Chapter 102 That evening, Cheng Yongping…
That night, Cheng Yongping and Cheng Yongyi stayed at the Yu family's house. Cheng Yongping slept in Yu Songchuan's bed, while Cheng Yongyi shared a room with Yu Jiajia and Yu Jiamin.
After taking a shower, the three sisters sat on the balcony chatting. Although they were already full, Yu Jiajia still prepared orange juice and melon seeds, while Yu Jiamin washed cucumbers and tomatoes. Enjoying the breeze while eating and watching the young men playing basketball on the court in the distance, it was truly a pleasant experience.
Cheng Yongyi looked into the distance and thought the county was really beautiful at night.
There are streetlights, tall buildings, and squares here.
Life in the county is truly wonderful.
She already has a job, and she will continue to study hard and work hard to become a great doctor.
Her future was completely changed.
After the basketball game ended, the three sisters got ready to go to sleep; they had to work the next day.
The 1.5-meter bed is quite spacious; it could easily sleep three little girls. The balcony door wasn't closed, and a slight breeze would occasionally blow through, so it wasn't too hot.
The next day, Cheng Yongping and Cheng Yongyi got up before dawn.
After quickly washing up and having breakfast, I rode Yu's old-fashioned bicycle home.
Although the Cheng family did not own bicycles, Cheng Yongping had learned to ride one and could ride a bicycle.
Cheng Xiuying repeatedly emphasized, "You must ride slowly. People can fall, but bicycles absolutely cannot be bumped or damaged."
These three bicycles are the family's treasures! They cannot be allowed to suffer any damage.
Little Green is absolutely not to be lent out, but the old-fashioned bicycle can still be lent to my nephew for a ride.
Cheng Yongping patted his chest and assured her, "Auntie, don't worry. If we encounter any potholes on the road, I'll carry the bicycle across."
They will bring Cheng Yonghao back with them, along with bedding, clothes, and daily necessities, as they will be staying in the dormitory after completing their onboarding process.
The Yu family definitely doesn't have enough room.
Although Cheng Xiuying dotes on her nephews and nieces, she's okay with them staying for a day occasionally, but forget about them staying for an extended period.
At most, if we cook something delicious at home, we can invite our nephews and nieces over for a meal.
Cheng Yongping rode his old-fashioned bicycle home with Cheng Yongyi on the back. It was still quite dark, and there weren't many people on the wide road. However, Cheng Yongping rode very slowly, afraid that he would lose control and fall off the bike if he rode too fast.
He can indeed ride a bike, but he's only ridden a few times by borrowing other people's bikes, so he's not very skilled.
I was afraid of damaging my aunt's car.
Cheng Yongping is usually quite reserved, but he was so happy that he just wanted to grin like an idiot: "I was so excited last night that I couldn't sleep. I only managed to get some sleep before dawn. It's like a dream! We really have jobs! We're permanent employees at the steel rolling mill! We'll get 18 yuan a month, and after we're officially hired, it'll be 36 yuan!"
Others might have to work as apprentices for half their lives without a chance to become permanent employees, but their third aunt is the deputy factory director, so no one will block their chance to become permanent employees!
If you study hard, you'll definitely get a permanent position.
Cheng Yongyi pinched Cheng Yongping's waist hard: "Does it hurt?"
Cheng Yongping hissed in pain, but dared not reach out to pat Cheng Yongyi's hand. He couldn't hold the handle with one hand: "Ouch, ouch, ouch, let go of me!"
Cheng Yongyi smiled and said, "It's not a dream, it's real. We both have jobs in the city!"
Cheng Yongping: "I will be filial to my third aunt for the rest of my life! When I get my salary, I will buy her a roast chicken!"
Cheng Yongyi: "You should say that to your third aunt."
Cheng Yongping: "I feel so bad. I haven't been paid yet, and I can't afford to buy it even if I talk about it."
Cheng Yongyi laughed.
Once outside the county town, Cheng Yongping couldn't help but start singing, one song after another, from "Chairman's Words Are in My Heart" to "Learning from Lei Feng: A Good Example".
Cheng Yongyi sat in the back and sang along. She was in a good mood, and everything seemed nice to her.
When the road was difficult to walk on, Cheng Yongping would carry his bicycle forward, making sure it wasn't damaged in the slightest.
By the time we arrived at Hongcheng Brigade, it was already broad daylight, and smoke was rising from the chimneys of every household as they began to prepare breakfast.
Many villagers, carrying bamboo baskets, had just picked mushrooms and were coming down from the mountain when they saw Cheng Yongping riding a bicycle with Cheng Yongyi on the back, and they were surprised.
