The crowd turned to look. It was a young girl they vaguely recognized.
The girl was wearing a police-blue outfit, styled in the popular small suit collar. Although a bit worn, it was still much better than the patched-up clothes most people in the brigade wore.
Whose daughter was this? She was quite fashionable.
But why were the girl's forehead and face covered in injuries?
"Who is this?" a brigade member asked, puzzled. "She looks familiar, but she's not from our brigade, is she?"
"She looks no older than sixteen."
"It's not about her age, it's about why someone not from our brigade is trying to snatch our brigade's quota!"
"That's right, if she's not from our brigade, kick her out!"
"Kick her out, kick her out! With so few spots, our brigade can't even get enough for ourselves."
As they spoke, someone actually stepped forward to drive the girl away.
People are like this; when one person takes the lead, many will follow.
Seeing that she was about to be beaten, the girl finally shouted, "I am Su Xiaoqin, Su Xiaoqin from the second branch of the Su family!"
Everyone took a closer look. Although she looked a bit different from their memory of Su Xiaoqin, it was indeed Su Xiaoqin.
"Is it really Su Xiaoqin?"
"She looks like it!"
"Didn't they say Su Xiaoqin was already dead?"
Earlier, some people had said that Su Xiaoqin from the second branch of the Su family was in the county town, but they hadn't believed it.
Everyone thought Su Xiaoqin must have died out there.
How could a little girl survive on her own? In those days, no one would even give alms.
But now, Su Xiaoqin had returned.
Although her face and forehead bore scars, judging by her clothing, she seemed to have been doing reasonably well.
This girl was truly capable.
"Xiaoqin, when did you get back?" Su Changjiu, though he disliked Su Xiaoqin, still had to ask.
Su Changjiu had gone to great lengths to explain the disappearance of a person from the brigade.
No one noticed the look of disgust in Su Changjiu's eyes as he looked at Su Xiaoqin.
Others might not know, but Su Changjiu knew that it was Su Xiaoqin who had reported the old Su family.
He had lamented this for many days, unable to understand why Su Xiaoqin would be such a child.
In the simple heart of Su Changjiu, a person who could report their own benefactor, let alone blood relatives, had an imaginable character!
To prevent the old Su family from being too sad, he hadn't even dared to tell them.
Su Xiaoqin lifted her head proudly, her arrogance unmasked.
"Team Leader, I heard our brigade is recruiting workers, and I want to take the exam!"
Su Changjiu's brow furrowed again.
This Su Xiaoqin was even more unlikable than before.
"You want to take this recruitment exam?" Su Changjiu asked.
"I want to take the recruitment exam," Su Xiaoqin said firmly. "Team Leader, I've lived in the county town for over a year, so I have more advantages than others."
"But you're not old enough, and you're illiterate!" Su Changjiu said without hesitation.
"I'm literate, I know how to read!" Su Xiaoqin shouted eagerly.
During this past year, she had diligently learned to read in the county town, all for a better future.
But she never expected that when Xiang Hong was completely subdued by her, everything would be ruined by Su Xiaotian.
Su Xiaotian was simply a disaster in her life!
Before, Su Xiaoqin felt that Xiang Hong didn't treat her well enough, but after Xiang Hong left, she realized how comfortable her life had been under Xiang Hong's protection.
Only after losing Xiang Hong's protection did her life become truly difficult, like being in dire straits.
Those disgusting men, not even caring that she was a minor girl, had laid hands on her.
Thinking of those disgusting things, she felt an insane urge to become powerful.
But how easy was it to get ahead in the city?
At this critical juncture, she heard that Hongxin Brigade had received recruitment quotas, which made her return to Hongxin Brigade so eagerly.
She had planned all the way here, vowing to become a worker at all costs.
She wanted to stand openly in front of everyone and trample everyone underfoot.
Especially Su Xiaotian, she had to crush her, crush her completely.
Thinking of this, she scanned her surroundings for Su Xiaotian but couldn't find her.
She could only suppress her unwillingness and continue to look at Su Changjiu.
