
Zhang Guoqing also considered this. At this mont, he thought about Zhang the Second, currently on duty, and decided he needed to ring the bell. Regarding the parents and the eldest family’s situation, he’d have to consult his parents.
Arriving at the office, Zhang Guoqing chatted briefly with those on duty, and he and Zhang the Second went outside, seeking a secluded spot.
He explained the news he heard and his own thoughts in detail.
"Since food rations can’t be collected, you should not rely on the village’s surplus. What’s there to think about? I’ll move imdiately."
After hearing, Zhang the Second swiftly decided to take a day off tomorrow and begin the move right away.
"That’s good, move early. I think you should discuss with Aunt Wang whether the second sister-in-law can help in the dining hall. As for the eldest brother, you should discuss with our parents."
"Since no rations will be distributed, will the eldest brother transfer his job?"
"No. The grain will still be sent to various street communal dining halls and workplace dining halls."
"This ti, the three of us brothers moving to the county town truly leaves the courtyard behind, just as our parents suggested."
Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily at this, "Our parents should be happy, almost being left behind by us three brothers. The courtyard is nothing."
Zhang the Second suspiciously looked at him, asking, "Xiao Wu, tell honestly, did you hear this rumor a long ti ago, which is why you suggested moving our parents’ household registration to the county town?"
Zhang Guoqing knew he suspected the father-in-law, shaking his head and smiling, "How could there be news so early? I just noticed during spring plowing that Dad was exhausted. You see, after moving their registration, during busy farming periods they can choose to work or not without gossip, isn’t that great!"
"Should our parents stay at my house this ti? Rember, their registration is under my book."
"We three brothers should just follow our parents, right? The eldest brother is far away, we two hos are just a few steps apart, don’t be too calculative. Anyway, everyone will be in the sa dining hall later."
After chatting a bit, Zhang Guoqing saw that it was almost ti to clock out and didn’t delay his business.
After bidding farewell to Zhang the Second, he then visited Li Aiguo and Zhao Dashan.
Before going to bed, Zhang Guoqing held Zhou Jiao and softly discussed the news he learned.
"On Wednesday, the day after tomorrow, they’ll hold the ceremony for establishing large communes, by Friday, every street district in the county should have modified the communal dining hall, and als will start on Saturday. These two things must be implented across all townships in the county consistently."
After speaking, Zhang Guoqing sighed, "Our unit will be fully functional starting tomorrow, tasked with supervising local militia autumn grain collection activities, together with Uncle Zuo they will maintain security."
Zhou Jiao touched his face, "Anything else coming up? Any happy news?"
"Yes. After these activities, there’ll be iron forging fun."
Upon hearing, Zhou Jiao rolled her eyes. Isn’t that obvious?
Zhang Guoqing patted her, "Starting tomorrow, you’ll have to work. Uncle Li said your task is heavy, and you need to collaborate with those young people to promote well. Can the son keep up with you?"
"The child is quite well-behaved, I’m used to it, no issues at all. If Godfather calls you tomorrow, rember to ask them not to co."
Zhang Guoqing nodded. If nothing else happened, they would be rushing over to see the situation.
"Tomorrow you have work, and I need to go out too. If you see Mom and Dad, rember to explain to them. The second sister-in-law’s affair, leave it to Aunt Wang and . I estimate the next few days I’ll also go to the street to write so large characters."
Zhang Guoqing patted her, "Let nature take its course. Go to bed early."
Through the night into the next day, both entered their busy work mode during daylight hours, occasionally visiting Zhang the Second’s house to check on Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang.
Zhou Jiao declined her mother-in-law’s offer to take care of their son. Having the child nearby, she could avoid joining in aimless wandering around the street.
It wasn’t until Thursday that she went with Aunt Wang to the street office and saw the legendary street communal dining hall.
Four rooms connected, a kitchen with several stoves. Nowadays, two of the tables inside the room already had so elderly people writing big characters on red paper, and quite a few were doing woodwork in the courtyard.
After greeting several elders, Zhou Jiao was assigned to work on posters outside the wall.
Among the old n praising young Zhou Jiao, there she stood outside a mysterious big courtyard, face full of smiles but feeling sad inside.
Silently sighed, efficiently pulling the cart from Aunt Wang’s hand, settled her son, and started happily working. She worked hard over two days exhausted, to ensure promptness and aesthetics, finally completing by the next afternoon.
"Jiao Jiao, what skillful work! Take a look, don’t the children on the murals resemble real ones? With this painting, the courtyard is truly magnificent."
"Clever layout, reasonable arrangent..."
"Indeed, it’s important to cherish food and prevent waste. This painting can be reported."
Hearing this, Zhou Jiao hastily stopped them. She was done being in the spotlight, having an extra skill is utterly exhausting. She would cry if the provincial newspaper asked for contributions again.
After speaking, Zhou Jiao had no more interest in further visits, hastily bidding farewell to several elderly people, carrying her son ho. Tonight, she felt she needed a proper rest, otherwise her arms certainly wouldn’t lift tomorrow.
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