Being sent down to the countryside as an educated youth had far too great an impact on a person’s fate. In the earliest years, the first batches of educated youths had responded to the call with enthusiasm and gone to the countryside. Back then, they still did not know what kind of life awaited them… But by 1975, many educated youths had already been inserted into rural production teams for seven or eight years. They had truly become farmers, and it seemed as if they would never have any hope of returning to the city in this lifetime.
They had put down roots in the countryside, found partners, married, and had children. Their lives had grown further and further away from the lives they had once had in the city.
The educated youths had already grown used to rural life. Of course, what hurt them now was no longer the discomfort and suffering of the countryside, but the torment of gradually drifting further away from their families.
If they had been rural people from the start, if they had never seen a big city or the wider world, then they might naturally and peacefully remain on the yellow earth, working the land.
But they had come from the city. They still had brothers and sisters. They had gone down to the countryside as educated youths, while their other siblings were able to stay in the city and take up jobs… The difference between their circumstances and those of their own brothers and sisters was like a heavenly gulf. How could they ever make peace with that?
They had clearly all been born from the same mother. It was not as if their younger brothers and sisters were necessarily smarter or more capable than them. So why were they the ones who got to live good lives in the city?
These inner cries wrapped around their hearts like poisonous insects. The educated youths were constantly longing to return to the city, to leave the countryside behind, go back to a city with better conditions, and eat state-supplied grain.
By now, in a family, it seemed that whoever was sent to the countryside as an educated youth had been “sacrificed” by that family.
Generally, it was the one who was “least favoured.”
Shen Liqing thought of the cousin of hers who was about to become an educated youth, and she felt sorry for him. “He’s quite good at studying, but that’s no use… It would be good if he could get admitted as a worker-peasant-soldier student.”
Now that various universities had resumed admissions, the number of worker-peasant-soldier students accepted each year had also increased. It was just that… after spending so long inserted into rural teams, they had already forgotten the knowledge they had once learned. Even if they became worker-peasant-soldier students, it would be difficult for them to learn anything properly at university.
Moreover, the recommendation process for worker-peasant-soldier students did not look at a person’s academic talent at all, nor did it test their knowledge.
Zhan Aiping said, “I have a younger brother who’s also coming here as an educated youth.”
“Ah?!” Shen Liqing froze. “Didn’t your family already have one younger brother, Zhan Mingzhao, come as an educated youth?”
Zhan Aiping said, “I have another younger brother. My family is also sending him here as an educated youth.”
Speaking of this, it was somewhat accidental. These days, propaganda work for educated youths was difficult. Zhan Bo’s act of “righteously sacrificing family for principle” by voluntarily sending his younger son to the countryside as an educated youth had drawn praise from everyone and was even held up as a “model for propaganda.” Even Zhan Bo’s long-stagnant rank had been raised by one level because of it.
Zhan Mingkang going to the countryside as an educated youth had become a nailed-down matter. No one could change it. He was coming to Yunnan Province as an educated youth; they just did not know where he would be assigned yet.
“Ah?” Shen Liqing was stunned. “He’s coming too? But doesn’t he not need to?”
Zhan Aiping said, “Dad says he should go to the countryside to be tempered and trained.”
“That’s true.” Shen Liqing thought of how the Zhan family had a clean family background and was politically sound. Going to the countryside was not necessarily a bad path for them. After becoming an educated youth, he could be selected as a worker-peasant-soldier student; he could become a brigade cadre or a township cadre, and could still be recommended to join the Party and go to university. He could also join the army. Being an educated youth did not stop him from doing that. Of course, military training was also hard. Most ordinary people would rather stay in the countryside as educated youths. At least they could eat from the communal pot and slack off at work.
Some villagers in the stockades did not like educated youths very much, because new educated youths did not know how to farm and had to be taught all over again, creating more trouble for them. As for old educated youths, they had already become seasoned loafers, especially skilled at slacking off on the job. Those who did not strive to become advanced workers had perfected the art of doing the minimum.
There were also some who had performed well in the first few years, only to discover later that they had not been recommended for anything. They simply gave up and muddled along in the countryside day after day.
