After checking their family backgrounds, Shen Lei and Shen Jifeng finally became glorious PLA soldiers. They boarded the army train in neat military uniforms with big red flowers on their chests.
After bidding farewell to their relatives who came to see them off at the train station, the two sat on the train and looked forward to their future life.
"Niuniu...are you guys going home or going to explore the county town?"
"Let's go home, brother. We're going to go home and study." Chen Yu wanted to hold the book for 20 hours out of 24 hours a day without letting go.
He was almost unable to recall the knowledge in the textbooks, and a pile of difficult questions worried him to death. He had not focused on studying for years, and suddenly he was completely unable to adapt.
"Okay, I was thinking of taking you around the county."
Shen Feng looked at his brothers and sisters with some regret. It was a rare opportunity for them to go out. This time, he had just received his salary and had some money on him, but unfortunately, his brothers and sisters didn't think this was a good time.
"No, no, I still want to go back and study those textbooks with Brother Maidong. It's really hard to pick them up after losing them for so long, but unfortunately there is no teacher to ask."
The importance of a good teacher is reflected here. Shen Yu looked at her brother with regret. "By the way, brother, although you are working now, I think you can also pick up the textbook and study."
The college entrance exam, the university entrance exam… just thinking about it made her feel proud. Nothing else mattered now, not even the envy she had felt for her brother's military service. The only thing on Chen Yu's mind was the college entrance exam, the desire to win the top spot.
"Haha, that's fine. I'll listen to you and find some books to read carefully."
Chen Feng smiled and patted his brother's shoulder. It seemed his brother's brain had improved after not seeing him for a few days. Could it be that the saying "birds of a feather flock together" really holds true? After spending so much time with his sister, the younger brother had learned to use inspirational phrases.
"Brother, I think you can try harder. College is still better than now."
Chen Yun looked at his older brother in the same way. His current job wasn't too tiring, and his older brother didn't have the burden of a family. He could definitely spend plenty of time studying and preparing. The Gaokao would come, Chen Yun was incredibly certain, especially since his father had mentioned it last time.
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Shen Feng nodded seriously. He would take it to heart.
…
January 1976
For the first time, a shocking piece of news appeared on the rural radio: a great proletarian revolutionary and a prime minister loved by countless people died of illness in the capital.
Upon hearing this news, everyone fell silent for a long time. The silence was like a hammer striking their hearts. Everyone had only one thought: the sky was about to fall.
Grief, boundless grief, the people expressed their grief in various ways. Ten miles of streets lined the streets to bid farewell to the Prime Minister, spontaneous gatherings took place, speeches were given, flower baskets and wreaths were laid...
At the Wen family, Wen Xunqing was filled with guilt, anxiety, and grief. Wen Maidong, standing by, couldn't help but worry about his grandfather, afraid he would collapse and not be able to make it.
"The Prime Minister is gone..." Wen Xunqing said these four words with extreme grief with great difficulty.
"I know, I heard it. But we're not gods. You know, missing you wouldn't be enough. Besides, it's not something you can do."
The Prime Minister was surrounded by experts in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and his grandfather was skilled in recuperation, but that was only a delay. Seeing a doctor, curing an illness, and even family prescriptions didn't guarantee a life from the clutches of the dead.
"Why……"
Wen Xunqing hunched over, his spirits plummeting. He knew that making excuses was pointless. Now, he could only lick his wounds alone, his heart heavy.
"Brother... do you think Grandpa will be so upset that he will return to the capital?"
"No, Grandpa will get over it."
Wen Maidong stroked his sister's hair. "Grandpa wouldn't be upset. Now is not the time to go back." Everything is not stable yet. They can't go back, and they can't take any action at all. The situation in the capital looks like it will be chaotic for a while. All they have to do is wait quietly.
"You...you...Is the old man okay?"
Chenchen Feng was leaning against the door, breathing heavily, his clothes were dirty and it was obvious that he had just been working in the farm and had not had time to go back to change.
"Uncle Shen, grandpa is fine, don't worry!"
Wen Maidong's heart warmed. Seeing Chen Chenfeng like this, he felt a warmth in his heart for the first time. At first, they came to Xiashan Village out of necessity, but later, as they got along, he suddenly didn't want to leave. Xiashan Village had everything he wanted, including the girl he had always kept in his heart but never told her.
"That's good, that's good. If anything happens, please inform me. Things in the capital haven't settled down yet, so I suggest you wait and see and don't be too anxious."
"Yeah, I know."
Wen Maidong lowered his head, thinking the same thing. The capital was unstable, and the rest of the country was even more so. This was just the beginning of a period of turmoil, and it was unclear how long it would last. Hopefully, once everything had settled and things were back to normal, they could return to the capital together.
"Uncle Shen, do you have any plans?"
"I... don't know..." Shenchen Feng looked into the distance, his eyes were deep and stars twinkled in them.
The situation had improved, and he couldn't help but feel a little lost. He wouldn't go to the capital, but he didn't want to stay in Xiashan Village anymore. He should go out and try his luck! While he was still young and adventurous, and his son was grown, he didn't need to worry about Congcong anymore. He should take the people of Xiashan Village out and try his best to build a good future for their children.
They shouldn't be confined to their villages, nor should they sit in a well and watch the world from afar. They should venture out, explore, and see the future. Once the situation stabilizes, everything will develop in a positive direction, including reform.
"Anyway, there's still a lot of time left, so it's not too early to say anything."
Wen Maidong and Shen Chenfeng both fell silent, their hearts heavy and complicated, making them both seem preoccupied. Each of them had something on their mind, their brows furrowed, their eyes anxious.
Wen Maiya, who was standing by, didn't dare to stay and slipped back into the room. He took a few deep breaths before he calmed down.
The aura between her brother and Uncle Shen was so intense that it was easy to get hurt accidentally. She didn't have that much skill, nor did she have Niuniu's determination and composure, so she could only slip away. If she didn't slip away, she probably wouldn't know where to put her hands and feet. In the world of the great gods, it was better for the little transparent to dodge.
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