Chapter 83 Meeting Liu Ju The meeting at the Overseas Chinese Hotel was a success...
The meeting at the Overseas Chinese Hotel came to a successful conclusion, and Cheng Xin’s outstanding translation work also brought the winter vacation practice to a close.
She did not stay in Shanghai for long. After the internship, she took her luggage and boarded the train home with Geng Yunye.
Geng Yunye's motorcycle was left at a friend's house in the county town, and after getting off the train, Cheng Xin got on the motorcycle again to go home.
The cold winter wind whistled past, she hugged Geng Yunye's waist tightly, pressed her face against his broad and warm back, and rushed all the way back to the familiar Jiangbin Village.
As soon as Pete left, the strong festive atmosphere instantly enveloped the entire Jiangbin Village.
The twelfth lunar month sunshine shines warmly on the newly built cement road.
Every household in the village is busy preparing for the New Year. Smoke rises from the kitchen and the air is filled with the aroma of steamed rice cakes and fried fruits.
At the end of the year, the village distributed generous dividends. No one felt bad about eating meat anymore, and everyone had satisfied smiles on their faces.
Geng Yunye was very busy. Not only did he have to arrange the final preparations for the factory before the New Year and the distribution of dividends, but he also had to arrange the New Year atmosphere for his family.
Around the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, the town’s New Year market was packed with people.
Geng Yunye took Cheng Xin around the county town with ease.
He was generous, buying cigarettes, fine wines, tea, and nutritional supplements for his father-in-law and mother-in-law; buying high-end candies, imported chocolates, and novel electronic toys for Cheng Lei; and loading boxes of local specialty rice cakes and roasted nuts into the car.
Cheng Xin carefully selected high-end fabrics to make a new suit for Geng Yunye and a dress for Geng Fang as a wedding gift.
This year's New Year's goods are particularly abundant, thanks to the two wild boar cubs that Geng Yunye left behind last fall. He knew that pure wild boars were not suitable for domestication and was also worried about damaging the ecology, so after raising them strong, he contacted the county's wildlife protection management station.
After the comrades at the management station came to see it, they confirmed that this was a beneficial rescue behavior. Geng Yunye cooperated with the management station to breed two wild boars, one male and one female, with domestic pigs to improve the breed. After the breeding was completed, the management station gave Geng Yunye rescue compensation according to the policy and brought the two wild boars back to the station for proper placement. Whether to study or release them in a new place was decided by the station.
Geng Yunye bought two of the piglets born from the mating and raised them carefully. By the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, the two piglets had grown fat and strong.
Geng Yunye hired a butcher to slaughter one of the pigs.
The Geng family's courtyard was very lively.
The big pot was set up, the firewood was crackling, and the boiling water was bubbling.
In the countryside, when people slaughter pigs during the Chinese New Year, they pay attention to "one pig for three tables of banquet". No heavy oil or sauce is used, and the taste depends entirely on the original flavor of the ingredients and the control of the cooking time.
The pig hair had just been removed from the big iron pot in the kitchen, and the steam had not yet dissipated, but the housewives had already gathered around to divide the parts.
The high-quality pork, freshly cut, has alternating fat and lean parts and beautiful texture.
Carefully spread coarse salt and a little peppercorns on a portion of the pork belly and hind trotter to prepare the marinated meat, which is the essence of steamed dishes and soups during the Chinese New Year.
The fresh pig blood is not made into intestines, but is carefully collected in a clean basin with a little salt and water, stirred to prevent coagulation, and then poured into a square shallow wooden tray and left to stand to become tender and smooth blood tofu.
The pig liver is taken out separately, cut into thin and even slices, rinsed repeatedly with clean water to remove blood and fishy smell, and soaked in clean cold water for later use.
The main dish is Dongpo pork, which is made by cutting the fat and lean pork belly into large chunks, blanching it in water, and then simmering it over low heat with soy sauce, rice wine, ginger slices, and scallion knots until it is bright red and tender without being greasy.
Cheng Xin likes to stir-fry pork liver because it replenishes blood. The freshly cooked pork liver is smooth and tender, and the celery is fragrant and crisp, making it the perfect dish to go with rice.
One hot dish after another was served: stir-fried pork with winter bamboo shoots, braised pork with mushrooms and day lily, stir-fried pork blood and tofu with garlic sprouts, and a large pot of rice cake soup with pork bones as the base, which contained shredded pork, winter bamboo shoots, mushrooms, green vegetables, etc.
The aroma filled the whole courtyard, and neighbors came to help. The men drank rice wine and talked about the factory and the next year. The women were busy shuttling between the stove and the dining table. The children ate braised pork and delicious fried rice cakes.
