Chapter 25: “seeing Them Off”
Lin Zhao, under Yang Junzhi’s guidance, easily completed the exam and smoothly transferred her grains and oils relations.
Just like that, she became a city household registration.
“Thank you, sorry for the trouble.” Lin Zhao’s face was full of smiles, sincerely thanking Yang Junzhi.
Yang Junzhi felt his sister-in-law was too polite and smiled, “Cheng Huai and I are comrades who can entrust our backs to each other. This is a small matter, sister-in-law doesn’t need to take it to heart.”
Lin Zhao was not someone who didn’t understand worldly affairs. She shoved the large cloth bag in her hand to him and retreated a few steps.
“These are the gifts of gratitude I prepared. Take them. There’s something at home, so I’ll head back first.”
After speaking, without waiting for Yang Junzhi to react, she turned and ran.
Soldiers emphasize not accepting a single needle or thread from the masses, and even after discharge, they remain just as stubborn. Lin Zhao hated haggling with people the most, so she could only shove it and run.
At least the person had helped greatly; not sending a gift of gratitude would make her seem like she didn’t know how to conduct herself.
Yang Junzhi was full of helplessness.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t catch up, but… his sister-in-law seemed to grow four legs, vanishing from sight in an instant. If he chased after her, he feared Lin Zhao might panic and get into an accident.
Helplessly, Yang Junzhi could only take the things home.
His wife worked the night shift and rested during the day. She had just woken up and, seeing him holding an unfamiliar cloth bag, curiously asked, “What’s in your hand?”
“Given by Comrade Lin.” Yang Junzhi answered.
He never hid anything from his wife, and she knew about helping his comrade’s wife find a job.
“So polite?” Jiang Huiqiao was stunned, clearly not expecting Lin Zhao to send a gift of gratitude.
She had also been a soldier’s wife and knew how tough it was. When Yang Junzhi said the job was for a soldier’s wife, she agreed without hesitation, without thinking of any benefits. But since the person had the intention, she was happy.
Jiang Huiqiao sat on the sofa and opened the cloth bag to look.
“Wow! So many good things!” She suddenly looked up at her husband, her expression moved. “She didn’t send all the good stuff from home, did she? This person is too honest.”
In an instant, the face of a simple and sincere countryside woman appeared before her eyes.
Truly moving.
Yang Junzhi looked over.
One chicken, one fish, one can of malt extract, one box of cigarettes, one pack of sugar.
These would be considered generous gifts anywhere.
“Not everything from home. Cheng Huai’s allowance isn’t low; it’s more than enough to support the family.”
Jiang Huiqiao hesitated, “Then… accept it?”
“Accept it.” Yang Junzhi said.
Based on his impression of Lin Zhao, accepting it would make her feel at ease.
“Alright, anyway, she’s coming to work in the county supply and marketing cooperative. There’ll be plenty of chances to meet later.” Jiang Huiqiao accepted this favor.
Yang Junzhi saw that the chicken and fish weren’t small and immediately said, “Take the chicken and fish to my parents’ place; we’ll eat together.”
They didn’t have children yet, the type where two people eating their fill meant the whole family was fed. Sometimes when busy and no time to cook, they’d eat at her parents’ home, so bringing meat to share wasn’t strange.
“Okay.”
Jiang Huiqiao took the chicken and fish back to her maternal family, and the Jiang family was all stunned.
Because of this, Jiang Huiqiao’s elder brother, the director of the supply and marketing cooperative, had an extremely good impression of Lin Zhao, changing from a hardworking and meritorious soldier’s wife to a worldly-wise, hardworking and meritorious soldier’s wife.
–
Lin Zhao returned to the village, and the villagers all swarmed over.
“Da Zai’s mom, I heard you found a job in the county, a supply and marketing cooperative job?” Wang Chunhua asked.
“Yes, the grains and oils relations were just transferred this morning.” Lin Zhao said with a smile.
“Oh my, that’s great news. Congratulations.” Wang Chunhua was happy for her, but even happier that now she had a connection for defective products.
