On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Su Taohua invited the entire Su family to her home for a meal, saying it was to celebrate the festival together.
The two families had always been on good terms, and this was the last Lantern Festival before Su Taohua’s family left the Hongxin Brigade.
No one from the Su family declined the invitation and they went to Su Taohua’s house.
After today, Taohua and her family would be heading to the capital.
Traveling thousands of miles, who knew when they would be back.
Even the usually reserved Grandpa Su felt a pang of sadness.
Grandma Su, however, was more optimistic. She felt that it was better for Su Taohua to go to the capital than to endure hardship in the brigade.
Li Changming had caused trouble once before and was driven away. But who knew if that beast would stir up trouble again.
With the current situation, it was better to leave far away, where Li Changming wouldn’t be able to find them.
After observing for so long, she had come to understand.
Shen Zizhen truly doted on Taohua. This alone made him far better than the former Li Changming.
However, Grandma Su also worried if Su Taohua would be able to adapt to life in the capital.
“Taohua, you’ll be in the capital, unfamiliar with the place. You must take good care of yourself. If anything happens, write to us,” Grandma Su said while helping Su Taohua with chores.
“I know, I’ll write to you all. Auntie Ga, I can’t bear to leave you!” Su Taohua said with teary eyes.
It wasn’t just Grandma Su she was reluctant to leave. As the departure date neared, she realized how many people and things she would miss.
“Silly girl!” Grandma Su laughed. “Don’t overthink it. It’s not like you can’t come back to see me.”
Even though she said this, Grandma Su knew herself that returning would not be easy.
Not to mention changing vehicles several times to get to the provincial capital, even after reaching the provincial capital and boarding a train, it would take five to six days to reach the capital.
This was assuming the journey was smooth and the train was not delayed. If there were delays, it could set them back by a day or two, or even longer.
A round trip alone would take nearly twenty days on the road.
“Auntie Ga, I’ll be gone for a long time and might not be able to return. I’ll leave the household matters to you.”
Su Taohua looked at the familiar courtyard with a touch of reluctance.
Every brick and tile in this courtyard was painstakingly built by her parents.
She had grown up in this courtyard for over thirty, almost forty years, and leaving now made her heart ache.
“Don’t be sad. I’ll look after things here for you. Taohua, one must look forward in life,” Grandma Su said, trying her best to comfort her despite her own sadness.
“I know, but if I leave, no one will visit my parents’ graves,” Su Taohua said in a low voice.
Her parents had no sons. She had married a son-in-law to carry on the family line, and now that he was gone too, would her parents’ graves become lonely graves?
“You go with peace of mind. In the future, during Qingming Festival, I’ll have your eldest brother and the others go. It’s only right for nephews to pay respects at their uncle’s grave!”
Su Taohua felt much better after Grandma Su’s comfort.
The two families ate a lively meal together.
However, amidst the liveliness, there was a tinge of sadness from the impending separation.
By the time they returned home, it was already afternoon. Grandma Su did not forget to recheck the luggage for her three grandsons.
After confirming that everything that needed to be packed was packed and nothing was missed, Grandma Su called Su Shouwen and the other two into the main hall.
Grandpa Su, Grandma Su, and Su Xiaotian were all sitting on the kang in the main hall.
Unlike Grandpa and Grandma Su who sat upright, Su Xiaotian was leaning on the small kang table, diligently practicing calligraphy.
And she was practicing with a brush.
The little person wrote with great concentration.
Su Xiaotian’s brushwork was not excellent, but it was better than many.
The reason it wasn’t excellent was in comparison to Su Ciliang.
“Grandpa, Grandma.”
The three brothers greeted them in unison.
Grandpa Su took a puff of his dry tobacco, looking at his three grandsons with immense satisfaction.
The three children had grown up!
They had all become accomplished.
In the past, this would have been equivalent to passing the imperial examinations.
Their old Su family was now a scholarly household!