An older man asked, "Yongping, where did this bicycle come from? It looks like your third aunt's. What were you doing at your third aunt's house?"
Cheng Yongping grinned: "He went to the county to take the exam."
"What kind of exam? Didn't you already graduate?"
Cheng Yongping: "The exam at the steel rolling mill."
The middle-aged man was shocked. An exam at a steel rolling mill? He pressed, "Did you pass?"
Actually, he had already guessed the answer. Judging from Cheng Yongping's smile, he must have passed the exam.
The woman next to her said, "My goodness, is the Cheng family blessed with good fortune? Another worker is about to emerge from their ranks?"
Her mother-in-law's eyes reddened with envy: "Of course! Otherwise, how could she have such a promising daughter? Why isn't Xiuying my daughter? How come that old woman Chen is so good at having children? She just found her brother a good job at the Hongxing Breeding Farm, then got her nephew into the commune, and just a few days later, she got her nephew into the steel rolling mill!"
Cheng Yongping had already ridden his bicycle far away and soon arrived at his doorstep. Cheng Yongyi jumped off the bicycle and reached out to push the door open.
Cheng Yongping carried the new car over the threshold and placed the bicycle under the eaves.
Grandma Cheng was feeding the chickens with earthworms that the children had dug up from the ground. She said that the chickens grew well and laid more eggs after eating earthworms.
Now there are two more roosters in the coop, just bought from the neighbor. She looked at the two roosters and was more and more satisfied. She would kill one when Xiuying came back.
Make sure the three children who are visiting their maternal home are happy and joyful!
She was thinking about Cheng Yongping and Cheng Yongyi, wondering, "I wonder how they did on their exams. Will they be able to outperform the city kids?"
The old lady looked up at the chattering magpies and said, "It will work."
The other night when she was killing a chicken, she served half a bowl of good meat to the Bodhisattva Grandma.
Grandma Cheng trusted her mother-in-law's words completely. Since her mother-in-law was so sure, then it must work.
The two had just started talking about their two children when they heard the door open.
As soon as Grandma Cheng saw Cheng Yongping pushing his bicycle back, she forgot all about the chickens and rushed over, asking, "How did it go? Did you pass the exam?"
Cheng Yongping grinned foolishly, revealing his teeth, "It's done! Yongyi and I both passed the exam!"
"Oh my!" Grandma Cheng clapped her hands happily, "Good, good, good, that's wonderful."
The Cheng family has really changed their ways; they're going to have four workers now!
The old lady was so happy that tears welled up in her eyes.
Outside, Wang Shuhua and Cheng Xiufeng returned with their son and daughter-in-law. They went up the mountain to pick mushrooms, getting up two hours early every day to earn work points from the mushrooms they picked.
Wang Shuhua exclaimed excitedly, "They all passed the exam? Great, wonderful, that's fantastic!"
Seeing Cheng Yongping and Cheng Yongyi nod, Wang Shuhua burst into tears of joy, "I must thank you, Auntie, properly. I will be filial to you for the rest of my life."
If it weren't for Cheng Xiuying, the whole family would be toiling in the fields for a living.
Cheng Yonghao was also very happy for his younger brother and sister-in-law, and hoped that he would have the opportunity to become a worker in the future. Cheng Yonghao's wife, He Caiyun, looked unhappy. She knew she should be happy, but among the brothers, only Cheng Yonghao was unemployed, and the two of them had become the most useless in the family.
Why doesn't Auntie think of a way to find Yonghao a job too?
Cheng Yongping grinned, "That's not all." He looked at Cheng Yongyi.
Cheng Yongyi picked up the conversation, "Jiajia helped me find another job, to participate in barefoot doctor training. After the training, I can work at the county hospital."
The Cheng family: !!!
Grandma Cheng: "Good heavens! I found you another job? Did you take the exam?"
Cheng Yongyi: "I took the exam, and I've already passed."
He Caiyun asked excitedly, "Yongyi, did your second brother give you the job at the steel rolling mill?"
Cheng Yongyi laughed: "Yes, sell it to my second brother."
He Caiyun immediately frowned, "We're family, how can we talk about selling?"
Wang Shuhua raised her hand and slapped He Caiyun on the back. "If you're not thinking straight, then don't talk. If I hear you say something stupid again, I'll slap you in the face."
Cheng Yongyi continued, "I've inquired, and the job at the steel rolling mill can earn between 500 and 800. Let's let Jiajia suffer a little loss and pay her 500. Second Brother's apprentice salary is 18 yuan, and he'll give Jiajia 10 yuan a month. Let's try to get her promoted to a full-time position as soon as possible and earn 38 yuan a month. That way, we can save up 500 yuan sooner."