"Even if you're literate, you don't meet the requirements," Su Changjiu continued.
Su Xiaoqin was only fourteen after the New Year. This recruitment required a minimum age of sixteen.
Below sixteen, they were child laborers, and no factory wanted them.
"Team Leader, I'm sixteen, I'm sixteen!" Su Xiaoqin cried out desperately.
This was an excuse, a blatant excuse. Did she think she didn't know? Her age was whatever the team leader said it was!
As long as the team leader declared her sixteen, no one could say she wasn't.
Su Changjiu was speechless. This child was spouting nonsense!
What sixteen? Everyone in the brigade knew she was only fourteen after the New Year!
Su Xiaoqin became anxious and looked around, wanting to find someone to help her. Then she saw some people from the second branch of the Su family!
"Grandma, Mom, tell the Team Leader that I'm sixteen, I'm sixteen!" Su Xiaoqin said as if she had found a savior.
Liu Xiuying's eyes darted around after hearing Su Xiaoqin. She immediately made a final judgment.
She stepped forward and whispered to Su Changjiu, "Team Leader, Xiaoqin is sixteen. I remember clearly that it snowed heavily when she was born."
The crowd was surprised that this was even possible.
For a moment, their expressions towards Su Xiaoqin and Liu Xiuying became somewhat strange.
They were all from the same brigade; who didn't know who?
Who's child was how old, others might remember more clearly than their own family!
Liu Xiuying's ability to tell such blatant lies was truly shameless.
"Liu Xiuying, you really can spin a yarn. Xiaoqin is the same age as my second son, and my second son is two months older!" a woman said, chuckling sarcastically.
"Exactly. Xiaoqin's mother married me. Fifteen years have passed in total. If Xiaoqin is sixteen this year, is this child a baggage your daughter-in-law brought with her?" another woman couldn't help but chime in.
The crowd was amused by these words and burst into laughter, each one citing evidence to prove Su Xiaoqin's age.
But Liu Xiuying was Liu Xiuying; she wouldn't give up on visible benefits.
"What do you know? You're all muddle-headed. Xiaoqin is sixteen. Are you afraid Xiaoqin will be too outstanding and snatch your child's opportunity?" Liu Xiuying argued loudly.
Liu Xiuying even clenched her fists, almost ready to hit someone.
Seeing that the exam was about to be ruined, Su Changjiu couldn't help but rub his forehead.
This Su Xiaoqin, her appearance always brought trouble!
To allow the exam to continue, Su Changjiu arranged for people to add a few more tables.
If Su Xiaoqin was taking the exam, other children of similar age would certainly not give up this opportunity.
Su Changjiu decided to let all children over fourteen participate in the exam.
After the commotion, the start time of the exam was delayed significantly. Those already seated at the tables preparing for the exam were almost frozen.
After Su Changjiu ordered the exam to begin, everyone's hands trembled as they wrote.
At this time, Su Xiaotian, unaware that Su Xiaoqin had suddenly barged into the examination hall, was at home helping Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying boil ginger sugar water.
Chi Yiyuan was helping beside them.
Chi Yiyuan, who was watching the exam, saw Su Xiaotian toddling home and followed her to the old Su family's house. Knowing Su Xiaotian was going to boil ginger sugar water, he voluntarily helped with the fire.
Although Su Xiaoqin had learned cooking skills in her previous life, she couldn't quite manage the large kitchen knife at home.
It was too heavy.
After painstakingly cutting the ginger into shreds, though not perfectly even, it didn't look too bad. Su Xiaotian was satisfied and put down the knife.
At this moment, the water Chi Yiyuan had been boiling was ready. Su Xiaotian put the shredded ginger into the boiling water and found some brown sugar from home.
"Xiaotian, you can cook?"
Although Su Xiaotian had struggled to cut the ginger, Chi Yiyuan felt that Su Xiaotian was actually quite skilled when doing all this.
Su Xiaotian quickly shook her head and said, "No, I help in the kitchen and watch my grandma and the others cook a lot."
Chi Yiyuan didn't doubt her too much.
In the countryside, many girls of this age knew how to cook.
