The two seem to be on a date.
Stepdaughter and adopted son, that's great!
But why did the two of them go to such a far place for their date? There are parks right next to the compound.
Is it because you're afraid of running into someone you know?
It should be.
After all, both of their positions are rather awkward.
That evening, Xu Xinning told Mu Jingheng about it.
Mu Jingheng asked in surprise, "The two of them?"
Xu Xinning nodded.
Mu Jingheng: "You're not seeing things, are you?"
Xu Xinning: "I absolutely cannot be mistaken, my eyesight is perfectly fine!"
Mu Jingheng smiled and stroked Xu Xinning's hair, coaxing her like a child, "Yes, our Xin'er's eyesight is fine, how could she be wrong? But based on my understanding of Yu Mei, she won't choose the Wu family's adopted son. Not to mention Yu Mei, even Old Man Yu wouldn't allow it."
Xu Xinning blinked, puzzled, and asked, "Why? Does Yu Mei need Grandpa Yu's permission to get married?"
Mu Jingheng: "That's natural. Although she's not a true member of the Yu family, she still shares the surname Yu. Old Man Yu is conservative and favors sons over daughters. In his mind, a girl's marriage must be something that can help the men in the family. Old Man Yu has two grandsons who grew up with him. You could say he places all his hopes on these two grandsons. So Yu Mei's marriage must serve these two grandsons."
Xu Xinning: "Maybe the Wu family can help the Yu family's two grandsons."
Mu Jingheng shook his head and continued, "The Wu family can help, but the Wu family's adopted son cannot."
Xu Xinning: "That's too convoluted. Isn't the Wu family's adopted son also a member of the Wu family?"
Mu Jingheng: "Actually, the Wu family doesn't acknowledge that adopted son. But since he's already been brought here, and the second son's wife isn't in good health, the Wu family is afraid that upsetting her will affect her health, so they can only turn a blind eye."
Xu Xinning: "So the Yu family would absolutely never let Yu Mei marry someone without a background, right?"
Mu Jingheng: "Yes!"
Hsu Hsin-ning: "Then why did you let your own granddaughter get married in the countryside?"
Mu Jingheng: "It's probably because they're too far away to help! Sister Yu is smart too. Getting married in the countryside might not be worse than having her family decide for her. At least she'll be free in the countryside."
Xu Xinning sighed: "It's so sad that Sister Yu was born into such a family!"
Mu Jingheng: "Both Grandpa Wu and Grandpa Yu have retired. My grandfather and the others are very helpful to Grandpa Wu, but they don't like Grandpa Yu very much. That's why."
After Qin Yao completed the procedures for returning to the city, Mu Jinghuai accompanied her to the rural areas in Northeast China.
They brought a lot of things for Shao Qifeng this time, some prepared by the Shao family, and some prepared by Qin Yao and Mu Jinghuai.
After hearing about Shao Qifeng's situation, Mu Jingheng prepared a stack of books for him.
Mu Jinghuai was puzzled, so Mu Jingheng analyzed the country's future direction for him and told him to remind Shao Qifeng to study hard so that he could return in glory.
This can be seen as Mu Jingheng's affirmation of Shao Qifeng and a way of repaying him for helping Qin Yao.
Mu Jinghuai took this matter very seriously, and he believed that Mu Jingheng would not have said such a thing without reason.
Mu Jinghuai decided to prepare a set of books for Qin Yao after returning from the Northeast. Qin Yao used to have excellent grades, and he didn't know what to do after returning. He thought it would be better for her to study hard and wait for the college entrance examination.
Shao Qifeng was a smart man. When Mu Jinghuai handed him a stack of books, he immediately flipped through them and his eyes lit up. Then he looked at Mu Jinghuai in disbelief.
Mu Jinghuai said softly, "These books were prepared for you by Jingheng. He told you that you must study them carefully. He said that opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared."
Shao Qifeng's voice trembled: "Brother, is it true?"
Mu Jinghuai patted his shoulder: "Don't ask so many questions, just do as I say. Jingheng said that as long as you work hard, you will definitely be able to go back in glory."
Shao Qifeng's eyes welled up with tears.
His family told him to wait patiently, saying that his return to the city shouldn't be far off.
It would be good to go back home, but it would be even better if he could go back on his own merits. He didn't want to be looked down upon, and he never wanted people to think that he was good for nothing but eating.
Shao Qifeng was a man of action; he took the gifts and went to the brigade leader's house that very day.
He needs a good environment to study properly, so living in this dormitory is no longer suitable.
There were still empty rooms next to the educated youth settlement, but the rooms were small and there were no kang beds (heated brick beds).
It wasn't that some educated youth had considered living in this empty house, but it would cost a lot of money, so they gave up on the idea.
Only married educated youth who had no other choice would apply to the village.
As soon as Shao Qifeng presented his gift, the brigade leader agreed without saying a word.
The house is just sitting empty anyway, wouldn't it be better to rent it out and bring in more income for the village?
The next day, Shao Qifeng had someone bring a heated brick bed.
The room is small, so the kang (heated brick bed) is also small, which is actually quite good, as it prevents people who like to take advantage from trying to take advantage of it.
Mu Jinghuai and Shao Qifeng tidied up the house together, and they could move in once the kang (heated brick bed) was dry.
Shao Qifeng's actions attracted the attention of other educated youth, and some even said that Shao Qifeng was afraid that others would steal the food he brought from home, so he moved out.
Shao Qifeng doesn't care at all what others say.
The other educated youths who came to the compound with him also secretly asked Shao Qifeng about it. Shao Qifeng didn't hide it from them and said that he wanted to study hard, and he didn't care whether they listened to him or not.
If he listens to their advice, he wouldn't mind studying with them, since they all come from the same place and have gotten through so many years together by helping and encouraging each other.
Shao Qifeng wouldn't say anything more, as he didn't want to involve the Mu family and cause unnecessary speculation.
Because Qin Yao had a document authorizing her to return to the city, the procedures handled by the village and the educated youth were completed quickly.
She gave away the things she couldn't take with her to her close friends among the educated youth, and then returned to the city with Mu Jinghuai.
On the day he returned to the city, all the other educated youths from the compound who had gone to the countryside with him came to see him off, including the Yu family's daughter who was already married.
Someone grabbed Qin Yao's hand and burst into tears: "Sister Yao Yao, you must write to us."
Qin Yao: "Don't worry, I will."
Qin Yao then turned to the boys and said, "Take good care of them. Make sure you all return safely. I'll pick you up at the station."
Shao Qifeng: "Don't worry, Yao Yao."
Qin Yao: "If you have nothing to do, study hard. It will be easier to take the civil service exam when you have the chance."
"I haven't read books for so many years, I've forgotten all the knowledge."
Qin Yao said seriously, "If you don't want to go back and be looked down upon, study hard. When I went back this time, I saw that many things were different from before. Only things earned through your own abilities are truly reliable."
Qin Yao could only offer this reminder, after all, these people were more than family to her, and they had supported each other all these years.
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