The busy spring plowing season is finally over, and the people of Liujia Village can finally take a short break for a few days.
Liu's mother and father were free today. One of them was turning the soil in the yard, and the other was picking all the green vegetable leaves that were almost mature to make sauerkraut and pickled vegetables.
Xuemei took advantage of Qingya's school holiday today and took a day off to explain the homework to Qingya in her room. The whole family hoped that Qingya would be able to get into high school this semester.
"Sister, take a break! My head is all confused now!" Qingya said to Xuemei with her hands supporting her face and frowning.
"Okay, we've been talking for almost two hours. You should take a break!" Xuemei stood up from the chair and looked at Liu's father and mother who were busy outside the window.
"Sister, actually I can join the army directly after finishing junior high school. I will sign up when the recruitment notice comes out." Qingya said, covering the book.
"Don't you see how many people our commune recruits every year? No one from our village has been selected in the past few years. You'd better study hard and finish high school first! With your higher education and your skills, your uncle can recommend you to the army, and you'll have a greater chance of being retained by the army!" Xuemei turned around and looked at Qingya and said seriously.
"Sister, I think the most important thing about being a soldier is your skills!" Qing Ya retorted.
"Joining the military certainly values skill and physical strength, but if you want to stay in the army for a few more years, or even want to get promoted, then you should study hard now. The last time my third cousin came back, didn't he say there was a comrade who was about the same skill and age as him and joined the army right after graduating from junior high school?
He joined the army two years earlier than his third cousin. His third cousin is now a platoon leader, and he was just promoted to deputy platoon leader. And his second cousin is now a deputy company commander. Both second and third cousins are only 23 or 24 years old. Compare them yourself and see if the military values academic qualifications.
If my second and third cousins were not military academy graduates, no matter how many merits they had made, they would not be promoted so quickly because the army would feel that their cultural abilities were not yet compatible with these positions.
"Look at my fourth uncle, he also joined the army after graduating from junior high school. He served for almost ten years and was only a company commander. Compare him with my two cousins and the difference is obvious. So, even though we don't take the college entrance exam anymore, knowledge is still very important!" Xuemei analyzed carefully while looking at Qingya.
"Sister, I understand! But I always feel that studying is too difficult. I can only try my best." Qing Ya said with a worried face.
Xuemei rubbed Qingya's face with her hands and said, "Alright, why are you so worried at such a young age? Just work hard. I believe you can get into high school."
As Xuemei finished speaking, Ruirui ran in from outside and said excitedly, "Sister, sister, Han Zhiqing's bicycle was assembled successfully!"
"Really? Then I want to go and see it too!" Qingya jumped up from her chair when she heard it and ran out with Ruirui.
Feifei learned last night that Han Chen would be assembling the remaining parts of the bicycle he'd been building today. After breakfast, he called Ruirui to do his homework. Once they finished, the two brothers headed to the Youth Educatorate. Feifei was interested in assembling the bicycle, while Ruirui was just there to join in the fun.
After hearing this, Xuemei also decided to go and take a look.
"Xuemei, why did Ruirui come back in such a hurry just now? Why did Qingya follow him too?" Mother Liu said after putting the vegetables on the bamboo pole to dry.
"Rui Rui just came back and said that Han Zhiqing's bicycle was assembled successfully and asked us to go and take a look. Mom, it's past eleven o'clock! You and Dad should come with us to take a look and take a rest. I will make lunch when I come back." Xuemei explained.
By the time Xuemei and Liu's parents arrived at the educated youth center, several layers of people had already gathered in front of them. Han Chen was test-riding his newly assembled bicycle in the open space next to the educated youth center.
Han Chen rode the bike around and found nothing wrong, so he parked it. As soon as the bike was parked, the people around came over to look at it.
"Han Chen, how did it feel when you rode it just now?" Zhou Bing asked, touching the bicycle.
"It's okay, no different from the bicycle I bought! It should be able to last for seven or eight years." Han Chen replied.
"Han Chen, sure! It looks no different from the ones sold in department stores! It just looks a little old, but after you paint it a little, won't it be as good as new?" Zhou Bing patted Han Chen's shoulder and said happily.
"Han Zhiqing, you are really capable. This is no different from buying a bicycle! And it's much cheaper." Aunt Liu praised.
"Han Zhiqing, you are really capable. This way we can save money and don't need a ticket. Han Zhiqing, can you get me a bicycle?" a man in the village shouted.
"Han Zhiqing, you are so capable, a bicycle should not be a big deal to you. Anyway, you can assemble it yourself in the future. How about you sell the bicycle to me first, and I will give you 30 yuan? How about that?" said Mrs. Yu, the village's most petty-minded woman.
"Aunt Yu, you are sending away a beggar this time. Everyone knows that buying a bicycle now costs at least 120 yuan, in addition to the ticket. You didn't even pay for the ticket, but only gave him 30 yuan. This is too unscrupulous of you to take advantage of him!" Aunt Liu said after she couldn't stand it.
After hearing what Mrs. Yu and Aunt Liu said, many people in the crowd became interested.
"Han Zhiqing, Sister Liu is right. Thirty yuan is really too little. Otherwise, if you sell this bicycle to me, I will give you fifty yuan!" said a man in the crowd.
"Han Zhiqing, you'd better sell it to me. My son is getting married in a few days. I'll give you 60 yuan and sell the bicycle to my family to keep up appearances!" Another aunt squeezed in front of Han Chen and said.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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