Chapter 62 Chapter 62 School is about to start, and old friends are about to meet again? ...
Captain Jin rushed over and saw Huang Wenbi holding the child and walking down the dam with Chen Qiaoxiang.
Secretary Wang watched from afar and became anxious: "How come it's fine again? Someone was about to die just now."
Captain Jin scolded her, "It would be better if they reconciled so we don't have to worry about them. They're so old, and yet they're getting even more violent after having a baby."
Secretary Wang thought about it and realized that this was true. There were several young couples getting married in the village, but none of them were as troublesome as Chen Qiaoxiang and Huang Wenbi.
Before Huang Wenbi got married, he was an idler in the village, always flirting with widows and young girls who knew nothing about the world. After his marriage, he broke an arm, thinking that would change his temper, and after a few months, he became anxious and anxious every day after his wife gave birth.
Not only was Huang Wenbi treating Chen Qiaoxiang badly, but Aunt Huang stripped her new clothes and locked them in a suitcase before she even finished her confinement. She still had three meals a day to feed her child, but it wasn't as caring as when she was pregnant. Mother and child's expressions changed like the pages of a book.
Captain Jin saw them approaching and stopped Huang Wenbi, scolding him, "If you two want to fight, do it behind closed doors. Making a scene outside every day, threatening to kill, has a terrible impact. If there's a next time, I'll hold a meeting and reprimand you."
Chen Qiaoxiang said with a smile, "Stop messing around, Captain. If I need to go through household registration procedures in the future, you must be kind enough to help me."
Captain Jin frowned and said, "Why are you going through household registration procedures? You didn't get into university like Zhao Xiaoxing, so why would you want to transfer your household registration?"
"What? She actually got into university?" Chen Qiaoxiang's face, which had just improved, suddenly darkened. She said gloomily, "She can barely read. How could she possibly get into university? She must have gotten in through the back door!"
Secretary Wang stepped forward, pointed at Chen Qiaoxiang's nose and said, "If you spread rumors, I'll put you in solitary confinement!"
Chen Qiaoxiang pursed her lips, her breathing quickening with anger. After a moment, she softened her tone and said with a cheeky smile, "It doesn't matter. She can get into any school. I'm going to the provincial capital."
Secretary Wang couldn't stand her expression and said to her, "Have you ever been to Shanghai? People who get into Shanghai universities may be able to settle down there in the future. What's the point of a provincial capital?"
As if sensing his mother's anger and jealousy, the skinny baby boy, who was only one month old, started crying loudly.
Huang Wenbi was holding the child in one hand, so it was difficult for him to pull Chen Qiaoxiang away. He could only urge her verbally: "If you don't go back, you won't be able to go to the provincial capital."
Chen Qiaoxiang curled her lips and said contemptuously, "There's no place I can't go. I'll go to Beijing and the Soviet Union in the future. We'll see."
Captain Jin took Secretary Wang's hand and watched them leave.
"Don't fight with her. You don't know her personality yet."
Secretary Wang held back his anger and said, "She is a wicked person. She is always annoying people in the village. She is just like her parents."
Captain Jin shook his head and said, "Forget it, let's stop talking about people behind their backs. Hurry over, the car is probably coming."
Secretary Wang had a good relationship with Zhao Xiaoxing and Xiaoyan, so he didn't care about what they said and walked towards the village entrance.
Zhao Xiaoxing and Xiaoyan got off the bus, put on big red flowers, and were happily surrounded and taken to the brigade canteen.
When they arrived at the cafeteria, they saw Teacher Chen and the male educated youth, and they sat over there.
The brigade's radio was playing passionate music, so loud that they had to shout to hear each other clearly.
After the yangko team finished dancing, Captain Jin asked them to express their thoughts on their studies. The main theme was to encourage the villagers to pick up books and study in their spare time.
Especially for those female comrades who have narrow vision and think that if you marry a chicken, you follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, you follow the dog, let them know that there is more to life than just serving men.