Shen Liqing’s former friend Chen Yuan was like this. Chen Yuan was the educated-youth pen pal who had encouraged her back then to marry Wang Youli. Chen Yuan had found another educated youth in the countryside as her husband, and the couple simply muddled along in the village.
Chen Yuan and Shen Liqing no longer kept in much contact.
Shen Liqing smiled and said, “If he’s going down to the countryside voluntarily, then your father must be confident. He must be capable.”
“For those who are good at talking, good at handling people, and smooth in every direction, going to the countryside can actually be a good springboard.”
Once in the countryside, those who were truly capable, good at dealing with people, and had leadership ability would not be buried even if they went down as educated youths.
The countryside was different from the city. In the countryside, people did not pay as much attention to family background. Few people were educated, and ordinary people did not understand political struggle much. They were simple and honest. Some looked down on those who only knew how to read, while others respected educated people. There were educated youths from poor class backgrounds who worked solidly in the countryside and won the praise of the villagers instead. As long as the commune members collectively approved, even those from bad backgrounds, or certain types of family backgrounds, could become commune cadres.
Zhan Aiping shook her head. “He’s not capable. He really is coming down to the countryside to be reformed.”
Shen Liqing had made a metaphysical mistake, assuming that Zhan Mingkang’s coming as an educated youth meant a path had already been paved for him, or that Zhan Mingkang himself was especially capable. But she did not know…
Zhan Bo’s way of thinking was different from ordinary people’s. Compared with his children, he loved his own face and reputation more.
These days, every household had many children. Whether it was fatherly love or motherly love, it was divided into three, four, five, or six portions. Who could truly treat every child equally?
Shen Liqing shook her head. “I don’t believe it. Your family is full of capable people. Don’t be too modest.”
Zhan Aiping shook her head and said, “I’m not being modest. Besides, he’s my stepmother’s biological son. He doesn’t have much to do with me.”
“I only have one full younger brother. I only care about him.”
Shen Liqing nodded. “If it were me, I’d only care about my own biological younger brother too.”
By the middle and later stages of pregnancy, Zhan Aiping’s body felt much better. Her reaction had been severe in the early stage, but after her belly started showing, the symptoms gradually decreased. Later on, her appetite grew better and better, though she did not gain too much weight.
This time, she was pregnant with only one baby. Even when the month was advanced, her belly was not very large. Shen Liqing envied her belly.
“Being pregnant with one is still more comfortable.”
“Pingping, your belly is even a little smaller than most people’s.”
Zhan Aiping said, “It’s within the normal range. It’s better not to eat the baby too big, or I’ll suffer.”
Shen Liqing shook her head and sighed. “I’m not having a third. What if it’s another pair of twins?”
Zhan Aiping laughed. “How could there be so many twins?”
As her body grew heavier, Zhan Aiping handed some of her work over to others and focused on training new staff at the hospital. Every day, she insisted on taking a walk outside the house and occasionally chatted with the sisters-in-law in the compound.
“Director Zhan, you’re about to give birth soon, right?” Zhang Lirong from next door stared at Zhan Aiping’s belly. One moment, she thought it looked round; the next, she thought it looked pointed. She still did not know whether this woman could give birth to another boy.
“You’re not going to check whether it’s a boy or girl?”
Zhan Aiping shook her head. “No. Boy or girl, either is fine.”
Zhang Lirong laughed ambiguously twice. What “boy or girl, either is fine”? That was all just something people said to fool outsiders. Who did not want to give birth to another chubby son?
“A daughter would be fine too?”
Zhan Aiping said, “I want a daughter.”
Zhang Lirong smiled. “You and your husband really do speak with one voice. My Old Luo asked Little Gu, and Little Gu also said he wanted a daughter.”
“Then I wish the two of you get what you want and add a daughter to your family.”
After Zhang Lirong said this, she stared at Zhan Aiping’s face. Some people said on the surface that they wanted a daughter, but once you really wished them a daughter, they would scold you for cursing them.
Zhan Aiping smiled faintly. “Thank you. May your auspicious words come true. If it’s a daughter, we’ll call her Little Marshmallow.”
