That night, Zhao Mingyue didn't go back to school but stayed at the Shen family's house, sharing a bed with Fang Zhen. The two girls talked a lot that night. Fang Zhen probably wanted to understand Shen's parents' temperaments and their attitudes towards her through Zhao Mingyue, and she steered the conversation in that direction several times. Zhao Mingyue was vague, only telling her that Shen's parents had a good impression of her, but not revealing the true nature of Shen's mother. Perhaps Shen's mother would never be shown to Fang Zhen, so why should she create an unkind image for her? Let her discover it for herself.
Zhao Mingyue discovered that this girl named Fang Zhen was truly gentle and kind, always smiling and making everyone like her. Even Shen's mother couldn't bring herself to be stern with her. Moreover, she was diligent and sensible, so it seemed the Shen family could accept her marrying Shen Qixue. Zhao Mingyue thought to herself that Shen Qixue did indeed need such a sensible wife, after all, she was the eldest son.
Having met everyone, it was time to go back. Zhao Mingyue bought a train ticket for the afternoon of the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, as her parents were waiting for her to come home for the New Year. Her parents wanted her to stay and spend the New Year at home, but Zhao Mingyue thought that after she got married, it would be unlikely that she would be able to come home for the New Year, so she insisted on going back.
Shen Xuyue had offered to take her back to her hometown and then rush back for the New Year, but Zhao Mingyue refused. She said it would be too much of a journey; she had already traveled between her hometown and Beijing many times and could easily get home on her own. Shen Xuyue reluctantly saw her off onto the train, his heart pounding with anxiety, fearing something might go wrong. Zhao Mingyue returned his gaze with a reassuring smile, before the train whistled and carried her away.
After a long journey, Zhao Mingyue returned home. Everything was as before; her parents were in good health, and her brother and sister-in-law were getting along well. The family was peaceful and harmonious. Her eldest brother had made two trips selling tea and carrying other people's goods, earning several tens of yuan each time. Her second sister-in-law's small shop earned an average of ten or twenty yuan a month, which was much better than staying at home doing nothing, so she was quite satisfied.
According to his mother, the only thing left to worry about is Zhao Minglang's marriage; once he finds someone, she'll be completely at ease. Zhao Minglang, however, remained calm, saying he wasn't in a hurry at all and would take his time.
Because the commune stopped purchasing tea, tea farmers in the area had no choice but to sell their tea in the local market, leading to an oversupply. Some businessmen, seeing the potential for profit, drastically drove down tea prices, buying up large quantities of tea at low prices and then selling it elsewhere. The tea farmers did consider selling their tea elsewhere themselves, but the quantities were too small and not worthwhile.
Because the tea from Moon Bay had to find its own sales channels, the impact on the market was minimal, much to the envy of the surrounding villages. Many people began sending their own tea to Moon Bay through various means, entrusting relatives and friends to help sell it, hoping to get a good price. When Zhao Mingyue heard about this, she told the village officials that the time was ripe to purchase tea leaves from the tea farmers in the surrounding villages. This news quickly spread, and people from all around came to inquire and confirm its veracity.
Zhao Mingliang was a little worried about sales, so he came to his sister for advice: "We supply the same three markets on a fixed basis, and they also have a fixed amount of demand. What do we do with the extra?"
Zhao Mingyue said, "The market has loosened up now, and there should be quite a few new markets opening up. We can take the initiative to find opportunities." She then gave these instructions.
Zhao Mingliang silently memorized it. Zhao Mingyue then gave him some pointers on negotiation skills, and finally added, "If you can't sell it in the provincial capital, you can try Shanghai. The market there is bigger and the prices are better."
Zhao Mingliang suddenly understood: "I understand, sister, I understand."
Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "When you're out and about, harmony brings wealth. Just be careful."
After the New Year, Zhao Mingyue and Yu Youqing returned to school together. They chatted about everyday things, and Zhao Mingyue asked, "Did Sister Youfen come back to pay her respects for the New Year? I went to my uncle's house on the second day of the New Year and didn't run into her."
Yu Youqing sighed: "They're back. They've been staying at home and haven't gone back yet."