Captain Jin also gave each of them a scholarship of 100 yuan in front of the whole village!
Zhao Xiaoxing's hands were shaking when she received the hundred yuan.
After Xiaoyan sat down, she whispered, "I was only given 80 yuan when I got married. It's true that there's only a golden house in the book."
Zhao Xiaoxing said with tears in her eyes: "Sister, you don't know, when I got married, I only gave you ten yuan!"
"You, you are really someone who is better than you." Xiaoyan said excitedly: "Now our value is 100 yuan."
Zhao Xiaoxing kissed Da Tuanjie and said, "I, Zhao Xiaoxing, am no longer the poor wife who got home with ten yuan!"
They ate their meals amid everyone's praise and expectations for the future!
On the way, they went back to bring food to grandma.
Grandma's cold was almost recovered, but she still didn't let them into the house for fear of passing on her illness, so she just said a few words to her at the door.
After dinner, Zhao Xiaoxing and Xiaoyan returned home happily and prepared to pack their luggage for Shanghai.
Mrs. Fang had been helping to take care of grandma. When Zhao Xiaoxing saw her coming, she handed over the osmanthus cake and calcium milk biscuits that Qingmei had brought to Xiaogang.
This is to express my gratitude to Mrs. Fang for taking care of grandma through the small jar.
Mrs. Fang did not hesitate to accept it so that Qingmei could feel at ease.
Mrs. Fang then congratulated them on their admission to university and sat down to chat for a few minutes. Thinking of what she had seen and heard a few days ago, Mrs. Fang smiled and said, "Actually, Xing'er should have another happy event today."
Zhao Xiaoxing said in surprise, "I have something happy? What is it?"
Mrs. Fang said, "The Li Xianjin family is moving away. Since they knew you got your university acceptance letter, no one has left their house for several days. The other day, when I went to the brigade headquarters to hand in my basket, I heard Officer Wang talking to another officer about transferring their household registration. I asked around, and it turned out they were talking about their family."
Zhao Xiaoxing said doubtfully, "Where can they go with an old woman paralyzed like the two of them?"
She originally wanted to call him "old fool", but then she thought that as a college student she should speak with the elegance of an intellectual, so she held back.
Mrs. Fang said, "Who knows? I heard it was from his mother's brother's side." Then she leaned closer and lowered her voice, "Now only one is paralyzed, the old one is gone."
Zhao Xiaoxing was silent for a moment, and Xiaoyan pulled Mrs. Fang aside to talk about something else.
After a while, Xiaogang and his friends came over to congratulate them and took the opportunity to ask for the right to pick the fruit from the tree.
By the time they were all gone, the dozen or so fruit trees hanging in a circle would need someone to look after them. Xiao Gang casually suggested, and Zhao Xiaoxing readily agreed. Mrs. Fang couldn't just take someone else's things for free. She'd tasted the fruit from the trees before; it was all sweet and delicious, and she knew how precious it was.
"I'll pick them and send them to the supply and marketing cooperative to sell them. Your family gets seven, and we get three for the effort."
Mrs. Fang added, "I'll have your brother Fang send some to the army for Xiaomei and her husband, and we can sell the leftovers. How's that?"
Zhao Xiaoxing thought it was no problem. When the time came, grandma would also move into the small courtyard with Qingmei. The place would definitely be empty and someone would be needed to help look after it.
She glanced at Xiaoyan, who said directly, "Let's split it 50-50. I've heard my sister mention it before, and I know that maintaining fruit trees takes a lot of effort, not to mention you have to pick and sell them. I think 50-50 is fine."
Mrs. Fang's eyes widened with laughter. She knew she had taken advantage of Qingmei and kept saying, "Don't worry, your brother and I will take good care of this place when you're not here. We won't let anyone steal even a single tile."
