Chapter 117 Changes in Life
On this day, Chen Youfu found the production team's ox cart early in the morning, and found the best driver to pull the ox cart to take Huo Jinyun and Huo Jinze to the bus station in the county town.
The oxcart slowly drove out of the village, leaving two tracks on the country road still covered with snow. Huo Jinyun and Huo Jinze sat on the oxcart with their luggage, looking over as the oxcart rocked.
At the entrance of the village, many villagers, led by Chen Youfu, waved goodbye and shouted loudly, "Goodbye, Teacher Huo!" and "Teacher Huo, rest in peace."
The children ran and jumped after the ox cart, and shouted "Teacher Huo" together.
Huo Jinyun raised his hand to say goodbye to himself, waved, and looked among the crowd, but he did not see Su Wanru from beginning to end.
He understood what Su Wanru meant. She didn't want to face separation and was afraid of losing control, so she simply hid in the house and didn't see her off.
Even after the ox cart had gone a long way, so far that the houses and trees of the Pingxi Production Brigade had become blurry shadows, as if covered by a layer of light mist, the voices of the children seemed to still echo in my ears.
Huo Jinyun looked at the rolling hills. The hills were very long, as if they had no end. No matter which way the ox cart went, he could still see the endless hills.
For the first twenty years of his life, Huo Jinyun had never imagined he would one day end up in such a remote and backward place, much less settle down there for a decade. But after a decade here, he seemed to have grown accustomed to everything: the strange noises emanating from the depths of the mountains at night, the crowing of roosters at dawn, and even more so, the local customs and the local dialect.
I have also become accustomed to this Big Roller Mountain full of mysterious power and the people who come out of the mountain.
Here, his outlook on life and values were reshaped, and he gained a new understanding of himself and the world.
This is an ancient and backward, yet awe-inspiring place.
He even thought that no matter where he went or what achievements he made in his life, he would never forget the ten years he spent in Big Roller Mountain.
When thinking about this, he remembered again Su Wanru's eyes that seemed to want to say something but were too shy.
Looking up at the vast sky, he sighed softly: "The evening wind blows away the fragrance of the wine altar. I remember all your looks."
Huo Jinze next to him frowned slightly.
For some reason, when his brother recited this poem, he remembered the little girl he had seen by chance before, a stunning little girl.
He frowned and looked at the mountains in the distance, and couldn't help but sigh softly in his heart.
In fact, it is just beautiful and has no substance.
The people in these mountains are like these ancient mountains. Although they seem refreshing at first glance, they are actually ignorant and backward when you think about it.
——
The world has really changed. New news and instructions from the central leadership group are often heard on the radio, as are various measures and changes. Each one is so fresh and exciting. Teachers in schools also convey some new spirits from above from time to time, asking students to learn and write down various experiences.
Then some earth-shaking changes took place in the county. First, the central government proposed to implement the policy of internal improvement and opening up to the outside world. A village in a certain county took the lead in implementing the household contract responsibility system of "dividing land into households and bearing their own profits and losses", which opened the prelude to internal improvement. At the same time, special flexible policies were implemented in foreign economic activities. An earth-shaking change thus came to this ancient land of China.
Of course, the person who was most excited to hear this news was Gu Weidong.
He has always wanted to do business, to get rich, and to make a lot of money, but as a rural person, it is too difficult to move forward. If you do a small business, you will be labeled as speculation, let alone doing anything else.
Suddenly, the household contract responsibility system was implemented and small businesses were allowed. This was an unexpected piece of good news for Gu Weidong.
Chen Youfu has been very busy recently, busy getting farmers to draw numbers and divide the land, busy writing various materials, and learning various spirits. He is very busy.
Pingxi Production Brigade was also renamed Pingxi Village. Pingxi Village drew lots for the collective fields in the village, and every household could be allocated land. Gu Weidong's family sent Fubao to draw lots, and he immediately got the most fertile and best land in the village, which made everyone envious.
At this time, everyone can't help but mention that Fubao is a lucky star, Fubao brings good luck to people, and how good Fubao is.
When these words were spoken, everyone in the village was envious, but some were jealous so much that they almost wanted to slap themselves.
