Chapter 13: Educated Youth Abandoning Their Wives and Children
When we arrived at Old Chen's house, the children were already playing with firecrackers outside. It had snowed last night.
At that moment, everything outside was a vast expanse of white.
"You're here? Come in and warm yourself by the fire." Zhang Pandi lifted the curtain. Last night, the man told her not to say anything carelessly today, otherwise it would be bad if she offended someone by saying something unpleasant during the New Year.
"Why is this water left here?" Ji Huaizhi asked curiously, noticing the dirty water in the bucket next to him.
"You can't pour out the water these two days; keeping the water symbolizes bringing wealth."
Chen Chunya explained it to him.
Ji Huaizhi nodded, "I see."
After a busy year, all for the sake of having a good New Year.
During this period, everyone was able to eat to their heart's content.
"Auntie, Uncle." Chen Daya also came back from her holiday, but because she didn't talk much, she stopped talking after greeting them.
After finishing their New Year's Eve dinner, the adults took out the red envelopes they had prepared in advance, making the children so happy they were practically dizzy with joy.
Chen Daya smiled shyly when she saw that she still had a red envelope.
Chen Chunya touched her braid: "You're a grown woman now."
“Yes, I’m planning to find a husband for Daya as soon as spring arrives. Some people from my family have mentioned it before, but Mom says Daya is still young and there’s no rush.” Zhang Pandi, holding a handful of roasted peanuts, whispered as she made sure her mother-in-law wasn’t looking.
"I think we should start looking for partners sooner rather than later, otherwise all the good ones will be taken by others."
“She’s just stupid. I want her to find someone from the city so she can have a government-subsidized food supply, but she’s so clueless and doesn’t think about herself at all. I, as her mother, have to keep an eye out for her.”
As Zhang Pandi spoke, she poked her eldest daughter's head.
Why go through all that trouble to get her a temporary job?
It's all so that she can marry someone from the city.
Tang Aiju disagreed: "Da Ya is still quite young. She should look around more. It's best to find someone who treats her well."
"Good food can't fill an empty stomach; you need good conditions to eat it."
Chen Daya lowered her head and remained silent.
Ji Huaizhi sat down next to Chen Chunya: "How's Da Ya doing at the state-run restaurant? You can observe the head chef cooking and learn a little bit."
Chen Daya lowered her head: "I'm just a waitress. The master chef doesn't easily teach people how to cook. His apprentice has been learning for three years and is still chopping vegetables."
"Don't you have a lot of employees' children who eat at your place? Don't you know how to pick a good one?"
Zhang Pandi's words made everyone frown.
Seeing that her elder brother had no reaction, Chen Chunya said, "You can't say that. Our Chen family is an honest family. It's inappropriate for you to say that, sister-in-law."
"I have a boyfriend."
Chen Daya's voice was very soft, but Ji Huaizhi still heard it.
"What did you say?" Tang Aiju didn't hear clearly.
"I told you I have a boyfriend." This time, everyone present heard it.
Just then, Chen's mother came in carrying oranges and overheard the conversation: "Da Ya has a boyfriend? What's he like?"
"When did this happen? I've never heard you mention it before." Chen Chunhua was also a little confused.
Zhang Pandi's eyes widened: "Yeah, why didn't you mention that? People from that place? What do they do? Do they have city residency? What do their family members do?"
Zhang Pandi bombarded everyone with a few questions, leaving them somewhat bewildered.
Ji Huaizhi and Chun Ya exchanged a glance.
“He worked odd jobs at a state-run restaurant, and was a temporary worker like me. His family was also from the countryside, just like mine. However, his father was a carpenter, and he was part of the Red Flag Team. He had four brothers in total; his two older brothers were already married, and he was the third oldest.”
Chen Daya looked at her mother and said, "Grandma, he treats me very well."
After saying that, she blushed and lowered her head shyly.
Mother Chen patted her eldest granddaughter's head: "Da Ya has grown up. After the New Year, Grandma will go and find out how their family is doing." Then she looked at Father Chen: "Four brothers are quite a lot of people, aren't they?"
Chen's father recalled: "The brothers all helped each other out. The carpenter in the Red Flag Team should be Jiang Mugun's family."
“Their family has a good tradition. I know that Jiang Lao Er; he’s quite shrewd,” Chen Chunsheng added.
