Liang Xiu suddenly looked mysterious, which piqued Su Taohua's interest. A rare hint of amusement flickered across her face.
"What's up?"
"Sister Taohua, this could be great news for your family."
Liang Xiu remained secretive, not getting to the point.
Su Xiaotian, who had come with Liang Xiu, had never seen her own mother so lively. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle.
Because Liang Xiu had married early, people often thought she was much older.
In reality, she was only thirty-one, still quite young.
Seeing her daughter's mischievous smile, Liang Xiu couldn't help but glare at her.
This child dared to laugh at her own mother; she was truly spoiled.
But spoiled she was, and so be it!
After all, parents spoil their own children, and there was nothing wrong with that.
Su Taohua also noticed the silent exchange between mother and daughter and smiled.
Her mood improved considerably, so she smiled and beckoned to Su Xiaotian.
"Xiaotian, your mom is something else, getting more childish as she gets older! She's not as sensible as you are. Tian'er, why don't you tell Auntie Taohua?"
Su Xiaotian hadn't expected Su Taohua to suddenly ask her. Her smile froze on her face, her big eyes filled with confusion.
She was just watching the two adults being silly and enjoying the show; why was she suddenly involved?
How should she answer?
"Auntie, I can't tell you. Mom said she wants to tell you herself."
"What kind of good news is this, that she has to keep me guessing?"
After a bit of playful banter, Liang Xiu finally shared the news she had heard.
"Sister Taohua, I heard that the cake factory is recruiting several workers from our brigade. Once they go, they'll be official workers with the same benefits as city workers."
Liang Xiu's tone was filled with excitement as she said this.
City workers had everything they needed, which was much better than those of them who farmed in the countryside.
Compared to Liang Xiu's excitement, Su Taohua's reaction to the news was not significant.
In fact, her expression barely changed.
Liang Xiu couldn't quite understand why Su Taohua wasn't reacting.
"Sister Taohua, I heard there's an exam. This is something our Xiaomei has a chance at." She had to remind Su Taohua.
Being a city worker meant a completely different future.
She guessed that suitable members of the brigade would be scrambling to compete for these few positions!
If Xiaomei could become a worker, she would be a city person from then on. Sister Taohua always thought about finding a partner for Xiaomei, and once she became a city person, she could find a partner in the city.
"I don't want Xiaomei to go!" Su Taohua slowly revealed her thoughts.
Liang Xiu was stunned. What? She didn't want Xiaomei to go?
Did Sister Taohua know what she was saying?
"Sister Taohua, if you miss this village, you won't find this shop again."
She herself felt regret. The requirement this time was from sixteen to thirty-two years old. Only Shouwen and Ciliang were of suitable age in the family; the other children were too young.
But since these two children were of suitable age, they had to try.
Especially Shouwen, who had a steady personality; if he became a worker, he would surely have a bright future.
Although Shouwen was currently the accountant for the brigade, being an accountant in the brigade was nowhere near as good as being a worker in the city.
Of course, she was only thinking about this herself and hadn't discussed it with anyone else at home.
But in Liang Xiu's opinion, her family would definitely agree.
"I know, but I still don't want Xiaomei to go." Su Taohua's tone was very firm.
What Su Taohua didn't expect was that Su Xiaomei happened to walk to the door and heard her words completely.
For a moment, the bright smile on Su Xiaomei's face completely faded, leaving only a pale gray and disbelief.
Mom didn't want her to go, why?
The two adults sitting on the kang didn't see Su Xiaomei, who had suddenly appeared at the door.
However, Su Xiaotian, standing on the ground, saw her and also saw the dejection on Su Xiaomei's face.
Instantly, Su Xiaotian knew this was going to be a bit troublesome.
Her eyes darted around, and she asked, "Auntie Taohua, this is a good thing, why don't you want Xiaomei sister to go?"
When Su Xiaomei heard her mother's firm refusal to let her go, she felt panicked and wanted to flee.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, she heard Su Xiaotian ask that question.
Her footsteps paused, she sidestepped slightly, but didn't leave.
She also wanted to know the answer.
Everyone in the brigade thought this was a golden opportunity; why didn't her mother want her to go?
Big Brother was going to join the army, and Mom hadn't said anything, even actively seeking people to help him so he could fulfill his wish to join the army.
Why was it different for her?
Su Xiaomei had come home so happily precisely to discuss this matter.
She felt that this opportunity was quite significant.
After all, not many people in the entire brigade had attended school; there were only about a dozen people who had graduated from junior high.
And she was one of them!
Su Xiaomei held her breath, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Su Taohua sighed.
"What's wrong? Sister Taohua, is it because Xiao Liang left, and you can't bear for Xiaomei to leave too?" Liang Xiu asked after thinking for a moment.
This sentence made Su Xiaomei's eyes sting.
