The next morning, Xu Keke and Xiuzhi went to work with the villagers. They saw Wu Wanyi riding a bicycle with Chen Xichun, dressed neatly and cleanly, sitting on the back.
The villagers on their way to work stopped and joked with him, "Xichun, how many days have you been married? You still look like a newlywed!"
With Chen Xichun's triumphant laughter and a pleasant bicycle bell ringing, the bicycle rode past the crowd and headed out of the village.
Widow Wang walked ahead, and the villagers asked her, "Is Xichun going to the hospital to see a doctor about her leg?"
Widow Wang smiled reluctantly, but still agreed.
"Judging from their attire, they don't look like they're going to the hospital; they look more like they're visiting relatives," Xu Keke whispered to Xiuzhi, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for those nearby to hear.
The aunt standing next to Xu Keke asked loudly to Widow Wang, "Yes, Xichun's mother, dressed so neatly, it looks like Xichun and his wife are visiting relatives, not going to the hospital."
Widow Wang hurriedly replied with a smile, "Yes, they owed money, so they went to his uncle's house."
“We just went there yesterday, why are you going again?” The aunt next to Xu Keke repeated after hearing what she said.
Widow Wang could no longer laugh. "Well, he'll go check again. His uncle didn't give a definitive answer yesterday either."
"Huh! Did I hear that wrong? I just heard that you asked for leave from the team to go to the hospital?"
Xu Keke didn't keep her voice down this time either, and Widow Wang heard her from the front. She quickly clutched her stomach, "Ouch, ouch, I need to go to the outhouse, I'm leaving now."
Now everyone knew that Chen Xichun and the team had probably lied. Seeing that Widow Wang didn't dare say anything more and quickly ran away, everyone burst into laughter again.
That evening, after everyone finished work, they saw Widow Wang standing under the old locust tree at the village entrance, oblivious to the strong wind, waiting anxiously. Seeing her worried expression, the villagers stopped joking with her and simply asked her where Chen Xichun had gone. She still wouldn't say. The villagers then gave up and went home.
Xu Keke returned to Ma Yuying's house and, as was her habit, first dusted herself off in the yard.
Just then, Hu Zi ran in excitedly, "Bai Zhiqing, my brother Jianguo wants you to go to the brigade."
Because Xu Keke donated all her money to build a primary school in the village, and said she would use the remaining money to buy pigs for the village, planning to fatten them up and slaughter them for the New Year to be distributed among the families. In addition, Xu Keke now works in the fields with them every day. Although she is still not very talkative, the villagers are very close to her.
Before Xu Keke could respond, she saw Xiu Hong follow Hu Zi into the courtyard.
Then she heard Ma Yuying's voice behind her, "Xiuhong, why are you back with your bedding on your back!"
Xiuhong walked past Huzi into the yard, saying, "I'm not going to school anymore, I want to go home."
"You brat, you only have six months left before graduation, why don't you finish your studies!"
"I don't want to go to school. I want to go home. What's the point of studying? I'll just come back anyway. I can't even get a hot meal at school. I might as well go home."
Ma Yuying became anxious, "What kind of talk is that?"
Hu Zi whispered to Xu Keke, "Bai Zhiqing, the brigade leader is waiting at the brigade headquarters."
As Hu Zi spoke, his eyes passed over her and looked behind her. Xu Keke turned around and saw that Xiu Zhi had come out of the house sometime earlier. She looked at the ground with a shy expression, her hands fiddling with the hem of her clothes.
Xu Keke turned to look at Hu Zi again, and only then did she notice that he was clutching a paper package in his hand. She didn't know what was inside, but the paper was probably the kind of packaging paper commonly used by the commune to sell food. He was staring longingly at Xiuzhi, not even noticing that she was looking at her.
"Auntie, can Xiuzhi come with me to the production brigade?"
Ma Yuying's mind was entirely on Xiuhong, so she didn't care about anything else and casually agreed to Xu Keke's words.
As soon as Xu Keke stepped outside, she saw Hu Zi hand the paper package in his hand to Xiuzhi.
Xiuzhi glanced at her and pushed Huzi back. The two of them pushed each other back and forth, making Xu Keke anxious.
He hurried a few steps, leaving the two behind, and said, "Captain, I'm sorry to have been waiting so long. I'll go first. You two take your time."
Ignoring their reactions, Xu Keke strode towards the brigade headquarters.
At this time, all the villagers have gone home to cook. Even the brigade accountant is not there.
When Chen Jianguo saw her arrive, he quickly offered her a seat and poured her a cup of water from his teacup.
Xu Keke didn't sit down, but stood leaning against the dilapidated desk. "Captain Chen, please just say what you want to say. I haven't eaten yet."
Seeing her like this, Chen Jianguo knew she wouldn't speak to him politely. He sighed and took two pieces of paper from the drawer. "The commune has approved it; they agree to set up a private primary school in Chenjia Village."
"Really? That's great."
The primary schools here are really far away. If a child wants to go to school, they have to leave home before dawn. And the school day is only half a day; they have to rush back around noon. Just like Xiuhong said, after graduation, they will all have to go back to the village to farm, so many families find it too troublesome and don't let their children go.
Just by looking at the expression in Xu Keke's eyes, Chen Jianguo knew that she was genuinely happy for the children in the village.
"However, the commune appointed my father as the principal of Chenjia Village Primary School."
Chen Jianguo paused, staring at Xu Keke to see her reaction.
"Is that so!"
Seeing her eyes light up even more, Chen Jianguo felt relieved. "You really think it's a good idea? You don't think my dad isn't very educated and isn't suitable to be a principal."
"Of course not," Xu Keke looked at him in surprise. The old village chief came from a poor peasant family and had made numerous merits after joining the army. When he was wounded and returned to the village, the government had actually arranged for him to work in the town. He declined, insisting on returning to the village. Everyone in the commune knew his character; generally, if he asked for anything, they would give him face.
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