Chapter Summaries

Dongfang Dazhuang persuaded Unity Village chief Zhao Jianguo to take Bai Yao and four others as educated youths by promising they could pay to make up for work points and had helped catch enemy agents. Zhao secured the five for Unity Village, and they followed Dazhuang away while the other village chiefs assumed Unity Village had taken a bad deal.

• Dongfang Dazhuang told Zhao Jianguo that several educated youths could pay to make up for missing work points, making them attractive to Unity Village.
• Dongfang Dazhuang revealed that the youths had caught four enemy agents, and Zhao Jianguo saw a chance to earn Unity Village recognition and win resources.
• Dongfang Dazhuang pointed out Bai Yao and four others, and Zhao Jianguo decided to take them.
• Zhao Jianguo agreed with the staff member to take two extra educated youths, earning the staff member's gratitude.
• Dongfang Dazhuang led Bai Yao and the other four away to Unity Village as the other village chiefs watched, expecting Zhao Jianguo to regret his choice.

Bai Yao and the other educated youths traveled with Zhao Jianguo toward the village, collecting their parcels and building a good impression with the village chief. Zhao Jianguo agreed to arrange easier daily work for them, while requiring them to help during the autumn harvest.

• Dongfang Dazhuang drove the ox cart to the post office, where Hu Yang and the others collected their numerous parcels while Bai Yao waited with Zhao Jianguo.
• Bai Yao offered Zhao Jianguo a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes, and the village chief warmed to him and promised to help if he needed anything.
• The group stopped at a state-run restaurant, bought buns and water for the journey, and sent Zhao Jianguo five buns as a shared gift.
• Zhao Jianguo told Bai Yao he would arrange relatively easy daily work and prevent villagers from gossiping, but said all five youths had to help with the autumn harvest.
• Bai Yao promised they would pay any shortfall in work points, and the group continued walking until Bai Yao, Hu Yang, and Gu Yang grew exhausted.

Bai Yao struggled through the long walk to the village until Kong Wu carried him, and he decided to use his weak appearance to discourage people from pursuing him. The group arrived in the village, where the villagers noticed the newcomers and their luggage as Zhao Jianguo led them onward to get settled.

• Bai Yao grew exhausted on the road, and Kong Wu picked him up while Dongfang Dazhuang carried Hu Yang and Gu Yang rode on the cart.
• Jiang Rou declined a ride and urged Zhao Jianguo to let Gu Yang sit on the cart instead.
• Bai Yao admired the wild produce along the road and realized the journey had taken nearly two and a half hours, convincing him he needed a bicycle.
• Bai Yao decided to let Kong Wu carry him into the village so people would think he was frail, and Kong Wu played along.
• The villagers commented on the educated youths' looks and luggage, and Zhao Jianguo hurried them onward to get settled.

Bai Yao and the other new educated youths arrived at the compound, arranged their rentals, and learned the village’s rules from Dong Aiguo. Bai Yao and Kong Wu settled into a courtyard house, and Bai Yao began cleaning while Kong Wu went to order furniture.

• Zhao Jianguo told the five newcomers that they could build or rent homes, and Gu Yang, Hu Yang, and Jiang Rou chose small rooms while Bai Yao and Kong Wu rented a courtyard house.
• Dong Aiguo welcomed the newcomers, explained their grain allowances, work schedule, and daily arrangements, and helped carry their luggage.
• Bai Yao invited Dong Aiguo to share a meal, but Dong Aiguo warned that communal welcome meals had ended after people took advantage of them.
• The five newcomers collected their grain and paid their rent at the brigade office, then carried everything to their homes.
• Bai Yao sent Kong Wu to order furniture and started cleaning the courtyard house himself.

Bai Yao settled into the rented courtyard while Kong Wu brought over furniture and they agreed to share household work and food expenses. As Bai Yao prepared their meal and made up his room, he tried to keep his growing attraction to Kong Wu in check.

• Bai Yao inspected and cleaned the courtyard, finding that it had a well, a vegetable garden, and a usable stove and kang.
• Kong Wu brought a large pile of furniture to the courtyard, and Bai Yao helped carry the smaller items inside.
• Bai Yao unpacked ingredients to cook sausage rice while Kong Wu fetched water from the courtyard well.
• Kong Wu proposed covering household expenses in exchange for Bai Yao cooking, but he refused to say how much he had spent on the furniture.
• Bai Yao told Kong Wu he would count thirty yuan toward their shared expenses, then made up his own room and asked Kong Wu to tidy his.

