Send a letter to report safety

Sun Shaoping, Tian Runsheng, and Jin Bo, the three boys from Shuangshui Village, were all assigned to Class 1, Grade 1. Zhao Dongchuan walked to the guardhouse at the school gate, explained his purpose to the old man at the guardhouse, and after registering, entered the school and found Class 1, Grade 1.

At this time, the class was in session, and the Class Teacher had arranged for everyone to study an editorial from the People's Daily. The one reading the newspaper was a very stylish student, dressed fashionably and sharply, wearing a watch on his left hand—clearly from a wealthy family.

“This person is probably Gu Yangmin,” Zhao Dongchuan mused.

Zhao Dongchuan glanced around the class and quickly spotted Sun Shaoping and the others. They were sitting staggered in the back, especially Sun Shaoping, who was tall and in a back-row seat.

Zhao Dongchuan greeted the Class Teacher from the doorway. The Class Teacher saw him out of the corner of his eye, turned his head to look at Zhao Dongchuan, then walked out and asked, “Young man, do you need something?”

“Hello, I’m from Shuangshui Village. I’m looking for Sun Shaoping and Tian Runsheng. Our Secretary Tian Futang asked me to bring them some things.”

“Oh, alright then, I’ll call them for you!” The Class Teacher, hearing that it was a request from the village secretary, didn't make it difficult.

Sun Shaoping was secretly reading a novel under his desk, head down, when he suddenly felt someone calling his name. He hurriedly shoved the book into the desk and looked up, thinking he had been caught.

At this moment, Jin Bo and Tian Runsheng, who heard the Class Teacher calling that someone was looking for them, had already stood up. Jin Bo even walked over and pulled him to go out.

Sun Shaoping followed out of the classroom, looking bewildered, and saw Zhao Dongchuan waiting for them. Only then did he realize that it wasn't a discovery, but that his educated youth brother had come to see them.

“Brother Dong, why are you here?” Sun Shaoping looked at his good friend from the same village with a happy expression.

Jin Bo and Tian Runsheng were not very familiar with Zhao Dongchuan; they usually only exchanged greetings when they met in the village. Now, hearing that Zhao Dongchuan had come to find the three of them, they were a bit surprised.

“Let’s talk as we walk. Take me to your dorm.”

So Sun Shaoping and the others led him to their dorm. As they walked, Zhao Dongchuan said to Tian Runsheng, “Here’s the thing, I came to the county town to mail a letter home. Secretary Tian asked me to bring you and your sister the pickled vegetables your mother prepared for you.”

Saying this, he gestured with the package in his hand. They soon arrived at the dorm. Zhao Dongchuan untied the package, took out the pickle jar and handed it to Tian Runsheng, then picked up several oil-paper wrapped fried peanuts.

“I brought you some snacks, try them!” Saying this, Zhao Dongchuan divided a portion of fried peanuts he had bought on impulse from a restaurant among them.

Now that he had the system, he felt more confident and no longer scrimped on spending money. He took out his hidden savings… to nourish his body, as poor physical fitness would not be conducive to future development!

“Thank you, Brother!” At this moment, Sun Shaoping, Jin Bo, and Tian Runsheng also quickly expressed their thanks; there was nothing like this to eat at school.

In those days, even a little oil in the dishes was considered good.

However, they also felt a bit embarrassed, somewhat hesitant, as the saying goes, no reward without merit!

“Eat up, I already ate this morning. This bag of peanuts isn’t worth much, it’s just to change your taste!”

Sun Shaoping, Jin Bo, and Tian Runsheng then started eating, one peanut at a time.

They finished them in no time, their mouths full of peanut oil!

“How are you all doing at school?” Zhao Dongchuan asked.

“We’re doing well, it’s just that during class, we mostly read editorial articles, and in the afternoon, we have to participate in labor, which is quite tiring!” Sun Shaoping said, wiping his mouth.

“Thank you, Brother Dong, for bringing me the vegetables. I love my mother’s pickled vegetables the most!” Tian Runsheng said with a happy expression.

“You still have labor in the afternoon. I’ll take this pickle jar to your sister for you!” Zhao Dongchuan said to Tian Runsheng.

“No need to trouble yourself. This afternoon, I’ll take this pickle jar to my Second Uncle’s house for my sister!” Runsheng replied.

“Alright, then I’ll leave these with you. I still need to go to the County Post Office later, so I’ll be off!” Zhao Dongchuan didn’t think much of it.

After saying goodbye to them, Zhao Dongchuan left the school and walked towards the County Post Office, asking for directions along the way. Upon arriving at the post office, he explained his purpose to the staff, who told him to buy stamps and envelopes.

Zhao Dongchuan paid for the stamps and envelopes, put the previously written letter inside, wrote his home address, and after consulting with the staff, affixed the stamps and dropped it into a nearby mailbox.

The letter described some of his situation there and reported his safety to his family, adhering to the principle of reporting good news, not bad. The letter also specifically emphasized asking his parents to help him find a set of books called the “self-study series of mathematics, physics, and chemistry,” expressing his desire to study hard.

The “self-study series of mathematics, physics, and chemistry” was a powerful tool for the college entrance exam; many people at that time relied on this series to get into university.

Zhao Dongchuan believed that when his parents here received this letter, they would surely feel relieved and happy. These were things he could currently do for the original owner, and he would certainly filial his parents in this life in the future.

Originally, he also wanted to submit the poems he had prepared to a periodical, but he had no idea which one would be suitable, nor did he know the name or mailing address.

Zhao Dongchuan was a bit stumped for a moment. He thought of Jia Bing, the poet who worked at the Cultural Center in Huangyuan City in the plot. He surely knew about these things, but he knew Jia Bing, and Jia Bing didn't know him.

Zhao Dongchuan decided to go to the County Cultural Center first to look up information on this topic, or at least ask a staff member. There had to be a way.

Zhao Dongchuan left the post office, pushing his bicycle down the street. Most of the county town at this time consisted only of single-story houses, with tall walls bearing slogans in red on a white background, such as “Chairman Mao’s Great Banner” and “Great Communist Party of China.”

The road surface was a smooth, compacted dirt road, with traces of flagstones visible in some places. On the road, there were people pushing carts, riding bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and pedestrians in groups of two or three, with an occasional green military vehicle passing by.

Human voices, animal sounds, and bicycle bells combined to form a grand chorus; it was truly lively.

Walking and observing, Zhao Dongchuan felt as if he were traveling in some remote small town. Everything around him was so new, and he was filled with curiosity, stopping from time to time to gaze at the scene before him. He even wished he had a camera at that moment, how wonderful it would be to take many photos, which would surely become memories of an era in the future.

He had temporarily forgotten about going to the County Cultural Center, just walking along at this leisurely pace.

As people passed him, some would look at him a few more times, finding him a bit strange.

This young man was dressed in an old khaki suit, with a delicate appearance, looking very clean, and a natural demeanor. When he looked around, he seemed as relaxed and at ease as if he were strolling through his own large courtyard.

Zhao Dongchuan walked with the crowd when he suddenly found himself in front of a tall archway. At the top was a shining red star, and below it were five large characters: “Serve the People.” On the left was written “Shaanxi Province Yuanxi County Revolutionary Committee,” and on the right, “Communist Party of China Yuanxi County Government Compound.”