For example, Shen Hongying asked herself for the thousandth time why she had given the character "Fu" to Liu Zhaodi. She felt that her life was ruined by that character-stuffing group. If Fubao was her child, how much better would her life be? Would she have been able to seize the best farmland in the village?
As for Nie Laosan's wife, when she got the driest and worst piece of land in the village, she vomited so hard that she almost didn't want to live. She now feels that the thing she regrets most in her life, the thing she regrets so much that her intestines turn green, is that she kicked Fubao out of the house. Why did she do that in the first place?
Apart from these two, Liu Zhaodi also felt uncomfortable.
Why did they split the family in the first place? Wouldn't it have been much better if they hadn't split? She'd benefited so much by not splitting the family, so why did they split it?
They can only think about these trivial complaints in their hearts now. After all, Fubao will never become their family. After all, everything is in the past. Even the former production brigade has been changed into a village. What's the point of repeating those old things?
After the fourth branch of the Gu family seized the best and most fertile land in the village, Gu Weidong and Liu Guizhi worked on the land at home while thinking about resuming the business. Unlike the previous sneaky move, this time they would do it openly and with a straight back.
Gu Weidong was no longer worried about running out of capital. Now, in addition to the money he had saved over the years, he still had more than a hundred yuan left. Gu Yuejin saved his allowance every month when he was in the army and sent it home. Gu Yuehua, who was working, also received a salary, and they would send things home.
With the support of his two sons, Gu Weidong started his business in a big way. He harvested cotton and went to the market to sell it. As time went by, the money flowed into his pocket.
He couldn't do it alone, so he asked his second brother Gu Weimin to help him. The two brothers worked together and were working enthusiastically.
You have to know that this kind of small business had been banned for many years. Even though it has been improved and opened up now, no one dares to try it easily. Gu Weidong is brave and willing to work, so of course he seized the opportunity. In just two years, he has become the richest man in the village and has saved several thousand yuan.
This was truly remarkable; he had become wealthy, and his life was suddenly filled with prosperity, making everyone in the village envious. Seeing this, Chen Youfu simply suggested that Gu Weidong serve as an example and give a speech to everyone, explaining how he had become wealthy.
This year, Fubao, Gu Shengtian, and the others finished their second year of high school and were about to graduate. However, their teachers at school had been suggesting that they should continue attending school and not put down their studies, as they had heard rumors that the college entrance exam might be relaxed.
When I went back home during the summer vacation, I brought back various supplements and also bought a few pieces of Dacron cloth. I gave them to my father, my mother, and my grandparents.
Miao Xiujiu is living a good life now. She has nothing to worry about. The clothes she wears are made of new Dacron, which are made by her fourth daughter-in-law herself. Even her bed is covered with wool felt and bedding. She has cakes and fruits from time to time, and malted milk sent by her grandchildren. Her life is so comfortable.
As for what she usually eats, they are all white flour buns. She doesn’t even want to eat corn flour buns!
Others envy you: "You have such a good life, you really know how to enjoy life!"
Miao Xiuju chuckled: "I've suffered all my life, and I don't have many years left to live, so of course I want to enjoy life early. Now my son is promising, my daughter-in-law is filial, and my grandchildren are all accomplished people. If I don't eat something good now, when will I wait?"
Others also think that Miao Xiujiu is really lucky.
There are four sons. The fourth son became rich, and the second son also benefited from it.
The eldest son and the third son did not make much money, but thanks to their hard work, they could barely make ends meet and not starve.
In Miao Xiujiu's opinion, it's enough as long as you don't go hungry. As for whether to eat white flour buns or corn dumplings, that's your own problem. As your mother, I have no right to interfere.
Among the grandchildren, one, Bonnie, went to work in the mine and is now married to a cadre there. She lives a good life. Another grandson joined the army and the photos he sent back are so good that at first glance you would have thought he was an official. He doesn't look like a rural person at all. Another grandson, Yuehua, also went to work in the mine and eats commercial grain.
Thinking of this, others couldn't help but ask: "Why are your Shengtian and Fubao still in school?"
Miao Xiuju: "Yes, they are in school. Both of my children are very educated. I'm thinking that when they stop going to school, I'll look for jobs and give them something to do. They've been studying for so many years, there's no way they can stay at home doing farm work!"
This is Miao Xiujiu's plan.