Xiao Gang came running over from outside, biting a large yellow pear, making a pistol gesture and saying, "Whoever steals the Qingzhuanyuan will be shot, bang, bang, bang, bang—"
*
Chen Qiaoxiang returned home with Huang Wenbi, and Huang Wenbi asked Chen Qiaoxiang to breastfeed the child first.
Chen Qiaoxiang reluctantly lifted her clothes to feed the baby, while Huang Wenbi went out to discuss something with his mother.
After a while, Huang Wenbi came into the room and said to Chen Qiaoxiang, "My mother has agreed. I have the address. Please pack your clothes and come with me."
Chen Qiaoxiang was overjoyed. If she hadn't been holding her son in her arms, she would have definitely picked it up excitedly.
She kept mumbling, "You should bring some gifts when you meet your second uncle, right? Our village has some river crabs, and I heard people in the city like to eat them. Ask your mother to buy a bucket and some fruit to take with you."
Huang Wenbi didn't even glance at Chen Qiaoxiang, and said absentmindedly, "Second Uncle is doing well in the provincial capital, so there's no need for us to bring anything with us. You don't need to bring too much luggage either. Second Uncle is so kind to you, he will definitely buy everything for you."
Aunt Huang came in at this moment, bringing a bowl of rice soup to Chen Qiaoxiang. Chen Qiaoxiang said disdainfully, "Have you finished all the delicious food at home? I remember there was also cured chicken."
Aunt Huang angrily said, "It's because you don't have enough milk. I don't know where all the milk you eat goes. You have a five-pound baby left, and you almost starved it to death in your belly! No mother is as cruel and selfish as you."
Speaking of this, Chen Qiaoxiang was also puzzled.
When she was giving birth, she thought she would definitely die because her belly was so big. Before giving birth, she heard people say that the bigger the baby, the harder it would be to give birth, which scared her to death.
That night, with thunder and lightning, she suffered a difficult labor and crawled around on the kang (bed). The midwife and Aunt Huang stood at the bottom, helpless.
Aunt Huang even wanted to be cruel and save the child instead of the adults.
Just after Aunt Huang persuaded the midwife to leave, she sharpened the kitchen knife and went over. A dull and shocking thunder struck the roof, waking up the unconscious Chen Qiaoxiang, who gave birth to a son smoothly.
Strangely enough, from that day on, the weather, which had been bad since Chen Qiaoxiang was about to give birth, became sunny and cloudless. Even when the baby was a month old, not a single raindrop fell.
Fortunately, Chen Qiaoxiang was about to wake up by then and had no idea her mother-in-law was planning to hit her. After giving birth, she felt she had completed her task and continued working on the land at her in-laws' house, clamoring to see Uncle Huang.
Chen Qiaoxiang moved her clumsy body, and after giving birth everyone realized that she had absorbed all the nutrients into herself.
Aunt Huang had always thought she would give birth to a fat boy weighing eight kilograms, but when she saw the skinny baby boy, she almost fainted. She told everyone that the mother was selfish and even wanted to take away the child's nutrition.
Chen Qiaoxiang finished her porridge and couldn't wait to get up and said, "Then I won't bring any clothes. I'll let my uncle take me shopping in the commercial building!"
Huang Wenbi smiled but said nothing.
Chen Qiaoxiang said angrily, "What are you laughing at? If you have the guts, why don't you ask your uncle to buy it for you? I'm the one who made the greatest contribution to the expansion of your Huang family. When I get there, I won't give you a single cent of the promised reward."
Huang Wenbi put on his cloth shoes with one hand and said in a deep voice, "Okay, I'll definitely have whatever you want."
Aunt Huang poured another bowl of thin rice soup and slowly fed it to her grandson with a spoon. The baby boy was pitifully thin and didn't have enough milk to eat. He sipped the rice soup and swallowed it with a smacking mouth.
Aunt Huang watched them leave, put the bowl on the kang, and said to her grandson, "Grandson, say goodbye to your mother."
*
Qingmei was in Gu Qingzhou's office when she received a call from Xiaojin, saying that he had already boarded the train to Shanghai with Xiaoyan and Zhao Xiaoxing.