He Caiyun replayed her sister-in-law's words in her mind and was very unhappy. How long would it take to save up like this? Although she had been slapped by her mother-in-law, this involved the interests of the next two or three years, so she said, "You passed the exam, why should Jiajia get so much money?"
Cheng Yonghao: "Yes, I'll give it! Not to mention five hundred, even eight hundred, I'd be willing to give it."
He Caiyun shoved Cheng Yonghao, saying, "Shut up." Then she said to Cheng Yongyi, "Even if you really have to give money, you should save it up for Jiajia."
Cheng Yongyi: "...How do you know I won't give it to you? I haven't planned to spend any of my salary for the next three years on myself."
Why save money? She needs to make her aunt and Jiajia happy.
Does having a job solve everything? Having a job is only the first step.
She didn't even want to talk to her second sister-in-law, who was so shallow.
Wang Shuhua had already started cursing: "Oh, a fire poker? He Caiyun, you short-sighted, stupid woman, if you don't want to pay, then let your man keep working in the fields." Having found the fire poker, she started hitting Cheng Yonghao and He Caiyun, yelling, "Cheng Yonghao, is your mouth sewn shut? Why is your wife jumping around like this?"
He Caiyun clutched her stomach: "Mother, I'm pregnant. Do you want me to abort my child?"
Wang Shuhua laughed in exasperation, "Do you think I care about your only child?"
Grandma Cheng pursed her lips, knowing that her second son's wife was not a virtuous woman. She had pretended well before because there was no conflict of interest, but now that there was, she immediately became a nuisance.
Cheng Yongyi didn't care; it didn't matter who she sold it to. She said, "Mom, I'll sell this job to you. You're capable of working in the workshop, and if you can't handle it, you can be transferred to logistics."
Wang Shuhua's heart pounded wildly. Pointing to her own nose, she exclaimed, "What? I can do that too?"
Cheng Yongyi: "What's wrong with that! If you can't be a fitter, you can do something else. The kitchen and cleaning all need people." Selling the job to my second brother and sister-in-law is risky. What if they stop paying me after two months?
Even siblings keep clear accounts, and besides, this money isn't for her, it's for Jiajia.
It's safer to let her mother go to work.
If her mother is working, she will only give more, not less.
Although her aunt said that the money was to be split between her and Jiajia, she didn't intend to take it.
She'd rather dig up astragalus in the field than touch the money.
Wang Shuhua was somewhat tempted.
Cheng Yongyi: "If you want to work with my dad, you can switch jobs with Hongxing Breeding Farm, but you'll have to ask them to pay you more. Right now, the steel rolling mill is the most powerful factory in Qingshan County, and everyone wants to go there."
He Caiyun panicked, "Yongyi, that's not what I meant. I just asked a few more questions. We'll give you six hundred yuan, six hundred yuan it is! Even if we don't get a permanent position, we can pay it off in five or six years at most."
Cheng Yongyi: "No, you're doing this unwillingly, so it won't be comfortable. It's more comfortable to work in the fields. Although you can't save much money at the end of the year, you don't have to pay anyone else. You're earning your own money. Now you can also earn money by picking mushrooms. By the end of the year, you can save up a few dozen yuan."
Grandma Cheng was pleased to hear this. No wonder Sanbao liked Yongyi; this girl's tongue was just as sharp as Sanbao's.
Wang Shuhua waved her hand and said, "I'll do it! I'm only in my early forties, I can still work for another twenty or thirty years."
He Caiyun knelt down in front of Wang Shuhua with a thud, crying with tears streaming down her face: "Mother, it's all my fault for being so talkative. Let Yonghao go to work. Give all of Yonghao's salary to Jiajia, don't keep any money for him. Everyone has a job, we can't just let Yonghao stay at home farming. Mother, I will never do it again."
Wang Shuhua really didn't tolerate her. "Isn't this just being a cheapskate? She can be cured by working in the fields for a couple more years. When I retire, I'll hand over the job to Yonghao, and then I won't have to pay her anymore."
He Caiyun and Cheng Yonghao felt like the sky had fallen.
Cheng Yonghao also knelt down and slapped himself twice: "Mother."
Wang Shuhua finally softened, saying, "How could I have given birth to such a good-for-nothing like you?"
Grandma Cheng began to criticize: "You're really stupid. How could your third aunt really bear to take five hundred yuan from you? Even if she did, you got a good job, and your third aunt is still the deputy factory director. With your aunt looking after you at the factory, your future will only get better and better. Your wife is short-sighted. Just listen to her and see who suffers in the end."