Zhao Mingyue sensed something was wrong: "What's wrong? Did you have a fight with your brother-in-law?"
Yu Youqing said, "That beast doesn't deserve to be my brother-in-law. I'll make my sister divorce him."
"What happened?" Zhao Mingyue asked, puzzled.
Yu Youqing said irritably, "He almost beat my sister to death."
Zhao Mingyue looked at Yu Youqing in shock: "How come I didn't know anything about this?" Secrets are hard to keep in the countryside. Such a big thing happened, and Zhao Mingyue didn't even hear about it. Maybe her parents knew, but they didn't tell her.
Yu Youqing said, "It's all because my sister gave birth to another daughter. Her whole family disliked her for not being able to have a son and didn't give her a good look. My sister argued with her mother-in-law, and her mother-in-law even instigated that beast to beat my sister and almost killed my niece."
Zhao Mingyue sighed and rubbed her forehead. Why did Cheng Yongqiang keep having daughters even after marrying Yu Youfen? Was he destined to have no sons? Poor Yu Youfen, she had become a victim of the preference for sons over daughters again: "Then let's get a divorce. What's the point of living with this person? I can't let him humiliate me like this."
“I support my sister’s divorce. But my parents don’t really agree, and my older brother doesn’t really agree either.” Yu Youqing sighed and said, “I know what they mean. These days, divorce is so rare. Divorced women have a hard time remarrying, and if they do get married, they definitely won’t have children. My sister is raising two children alone, and she doesn’t have any skills. What will happen to the children in the future?”
Zhao Mingyue said, "Why didn't you tell me when you were home? You should have told me sooner so I could have tried to persuade your sister. That beast, he actually hit someone, I never would have guessed."
Yu Youqing added, "My sister came back on the 29th of the lunar year, covered in bruises. That beast didn't even come to our door during the New Year; it seems he has no intention of admitting his mistake or begging for forgiveness."
What did your sister say?
"She doesn't speak, and she doesn't go back. I don't know what she's thinking. When I ask her, she just cries."
Zhao Mingyue said, "Then let's get a divorce. Tell your sister not to worry. There will definitely be a way out. The country is developing its economy now. The country has designated several special economic zones to attract foreign investment. There is a Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in Guangdong. Many Hong Kong people have gone there to build factories and recruit workers. She can go there to find work. She and her daughter will definitely not starve."
Yu Youqing looked at Zhao Mingyue, as if problems were never problems for her, and she could always find a solution: "Can you really find work there?" He also read the newspapers and knew about the policies, but he didn't know the details. How did Zhao Mingyue know that there were Hong Kong factories in Shenzhen?
Zhao Mingyue said, "Of course you can. Very few people go there now, and everyone's information is very limited. But if you want to go there, you have to go to the township government to get an ID card and a border pass. They're cracking down hard now, so you absolutely can't do without these documents." The people's commune was dissolved last year, and township governments were established.
Yu Youqing nodded: "Then I'll write to my sister later and tell her."
Zhao Mingyue sighed: "I wish I could tell her in person. I'll write her a letter when we get to school. That beast Cheng Yongqiang is inhuman. Your sister should just get over him and divorce him as soon as possible. What's the point of keeping a man like that around? He's just asking for trouble."
Yu Youqing nodded: "Mm."
Zhao Mingyue was in a good mood, but upon hearing Yu Youfen's story, her heart ached terribly. She had gone to such great lengths to rescue her from Zhao Jinyun, only to find that fate had dealt her such a cruel hand. Why was Yu Youfen's life so miserable? Now, Yu Youfen could rely on no one but herself to change her destiny.
Back in Beijing, Shen Xuyue told Zhao Mingyue that his family had approved of Shen Qixue and Fang Zhen's marriage, and that they would be getting married this year, but in a simple ceremony held in the military.
Hearing this news, Zhao Mingyue's gloomy mood improved a little: "Then shouldn't we prepare a gift?"
Shen Xuyue said, "Yes, I've thought it through. I'll give my brother a Seagull camera and buy it with my writing fees."
Zhao Mingyue laughed and said, "I don't get paid for my writing, so I'll stick to my old profession and make a set of clothes for each of them. But I doubt they'll really need them; they usually wear military uniforms, right?"
