Chapter 13: Delay will lead to changes. Finally, I said it out loud.
"I'm not asking for land. I'm thinking that we should plant the crops first and then plant the rice seedlings. It would be difficult for the village to give the land to others." Niu Cuihua said, "Next year, they will give the land to others, and then we can divide it."
Niu Cuihua was indeed reluctant to part with the land, and she also wanted to give it to her family, who would at least cultivate it for a year. Those who weren't registered in the village couldn't get a share of the land, and a married woman couldn't share the family land. Unless, like Niu Cuihua, she married an educated youth, the couple and their children would all be registered in the village.
Farmland is very important to people in the countryside. Niu Cuihua's family has many people, so if they plant more land every year, they can also produce more food.
"Your older sister has a job, and your younger sister is an opera singer. Your mother's job is only for you to take over, and it's impossible for anyone else to take it over." Niu Cuihua said, "Let's stay in the countryside for another month or two to sort out everything."
"Then wait a month or two." Zhao Guodong wanted to go back sooner and suffer less in the countryside. But what Niu Cuihua said was right. The land had been divided, and farming was about to begin, so of course they had to plant one crop first.
"Don't tell anyone that you're going to take over your mother's job." Niu Cuihua said, "No, when you were talking to your mother on the phone, was there anyone else present? Would anyone know?"
"I'm not sure. I just said a few words to my mother." Zhao Guodong said.
"Don't worry about those people," Niu Cuihua said. "So many people want to take over their parents' jobs, but none of them succeeded, right? Wait a month or two, and then you can say you can take over the job. The land has already been planted, and my brother and the others have to harvest the grain so they can plant it next year. You're not the only educated youth in the village, there are others too. Who knows, they might also want to plant the land first. To put it bluntly, if you go back to the city and something happens, you can still come back to the countryside."
Niu Cuihua was somewhat worried. Zhao Guodong's family situation was complicated. He had both a stepfather and a stepsister, and a younger sister who was both biologically related and half-sister. Not to mention the people in the city, even in the countryside, there were families with such complicated situations, with many issues and disputes. Zhao Guodong's life in the city must not be very good. If it were, why would he come to the countryside?
When Niu Cuihua went to tell her mother and father about Zhao Guodong, her mother knew that Niu Cuihua wanted to plant more land.
"Aren't you afraid that something might happen if you delay?" asked Mother Niu.
Niu Cuihua was in Niu's mother's room. She wasn't afraid of things changing. "I've asked around. Everyone in his family already has a job. His older sister bought her job years ago, and his younger sister has been learning opera since she was a child and joined a drama troupe early on. She doesn't need to take over his mother's job. As long as his mother has no mental problems, this job is for him. It's okay if we return to the city a month or two later."
"Ask clearly," said the cow's mother. "Because you won't have other things to do later, if you can go back to the city, then go back and take you with you. The city is much better than the countryside. You've been staying in the countryside, digging for food in the fields, and your children have to dig for food in the fields too. Life is not easy."
Niu's mother had lived in the countryside for so many years, a true country woman. Her fingernails and toenails had grown incredibly thick, dark and dense. Trimming them was incredibly difficult. The scissors needed to be sharp, and she had to cut at different angles, bit by bit. Her skin was incredibly rough and aged; even at the same age, a country woman looked much older than a city woman.
"Wait a month or two and plant the seedlings first," Niu Cuihua said. "It would be best if we could stay in the city forever."
"Of course you can," said Niu's mother. "The city is different from the countryside. When you go to the city, you must be more careful and don't let others laugh at you."
"City people are troublesome." Niu Cuihua said with a smile.
In the evening, Jiang's mother told Jiang's father about her call to Zhao Guodong. She had already told her husband that she would give the job to Zhao Guodong.
"When they come back, I plan to let them stay at home for a few days," Jiang's mother said, "and then let them rent a house outside."
"Yeah." Father Jiang nodded.
Although Jiang Yuqin was married and a room was free at home, Jiang's father still didn't want Zhao Guodong to live there. He planned to give the house to Jiang Moli in the future. As for Jiang Yuqin, forget it. Jiang Yuqin was able to make trouble for her family over a man, and in the future, Jiang Yuqin would only think about her man. Jiang's father wanted Jiang Moli to marry a son-in-law, but he was worried that the son-in-law would treat Jiang Moli badly.
There were families around the neighborhood who wanted to marry into the family, but many of them were not very capable and had various problems. The elders said that if a man had no problems at all, how could he possibly become a live-in son-in-law? Stronger men didn't want to be live-in sons-in-law, they all wanted to marry a woman home.
When Jiang's mother heard Jiang's father's response, she knew in her heart that her husband didn't want Zhao Guodong to live at home forever. Jiang's mother wanted to hear Jiang's father say that Zhao Guodong didn't have to move out in a hurry, and let him move out after receiving his first month's salary, but Jiang's father didn't say it.
Jiang's father knew what Jiang's mother was thinking, but he didn't say it because he was afraid that Zhao Guodong's family would take advantage of him. Zhao Guodong wasn't Jiang's father's biological son, so Jiang's father thought it would be better to get things done quickly and safely.
