Chapter 98

Li Dong couldn't figure out why his reputation had become so bad. To put it simply, a farmer has no other income besides the few work points from the production team, and how much money can one earn in a year?

Just being lazy is the biggest sin in the countryside. No girl wants to marry a lazy man who can't even feed himself and will be looked down upon by others.

These days, being diligent and honest is the top criterion for choosing a spouse. Li Dong, however, is not only lazy but also a glutton. He doesn't earn much from work points, yet he still eats meat several times a month.

Isn't this a disaster? Who would be so blind as to jump into such a fire pit?

This reputation spread throughout the area, and girls ran away when they saw him, and matchmakers avoided him. He was on the blacklist.

Fortunately, this large project involved thousands of men and women, and there were a few lazy and gluttonous people like Li Dong. However, Li Dong's name was more prominent because he was a former city resident and a sent-down youth.

Well, Li Dong didn't plan to find a girlfriend anyway.

"Brother Li, don't lose heart. Maybe a turtle will fall in love with a pea," Han Weiguo said.

When Han Weiguo said this, Li Dong couldn't help but kick him. Although he didn't have the intention, hearing such words still made him angry.

This guy, his words are really unpleasant. Li Dong decided to change his image sooner or later.

"Let's get to work."

The river project counted as work points, twelve points. Han Weiguo led the team, and today they started building the sheds. In Chicheng, digging underground shelters wasn't suitable, or they would have done that.

Underground shelters are great. Dig a pit one or two meters deep, cover it with some wood and thatch, and you can sleep in it.

Underground shelters are very convenient, but they are dirty. Building sheds is more troublesome than digging underground shelters. First, you need to bring wood, and then reeds and thatch. Otherwise, the cold wind in autumn and winter would make you shiver all night.

"No plastic sheets?"

"That stuff is expensive."

Han Weiguo rolled his eyes, thinking Li Dong was asking for too much. Li Dong was speechless. "If it rains, the outside will be a downpour, and the inside will be a drizzle."

"Alright, I'll go back and get a plastic sheet. I have one at home."

Originally, he planned to build a small plastic shed to grow vegetables in winter. Li Dong had read that by the late 1950s, there were already plastic greenhouses. Although plastic sheets were not cheap, they were not unavailable.

When Han Weiguo heard this, he was excited. Just two square meters of plastic sheet would be enough to cover the shed, and it wouldn't leak in the rain. Li Dong rode his bicycle quickly along the river dike. The girls saw him from afar and avoided him like the plague.

He's handsome, but unfortunately, he's a grass bag inside. Li Dong didn't know what people thought of him. He returned to Han Village, packed the plastic sheet, and brought his river work outfit. He also brought rubber boots, gloves, and pain-relieving ointment, as well as a deck of cards.

He grabbed a set of four-piece bedding. Last night, he slept on straw and felt uncomfortable all over. In the morning, he found red spots on his body, which were flea bites.

"Bring two bottles of insecticide."

He also brought a basin. Using the communal basin yesterday almost made him uncomfortable. He packed towels, toothbrush, and toothpaste into his green canvas bag.

"Bring two pairs of work shoes to change. The clothes I'm wearing can't be used anymore."

Fleas are terrifying. Li Dong tidied up, took a hot bath, and felt much better.

He pedaled hard and returned to the Qiu River dam, where the Xiangshan production team and Han Village production team were. "Brother Li, why are you wearing new clothes again?"

"What, who said you can't change clothes for the river work?"

Han Weiguo, smelling the fresh scent of Li Dong, thought, "Why is there such a big difference between people?"

"Hurry up, here's the plastic sheet." The sheet wasn't large, about two meters wide and three meters long.

"Good sheet."

It was good, although Li Dong tried to buy one similar to the 1970s, there were still some differences. It was a bit transparent. "Brother Weiguo, lay it down quickly. Last night, the dew was so heavy that the quilt was soaked in the morning."

"Come on, lay it down carefully, don't damage it."

Other production teams saw the plastic sheet on the top of the shed and thought Han Village must be wealthy to afford such a luxury. They could have just used some thatch for a few days.

But Li Dong's performance was just beginning. He used the latest straw, brought by the production team, and sprinkled insecticide on it. He even laid a new sheet on top, which was beautifully patterned. Even some girls peeked from afar.

The quilt was also in a new cover. The most extreme thing was that Li Dong used two different towels, one for his face and one for his feet. He even used soap to wash his face. Where did he come from to do river work?

Well, Li Dong's bedding became unique in Han Village and even the entire river project. This wasn't because he was pretentious, but because he couldn't tolerate fleas.

"Let's get to work."

Li Dong changed into rubber boots, and Han Weiguo looked at him enviously. Rubber boots were rare, and only the children of wealthy families could afford them.

Sure enough, when Li Dong put on the rubber boots, Han Weiguo and a few young men stared with wide eyes.

"Brother Li, you're amazing, you even have rubber boots."

