As the sun rises and sets, time flies, and several years have passed in the blink of an eye. Qingshui Village has welcomed new educated youth, and the once-declining educated youth compound has become lively again.
After watching the excitement, the villagers left in a hurry. After all, the educated youth were interesting, but their livelihoods were more important. In recent years, the policies have gradually been relaxed, and everyone's lives have become better and better, with more hope for the future.
A slightly slender woman, dressed simply, walked towards the east end of the village with a basket slung over her elbow and a hoe in her other hand, followed closely by a tall man.
"Mom, we're back." Zhao Hongjun pushed open the door, his voice quickly echoing throughout the house, instantly calling out to Wuyou, who was preparing dinner in the kitchen.
"You're back! Quickly wash your hands and get ready for dinner!" Wuyou, her hands still wet, smiled at her son before glancing at Huang Siwen.
At that moment, Huang Siwen had just put down her things to fetch water to wash her face. She looked disgusted with the dust all over her body. When she noticed Wuyou's gaze, she stiffened, feeling both scared and angry.
From the moment she married into the Zhao family, her mother-in-law had always disliked her, constantly making her do this and that. Ironically, after Yu Xiaohong married into the Zhao family, she was assigned a simple, easy job with many work points, yet she still had to work every day and then cook and do laundry when she got home.
But she dared not offend Wuyou, because she knew who held the most power in the family, and her husband would not side with her.
"Daddy..." The little shadow rushed out like a cannonball with its short legs, rushing straight into Zhao Hongjun's arms, rubbing its face affectionately against him, like a spoiled little puppy.
"Xinghe, did you miss Daddy?" Zhao Hongjun chuckled as he put his arm around his son's shoulder, sporting the signature silly dad smile.
Zhao Xinghe's lips curled into a wide smile, and he nodded without hesitation, "I want to—"
The interaction between the father and son was heartwarming and touching, but unfortunately, there were always untimely voices that broke the mood, such as, "Xinghe, what are you doing? You're acting like a wild child. Get down here right now!"
Huang Siwen was very dissatisfied. How could her son be running around like a country bumpkin? It must be because of Zhao Hongjun.
The little guy is almost three years old this year, a lively and adorable age. He's been very well raised by his family, and his fair and tender face bears a seven-tenths resemblance to Zhao Hongjun, with the remaining three-tenths resembling Wu Hun. Seeing that the child she had worked so hard to give birth to didn't resemble her, Huang Siwen's last remaining bit of affection vanished.
"No!" Zhao Xinghe refused without hesitation. He liked playing with his father and grandmother, but not with his mother. He always felt that his mother looked at him strangely.
"Why do you care so much if the child is happy? If outsiders see you like this, they'll think you're a stepmother!" Wuyou's lips curled into a cold smile, and she spoke without any mercy.
"I..." Huang Siwen's voice suddenly weakened. She really didn't dare to argue with her mother-in-law. She had never won since she entered the house and had always been suppressed.
Over time, whenever the two of them clashed, she felt very insecure. After all, she came from the city, and when it came to swearing, how could she possibly compete with her infamous mother-in-law in the village?
But it doesn't matter, just wait a little longer, just a little longer and she can leave this place, leave this suffocating home, leave her indifferent husband, her shrewish mother-in-law, and this son who should never have been born.
"Alright, go cook! You always have such a long face, people will think we're mistreating you!" Wuyou said with a look of disgust, her words utterly merciless.
Huang Siwen bit her lip, wanting to explode, but remembering Wuyou's fiery temper, she instantly fell silent. She held back...
Midway through, Zhao Hongjun took the child and went to play on the side. He wasn't stupid; he understood his wife's attitude perfectly well. If there had been any guilt or pity before, it had long since vanished.
But isn't that how all ordinary couples are? Every household in the village is like that; they just turn a blind eye and let it pass.
"Dad, does Mom not like me?" Zhao Xinghe patted Zhao Hongjun's shoulder with his little hand, his brows furrowed slightly with a hint of worry.
"How could this be?" Zhao Hongjun was shocked. The child was only three years old. Was Huang Siwen already that obvious?
"Sigh, because Mom always scolds me! Unlike Dad and Grandma, who are so good to me." Zhao Xinghe shook his head as he concluded, a statement that was both funny and absurd.
Zhao Hongjun felt a pang of sympathy and wanted to say that his mother loved Xinghe, but was not good at expressing it. However, Zhao Xinghe interrupted him, preventing him from saying the words of comfort he was about to utter.
"But it's okay, I have my dad and grandma, that's enough." Zhao Xinghe winked and made faces, as if to say, "Please praise me," and then started joking around with Zhao Hongjun again.
That day, Wuyou and her son returned from work, accompanied by Zhao Xinghe, who chattered like a little sparrow. Huang Siwen was not feeling well and did not go to work that day, so the family of three worked faster than usual.
As soon as they arrived near the brigade leader's house, the three of them noticed a group of people gathered around them, creating a harmonious atmosphere, even tinged with a strange sour smell.
"What happened?" Zhao Hongjun smiled and patted a villager on the shoulder. The two chatted for a while with their arms around each other, and finally learned the whole story.
It's 1977 now, the first year that the college entrance examination was opened. Many educated youth in the village are studying hard. Today is the day the admission notices are sent out. Aren't you all excited?
Most importantly, three of the educated youth from Qingshui Village passed the exam. One of them was Yu Xiaohong, the wife of Zhao Fang, the son of the brigade leader; another was Li Gang, who had been married in the village for three years and whose wife was recently pregnant; and the last one…
"Congratulations, brother, you've found a college graduate wife. I heard the acceptance letter came yesterday, and you didn't even tell me, even though we're close! That's not much of a brotherly gesture!" The villager winked at Zhao Hongjun, his face full of envy and teasing.
Zhao Hongjun loosened his grip on the other man's shoulder, his expression not one of happiness. Yesterday?
“This is definitely something to be happy about, so why is everyone gathered here?” Wuyou stepped forward with her grandson in her arms, and quietly pinched her son, interrupting Zhao Hongjun’s thoughts.
"Isn't it because my daughter-in-law got into university that the brigade leader said he'd give everyone candy?" The man said with a smug look on his face. Although they were much better off now, candy was still a rare commodity, and only the brigade leader's family could afford it.
"That's great news!" Wuyou was also very happy, and Zhao Hongjun, after gathering his thoughts, showed the same expression.
A short while later, Yu Xiaohong and her husband emerged. Yu Xiaohong wore a white shirt and military green trousers, her long hair styled in a bun, looking clean and capable. Although her appearance was ordinary, her status as a university student added to her charm. Zhao Fang hadn't changed much since a few years ago, except that his eyes had become much more profound.
The couple were happily handing out candies, their mouths practically stretched to their ears. When they saw Wuyou and her son, Yu Xiaohong paused for a moment, her eyes flashing, and then she leaned forward and stuffed a handful of fruit candies into their hands.
"Aunt Zhao, please forgive me for offending you in the past few years. Also, I have something I'd like to say to you."
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