Although this era has its shortcomings, the spirit of hard work, frugality, and unwavering faith in the Party remains strong.
It can't be said that everyone has a heart for selfless dedication, but when faced with a crisis, there are countless people willing to step forward and sacrifice themselves; the spirit of collectivism is definitely above personal interests. Yu Yin sometimes envies this generation; they live purely and with faith.
Even if she admires it, Yu Yin can't do it.
Yu Yin had experienced the indifference of her later life, being abandoned by her parents, and being homeless... too many unpleasant memories. Physical injuries sometimes heal easily, but psychological wounds are much harder to heal. Even when a scab appears to be healing, there is often underlying inflammation and pus.
This experience made Yu Yin extremely insecure, and she always felt that only what she could hold in her hands was truly hers.
Even if you can't give your all, you can still do what you can.
Wang Wenye and his group worked incredibly hard, traveling to communes, townships, and production brigades around Menghai County from the day after they finalized their plan. Their status as members of the Revolutionary Committee was quite useful; many people who didn't understand the situation feared the Revolutionary Committee, a force to be reckoned with in that era.
The three young men had practically worn out their old bicycle wheels from riding so much. They had a fruitful trip, gaining a basic understanding of the local area, including what fruits, wild vegetables, and medicinal herbs were available in each season, and had made detailed lists.
The list was provided by Yu Yin and was made in a clear and easy-to-understand format, using a table commonly used in later generations.
After the three returned, Yu Yin was also drafted to help organize the materials. She compiled the three people's materials into a more professional and clearer report.
"Sister-in-law, these are fruits, these are wild vegetables, these are Chinese medicinal herbs, and there are also some handicrafts."
"Crafts?"
Wang Wenye and Qian Weiguo hadn't consulted about handicrafts, which was unexpected.
"Yes, I saw that my sister-in-law gave some handicrafts to my cousin Shuxia and my grandmother. They liked them very much and couldn't put them down. I made a note of it when I visited them."
"Ah, we didn't expect that."
"No need to rush, take it one step at a time. Comrade Shuqi thought of everything very thoroughly this time, which deserves praise. You two also did a good job and should be encouraged! Tonight, I'll treat you to a nice meal as a reward!"
Yu Yin hadn't expected that several young men, all under twenty, could handle things so meticulously, comprehensively, and with such dedication. Thinking about the future, most children that age would still be children, contributing little beyond asking their parents for money.
Drawing on these examples, Yu Yin silently considered the educational issues of Lu Xiangchen and Lu Xiangwan. Sometimes, she would unconsciously bring up past emotions, wanting to compensate for what she hadn't received in the children.
Yu Yin knew it was wrong, but she did it without thinking. Lu Shurui was a typical person from the 1970s, with the mindset of the 1970s. Although he loved his two children, he was extremely principled, and many rules were set by Lu Shurui and could not be violated.
Yu Yin reflected that her own ideas, influenced by later generations, might not be beneficial to children of this era. People must adapt to their environment; those born into this environment must abide by its rules and cannot be too unconventional, otherwise they risk isolation. People need partners, friends, and interpersonal relationships.
I've gone off on a tangent; this was just a spontaneous thought.
The three young men, though behaving maturely, were still teenagers. Hearing their sister-in-law's praise, they were secretly thrilled, though they didn't say it aloud; their wide smiles betrayed their little secret.
The four people worked together and produced a detailed report.
Season, place of origin, type, quantity, method of preparation, finished product, cost... This is the most basic summary for later generations, but it is quite advanced for this era.
During the years Yu Yin worked there, she didn't achieve anything major, but she subtly influenced many of their financial statements to be revised. Although he didn't study accounting in his later life, he had run his own shop for several years and still knew how to keep basic accounts.
When the report was handed to Chu Jianguo, Yu Yin didn't see the director's delighted expression; she had gone home to prepare a big meal. Yu Yin enjoyed the cooking process, immersing herself in the combinations of various ingredients and the trying of new flavors, which allowed her to forget any unpleasantness.
Yu Yin was thoroughly fed up with living as a foster child. What she envied most was that her younger siblings could freely enter and leave the kitchen and take things from the refrigerator at will, places Yu Yin was not allowed to set foot in.
Food has always been something that Chinese people care about most, sometimes even more than money.
For Yu Yin, food is a symbol of home and a guarantee of security. Since arriving here, Yu Yin's greatest joy is having her own house, a home of her own. Not her parents' home, nor her husband's home, but a home that belongs entirely to Yu Yin.
She loved going up the mountain, collecting mountain produce, filling her barn to the brim, planting vegetables and fruit trees in her yard, and enjoying the chirping of chicks—these things gave her a sense of security. They ensured she wouldn't go hungry and wouldn't have to depend on others for food.
Yu Yin cooked a big meal at home, while Wang Wenye and the others discussed the report in the office.
"This was done by the three of you. You're amazing! It's very detailed, even more detailed than what many large factories do."
Chu Jianguo was pleasantly surprised that the young men could do such a good job!
"We didn't make it ourselves. The forms were prepared in advance by Sister Lu and given to us. She also helped us summarize them after we got back."
Wang Wenye was too embarrassed to take credit; they had only run errands, and the most important part was done by his sister-in-law.
"Good, you're a man. You don't take credit for others' work. Make two more copies of this report; I need them."
"Okay, we'll get it done in a bit."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
