Chapter 7 (7)
Di Liren was promoted as a role model for good deeds within the system. After being recommended, Yu Jia was recruited into the propaganda team, trained, and then traveled to various locations to give speeches.
The commune leader told Yu Jia, "You must obey the organization's arrangements now. Put your commune work aside! Ah—put it aside!" Yu Jia had no choice but to "comply with your wishes." But this process was too painful for her! Yu Jia felt like her heart was being tormented over and over again.
She had to contribute materials, good information about Liren, write them down, discuss them with others, and finally create a draft. Sisi happened to be back in China, so she also contributed something. The publicity department immediately praised Sisi, saying she spoke with feeling. She talked about her father's simple life, saying he hadn't changed his phone in years and still had a 3G model. She also said Liren always held her to high standards and never indulged her, but her father was very loving and always pointed her in the right direction at critical moments. Sisi's tears welled up as she spoke.
Yu Jia was surprised. When had this child learned to lie, and act so convincingly? The publicity staff criticized Yu Jia, saying she was emotionless. Yu Jia was so anxious that her hair turned purple. It wasn't that she didn't want to contribute, it was that she couldn't.
In the past, she saw Li Ren as full of virtues. Now, he was full of flaws, and she couldn't get over them or let them go. "Does his love of reading 'Das Kapital' count?" Yu Jia asked the publicity staff. "Are there any Chinese books? Any representative ones?" they asked.
Yu Jia couldn't answer.
Even more difficult was the presentation process. Every time he gave a report in a certain place, he spoke the same old words. Yu Jia was asked to show his emotions. Di Liren was now the epitome of a cadre who gave his all for the people. His wife should have cried for him.
Yes! Yu Jia couldn't deny that Li Ren was a good cadre, absolutely, but he was definitely not a good husband! She was tormented by the thought of erecting a monument and writing a biography for him!
After the tour, Yu Jia was exhausted, both physically and mentally. She felt drained, and for the first time, she decided to quit. She felt she couldn't stay there any longer. Even returning home wouldn't work. She planned to sell both her home and the provincial capital, save some money, and wait for an opportunity to strike out on her own.
Yu Jia went to Yu Rui to discuss the matter - Yu Meng's business was too big, and talking to her would be a bit hurtful to her self-esteem. Yu Rui was young and on the front line of the workplace, so she could tell the truth.
After listening to Jia's analysis, Rui didn't recommend quitting. She thought she could work part-time. Yu Jia laughed and said she couldn't split her attention. "I'm already that old. Success and failure are just a matter of seconds. What do I have to lose?"
Looking into Sister Jia's eyes, Yu Rui knew that she had made up her mind.
Help, only help.
She said to Yu Jia, "Sister Meng opened a confinement center."
"oh?"
"In cooperation with our boss."
"She knows a lot of people." Yu Jia didn't hear the hidden meaning.
Yu Rui didn't say anything, "Actually, Sister Meng's project is inspiring. It's about serving the service industry and meeting basic needs. What do people need most?"
"Eat." Yu Jia said without hesitation.
Ye Cha pushed the door open and asked Yu Rui what she wanted for lunch. Yu Rui sent him away and said to Yu Jia, "I got it."
"What's going on?"
"This lunch." Yu Rui stretched out a finger, and an idea suddenly came to her.
Yu Jia felt Yu Rui's analysis made sense. Food, clothing, housing, and transportation are fundamental needs, and of these four, Yu Jia believed he could only achieve breakthroughs in "food." With so many office buildings in this area, lunch for white-collar workers remains a persistent problem. Every building has a restaurant, but the prices are not cheap and the crowds are incredibly crowded, with lines often stretching until one or two in the morning. Many people also order takeout. However, most of these takeout options don't quite meet the needs of white-collar workers.
Yu Rui believes that this group of people are probably the most in need of care and the most difficult to please, demanding both taste and health. Yu Rui said that she now eats a salad or a meal replacement bar for lunch.
It's very painful.
"If you can solve the problem of making it delicious and healthy, you will definitely succeed." Yu Rui is very confident.
Yu Jia pondered, "This is indeed a breakthrough, but it's a project that many people could imagine, so why hasn't anyone done it?" Yu Rui speculated. Firstly, it might be that obtaining a restaurant license is currently difficult. Secondly, it's hard-earned money, and white-collar workers might not be willing to quit their jobs and start their own businesses. And for older people, it's too far away. Yu Rui suggested Yu Jia do some research first. If possible, he could visit Japan, where the fast food industry is more advanced and might offer some inspiration. As for obtaining a license, he'd probably have to ask someone. Yu Jia thought of someone he could consult, or even help: Luan Chengyun.