Big Brother had just left, and Mom must be feeling empty. If she left too, how sad would Mom be?
How could she only think of herself and forget to consider how sad her mother would feel?
But could she really be willing to give up such a good opportunity because of this?
Su Xiaomei's heart was torn.
"No, I'm a mother, and I only think for my children. How could I be so selfish?"
"Then what is the reason?"
Liang Xiu was also puzzled. If it wasn't because she couldn't bear it, what other reason could there be?
"Xiaomei is only sixteen this year; she's still a child. I'm worried!"
If Xiaomei were a boy, she wouldn't have so many worries, but Xiaomei was a sixteen-year-old girl, and she couldn't be at ease.
"Xiaomei has a gentle personality. If she really went to the city, I don't know if she could handle it. I heard the city is quite chaotic."
Hearing Su Taohua say this, Liang Xiu smiled and said, "What's there to worry about? The cake factory is a legitimate unit; no matter how chaotic it is, it won't reach her."
"If Xiaotian grows up and has to go to the county town alone, would you be at ease?"
Su Taohua glanced at Liang Xiu, as if accusing her of speaking from a position of privilege.
The smile on Liang Xiu's face instantly stiffened.
If Xiaotian had to go to the city alone to be a worker, she definitely wouldn't be at ease.
Mothers' hearts were all similar.
"But this opportunity is rare!"
Although Liang Xiu thought that if it were her, she wouldn't be at ease either.
But she was also unwilling to give up the opportunity just like that.
She figured Xiaomei wouldn't be willing either.
"Opportunities are rare, but..." Su Taohua also hesitated.
Su Taohua also knew how rare such an opportunity was.
"Sister Taohua, you wouldn't still plan to find a partner for Xiaomei to marry, would you?" Liang Xiu asked again.
"I used to think about quickly finding a good family for Xiaomei to marry into, but now my thinking has changed."
"Then are you going to let Xiaomei stay at our chicken farm forever? Although the work at the chicken farm is good, it can't compare to the city!"
"These days, I've been thinking that Xiaomei likes to read and reads well. It's only because her father opposed it that she couldn't go to high school."
Su Xiaomei stood at the door, looking as if she couldn't believe her ears. What did her mother mean by this?
Reading? Did Mom still want her to go to school?
Su Xiaotian glanced at everyone, taking in each person's expression, but didn't speak.
She really didn't expect Auntie Taohua to still be thinking about letting Xiaomei sister go to school. This foresight was indeed something others in the brigade didn't have.
No wonder even after divorcing in her previous life, Auntie Taohua's life was still pretty good.
Hearing Su Taohua mention letting Su Xiaomei study, Liang Xiu also smiled.
After all, their family had a daughter who constantly urged everyone to read and write.
Liang Xiu strongly agreed with the matter of studying.
"Xiaotian always says that her brothers should study hard. I didn't realize it before, but now I see how important studying is."
After Liang Xiu finished speaking, she thought of her own children, who were now studying at home, and sighed, "But in this environment, it's really impossible to let the children study properly."
"I know your children are studying privately. I was thinking of letting Xiaomei have some time to read books. If things get better in the future, I'll let this child study for a couple more years."
Su Xiaomei's tears suddenly fell.
After graduating from junior high, she had wanted to continue to high school, but her father said that girls studying was useless and disagreed with her continuing her studies. Her mother had argued at the time, but since her father disagreed, she eventually gave up.
But now Mom was actually thinking about letting her study.
Others might not know, but she did.
The family had no labor force. If she studied, what would Mom do alone?
"Sister Taohua, this will be very hard for you!" Liang Xiu clearly hadn't expected Su Taohua to have such an idea.
"Before Xiao Liang joined the army, I didn't dare to think about it. The family couldn't afford for Xiaomei to study."
Liang Xiu could understand. After the divorce, Sister Taohua raised three children alone. As a widowed mother, the work points they could earn were limited.
"Xiao Liang joined the army, and the brigade gives him ten work points every day, which is over three thousand six hundred work points a year. I can also earn quite a few work points, so we won't be short of work points."
Su Taohua had calculated it several times. Although the family would be a bit tighter this way, it was still manageable.
Su Xiaomei, listening from outside, was already in tears.
Just a moment ago, she was still doubting why Mom didn't let her compete for the worker positions. It turned out Mom was truly considering her.
"Mom, I won't study. I can't be so selfish and put all the family's burden on you."
Su Xiaomei couldn't hold back any longer and rushed in, tears streaming down her face as she threw herself into Su Taohua's arms.
Su Xiaotian watched this scene and smiled.
The mother and daughter would not only not drift apart because of this matter but would become even closer.
"Xiaomei, Mom knows that you've been obedient and sensible since you were little, and you've been overlooked the most. From now on, Mom won't wrong you anymore. If you like to study, then study." Su Taohua wiped Su Xiaomei's tears.