Geng Yunye specially packed more than ten pounds of pork belly and hind leg into a clean bag and put it in the freezer of the refrigerator.
He specifically told Cheng Xin: "These are for your parents. Bring them over when you pay New Year's greetings."
The lively pig-killing banquet ended and the night fell.
After seeing off the last fellow villager and cleaning the yard, the couple could finally sit in the warm and bright main room of their home and take a break.
Geng Yunye washed his face with hot water, and Cheng Xin changed her clothes that were stained with smoke. The two of them went into the bedroom one after the other, and the stove in the room made the whole room warm.
The TV was playing a program with the volume turned very low, and on the table were window decorations and red paper waiting to be cut.
Geng Yunye sat down on the edge of the bed and smoothed out the folded quilt. Cheng Xin came over and sat next to him. The warm smell of the quilt mixed with the warmth of the light wrapped her up.
Cheng Xin looked up at Geng Yunye, who was resting with his eyes closed beside her, and finally had the opportunity to speak.
She poured him a cup of hot tea.
"Brother Yunye."
Geng Yunye opened his eyes and looked at her gently: "Hmm? What's wrong?"
Cheng Xin took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye: "Before I went to the Overseas Chinese Hotel for internship, Professor Zhang talked to me about something. It was about an opportunity to go to the United States for exchange study for a year."
She frankly told him what Professor Zhang had said, the rarity of the opportunity, the length of time, and her own concerns.
"I haven't thought it through yet. This opportunity is great, but I have to be away for such a long time..." She frowned, waiting for Geng Yunye's reaction.
Geng Yunye took the teacup, warmed his hands, and listened quietly. He took a sip of tea slowly after Cheng Xin finished speaking.
He stretched out his hand and placed it on the back of Cheng Xin's hand on her knee. His palm was warm and dry.
"Xinxin, don't hesitate about this, go."
Cheng Xin was slightly startled.
"Why?" she asked subconsciously.
"Because that is a wider world, and you can learn things that you can't learn here." Geng Yunye's eyes were firm. "Since your college professor took the initiative to mention you, it means that he is very optimistic about you. He thinks that a seedling like you should not be boxed in. Go out and take a look. Only by standing at a higher place can you see farther. This is good for you."
He paused and said in a more serious tone: "As for the expenses, you don't have to worry about them at all. You know the situation at home, and the factory is profitable. It would be best if we can get a place at public expense. If you need to pay for it yourself, we can fully afford it. Leave the money to me." There was absolute confidence and responsibility in his words.
Cheng Xin looked at him and her eyes instantly became moist.
"But I have to be away for a year, so far away." Her voice choked with sobs.
Geng Yunye held her hand tightly, his eyes firm: "Distance is not a problem. When our hearts are together, the world is close. I will try to visit you as often as possible. You can study over there with peace of mind. I'm at home, so you don't have to worry about anything."
Seeing the unreserved trust and support in his eyes, Cheng Xin shook his hand back and nodded heavily: "Yes! I understand!"
-----------------
The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day to return to one's parents' home according to custom.
Cheng Xin and Geng Yunye returned to Baiya Village to celebrate the New Year with generous gifts.
Baiya Village was previously called Yingzuiya Brigade. Because the name was difficult to pronounce, it was unanimously changed to Baiya Village by vote.
As the motorcycle drove into the familiar country road, Cheng Xin was immediately shocked by the scene before her.
The devastation left by last year's floods is no longer visible. The bumpy dirt road has become a smooth cement road, and the saplings planted on the roadside stand tall in the cold wind. The dilapidated scenes in memory have been replaced by brand new mud-brick houses, with white walls and black tiles that shine brightly in the sun.
Although it is not as grand as Jiangbin Village, it is neat and beautiful.
What surprised Cheng Xin even more was her own home. The original low adobe house had disappeared, replaced by a spacious and bright brick house.
The yard is paved with blue bricks, and the holly in the corner is full of vitality. Walking into the house, the brand new furniture exudes a woody fragrance, the walls are white, and the most eye-catching thing is the brand new TV on the cabinet in the main room!
"Dad! Mom!" Cheng Xin was surprised and happy.
Xu Fengxia held her daughter's hand and smiled from ear to ear: "It was all arranged by Yunye. After the flood, he said the old house was unsafe, so he asked someone to redesign and build a brick house. He asked someone to buy the TV from Shanghai because he was afraid we would be bored."
Cheng Cunzhi smiled innocently, his face showing satisfaction and satisfaction. "Let's go out for a walk after dinner. The village has really changed a lot this year."
Geng Yunye put down the New Year's goods and just smiled: "I feel relieved when my parents are in good health and Xinxin is in school."