In the zoo incident, it was Chun'er's biological mother who finally "rescued" her daughter and Kang Long by rushing by train overnight. Yu Shuang also braved the storm to return from Qingdao. This incident highlighted a problem: neither Kang Long nor Yu Shuang could prove their relationship with Chun'er. Only after Yu Qing's wife brought her household registration certificate did the police agree to release her. Subsequently, Yu Shuang's sister-in-law proposed taking Chun'er home.
"Sorry for disturbing you," said her sister-in-law.
Yu Shuang was anxious, "No... taking the child back now will affect his studies... you gave him up to raise in the first place... now you can take him away if you want..." Yu Qing's wife didn't tell the truth. Her parents' health was getting worse and worse, and the children at home needed someone to take care of them. Chun'er could act as a half-nanny if she went back.
Yu Qing's wife didn't want to offend her elder sister-in-law, after all, Yu Shuang still gave her some money every month. She said gently, "Sister... no... it's my mother... she misses the child... you see... she said we'd give the younger one up for adoption... you were afraid of becoming a mother... it's too late now... the child is sensible... she can't let him go." Chun'er was equally horrified when she heard her biological mother was going to take her back. She didn't want to return to that crowded home, so she screamed and protested desperately.
Finally, the two parties reached a consensus.
Let Chun'er stay until the end of this semester, and then transfer back when the new school year starts.
After her sister-in-law left, Yu Shuang pushed herself to work, but she couldn't help but feel lost. Before raising Chun'er, Yu Shuang defined herself as an aunt, not a mother. She wanted Chun'er to maintain distance and clarify their relationship, even knowing they would eventually separate. However, the passage of time wore away those boundaries like terrazzo, and Chun'er had taken over her emotional life.
She couldn't bear the sudden departure.
Kang Long couldn't stand it either. Chun'er's presence enriched his life, and he'd become emotionally invested in her. He'd picked her up from school, helped her with homework, played with her, and shared meals with her. Chun'er would tell Uncle Kang about her worries. More importantly, Chun'er provided a buffer, softening his relationship with Yu Shuang. With Chun'er around, he and Yu Shuang always had someone to care for.
When Chun'er's mother mentioned taking people away, Kang Long was even more excited than Yu Shuang. He was used to this kind of relationship: one room, three people, close yet far away.
After everyone quieted down, Kang Long went to apologize to Yu Shuang. He said he was too emotional on the phone.
Yu Shuang had long forgotten about that incident.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"Let's see next semester," she said helplessly, "I hope I can adapt by then."
"I can't control it," Kanglong said.
"I don't want to control it. I just treat Chun'er as a friend."
"You are still her aunt."
"Yes, aunt." Yu Shuang shrugged. "No one can compare to mom. No matter how confused or unreasonable mom is, she is still mom. Mom's level is higher than aunt."
Seems to be resentful.
"Have you ever considered..." Kang Long hesitated to speak.
"What."
"child."
"What child?"
"My own child," Kang Long added haltingly, "I want a child of my own."
Honestly, Yu Shuang had considered this, especially over the past year. She'd noticed a physiological shift. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, perhaps due to endocrine issues. Each menstrual cycle felt different than before. "Turbulent." That's the word that summed up her feeling: like the rising tide.
Kang Long suddenly became talkative. "Chun'er is also a training for us. You are fully capable of playing the role of a mother, and you can do it very well. If we..."
"We?" Yu Shuang grasped the key words.
Kang Long paused. "Yes, you and me." He'd seen a news report the day before about one of his favorite female singers breaking up with her boyfriend of 18 years. A sense of crisis! How could he possibly keep Yu Shuang?
Perhaps children are an eternal bond.
"To have a child?"
"That's what happened with Peter Chan and Sandra Ng," he said.
"What?"
"Don't get married, just have kids."
Yu Shuang slapped his forehead, "Do you know what this means?"
"Means..." He couldn't guess.
"It means a burden that can never be thrown away."
Kang Long smiled, showing infinite tolerance. "When you want to throw it, throw it to me."
"It's not fair," Yu Shuang said. "It's not fair. I have to be pregnant for ten months, but you only have to go into labor for a few minutes."
“This world is inherently unfair.”
"Was this your dad's idea again?"
"It has nothing to do with him. He was just urging us to get married, but he didn't think of this step."
"You, and I, have a baby..." Yu Shuangmeng.
"Yes, that's right. Our children, yours and mine, will definitely be smart and beautiful." Kang Long said confidently.
Yu Shuang rubbed his solar plexus, "Wait a moment, let me think about it."
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