Chapter 133: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 134: 1970s Hutong Daily Life (32)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

In life, the people around us come and go; in the end, few remain to keep us company.

Shen Yao took such things in stride, blessing Zhao Yueyue and Cheng Shuang in her heart so they could get their wishes, then focused on her own life.

……

"Taking the two children to school again."

"Yeah, going to university in a couple of days, want to spend more time with the two kids."

"Oh my, our courtyard has produced a university student; saying it out there makes people envious."

"Envious of what? When Auntie's children grow up, they'll be university students too."

"I'll take your good words; I don't ask them to be university students, just getting into a secondary technical school is fine, as long as they have books to read."

……

Conversations like the ones above basically existed every day Shen Yao was at home.

The weather grew cooler, and the start of the semester at Jing City Traditional Chinese Medicine University drew nearer.

After receiving approval from the Canning Factory, Shen Yao ended her work routine early.

After resting at home for over half a month straight, besides packing the bedding and simple clothes she would take to the dormitory, Shen Yao also previewed her university courses in advance.

Her maternal grandfather's traditional Chinese medicine books were packed and sent over by Grandmother-in-law Zhou.

Shen Yao justifiably slipped her own private goods into them, not at all worried about being discovered.

Hua Xia's traditional Chinese medicine culture is profound and ancient; no one dares to guarantee they know everything, and everyone holds the mindset of learning until old age.

Once Shen Yao entered university, she would have more opportunities to bring spiritual plants from the Cultivation World for use.

Clatter—

Shen Yao quickly flipped through the heavy brick-like books in her hands, silently memorizing the medicinal properties of these herbs while not forgetting to compare them with certain spiritual plants from the Cultivation World.

If she found ones with similar effective uses, Shen Yao would quietly note them down to cultivate later.

After all, she still had to consider the issue of thin spiritual energy; some spiritual plants requiring extremely high environmental standards might be beyond Shen Yao's reach for her entire life.

But some ordinary spiritual plants might be taken out and integrated into this world, becoming a new type of herb.

In September, universities across Jing City started their semesters one after another, and Jing City Traditional Chinese Medicine University, where Shen Yao was, was among them.

For Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, who were in elementary school but had not yet started their semester, this timing made them overjoyed, eagerly looking forward to the journey of sending their mother to university.

"Really going? Can't complain of bitterness, can't shout of tiredness."

From Fengshou Hutong to Jing City Traditional Chinese Medicine University was not close, and they also had to carry Shen Yao's luggage; taking the bus was not as convenient as a bicycle.

Although the children were very curious, similarly, their endurance was insufficient.

Shen Yao looked at the sun hanging high above her head, thinking that on such a scorching day, adults walking outside for half a day might not be able to bear it, let alone two small children?

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan nodded and shook their heads, putting on a look that they could persist, which made Shen Yao give in.

Alright, since you want to endure hardship, then let's walk~

Xie Ci'an and Shen Yao each rode a bicycle, with luggage tied to the rear seats, and two children sitting on the front crossbars respectively.

As the bicycles moved, breezes brushed past their faces.

The wind was slightly hot, blowing until their hearts were stirred.

Going to university—just thinking about it made it hard for people to calm down.

Shen Yao's emotions were fine; even after entering university, she remained very calm.

It was the various students passing by around her: some crying softly, some laughing loudly, some chatting with others, and some silently doing things.

The myriad aspects of the human world, thousands of scenes, were vividly displayed in a small university campus.

Shen Yao was a student of the Traditional Chinese Medicine College; after checking in, she went directly to the dormitory building to settle in.

An ordinary six-person dorm; when Shen Yao entered, the people inside were not yet full.

Choosing a lower bunk near the window side, Xie Ci'an seriously organized the luggage and made the bed, while Shen Yao picked up her newly bought basin and took the two children to the water room to fetch water.

The family of four carefully tidied up Shen Yao's bed, then went to the already-opened cafeteria for a meal.

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were greatly disappointed; the food here was not as delicious as at home.

But the two children knew university was not a place to throw tantrums.

Obediently finishing the food they had brought, Shen Yao took them to stroll around the school.

After all, it was a Traditional Chinese Medicine University; the environment inside the campus was very good.

The trees were quiet and secluded, the plants lush and abundant.

"Hurry, sit down and rest your feet; in a while we'll go back with your father."

Shen Yao was a new student; school regulations stipulated that the first semester did not allow moving off-campus to live, but later it could be decided based on circumstances.

Shen Yao planned to live at school first; if she could move out, she would definitely consider it.

Moreover, the area around Jing City Traditional Chinese Medicine University was all schools; by next year when Xie Ci'an started school, they could rent or buy a house nearby to settle down.

But these were matters for next year; for now Shen Yao could only live at school on workdays and ride a bicycle home on rest days.