Do you really think Sanbao is short of your meager earnings?
When Sanbao came back this time, he gave her thirty yuan!
Grandma Cheng: "This is the last time I'm advising you. If you're not smart, then observe how smart people do things."
With tears welling up in his eyes, Cheng Yonghao said, "Grandma, I'll listen to you."
Next came packing. He Caiyun dared not cause any more trouble, fearing that her mother-in-law would really go to work at the steel mill!
She could just tell that her mother-in-law was truly moved.
Old Mrs. Cheng: "Kill a rooster and have Yongping and Yongyi take it to the county."
Cheng Yongyi: "Grandma, my aunt told me we can't kill chickens anymore. She said, 'How can we kill chickens every day?'" She laughed after she finished speaking, "Yesterday my aunt bought a roast chicken, and my older cousin bought two pig's trotters."
Grandma Cheng smiled and said, "Then take it over."
Cheng Yongping: "Grandma, my aunt also said that we can't bring live chickens because there's nowhere to raise them."
Grandma Cheng: "This child. Then take all the eggs with you."
-
When Yu Jiajia woke up, the first thing she asked was where Cheng Yongyi was.
Yu Jiamin: "I got home before five o'clock. Get up quickly, let's practice the Five Animal Frolics together. You are much stronger than before. If you practice some more, you won't be afraid of bad guys in the future."
Yu Jiajia felt that the Five Animal Frolics didn't significantly increase her strength; it only made her body lighter and more agile. Her substantial increase in strength was mainly due to the strength attribute granted by the system!
After completing the Five Animal Frolics exercise twice, she happily signed in.
Congratulations on obtaining [All-Purpose Fish Food*1].
Yu Jiajia counted the all-purpose fish food in her spatial backpack; she had already collected four bags. It was time to go fishing.
After breakfast, Yu Jiajia went to work as usual with Cheng Xiuying.
Yu Jiajia: "I wonder when Songchuan will come back. I miss him so much!"
Cheng Xiuying: "He wasn't in a hurry to come back. He stayed with the army and got to experience being a soldier."
When I arrived at the office, my new colleague from the publicity department was already there. He was a man named Lin Mufeng, who had come in third yesterday. He had excellent writing skills and spoke Mandarin very well, making him a perfect fit for working at the radio station.
Everyone welcomed the new colleague, and Liu Weidong and Zhou Wenbin helped move the tables and chairs.
We rearranged everyone's positions again.
Lin Mufeng has completed his onboarding procedures and transferred his household registration to the steel rolling mill. He can start working today.
The publicity department, which was not too busy to begin with, became even more relaxed after the arrival of the new colleague.
Yesterday, Zhou Liang, who is very good at twirling a pen, came to the office and even met his new colleagues in the publicity department.
Actually, he came to get to know Yu Jiajia. He then introduced himself very solemnly, "Hello everyone, I'm Zhou Liang, who just joined the office. As the saying goes, a revolutionary comrade is like a brick; we'll go wherever we're needed. I'm especially happy to be part of this big family! I'll definitely get to know the work as quickly as possible and make progress together with everyone!"
Everyone introduced themselves to each other.
Zhou Liang didn't linger and soon left with his colleagues in the office.
Just before the end of the workday, Lu Chenzhou's secretary, Xu Mo, arrived with some news.
The bodies of Xia Mowen and Xia Wantang have been found and will be buried this afternoon.
Yu Jiajia had been following this matter closely, but unfortunately, there had been no news.
It has now been found.
Yu Jiajia immediately asked for leave. Liu Weidong, Lin Mei, and the others also wanted to go and asked Section Chief Chen for leave as well. Yu Jiajia then told Cheng Xiuying, who immediately said she would go too.
Yu Jiajia happened to be wearing a beige dress today, the color was perfect, she just needed to take off her pink hair clip. Cheng Xiuying's clothes also fit well. Lin Mei just needed to take off her red hair tie.
The men's clothes are all dark-colored, so they don't need to change.
Xia's mother was still thin and weathered, but she dressed up carefully, wearing a blue dress. She had already changed the clothes for her husband and daughter, and the coffin lid had been put on.
Many people came spontaneously to see Xia Mowen and his daughter off.
It was this frail mother who was the first to stand up and expose Zhu Jinsong.
Everyone spontaneously carried the coffin to the place chosen by Xia's mother, a place with mountains, water, flowers, and grass.
It's very quiet and beautiful.