Cheng Xin handed the pork she brought to her mother: "Mom, this is what Yunye specially saved for you. It's a small black pig that is a hybrid of a wild boar and a domestic pig. We raised it at home for half a year before slaughtering it. The meat is so delicious!"
Xu Fengxia accepted the brightly colored pork and praised Geng Yunye for his ability.
My parents looked rosy-cheeked and the house was tidy.
As soon as Cheng Xin sat down, her mother brought her a bowl of hot sugar water, the edge of the porcelain bowl was still a little hot to the touch.
Cheng Cunzhi squatted by the stove and added dry firewood: "The good situation of our village this year is all thanks to the bamboo weaving factory."
Xu Fengxia answered, "Yes, at the end of the year, each household received 500 yuan in dividends, which was much better than in previous years when we grew corn and rice. We were very busy at that time, and we were lucky to have 100 yuan left after deducting the cost of seeds and fertilizers."
Cheng Cunzhi looked at his daughter with a hesitant look on his face: "I was just about to tell you that the village is discussing expanding the bamboo weaving factory, hiring more people, and weaving some new patterns."
Geng Yunye had just brought a bundle of firewood in from the yard and put it in the corner. He said, "Uncle, expanding the factory is a good thing, but I have an idea. Baiya Village is surrounded by mountains, and it would be a pity to leave those sloping lands uncultivated."
Jiangbin Village has few mountains, while Baiya Village is surrounded by mountains, making them the most suitable places for growing cotton and mulberry trees. If Jiangbin Village continues to expand its factory, the demand for cotton and mulberry trees will only grow.
Cheng Cunzhi hesitated and asked, "You mean not to grow crops?"
"Grow cotton and mulberry trees." Geng Yunye squatted down and helped Cheng Cunzhi move the kettle on the stove. "The factory in our village will add more machines next month, and there is a great demand for cotton. The orders from the underwear factory are scheduled until the year after next, and there are not enough mulberry leaves for silkworm breeding. The mountains here are sunny and the soil is loose. Planting these is less troublesome than planting corn, and you don't have to worry about selling them after the harvest."
Cheng Cunzhi sighed and said worriedly, "I've thought about it, but the young and old men in the village have never planted it before. I'm afraid that nothing will grow and it will be a waste of effort."
Geng Yunye added some hot water to his father-in-law's enamel pot: "Jiangbin Village has signed a contract with the village, and the minimum price is guaranteed. No matter what the market is like, you will not lose money. I will have mulberry seedlings and cotton seeds delivered in the spring, and then hire two technicians to teach you step by step. You are the village chief, so take the lead in planting a few acres of land first. When you see real money in the fall, you don't need to shout, everyone will follow suit and dig the land."
Cheng Cunzhi looked out the window and made up his mind: "Okay, we'll hold a village meeting after the New Year. There are so many wastelands, and the yield of crops is low, and we can't sell them for much money."
Cheng Xin sipped the sugar water. The new look of the village and her parents' happy smiles after all the hard work made her feel a strong sense of responsibility. She wanted to fly higher and learn better, so that she could give back to the land that gave birth to her with more advanced knowledge and a broader vision in the future.
The prosperity of Jiangbin Village under the leadership of Geng Yunye made her believe more firmly that the power of knowledge can change her destiny and hometown.
In the following time, Cheng Xin immersed herself in her new hometown. Not only did the living conditions in the village improve, but what impressed her most was the education.
Originally, the Wang family’s house was divided into two parts, with people living on the left side and a sign for the nursery hanging on the right side.
It is unknown how much money Wang Fugui embezzled while in office. His home consists of five spacious mud brick houses, each with a yard of nearly 100 square meters.
After Wang Jiangang’s ex-wife Liu Ju came back, she converted the Wang family’s yard into a daycare center to teach the children to read and write, which was considered a village-run kindergarten.
After dinner, Cheng Xin and Geng Yunye went out for a walk and met Liu Ju. They thought she would be a pitiful woman with a sad face, but after meeting her, she showed a calm smile with a tenacity in her smile.
The two sides exchanged a few words, and Liu Ju mentioned a stranger who wrote a letter to encourage her to sue Wang Jiangang. She thought it would not succeed, but Wang Jiangang was actually sentenced to death.
Even though her parents scolded her for bringing shame to the family, she still did not regret testifying in court. Wang Jiangang's theft of her gold jewelry was the last straw that broke the camel's back, and she felt extremely happy that her revenge had been achieved.
Later, she had nowhere to go and thought of her children, so she came back. There was no one at the Wang family, so she simply stayed. At first, there were indeed rumors that reached her ears. It was not until the new village chief spoke up for her that no one gossiped about her.
But her children were ostracized and bullied. The children had no idea of right and wrong, they only knew that the father of her children was a death row inmate.