The old man had never been so happy in his life, his mouth and beard twitching with joy.
“You all sit down. From now on, you are adults!”
After a long pause, Grandpa Su finally uttered these words.
Su Shouwen and the other two brothers exchanged glances.
“Grandpa actually wants to say that this is like passing the imperial examinations. After graduating from university, you’ll be cadres!” Su Xiaotian, having just finished her last stroke, said with a smile.
Her interruption instantly dispelled the nascent sadness that had begun to rise.
“Look at your writing. Don’t you know you should concentrate when you write? If Grandma Yu saw this, she’d definitely scold you!” Su Ciliang poked Su Xiaotian’s forehead, speaking affectionately.
The young man was not very happy. Being so far from home, he felt a sense of unease.
Especially since he would be away for several months, unable to see his grandparents, parents, or his little sister. It was a heartbreaking thought.
“I’m younger than you!” Su Xiaotian said, wrinkling her nose.
Su Ciliang was speechless. He really had nothing to say.
Su Shouwen and Su Sangong couldn’t help but chuckle.
After a while, Grandpa Su solemnly spoke some words of expectation to his grandsons.
It was essentially about bringing honor to their ancestors.
Finally, Grandma Su took out a small cloth bag and carefully opened it.
“Here are some coupons and money. Each of you gets ten jin of meat coupons, twenty jin of grain coupons, and twenty yuan.”
Su Shouwen and the other two were startled by Grandma Su’s sudden production of so many coupons.
Why was Grandma suddenly giving them so much money and coupons?
“Grandma, you don’t need to. I asked Teacher Shen, and she said that university students receive subsidies, with money and coupons every month. Teacher Shen said that if we save a little, we might even be able to help the family,” Su Shouwen said first.
He had said these words only after consulting Shen Zizhen.
He was worried that the family couldn’t afford to support three university students at once, so he had secretly asked Shen Zizhen how much the university tuition would be.
He had even considered giving up his spot if university was too expensive, letting Ciliang and Sangong go to school while he stayed in the brigade to earn work points.
But Shen Zizhen had said that university students received a monthly subsidy of fifteen yuan, along with twenty-eight jin of grain coupons and three jin of meat coupons.
This was quite a substantial subsidy. Su Shouwen calculated that if he saved a little, ten yuan a month would be enough. The remaining money could be saved to cover travel expenses and also help the family.
“This is the money from selling meat and eggs before the Spring Festival. It’s divided among the three of you. When you’re out there, don’t be stingy with your food and clothing. We have everything we need at home, so you don’t need to economize.”
Grandma Su knew her grandsons well.
These children would definitely be thinking of saving some of the school subsidies for the family.
Their family’s life was not affluent, but they had enough to eat and wear. They didn’t need the children to compromise themselves like this.
“Grandma, we won’t be stingy, but the family shouldn’t be saving money for us,” Su Ciliang said after some thought.
If their entire family had to economize to send them to university, they would truly lose face.
Su Shouwen and Su Sangong nodded repeatedly.
“Don’t worry, we’re not so poor that we need to do that,” Grandma Su said with a smile.
If it were a few years ago, they might indeed have had to economize. But now, things were different.
A family that was looked after by the Dragon King would not have a bad life.
Suddenly, Grandma Su thought that perhaps her grandsons’ success in getting into university was also a result of the Dragon King’s care.
With this thought, Grandma Su decided to find time in a couple of days to secretly burn some incense at the Dragon King Temple to thank him for his care.
Su Shouwen and the others exchanged glances but still refused to accept the money and coupons.
“Grandma, although the family hasn’t officially split, each household’s money is kept separate. You and Grandpa probably don’t have much money yourselves.”
“We do. During the Spring Festival, your father and mother gave us twenty yuan, your second father and mother gave us thirty, your third father and mother gave us fifty, and your eldest aunt and uncle also gave us fifty,” Grandma Su said proudly.