They quickly dug two holes and buried the father and daughter together, side by side.
There were many light-colored wildflowers in front of the grave, as well as the white wine and pig's head meat that Xia Mowen liked to drink, and the candies and pastries that Xia Wantang liked to eat.
A gust of wind blew by, and the leaves rustled as if they were weeping.
Xia's mother was very strong and did not cry. She should be happy now, as she has laid her husband and daughter to rest in peace.
She gently told her husband, "Your innocence has been cleared. You are not an enemy spy. You are innocent. We have returned our house and property."
She then told her daughter, "Wantang, I've avenged you. All the bad guys will be punished. Wait for me a little longer. Walk slowly on the road. Once I see them being executed, I'll come find you. Then the three of us can be together forever."
Xia's mother's voice was very soft and was quickly carried away by the strong wind.
Her only obsession was watching Zhu Jingsong die.
Everyone felt very sad watching it. Xia's mother was so pitiful, and her husband and children were also so pitiful.
Yu Jiajia wiped away her tears. This was originally a very happy family. The father was smart and capable, the mother was gentle and loving, and the daughter was optimistic and cheerful. They were very happy.
But it was ruined by Zhu Jinsong.
Now only Xia's mother, whose health is not good, remains.
Xia's mother bowed to everyone to thank them for seeing Xia Mowen and Xia Wantang off. She said she wouldn't take up any more of their time and asked them to leave first, as she wanted to spend a little more time with her husband and daughter.
Yu Jiajia was afraid that her daughter might do something rash. Xia's mother said, "I still want to see Zhu Jingsong executed."
Everyone wanted to advise Xia's mother to think more positively, but they simply couldn't bring themselves to say it. How could she possibly think positively? She simply couldn't. They just kept their distance, letting Xia's mother talk to her husband and daughter.
Xia's mother packed her things, thinking she would come back in the middle of the night to burn incense, paper money, and paper money for her husband and daughter.
As they walked back the way they came, passing a dilapidated temple, Xia's mother heard a faint crying sound, like a cat's meow, intermittent and faint.
Yu Jiajia heard it too.
The group followed the sound of crying toward the dilapidated temple.
They found a bamboo basket at the entrance of the dilapidated temple, inside which was a baby wrapped in tattered cloth. The baby was crying so hard that its face turned purple, and its voice was very soft. It was extremely pitiful.
Xia's mother instinctively picked up the baby and quickly touched the baby's head. The baby's temperature was normal, but the baby was crying. She gently patted the baby and soothed it with soft "oh oh".
This child is too light, probably only four pounds. He is too frail and looks like he won't survive. It seems like he's going to cry himself to death.
How did I end up here?
Temples in this era have been smashed and destroyed, and no one usually passes by. Is this just leaving the children to fend for themselves?
An auntie immediately cursed, "Which bastard abandoned his child here? What a terrible thing to do!"
Another older woman chimed in with her own curses: "Heartless bastards! Even if they can't raise the child, they shouldn't have abandoned him, especially in such a remote place." But as she looked at Xia's mother holding the child with such tenderness, her heart ached terribly.
Xia's mother took the child to the hospital. The doctor examined the child's condition and found that the baby was a premature girl, weighing only 3.8 pounds. She was very weak and difficult to raise.
The police will first try to find the parents.
The doctor told Xia's mother to take care of the child first.
Xia's mother was taken aback: "I'll raise him? I can't."
When Zhu Jinsong is executed, she will die. How will she support herself?
Several aunts suggested that Xia's mother raise the child. One aunt said, "My daughter just gave birth and has milk. You can bring this child to my house and let her have some milk. She can raise the child for now, but we don't know if the child will survive."
As you raise them, you develop feelings for them.
Once you develop feelings for someone, you want to live on.
Xia's mother carried the child home. She now lives in a small courtyard, which used to be the Xia family's house. It was later occupied by the Revolutionary Committee and has now been returned to the Xia family.
The Yu family had malted milk powder, so Cheng Xiuying and Yu Jiajia went home to get it. Cheng Xiuying also found some soft cotton cloth and went to deliver it to Xia's mother.
The baby couldn't drink breast milk, so the breast milk had to be expressed and then dripped into the baby's mouth little by little with a small spoon.
The baby has some breast milk in his/her belly and has fallen asleep.
If it can be eaten, it can be fed.
Xia's mother and several aunts are preparing soft cotton cloth as swaddling clothes for the baby, and they are also planning to make two more small clothes for the baby to wear first.
Yu Jiajia felt that the child had a chance to live.
Xia's mother now has hope of survival.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