She felt that her Shengtian and Fubao were both educated people, especially Fubao, whose appearance, temperament, and knowledge were all first-class. He was also a child who was blessed from a young age, so his future would not be worse than that of Baoni, Yuejin, and Yuehua.
But Shen Hongying, who was standing next to her, was jealous. "Mom, you're dreaming. How can we recruit workers so easily?"
After hearing this, Liu Zhaodi also said, "In my opinion, the fourth brother's family is now busy with business and farming. They are simply too busy to handle it. Their children are already so old, but they don't help with housework and still want to go to school? Isn't that a waste of time? They should come back and work as soon as possible!"
Even Grandma Hu frowned and looked at the matter: "Actually, that's true. It's only been half a year anyway. It doesn't matter whether I go to school or not. Just get a high school diploma. Now is not like the past-"
Grandma Hu didn’t say what life was like in the past.
In the past, there was the college entrance examination. If you had good academic knowledge, you could pass it. Once you passed it, you were no longer a rural person, but a city dweller.
But it’s gone now.
When she thought about it, she suddenly felt that Fubao and Shengtian were really not born at the right time and were born more than ten years later.
Once this topic was brought up, everyone looked at Gu Shengtian and Fubao and felt a little sympathetic.
Soon, someone came to Liu Guizhi and said, "You said it's really not easy for you. You two are so busy, and your older son and daughter don't even help. They are still studying in school. I heard that the middle school in our county is now qualified to get a diploma. Just get the certificate and that's it."
What they said is true.
Nowadays, high schools are two-year programs. After two years, as long as you have a student status and are willing to ask for a diploma, the school will give it to you and you can graduate successfully. Only those who want to take some exams will continue to study.
In other words, Fubao and Gu Shengtian are already able to get their diplomas.
Now that I have it, why should I read it? What is the point of reading it further?
At that time, there was a concept of going to university, but those were all recommended. That kind of quota was beyond the reach of Chen Youfu, and it was difficult to get a quota even in the commune!
So it would be a waste of time to read on.
Liu Guizhi smiled after hearing this and said, "We don't feel tired at all. Children like to read, and reading more is always beneficial."
As for what the benefits are, she doesn't understand, but she listens to her husband and her children.
Fubao and Shengtian have studied for so many years and are knowledgeable and experienced. They have more ideas than her when encountering things. Now she can't help but want to hear Fubao's opinion on many things.
Since Fubao and Shengtian wanted to go, she planned to let them continue. After all, the family didn't need their work points.
As for Gu Weidong, he refused directly: "How is that possible? We are not short of money now. If we are really too busy, we can ask others for help. We can pay them for help. I am Gu Weidong's child. You can do whatever you want and continue studying if you want!"
Now that they are rich, they speak so boldly. A few words from them can shut up the person who is talking so that he can't say a word.
Gu Weidong's words naturally upset a small number of people when they heard them. Liu Zhaodi curled her lips in displeasure. Gu Weijun sighed, "My third brother is truly capable and remarkable. If it had been a few years earlier, he would have been arrested and reprimanded!"
But it's useless to say those things. It's not a few years ago now. There is no fighting anymore. Things have changed. The times have changed, the sky has changed, and people's hearts have changed.
Gu Weijun sighed over this, thinking of how his fourth brother took his second brother to do business without him, and he felt very uncomfortable: "Zhao Di, maybe you are right, the fourth brother is just bullying us because we don't have a son!"
It’s painful to think about it.
While everyone was talking about this, Nie Laosan's wife became interested and wanted Shengyin to drop out of school.
After all, she is just a girl. Why should she go to school so long? She should just come back to work. As for Shengjin, she is only in the second year of high school. She can still study for another year.
When Shengyin heard what her mother said, she panicked.
In fact, she panicked more than a year ago.
That’s not right, that’s not right, it’s totally wrong!
Wasn’t the college entrance examination restored a year before the reform and opening up?
Now that the college entrance examination has been resumed and she can take it, she can find a way to use her advantage as a prophet to prepare early and strive to be admitted to university. This was her original plan.
But now...why is this development different from what she knew in her previous life? Looking at this different development, she was completely unsure.
So should she drop out of school and seek other career options, or continue to study hard?
What if I study too hard and neglect other things?
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