Zhang Pandi looked at this and that, then threw the peanuts directly onto the stove: "I disagree!"
Ji Huaizhi looked at Chun Ya again, and there was helplessness in Chun Ya's eyes.
“What did I tell you? Finding a partner is a lifelong matter, and it has to be someone with an urban household registration and a stable job! Your brother’s child is so young, you need to be successful so you can help your brother later.”
"Besides, he's just a temporary worker; he wouldn't even be eligible for housing!"
Chen's mother: "Can't you talk to me nicely? Why are you yelling at me?"
"If that person isn't bad to Daya, shouldn't Daya observe him first before liking him?"
“Anyway, it’s no way. Mom can talk about everything else, but Da Ya’s boyfriend has to meet my requirements!” Zhang Pandi said firmly.
“Jiang Qiu is doing well. He said the policies have changed, and he learned a bit from the head chef’s cooking. He plans to set up a stall and open a restaurant in the future, which is better than working for someone else his whole life!” Chen Daya’s expression was also very firm.
"Mom, I know you want me to find a son of a working-class family, preferably one where both parents work, but have you ever considered that they might not even want me?"
Chen Daya looked sad: "I'm just a temporary worker, why would anyone want to work for me?"
Chen Chunhua, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "Let's talk about this after the New Year. Daya is the eldest child in our family, and we also want you to live a good life."
"No, you want me to marry well so I can help my younger brother, just like Mom helped my uncle."
Chen Daya's words left them speechless.
Zhang Pandi: "Are you blaming me?"
“I did complain when I was sleeping on the floor at my great-uncle’s house, but I won’t go into those things. But now that I’ve met Jiang Qiu, I don’t complain anymore.”
Chen Daya said, bowing her head.
Seeing her granddaughter so upset, Chen's mother said, "Da Ya, whatever you do, your grandfather and I will support you. As long as the Jiang Qiu you mentioned is a good person, we will support you."
“My daughter has grown up and must be suffering outside.” Chen’s mother stroked her head, feeling distressed.
Zhang Pandi wanted to say something, but Chen Chunhua silenced her with a single look.
“I’m not upset. Jiang Qiu said he’ll come to pay his respects on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. My grandparents will give me some advice then.”
Everyone was surprised that Chen Daya's words came so quickly.
Chen's mother also felt it was too fast; she thought the two of them had gotten engaged during the New Year's visit.
But she couldn't bring herself to refuse: "Okay, then we'll invite your uncle over too. He's from a big city and has seen a lot. Having a college graduate as an uncle can give you some support."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle-in-law." Chen Daya squinted as she thanked Ji Huaizhi.
Ji Huaizhi looked at her features, which resembled Chun Ya's, and nodded: "It's nothing, your aunt and I will come."
~
On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, when Ji Huaizhi met the person, he found him to be quite interesting. The person had prepared gifts for each family, and although they were not expensive, it was clear that the other party had put a lot of thought into them.
"You must be my uncle-in-law? I heard from Da Ya that you're a college student now, that's amazing. None of the educated youth from our village passed the exam."
Ji Huaizhi smiled and said, "It's also luck. Come in and sit down."
Jiang Qiu was about to greet Daya's mother when he saw her, but he was met with a cold face.
However, he didn't seem to mind: "Auntie, you're going to move this thing, right? I'm strong, I'll do it."
Zhang Pandi didn't stop him from moving things, and went inside after she put her things away.
Jiang Qiu smiled and said, "The revolution still requires effort."
Ji Huaizhi was impressed by his smile and exclaimed, "Come in and warm yourself by the fire; Grandpa and Grandma are inside."
"become."
Ji Xiaotian and the other children stared at him intently, and Jiang Qiu, without any embarrassment, took out a few candies and shared them with them.
They had lunch together and chatted for a while. When Ji Huaizhi spoke to him, he also tested the waters and found that the kid was indeed quite good and knew how to handle things.
Da Ya also whispered that he was well-connected at the state-run restaurant, and the leaders all knew his name.
Although he did odd jobs, he was learning to cook just like the master chef's apprentice.
After hearing this, Ji Huaizhi knew that this person could get along well anywhere.
When they chatted after dinner that evening, Chen's father implied that he was quite satisfied with the young man.
Needless to say, Chen's mother was no exception.
Seeing how diligently he worked all afternoon, I already felt that it was good enough.
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