Two days later, Er Yazhu went to school to check her grades.
When they returned, they all entered Zhang Hongmei's house with smiles on their faces. "Hongmei, I passed the entrance exam for junior high school. I can go to school in the county now."
"Congratulations to you both. You should prepare your luggage in advance."
After Zhang Hongmei finished speaking, Liu Erya became dejected again, "Yes, we need to find accommodation, but what about our families?"
"You won't eat without me? My uncle and aunt will definitely take care of you."
"I just don't want to be a burden on my family."
"Can't you think straight? We're only supporting you for four years now, but the benefits you'll bring to the family in the future will be much more than this."
“Hongmei is right. All you need to do now is study hard and don’t think about anything else.”
The two went home separately. Liu Maocai saw his second daughter's conflicted expression and wondered if she had failed the exam.
"Er Ya, if you don't pass the exam, you can try again and you'll pass. It's okay."
"No, Dad, I passed the exam. I just felt that you and Mom would have a hard time these next few years."
“What’s so tiring? We have workers at home too. You’re too worried, just relax and go about your business.”
"Yes, your dad and I can still support you. Besides, there's your brother, and the two younger ones will grow up too."
“The two younger ones also need to go to school. If they can’t go to school because of me, then I won’t go myself and they can go.”
“Go ahead, everyone. Things aren’t that hard at home. Besides, you still have a hundred yuan left, enough for your schooling.” Li Cuihua affectionately patted her second daughter’s head. This child was the most considerate.
Just then, Li Cuihua's older brother, Zhuzi's father, arrived.
"Maocai, Cuihua, I heard from Zhuzi that Erya also passed the junior high school entrance exam. What do you think?"
“Brother, you’re sitting on the kang (heated brick bed), and we’re talking about this right now. This girl is worried about us; she’s afraid the family can’t afford to support us.”
“If you can’t afford to send your uncles to pay for it, then you should study hard, girl.”
"Brother, we have money at home, and it won't be a problem to send three children to school."
"If you're short, just go home and tell them. I'm going back now, and Mom is so happy."
"Brother, I'm going back tomorrow; I still need to cook at home."
"Yes, everyone go!"
This is a major event for the village. Just a couple of days ago, all they knew was that the junior high school entrance exams were over, but now that the results are in, everything is finally settled. Now, everyone greets the three of them with congratulatory words. It's made the three of them not want to go out anymore.
Zhang Hongmei has now left teaching and has Zhuzi and Erya by her side.
So she couldn't stay at home any longer and went to the city to take a look.
Wang Hongxi would give a letter of introduction to anyone who asked. So Zhang Hongmei got on the bus to the city.
I didn't come here with any particular purpose. When I got to the county town, I remembered that I hadn't received my living allowance for several months. Considering the difficult circumstances I was in, I decided to give up.
I'm from Liujiatun, and everyone in the county knows that only people from Liujiatun are doing well. It wouldn't look good for me to come here to collect the money now, so I'll wait until later.
We finally arrived in the city, and I thought I should go see Zhang Xingguo.
When she arrived at the Armed Forces Department, the security was very tight. If the gatekeeper hadn't recognized Zhang Hongmei, she probably wouldn't have been able to get in.
Zhang Xingguo was overjoyed to see Zhang Hongmei.
"You little brat, you never even come to see me."
"So what am I doing here now? Seriously."
"Can't you just give in to me, you little brat?"
"At your age, do you expect me to make you feel bad?"
"Alright, alright, I can't argue with you. I admit I was wrong, okay?"
That's just how it is.
"Hongmei, even if you don't come, I'll still have to go see you in the next few days. I'm leaving now."
"Leave? Where to?"
"I'm going back to help your Brother Zhang."
"He agreed?"
How do you know he disagrees?
Zhang Hongmei glanced at him. Was there even a need to guess? It was obvious.
Zhang Xingguo awkwardly scratched his head. "Shouyi didn't agree to let me go back, but I was worried about him going alone, so I submitted an application, which was approved, and I'll be going back in the next few days."
"Honestly. You're not a child anymore, why don't you think about why you came here? Why go back?"
Zhang Xingguo looked at Zhang Hongmei pitifully.
“I don’t know what you’re doing, and I don’t want to know. But I can tell that Brother Zhang doesn’t want you to be in danger, and now look what’s happened, you’ve jumped in on your own.”
"Was I really wrong?"
Zhang Hongmei rolled her eyes. "I don't know. Since things have come to this, what's there to dwell on? Let's go back."
"I'm afraid Shouyi will be angry. Why don't you come back with me?"
"Where should I go back to? This is my home, okay? Besides, I'm just a child, don't you know that?"
Zhang Xingguo looked at Zhang Hongmei pitifully, his face pleading.
"Playing the victim won't help. I can't do anything to help you, and I might even hold you back."
Zhang Xingguo felt even more ashamed; he hadn't realized the situation was so serious. Thinking of his son's face, he immediately cowered.
"Alright, that's settled then, don't think about it anymore. But you must take care of yourself, I'll come to see you in the future."
Zhang Xingguo sat there listlessly, sighing, regretting his rash actions.
He wiped his face and said, "Hongmei, wait for me a moment. Let's go home. Aren't you going to high school? You'll live at home from now on. I'll give you the key, and the house will be transferred to your name tomorrow."
"No need to transfer the ownership, I'll just stay here. I'm too lazy to stay in a hotel anyway."
Wang Xiaoshun was especially happy to see Zhang Hongmei, knowing he would have a delicious dinner that night.
When the three of them returned home, Zhang Hongmei felt an emptiness.
Wang Xiaoshun looked at Zhang Hongmei hesitantly and said, "Hongmei, I want to eat pancakes."
"Okay, I'll go do it right away." Zhang Hongmei resignedly washed her hands and started cooking.
For dinner, they had pancakes with scrambled eggs, and some cabbage that Zhang Hongmei had brought. In short, Zhang Xingguo and Wang Xiaoshun ate until they were stuffed.
Zhang Xingguo, slumped in his chair, squinted. "Hongmei, have Xiaoshun go with you to the real estate bureau tomorrow to transfer the property. It's unlikely we'll be back. It's not good for the house to be in our names."
"Sure, only a fool wouldn't take something for free."
The next day, Zhang Hongmei held a newly issued property certificate with her name on it, and her assets had increased again.
Because the letter of introduction stated ten days, there was time to see Zhang Xingguo and his group off.
The armed forces department sent two more people to take turns driving to the capital with Wang Xiaoshun.
Zhang Hongmei prepared a lot of dry food for them, including meat pies, meat buns, flatbread with eggs, boiled tea eggs, shredded pickled vegetables, and pickled cabbage.
Before getting into the car, Zhang Xingguo held Zhang Hongmei's hand and said, "Hongmei, come back with me. Maybe you won't be angry anymore if you go to Shouyi."
"What does this have to do with me?"
"You're so disloyal. I've spoiled you for nothing."
"Hurry up and have a safe journey." Zhang Hongmei waved her hand as if shooing away flies.
Zhang Xingguo had no choice but to roll down the car window after getting in and say, "Write to me if you need anything. I've given you my address, so don't forget."
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