Chapter 120
Zhou Peilan only then learned that her niece had actually helped set up a factory in the village where she had been sent to work. She was so proud of the salary she'd mentioned that she earned it. She told her sister-in-law, "Getting the export deal is a huge accomplishment. This achievement will be impressive at any factory. Nini won't have to wait two years; we can recruit her back."
If the local authorities do not approve, it is because they are reluctant to let go of talented people, not simply because they disagree.
The meaning is different.
Yu Huifang was also happy, and she told her sister-in-law about Zhou Jiani's proposal to build a greenhouse in the village, which was reported in the newspaper and given a report locally.
Zhou Peilan was delighted and told her sister-in-law, "Don't worry about the certificate, newspaper, or photo. They're all real achievements. They might come in handy when you return to the city."
Knowing that the person in charge of the greenhouse vegetables was the man my niece found in the countryside, I asked in detail about the future niece's husband. When I heard that he would bring Nini home to visit after the New Year, I felt relieved.
Some people abandoned their wives and children after returning to the city, and some abandoned their husbands and children. This situation is common everywhere.
They don't want to be ungrateful, but they can't let others betray them either. Knowing their home address provides an extra layer of protection.
Yu Huifang: "I know, I've kept all these things."
Zhou Peilan: "If we can negotiate export business after the New Year, we'll try to get Nini published in the provincial capital newspaper. It will be convenient for her to return to the provincial capital in the future."
When the time comes, she will ask her classmates here to help contact them.
Yu Huifang felt very relieved when she heard this, and she even said, "Thank you for worrying about me."
"I'm her aunt, why are you being so polite?"
Although my daughter is doing well in the countryside, I still hope that she will come back.
However, time was tight and she had to clean up the cold kitchen when she got home. Zhou Peilan didn't have time to look at her niece's certificate and newspaper, and would wait until the second day of the New Year to take a look.
Jiang Xinfeng's mood was very up and down because her daughter came back and left with the child not long after staying. Her appetite was a little poor and she didn't eat much for dinner.
Originally, they wanted to keep Hong Jingdan, but the little girl looked unfamiliar with her grandmother, so Zhou Peilan took her away.
Jiang Xinfeng was filled with worry: "The adults are fine, Mingming has grown up, but Dandan is so young. If she goes back home and waits for the kitchen to be cooked, her grandmother will probably be unhappy. What do you think..."
Yu Huifang: "After dinner, let Wanli go take a look. If Dandan is willing to go with uncle, bring her back."
Yu Huifang guessed that her mother-in-law was afraid that there would be another fight at her sister-in-law's house and it would scare the child.
After eating, Zhou Wanli rode his bike to his sister's house and came back around nine o'clock. He picked up Hong Jingdan and also took the clothes, shoes and socks she would wear tomorrow.
"Pei Lan's elder sister-in-law stopped making a fuss and just cleaned up and cooked. She's been eating until now." Zhou Wanli said, "The kang at home is too small, so I coaxed Dandan over here."
Jiang Xinfeng felt much better when she saw her granddaughter smiling happily.
Yu Huifang hurried to pick up the child, coaxing her with a smile: "Dandan, let your aunt hold you. Oh, our Dandan is so well-behaved..."
Zhou Jiani gave her some biscuits to eat.
Lying in bed at night, Zhou Wanli told Yu Huifang, "When I arrived, there was a quarrel at home. Peilan's mother-in-law was making a fuss and asking them for money."
Yu Huifang sighed: "Guangwei is a good person, but his mother is really..."
The couple sighed for a while and fell asleep.
The next morning, Zhou Jiani was awakened by the continuous sound of firecrackers in the dormitory area. She looked at the time and it was not yet seven o'clock.
She put on her clothes and came out. Her mother and grandmother had already wrapped the dumplings. Jiaping and Jiaan also changed into new clothes and were showing off.
Even my little cousin got up. She was wearing a red corduroy dress and someone had braided her hair into two small braids. When she saw Zhou Jiani coming out, she tilted her head to recognize her before calling her "sister".
"Oh, you're so good." Zhou Jiani touched her face with a smile and went to wash up.
After eating dumplings, Yu Huifang went back to the house to change clothes and prepare to go out to pay New Year's greetings.
The jacket was made from the maple leaf fabric Zhou Jiani had given her last time, and paired with dark blue trousers. She also took out a brooch and pinned it on the jacket, combed her hair in front of the mirror, and went out to meet her neighbors for New Year's greetings.