Zhang Lirong: “…”
She looked at the smile on Zhan Aiping’s face. That beautiful face stung her heart. Whether a person lived well or not was often reflected on their face. Zhan Aiping had a peaceful smile on her face, as if there was nothing in life that displeased her.
Zhang Lirong sneered inwardly, thinking, wait until you really give birth to a daughter. Let’s see whether you can still smile then.
Zhan Aiping said, “My third child is coming at just the right time. The older brother and sister will be going to school soon. They’re sensible too, and they can help look after their younger sister.”
“My Youyou really has the manner of an older brother.”
Guobaorou was clever, and Zhan Aiping did not plan to delay him too much. First, she would let him attend the senior preschool class for a year, and after that, he would start primary school. He already recognised many characters.
Zhang Lirong said enviously, “Your eldest really is a good child.”
Zhang Lirong’s own son was only a little over one year old, the flesh of her heart. She and Regiment Commander Luo both doted on and coaxed this only precious seedling, afraid that he would cry or fuss. They were practically serving him like an ancestor.
The two children next door never made trouble, but her child loved crying at night, giving the adults headaches. They could not sleep well at night and had no energy during the day.
“When my child starts primary school in the future, I’ll have some peace of mind too.”
Zhan Aiping returned home. Guobaorou and Little Tangyuan were sitting side by side, holding pencils and practising writing on rough grid paper. Both of them could already write their own names, and they could also write the three characters of their mother’s name: Zhan Aiping.
Although Guobaorou recognised many characters, as always… his handwriting was ugly.
His younger sister Little Tangyuan did not recognise many characters, but she carefully wrote each stroke in an orderly and beautiful way.
Zhan Aiping said, “Tomorrow, Mom will take you to Auntie Shen’s house to learn brush calligraphy.”
Shen Liqing was now idle at home and not working. With nothing to do, she read books and practised brush calligraphy. So Zhan Aiping decided to let the two children learn calligraphy from her. Four children could gather together and learn brush writing.
Practising brush calligraphy trained patience.
Little Tangyuan said happily, “Okay! We’re going to Auntie Shen’s house to play.”
Little Tangyuan was strong, could dance, and had good coordination in her fingers and wrists. She had talent in handwriting and calligraphy. She was enthusiastic about practising characters and also liked being praised by adults.
“Sigh…” Guobaorou, on the other hand, sighed like an old man. Although he could write many complicated characters, his writing was large, crooked, and ugly.
How could he be inferior to his younger sister?
Why did something like the writing brush exist in this world?
Comrade Little Guobaorou could not help feeling fortunate that pencils and fountain pens had already been invented. Otherwise, in ancient times, even if he was learned and clever, he probably would not have passed the imperial examinations.
Zhan Aiping brought the siblings to find Shen Liqing, who welcomed them warmly. People really were cheap by nature. When Shen Liqing had been working, she had wanted to slack off. But now that she had truly been idle at home for a few years, she wanted to teach classes again.
So she opened a tiny calligraphy class at home.
“Practise writing together with our Big Fish and Little Fish.”
Shen Liqing’s eldest daughter’s nickname was Tangcuyu, Sweet-and-Sour Fish, and her son’s nickname was Suancaiyu, Pickled Cabbage Fish. In reality, at home, they were never called by those full names. They were called “Wang Big Fish” and “Wang Little Fish.”
Zhan Aiping suggested, “You could have another child and call him Wang Duoyu.”
Shen Liqing waved her hand. “Our family doesn’t raise that many fish. We’re not a fishpond.”
As soon as Little Tangyuan entered the house, she shouted excitedly, “Big Fish, Big Fish, I’m here to play with you!”
Zhan Aiping said, “You’re here to learn calligraphy.”
“Big Fish, Big Fish, I’m here!”
“Yuanyuan!” Wang Big Fish ran out excitedly. She grabbed Little Tangyuan’s hand, and the two little girls bounced and jumped with excitement.
Recently, Little Tangyuan and Wang Big Fish both liked playing jump rope games. The two of them both loved hopping and bouncing around, full of energy.
Coincidentally, both of them had a tool-person brother.
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