By this time, every household had finished breakfast, and the children of the brigade began to go from house to house asking for candy.
"Happy New Year, Grandpa Gu! Wishing you prosperity and good fortune."
May Grandpa Gu have all his wishes fulfilled and may his wealth increase.
A group of little kids gathered at the gate of the courtyard, bowing to Gu Guangrong.
Gu Guangrong was extremely embarrassed. He didn't even know where the candy in the house was, which made him very anxious.
"Dad, I'll go back and get it."
Gu Changfeng chuckled and quickly went home to get two bags of fruit candies to tide him over, finally managing to send the little devils away.
Next, close relatives and neighbors will come to visit.
Many of the women who were traveling together were quite surprised to see only a group of men in the house.
I was afraid I'd misremembered the date and ended up celebrating the second day of the Lunar New Year.
…
The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day to visit one's maternal grandparents' home.
Early this morning, He Chunhua packed her things and took her son and husband back to her parents' home.
Zhou Lan had long since severed ties with her family. Right now, she was at home making spring clothes for her beloved husband and son.
Xie Xiuying also took Gu Guangrong and her youngest son and daughter to the mountains to secretly pay respects at her parents' cenotaph.
Ruan Qiushui's parents and grandparents were all around, so she spent another New Year in her own little home.
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, everything proceeded as usual.
Ruan Hengzhi and He Ruyi returned to the capital, accompanied by Shen Yongjun and Liu Sanmei.
Hongqi Food Factory officially started operations, and Gu Changfeng also returned to work in the city.
Only Ruan Qiushui and her two children remained at home, along with Gu Xiaoxiao and Gu Changshu, who had come to help take care of her nephew.
With the help of her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ruan Qiushui found taking care of the child much easier.
When the child is awake, Gu Changshu helps to amuse him. When the child is asleep, Gu Xiaoxiao helps to take care of him.
The two also learned how to change diapers, prepare formula, burp the baby, and do gas-relieving exercises.
Her level of involvement was even higher than that of the mother herself.
Aside from breastfeeding and cooking, Ruan Qiushui lived a very easy life.
Spring plowing, summer weeding, and autumn harvest—in the blink of an eye, it was October 21, 1977.
"Attention members of the Red Flag Brigade! An important announcement is now being broadcast..."
"The national college entrance examination will be reinstated and will be held nationwide next month."
“Repeat it.”
…
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, can you hear me?"
In the yard, two little kittens were learning to walk while holding onto a homemade walker, and they were amused by a black cat chasing and biting their tail not far away.
Gu Changshu and Gu Xiaoxiao, who were watching over each other, heard their own father announce the important news of the resumption of the college entrance examination in the broadcasting room.
"I heard you."
Ruan Qiushui was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen when she heard the two people's excited voices and responded loudly.
"Little sister, all our efforts have finally paid off, and this day has finally come."
Gu Changshu wept with joy.
He was incredibly frustrated during that time.
Since the establishment of Hongqi Food Factory, he has always been a laughing stock.
Especially his former close friends, all of them think he has something wrong with his head.
He clearly has a sister-in-law who is a factory manager and a mother who is a workshop foreman. Yet, instead of using his connections to get a job at the factory, he stays at home doing nothing, reading a few tattered books.
That's really pathetic.
"Fourth Brother, this is what they call 'after the clouds disperse, the moon shines bright.'"
Gu Xiaoxiao also felt a bit emotional.
Before the college entrance examination results came out, she was confused and hesitant, unsure whether her persistence was the right thing to do.
Now it's all been worth the wait; it was all worth it.
"Knock knock knock, is Ruan Zhiqing home?"
Outside the door, Li Haonan and Li Haobei knocked on the door.
"Come in, my third sister-in-law is in the kitchen."
Gu Changshu recognized the two educated youths; they were the honest, cautious type in the brigade, and he didn't have a bad impression of them.
"Woof woof woof".
Hei Zi guarded his two young masters, watching the two strangers warily.
"Is there something you need?"
Ruan Qiushui dried her hands and walked out of the kitchen.
“Ruan Zhiqing, I know you’ve been reviewing your high school material. I was wondering if you could lend us a few books to study with.”
Li Haonan said tentatively.
As soon as the captain's announcement came over the loudspeaker, he and his brother embraced and wept bitterly.
Six months ago, Liu Pandi married a fellow worker at the food factory and moved out of the educated youth settlement.
Three months ago, He Yongjun also married the daughter of the neighboring brigade and moved out of the educated youth settlement.
Now, only the two brothers are still struggling to stay at the former educated youth settlement.
The college entrance examination is their hope of returning to the city.
They didn't follow the crowd and get married and have children in the village; they waited for this moment.
"Or you can just lend it to us for a few days, and we'll return it to you after we copy it by hand."
Li Haobei didn't want to make things difficult for Ruan Qiushui.
At this critical juncture, everyone wants to seize the time to study and review, and then stand out in the exam a month later.
If there is only one copy of this book, they cannot keep it forever. Copying the book is the best option and can also deepen their understanding.
"Okay, I'll go get it for you."
Ruan Qiushui could see the longing in their eyes and couldn't bear to refuse them.
When Grandpa sent the books before, he sent several copies according to her request.
Even if there's only one, it's fine to give them all.
She and her brother Gu Xiaoxiao had thoroughly grasped the contents of the book during this period.
"Thank you, thank you."
The Li brothers were extremely grateful and bowed deeply to Ruan Qiushui.
"You can return the book whenever you want, I'm not in a hurry."
Ruan Qiushui, fearing that the two might feel burdened, added an extra sentence.
"good."
The two thanked Ruan Qiushui and left the Gu family.
What they hesitated to say was whether they could invite Ruan Zhiqing, Gu Xiaoxiao, and Gu Changshu to form a study group together.
However, the two single young men simply couldn't bring themselves to ask, and it was also quite inappropriate.
No sooner had the two left than several more groups of people arrived to borrow books from Ruan Qiushui. They were all gathered outside the door, waiting for Ruan Qiushui's confirmation.
The fact that Gu Xiaoxiao and Gu Changshu had been learning from Ruan Zhiqing had long been known throughout the brigade.
They were all aware that Ruan Qiushui's family had many books.
For those who want to achieve success through the college entrance examination, Ruan Qiushui is a highly sought-after candidate.
"Third Sister-in-law, so many people have come to borrow books, what should we do?"
Gu Xiaoxiao lowered her voice and asked Ruan Qiushui.
With so many people coming to borrow books, there aren't enough books at Third Sister-in-law's house to go around, and it wouldn't be good to lend them to just anyone.
"Ruan Zhiqing, what do you mean? Are you afraid that with more competitors like us, they will all score higher than you in the college entrance exam and you won't pass, so you're deliberately not lending us books?"
"If you don't lend us books, you're narrow-minded. How can someone like that want to go to university? Bah! You'd be lucky to pass."
"If I can't borrow a book today, and I fail to get into university in a month, it'll be your fault."
Seeing that Ruan Qiushui was hesitant to agree, everyone immediately assumed that she was trying to find an excuse to refuse them, and then they began to morally blackmail her.
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