To celebrate Su Taohua and Shen Zizhen getting their marriage license, Grandma Su, along with Wang Xianghua and Yu Ruiyuan, prepared a special feast.
The three of them had been preparing since Su Taohua and the others left for the commune. They had originally hoped to be back in time for lunch. However, by the time the group returned, it was already afternoon. So, lunch had to be postponed to dinner.
Grandpa Su arranged for Su Shouwen to specifically invite Su Changjiu and his wife, as a way to stand as witnesses for Su Taohua and Shen Zizhen's marriage. Although the guest list was kept to a minimum, the Su family was originally a large one, with over a dozen members. Including others, there were still dozens of people. Adults and children combined filled four tables, and since the house was too small, the tables were set up in the courtyard.
During the feast, Grandpa Su took out two bottles of wine, placing them on the table with great care. He had been saving this wine for over a year, not even willing to open it during the New Year. He never expected to bring it out today.
"Grandpa, why are you willing to open it today?" Su Ciliang asked with a smile, seeing his grandfather take out the treasured wine. "This is good wine! Minister Chen gave it to you, right?"
Su Changjiu had heard of this wine and seen it before, but had never tasted it. He never expected that the first time he would drink such fine wine would be on this occasion.
"It was indeed Uncle-in-law who gave it, and he brought it over last year during the New Year," Su Ciliang said quickly before Grandpa Su could reply.
"Then I must have a few good drinks today," Su Changjiu said with a smile.
After Grandpa Su poured a full glass of wine for everyone at the main table, he scanned the room and raised his glass. "Today is a joyous day for Taohua and Teacher Shen. As a parent, I feel guilty that I couldn't provide my daughter with a proper wedding."
Su Taohua was deeply touched by Grandpa and Grandma Su's kindness, and with tears in her eyes, she said, "Grandpa, what are you saying? The fact that you prepared this banquet for me is already a tremendous gesture of affection!"
Since she decided to marry Shen Zizhen, some people in the brigade had begun to distance themselves from her, both openly and subtly, as if she were also considered a "black category" individual. Even today, she knew that some of the elders who were invited had not shown up. Although she had anticipated such a situation long ago, it was still difficult to bear when the day actually arrived. However, to have people still consider her in this way at such a time was incredibly moving. She knew that Grandpa and Grandma Su were standing up for her. By saying these words at this moment, it was also to let Shen Zizhen know that she had the support of her family.
After toasting, Grandpa Su also offered words of blessing to Shen Zizhen and Su Taohua. "Now that you two are married, you must live well together. Teacher Shen is from the city and must not look down on our Taohua. Taohua, you must also take good care of Teacher Shen," Grandpa Su advised earnestly.
"Thank you, Grandpa. I will take good care of Taohua, and I am grateful that Taohua does not mind me, a sinner!" Shen Zizhen quickly responded.
Afterward, they both expressed their gratitude to Grandpa Su and the old Su family. Shen Zizhen felt particularly embarrassed. This was considered his wedding banquet, yet he hadn't brought a single grain of rice and had only come alone.
Su Changjiu then raised his wine glass to toast the newlyweds and to apologize. "It is my fault, and I must apologize to you both."
When Su Changjiu suddenly said this, everyone was confused. "What's wrong?" the队长's wife anxiously nudged her husband and asked.
"Today, Comrade Xiao Wu refused to issue the marriage license, so I told a lie."
"What did you say?" the队长's wife asked even more anxiously, hurrying to inquire.
"I said Taohua married Comrade Shen to take care of her benefactor! I also said that Comrade Shen was injured..." He dared not say the words "terminally ill," as it would be inauspicious for a wedding.
Upon hearing this, everyone didn't think much of it; the队长 was indeed resourceful. And so, the license was smoothly obtained. After saying this, Su Changjiu even took the initiative to say, "I know that what I said today was inappropriate. As such, I will punish myself with three cups." Without waiting for anyone to stop him, he quickly downed three glasses of wine.
The队长's wife, exasperated, playfully hit him and said, "I think your apology is fake, and you just want to drink!" Everyone present burst into laughter. His words livened up the atmosphere.
During the feast, Grandpa Su also said many things, mostly about treating Su Taohua like his own daughter. Once the matter of the newlyweds' marriage was sufficiently discussed, Grandpa Su casually mentioned that he wanted his three grandsons to transfer to schools in the city. Chi Ge and the others had not heard about this, and upon hearing it suddenly, they were very surprised. Why would the old Su family make such a decision at this crucial time? They hadn't sent their children to school for years, not even to the small village school. Most of the time, the Su children studied with the elders or at home. Suddenly sending all of them to school, they couldn't believe there was no reason behind it. Could it be that Little Sweet had received some news through other channels? But there were too many people present, so they didn't dare to ask.