Bai Yao helped Kong Wu untangle his bedding, then took him to meet the veteran educated youths with Hu Yang, Jiang Rou, and the other new arrivals. The five arrived at the crowded compound and exchanged first impressions with the veterans.

• Bai Yao found Kong Wu struggling with a quilt cover and showed him how to fit it properly.
• Bai Yao and Kong Wu ate dinner, and Kong Wu washed the dishes while Bai Yao gave him dried fruit.
• Bai Yao brought Kong Wu to Hu Yang and the others, who had finished cleaning and quickly changed into fresh clothes.
• Bai Yao, Kong Wu, Hu Yang, Jiang Rou, and the other new educated youth went to the front courtyard to meet Dong Aiguo and the veteran educated youths.
• The newcomers noticed how crowded the compound was, while the veterans thought the five were good-looking.

Bai Yao and the other new educated youths visited the educated youth point, where Dong Aiguo kept the veterans’ designs in check and introduced everyone. After the newcomers faced a flurry of attention and rivalries, Bai Yao’s group left for their rented house, with tensions still simmering behind them.

• Two women tried to persuade the newcomers to live at the educated youth point, but Dong Aiguo shut down the veterans’ scheming and reminded them to work for their food.
• Dong Aiguo introduced the educated youths, including twins Xiang Qian and Xiang Hou, siblings Zhang Dashu and Zhang Xiaocao, and the new arrivals.
• Feng Ling pursued Hu Yang for his possessions, Fang Fang offered Gu Yang food, and several men crowded around Jiang Rou until she demonstrated her strength.
• Jiang Rou rescued Gu Yang from Fang Fang’s attention, while Bai Yao watched the rivalry develop.
• Bai Yao told Dong Aiguo that the newcomers were leaving, and Dong Aiguo saw them out after reminding them to rest and return on time.

Bai Yao and Kong Wu prepared to visit the commune, and Bai Yao relied on Kong Wu to carry him when the long walk wore him out. They left Hu Yang and his companions behind and discussed buying supplies and planting a garden, leaving them to plan a household together.

• Bai Yao and Kong Wu agreed to go to the commune and discussed what they needed to buy.
• Roosters woke Bai Yao early, and he made breakfast while Kong Wu gathered firewood and traded for eggs.
• Bai Yao and Kong Wu met Hu Yang and his two companions, and the five walked toward the commune together.
• Kong Wu carried Bai Yao during the latter part of the journey, while Hu Yang and Gu Yang continued on foot.
• Bai Yao and Kong Wu went ahead and planned to buy meat, make steamed buns, and trade with the village chief for vegetable seeds.

Bai Yao wandered through town while Kong Wu shopped separately, then followed Jiang Rou into the black market and accidentally caused her deal to collapse when Kong Wu recognized him through his disguise. Kong Wu took Bai Yao to safety, and they parted so Bai Yao could collect the goods he had bought.

• Kong Wu and Bai Yao agreed to split up and meet at the state-run restaurant at eleven thirty.
• Bai Yao went to the junk station, saw Gu Yang searching for a rumored gemstone, and chose not to go inside.
• Bai Yao followed Jiang Rou into the black market and overheard her arranging to sell large quantities of grain and other goods gradually.
• Kong Wu bought two axes, recognized Bai Yao despite his human-skin mask, and carried him away as the black market erupted in panic.
• Kong Wu said he recognized Bai Yao because their hearts were in sync, and Bai Yao changed the subject and told him to wait at the restaurant.
• Bai Yao left to collect the items he had bought while Kong Wu went to the state-run restaurant.

Bai Yao met Kong Wu at the state-run restaurant, where they ate an underwhelming meal before riding home together on Bai Yao’s new bicycle. They returned to the village with their supplies, and Bai Yao discovered Kong Wu urgently needed to use the toilet.

• Kong Wu waited outside the state-run restaurant until Bai Yao arrived on his new bicycle with baskets and a sack full of supplies.
• Bai Yao treated Kong Wu to braised pork, dumplings, hot and sour shredded potatoes, steamed buns, and soda at the restaurant.
• Bai Yao and Kong Wu finished their meal, then decided to head home and make wild vegetable buns for dinner.
• Bai Yao sat on the bicycle’s crossbar while Kong Wu pedaled them and their supplies back to the village.
• Kong Wu hurried toward home after the ride, and Bai Yao laughed when he realized Kong Wu genuinely needed to pee.

