From 1969 to the end of 1971, Xiao Jiu completed her five-year undergraduate studies ahead of schedule in three years and was successfully recommended for postgraduate studies, starting her master's and doctoral program. After 1970, due to her heavy academic workload, she had to put everything aside and pursue a completely new academic path.
Thanks to the medical books she brings back from her trips abroad every year, her cognitive abilities and thirst for knowledge have been greatly enhanced. She has already graduated with honors from the University of Tokyo and has participated in numerous competitions, academic reports, research directions and plans. She has accumulated at least 500,000 yen in scholarships alone.
She is now a key student at the school and has been assigned to one of the best medical schools in Tokyo for advanced clinical studies.
Through careful public displays of caution and diligent private efforts, several research findings have been quietly transferred to Kumiko.
Of course, none of these research results were achieved by her alone, nor was it worth the slightest risk that she might be suspected.
All research projects must involve multiple participants and be open to the public.
This kind of scheme, even with some personal agenda smuggled in, can bring immense benefits to the domestic market.
Her paper has now been published in a world-class medical journal and is of great value.
Kumiko was also happy for her current achievements.
“We took some photos of you studying without your knowledge, and they have already been sent back to China.”
I participated in the training camp in 1965, came to Japan in 1966, and have been away from my hometown for six years now, about to start my seventh year.
She's already twenty-two years old (by Chinese reckoning), and time really doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
Having completed the initial phase of the mission, Xiao Jiu decided to take a break. She secretly infiltrated the cargo ship and landed in Rizhao.
Then they slipped onto a train and headed west. The process was tedious, but they were willing to pay any price to get home.
Time was of the essence, so I returned to my hometown, a small county town, but unfortunately, I had already returned the house I had rented.
After making inquiries, she disguised herself before going to the winery.
It was just past rush hour when she said, "Sir, could you please find Tao Changyi? I'm his niece, my surname is Tang, and I need to speak with him about something."
Judging by the time, my mother has already retired, and checking out of the hotel must be to go back and take care of the elderly.
"Oh, you mean Director Tao? Then come here and register. His house is in the back residential compound, a single-story house with its own courtyard. Just go in and ask around and you'll find it. His wife should be home."
Wow, when did they get a house?
Fortunately, she was dressed in a rural style, carrying a basket on her back and wearing a worn-out cotton-padded jacket, with her hat pulled low, so she was unrecognizable.
By writing down Seventh Sister's name, we found her easily. Before we even got there, we heard enthusiastic neighbors calling out to Mother.
"Lingli, you have a guest! It's a little girl! Is she your niece?"
Zhao Lingli was carrying cabbages out of the cellar when she heard the noise and instinctively turned around to look. She was stunned at first glance.
She was so excited that the cabbage in her hand rolled off her plate. Just as she opened her mouth to shout, Xiao Jiu put her finger to her lips and made a shushing gesture.
She immediately understood and quickly cooperated: "Oh dear, it's so cold, Cuifeng, what brings you here? Come in, come in."
As she spoke, she called out to the neighbor, "My niece is here to bring me New Year's gifts! Oh dear, it's still a long way from the New Year!"
When she closed the door and grabbed her daughter's hand with tears in her eyes, she was too choked up to speak.
Xiao Jiu silently led her back into the house. The moment the scarf and hat were removed, she was embraced tightly by Zhao Lingli.
A sob came from her chest, and her eyes also welled up with tears as she hugged her mother back.
"Mother, I'm back. It's been six years. I'm sorry, I've been an unfilial daughter."
"Fool, how can this be your fault?" Zhao Lingli raised her head with tears in her eyes, looking at him carefully, unable to get enough of him.
"She's gotten fairer, thinner, taller, and even more beautiful. My daughter has grown up; she's a young lady now!"
The more she looked, the more she felt she had missed out on a lot, and in the end, it was Xiaojiu who comforted her.
"Where's my dad? Is he working overtime again?"
"That's right. He's the factory manager now, very busy, and he sometimes goes on business trips. I reckon he won't be back until seven or eight o'clock today."
“My grandfather,” she paused, “and my grandmother!”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Lingli instinctively turned around. Xiao Jiu followed her gaze and panicked completely.
Because on the wall behind her were black and white portraits of her grandparents, which she had taken herself.
Tears burst forth in an instant, and the bitterness and sorrow in my heart poured out like a floodgate being opened.
She knelt down with a thud, choking back sobs as she suppressed her emotions and cried out in anguish.
"Grandpa, Grandma, I'm so sorry I'm late!"
Zhao Lingli walked over, gently knelt down, and put her arm around her shoulder.
"Your grandmother passed away in December of 1966 or 1977, and your grandfather, well, he passed away this summer. They both passed away peacefully."
The only regret is not seeing you. When they left, they were all holding your photo. Jiu'er, they don't blame you.
Don't cry, don't cry. You're our precious child. No one blames you. You don't need to apologize to anyone. We all understand, we all understand.
As she spoke, Zhao Lingli couldn't hold back anymore and began to sob softly. In the end, the mother and daughter hugged each other and wept bitterly.
She didn't know how much time had passed before Xiao Jiu finished venting her emotions, slowly wiped away her tears, and helped her mother up.
"Mom, I have to leave soon, I can't stay for more than two days. Is this the apartment your work unit allocated to you?"
The main hall has three rooms, the east wing is the kitchen, the left corner of the courtyard is the cellar with a woodshed built above it, and the right side is the outhouse. The courtyard is not large.
The east room of the main hall was where the couple lived, while the west room was filled with bunk beds, clearly a place where the brothers would occasionally stay.
"Yes, your grandfather has lived here for over a year!"
I go back to my house in the village every few days to harvest and plant some vegetables.
I'll mainly be cooking for your dad here. Your brother and sister-in-law don't need me to take care of the baby, so I'll just stay here for your postpartum period and then come back.
"Brother and sister-in-law? Oh right, they're not getting any younger, and they're married? Come on, sit down and tell me about our family."
Zhao Lingli pulled her hand and sat her down. "You know about your older brother and Yuan Yuan's relationship. They got married on May Day in 1968."
In October of the same year, your sixth sister, Cuixiang, married Huangfu Biao.
Your third brother and Li Chunqing got married in the spring of 1969.
Your fourth brother and your classmate Gao Mingxia got together; they married on May 1, 1969.
Your second brother is the youngest in our family. Look, do you see the double happiness character on the wall?
He got married this National Day holiday. His bride is his colleague; both of them work in scientific research, and both are in classified units.
After the wine was fully digested, I was shocked.
"Oh my god, both of my sisters-in-law are my classmates? And one of them is my teacher? Is this how it's done?"
Zhao Lingli was amused by her unserious behavior.
"Isn't this good? It saves us from the trouble of dealing with your sister-in-law. They miss you so much, they talk about you every day. Are you going to see them this time?"
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