The brooch was a souvenir given to Zhou Jiani when she first went to the Friendship Store. It was beautiful, but Zhou Jiani felt it was more suitable for her mother of her age, so she gave it to Comrade Yu Huifang.
Comrade Yu was very happy and kept it carefully. She has worn it twice so far. The first time was before Zhou Jiani went on vacation to attend the staff meeting held at the Second Textile Factory. She wore it and her colleagues all praised the brooch for its beauty. Yu Huifang proudly said that her daughter earned it for her.
The second time is today. Chinese New Year is a big event and it is worth wearing a brooch.
Zhou Jiani also put on the new sweater and tweed pants that Qiu Zeming bought for her, and the scarf he gave her last time. She also wore a pair of leather cotton boots that she bought from a department store years ago.
I didn't wear a jacket, just a military coat over my sweater, otherwise I would be frozen to death if I went out.
This military coat is a rare item in the city, and there are not many people wearing it in the entire dormitory area. However, she takes good care of it, and you can still tell that it is new.
Li Yan came to pay New Year's greetings and asked Zhou Jiani to go out and visit friends together.
Before Zhou Jiani left, she asked her cousin, "Dandan, are you coming out with me?"
Hong Jingdan shook her head. She had just become familiar with her grandmother and snuggled up to Jiang Xinfeng, not wanting to go out.
"Then you should be good and obedient at home, and don't go downstairs by yourself."
"Sister, I'm obedient."
“So good!”
As for Jiaping and Jiaan, after dinner they packed two bags of disassembled firecrackers and ran out to play with their friends.
After leaving home with Li Yan, she said, "Nini, I went to the department store to see your products, but I didn't see the ingot basket. I asked the teller, and he said it was sold out a long time ago. He also complained that your supply was not good."
Zhou Jiani laughed, this is a sweet burden.
Li Yan continued, "Those two beveled ones are still in stock. As for your hollow basket, a customer just bought the last one when I was there."
"I've also seen the sample of your storage stool. It's better looking than the two you have at home, and it's even painted."
Later, the samples given to the department store were all in accordance with the standards required by the Friendship Store, and fixed areas were painted with colors to make the stools look less monotonous.
Zhou Jiani: "Well, adding color creates a different visual impact than not adding color. It's also easier to spot in the Friendship Store's lounge. We've already sold several sets of it before the New Year."
Li Yan was touched when she received the letter from home. She paid special attention to the matter when she came back and even proposed to exchange knitted items based on the experience.
"After the New Year, I'll go back and mail you a few woven items from there to see if you can use them as references. Please mail me a few of your products as well so we can learn from each other."
She thought she should follow Nini's example and learn knitting.
Zhou Jiani's heart moved, and she said, "No problem. I'll ask the transport team later to see if there are any trucks going our way, and ask the driver to help bring it. Do you have bamboo hats and katydid cages over there? Please bring a few for me when the time comes. I'll pay for the goods and shipping. I'll also buy some bamboo cups like those to give as gifts. Sometimes I need a way to get in on the business when I go out, and these rare little things are especially useful."
Li Yangang said, "The bamboo cup is not worth much. I'll ask the locals to order some for you..."
Zhou Jiani smiled and said, "What if we carve patterns on it? There should be local people who know how to do this, right? Sister Yan, if weaving doesn't work, you could consider carving bamboo cups, either with the leather or without the leather, using a red-hot awl to burn the patterns. Go back and ask around to see if there's a craftsman who knows how to do this."
Li Yan was stunned and stood there, her heart burning. She said excitedly, "Nini, I haven't seen carved bamboo cups over there, at least not in my village. But I think the idea you mentioned is good. If you can think of it, there must be someone over there who can think of it too. Thank you so much. I'll ask around when I get home. You've given me so many ideas. If I still can't figure it out, then I'm not capable enough."
Zhou Jiani also felt regretful. It would be great if there were bamboo here. She could create more creative bamboo products.
The two of them went to visit relatives and friends to wish them a happy new year. No matter whose house they went to, Zhou Jiani would receive praise.
Li Yan listened with admiration, while Zhou Jiani felt a little embarrassed.
She also met a few educated youth who had also returned from the countryside. They were all older than Zhou Jiani and were more familiar with Li Yan.
She also met a few classmates. Zhou Jiani chatted with them briefly, then said goodbye in a hurry and rushed to the factory.
The post office is closed today, so I can only call the factory.
Fortunately, even though it was a holiday, there was someone on duty in the factory office, so it was not difficult to borrow a phone.
The call was successfully transferred. After two rings, the other end picked up the phone: "Comrade Xiao Zhou?"