The two little brats, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, wailed, then twisted themselves onto Shen Yao like twisted hemp ropes, clinging to her and refusing to get up.

They were reluctant to part with their mother; after returning home this time, it would be several days before they could see their mother again.

"If you behave well normally, your father can bring you to see your mother."

Xie Ci'an painted big pies for the two children; compared to the busy Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan after school started, Xie Ci'an, a worker at the Machinery Factory, had time to come over.

Riding a bicycle back and forth took less than half an hour; Xie Ci'an wasn't busy at work and could come over to see his wife anytime.

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were smart; they saw through their father's sinister intentions at a glance.

Shaking their heads to reject their father's pie-in-the-sky behavior, the two children even echoed each other, saying they couldn't be bullied just because they were young.

Xie Ci'an:...

Shen Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud with a puff, hugging and kissing Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, and promised she would definitely return when she had time.

The family of four strolled around Traditional Chinese Medicine University for a little over a day until the sun slanted westward, and only then did Xie Ci'an reluctantly take the two children away.

Shen Yao saw them off at the university gate, and only returned to the dormitory after they had disappeared from sight.

In Shen Yao's Traditional Chinese Medicine College, there were quite a few female students, but it was also a matter of school allocation; her dormitory wasn't entirely composed of Traditional Chinese Medicine College students, with two studying acupuncture and massage, and two studying clinical medicine.

Moreover, there were also considerable differences in age among the students.

Shen Yao thought that at twenty-seven she wasn't young anymore, but there was even a thirty-year-old in the dormitory.

The youngest was twenty-two, and there were students who had just graduated from high school in the last two years and successfully entered university, but according to Shen Yao's current observations, such cases were not common.

Hiss

The six people in the dormitory introduced themselves to one another while eating dinner.

She didn't find any oddballs; they were all ordinary people and seemed like they could get along.

"Little Shen, were the ones who brought you here this morning your spouse and two children?"

"Aiyo, you look really young; you don't look like you've given birth at all."

The dormitory elder sister, Xu Huixin, who was already thirty years old, spoke with emotion.

She lived in the bed directly opposite Shen Yao, with a table between them, facing each other from half a side.

It was a six-person dorm; there were three long tables in the middle, and two people per table had separated themselves from the moment they entered.

Shen Yao smiled, "Sister Xu, you're also young; it's not easy for everyone to have this opportunity to go to school."

All six people in the dormitory were married; except for Lv Yi, who was twenty-two and had no children, every household had kids.

Like Xu Huixin, who had three children at home and whose hometown wasn't Jing Shi; being able to come out to study was truly overcoming countless difficulties.

"Yes, we are lucky to be able to come out; there are many people who haven't even passed the exam, and even those who passed can't get out."

"Hmph, every family has its own hard-to-recite scripture; everyone should cherish the opportunity and absolutely not let themselves down."

"..."

Once the topic reached this point, it became unstoppable; although they weren't familiar with each other, they could all understand the hardships of persisting all these years.

Starting from Xu Huixin and ending with Lv Yi, the six people each talked about their own situations over these years, while sighing at the various stories they had seen.

Shen Yao's worldview was completely shocked by the gossip brought by her roommates.

Compared to things like proxy exam-taking, tearing up admission notices, forced buying and selling, and bride-swapping marriages, the things happening in their college could only be considered minor skirmishes.

The dormitory lights were turned off, and everyone fell asleep in the deep night.

Shen Yao didn't sleep well that night, also because she wasn't used to being away from home.

Furthermore, before dawn, someone outside was already getting up to wash, and the soundproofing was poor, so those with light sleep would all be startled awake.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao wiped her face with a fierce expression, then quietly got down to dress.

Carrying the thermos and basin to the washing room outside to clean herself up; by the time Shen Yao returned, the five people in the dormitory were all up.

"It's been more than ten years; everyone's enthusiasm for learning won't cool down in a short while."

Shen Yao and Xu Huixin were from the Traditional Chinese Medicine College, and even the same department.

The two of them ate breakfast together and then went to class.

It wasn't exactly formal class, because it wasn't yet class time; it was just classmates from the same department meeting and getting to know each other first, then selecting a class monitor and other persons in charge for easier class management.

Neither Shen Yao nor Xu Huixin was the type willing to join in such liveliness.

When people arrived, they just served as background boards, watching someone volunteer themselves and following along with the fun.

The students in Shen Yao's department were generally not young. So compared to the liveliness of other colleges, their side was considered quiet.

Time always passed quickly; in the blink of an eye, Shen Yao had been studying at Traditional Chinese Medicine University for nearly two months.

From Monday to Friday she was busy with classes, going to the library, and asking teachers for advice; on Saturdays and Sundays she went home to accompany her two children and didn't forget to show her face at the Canning Factory.