Although they had suspected their parents would give money to their grandparents, none of them had expected it to be so much. Especially the third uncle and eldest aunt’s families, who had given so much.
“And the brigade gave me and Grandpa eighteen yuan. You sold the meat and eggs in the county town, and combined, we had over two hundred yuan just for the Spring Festival.”
Su Shouwen was silent for a moment. He truly hadn’t expected his grandparents to have so much money.
He suddenly had the feeling that their family was also wealthy.
Su Xiaotian was amused by the shocked expressions of her three brothers.
“What are you laughing at, you little girl?” Grandma Su ruffled Su Xiaotian’s hair.
“Grandma, look at my brothers, they’re stunned by this little bit of money. In the future, our family will become ‘ten-thousand-yuan households’!” Su Xiaotian said with a twinkle in her eyes.
In another year, with the reform and opening up, some people would be able to get rich first, and the term ‘ten-thousand-yuan household’ would emerge.
Her family would definitely be among the first to become ‘ten-thousand-yuan households’; this was a small goal she had set for herself.
After all, this was a rare opportunity that came once in a century. Missing it would be a true pity.
What was a ‘ten-thousand-yuan household’?
Grandma Su didn’t know, but it sounded so impressive.
“What is a ‘ten-thousand-yuan household’?” Su Ciliang asked the question that Grandma Su didn’t voice.
“It means our family can save ten thousand yuan!” Su Xiaotian said as if it were obvious.
“Tsk…”
Su Ciliang clearly didn’t believe it. Working in the county town, one only earned thirty yuan a month. Ten thousand yuan would require over 330 months of work, and that was without eating or drinking.
Xiaotian was always smart, but this time she was truly confused!
“Second brother, you don’t believe me?”
Su Ciliang wanted to say that he really didn’t believe it, but upon seeing the small cloth bag in Grandma Su’s hand, he suddenly felt that it might come true.
The next morning, Su Taohua and the others had all their belongings packed.
Since the two families lived not far from each other, Su Taohua and her family brought their luggage to the old Su family’s home, planning to gather and depart together.
Just as they were discussing having the brigade’s tractor take them to catch their transport, they suddenly heard the sound of car horns in the distance.
Following the sound, they saw three cars, two small ones and one large one, approaching.
“Is it Zi’an and the others?” Su Taohua asked.
Grandma Su looked and listened carefully, then said, “That’s Zi’an’s car.”
“Auntie Ga, you can even recognize that?” Su Taohua teased.
As they were talking, the three cars stopped not far from the entrance of the old Su family’s home.
Indeed, the driver Xiao Zhu from Chen Zi’an’s car alighted from the first small car. Su Laosan alighted from the second small car.
From the large truck at the very back, a middle-aged man of similar age to Su Laosan got out. Grandma Su looked closely but didn’t recognize him.
However, Su Xiaotian remembered him; he was her father’s colleague, whom she had met before.
“Laosan, why have you brought so many cars?” Grandpa Su asked.
“Dad, Mom, I’m here to pick them up. Our captain arranged for the brigade’s vehicles to take them to the provincial capital to catch the train.”
“It’s fine that Xiao Zhu is here, but why bring an extra small car?” Grandma Su asked.
“Mom, you don’t know, the captain heard that our family had three university students admitted at once and are going to the capital today, so he specially asked the leaders to lend me a car.”
Su Laosan was so proud that he seemed to radiate brilliance as he spoke.
The man beside him looked on with envy. If it were him, he would also be envious. The county’s top leader’s car was specially lent to the transport team to pick up the Su family children, oh no, the Su family university students, from the Hongxin Brigade.
“And who is this?” Grandma Su glanced disdainfully at her son and then focused her gaze on the person beside him.
The man was quite friendly. Without waiting for Su Laosan to introduce him, he said cheerfully, “Auntie, my name is Liu Desheng. You might not know, but I worked hard to get this assignment today, just hoping to borrow some of your family’s good fortune.”
His tone was as proud as Su Laosan’s.