Zhou Jiani laughed: "How can you be sure it's me? Has no one called the village today?"
Qiu Zeming smiled and said, "Yes, half an hour ago my family called, Wang Qianjin called, Bai Haoyang called, and there were also calls from other educated youth. I guessed it was you by looking at the time!"
Zhou Jiani smiled: "Then you will be the village operator today?"
Qiu Zeming: "There are also announcers. If someone calls looking for someone, I have to use a loud speaker to shout."
Zhou Jiani smiled and heard Qiu Zeming say in her ear: "Jiani, Happy New Year!"
Zhou Jiani: "Happy New Year!"
"Have you eaten dumplings?" Zhou Jiani asked.
"Yes, I had a meal at the captain's house last night. Auntie packed some extra and put it in the yard to freeze. I brought it back and cooked it this morning." Qiu Zeming asked, "What time did you go to bed last night?"
"Around ten o'clock..."
The two chatted for a while, and Zhou Jiani said, "On the third day of the junior high school, come over and bring me a set of basket samples. I need them."
"Okay!" Qiu Zeming said, "Give my regards to grandma, uncles and aunts for me. I'll visit them on the fourth day of the New Year."
"I know. Our family is ready to welcome you as a guest."
After hanging up the phone, Qiu Zeming was filled with joy from head to toe. He got up, locked the door, and went to Zhang Baosheng's house.
After receiving a call from his girlfriend, he left the room and told Zhang Baosheng that he wanted to get the sample.
Zhang Baosheng hurriedly said, "Go ahead and take it. Do you want a sample of the storage stool?" He also lamented that Comrade Xiao Zhou did not even take a good rest during the New Year and was really worried about the village's affairs.
"No need for storage stools. For now, just ask for a set of basket samples."
"I wonder what connection Comrade Xiao Zhou has made now." Zhang Baosheng said happily.
As the end of the year approaches, calls for orders come in one after another, all saying that the goods delivered are not enough to sell.
If they don’t have enough to sell, they won’t be able to produce anymore. After the New Year, they will have to expand.
Zhou Jiani did not go out in the afternoon. She played with her little cousin for a while and then went back to the room to write and draw.
The next morning, my aunt and her family came over and the house was bustling all day.
Zhou Peilan saw her niece's award certificate, photo, and newspaper. Yu Huifang even went over and whispered to her which one in the photo was Qiu Zeming. Zhou Peilan exclaimed in a low voice: "Oh, the boy is not bad looking."
Zhou Jiani pretended not to hear and bustled in and out.
Afterwards, Zhou Peilan talked to her niece about exporting and asked about her future plans: "Are you planning to come back as a job seeker? If you do, your parents and my classmates will keep an eye on you."
Zhou Jiani sincerely thanked her aunt for helping her plan and said with a smile, "Aunt, I plan to build some basic skills in the countryside first." She added, "I helped build the weaving industry, and I have to see it fully developed before I can return home with peace of mind."
She was reluctant to talk about the college entrance examination two years later, but she felt that she might not be as comfortable in the new unit as she was in the Qianjin Brigade.
Seeing that she had her own plans, Zhou Peilan said, "That's a good idea. Lay a solid foundation and get good grades. Plus, you have a degree, so in the future, we won't just focus on the factory. Maybe you can get into a government department. On a different note, even if you do get into the factory, if you have good grades, you can start as a cadre."
Since my niece is not in a hurry to return to the city, she should make her resume look better so that she will have more options when the time comes.
Zhou Jiani nodded. She had overlooked too many things in her previous life. After communicating with her aunt, she found that her aunt's knowledge was broader than that of her parents.
Because Yu Huifang had a falling out with her two younger brothers, she had limited visits to relatives every year and had a lot of free time. Now that her sister-in-law and her family were back, they decided to take the children to the lake in the park to skate tomorrow morning, and if the cinema was open, they would go see a movie.
Zhou Peilan said, "Okay, then we'll come over tomorrow after we wake up and have something to eat."
As a result, the next morning, Zhou Jiani's aunt Yu Huixiu came to visit with two cousins and one cousin.
Yu Huifang was surprised. In previous years, the two sisters would only make a symbolic visit after the fifth day of the New Year. How could they come this year when it was only the third day?
Now that you are here, we can’t send you back.
Yu Huifang asked, "His uncle didn't come?"
Yu Huixiu is two years younger than Yu Huifang, but she looks more than five years older than her. She smiled and said, "No, his colleagues asked him to go out for a drink, so the children and I came to visit the house."
