The 60s Island: The Daily Life of a Capitalist Young Lady with the Army - Chapter 106: It Was Going to Kill Her

Chapter 106: It Was Going to Kill Her

The mere thought of money made Xu Jingjing’s heart feel as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand—aching and suffocating.

Right now, what she lacked most was money!

Xiang Hongxing, clearly unaware of the new comrades’ inner turmoil and despair, enthusiastically continued leading the tour.

He pointed to a makeshift shed crudely constructed from thatch and sticks in the corner of the yard.

“That’s the toilet. It’s shared.”

A faint, pungent odor drifted over with the night breeze, making Xu Jingjing nearly retch on the spot.

He then pointed to the equally dilapidated but slightly larger adobe hut next to the toilet.

“That’s the kitchen. Also shared.”

“As for meals, everyone should keep their own rations secure in their rooms. Don’t lose them—there’s no way to replace them if you do.”

“For three meals a day, just take your aluminum lunchbox, fill it with rice or cornmeal, place it in the large pot in the kitchen, add water, and we’ll all steam them together.”

His tone made it sound as if he were introducing some advanced, modern way of living.

Xie Chengjun listened in disbelief and couldn’t help but ask, “Then… what about vegetables?”

“Vegetables?” Xiang Hongxing smacked his lips. “We eat whatever’s available from the fields. Mostly pickled mustard tuber or pickled radish strips. They’ll fill you up!”

“Don’t even think about meat. You’ll hardly see that stuff all year.”

“If we’re lucky, after the autumn harvest, the team might distribute some fresh cabbage and potatoes. Then we’ll set up a big pot and stew it all together—guaranteed to let everyone have a taste!”

With every additional word he spoke, the color drained further from Xu Jingjing’s face.

By the time Xiang Hongxing finished introducing every nook and cranny of the “educated youth compound,” Xu Jingjing had frozen completely in place.

They were living in dilapidated huts with broken kang beds, using an open-air toilet, and eating stomach-scraping pickled mustard tuber.

Not only that, but in the future, they would have to squeeze together with strangers under the supervision of an “idol” who glorified suffering, day after day, earning meager work points.

This wasn’t about building up the countryside.

This was pure torment.

It was going to kill her.

Xu Jingjing felt her vision darken in waves, her legs growing weak.

A feeling named despair, like icy, piercing seawater, surged up from the soles of her feet and instantly submerged her, making it hard even to breathe.

Xu Jingjing clenched her teeth tightly, her nails nearly digging into her palms.

Staring at the broken kang, only one thought remained in her mind: How am I supposed to live like this?

They expected her to live in such a place? Eat pickled mustard tuber? And share a dirt kang with others?

What a joke!

Back in the city, she at least had a bed, blankets, and hot water for bathing. Now, it was worse than when she’d fled famine in the past.

“Xu Xiangsi, you damnable wretch!”

Xu Jingjing cursed Xu Xiangsi vehemently in her heart. “You avoid this suffering and make me take the fall instead!”

If that wretched woman hadn’t pushed her, how could she have ended up in such a state?

Outside, the moon hung cold and desolate, casting a pale glow over the yard.

No one had the energy to speak. They each returned to their rooms, haphazardly swatting the dust off the straw mats with their canvas bags—that counted as “cleaning.”

Liu, Li sniffled and asked, “Fangfang, which… which side do you want to sleep on?”

Wang Fang, her eyes red-rimmed, replied, “Whatever. It’s all the same.”

Xie Chengjun gave a simple, honest smile and comforted her, “Let’s make do for tonight, we can tidy up slowly later.”

His voice was low, but anyone could tell he was actually quite desperate too, just didn’t dare show it.

After everyone else had lain down, Xu Jingjing wasn’t in a hurry to get on the kang bed. Instead, she quietly slipped into the kitchen.

She had noticed earlier—there was actually a thermos in this kitchen!

The kitchen was pitch black without a single light. She fumbled around for a long time before finding the thermos in the corner—it had hot water inside!!

Searching further, she indeed found an enamel basin placed on the stove, which looked relatively clean… She had no idea what it was used for, but there was no time to worry about that now.

Xu Jingjing quickly poured out half the thermos of hot water, carefully tested the temperature—it was just right, not scalding. She took off her shoes and socks, soaked her feet in it—

The slight warmth rising from her soles nearly made her cry.

It hurt!

The soles of her feet were covered in blisters from walking. Soaked in the hot water, they felt sore, numb, and swollen, as if every nerve was screaming, yet it was far more comfortable than walking all day.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and silently calculated in her heart: Tomorrow, I must not walk too far, or these feet will be ruined for sure…

After soaking her feet, she looked at the remaining half thermos of hot water and remembered how Xie Chengjun had helped carry her luggage and escorted her all the way today. She couldn’t just not show any appreciation, could she?

More importantly, if the water was discovered missing, she couldn’t take all the blame alone. It was safer to share the risk with someone else!

So, she poured the remaining hot water back into the basin, then hurried to knock on Xie Chengjun’s door: “Comrade Xie, you’re not asleep yet, are you?”

There was a rustling sound from inside, and soon the door opened a crack, revealing Xie Chengjun’s tired but still smiling face:

“Ah, I was just about to lie down. What’s up?”

Xu Jingjing pretended to be embarrassed, lowering her head and speaking softly: “You walked so far today too, you must be exhausted. I found some hot water—you should soak your feet! And lance those blisters, so you don’t wake up tomorrow morning with swollen feet and can’t even walk.”

Seeing the steam rising from the basin, Xie Chengjun was deeply moved. “You’re so thoughtful. I never even thought of relieving fatigue this way…”

As he spoke, he had already taken off his shoes and socks, plunging his large feet into the basin. The moment they touched the warm water, his expression turned utterly blissful:

“Oh my, this feeling… it’s heavenly!”

Outside, the night wind whistled past. The two stood in the dim corner of the small kitchen—one feigning shyness, the other full of gratitude, each with their own hidden motives—

Who would have thought that such seemingly considerate words were merely a way to secure an escape route for herself?

A slight, curved smile tugged at the corner of Xu Jingjing’s mouth, but she quickly lowered her head to hide her emotions, her eyes glinting: “Comrade Xie, rest early. We still have to work together in the future.”

Xie Chengjun nodded emphatically, “Mm! Thank you! Comrade Xu Jingjing, you’re so kind!”

He was sincerely grateful, but he would never know that she had just dragged him along as a shield…

That night, the newly arrived educated youths each had their own worries—some tossed and turned, unable to sleep; some dampened their pillows with tears. And the wind outside the courtyard grew colder and colder.

That night, Xu Jingjing was awakened by the cold and worn out by exhaustion.

She felt like a battered boat, tossed all night long on bone-chilling waves.

Before dawn had fully broken, a sharp stream of curses exploded in the courtyard like a poison-tipped dagger tearing through the morning tranquility.

“Who the hell used my thermos! And my basin too!”

“Damned rotten scoundrel! How dare you steal my hot water! Just wait till I catch you—I’ll skin you alive!”

The voice was shrill and piercing, carrying an unyielding, shrewish persistence.

Xu Jingjing’s heart skipped a beat. In an instant, she jolted fully awake, all traces of sleepiness vanishing completely.