"If you want, catch a few pheasants, and I'll get you a pair."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"But where can we catch pheasants during the river work?"

Han Weiguo muttered, "If you catch eels, loaches, or softshell turtles, you can still get some."

"Alright, ten softshell turtles or twenty pounds of loaches, and I'll get you a pair of rubber boots."

Li Dong calculated and offered a reasonable condition.

"Deal."

Not only Han Weiguo, but Han Weidong and others also came over to inquire about the rubber boots. Li Dong agreed to all of them. "Don't tell anyone else."

"What about work shoes?"

Han Weidong saw the new work shoes Li Dong had placed under the straw and asked quietly. In those days, having a pair of work shoes was a matter of pride, better than the cloth shoes made by one's mother.

These were shoes that only city workers could wear. Li Dong smiled. "Half the price of rubber boots, five softshell turtles, or ten pounds of loaches, and I'll get you a pair."

"Really, that's great."

The young men were motivated. In the morning, they focused on digging mud and managed to catch a few softshell turtles and some loaches.

"Did you really catch softshell turtles?"

Li Dong was surprised. There were indeed many softshell turtles in the mud. In those days, softshell turtles weren't very popular, and people turned a blind eye to them. The river work provided some small benefits. If they didn't have enough to eat after work, they could stew the softshell turtles and loaches.

"Alright, I'll go back and get the pot."

Li Dong tied the softshell turtles with a rope, hung them on his bike, and told Han Weiguo. He pedaled back to Han Village, cleaned the softshell turtles and loaches, and packed a bag of pot ingredients.

But he thought the pot was too conspicuous. The production team had an iron pot, so he could borrow it for the evening.

Li Dong returned to the shed, where snoring was everywhere. He muttered and went out to wash up, then put cotton balls in his ears to block the noise.

The next morning, the work bell rang.

Han Weiguo woke Li Dong up. He had cotton in his ears and didn't hear the bell.

"Brother Li, hurry up, or you won't get any porridge."

Breakfast was provided by the production team. After eating, they were assigned tasks. Hundreds of men and women gathered, and many pointed at Li Dong.

This young man with a handsome face was the topic of discussion. The deputy team leader frowned, thinking this sent-down youth had low ideological awareness and had forgotten the spirit of hard struggle.

This wasn't good. He needed to strengthen ideological education to prevent the young people from being influenced.

Li Dong didn't know he was on the deputy team leader's blacklist. In the morning, he was assigned to carry loads, a tough job that required climbing slopes and enduring great hardship. The work points were fourteen, and Li Dong wouldn't choose this job, even for twenty points.

"Carry loads?"

Li Dong was stunned. This wasn't what he had applied for.

"Is there a mistake?"

"No mistake."

Han Weiguo whispered, "The team leader said to reform you."

Li Dong almost spat out blood. Reform him? After a morning of reform, Li Dong felt like he was about to fly away. This job was inhuman.

"Ah."

He had no appetite for lunch. Li Dong was speechless. This life was unbearable.

"Li Dong, are you here?"

"Who is it?"

"There's a letter for you."

"How did the letter get here?"

The team leaders muttered and glanced at Li Dong. The postman was enthusiastic. "Comrade Li Dong, this is a letter from the provincial newspaper. Take a look."

"Provincial newspaper?"

The team leaders stopped eating, threw down their bowls, and ran over. Han Weiguo also came over.

"Newspaper?"

Li Dong slapped his forehead, remembering he had submitted an article. He opened the letter.

"Remittance slip?"

"Wow, eight yuan."

Li Dong was speechless. They were invading his privacy. He opened the letter and saw that his article had been accepted by the provincial newspaper, with an eight-yuan remuneration.

"Is this remuneration?"

Deputy team leader Zhang Daming shouted, and everyone gathered around. Remuneration, only writers could get that. Everyone stared at Li Dong.

Han Weiguo was even more surprised. Li Dong thought it was timely.

"Well, I left my address at home. How did it get here? It's just a few yuan, thank you, comrade."

"It's my duty."

"Is this remuneration?"

After the postman left, Han Weiguo still couldn't believe it.

"Usually, I write to satisfy my cravings. A few articles a month can buy a few meals of meat."

Although he said it lightly, Li Dong felt a chill. This article was mostly copied from a famous writer from the future. If his own articles were rejected, his literary dream would be buried.

Alas, talented people are common, but those who recognize them are rare. His literary talent would be buried.

Li Dong put on a happy face but felt bitter inside. He had to maintain his composure with so many people around.

"Brother Li, you're amazing." Han Weiguo and the others came over.

Amazing, too amazing. Getting published in a newspaper was unheard of in the production team, even in the Lishan commune. This was a sign of literary talent. Li Dong felt honored. The team assigned him a lighter job in the afternoon, not wanting to tire out the writer.

"Although it's a bit like copying, not having to carry loads is a relief. I'll write a few more articles. Being a writer is great." Li Dong thought to himself. His literary dream was secondary to a lighter job.