Su Xiaotian was also doted on at home, otherwise, she would have long been responsible for cooking for the family.
"Are we going up the mountain tomorrow?" Chi Yiyuan asked again.
Su Xiaotian smiled sweetly and said, "Brother Yiyuan, do you want to go up the mountain? If you want to go, we'll go!"
At this season, there were no wild vegetables on the mountain, but wild game was relatively easier to catch. Su Xiaotian didn't object.
"Then let's go. There should be a lot of medicinal herbs on the mountain. It would be good if we could dig some back," Chi Yiyuan suddenly said, as if thinking of something, wanting to dig for medicinal herbs.
Su Xiaotian wasn't very interested in digging for medicinal herbs.
Medicinal herbs couldn't be sold openly, and they couldn't be eaten raw at home. Therefore, except for common ones she would pick for Doctor Li, Su Xiaotian hadn't paid much attention to them.
"I still want to catch rabbits and pheasants," Su Xiaotian happily put three large spoonfuls of brown sugar into the thick, simmering ginger broth.
Chi Yiyuan couldn't help but smile. This girl was really ambitious. Where were there so many rabbits and pheasants on the mountain?
If there were really many rabbits and pheasants, the villagers' lives wouldn't be so difficult.
However, Su Xiaotian seemed to be very lucky, even encountering wild boars, let alone anything else.
"Then let's go catch rabbits and pheasants," Chi Yiyuan pinched Su Xiaotian's chubby little face.
She looked much prettier now than she did at the beginning, even with the meat!
The two of them chatted and laughed, put the brown sugar ginger broth into a pot, took two large rough porcelain bowls, and then ran towards the primary school.
When the two arrived at the primary school, the exam hadn't ended yet, but looking at the people in the examination hall, many were scratching their heads, and very few were actually writing.
This showed that many of them were unprepared for this exam.
Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying were still writing diligently, stroke by stroke. Although their writing speed was not fast, they were among the few who persisted in writing, which attracted some attention.
Just then, Su Xiaotian saw Su Xiaoqin.
When did this Su Xiaoqin return? Why was she taking the exam?
Chi Yiyuan followed Su Xiaotian's gaze and also saw Su Xiaoqin.
A hint of anger also appeared in his eyes.
It was this girl who had gone to the commune to report that Xiaotian's family and those in the cowshed were close.
Later, she left, and he was very happy about it, but how long had it been, and she was back again?
No, such a person couldn't stay in the brigade; if she stayed, the entire brigade's life would be uncomfortable.
"Xiaotian..." Chi Yiyuan lowered his voice.
"Brother Yiyuan, why is Su Xiaoqin taking the exam? Does she also want to be a worker?"
Although Su Xiaotian was asking Chi Yiyuan, she didn't actually expect Chi Yiyuan to give her an answer.
After all, she knew a little about Su Xiaoqin's situation, but Chi Yiyuan knew nothing.
"It's okay, Su Xiaoqin..." He would find a way to deal with it!
Just then, the exam time arrived.
Those who participated in the exam were blown by the cold wind for such a long time in the cold weather. When they stood up now, they were so frozen they could barely walk.
Su Xiaotian, holding a pot of hot ginger sugar water, hopped towards Qi Liangying and Liang Xiu.
"Mom, Second Mom, you must be frozen! I made ginger sugar water!"
Seeing her daughter running over with the pot, Liang Xiu quickly went to meet her, "Oh, you child, be careful, what if you get scalded?"
Qi Liangying also hurried forward with a worried expression. Because her feet were numb from the cold, she almost fell.
"Mom, I've grown up! I'm not a three-year-old child!" Su Xiaotian said with her rosy little mouth.
Her words made those around them chuckle.
This little girl really knew how to talk. She wasn't a three-year-old child, but she was still a child.
Ignoring the people around her, Su Xiaotian handed the pot and the rough porcelain bowls to Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying.
"Mom, Second Mom, quickly drink some ginger sugar water to warm yourselves up," Su Xiaotian's sweet voice didn't attract much attention in the noisy yard.