“Da Zai’s mom, if the supply and marketing cooperative has any defective products, help us reserve them.” She and Lin Zhao got along well, so she didn’t stand on ceremony.
Lin Zhao nodded, “Of course.”
No sooner had she spoken than Gu Mu rushed over rapidly, her eyes shining brightly, her tone unable to hide her excitement. “Third son’s wife, the job is settled?”
“Settled, starting in a couple of days.” The new counter at the supply and marketing cooperative wasn’t ready yet.
Gu Mu was overjoyed, saying “good” three times in a row. “Good, good, good! This is great news. Come eat at the old house today to celebrate?”
“Sure.” The little old woman was so happy; Lin Zhao would certainly give her this face.
Soon, the news that Lin Zhao had truly become a salesperson at the county supply and marketing cooperative spread throughout the entire brigade.
Da Zai and Er Zai also heard the news. The two little brothers lost interest in playing, patted the dust off themselves, and rushed home like two little firecrackers.
Their hands had just grabbed the wooden door when a loud voice rang out.
“Mom! Mom!”
Hearing the urgency in her second son’s words, Lin Zhao thought something had happened and quickly came out.
Before she could ask, Er Zai rushed over, his body leaning forward before abruptly stopping.
His little face was flushed, and a light, cheerful tone rose. “Mom, you passed the exam?”
Da Zai also looked at his mom expectantly.
Children raised in the countryside all wanted to become workers.
They had only just learned to speak when people at home and in the village would tease them.
“Da Zai, when you grow up, do you want to dig food in the field like your grandpa, or become a city person?”
The babbling children didn’t understand anything. “City person” was an extremely unfamiliar term to them, so they naturally replied, “Like grandpa, digging food in the field.”
Then the villagers would laugh. Though the laughter held no malice, it always left a deep impression in the children’s hearts, and thinking back on it when grown would feel unpleasant.
“Yes, I passed. Starting work in a couple of days.” Lin Zhao gave a gentle yet firm answer to her eldest son.
Da Zai’s face lit up with joy.
“Mom is a supply and marketing cooperative salesperson now!!” he said happily.
Er Zai’s eyes widened. “Mom, you became a city person?”
Lin Zhao nodded. “You could say that.”
She would eat commodity grain from now on.
“Mom, what about me and brother?” Er Zai looked up with his little face, his eyes full of longing.
Da Zai filled in the gap in his younger brother’s words. “And San Zai and Si Zai…”
“Yes, yes, and San Zai and Si Zai. Mom, what about us? Are we city people too?” Er Zai continued asking.
“Of course. If I become a city person, you are too.” Lin Zhao answered.
At that time, the household registration system was quite strict. Here, children’s household registrations followed their mother.
Er Zai jumped up and let out a high-pitched “oh!” “We’re city people too!”
Da Zai still remembered Mom’s words not to show off. He put his arm around Er Zai’s neck and covered his mouth. “Er Zai, keep your voice down.”
Lin Zhao touched Da Zai’s bald head. The little friend’s hair grew fast; in just a few days, a layer of black had grown out.
“It’s fine.” Everyone knew about the household registration policy.
In fact, the villagers were discussing exactly what Da Zai and Er Zai were talking about.
“Hey, do you think since Cheng Huai’s wife became a city person, her several kids became city people too?”
“Seems like it. I think I heard before that children’s household registrations follow their mother.”
“Oh wow, then Da Zai and the others will eat commodity grain too. Gu Family’s third branch really…” really has good luck.
But they didn’t dare say the latter half aloud, as it could easily be labeled feudal superstition, so they substituted it with a sigh full of envy.
At that moment, Gu Xing’er passed by with a gloomy face, saying nothing.
The speakers shut their mouths and stared at her. Gu Xing’er ignored them and stormed home angrily.
Once the people left, everyone exchanged glances.
“Xing’er looks angry?” Yuan Bao’s mother said.