"They're a family of four, and their child is still young," Jiang's mother said. "If they rent a house, they can't rent one that's too small. It's better to rent two rooms. If they rent one room, it would be a bit inconvenient."
"It's still not too late to rent a house after they come back," Jiang's father said. "When they come back, they'll always let you know first. So you can rent one when they tell you."
Father Jiang’s meaning was very clear: Zhao Guodong’s family of four really had to rent a house.
It was a new day. Jiang Moli had dinner and went to school. She had to go to class. Jiang Moli met He Jingxian in the classroom. He Jingxian glanced at Jiang Moli and turned her head away.
"Did you quarrel with her?" a classmate asked.
"Not really." Jiang Moli said.
"That's right. She looks unhappy whenever she sees other people now," a classmate said. "I heard she wants to stay in South City, but she doesn't have any connections. She looks down on the students who already live in South City, always finding fault with them, saying their pronunciation is wrong, their eyes are wrong, their gestures are wrong, and she thinks she's the only one who's doing the right thing."
"..." Jiang Moli didn't know what to say.
He Jingxian is considered to be a relatively outstanding student among these students, otherwise, Teacher Lu would not have valued her. But when He Jingxian did that, she thought she was teaching others. In fact, did she really think so in her heart?
He Jingxian couldn't hide it from herself, nor from others. Everyone knew that He Jingxian wanted to crush others. He Jingxian thought in her heart: I am much better than these people, why can't I stay in South City?
The teacher saw and knew He Jingxian's little thoughts. However, the teacher did not say much to He Jingxian. Some other students did not do well and there were problems.
He Jingxian talked about other students, but she didn't dare to say much about Jiang Moli. Jiang Moli had solid basic skills. Whether it was her figure or her singing voice, Jiang Moli was better than He Jingxian. If He Jingxian dared to say anything, Jiang Moli would dare to refute her. Jiang Moli would never give He Jingxian a good face.
"You are all about to graduate, so you have to rehearse this play. When you perform the graduation play, your parents and the audience can all see the results of your studies," said Teacher Lu.
Jiang Moli had to perform with the troupe, rehearse, and sometimes travel to other places, not in South City. Therefore, Teacher Lu didn't assign Jiang Moli a very important role, but a relatively smaller one. Jiang Moli understood this and didn't think Teacher Lu's arrangement was wrong.
This play is choreographed by the students themselves. It can be based on a historical story or a classic novel, or it can be original. The students organize and perform the dialogue and movements independently, with the teacher providing guidance. Every student is required to participate in this play, and they can be divided into several groups, not all in the same group.
He Jingxian naturally had to sing the main role. If she didn't sing the main role, she would say that others' level was not good enough and it would affect the performance of the entire group.
Jiang Moli's group was preparing to perform in Dream of the Red Chamber, and she was going to play Jia Yuanchun. Jia Yuanchun only appeared in a few scenes, not every one, but mainly in the part where she visited her parents.
"Come, come, come, get moving." Teacher Lu said.
Jiang Moli and He Jingxian weren't in the same group. Some of the students with good grades wanted to team up together, but since they were all in the same group, what about the others with weaker grades? The teacher hoped that they wouldn't all be in the same group. The groups should be similar and balanced.
He Jingxian walked in front of Teacher Lu. Ren Peng didn't hold her back, and Jiang Moli didn't hold her back either. He Jingxian thought about it for a whole night, and she still wanted to talk to Teacher Lu. What if Teacher Lu was really willing to find a way to let her stay in Nancheng?
How can you know the result if you don’t try?
Jiang Moli saw what He Jingxian was doing, but she didn't go over to her. Instead, she followed her group to another classroom instead of staying here. As for what He Jingxian wanted to say to Teacher Lu, Jiang Moli knew what she was going to say just by thinking with her toes.
Yesterday at noon, He Jingxian wanted to speak in front of Jiang Moli and others, but was stopped by Ren Peng and Jiang Moli. And now, He Jingxian still wanted to speak, even though Ren Peng and Jiang Moli said something yesterday, He Jingxian obviously still didn't listen.
"What's the matter?" Teacher Lu was pulled to a corner by He Jingxian. Teacher Lu said, "Think clearly and tell me."
"Teacher, is there any way you can transfer me to the drama troupe in South City? I don't want to go back." He Jingxian said, "I don't have to join the Provincial Little Hundred Flowers. I can join the drama troupe where Jiang Moli is now. It's fine too. I'm not picky."
Is this not being picky?
Teacher Lu had originally thought that if He Jingxian hadn't spoken out yesterday, she would have given up on it, but she hadn't expected He Jingxian to speak out again today. Teacher Lu saw the ambition in He Jingxian's eyes. She had seen many people who simply wanted to climb the social ladder and stay in the big city, rather than truly want to be a successful actress. Teacher Lu was somewhat disappointed in He Jingxian. The direction of the commissioned training was not something Teacher Lu could decide alone.
Teacher Lu believed that Jiang Moli and Ren Peng had already said something to He Jingxian yesterday, and He Jingxian still wanted to say something, which showed that He Jingxian didn't care whether Teacher Lu was embarrassed or not.
"Teacher, please, please help me." He Jingxian said, "You know, my grades are not bad, they are still very good. I... I really want to stay, even if it's just to sing a role with only a few lines, that's fine."
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