“Never mind them, they can’t wear military uniforms 365 days a year, can they? They weren’t wearing them when they came back last time, were they?” Shen Xuyue said.
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Okay, I'll go buy fabric and make clothes."
"Don't rush, we're not getting married until May Day, it's still a long way off." Shen Xuyue pulled her along and said, "We're free today, we haven't gone out for a while, let's go shopping."
Zhao Mingyue glanced at Shen Xuyue and readily agreed.
Zhao Mingyue hadn't properly shopped at a department store in a long time. Whenever she went, she mostly bought fabrics, needles, thread, and buttons, and left immediately afterward. Her roommates also rarely went shopping; none of them were wealthy, and they saved their money for what they needed.
Zhao Mingyue noticed that the department stores seemed to have a much wider variety of goods, and there were more shoppers, bustling with customers. This reflected the country's economic recovery and the improvement in people's living standards.
Zhao Mingyue saw many strange and unusual things, as if they were imported from abroad. Many people found them novel and there were many onlookers. Zhao Mingyue was used to such sights. Shen Xuyue had a strong thirst for knowledge. If he saw something unusual and there weren't many people around, he would go over and take a look. Zhao Mingyue would then study it with him.
Shen Xuyue pulled Zhao Mingyue to the shoe and hat counter, stood there for a while, and then pointed to a pair of high-heeled ankle boots with a top and said, "Comrade, bring me that pair of women's shoes."
Zhao Mingyue asked, "What are you doing?"
"I'll buy you a pair of leather shoes. Didn't you say you'd get chilblains when you got home? I should have come with you to buy shoes earlier. Wearing warm shoes would have kept your feet warm," Shen Xuyue said.
Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "It will be fine in a few days, don't waste money."
Shen Xuyue said, "Winter in Beijing is still long; it will take at least two more months to completely end."
Seeing that Shen Xuyue was dressed like a cadre and Zhao Mingyue was also very well-dressed, the saleswoman readily handed him the shoes. Actually, both of their clothes were made by Zhao Mingyue herself, but the styles were very fashionable and the materials were of good quality. Since she could earn her own money, she wasn't stingy with herself when it came to clothing; in any era, it's common to respect appearances before character.
Shen Xuyue looked at the leather shoes, which had fuzz inside: "Try them on."
Zhao Mingyue didn't stand on ceremony and asked about the shoe size. After exchanging for the correct size, she tried on the shoes and said, "The size is just right."
Shen Xuyue said, "Let me see, it's not bad, let's take it."
Zhao Mingyue hesitated for a moment: "These shoes won't last long, and it's getting hot again."
“It’s okay, these shoes are made of cowhide, they can last for several years, and we can wear them again when it gets cold,” Shen Xuyue said.
Zhao Mingyue looked at the leather shoes on Shen Xuyue's feet. They were issued by his father's army. He didn't seem to care much about his clothes, wearing whatever he had without paying much attention to them, though he always dressed neatly. These days, almost all his clothes were made by Zhao Mingyue, from the inside out, so it's no wonder he's become more particular about them.
Zhao Mingyue said, "Then should we buy it?"
"I'll buy them," Shen Xuyue asked the sales clerk. "How much are they, comrade?"
"These are from Shanghai, very high quality, they even have wool trim, they're leather shoes, very durable, thirty-two yuan a pair," the salesperson said. Beijing is indeed a big city, and the salespeople's professionalism has kept up with the times. A few years ago, probably no one would have proactively introduced the products; it was take it or leave it.
Zhao Mingyue gasped, it was equivalent to many people's monthly salary. She tugged at Shen Xuyue's arm, and Shen Xuyue said, "Then could you please wrap this for me?" As he spoke, he took the money out of his pocket.
When Zhao Mingyue saw Shen Xuyue taking out his money, she realized he didn't even have a wallet, so she thought she'd buy him one later. She lowered her voice and said to him, "It's so expensive."
“It’s not expensive, it’s a necessity,” Shen Xuyue said.
Zhao Mingyue couldn't help but smile. What kind of necessity is this?