However, Su Taohua's third grandfather spoke up, "Why are you suddenly sending the children to school? They are already old enough, and they can help earn work points at home."
"Work points can be earned anytime, but the time for the children to study is only these few years. We don't want to miss it again!" Grandpa Su said with a smile. The third grandfather clearly did not fully agree, but then he thought about how Su Chuan's two daughters-in-law had become workers in the city because they were literate. He instantly felt at ease.
Chi Ge and the others, however, were very supportive. While they could study at home, learning in school with others was better than studying in isolation. Chi Yiyuan sat with the Su family children. When he heard the news, a flicker of envy crossed his eyes. He ate his food in silence, refusing to say a word. Although he had several experienced teachers at home, learning this way was still different from studying in school. He still wanted to go to school, dreaming of returning to his former campus. But as a child of the "black category," he couldn't go to school. For others, whether they could go to school was not important. But for him, it was of great significance. Being able to go to school meant he could shed the identity of a "black category" child and have a chance to live a new life, unlike now, where he always felt inferior. Even in Hongxin Brigade, most people were kind and did not show hostility towards those in the cowshed. However, occasional discordant voices made the young boy feel distressed. On countless sleepless nights, he had wondered when all of this would end.
Su Xiaotian keenly noticed Chi Yiyuan's silence, but it was not the time to speak. She looked at Chi Yiyuan and suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. Brother Yiyuan carried too much sadness in his heart!
"Why are you thinking about going to school now? For the past two years, Xiaocao has also said she wants to study, and I see her reading diligently at home!" Su Changjiu, having drunk some wine, was slurring his words a bit. No one understood whether he intended for his daughter to study or not.
"Let Xiaomei and Xiaogang go to school together! I think Xiaomei really likes to read!" Shen Zizhen suddenly said, addressing Su Taohua. Su Xiaomei and Su Xiaogang, the siblings, were sitting nearby and heard Shen Zizhen's words clearly. The brother and sister were greatly surprised. Neither of them had expected Shen Zizhen's first words about them to be about them going to school. The siblings had no objections to their mother remarrying. After all, Uncle Shen had saved their mother, and it was too hard for their mother to raise them alone. It would surely be better if she had a companion. However, they were unsure about what their future life would be like. Just yesterday, the two of them had discussed it behind Su Taohua's back. Su Xiaogang, being younger, worried more. To comfort him, Su Xiaomei had solemnly promised that if Uncle Shen treated them badly, she would farm to support Xiaogang. She also told Xiaogang that at the very least, they had their eldest brother, who would not abandon them. Only then did Su Xiaogang feel more at ease.
Yet, on their first day of marriage, Shen Zizhen was asking them to go to school. Su Xiaomei was naturally happy; she loved to read and had always been diligently studying. But this news was somewhat torturous for Su Xiaogang. He disliked studying, not at all. He found it to be the most painful thing in the world. He liked fighting and wanted to become a soldier like his eldest brother in the future. How glorious it was to wear a military uniform; what was so good about studying? However, since it was Uncle Shen's first time speaking about them, would it be bad if he objected? Would Uncle Shen think he wasn't a good child, or even that he was deliberately being difficult? Su Xiaogang was no longer the carefree child who would rush into Kang Zhiqing's room for a few pounds of flour. He had grown up over the years and knew to consider his mother.
"Uncle Shen, thank you!" Su Xiaomei pulled Su Xiaogang to stand up and walked to Shen Zizhen, saying sincerely. Shen Zizhen smiled at the young girl's smiling eyes. "Whether a boy or a girl, they should be knowledgeable and cultured people. Only then will they be useful to society in the future!" He had already planned to let the two children study; only through study could one gain understanding. "Yes, Uncle Shen, I will study hard!" Su Xiaomei promised solemnly. However, Su Xiaogang's promise was not as prompt and decisive; he even hesitated for a long time. Shen Zizhen smiled, this child!
"Then go to school, go to school!" Su Changjiu said cheerfully.
