Chapter 455 Leaving
At the end of January, Zhang Heping received his university admission letter.
When it came time to apply to universities, he didn't want to apply to schools within the province. Based on his grades, he applied to the Henan University of Technology, and that's where he was admitted.
Looking at the notification, Song Lubai was quite satisfied.
"I don't know if Jianshe got into school. School starts next month. You should leave tomorrow to visit Mom in Shicheng and spend the New Year with her. You can register at the school yourself then, or it will be too late."
The notification from Xinjiang Province is usually delivered late, and there will be further delays on the way, so we need to leave early to avoid being late.
Zhang Heping said with a smile, "Sis, I feel like you don't want me to stay here. Am I disturbing your life with your husband?"
Song Lubai tapped him, "You eat too much, I can't afford to feed you anymore."
Even so, she still went to a restaurant in the afternoon and ordered a table of delicious food, and the five of them enjoyed a wonderful meal.
The next day, before sending Zhang Heping off to the bus, the couple slipped him another five ten-yuan bills.
No sooner had Zhang Heping left than a telegram from Zhang Cui arrived.
Zhang Jianshe also passed the exam, but his score was just above the junior college cutoff. It was a close call; if he had scored just one point less, he would have failed. He applied to a medical college within the province.
Despite her happiness, Song Lubai felt a little uneasy.
“Lin Dahai made me fail to get into university, but his two sons both did. Wei Yang, I feel a little uncomfortable about that.”
If Lin Dahai knew this after his death, he'd be laughing his head off.
"They're surnamed Zhang now, not Lin. Does that make you feel better?"
Song Lubai pouted and said, "Then they still have Lin Dahai's blood flowing in their veins. Forget it, I'm not talking to you anymore, you wouldn't understand me."
If it weren't for her own hard work a few years ago, she wouldn't even have a college diploma. Comparing the two, she still feels a little bitter.
Lin Dahai caused her to miss the college entrance exam, and she will remember that for the rest of her life.
He pulled the person close and said, "You only keep remembering the past when you're dissatisfied with your life. Are you dissatisfied with me now?"
Song Lubai looked at him with a puzzled expression. "What do I have to complain about with you? Let's keep things separate and not confuse the two."
He held her hand and said, "If you're happy now, forget about the past."
Enveloped by him, her palms warm, she put her legs up on the stool, relaxed her body against him, and said, "I know, I won't think about this anymore in a few days, but I'm just feeling a bit sentimental right now."
Lin Dahai is dead. Even if his son becomes successful in the future, he won't be able to enjoy it. His son has even changed his surname. If he knew this in the afterlife, he would be so angry that he wouldn't be able to rest in peace.
She shouldn't keep arguing with a dead person.
About ten days later, when she picked up her child from school, her neighbor heard the commotion and came out carrying a bag of things, saying, "Section Chief Song, this morning a girl came to see you with some things. Since no one was home, she left the things at my house. She said she got into a school in Shanghai and is leaving today. She thanked you for your previous help and gave you some things. Here, it's this bag."
The neighbor handed over the items, and Song Lubai knew they were probably sent by Lin Jinyao, so she took them.
"Did the girl come by herself?"
The neighbor nodded. "She came by herself. I think she's an educated youth from a nearby farm. That girl's fate has been changed by herself. Is she a relative of yours?"
Song Lubai shook her head, said a few more words, and then carried her things and took her child into the house.
Opening the cloth bag, one finds apples, pears, walnuts, biscuits wrapped in yellow paper, and two cans of meat.
These were all ordinary things to her, but for Lin Jinyao, who earned very little, obtaining these things must not have been easy.
Lin Jinyao has left for the exam, and I guess we won't see each other again.
Liu Mei cherished her like the apple of her eye. Once the policy loosens and people can freely go to other cities, she definitely won't stay here anymore.
Lin Jinyao is definitely better than her mother, Liu Mei.
Lin Jinyao is gone, but Liu Mei from the Seventeenth Farm can't leave.
After the New Year, she worked with the militia to build roads in the mountain valleys.
Although she had enough to eat and drink, and her monthly salary was higher than when she was on the farm, the work was really tiring, and her shoulders and hands were already worn raw.
But because of her family background, she was chosen as the one selected during the selection process.
Her thick cotton-padded coat was worn through by the rough ropes, and her palms were raw and bleeding. These conditions were just as difficult as when she was working in the Second Division Farm.
During the break, everyone received their meals and sat together on a pile of stones to eat.
"Liu Mei, what are you doing here? Where's your husband? Don't you have a son?"
Ninety percent of the group consisted of men, mostly young and strong men. There were very few women, and even fewer women as old as Liu Mei. Liu Mei knew why she had been selected.
Fortunately, I only have to work here for a year.
She'll be provided with food and drink and even given money. Once she's saved up some money, she'll send it to her daughter. No matter what, she'll support her daughter through thick and thin.
She mumbled, "My husband is dead. I don't have a son, only a daughter. My daughter got into university."
Liu Mei puffed out her chest when she heard that Lin Jinyao had been admitted to university.
Upon hearing this, those around them cast envious glances.
After all these years, Liu Mei finally felt like she could finally hold her head high.
“My daughter has been a studious child since she was little. Even after she went to the countryside, she never stopped learning. Who would have thought that the college entrance examination would be reinstated last year? It was really a coincidence. She said that after she graduates from university and has a place to settle down, she will bring me over.”
Some people said enviously, "That's really great, you're going to enjoy a life of luxury from now on."
It was too cold. Liu Mei sniffed and said with a smile, "That's right. My daughter has always been obedient and filial since she was little. When her father was being unreasonable, she always sided with me. No matter how tired I am, I have to support my daughter through university."
Some people say, "Going to university must cost a lot of money. Tuition, food, accommodation, everything costs money. It must be very hard for you to support it all by yourself."
Liu Mei took a sip of hot soup and said, "No matter how hard it is, I have to support her through university. Things will be better once she finishes college."
There were some sensible people in the crowd. The team leader said, "Going to university isn't as expensive as you think. I've heard that the government subsidizes the tuition and living expenses of university students. University students hardly spend any money. Once you get into university, you'll be assigned a job after graduation. As long as you get in, your future is guaranteed."
Liu Mei was overjoyed. "Really? There's a subsidy?"
The captain said, "I heard it from someone else, and I'm pretty sure it's true. Go ask them."
Now Liu Mei has become the focus of attention on the construction site, and she can't hide the joy and pride on her face.
That's great! But even though the government is providing subsidies, she still has to send living expenses to her daughter. Girls need to spend money on many things, and if she wants to find a good family in the future, she still can't skimp on things she can't afford to save on.
Although she was exhausted, although it was cold in the mountain valley, and although she would have to stay here for almost a year, she felt that better days were just around the corner.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com