Liu Ju received another letter and a sum of money from a stranger, who suggested that she start with the children. She suddenly had the idea of opening a nursery, where she could take care of the children in the village and reduce the chances of her children being bullied.
A vague thought flashed through Cheng Xin's mind. She subconsciously glanced at Geng Yunye, who looked normal, and then shook her head and laughed in her heart. How could it be possible? What could this have to do with him? She must be overthinking.
Cheng Xin couldn't help but sigh as she watched Liu Ju leave. This woman who was once devastated by an unhappy marriage has now found a new position and value in the village, and she is full of vitality.
During the Chinese New Year, the family enjoyed themselves. Cheng Xin did not mention going abroad, after all, it was still in the stage of trying to get a place, and the future was uncertain. Geng Yunye also tacitly did not mention it, allowing her to enjoy the reunion time at ease.
-----------------
The New Year atmosphere fades away and the new semester begins.
The campus still retained the chill of winter, but Cheng Xin's heart was burning with fire.
A few days after school started, Professor Zhang called Cheng Xin to his office.
His expression became more serious than before: "Cheng Xin, there is some progress on the exchange student program abroad."
Professor Zhang got straight to the point and pulled out a red-stamped document from a drawer: "There is an academic exchange program between an Ivy League university in the United States and our school for a period of one academic year. There is only one spot available, and the top foreign language colleges in the country will compete for it. In the end, the Ministry of Education and the other school will jointly select the candidate."
He looked serious and tapped the documents with his fingers. "The competition this time is very fierce, extremely difficult, and extremely demanding. You need to have top professional grades, outstanding foreign language skills, excellent academic potential, and pass a strict selection. In addition, family financial situation is also one of the implicit considerations. Although it mainly depends on academic ability, if you are completely unable to afford a small amount of self-funded part, it may also affect the final decision."
"Your advantages are obvious. You ranked first in your major, got full marks in English in the college entrance examination, and performed well in the Huaqiao Hotel Practice. But your disadvantage is," Professor Zhang said bluntly, "you have not published a paper in a core journal, and your academic background is relatively weak. Moreover, the backgrounds of other competitors may be very strong. I heard that some students' parents are engaged in foreign affairs."
He looked at Cheng Xin with burning eyes: "The opportunity is right in front of you, you need to risk it all and fight for it with all your strength. Cheng Xin, do you want to, do you dare to fight for this spot?"
Cheng Xin met Professor Zhang's sharp gaze without flinching. Her clear eyes were filled with fighting spirit: "Professor Zhang, I want to! I dare! Please tell me what to do!"
Coming out of Professor Zhang's office, Cheng Xin felt like she had been given a shot of adrenaline, but also felt a heavy pressure.
Professor Zhang clearly told her that foreign language ability, especially listening and speaking and practical application, is of utmost importance and is also the key to the selection interview. Cheng Xin has a good foundation in English and strong written test ability, but her speaking and listening skills are still far from the top requirements.
She took out the English audio tape that Professor Zhang had lent her. Since there was no tape recorder in her dormitory, she would spend every day in the language lab of the Foreign Languages Department, wearing bulky headphones, listening to the tapes over and over again, imitating and repeating, until she could recite the contents of the tape by heart.
She seized every opportunity. When the school invited foreign experts to give lectures, she sat in the front row. When foreign delegations visited, she would also get the opportunity to volunteer and have close contact and practice.
At six o'clock in the morning, when it was still light and the dormitory building was silent, she was already wrapped in a thick cotton jacket, standing in the empty playground, reading aloud English newspapers, textbooks and even her own speeches to the cold air, practicing her pronunciation and fluency.
The cold wind hurt her face, and she stamped her feet, rubbed her hands and continued to read. She took the initiative to find an English teacher to practice dialogue, and usually communicated in English in the dormitory, forcing herself to express complex thoughts.
Hou Feifei looked as if she had seen a ghost. She pulled Chen Yuan aside and said, "Is Cheng Xin crazy? She can't even speak Chinese after the winter break."
Chen Yuan held her face in her hands and observed Cheng Xin in admiration: "Don't talk nonsense, Cheng Xin is so amazing, I am embarrassed to speak foreign languages in front of others, but she can use it fluently in daily life."
Guan Shengnan vaguely guessed something and shrugged her shoulders. She didn't have such a grand goal.
Professor Zhang's "weak academic background" was like a thorn in Cheng Xin's heart. She knew that just having good grades in class was not enough, so she mustered up the courage to find Professor Zhang again.
"Professor Zhang, you mentioned my academic background last time, and I want to make up for it. Is there anything I can do? For example, help you organize the literature, or participate in some research work?" Cheng Xin asked sincerely.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