Yu Huifang frowned, guessing that the couple was quarreling again. She took some melon seeds and asked them to eat them, and gave red envelopes to those who deserved them.
Yu Huifang really guessed it right. They had a quarrel, and Yu Huixiu's own child came out to ask her sister for advice.
My two cousins, Jia Guoqing and Jia Guochang, from my aunt's family are one year younger than Zhou Jiani, and my cousin is four years younger than Zhou Jiani.
The two brothers of the Jia family will also face the problem of going to the countryside after graduation this year, and their family has started to worry from now on.
My uncle-in-law Jia Shicheng started complaining again about Yu Huixiu giving up her job. He said, "If you hadn't given up your job, we could have given one to our son and found a job for the other one. But you're so generous, you should go ask his uncle if he can give it back to you."
Today, Yu Huixiu came to see her elder sister, wanting Yu Huifang to accompany her to the child's uncle's house to talk, either to get her job back or to help her son find a job.
Yu Huifang frowned: "After eating fat for so many years, who would be willing to spit it out?"
Yu Huixiu's eyes turned red as she said, "Guochang has to go to the countryside this year. What should we do?"
Jia Guoqing's expression was calm. He asked his cousin about going to the countryside. He asked, "Is it difficult? Is the work in the countryside tiring?"
Zhou Jiani was not very familiar with her aunt's cousins, but she had heard her mother say in her previous life that her aunt's two sons had gone to the countryside to work on a farm in Liaoning Province.
Her younger brother-in-law also came to her house to ask her parents for help in adjusting her job. Yu Huifang was angry that her sister gave up her job, but she was even more angry at her brother-in-law who had tormented her for many years because of this.
In addition, Jia Shicheng said something at that time, which directly angered Yu Huifang.
He said: "If it were my daughter, I wouldn't come to see you..."
What he meant was that if it was a daughter, he wouldn't have to go to the countryside, but he couldn't do that for his son, so he had to go out of his way to get him a job.
Yu Huifang said: "If we had a way, my Nini would not have gone to the countryside. I couldn't even leave my daughter behind, so how could I leave my nephew behind?"
What she meant was that she didn't think Jia Shicheng's two sons were much more valuable than her daughter.
In her previous life, when Yu Huifang talked about this with her daughter, she said, "He was so reluctant to let his son go that he gave up his own job? That's his son, after all. It seems that his son is not as important as his job. At that time, I was ready to let you take my shift, and I was even thinking of finding someone to transfer you to another position to give you a more comfortable life. In the end, I didn't receive any response, and when I did, you signed up yourself..."
Seeing Yu Huixiu struggling with this, Yu Huifang said, "I'm not in a position to say anything. We haven't been in touch for so many years. If I were to ask him to give me a job, his uncle would definitely ask me, 'Who do you think you are?'"
"You were generous back then, so now you have to go and ask him for it. He's been occupying it for so many years, making a lot of money and dividing the house. Don't ask him for any of this. Just ask him to return the job."
Yu Huixiu could only sigh, she knew that this was impossible.
On the other side, Zhou Jiani said to Jia Guoqing: "It's definitely not easy to adapt at first. When I first went to the countryside, I worked for half a day and couldn't even hold chopsticks for lunch."
Jia Guochang leaned over and asked in surprise, "So tired? What kind of work were you doing, cousin?"
Zhou Jiani: "Cracking corn."
Jia Guochang sat back down and said, "I don't want to go down there anyway, but I can't find a job, so I'll have to go to the countryside."
Jia Guoqing said: "I don't care. I really want to go out and take a look."
Zhou Jiani glanced at him for a moment longer and said, "Go to the countryside for a few years to train yourself, be more proactive, build a good foundation among the masses, and achieve some results. It's not impossible to be transferred back."
When the college entrance examination is resumed, they should be eligible to take it according to the time - she remembered that when the news first came out, it was mentioned that educated youth who had been in the countryside for less than two years could not register, and she didn't know whether it was changed later.
But Jia Guoqing and Jia Guochang should be able to catch up.
Jia Guochang then asked, "If we can't achieve results, can we not come back? Why do we need to build a strong mass base?"
Zhou Jiani: "Because some places will consider your mass base when reviewing your application. If your mass base is not strong enough, you won't even be able to pass the local brigade. Returning to the city requires approval from the brigade, the commune, the educated youth office, and possibly even the county government. With so many educated youth wanting to come back, why would the quota fall on you?"
Jia Guoqing seemed lost in thought, while Jia Guochang continued to sigh and mutter, "I don't want to go to the countryside, I don't want to go down..."