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Su Xiaotian and Chi Yiyuan sat on a large rock halfway up the mountain, overlooking the entire village. Wisps of cooking smoke rose, and a faint mist permeated the air above the village, giving the originally primitive and backward village a touch of ethereal beauty. This was the last time the group of children would go up the mountain before taking their exams. Originally, several teenagers had planned to use the time before the exams to review their studies. But Su Xiaotian said there was no need to push themselves so hard; relaxing before the exams would lead to better results. The boys of the Su family all knew that listening to Su Xiaotian was always the right thing to do. Therefore, they all agreed to go up the mountain together to search for treasures. The teenagers now considered going up the mountain as treasure hunting. With Su Xiaotian around, there were always miracles, and perhaps some inexplicable good things would suddenly appear before them. In the past two years, Su Xiaotian had moved many things from the mountain back home. They didn't understand what those things were. There were wild grasses, stones, and some branches and wood. Anyway, Su Xiaotian said they were good things, and they believed they were good things. As for what they truly were, it didn't matter; in the hearts of the teenagers, nothing was more important than their little sister's happiness.
However, even looking at the vibrant flowers on the mountain after going up, Chi Yiyuan's mood did not improve. His gaze was fixed on the distance, vast and deep. Su Xiaotian followed the direction Chi Yiyuan was looking, but only saw the distant, hazy mountains. "Brother Yiyuan, are you troubled?" Su Xiaotian broke the silence and asked. Chi Yiyuan looked at the little girl with two ponytails and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Years had passed, and the little girl from back then had grown a lot, resembling her sister less and less, but his feelings for her had only deepened. He didn't want Su Xiaotian to worry about him, but Su Xiaotian saw more sadness and unwillingness in his smile. "I'm fine, Xiaotian! You also have an exam in a couple of days. Are you confident?" Chi Yiyuan changed the subject. Su Xiaotian knew what he was thinking and followed his lead, "Brother Yiyuan has explained all these knowledge points to me, so I'm sure I'll do well!" Her tone was full of confidence. She was going to take the exam for junior high school. Although she was still a bit young, she had decided to go to junior high school in the autumn. If she weren't going to high school now, she would be considered an anomaly. Su Xiaotian really wanted to go to high school, not junior high. She already knew the knowledge for junior high.
Chi Yiyuan stroked Su Xiaotian's hair, his attitude doting. "Brother Yiyuan, what were you looking at in the distance just now? Aren't they all mountains?" Su Xiaotian asked, seeing that Chi Yiyuan's mood had improved. "I was looking at a very, very distant place. That's where my home is, a home I don't know when I'll be able to return to!" In the young boy's heart, only by returning home could he truly live like a person and go to school. But he had been living here for so many years that he almost forgot what his former home looked like! "Brother Yiyuan, do you also want to go to school?" "Study? That's too far away." It was even farther away than going home, something he didn't even dare to think or say! "Brother Yiyuan, it will get better, really!" Even though Su Xiaotian said this with great sincerity, to Chi Yiyuan, such words were so pale and powerless! Seeing that Chi Yiyuan clearly didn't believe her, Su Xiaotian became anxious. "Brother Yiyuan, believe what I say. I think you'll be able to go home soon." In her anxiety, Su Xiaotian blurted this out. After saying it, she was surprised to realize she might have spoken out of turn. Chi Yiyuan looked at Su Xiaotian suspiciously, "Xiaotian, who did you hear this from?" He felt his heart beating very fast and forcefully, as if it would leap out of his chest at any moment. Su Xiaotian dared not meet Chi Yiyuan's eyes, and could only say in a low voice, "I just heard it occasionally when I went to the county town before! Brother Yiyuan, maybe a year, maybe half a year, but no more than two years at most, you will definitely be able to go back!" Since she had already said it, Su Xiaotian stated it with great certainty. Anyway, Chi Yiyuan was someone she could trust and wouldn't speak carelessly. They had a revolutionary friendship and were trustworthy comrades!
When Chi Yiyuan returned to the cowshed, he was still very excited. However, he did not dare to tell everyone about this news, for fear that if the information leaked, it would be bad for Su Xiaotian, and also that if he told others and it turned out not to be true, they would be even more disappointed. In the end, he chose to quietly tell Chi Ge at night. Chi Ge hesitated for a moment and said, "Perhaps, Xiaotian is telling the truth. Recently, it feels like policies have relaxed a lot." They might really be waiting for the day of rehabilitation. Perhaps he would have a chance to return to his post. Chi Yiyuan thought about it and realized that it was indeed as his grandfather said; it had been a while since anyone had caused trouble for them. "Grandpa, can we really go home?" The young boy's eyes were even slightly misty. He had waited for this day for too long. "The night has been so long, can dawn be far away?" Chi Ge said leisurely. "Then can my father and aunt come back?" Chi Yiyuan asked hesitantly. Chi Ge shook his head, "I don't know. Perhaps one day they can return, or perhaps they won't be able to return for a while!" Who can say for sure about some things?
