Winter had arrived, and the air was growing colder by the day. After a night of heavy snowfall, the world was blanketed in an endless expanse of white. The firewood collected previously was running low, and to make matters worse, the new group of educated youth had arrived at an inopportune time; in Kaoshantun, the cycle from spring sowing to autumn harvest kept everyone busy year-round.
The educated youth in Kaoshantun were here to support construction, unlike those sent down to the military reclamation areas or state farms. Those youth received both work points and wages, whereas Jiang Rou and her peers only earned points, which they used to exchange for daily rations and basic necessities. Cheng Yu and this latest batch of arrivals had come at a difficult time—the harvest was finished, and winter had set in immediately. With no farm work to be done, there were no points to earn, and without points, there would be no grain distribution for them. Of course, the settlement couldn't let them starve, so they simply kept diluting the porridge with more water to feed everyone. The logging mission was intended to prepare the firewood needed for the boilers and heated kang beds for the coming winter, while also ensuring the new arrivals had a task to perform.
Outside, someone began calling out. "Everyone come out! Time to assign tasks!"
Chapter 57