Yu Huixiu felt so distressed after hearing this. She looked at Yu Huifang and said, "I'll have to go to his uncle's house and ask if I can reserve a place for him."
They didn't eat here at noon. After sitting for a while, they saw that Yu Huifang clearly didn't want to get involved, so they got up and left.
After leaving the dormitory, Yu Huixiu sighed, "Your aunt is so hard-hearted. When your grandma threatened to hang herself, she didn't even frown."
Jia Guochang: "You should have followed my aunt's example."
Yu Huixiu hit him and said angrily, "That's my own mother. How can I just watch her hang herself?"
At home, Yu Huifang went out for a trip with her sister-in-law and her family. Zhou Jiani did not accompany them in the afternoon. She went to the station at around 2:30 and successfully picked up Comrade Xiao Qiu at around 3:00.
"Are you still staying at the same guesthouse as last time? It's close to my home."
"Okay!" Qiu Zeming, with a bag hanging on his shoulder, a bulging bag in his left hand, and a basket of samples in his right hand, followed Zhou Jiani to take the tram.
After getting in the car, I sat down on the seat, put my things down, and then quietly held hands and whispered, "I'm going to the transportation company tonight."
Zhou Jiani was surprised: "They don't have a holiday?"
"Some cars stopped, and some didn't." He repeatedly confirmed the time with his friends before the New Year, and only after confirming that there would be cars coming did he set a date with Zhou Jiani.
Zhou Jiani tugged at his hand: "What did you get? Oh, by the way, my aunt and her family are back and will come to see you tomorrow."
Her parents went to several state-owned restaurants, but only one was open the next day, so they booked a table.
Qiu Zeming smiled and said, "It's okay, I'm not afraid of seeing it."
He asked someone to buy things from other places.
After checking into a room at the guesthouse, Zhou Jiani didn't go upstairs but stayed in the lobby. The two of them agreed to go to the cinema. If it was open, they would watch a movie, and if not, they would just take a walk on the street.
Fortunately, the cinema was open, but it was open anyway, so I met my family who had just finished watching a movie.
Zhou Wanli and Hong Guangwei didn't come to see, only Yu Huifang brought Jiaping and Jiaan, and Zhou Peilan brought her two children.
"Happy New Year, Auntie." Qiu Zeming's ears immediately turned red and he felt a little shy.
After all, their identities were different this time. He was Jiani's boyfriend and he was going to pay her a formal visit tomorrow. But they met at the entrance of the cinema the day before.
Yu Huifang didn't think too much about it. She just saw that Qiu Zeming was very happy and introduced him to Zhou Peilan, saying, "This is Nini's boyfriend, Qiu Zeming."
Said to Qiu Zeming: "Follow Jiani and call her aunt."
"Hello, auntie."
Zhou Peilan had seen him in the newspaper, but she had never expected him to be even more handsome in person. She was immediately overjoyed and said, "Hello, Comrade Qiu."
After greeting a few of the kids, Qiu Zeming regretted not bringing any candy with him. He had specially prepared some milk candy before the New Year.
He didn't even bring the prepared dried meat with him, and now seeing his two brothers-in-law looking at him with confused expressions, he felt a little uncomfortable.
Seeing that her future son-in-law was more reserved than last time, Yu Huifang said with a smile, "You guys go watch the movie, go in quickly, we'll be going home after the movie." She added, "Xiao Qiu, come to our house for dinner tonight."
Qiu Zeming said hurriedly, "Auntie, I have other things to do tonight and need to go out for a while, so I won't be going home. I will go to you, uncle, and grandma to wish you a happy new year tomorrow morning."
Yu Huifang thought her son-in-law was shy, so she smiled and said, "That's fine. Come over early to play tomorrow."
After tomorrow we can visit each other more often. I thought of asking Jiani to bring some food to Xiao Qiu in the evening.
As the two of them entered the cinema, the whole family left. Zhou Peilan smiled and said, "This child is really good-looking and tall." She then said, "Oh, have they decided when to get married? If they do, it will be difficult for them to return to the city."
Yu Huifang patted her sister-in-law's hand and said with a smile, "They didn't plan to get married before returning to the city. They've already discussed it. Xiao Qiu is working hard now, isn't it just to prepare for returning to the city? We can discuss getting engaged first. There's no rush for marriage. Besides, they're not that old either. Anyway, your brother and I are not in a hurry."
Zhou Peilan nodded. The two children also had their own ideas. It would be best not to get married yet.
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