Grandma Su suddenly wondered if people from the transport team all had such personalities.
“Lao Liu’s child is taking the college entrance examination next year,” Su Laosan explained.
Grandma Su laughed and said, “With you saying that, I feel embarrassed. It is we who should be thanking you for your help.”
“Auntie, who in the entire county doesn’t know that the Su family from Hongxin Brigade has three children who were all admitted to universities in the capital, and ranked among the top in the province!”
Envy and jealousy!
His own child didn’t even have to mention getting into a university in the capital, just getting into a provincial university would be great.
“Grandma Su, you really don’t know, your family is now a celebrity in the county,” Xiao Zhu also chimed in with a smile.
The commotion here alerted everyone in the brigade, and they all gathered to watch the excitement.
When they learned that these three cars were specially arranged by the county transport team captain to pick up the Su children for their train journey, their envy was palpable.
Looking around the entire brigade, only the old Su family had such honor.
For their families, having a bicycle was considered good when going out. But the old Su family had small cars.
However, on second thought, other families didn’t have university students. The old Su family had three at once, which was truly enviable.
When Su Changjiu arrived, there were already many people in and around the old Su family’s home, making it quite lively.
Although his own daughter had only been admitted to a provincial university, not as good as Su Shouwen and the others, Su Changjiu was already very satisfied.
After all, she had stopped studying before, and yet she could still get into university. This was all thanks to the Su family children’s support over the years, which helped her not give up.
“You are all going to study, so the brigade should also show its appreciation. This is a small token of my appreciation from the brigade to all of you.”
Su Changjiu smiled and handed out several red envelopes, from Su Shouwen and the three brothers to Su Xiaomei, not missing anyone.
Before they could react, they found a red envelope in their hands and were about to push it back, but it was too late.
“Team Leader, you can’t do this!”
“What’s there not to do?” Su Changjiu said. “As the team leader, what’s wrong with giving a reward to the younger generation from the brigade who got into university?”
What he said was so natural!
“I declare here today, if anyone gets into university this year, the brigade will also give five yuan to each person.”
After Su Changjiu said this, the brigade members started discussing. But thinking that only a few university students had been admitted from the entire brigade, giving them a reward was not a big deal, so they relaxed.
After all, ever since the news of several university students being admitted from Hongxin Brigade spread, the families of the young men in the brigade were more willing to marry them.
Only Liu Xiuying’s face fell when she heard this.
Why? The brigade’s money belonged to everyone. How could the team leader give it away as he pleased?
Wasn’t this openly benefiting the old Su family?
“Team Leader, this won’t do. With a simple wave of your hand, twenty yuan is gone. How much money does our brigade have to withstand such waste!”
Su Changjiu frowned with disgust. This Liu Xiuying was truly a troublemaker.
So many people in the brigade were happy, but she had objections.
“Everyone, please vote. If everyone has an opinion, I will pay this money myself!”
When the commune members heard Su Changjiu say this, they started talking one after another.
“I don’t object. Our brigade has produced a few university students. When I visit my maternal family, others look at me with more respect.”
“Exactly, which brigade can produce so many university students at once?”
“The girl my second son was talking to a few days ago, who initially disagreed, suddenly agreed, saying it was because our brigade has many university students!”
…
They all agreed in a babble of voices.
This made Liu Xiuying’s expression increasingly unpleasant.
This would not do. This matter absolutely could not happen. She would go to the commune to complain and ask the cadres in the commune how collective property could be distributed to individuals like this.
Although most people agreed, a few commune members still expressed their opposition.
But there were only a handful of them, and Su Changjiu didn’t pay them any mind.
The minority obeys the majority!
This was the consistent principle of our Party.
No problem!
Liu Xiuying planned to find a few people to stir up trouble with her, and she set her sights on those who opposed the decision.
They were all stingy, unmotivated people who were in deficit every year, yet they were petty and couldn’t stand to see others do well.