It is not easy to travel from Xinghai to Shanghai. You have to take a one-day and one-night train to Beijing to transfer, stay in the waiting hall for seven hours, and then take another two-day and one-night train to Shanghai.
Today, the urban area of Shanghai has not yet expanded, and Dingjia District, which later became a major center of science, education and culture, is still Dingjia County.
Zhao Xiaoxing remembered Qingmei's words, and after she and Xiaoyan arrived at school, she immediately reported to Qingmei that she was safe.
Qingmei breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the news of their safe arrival. Zhao Xiaoxing on the other end continued to ramble, "Oh my God, it's such a colorful world here. The women are all so stylish. I've never seen any other styles of skirts on them besides the ones you've worn."
Qingmei smiled and said, "Then don't let the colorful world dazzle you."
Zhao Xiaoxing said seriously, "If I were that kind of person, you would slap me twice."
Qingmei said a few more words to Xiaoyan, telling them not to show their wallets easily, not to show off their wealth in front of others, and not to talk about others behind their backs.
Gu Qingzhou was sitting at the coffee table, explaining the work to Bao Mi. Upon hearing this, he whispered to Bao Mi, "The little hen is teaching her chicks again."
Bao Mi bravely told the leader about his sister-in-law: "Sister-in-law is so kind, I'm afraid she will be bullied when she goes to college. You know, young people are not careful with their words and actions."
Gu Qingzhou turned his head and looked at his wife's smiling face. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Have the leaders of the branch been assigned yet?"
Bao Mi said, "Not yet. They said they'd hire a senior professor as dean, and then they said they'd hire a Soviet expert as a professor. But some people agree, some disagree. The city has all sorts of opinions. Well, it's not easy."
Gu Qingzhou said calmly, "We have good relations with several colleges in the city. This year, they should invite our soldiers to participate in military training with them, just like last year. Beiyan Branch School starts late this year. If there is an invitation, please let me know."
Bao Mi said with a grin, "The chief is going to take part in the match himself?"
Gu Qingzhou thought about how he trained his young wife to stand at attention and at ease on the playground. The scene was really touching, and in the end, it was still unclear who was training whom.
She was a new student, so it was not appropriate to publicize their relationship, nor was it appropriate to say that she had just come out of confinement. It would be better to send a soldier who knew her well to be her instructor.
Half a month later, Xiaoyan returned from Shanghai.
Qingmei went to the train station to pick up Xiaoyan in person.
"Thank you for your hard work." Qingmei took Xiaoyan's arm affectionately and walked out with her from Xinghai Railway Station.
The low train station has simple facilities, with the entrance and exit at both ends of the building. There are not many pedestrians coming and going.
Among them, we can see several students who are going to study in other places, and their families’ reluctance to let them go is beyond words.
Going past the iron railings at the exit, you'll find the road. Along the roadside, there are several furtive vendors selling local specialties. In their baskets, they sell fish fillets, dried shrimps, and eggs.
Gu Qingzhou and Xiao Jin were carrying heavy luggage at the back, probably because they brought many gifts for Qingmei and Gu Zhaozhao.
Xiaoyan was much more cheerful along the way. She told Qingmei that the roads in Shanghai were particularly wide, the buildings in Shanghai were particularly tall, the girls in Shanghai were pretty, and she could meet many international friends on the road.
Qingmei talked to her all the way. When they returned home, Zhao Wuhe had already prepared the meal. After dinner, Xiaoyan rested for a night and then set off for Beihe City.
Although Beihe City is in another province, Beihe and Xinghai are adjacent to each other, so there is no need to take a train to get there. A six-hour long-distance bus ride will get you there without having to transfer.
Qingmei wanted to send Xiaoyan to school in person, but after going to Shanghai, Xiaoyan seemed to have grown up a lot overnight and became determined to go to school by herself.