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All the Su children went to take their exams. Also taking the exams were Su Changjiu's daughter, Su Xiaocao, and Su Xiaomei and her brother. Su Shouwen, Su Ciliang, Su Sangong, Su Xiaocao, and Su Xiaomei were going to the county town to take the county's first-year high school exam. This was the decision made by Chi Ge and others after a comprehensive assessment of the children's academic levels. They generally believed that these children had fully mastered the knowledge for high school and could take the exam for the second year of high school without any problem. As for the others, they were going to the commune to take the exams for junior high school and for advancing from the first year to the second year of junior high. The sudden decision for over a dozen children in the brigade to take exams and return to school caused quite a stir in the brigade. The people of Hongxin Brigade had unconsciously followed the pace of the old Su family in recent years. But this time, with the old Su family's children all going to school, they were somewhat lost and bewildered. What was going on? Why were they all going to school all of a sudden? Although it was heard that the old Su family's children had been studying diligently in recent years, they had not attended school. Was it reliable? Should they continue to follow the old Su family's pace and let their children go to school?
A few families with studious children thought about going to school as well, but their families said that with the final exams approaching soon, going to school now would mean paying an extra semester's tuition, which was not cost-effective. However, they promised their children that they would send them to school when the new semester started in September. Xiao Jiu and Xiao Ba were taking the junior high entrance exam with Su Xiaotian this time. They were previously one grade higher than Su Xiaotian, and now seeing Su Xiaotian about to take the same exam as them made them depressed. They were older brothers, but now taking the same exam as their little sister was too embarrassing. After considering it, the two teenagers decided to talk to Su Xiaotian.
"Xiaotian, how about you go to fifth grade this year?" Xiao Jiu took the lead in persuading her. Su Xiaotian didn't understand why she should go to fifth grade. If it weren't for her young age, she would have wanted to go to high school. "Why? I think studying junior high is a waste of time!" Xiao Ba and Xiao Jiu were depressed. What kind of statement was that? "Xiaotian, look, we are your older brothers! Reading in the same grade as you, others will laugh at us!" Xiao Ba said. Su Xiaotian rolled her eyes at him and said, "Brother Ba, Brother Jiu, Eldest Brother is also studying with Second Brother and Third Brother. Why can't you study with me?" "Besides, you always say you need to protect me. If you all go to junior high, who will protect me if I stay in elementary school alone?" The two teenagers were silenced by this misdirection. That's right, they were older brothers and needed to protect their sister! But these two had clearly forgotten that Su Xiaotian didn't need anyone's protection. The military combat techniques taught by their uncle were being practiced by all the children in the family, but after a year, the brothers couldn't beat Su Xiaotian. At critical moments, it might be Su Xiaotian who protected them.
Xiao Ba and Xiao Jiu had nothing more to say. They exchanged glances, and then thought about it again. Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother were going to take the high school exam together. If they didn't pass, they would study with Sixth Brother and Seventh Brother in the second year of junior high. So, it seemed like there was really nothing to it! Soon, the exam day arrived. To ensure that this group of children could smoothly attend the exams, Su Changjiu arranged for the brigade's tractor to take them to the county town a day in advance. That's right, the siblings were all going to take exams in the county town and then study there. Originally, Grandpa Su thought of sending those going to high school to the county town, and the others would temporarily stay in the commune. But Su Laosan and his wife said, why not let all the children study in the county town? They could look out for each other. Grandpa Su and Grandma Su naturally knew that the couple also had selfish motives, hoping their own children could be near them. Therefore, they did not object.
Su Laosan and his wife were very excited to see so many children coming together, but their house was too small to accommodate them. Fortunately, after Chen Zi'an heard about this, he made arrangements, letting the boys stay at his home, and the three girls would stay at Su Laosan and Liang Xiu's home. As for meals, they would be handled uniformly by him during these days. Anyway, the two houses were not far apart, only a few minutes' walk. Liang Xiu and Su Laosan did not object. Their house was small, just a three-bedroom unit, and so many children truly couldn't fit. After work, Liang Xiu and Qi Liangying rushed to Su Manxiu's house to help her cook. They refused the help of a few girls. "You have exams tomorrow. You should review your studies. We'll handle the cooking!" Qi Liangying said repeatedly. Liang Xiu also said, "Yes, even if you don't study, you can rest assured. Rest well, and take the exam tomorrow."
"Mom, we have no problem with tomorrow's exam, you don't need to worry!" Su Xiaotian said confidently. "I'm just worried..."
[Author's Note]
Today is also six thousand words. Shiguang is working very, very hard. Please support!