Shen Xuyue helped Zhao Mingyue carry her shoes. Zhao Mingyue pulled him around a few times until they finally saw a place selling wallets. She quickly went over and said, "I'll give you a wallet. Pick one you like."
Shen Xuyue said, "What do you need this for? Don't we have pockets?"
Zhao Mingyue thought to herself, Shen Xuyue probably doesn't know that wallets and belts will later be considered a man's face, and she needs to start protecting his face from now on. "Choose one, it's my gift to you."
Shen Xuyue looked at Zhao Mingyue: "Mingyue, do you feel bad that I gave you something, so you have to give me a gift in return?"
Zhao Mingyue blinked at him: "It is said that in Western countries, a man's wallet is his face. I want my man to have some face."
Upon hearing her say this, Shen Xuyue immediately stopped objecting and said, "Then help me pick one out, I like them all."
Zhao Mingyue glanced at the items in front of the glass counter and then chose a simple black wallet. The wallet business was clearly not as good as other items; in this day and age, most people weren't aware of the importance of wallets and felt that spending so much money on a leather wallet to carry cash was an extreme luxury.
The sales clerk, seeing that someone had finally made a purchase, quickly came over to greet them: "You want this one, right? You have excellent taste. This wallet is made in Shanghai. Look at the quality, it's made of genuine leather."
Zhao Mingyue opened it and looked at it; the workmanship was indeed exquisite: "How much is one?"
"Sixteen yuan," the salesperson said.
Upon hearing the price, Shen Xuyue grabbed Zhao Mingyue's elbow, intending to pull her away, but Zhao Mingyue didn't budge: "Fine, just give me a new one, I'll buy it."
Shen Xuyue whispered in her ear, "It's such a small thing, not practical, and so expensive. Don't buy it, it's too wasteful." How many clothes would Zhao Mingyue have to make to earn back that? It's too extravagant.
Zhao Mingyue paid with a smile and handed the wallet to Shen Xuyue: "Take it. I've seen it; the workmanship is very fine, the stitching is excellent. Don't underestimate this small thing; it takes a lot of time to make. It's worth the price."
Shen Xuyue said, "If I lost my wallet, the money inside probably wouldn't even be worth as much as the wallet itself."
“Then you should keep it safe, Comrade Shen Xuyue.” Zhao Mingyue reached out and took his arm. “Let’s go buy some things. We’re going to our goddaughter’s one-month celebration in a few days. As godparents, we should definitely bring some gifts.”
Shen Xuyue nodded with a smile, not refuting her words at all. In fact, the two of them were not married yet, so they could not recognize each other as goddaughters.
Zhao Mingyue pulled Shen Xuyue to the jewelry counter. These kinds of items weren't available a few years ago, but with the end of the Cultural Revolution and the development of reform and opening up, they quietly started to reappear. However, very few people were still buying and selling jewelry, as these items were quite expensive, and not many people had the spare money to afford them. Moreover, in people's minds, wearing jewelry was the privilege of the petty bourgeoisie, and many people's views hadn't changed.
Zhao Mingyue asked, "Should we buy Dongdong a pair of silver bracelets or a jade pendant?"
Shen Xuyue said, "A bracelet, I always feel that silver is more suitable for girls."
"Then let's buy a bracelet. Which one do you think looks better?" Zhao Mingyue looked down at the counter.
Shen Xuyue finally reminded Zhao Mingyue: "Mingyue, we're not married yet, so we can't be godparents. If we give them away now, won't we have to buy them again when we officially acknowledge them?"
Zhao Mingyue blushed immediately: "Of course!" It's impossible to go empty-handed.
Shen Xuyue whispered in her ear, "Actually, I wish we could deliver it now."
Zhao Mingyue's ears turned red.
In the end, they only bought a pair of tiger-head shoes and a small cape. As for the other gifts, they would wait until after they got married and officially adopted their goddaughter.
When she returned, her roommates saw Zhao Mingyue's high heels and were all very envious: "Did Lao Shen buy them for you again?"
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Yes, he said I had chilblains on my feet and needed to buy a pair of shoes to keep them warm."
Li Chunmei said, "I'm afraid that once my feet get warm, they'll become incredibly itchy."