"You'll be back in school in half a month, so why are you bothering me?" Xiaoyan felt sorry for Qingmei, who had just given birth, and advised, "It's the same if you wait until later."
Zhao Wuhe also advised, "I heard that seniors will be meeting the new students at the station to help them settle in, so you don't have to worry too much. She's an adult now, so why should you be so attached to her like a real mother?"
Qingmei said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "Okay, but Xiaoyan, you have to call me first when you get there. And you have to give me your mailing address after you settle down."
"Sister, I know." Xiaoyan saw Gu Zhaozhao stretching out her little hands on the bed. She picked up Gu Zhaozhao and held her in her arms and said, "Be good, don't bother your mother when you go to bed at night. Auntie will bring you something delicious next time she comes back."
"He will be half a year old by the time you come back." Qingmei looked at Gu Zhaozhao with a smile. The child changed every day and his weight almost doubled.
Xiaoyan touched Gu Zhaozhao's chubby face, feeling somewhat reluctant to leave.
The next day.
Xiaoyan was taken directly to Beihe Business College by Gu Qingzhou's car. Zhao Wuhe gave her a set of clothes: a fashionable student uniform, brown leather shoes, and a black leather suitcase.
Xiaoyan didn't need these at first, but after realizing everyone's good intentions, she got on the jeep with gratitude.
Qingmei held Gu Zhaozhao and stood outside the car to see her off. Seeing the jeep gradually driving away, she looked up and asked Gu Qingzhou: "How did you persuade her to take the military vehicle?"
Gu Qingzhou said calmly, "It's common in the business world to flatter the powerful and bully the weak. Many children from wealthy families are gathering strength, waiting for the end-of-year Central Committee meeting to signal reform. Now that business relationships have been completely destroyed, those with brains will try to win over those with status and background in the business school. If she goes to school with a cloth bag on her back, she might be ostracized, which would also be detrimental to her future development."
Qingmei gave him a thumbs-up in admiration, and waved Gu Zhaozhao's little hand to Gu Qingzhou and said, "You are a monkey spirit as a father, how come your son has no monkey hair on his body?"
Gu Qingzhou took Gu Zhaozhao's hand and glanced at it pretentiously, saying, "Maybe they've all grown on me. Can you help me check it out tonight?"
Qingmei looked up and saw Zhao Wuhe quickening her pace to head into the house three steps away. She glared at Gu Qingzhou in complaint, "What the hell are you checking?"
Gu Qingzhou teased Gu Zhaozhao. Not wanting the fat boy to tire his wife, he held her in his arms with one hand and put his other big hand on Qingmei's round shoulders. He smiled and said, "Teach me how to check this later."
Qingmei tried to pry his big hand away, but failed. She turned her head and opened her mouth to bite the base of his thumb.
Gu Qingzhou felt that it didn't make much difference whether the little cat was throwing a tantrum. His wife was spoiled and thought she was spoiled too, so she was never willing to use harsh words.
Except for some special times, he is also very addicted to it.
*
The reporting time for Beiyan Branch is September 30th.
A week in advance, Gu Qingzhou took Qingmei to the small courtyard to see the fruits of his labor.
The small courtyard has been completely renovated, with three steps at the entrance and a doorstone.
The gates are opposite each other, and the hanging locks, supporting columns, brackets, brick eaves, and roof tiles show no signs of repair. They are antique and the combination of old and new is seamless.
"The green bricks and red tiles have a very historical feel." Qingmei walked to the middle of the patio. There were bricks on the ground beneath her feet, and even cat heads on the eaves and wooden tiles above her head.
She looked at Gu Qingzhou in surprise, and Gu Qingzhou smiled and said, "These old house items are easy to find, you can just pick them up. I didn't want to go to great lengths, but I thought that what you said would be rare in the future, so I got them. Let's go in and take a look."
Qingmei entered the house. The furniture inside was also collected by Gu Qingzhou. Although there were many styles, Gu Qingzhou's taste was online. The combination of huanghuali and red sandalwood furniture was elegant and warm.