Bai Yao went to the village chief’s home to get vegetable seeds and brought gifts, where he unexpectedly attracted the attention of the chief’s niece. He returned with seeds while the niece remained interested in him, despite his attempt to discourage her.

• Bai Yao took cigarettes, brown sugar, and red dates as gifts and met six-year-old Tie Zhu, who led him to the village chief’s house.
• Bai Yao learned the village chief’s daughter-in-law had recently given birth and added red dates to his gifts.
• Li Cuihua welcomed Bai Yao and offered him vegetable seeds after he explained that he and another educated youth wanted to plant a garden.
• The village chief’s niece arrived, mistook Bai Yao for a potential blind date, and asked whether he had a partner; Bai Yao claimed his partner had died for the country.
• Li Cuihua gave Bai Yao seeds and sent him away, then realized the cigarettes, brown sugar, and dates were his gifts and that her niece liked him.
• Bai Yao went home and resolved to strengthen the villagers’ impression that he was sickly so they would leave him alone.

Bai Yao and Kong Wu planted vegetables and prepared pork-and-wild-green steamed buns, which Kong Wu eagerly ate. After a night of sleep aided by the system, Bai Yao woke at dawn to the village roosters and heard Kong Wu cooking.

• Bai Yao returned with vegetable seeds, and Kong Wu repaired the garden area, planted seeds, and watered them.
• Bai Yao used the system to season the new woks and prepare pork-and-wild-green buns for dinner.
• Kong Wu praised the buns and ate five, while Bai Yao ate one and accepted Kong Wu's large appetite.
• Bai Yao stayed awake worrying about work in the fields, then used the system's sleep-aid incense to sleep until dawn.
• Bai Yao woke to the village roosters and heard Kong Wu cooking in the main room.

Bai Yao and Kong Wu began their first day of fieldwork, while Hu Yang recounted a breakfast dispute between the new and veteran educated youths. Bai Yao learned that Dongfang Dazhuang had gone on a blind date, then watched the woman from that date approach their group, leaving him surprised by the coincidence.

• Bai Yao prepared breakfast and gave Kong Wu protective gear and a water bottle for working in the heat.
• Bai Yao and Kong Wu arrived early at the brigade office, where villagers approved of their practical fieldwork clothes.
• Hu Yang told Bai Yao that Gu Yang had let two veteran educated youths cook in their courtyard, causing a dispute over mixed grain.
• Dongfang Dazhuang offered to teach Hu Yang and the others to cook, then revealed that a blind date had left him haggard.
• Bai Yao recognized the woman approaching their group as Dongfang Dazhuang's blind date from the previous day.

Zhou Lan approached Bai Yao, who pretended not to recognize her to avoid village gossip, then explained to his companions why her gifts to the village chief had been accepted while theirs were refused. The village chief and brigade leader arrived and assigned the educated youths their work in the fields.

• Zhou Lan greeted Bai Yao, but he claimed he was face-blind and left with Kong Wu and the others to avoid rumors.
• Bai Yao explained that he had visited the village chief to trade for vegetable seeds, and Dongfang Dazhuang confirmed Zhou Lan was his blind date from the next village.
• Hu Yang, Gu Yang, and Jiang Rou told Bai Yao their gifts to the village chief had been returned, and Bai Yao advised them to trade for vegetables or cooking lessons instead.
• Kong Wu noticed Village Chief Zhao Jianguo and brigade leader Zhao Jianshe arriving, and Zhao Jianguo assigned the educated youths their work and had Zhao Jianshe distribute tools.

Bai Yao, Kong Wu, and Jiang Rou chose to weed the village fields, where Bai Yao deliberately worked slowly and encouraged the others to rest so they would not attract jealousy. After registering their work points, Bai Yao invited Kong Wu home for noodles.

• Zhao Jianguo offered the educated youths a choice between cutting pig grass and weeding, and Bai Yao, Kong Wu, and Jiang Rou chose to weed.
• Bai Yao worked at a deliberately slow pace while Kong Wu and Jiang Rou covered their shares of the task.
• Bai Yao called Kong Wu and Jiang Rou to rest in the shade, explained why they should not finish too quickly, and shared buns with Kong Wu.
• The three finished weeding the two mu and registered their work points; Kong Wu gave one of his points to Bai Yao.
• Bai Yao invited Kong Wu to lunch and offered to make noodles with eggplant and minced-meat gravy.

