After April, Tang Cuifeng would teach three classes in the morning and then help out in the cafeteria until 2 p.m. before returning to school for her classes.
The reason I went with Tang Cuihong to help out in the cafeteria was not only to let her get to know the people in the cafeteria, but also to help her integrate into the community as soon as possible and prepare for the handover later.
The canteen staff then learned that Tang Cuihong was about to get married and move to the military. Besides feeling sorry for her, they also admired the trust between the sisters. Moreover, Tang Cuifeng's down-to-earth attitude of helping out at the canteen while studying at school made the hardworking and kind staff quickly accept her.
Although temporary workers only earn 17.5 yuan a month, this is a job that ordinary people cannot afford without the financial means to do so. Therefore, everyone who comes here cherishes this rare opportunity.
Cuilan, who is two years younger than Cuifeng, is fifteen years old this year. She has no job opportunities for the time being and has been comforted by her older sisters.
"You should focus on your studies now and don't worry about anything else. We'll help you look for opportunities. You'll get a job, but you can't neglect your studies. Only if you study well can your seventh sister learn from you."
When Cuifeng gets home, she will talk to Cuilan about her daily work. If she learns anything, she will share it with Cuilan as soon as possible so that Cuilan doesn't feel that her efforts have been in vain.
In fact, not only Cuifeng, but even Cuihua would share some medical knowledge she learned in the hospital when she got home, so that everyone wouldn't be illiterate.
Although Cuifeng and Cuilan are the most low-key among the sisters, they don't talk much, but they see everything.
The eldest sister's conduct and way of dealing with people; the second sister's monthly stipend of food coupons and wages after she started working; the third sister's sending back local specialties wherever she went, spending almost all of her wages on them; the fourth sister taking on all the chores when she was at home; and the fifth and sixth sisters sending money and receipts even while studying away from home. All the older sisters did their best to support the family. Even Xiao Jiu, who had been sent away but still cared about the family, always tried her best to help them out whenever she came back. Therefore, there was absolutely no comparison or jealousy in this family.
These ulterior motives don't exist. What they know is that if they work together, sooner or later their family will stand taller than anyone else's.
Before May Day, Tang Cuifeng and Tang Cuihong officially handed over their work.
Tang Cuihong and Niu Feng's wedding was not a big affair. The main reason was that neither family had many elders. They only invited the Tao and Tang families, and their own relatives gathered together for two days. The village only invited the village secretary and the brigade leader, who generously distributed wedding candy to the villagers.
On that very day, Tang Cuihua and Zhai Sanhe, who had rushed over, officially confirmed their relationship. Zhai Sanhe's application for demobilization had already been submitted, and feedback would be received in the county town around July, at which point the two could set a wedding date.
Although Xiao Jiu was about to take the college entrance examination, she still rushed home with Cui Ju to attend their family's first wedding and presented them with two watches and a camera as congratulatory gifts.
Because of the brand relationship, Xiao Jiu secretly told Cui Hong.
"Sister, these things should be hidden away in a few years. Don't use them in front of outsiders for now, okay?"
Cuihong had grown up with everyone and knew most of what she needed to know. When Xiaojiu specifically pointed out the origins of these things, she immediately understood: "Okay, don't worry, I know."
Although the watch wasn't brand new, it was a trophy captured from the island, making it exceptionally valuable.
The camera was secondhand, but it was considered a high-quality electronic product for this day and age. It might come in handy someday. It also came with a box of film, enough for her sister to take thousands of photos without any problem.
After the wedding, Xiao Jiu didn't stay to help pack her things; she rushed back to school.
Niu Feng's dormitory for his military dependents has been approved, and all the things that needed to be sent have been sent back. But when they left this time, the couple still had many bags and small packages, carrying the love of their family and the deep reluctance of their sisters to part with them.
Fortunately, West City is relatively close to their Luo City, so they can go visit them anytime they miss them, or wait for Cuihong to come back and visit them when she has free time.
Zhai Sanhe also rushed back on the day of Niu Feng's wedding. He was about to be transferred to civilian work and had many things to take care of.
Her appearance at Niu Feng's wedding was also to let the villagers know that Tang Cuihua had a boyfriend who was about to be transferred to civilian work, so that those gossipy people could shut up.
Sure enough, after the wedding ended and Niu Feng and his wife drove away from their Xihe Village with everyone's blessings, someone couldn't help but come up and ask Cuihua.
"Is your son-in-law really a demobilized soldier? Where will he go after he leaves the military? Isn't he a son-in-law who lives with his wife's family? You're not going to go with him, are you? I heard you just got a permanent job, you can't just give up your job, can you?"
She responded with a smile to such a mocking topic.
“I don’t know exactly where I was assigned, but it’s in our county. He specifically arranged the transfer after we started dating. I did just become a full-time employee, and the job is still mine. I will work hard and won’t give it up. Besides, my family has already prepared a wedding house.”
The house where the Tang family now lives, the main room and the east room were originally the master bedroom, and Tang Cuihua, as the head of the Tang family, naturally had the most right to live there.
She had tidied up this bedroom long before she confirmed her relationship with Zhai Sanhe.
The wedding supplies that had been prepared beforehand came in handy at this time. Xiaojiu had even specially prepared six sets of bedding, a military basin, and a military canteen for her, all of which were very complete.
These beddings were all military-grade, and after being re-carded and washed, they were made into two sets of double autumn quilts and one set of double winter quilts.
The remaining cotton was not wasted; the sisters worked together to measure the couple's bodies and planned to make two new cotton-padded clothes.
It can be said that all the sisters put in their utmost sincerity to make this wedding a success for their eldest sister.
As for Zhai Sanhe, the son-in-law who moved into the village, he has visited Xihe Village several times. Each time, he can chat with the village officials and show the unique enthusiasm of Northeasterners. He has no inferiority complex or awkwardness that one might expect from a son-in-law who moves into the village. On the contrary, he has changed everyone's perception of sons-in-law who move into the village.
According to Zhai Sanhe, "I have a job, and my wife has a job. Our revolutionary friendship isn't about putting one of us down. As long as we're doing well, that's all that matters. As for whether or not we're going to live with the family, my wife and I don't really care. We'll decide whose surname our child will take, and she'll be in charge of our household. I don't feel inferior to her, and she hasn't looked down on me because I'm going to live with the family. We give ourselves our status and position, and there's no need to limit our abilities because of a single word!"
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