Qingmei saw a wood carving hanging on the wall. It was quite large, about two meters long and wide. It was a carved picture of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, and it was extremely exquisite. The tiger stripes shone golden in the light, as brilliant as brocade.
"Is this golden nanmu?" Qingmei walked forward in surprise and looked at it carefully.
It is said that the older the golden nanmu is, the more stable its golden color will be. Qingmei looked at the carving in front of her and felt that it was quite old.
"You have a good eye." Gu Qingzhou said, "Guess how I got it?"
Qingmei asked, "Whose family wants to use it as firewood?"
Gu Qingzhou smiled and said, "Your father-in-law knew that you were admitted to Beiyan University and wanted to live in this small courtyard, so he specially asked someone to send it from Beijing."
Qingmei had to say that her father-in-law, whom she had never met, was really generous.
Gu Qingzhou said: "He originally thought you were going to go to Beijing to study, so he prepared a house outside Beiyan."
At this point, Gu Qingzhou frowned slightly, and continued, "Later, when I learned that you were studying at Xinghai, I changed an object to reward you."
Qingmei really likes this sculpture. It can be said that this painting is much more valuable than this small courtyard house.
"Thank our father for me." Qingmei had thought her father-in-law hadn't shown up because he cared about her low status and disapproved of her and Gu Qingzhou's revolutionary friendship. It seemed she was overthinking it.
Qingmei was led by Gu Qingzhou to the main house, and she found that there were many more decorative vases in the house.
"Xiao Wu discovered them all," Gu Qingzhou said. "He was guarding the port alone. Before it opened, he'd patrol the mansion when he had nothing to do. When you were born, he said he'd found another cellar, but I didn't have time to tell you then. I guess he'd spread them all around the mansion."
"It's okay to put it there first." Qingmei pushed open the door to the main room, her whole body trembling as she stammered, "A Luohan bed?! A Luohan bed made of Huanghuali wood?"
Gu Qingzhou said: "Don't you like these old things?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qingmei ran over to admire the Luohan bed that was once only owned by the ladies and ladies of wealthy families in movies and TV dramas.
Looking at her excited back, Gu Qingzhou smiled with satisfaction.
It was worth his hard work for more than two months throughout the summer and it ended successfully.
*
On September 30th, Qingmei went to report to school accompanied by Zhao Wuhe.
The scorching summer has passed, and golden leaves appear on the branches, rustling in the autumn wind.
Qingmei walked on the path to school, and occasionally a little wild cat would run through the bushes.
She submitted her registration materials at the new student registration office, completed the procedures for attending school, and planned to visit the new campus with Zhao Wuhe.
She was beautiful and young, with a sweet smile. Many students who arrived early looked at her along the way.
Zhao Wuhe held Qingmei's arm tightly and patiently taught her, "Students should focus on their studies. Look, there are some aunts and uncles in their forties and fifties among your classmates. You should learn more from them and spend less time hanging out with the younger students."
Qingmei saw another cowcat scurry past her feet. She tilted her head and said, "You almost told me not to play with young boys."
Zhao Wuhe said awkwardly, "You and Gu Laoer will only see each other once a week from now on. Don't you miss him?"
Qingmei turned to look at Zhao Wuhe and said with a smile, "Don't worry, we have a good relationship. Don't think about anything else."
Zhao Wuhe mainly wanted her to prevent gay men with bad dim sum skills, but then she thought about her childhood sweetheart, who was already a mother! Why was she still worried about this?
Zhao Wuhe was still thinking about something else when she suddenly heard Qingmei exclaim, "Look!"
Zhao Wuhe followed the direction of her finger and saw a group of people surrounding a dignified and elegant old man heading towards the faculty office building.
Zhao Wuhe muttered, "What's so good about a little old man?"
Qingmei said, "Why do I feel like his back looks a bit like Uncle Guo?"
Zhao Wuhe: "Ah?! That's impossible?"
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