Zhao Mingyue looked embarrassed. That's how it is, but this is also Shen Xuyue's good intention. It's itchy, but it's also a sweet torment.
Graduation is just around the corner. There are still a few courses to take in the final semester, and then it's time to write the graduation thesis. Everyone is a little restless. While jobs aren't a problem, everyone is somewhat anxious about job assignments. They are the first cohort of university students after the resumption of the college entrance examination, and no one has any idea how they will be assigned. Except for a very few like Tang Weihua who want to return to their hometowns to work, most people want to stay in Beijing. After all, the conditions in Beijing are much better than elsewhere, and if they can stay in Beijing, their descendants will all be Beijingers.
Teacher training colleges are all state-run institutions, and job assignments are subject to state arrangements. The principle for teacher trainees is to return to where they came from, and they have no way to resist. However, the current situation is that schools in Beijing are also in dire need of additional teachers, so everyone hopes to stay in Beijing.
Zhao Mingyue wasn't particularly anxious about the job assignments. She figured everyone would be able to stay in Beijing, because like the rest of the country, Beijing was experiencing a severe talent shortage. As the country's political and cultural center, Beijing's universities gathered the nation's elites, so naturally, Beijing's needs would be prioritized. Besides, Shen Xuyue definitely wouldn't let her be assigned back to her hometown.
These bright young talents were like the first crops in an experimental field; everyone could only wait anxiously and patiently to see what kind of harvest they would bear. After their graduation thesis defense, they continued their studies as usual, and no one would go to sleep until midnight every day, because once they left school, they would never again have such abundant learning resources and a good learning atmosphere.
Although Zhao Mingyue had no interest in academic pursuits, she had read a great deal of books over the past four years in such a strong academic atmosphere, including historical records, philosophy, and literature. Her cultural literacy had made a qualitative leap, and it is no exaggeration to say that she is now quite well-read.
One morning, everyone received a notice that their post-graduation assignments would be announced. In their dorm, only Qian Sisheng didn't have to worry about this, as she had already decided to study in the UK; she was the first to be relieved of the anxiety about her future. Four other classmates had also been accepted into the university's postgraduate program, so they didn't need to worry about their assignments either.
Everyone went to the classroom to wait. The teacher took the list and read it aloud from the podium, calling out one name at a time, followed by the announcement of graduation destinations. The students assigned to other places were announced first, and Tang Weihua's name was the first. She had already contacted the school in Xi'an, and the school had sent a letter requesting her placement, so there was no doubt about it.
Five students were assigned to other cities, mostly returning to their hometowns. The remaining students were assigned to various units in Beijing, including research institutes of literature and history, and key middle schools. Gao Dongfang went to Beijing No. 4 High School, while Li Chunmei and Mao Jianlan went to their internship schools. Zhao Mingyue's name was nowhere to be heard until the very end—she was staying on as a faculty member. She was very surprised by this result. Her grades were at best average in the class; how could she be staying on? Was it because of Shen Xuyue's family's influence?
But since they were staying at the university, that was fine; at least they were staying in Beijing. When the results were announced, only a very few people hadn't met their expectations, and the rest of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Gao Dongfang said, "I thought Xiao Zhao would go to No. 4 Middle School with me."
Zhao Mingyue said, "I wish I could. I don't know why I was allowed to stay at the school. I've never received a scholarship or anything."
“Aren’t you from the publicity department of the department? I guess the school teachers felt they needed someone like you, so they kept you on,” Tang Weihua said.
Zhao Mingyue remembered this; she had indeed been working in the publicity department for the past two years.
Li Chunmei said with a smile, "Staying at the university is great. Being a university teacher is much more prestigious than being a middle school teacher."
Zhao Mingyue spread her hands and said, "Actually, I never intended to pursue academic studies."
"It doesn't necessarily mean you'll be assigned to teaching; you might be put in charge of student affairs. In any case, it would be best if you could stay in Beijing." Qian Sisheng put his arm around her shoulder. Although she didn't need to be assigned a job, she was still worried about her roommates, so she went to the meeting with them.
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Yes, it would be good if I could stay in Beijing." At least she wouldn't have to worry about being separated from her husband, nor would she have to think about quitting her job and getting a cold shoulder from her mother.
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