“They don’t assign me anything to do, and they don’t talk to me. I’m like an invisible person in the department. I really can’t stand it there anymore.” Yang Yonghua really felt that going to work was painful. Every day he felt like a walking corpse. He said he was going to read the newspaper, but he didn’t actually read a single word. Otherwise, he would have been exposed to more newspapers, so why would he need Zhan Chunyun to “give him advice”?
"You! Have you ever thought about integrating into the unit? You're not the only one in this situation. Take Director Zheng's daughter, Zheng Ying, for example. She joined the factory's organization department as an officer right after graduation. How come she has something to do every day? You're also in the factory, so you should have heard about her achievements, especially this year. Under tremendous pressure, she restored party organizational life, developed new party members, and made certain results. Why don't you learn from her?"
"I..." Yang Yonghua was speechless. A girl, doing a job that was even more stressful than his propaganda department, yet everyone else was doing a great job. Even though he rarely interacted with people at work, everyone had heard about her achievements. Everyone said that Director Zheng's daughter was like a tiger father! He was indeed ashamed.
"Speechless now? I think you're just a deserter! You have no backbone!" Yang Shaohui got angrier and angrier as he spoke. He felt ashamed that a grown man was less capable than a little girl!
“At this point, saying all this is useless. I just want to ask, who gave you this idea?” Ji Wenjun, who was standing to the side, had already seen her son’s determination. There was no point in saying anything now. She just wanted to know who had persuaded him to go to the countryside.
Yang Yonghua, on the other hand, said confidently: "I saw in the newspaper that other educated youth had achieved great things, and didn't Brother Ding from next door also voluntarily go to the countryside?"
"You really are something!" Ji Wenjun was also exasperated by her son's stupidity: "Can't you use your brain? Do you think he's like you? His stepmother is in charge of the household. If he doesn't go to the countryside, his younger brother will have to. Is his stepmother capable? He was forced to go to the countryside to make a living. Do you think it's a good thing?"
"Oh? But I think Aunt Wu treats Brother Ding very well. Everyone around praises her." Yang Yonghua had never heard a bad word about her before. He always thought that Brother Ding was very lucky to have met a good stepmother.
"With a brain like yours, you still want to go to the countryside?" Ji Wenjun was furious at Yang Yonghua's bewildered look; she simply couldn't bear to look at him. She turned her head irritably, only to meet Yang Shaohui's equally confused gaze—his brows were slightly furrowed, and his eyes held a hint of incomprehension. Clearly, before this, he had always thought Wu Chunfen was a good person.
"That's just how you men are. You just listen to one sentence from someone and think they're a good person." Ji Wenjun was speechless. No wonder Yang Yonghua was so stupid; it was hereditary.
"Haven't you noticed? The eldest son of the Ding family has never worn new clothes since he got a stepmother. They're all made from his father's clothes. He was never allowed to do his homework after school. When he was little, Wu Chunfen would personally take him out to play. When the second son got a little older, she would make him pester her to go out to play. As for food, just looking at their family, the eldest son is as thin as a bamboo pole. You can tell he probably never gets enough to eat at home."
The Yang father and son exchanged a glance, both seeing doubt in each other's eyes: "Is that so?"
"Forget it, I'm not going to argue with you guys about this anymore." Ji Wenjun suddenly realized that the topic had gone off track. She came back to her senses and looked at Yang Yonghua with a serious face: "Yang Yonghua, don't try to fool me. Tell me the truth, was it that girl you've been with recently who persuaded you to go to the countryside?"
"No, it really was my own choice to go to the countryside. I genuinely want to make a name for myself there." Yang Yonghua hurriedly explained, seeing his mother's serious expression, as if he wanted to swear an oath to God to convince her.
"Then tell me, how did you handle your job? Did you transfer it to her?" Ji Wenjun knew her son well. He might think he made the decision himself, but the process was definitely guided by others.
“No.” A hint of surprise flashed in Yang Yonghua’s eyes. How did his mother know his plans? Thinking of Zhan Chunyun’s decision, his tone became more proud: “I wanted to transfer it to her, but she didn’t want it.”
"Are you sure she doesn't want it?" This was somewhat unexpected for Ji Wenjun.
"Yes, she doesn't want to." Seeing the doubt on her mother's face, Yang Yonghua was even happier. "She said that her family is also from the countryside, and she has lived there for a while. She said she would go to the countryside with me!"
Even Yang Shaohui was somewhat incredulous. "Really? You didn't force them to go to the countryside, did you?"
"Dad, Mom, what kind of person do you think I am? Do you think I'm the kind of person who would do such a thing?"
"This is the first time we've discovered that you're the kind of person who acts first and asks for permission later." Ji Wenjun didn't completely believe what he said, but it was true that he had already signed up, and it was too late to say anything now. "Don't wander around outside these few days, and don't go to the office either. Many people in the institute have gone to the countryside as educated youth. Go and ask them for advice on things to be aware of when going to the countryside, and what you need. Get it yourself."
"Since you decided to go to the countryside, you'll have to rely entirely on yourself there. Can you handle these things well?"
As Yang Yonghua listened to his mother's gentle words of advice, his eyes welled up with tears. He lowered his head, not daring to look at her, and only whispered, "Yes."
Ji Wenjun and Yang Shaohui felt a pang of sadness when they saw their son. Their son had always been well-behaved and obedient since he was a child, but his first act of rebellion had resulted in such a big incident. They had to investigate thoroughly to find out who had instigated their son!
Zhan Chunyun also knew that Yang Yonghua's shrewd parents would investigate thoroughly once they found out. Her little tricks might fool Yang Yonghua, but they wouldn't be enough against his parents.
After she and Yang Yonghua separated, she also registered at the educated youth office and went to the same place as Yang Yonghua: Xiangshu Brigade, Zhongxing Commune, Jihua County, Jiangcheng City.
To get there, you first have to take a two-day boat trip to Jihua County, then a one-day bus trip to Zhongxing Commune, and finally walk to Xiangshu Brigade.
After registering, Zhan Chunyun slowly walked back. It was her turn to cook today. She didn't want to go back, but she had no choice. It was like going to the countryside; she didn't want to go, but she had to!
She didn't know when she would be able to come back after leaving, but she hoped that she and Yang Yonghua could really achieve something in the countryside, so that when she came back, she wouldn't have to return to this house. She wanted a home of her own, a home where she didn't have to worry about being kicked out at any time, a home where she could be the master of her own destiny.
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