Although Shen Yao was now suspended with pay at the Canning Factory, some things couldn't be measured by money; many benefits of the Canning Factory were inseparable from Shen Yao's promotion.

And in Jing Shi in November, because of the division of fields to households in small villages in other provinces, a new wave of enthusiasm was triggered.

"This also shows that the country is making active adjustments; in the long run, it will definitely be more beneficial than harmful."

Shen Yao and Gu Wen Shu sat in the cafeteria chatting; the two had been partners in the Fifth Workshop for several years and had a very good relationship.

Even Gu Wen Shu vaguely had the intention of handing over his position to Shen Yao after he retired.

However, those were ultimately too far away; Shen Yao didn't know what her future would be like, so she could only do her best for now.

Gu Wen Shu nodded, "The country needs development."

Shen Yao agreed; that the country could surpass other countries' hundred years of development in just a few decades made anyone proud of such a country.

Returning home from the Canning Factory, Shen Yao and Xie Ci'an chatted about the current situation of the country.

Everything was developing in a good direction; even news about universities enrolling students for higher degrees had been fully spread, so Xie Ci'an only needed to prepare with peace of mind for next year's exam.

As for the house, "I've already asked someone; if there's no rush, just settle it before the start of next year's school term."

Xie Ci'an embraced Shen Yao and also talked about recent events in Fengshou Hutong.

Sent-down youth began to return to their hometowns one after another; once there were too many people, society would find it hard to remain stable.

Furrowing and then relaxing his brow, "No problems have appeared yet, but with more and more people, it's bound to be a big thunderbolt sooner or later."

Shen Yao naturally understood Xie Ci'an's worries, but they couldn't worry about such matters.

"We can only tell Mom and them to be careful; if they can avoid going out, don't go out for the time being."

The Lunar New Year is coming up soon; whatever the matter, let's wait until after the holiday to discuss it.

Even after the holiday, things might not improve, after all, this is a social issue.

There aren't that many work posts in the city, and the cost of living in the city is high.

Various causes and effects piled up together, further pushing future personal business development.

People must eat and make a living; who would be willing to go hungry?

Turning her head, Shen Yao whispered a few words to Tian Na, and Tian Na answered very readily.

"Rest assured, I've kept it in mind; during this period I'll keep a tighter rein on Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan."

The sensitivity of the older generation isn't just talk; Tian Na understands far more than Shen Yao and Xie Ci'an.

Throughout the entire New Year period, the Xie family stayed low-key and quiet in the courtyard.

……

As time entered 1981, the entire Jing Shi was undergoing earth-shaking changes.

"Yao Yao, you and An Zi have come; just right, I have something to say, come sit together and listen."

Tian Na waved her hand; in the main hall of the main courtyard, the Xie family's large and small were packed tightly together.

Including Xie Lao Er's family of four living in the tongzilou were also called back by Tian Na.

Shen Yao looked at such a scene before her eyes, thinking that what her grandmother-in-law said was definitely not a small matter.

Sure enough, as soon as Tian Na opened her mouth it was like throwing a bomb into water, with a bang it directly exploded.

Xie Aidang was surprised, "Mom, you want to go South?"

Xie Aimin was puzzled, "What's there to see South, there are many people and it's dangerous."

Wu Zhaodi's eyes lit up, "Mom, why don't you take me along too."

Wang Yanyan followed to join the fun, "I heard the South is developing well, especially Guang City, the newly produced clothing fabric is very popular."

Xie Ci'an and Shen Yao: ……

Tian Na waved her hand with a few words like go away, then explained she was just going there for an inspection.

"Not just me, there's also Grandmother-in-law of the in-laws, the two of us will go together."

"Oh, right, your father and them are all following, no need to worry about safety issues."

After Tian Na finished speaking, the first to react was Shen Yao, because the Grandmother-in-law of the in-laws referred to was Grandmother-in-law Zhou.

"Mom, Reform and Opening Up has just begun, the South is unstable, you going for an inspection is fine, but some things still need to be stabilized, let's take it slow."

Afraid her grandmother-in-law's steps were too big and would implicate herself, Shen Yao hurriedly opened her mouth to persuade.

Not only Shen Yao, others also followed to persuade, Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan were no longer fanning the flames.

Tian Na made a hmph sound, "Rest assured, we are just inspection plus what was it, is it tour."

Anyway it's a very fashionable word, and it was said by Grandmother-in-law Zhou, Grandmother-in-law Zhou even curled a popular curled hairstyle for herself, which was very popular throughout Fengshou Hutong, making many aunties and aunts unable to help but follow the trend.

During this period Shen Yao saw many Golden-haired Lion King styles, all business brought by her grandmother. (No offense intended, that curled thing, my family members also did it, it indeed looks a bit like Golden-haired Lion King.)