The following spring, when the flowers bloomed, the educated youth office was urging Wang Hong every day, but Wang Hong remained silent each time, firmly refusing to sign up. The older women in the neighborhood had started swearing at her, saying very unpleasant things.
That day, someone pointed at her and called her a slut, a bastard, and said she was delusional to think she could stay in the city. She went home in a huff and cried to her mother, “Grandma, what’s wrong with Mom? Why isn’t she getting the job sorted out? The educated youth office is coming to see me every day; I can’t take it anymore. You have no idea how awful her words are.”
Qi's mother put down the shoe sole she was holding, stood up, and said, "Don't cry. I guess your mother is reluctant. Grandma will take you to see her."
Qi's mother led Wang Hong and, after inquiring, arrived at the large courtyard where Qi Zhifang lived.
The gossipy women sitting in the courtyard pointed out the way and began to whisper amongst themselves...
Pushing open the door, I saw Qi Zhifang dressed neatly and cleanly. The chilblains on her face had healed, and although she wasn't as fair and beautiful as before, she looked much more presentable. She was wearing a black sweater, a light blue coat, black pants, and a pair of cloth shoes, dressed very properly. She was sitting at a small dining table eating noodles, along with two boiled bok choy, an egg, and a small dish of pickled vegetables in chili oil.
When Qi's mother entered, she smiled and said, "Fangzi, are you eating?" Qi Zhifang smiled awkwardly. Qi's mother looked around the room, which was about fifty square meters and was neatly arranged.
"Mom, Honghong, you're here! Come in!" Qi Zhifang said, making way for the grandmother and granddaughter to sit down. Qi Zhifang was very uncomfortable, but her mother pretended not to notice her unease and said with a perfectly timed smile, "Fangzi, did you do what you promised these past few days? Honghong is also being urged, otherwise she'll have to go to the countryside. This time she's going to Jiayuguan, it's tough there! Yellow sand everywhere, drinking water is scarce, I heard they spend half the year farming and the other half begging for food."
Qi Zhifang bit her lip for a while and said, "Mom, I'm afraid this won't work. I can't lose this job. It was Xiao Hu who used his last bit of connections to find me this job. I can't lose it again."
Wang Hong was about to speak when Qi's mother stopped her, gave her a wink, and calmly looked at Qi Zhifang, "Fangzi, even tigers don't eat their cubs. Are you just going to watch Honghong go there? The people of the Northwest are known for their fierce nature, and it's so far away. Who knows what might happen? Many educated youth who went down there couldn't stand the hardship and married locals, destined to be peasants for life! Are you really willing to let that go? One of our children has already gone to the countryside. If they had a job, they wouldn't have to go. You should think about the children!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Zhifang abandoned her last reservations and said, "What about me? Have you ever thought about me? Am I only 39 years old and I'm supposed to stay at home pasting cardboard and sewing shoe soles? I'm a person too, I need to have a job! Has anyone thought about me?"
Wang Hong's face flushed red with anger. She couldn't believe her mother would rather watch her go to the countryside. Tears streamed down her face as she cried, "Mom, are you even a mother? You only care about your own comfort, not our lives! Did you ever think about how I'm only 15 years old and have to go to the poorest place? Did you ever think about my life? My sister is going to a relatively better place, and she's still having such a hard time. How...how can you be so heartless!"
Seeing Wang Hong like this, Qi's mother felt a pang of sorrow in her heart. Her eyes reddened as she said, "Fangzi, you're destined to be unemployed. Just accept it! Yan Da used his connections to find you such a good job at the post office, and you squandered it. Xiao Hu found you a job in the machinery factory office, and you turned it into street sweeping. In the end, you ended up in a labor camp. How many more days can you work here? Rather than squander it all, you should give it to Honghong. Consider it fulfilling the bond between you and your son in this life. Saving her life is the most important thing! You gave birth to a child but didn't raise him, leaving him to your brother, your parents, your in-laws to raise, and in the end, you even abandoned him to 17-year-old Dongdong..." She couldn't continue, sobbing several times. After holding her breath for a while, she said, "We don't blame you. Today, this old woman is kneeling down for Honghong. Please, save her..."
As she spoke, she slowly began to kneel down, but Wang Hong desperately stopped her, roaring, "You'd better watch Grandma kneel down before you!"
Qi's mother leaned into Wang Hong's arms, tears streaming down her face, and said, "Fangzi, you've always been willful and never suffered. We always give in to you at home. This time, for the sake of your own child, please give in just this once! Ah..."
Qi Zhifang gritted her teeth and turned her head to the side. "I won't allow it. Honghong, don't blame your mother for being heartless. You go to the countryside for two years first. When your brother gets married and has children, I'll give up my job to take care of his children..."
Qi's mother raised her voice and said, "What difference does it make if it's two years earlier or two years later! How dare you mention Dongdong's marriage? Dongdong has been ruined by you, he has no house, no land, and no money. What girl would want to marry him? I'll just say one thing today: give up your job, and if the child still recognizes you, you can come home. Otherwise, you'll be lonely and miserable for the rest of your life!"
Qi Zhifang, tears streaming down her face, looked coldly at her mother, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and said, "Give up! I won't let you have this job!"
Wang Hong roared angrily, "Then go with your job! Don't expect us siblings to support you when you're old! I'll pretend I don't have a mother like you! Grandma, let's go!"
As she spoke, she dragged Qi's mother away. Qi Zhifang roared angrily, "You ungrateful wretch! I've known since I was little that you're no good! Get out of here, I don't expect you to support me!"
After everyone left, she cleaned up her bowl, tears streaming down her face.
After Wang Hong took Qi's mother back, she went to the educated youth office to register. Qi's mother cried bitterly and staggered to the primary school where Zhao Aiguo was. Watching the children come out in a long stream, she was afraid of missing Zhao Aiguo.
Before long, Zhao Aiguo was wearing a ginger-yellow sweater, a black cadre uniform, and black cloth shoes. The little guy had lost his baby fat and grown taller. Qi's mother noticed that he hadn't seen him for more than three months and he was almost 1.7 meters tall. He had grown really fast, from a little baby to a handsome young man.
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