Lin Siqi's words did not comfort everyone; they only aroused their desire to confide.
"Siqi, what do you mean by a change in the situation? That's a very distant thing."
Zhuang Xue has been in the countryside for four years, although she has left the oppressive environment of her original family.
From then on, her life was no longer related to her family, and she was able to live a good life on her own.
She worked hard to settle down in the countryside, but by the end of the year, besides the food rations she received, she had hardly any money left.
The money she earns in a year is probably less than her parents' monthly salary.
In the countryside, she worked hard every day without complaint, never daring to spend a penny more than necessary, and saving all the money she earned.
But after several years, she didn't even have two hundred yuan in savings.
She didn't dare go home, because going home meant spending money.
Since leaving home and arriving in the Xinshan Brigade, she knew she had virtually no hope of returning to the city.
Her only chance to return to the city was to obtain a place at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University.
However, these spots are extremely limited, and sometimes the Johor Bahru team doesn't even get a chance.
During the four years she spent in the countryside, there were only two openings for the Xinshan Brigade.
However, on both occasions, the people from their educated youth settlement failed to get a spot.
Although there were educated youth among the candidates listed by the brigade, almost everyone voted for people from their own brigade.
Therefore, this path is actually fraught with difficulties, making it hard for her to realize her dream of returning to the city.
Of course, when she couldn't sleep at night, she also fantasized about whether the situation might change one day.
These educated youth no longer need to stay in the countryside; they can all return to the city.
However, this idea was wishful thinking. In the years since the "Down to the Countryside Movement" was implemented, there has been no intention to change it.
It seems that the number of educated youth sent to the countryside every year is still the same.
"Yes, we've been living in the countryside for several years now, and we haven't heard anything about any changes in the situation."
Dingxiang joined the conversation, knowing that almost none of the people who had been in the Johor Bahru brigade for several years had any hope of leaving.
Unless, as Lin Siqi said, there is a policy change that will allow them to return to the city.
However, what they heard most in the countryside was what the new educated youth talked about when they arrived: the educated youth office urging people to go to the countryside.
"If we could really go back to the city, what else could we do? We'd probably just be able to farm."
Wei Sheng rarely makes jokes, but this one speaks to everyone's true feelings.
"Yes, I've almost forgotten everything I learned and everything I memorized."
"Even if we go back to the city, I'm afraid we won't have any means to make a living. Can we rely on our families to support us for the rest of our lives?"
Hu Meiling also participated seriously in the discussion at this time, and they had indeed become disconnected from the city after going to the countryside.
Those who toil in the fields every day, even if they return to the city, won't find suitable jobs and will only cause unrest at home.
"That's right. If we suddenly get to go back home, I'm afraid we won't even have a place to stay."
“If any of my brothers and sisters are married, they probably all have kids by now. Why would they want to support us for nothing?”
In this day and age, everyone is having a lot of children; having only two children is considered a small number.
In their families, there are usually three or more siblings.
Our house was already too small to accommodate everyone, let alone with the constant addition of new family members.
If they go back, they'll just be a burden to the whole family, and life won't be any better than it is now.
So while they longed to return to the city, they were also afraid to go back.
If you get a place in a worker-peasant-soldier university or a job, then you've returned home in glory.
But if there were a policy change that forced all the educated youth to return to the city, that would be a disaster.
Shen Mu Ning couldn't help but show an expression of agreement when she heard what Wang Zhu said.
After all, many of the novels she had read depicted the idleness of educated youth after they returned to the city.
It would be fine if they were just idle, but what's worse is that the city's crime rate increased rapidly after they returned to the city.
Although Lin Siqi did not experience it herself, she heard people talk about the scene when she chatted with others after she escaped from the Johor Bahru brigade.
Now, hearing what Wang Zhu said, it seems that Wang Zhu has suddenly become a little smarter and can even think of this.
So what she wants now is for everyone to pick up their textbooks again and study hard.
As long as you pass the college entrance examination after it is reinstated, you will receive a subsidy for your studies.
Although the subsidies may only be enough for everyone to live on at school, the government will assign jobs as soon as you graduate.
This is much better than their current life; even people with jobs now can't compare to them.
However, Lin Siqi knew that the country had not yet expressed any intention to prioritize education.
Although there are quotas for worker-peasant-soldier universities every year, it is still not enough when considering the whole country.
Everyone knew that this spot was hard to get, and no one had any intention of picking up textbooks again.
Fortunately, it's only 1974, and there are still three years before the college entrance examination is reinstated.
She's giving me some pointers now. If I understand what she means, and spend three years reviewing, I'll definitely do better than others on the exam.
Even if we can't understand her deeper meaning, there's still time later, so there's no need to rush.
"I don't think it will always be like this. After all, if the country wants to develop, it still needs intellectuals."
National development cannot rely on people who know nothing; after all, only a minority of people attend worker-peasant-soldier universities.
Even if they all succeed, they won't be good enough when they're assigned to different places after graduation.
"Yeah, I guess so, but right now, let's just focus on living our own lives."
Chu Mingxu believed what Lin Siqi said and agreed with her point of view.
Since the implementation of the Down to the Countryside Movement, many truly educated people have been persecuted.
The education system was nearly paralyzed, universities were abolished, and only a few worker-peasant-soldier universities continued to train talent.
Without access to worker-peasant-soldier universities, everyone could only receive a high school education at best.
Even high school graduates acquire very little professional knowledge in various industries.
High school graduates can only do jobs that don't require much specialization and are easily replaced.
However, many professional knowledge and skills are indispensable to the country, and if this continues, there will be a shortage of young talent.
Only then will the country truly value education.
However, there's no word on this matter right now, so they can't pin their hopes on it.
"Well, that's all for the future. Let's get some rest; we have to go to work tomorrow."
Zhu Yang had previously wanted to put the new and old educated youth on opposite sides, but Shen Mu Ning exposed his plan on the spot.
Of the four newly arrived educated youth, only He Xiaolan did not participate in the conversation because Shen Mu Ning was present.
Both Lin Siqi and Zhang Jiayang expressed their determination to settle down in the countryside.
After these three people expressed their opinions, the older educated youth who had previously shown subtle expressions all put aside their thoughts.
Then Lin Siqi brought up the topic of the changing situation, and it turned out that the old and new educated youth were not at all as opposed as he had imagined.
Seeing that he had failed to achieve his goal again, why bother chatting here? He should just get some rest.
We ate dinner late tonight and chatted for so long, it's really late, I should wash up and go to bed.
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