"Mom, Big Brother joined the army, and if I study too, the family's burden will fall entirely on you. I can't bear it."
She had wanted to study before because the family's conditions could support her studies, but now it was different. She was no longer the carefree young girl she used to be.
"Xiaomei, Mom hopes you will have a bright future!"
"Mom, even if I study hard, because of my father, I won't be able to go to a worker-peasant-soldier university. What kind of future can I have!" Su Xiaomei was dejected about this.
Big Brother joining the army was already with the help of Uncle Zi'an. Could it be that her matter would also require asking Uncle Zi'an for help?
She didn't want her mother to beg for her.
If she were to resent someone, it would be her father alone. It was precisely because of his problematic conduct that his children were affected.
"Xiaomei sister, worker-peasant-soldier universities aren't good. You study hard, and in the future, you'll become a university student through your own abilities."
Su Xiaotian walked over, took Su Xiaomei's hand, and said.
"This child is talking in her sleep again." Liang Xiu chided. Su Xiaotian always said this at home, but it was fine to say it at home; why say it outside?
"Are you saying?" Su Xiaomei's eyes began to sparkle.
Su Xiaotian was the person closest to Old Man Chi and Old Man Du in the brigade, and she had even been to the city. Perhaps she had heard some news.
In Su Xiaomei's opinion, Su Xiaotian was not someone who spoke casually. If she said this, there must be a reason.
Su Xiaotian opened her eyes wide and said, "I don't know either, I just feel this way. I heard someone say that universities in the past required one to pass exams with their own abilities, and it should be the same in the future, right?"
Su Xiaomei felt a moment of dejection, but then, thinking that what Su Xiaotian said was reasonable, she became happy again.
"You're right, maybe in the future, universities will be accessible through one's own efforts, without relying on recommendations."
Even though the chance was slim, Su Xiaomei was full of confidence.
News that the county cake factory was recruiting workers from Hongxin Brigade quickly spread.
Just as Liang Xiu had thought, the seemingly harmonious atmosphere in the brigade was gone. Everyone was eyeing these few positions, both openly and covertly.
Su Changjiu was also troubled by this.
The cake factory recruiting workers in Hongxin Brigade was a good thing, but it would be bad if it disrupted the harmony, unity, and stability of the brigade.
After much consideration, to avoid causing disharmony, he decided that these few positions would be determined by two rounds of assessment.
The first round would be a cultural knowledge exam.
As for the second round, it would be a cooking competition.
Although people in the brigade found it strange that becoming a worker required a cooking assessment, since the brigade leader said so, there must be a reason.
Later, some people said that since it was for the cake factory, it was not strange to require cooking skills.
If they couldn't even distinguish between oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, wouldn't it become a joke if they made savory cakes?
Because there were two rounds of exams, a large portion of people were deterred.
However, some members still caused a stir. These were those who had children of suitable age, but the children had not attended school.
"Brigade Leader, this is not right. Working in the cake factory is not like being a teacher. What use is reading and writing?" A woman stopped Su Changjiu on the main road and spoke impolitely.
"Isn't it because your Xiao Cao has studied that you set this rule?" The woman looked Su Changjiu up and down and said with ill intent.
This was a woman in her forties. She had three children who met the age requirements for this recruitment, and she wanted this opportunity.
However, with the requirement of literacy, her three children had no chance.
The disappointment was understandable, and not wanting to give up this opportunity, she simply blocked Su Changjiu.
In the early years, their family felt that children studying delayed earning work points.
Therefore, each of them only attended primary school for two years before dropping out to work in the commune and earn work points.
Now, if there was an exam, they would definitely be at a disadvantage!
Su Changjiu said coldly, "This is not my requirement; it is Director Li's requirement."
"Why does Director Li have such a requirement?" The woman clearly didn't believe him.
"Director Li said that workers must be literate! Changgui's wife, becoming a worker means becoming a city person. Have you ever seen a city person who can't read?"
This sentence made the woman instantly deflate. Indeed, becoming a worker meant becoming a city person.
City people must all be literate!
Especially knowing it was Director Li's requirement, she knew she couldn't say anything more.
Su Changjiu had no intention of letting it go so easily. He added, "I've always said to send the children to school, but you didn't listen. Now you know regret, right?"
This statement made many people in the brigade frown. Didn't they think studying was useless in the early years?
Not only in the early years, but even in recent years, they felt that studying was useless.
After solving the first problem, the second problem immediately arose.
There were six educated youths in the brigade. Originally, Su Changjiu did not intend to let these educated youths participate in this recruitment exam.
But several educated youths came to them collectively.
Everyone knew how rare the opportunity to recruit workers was, so naturally, they didn't want to miss it.
Moreover, this recruitment included a cultural knowledge exam, and they had all studied, so their chances were greater.