But those who were also suffering from runny noses from the cold heard Su Xiaotian mention ginger sugar water, and their eyes were filled with envy.
On such a cold day, when people were thoroughly chilled, a bowl of ginger soup to dispel the cold was the best.
Moreover, this was ginger sugar water.
The old Su family used to be in such poor condition, and now they could drink ginger sugar water. It was indeed a sign of better times.
"Xiaotian, why didn't you prepare more ginger sugar water? We're cold too!"
Someone said impolitely.
Su Xiaotian looked at the person speaking. It was Su Huzhi, the youngest son of Su Yuanshan's family, who was in better condition in the brigade.
Relying on his family's good conditions, Su Huzhi usually acted superior to everyone.
Su Xiaotian wrinkled her little face and said, "We only have this much ginger and sugar at home. Brother Huzhi, you know our family is poor. Brother Huzhi, your family's conditions are much better than ours. Why doesn't Auntie boil you some ginger sugar water?"
Su Huzhi was instantly silenced.
His family's conditions were good, and they had ginger and sugar, but his mother was reluctant to let him have it so easily.
Su Huzhi wanted to leave, but the papers were about to be graded, so he couldn't leave now.
Even though those who participated in the exam were all shivering with runny noses, they still had to wait here miserably.
Qi Liangying and Liang Xiu felt much more comfortable after drinking the steaming hot ginger sugar water, appearing more energetic than others.
While everyone was talking, they suddenly heard the sound of a tractor.
Factory Director Li got off the vehicle.
Director Li was wearing a military coat and a military hat.
Such an outfit made the brigade members envious.
"Director Li, why are you here?" Su Changjiu quickly stepped forward to shake hands with Director Li.
"Our factory is recruiting workers, so I naturally have to come and see," Director Li said. "Am I too late?"
"Not at all, not at all. The exams just finished, and the papers are all here," Su Changjiu's worried heart finally settled.
He himself was not very literate and couldn't grade these papers.
Before, he had invited some educated youths to help, but he wasn't sure if these educated youths would grade the papers fairly.
With Director Li here, this problem was solved.
"That's perfect, I'll take a look," Director Li said, not being polite at all. He walked directly to the papers and began flipping through them one by one.
Su Changjiu stood beside Director Li and said, "This is a cultural exam conducted according to your requirements. There is also a culinary exam to follow."
Li Changqing nodded, then from a stack of papers, he first selected the blank ones. There were a total of eleven papers with nothing written on them, and nine papers with only names written.
These twenty papers were the first batch to be eliminated.
Su Changjiu watched as Li Changqing selected nearly half of the papers, and in a place no one could see, his face turned red.
The cultural level of the brigade members was too low, and half of them were immediately eliminated.
Li Changqing carefully looked at the remaining papers and took out another twelve. These seven papers, although they had some content written on them, were basically nonsensical, like a chicken talking to a duck.
Including Su Xiaoqin and others, there were fifty-one people from Hongxin Brigade who participated in the exam. After eliminating thirty-two people, nineteen remained.
"These nineteen people can participate in the second round of competition. After the second round of competition, the recruitment quota will be allocated based on comprehensive consideration!" Li Changqing said directly.
Li Changqing actually didn't have high hopes for the people of Hongxin Brigade. It was a recruitment, and as long as they could write, he didn't expect their cultural level to be very high.
Next, Li Changqing announced the list of nineteen people.
To the surprise of the brigade members, Liang Xiu, Qi Liangying, and Su Xiaoqin were all on the list.
These three had never been educated, and they knew it.
Inevitably, some people started shouting, saying that the exam was rigged, or how else could three people who had never attended school pass.
"These are their papers. As long as they weren't too bad, I didn't eliminate them. If you don't believe me, find a few literate people to come up and take a look."
Li Changqing, when facing these brigade members, was not as servile as he was when facing Chen Zi'an. Instead, he was full of confidence.
As expected, when Li Changqing said this, all the people who had been shouting loudly fell silent.
As for finding literate people to come up and look at the papers, no one dared to say it!