They were considered kindred spirits.
After whispering a few words together, they agreed that if this matter caused trouble, they would let the higher-level leaders know that Su Changjiu was using public funds for personal gain.
They even discussed going to the commune immediately to report it, otherwise, it would be meaningless once the money was taken.
Su Changjiu was unaware of their plotting. Instead, he encouraged each of the children, chatted with Su Taohua for a bit, and finally approached Shen Zizhen.
“Teacher Shen, you are a good person. From now on, I entrust Taohua and her siblings to your care.”
Shen Zizhen smiled and said, “Taohua is my wife, and Xiaomei and the others are my children. It is my duty to take care of them.”
As they spoke, Su Taohua’s sister, Su Guihua, and her family arrived.
“Sister, we rushed over early this morning, afraid we’d miss your departure.”
As for Su Xiaotian, she didn’t disturb others saying their goodbyes, but instead chatted with her brothers.
Su Shouwen and the other two were already reluctant to part with Su Xiaotian, so they had endless things to say.
After a while, when Su Guihua and Su Taohua had finished their conversation, Su Laosan called out that it was time to leave.
They were scheduled to take the train on the morning of the seventeenth day of the first lunar month.
They had originally planned to have the tractor take them to the county town, then take the bus to the provincial capital, arriving around eight or nine in the evening.
They would rest for a night in the provincial capital and then head to the train station early the next morning.
Who would have thought that Su Laosan would drive over, giving them a bit more time?
Because of this, Grandma Su said they should eat before departing.
“Mom, we’re short on time. There are people waiting in the county town,” Su Laosan said.
“You mean Xiu’er and the others?” Grandma Su asked.
“No, the county leaders are waiting at the school. They said that the children are the glory of the County No. 1 Middle School, and also the glory of the county, and they want to give them rewards.”
When Su Laosan arrived, he had already promised to pick them up and take them to the county town by noon, as the county leaders wanted to meet them.
Grandma Su didn’t say much when she heard the words “county leaders.”
After all, although her son-in-law was not the top leader, he was at least a cadre in the county, so she was somewhat accustomed to it!
“Alright then, we won’t eat. We’ll eat at Manxiu’s house at noon. Laosan, the family still has some meat and eggs, take them with you…”
“Mom, you don’t need to. Everything is prepared. Today, my second sister-in-law and my wife’s factory also gave them time off, and they are also at home helping Manxiu cook,” Su Laosan quickly stopped her. He added, “Mom, Xiaotian and the others will also start school in a couple of days. Why don’t we all go to the county town together today!”
Grandma Su was somewhat reluctant. She was already sad sending off three grandsons today, why did they all have to leave?
“I was thinking, you and Dad could also stay in the county town for a couple of days. If Big Brother and Big Sister and Second Brother can spare the time, they can also go to the county town to see the children off!”
Su Laoda originally wanted to say that he might not be able to go, but the team leader and Li Zhuzi had already stepped forward.
“We’ll look after things at the chicken farm. You hurry and go. This is a momentous occasion!”
“Yes, Big Brother, Second Brother, don’t worry, I’ll look after the pig farm.”
Hearing this, Su Laoda and Su Lao Er didn’t hesitate.
The family tidied up a bit, picked up their bags, and were about to get into the car when they saw several bicycles approaching from a distance.
It looked like they were heading towards the old Su family’s direction, but they didn’t recognize the people.
Su Laosan said, “Let’s go quickly, don’t delay.”
Since he didn’t recognize them, Su Laosan didn’t want to waste any more time.
“Wait, wait!”
The people on the bicycles seemed to see that these people were about to leave, so they shouted loudly.
The bicycle bells also rang incessantly.
Soon, the bicycles reached the small cars, and the people were all out of breath.
Su Laosan finished speaking and called for everyone to get in the car.
[Author’s Note]
Today is another large chapter of six thousand words. There will be no more additions, my dears. Please vote! Don’t forget to vote after reading!