However, as soon as the educated youths proposed this request, the members of the brigade disagreed.
Although everyone lived in Hongxin Brigade, it was undeniable that people in the brigade generally felt that educated youths were not considered part of the brigade.
They believed that educated youths came from the city to support the countryside, so why should they snatch rural quotas to become workers?
If the recruitment quotas were given to them, what would that be considered as supporting rural construction?
For a time, it became deadlocked again.
Finally, regarding this matter, Su Changjiu convened a short meeting with the brigade cadres.
The final conclusion was that educated youths could not participate in the recruitment exam, on the grounds that they would definitely return to the city in the future, and there were no similar policies supporting recruitment.
Some educated youths who had already married young men and women in the brigade had opinions. The possibility of returning to the city in this lifetime was very small, so why should they be excluded?
Su Xiaotian had memories from her previous life of some of these people. Years later, when the educated youths returned to the city, there were indeed a few who abandoned their families and even their children to return to the city.
But she couldn't say anything, so after she secretly made some arrangements, Su Changjiu took some unspoken measures, and these individuals also lost their recruitment opportunities.
After the matter was settled, Su Changjiu, fearing that more complications would arise, called Director Li at the commune to set the date for the cultural knowledge exam.
Meanwhile, the old Su family also held a family meeting. The main agenda of the meeting was whether to let Su Shouwen and Su Ciliang participate in the cake factory recruitment.
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su originally thought it was a good opportunity, but unfortunately, Su Xiaotian said that becoming a worker might delay her brothers' future.
Grandma Su had always listened to her little granddaughter, who was favored by the Dragon King. After hearing this, she began to waver.
Unexpectedly, both Su Shouwen and Su Ciliang expressed that they were unwilling to become workers, saying that most of the workers at the cake factory were likely women, and as grown men, how could they do that?
The elders of the old Su family did not fully agree with this, but the old Su family was a very democratic family. Since the two grandsons disagreed, Grandpa Su and Grandma Su decided to follow their grandsons' opinions.
Forty-seven people participated in the first cultural knowledge exam, with ages ranging from sixteen to thirty-two.
Among these participants, there were twenty-seven men and twenty women.
This exam was originally scheduled to be held in a classroom at the school, but because there were over forty people, one classroom could not accommodate them all, so it was held on the sports field.
It was the twelfth lunar month, and the weather was cold. Many people shivered with cold but still persisted in standing on the sports field to watch.
More than forty tables were set up in the large courtyard, and more than forty people sat at the tables, picking up the test papers and preparing to start the exam.
At this time, people in the brigade were surprised to find that Su Xiaocao, Su Xiaomei, and the children of the old Su family, whom they had expected to participate, were not among them.
This greatly surprised them.
After all, these children were the most suitable candidates.
But what surprised everyone even more was that the children of the old Su family did not participate, but the two daughters-in-law of the old Su family participated in the exam.
"What's going on? Why are Qi Liangying and Liang Xiu participating in the exam? Can they read?" A member couldn't help but ask.
"I don't know. The old Su family is really strange. Shouwen and Ciliang can participate in the exam, so why don't they, and instead let the two daughters-in-law participate?"
Little did they know, this was decided at the old Su family's family meeting.
After Su Shouwen and Su Ciliang expressed their unwillingness to become workers, Qi Liangying proposed that her age also met the requirements and she wanted to give it a try.
Qi Liangying was thirty-two years old this year, just making the cut.
Grandpa Su and Grandma Su originally didn't want to agree, but unexpectedly, Su Xiaotian said that she could try, and also said that her mother could try.
At this, Grandma Su couldn't say anything more.
"Why should I go? I haven't studied either; I only attended literacy classes." Liang Xiu quickly waved her hand.
But Su Xiaotian knew that the people in their family had studied diligently and made great progress over the past year or so, and perhaps they were even stronger than those who had studied.
"Mom, just think of it as accompanying Second Aunt to try. Maybe you'll pass?"
After Su Xiaotian's persuasion, Liang Xiu finally agreed.
"Then I'll give it a try. I'm just worried, what if I fail and people laugh at me?"
"There are dozens of people taking the exam, so many people will surely fail." Su Xiaotian felt that being able to participate in the test was progress.
"Then let's give it a try. If we can pass, it would be like our ancestors' graves emitting a green smoke!" Grandpa Su made the final decision, settling the matter.
As a result, the two daughters-in-law of the Su family were able to participate in the exam.
The members watching were surprised to find that the two sisters-in-law of the Su family were answering questions quite quickly. Could it be that these two really knew how to write?
But how was that possible? Just a few years ago, these two couldn't even write their names!
Just then, someone suddenly rushed in from the side, demanding to participate in the exam.
[Author's Note]
Babies, please give a few five-star reviews to support Shiguang. Love you all, muah!