Going to the New Logging Camp meant he would have to stay there until the road was finished. So, Zhao Jun had to go home to pack his luggage, including a change of clothes and his bedroll.
When he got home and told Wang Meilan about it, she immediately started bustling about, getting his things ready for him.
Meanwhile, Zhao Jun left the house to find Ma Ling.
He was going to be gone for who knew how long; he had to at least let Ma Ling know.
When Ma Ling heard, she insisted on dragging Zhao Jun to the general store, where she bought him a couple of pounds of round buns and a couple of pounds of large crackers, telling him to take them to the Logging Camp to eat.
Zhao Jun was deeply touched by her thoughtfulness. This was especially true when she went to pay, and he saw that all she had left in her hand was small change.
'She must have spent all her money on fortune-tellers and talismans.'
Zhao Jun had tried to pay himself, but Ma Ling absolutely refused. With so many people in the general store watching, he couldn't very well make a scene by fighting her for it.
Instead, Zhao Jun took out his own money and bought Ma Ling two containers of clam oil hand cream, a couple of pounds of oven-baked cookies, a couple of pounds of sponge cakes, a couple of pounds of sweet rice sticks, and another couple of pounds of large crackers.
And so, after exchanging gifts, the young couple went their separate ways, each carrying their bags of treats home.
That evening, when Zhao Youcai got home from work, the first thing he did was ask Wang Meilan if Zhao Jun was back. He hadn't seen him on the commuter train on the way home from work just now.
Zhao Youcai froze when Wang Meilan told him that Zhao Jun had come home at noon and was now heading to the New Logging Camp. He knew what that place was all about, but he hadn't said a word to Wang Meilan.
On this matter, the father and son had a tacit understanding to only report the good news and hide the bad.
But while Wang Meilan was making dinner, Zhao Youcai quietly slipped into Zhao Jun's room.
Zhao Jun was lying on the kang when the door suddenly opened. He thought it was his two little sisters. But when he saw Zhao Youcai slip in furtively and close the door behind him, Zhao Jun quickly sat up. "Dad? What's up?"
"Yeah," Zhao Youcai grunted, sitting down on the edge of the kang. He looked at his son and asked, "I just heard from your mother that you're going to the New Logging Camp?"
"Yeah," Zhao Jun nodded.
Seeing his son nod, Zhao Youcai blinked, a hint of concern in his voice. "That means you'll be gone for a long time. You won't be able to come back."
A warmth spread through Zhao Jun's chest. 'He is my old man, after all. He does care about me.' So he nodded and said, "Maybe not. Once I get things sorted out over there, I'll have my team leader send someone to take my place."
Zhao Jun spoke with confidence, hoping to set his father's mind at ease.
But it didn't seem to have the desired effect. Zhao Youcai's expression remained grave. He looked up at Zhao Jun and said, "Son, uh... about that..."
Seeing his father stammer, unable to get the words out, Zhao Jun smiled faintly. He scooted closer to him and said, "It's okay, Dad. Don't worry. Your son knows what he's doing."
"Huh?" Zhao Youcai's head snapped up. He stared at Zhao Jun and demanded, "What do you know? You're going to be gone for a long time! Payday is in a few days, who's going to collect your wages for you?"
"Who... I..." Zhao Jun was dumbfounded. It took him a moment to process what he'd heard. He glared at Zhao Youcai and said indignantly, "Dad, all you can think about is the five yuan I give you every month? You're not worried at all that your son might get his ass kicked at the New Logging Camp?"
"Heh," Zhao Youcai chuckled. "You little rascal. You can even swindle your own father. You think they can get the better of you?"
"I..." Zhao Jun stopped, the words dying on his lips. He blinked at his father. 'Is that supposed to be a compliment? Or are you insulting me?'
At this, Zhao Jun sighed. "You know, Dad, you're the only person in the world who has this much faith in me."
Zhao Youcai paused. 'That sounds so weird,' he thought. But he changed the subject, asking, "Does your Uncle Zhou know you're going to the New Logging Camp?"
"No, he doesn't," Zhao Jun said, climbing off the kang. "Baoyu came back with you guys, right? I'll have him pass a message to my brother-in-law."
"What do you need him for?" Zhao Youcai said. "I'll see your brother-in-law tomorrow at noon. I can just tell him then."
"No need," Zhao Jun said with a smile. "Let Baoyu go. If something comes up, he can run errands for my brother-in-law."
Hearing this, Zhao Youcai watched his son put on his shoes by the kang. He leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Son, you've already figured out what you're going to do, haven't you?"
"Mhm," Zhao Jun grinned. "I can even swindle my own father. Why would I be afraid of them?"
"You little bastard!" Zhao Youcai realized his son was just throwing his own words back at him and was about to fly into a rage and exert some fatherly pressure.
But Zhao Jun didn't even give him the chance. "Dad," he said smoothly, "when payday comes in a few days, can you pick up my wages for me? After that, keep five yuan for your own spending money. Just hang on to the rest for me, and you can give it to me when I get back."
"Okay, okay!" Hearing this, a grin immediately spread across Zhao Youcai's face. He followed Zhao Jun out of the room. While Zhao Jun left to find Li Baoyu, his father went back to the east room.
The next morning, Li Baoyu helped Zhao Jun carry his luggage as they rode the small commuter train to the Forest Farm.
After they arrived at the Forest Farm, Li Baoyu, carrying Zhao Jun's bedroll on his back, insisted on walking him to the Inspection Team's office.
It was only a fifteen-minute walk, so Zhao Jun let him. But the whole way there, Li Baoyu was so somber that it made Zhao Jun feel a bit strange.
When they reached the gate of the Inspection Team's compound, Li Baoyu solemnly handed the bedroll to Zhao Jun.
Zhao Jun reached for it, but Baoyu didn't let go. He sighed in resignation. "Baoyu, you can head back now. Once I've taken care of things here, we can go hunting in peace again."