Bai Yao traded with a village family for a large assortment of vegetables and chives, then used the system to prepare noodles with diced eggplant and minced pork gravy. Kong Wu enjoyed the meal, and the pair had plenty of vegetables left to cook with.

• Bai Yao found a household with a lush vegetable garden and asked the middle-aged woman there to trade vegetables.
• Bai Yao and Kong Wu picked tomatoes, cucumbers, yardlong beans, eggplants, and chives, then paid the woman five mao for twenty-five jin of vegetables.
• The woman planned to use the money to buy meat and treat her family to a good meal.
• Back at their courtyard, Kong Wu went out to draw water while Bai Yao prepared noodles with diced eggplant and minced pork gravy using the system.
• Bai Yao served Kong Wu a large bowl of noodles, and Kong Wu called the food delicious.

Bai Yao prepared buns and noodles while Kong Wu stayed home until the afternoon to gather firewood. When Kong Wu returned, he eagerly helped with the steaming buns and sucked Bai Yao’s scalded finger, leaving Bai Yao flustered.

• Bai Yao agreed to make Kong Wu chive-and-egg buns and planned a separate serving of braised noodles for himself.
• Bai Yao persuaded Kong Wu to wait until two o’clock before gathering firewood, then fell asleep while Kong Wu kept watch over him.
• Bai Yao made chive-and-egg buns and green-bean-and-pork-rib buns, pickled cucumbers, and secretly ate five cream ice creams to beat the heat.
• Kong Wu returned carrying two thick dead trees, smelled the buns, and hurried to help Bai Yao take them from the steamer.
• Bai Yao scalded his finger, and Kong Wu sucked it, claiming he was disinfecting it and teasing that it tasted like cream.

Bai Yao visited the injured Hu Yang after confronting the educated youths arguing over who should care for him. Hu Yang had already been treated by the village doctor, and Bai Yao cheered him up with buns while Dongfang Dazhuang and Kong Wu returned with witnesses.

• Bai Yao struggled with distracting memories of Kong Wu tending to his finger, then learned Hu Yang had sprained his ankle and decided to visit him.
• Bai Yao and Kong Wu brought two buns to Hu Yang’s home and overheard Feng Ling and Tang Yuanyuan arguing with Dongfang Dazhuang about taking care of Hu Yang.
• Bai Yao challenged Tang Yuanyuan to compensate Hu Yang with her work points and pushed Sun Chunmei to take charge of settling the dispute.
• Bai Yao found Hu Yang crying from pain and homesickness, learned he had already seen the village doctor, and gave him the buns to eat.
• Dongfang Dazhuang and Kong Wu returned with the village chief and Educated Youth Dong as witnesses.

Bai Yao helped settle the dispute over Hu Yang’s injury, then used the village chief’s family’s need for baby formula to offer help and build goodwill. He returned home with Kong Wu, who remained jealous about missing out on the buns Bai Yao had made.

• Bai Yao, Hu Yang, and Dongfang Dazhuang told Zhao Jianguo how Tang Yuanyuan’s actions had led to Hu Yang’s injury, and Zhao approved Bai Yao’s plan to dock her work points.
• Zhao Jianguo excused Hu Yang from work for several days and accepted Bai Yao’s cigarettes, promising to send vegetables in return.
• Bai Yao and Kong Wu left Hu Yang with Dongfang Dazhuang, and Kong Wu complained that he had not been the first to eat a green bean and pork rib bun.
• Li Cuihua arrived with vegetables, explaining that her daughter-in-law was ill and could not feed the baby; Bai Yao suggested they ask Gu Yang to trade milk powder.
• Bai Yao gave Li Cuihua pickles and wild vegetable buns to take home, then reassured Kong Wu about the buns before Kong Wu hugged him.

Bai Yao and Kong Wu flirt awkwardly while taking turns using a makeshift bathing stall, and Bai Yao accidentally sees Kong Wu changing with his Mental Power. They both blush when they meet again, and Bai Yao avoids going out for the rest of the day.

• Kong Wu built a crude bathing stall and teased Bai Yao before using it first.
• Bai Yao went to bathe after Kong Wu, then accidentally saw him changing by extending his Mental Power into Kong Wu's room.
• Bai Yao hurriedly rinsed off and returned to the house, where he and Kong Wu blushed and exchanged excuses as they passed each other.
• Bai Yao noticed he had left most of his shirt unbuttoned, blamed Kong Wu, and decided to stay inside until the next day.