“You watch, the Gu Family still has drama to come.” The village chief’s wife took a few sunflower seeds from her pocket and cracked them slowly, with an expression of enjoying the spectacle without minding the trouble.
“Who doesn’t know Gu Xing’er is crazy about becoming a city person? She loves going against the third branch the most. Now the third branch became city people, and so decently too. How could she not be mad? She’s definitely about to explode.”
An older aunt felt Gu Xing’er was getting out of hand and said, “Da Zai’s mom is lazy, sure, but she hasn’t gotten in Xing’er’s way. Why does that girl pick on Da Zai’s mom? This girl’s temperament really isn’t likable. What will become of her later…”
The village chief’s wife pursed her lips. “Before Gu Family’s third son got married, Gu Xing’er was one of the Gu Family’s only two daughters and was somewhat favored. Whatever she wanted, she’d grind until she got it.
After Cheng Huai married, the betrothal gifts were a large sum. Lin Zhao didn’t want three turns and one sound, but Cheng Huai converted it to cash for her, another large sum…
Not to mention Lin Zhao causing a split households less than half a year after marrying. After splitting, Cheng Huai’s allowance all went to her hands. If Gu Xing’er wanted to take advantage, she had to look at Lin Zhao’s face. How could a spoiled girl tolerate that?”
That aunt sighed. “You can’t spoil a girl too much, or she’ll be trouble after marrying out.”
Everyone strongly agreed with this.
You can spoil, but not spoil her into a homewrecker.
Thinking that the Gu Family old house definitely had a spectacle to watch, they tacitly headed toward the Gu Family.
Lin Zhao didn’t know any of this.
She had just entered the door and saw two bundles of firewood piled at the entrance.
“Sent by your aunt?”
Da Zai answered, “No, sent by my second uncle.”
“The firewood was picked by aunt early in the morning.” Er Zai said.
As they spoke, the two little friends dragged the firewood into the shed against the wall.
“Mom, brother and I caught cicada sloughs. Can you make them for us?” Er Zai asked loudly.
Lin Zhao was washing her face and, upon hearing, turned to look.
She saw Er Zai holding a bamboo jar as big as his head, full of cicada sloughs inside.
“Caught so many.” Lin Zhao was surprised.
“Hehe, other little friends helped catch them together.” Er Zai answered.
“Then when I make them, you share some with the little friends who helped you catch them.” Lin Zhao said.
“Okay.” Er Zai agreed.
“Later we’ll eat at the old house. I need to bring some things. You two play by yourselves.” Lin Zhao sent the two kids off and busied herself.
At the old house, aside from the troublemaking Gu Xing’er, the others treated Da Zai and Er Zai well. The two little brothers had no objections to eating at the old house.
Seeing Mom didn’t need their help, the two little friends held hands and went to the old house to show off.
Arriving at the old house, before even entering, they saw a crowd gathered at the main gate, craning their necks to watch the spectacle.
Da Zai pulled his younger brother over and squeezed into the crowd.
Gu Xing’er was jumping up and down in the yard, bellowing at the top of her lungs, loud enough for the neighbors’ neighbors to hear clearly.
“…That was my third brother’s connections. Why should all the benefits go to Lin Zhao alone? I’m a junior high student; I could do the supply and marketing cooperative job too. Why not give it to me? Is a wife more important than a biological sister?”
She wasn’t afraid of a bad reputation; she thought a job was more important than reputation. As long as she could snatch Lin Zhao’s job, she’d be a city person, and then she might even marry the factory director’s son. Once she became the factory director’s daughter-in-law, who’d dare mock her!
Gu Mu’s face had bulging veins, her lips trembling; clearly she was quite angry.
At that moment, Gu Fu came out from the main house, glanced faintly at Gu Xing’er, and said to Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng, “Take Gu Xing’er to your grandma’s place.”
The two Gu brothers were stunned.
Serious?
Serious!
“Get moving!” Gu Fu said coldly.
Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng exchanged a glance, tacitly stepped forward, grabbed Gu Xing’er’s arms, and dragged her outward.
In the past, no matter how much Gu Xing’er acted up, Gu Fu hadn’t taken it this seriously. Seeing her dad was serious this time, Gu Xing’er panicked and shouted incredulously, “Dad, you want to drive me away?”
Gu Fu ignored her and turned to Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang. “You two pack Gu Xing’er’s things.”
“Nothing to leave behind.” He emphasized particularly.
Gu Xing’er struggled fiercely, her features twisting in agitation, and shouted, “Dad, I’m your daughter! You can’t drive me away!”
Gu Fu’s eyes were full of disappointment as he countered, “You still know I’m your dad? Have you ever listened to me or your mom?”
He shook his head helplessly. “I can’t manage you. Go live with your grandma.”
Seeing their biological father wave them off, Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng dragged Gu Xing’er out of the Gu house. Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang carried two large bundles and followed quickly, afraid that slowing down would mean the little sister-in-law got left behind.
Once the actors left, the spectators dispersed. The villagers, who had been circled around, wisely left.
Gu Fu poured a cup of water for the old woman and advised, “If you’re unhappy, just send her over. Don’t let it ruin your health.”
Gu Mu truly didn’t want to deal with Gu Xing’er anymore. These years, she’d taught all she could, tried soft and hard approaches, but the girl wouldn’t listen to a word and grew increasingly willful and reckless. She really had no way, utterly exhausted.
“Will your younger brother and sister-in-law be happy with her coming back?” she said.
“Give them ration, what’s not to like.” Gu Fu had it figured.
“You’re right. I’d rather give out ration than have that girl make a fuss at home. I’m really afraid with her around.” Gu Mu sighed deeply.
“Afraid of what?” Gu Fu was puzzled. “You’re her biological mother; what could she do to you?”
Gu Mu gave him a look. “She can’t do anything to me, but she’s so much bigger than Da Zai and the others. I’m afraid she’ll get malice again and harm my grandsons and granddaughters.”
These past few days, she’d personally watched the dragon-phoenix twins while doing chores, afraid of any mishap.
Gu Fu thought it made sense. “Before Xing’er marries, let her live at second branch’s place to spare you the aggravation.”
Hearing this, most of the stifled anger in Gu Mu’s chest dissipated, though she didn’t spare him verbally. “You have methods too. Why didn’t you say so earlier and let me stew in anger for so long for nothing.”
Gu Fu smiled bitterly and explained aggrievedly, “Wasn’t it you who said you absolutely had to straighten Xing’er out? I saw how confident you were; how could I dare speak up?”
Gu Mu was choked and changed the topic. “Third son’s wife became a supply and marketing cooperative salesperson. This is huge good news. I’ll have her bring the kids to the old house for a meal; everyone celebrate together.”
“Are there enough eggs at home? If not, I’ll go exchange some.” Gu Fu thought sending away the homewrecker daughter was supremely wise; otherwise, this meal wouldn’t go well.
Luckily, luckily.
The scene of Gu Xing’er being sent away was all taken in by Da Zai and Er Zai.
The two little friends’ eyes sparkled with excitement. No time to find their younger brother and sister; they grabbed hands and ran home clatter-clatter-clatter.
At that time, Lin Zhao was organizing the supplies at home.
Going to eat at the old house meant bringing something.
The things sent to Yang Junzhi today were the rewards she drew from the lucky draw wheel last night.
Her points were all spent too.
Fortunately, she passed the exam smoothly today, transferred the grains and oils relations, and got 50 points.
Lin Zhao wasn’t in a hurry to draw; she planned to save up for a big one.
There were many good things at home; the cabinet was almost full. She lacked a mustard seed space for the immortal family, or even if not that advanced, a flat substitute would do.
If there are any typos or errors, please help correct them if you spot them; I’ll fix what I see.
Also thanks to the voting babies; every vote is support for the author. Thank you so much, heart heart~ mua!(*╯3╰)
