As educated youth continued to return to the city, conflicts arose among their families one after another.
Yu Yin and the others took off their heavy winter clothes and put on light spring clothes. The houses in the neighboring yard were also built. They were quite neat, but a bit small and short.
In the yard, Lu Shurui had already turned over the soil, and the fruit tree buds were already quite large, some even about to bloom.
Yu Yin also got to know Huang Qiang, the eldest son of the Huang family, and his wife Yun Duo.
When the seasons changed, Yu Yin noticed that her child had grown quite a bit, most obviously because his clothes were too small.
If Ping'an gets too small, we can keep it for Kuai Kuai and Man Man to wear. Once Kuai Kuai and Man Man have worn it out, no one will be able to wear it anymore. Cheng Lao San from my second sister's family has his own older brother and sister's clothes.
Yu Yin also found many smaller clothes that she hadn't been able to throw away at the time, so she kept them. They accumulated to a large bag. Throwing them away would be wasteful, but keeping them would take up space.
Yu Yin happened to see the new daughter-in-law of Aunt Huang's family next door, who was said to be a local from Yunnan Province.
Yu Yin went downstairs to the next room.
"Hello, I'm your neighbor next door. I heard you're from Yunnan Province. I've lived there for over ten years, so we're practically from the same hometown. Let's get acquainted. My name is Yu Yin."
"Hello, my name is Yun Duo." After hurriedly wiping her hands on her apron, Yun Duo reached out and shook Yu Yin's hand.
Are you from a minority group?
"No, not really. My father is Han Chinese, and my mother is Dai. Our commune and production brigade are mixed communities, with Han Chinese making up more than half."
Yu Yin knew a little about it; there were many places like that in Yunnan Province.
"I came here to ask you if you need any of my child's outgrown clothes?" Yu Yin was a little embarrassed, as she hadn't done much giving away old clothes before.
"Oh? Really? Thank you, thank you so much. I need it, I need it." Yun Duo didn't expect her neighbor to greet her so proactively. Ever since she set foot on Shanghai's soil, she had felt a little timid and inferior.
"Then come and get it, I just finished packing." Yu Yin invited Yun Duo to her home.
"Your house is so beautiful. The fruit trees are about to bloom. My yard used to be full of fruit trees too, and now we can eat them."
The sound of the clouds was filled with longing; they missed home.
“My child wanted to plant the fruit trees because he was thinking about the ones we used to have at home. Just take it easy, he’ll get used to it eventually.”
"Yes, I know."
Yu Yin handed a bag of clothes to Yun Duo, telling her to go back and pick out the best ones to wear.
Yun Duo thanked them again and brought over some local specialties she had brought.
They gradually became familiar with each other, and during their conversations, Yu Yin and the others learned that Huang Qiang was a sent-down youth who went to Yunnan Province in the same batch as Lu Shurui, but they were assigned to different places.
Lu Shurui passed the exam to become a teacher because of her good grades, while Huang Qiang was assigned to a commune. He didn't like studying and could only earn work points.
At 72, he married Yunduo, whose father was the head of their production brigade. Initially, these educated youths from big cities seemed unusual to them, but considering the realities of life, they generally wouldn't marry one.
Yun Duo married Huang Qiang because he saved her from the rising river; the two had been through life and death together.
At that time, the river near their team was flooded. Yunduo went to deliver food to the fields and accidentally fell in while crossing the bridge. Everyone was stunned, and no one dared to jump in to save her.
Huang Qiang, relying on his excellent swimming skills, jumped in and barely escaped with his life. The two of them managed to get up safely, but Huang Qiang injured his arm in the process.
While taking care of him, Yun Duo fell in love with the man and decided to marry him, even if he later abandoned her and returned to the city alone, she would accept it.
When the educated youth were allowed to apply to return to the city, Yun Duo was also uneasy and hesitant. The policy clearly stated that even if Huang Qiang took them back to the city, life would not be easy. The inability to register their household registration was like a mountain blocking their way.
Huang Qiang firmly stated that even if they had to beg for food, their family would stay together. Only then did she leave her parents and family, and resolutely come with him to Shanghai, thousands of miles away.
After hearing Yun Duo's story, Yu Yin was quite moved and felt that Huang Qiang, though not tall, was very manly!
Yu Yin and Yun Duo got along very well and, being from the same hometown, visited each other frequently. As a result, Yu Yin also became acquainted with Huang Shan, the eldest daughter of the Huang family.
Huang Shan seems to be someone outside of this era, unable to tolerate the male chauvinism and hands-off behavior of men in marriage.
She is more like an independent woman from decades later, capable and with a strong sense of self.
During the years she spent in the countryside, she dated several men, but her requirements scared them all away.
Men should learn to do housework and share the burden with women. If problems arise between mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, or sisters-in-law in the future, men should be able to resolve them, rather than constantly demanding that their wives give in…
Huang Shan said self-deprecatingly that if she were very beautiful, perhaps some men would compromise for her looks, but unfortunately, she is just an ordinary person.
Huang Shan has a strong inner strength; no matter what others say, she will not compromise.
After returning to the city, Aunt Huang also advised her to find a partner. Relatives and friends introduced her to many men, and she met quite a few. When people heard her requirements, they all thought she was crazy!
They've been back for a while now, but Huang Qiang and his sister still haven't found jobs. Every time they go to the educated youth office, they're just told to wait, that there are hundreds or even thousands of people ahead of them and people queuing behind them.
After seeing the house that Huang Qiang had repaired himself, Yu Yin discussed with Lu Shurui, "Why don't we ask Huang Qiang to help repair the house? I think his skills are pretty good, and it would be a good help to them."
"I'll ask him tomorrow and see if he'll accept," Lu Shurui said, worried that he might feel embarrassed doing chores for his neighbors.
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