Chapter 382: The Great Era is Coming

At the end of March, Zhou Rong sent a letter saying that Feng Huacheng's unit came forward and saved him. He was detained for a month, and nothing happened. She also said that when Feng Huacheng returns, the two will meet, and then they will pack up and return to Jichun.

It was also at this time that Shao Jingwen came to find him again, to see if Feng Huacheng had returned. And said that if he didn't return, he would miss the special issue commemorating the leaders, and could only cooperate next time.

Zhou Bingkun smiled and said that he would definitely contact him when Feng Huacheng returned, and warmly sent Shao Jingwen away. He remembered his good brother's words, so there must be a reason for saying so. And to tell the truth, after the previous incident, he felt that Feng Huacheng was not very reliable. He had culture, was a celebrity, he admitted, and also admired him. But he didn't understand, why did that poem have to be recited in a crowd? After all, if it wasn't recited, there wouldn't be so many messy things. He thought Feng Huacheng had a bag in his head. So although he had that poem that caused trouble in his hand, he still listened to his brother and didn't spread it.

He didn't think self-righteously that since Zhou Rong had already written a letter, it was fine. Because compared to an eldest sister who was old but didn't understand human relationships, he was more willing to believe his good brother who always said what he said and had a higher position.

Of course, Feng Huacheng didn't disappoint people.

When Zhou Rong breathed a sigh of relief and was ready to pack up and return to her long-lost hometown, she didn't wait for Feng Huacheng. She found out that Feng Huacheng had gone to Beijing.

Anxious, she made three phone calls to Zhou Bingkun, Cai Xiaoguang, and Wang Yan, explaining the situation. She told Zhou Bingkun that she was going to Beijing, leaving the child at home, not to tell Li Suhua, and to take good care of Li Suhua and Feng Yue, and told him to find Cai Xiaoguang and Wang Yan if anything happened. She told Cai Xiaoguang, explained the process, and asked him to take care of Zhou Bingkun. She told Wang Yan that he had to put more heart into the family and take more care...

After another period of time, news came back that a large group of people had been arrested in Beijing, but no news of Zhou Rong and Feng Huacheng had been received...

In mid-April, spring returned to the earth, and swallows returned to their nests.

In the canteen of the City First Hospital, doctors in white coats were bustling, and Zhou Bingkun was eating white steamed buns in big mouthfuls: "Brother, won't my sister and Feng Huacheng be in trouble?"

Wang Yan shook his head: "Don't worry, it's not a big deal, it's just being detained for a while, it's no big deal."

"Brother, my own brother, is that not a big deal? If my mom finds out, she will fall down immediately, do you believe it!"

"Then you don't let her know, it's been a month since this was hidden, and it won't be a big problem for a few more months. I've conditioned Auntie these years, and her body is quite good. Actually, it's not a big problem if she finds out, but we can't take risks, so hide it. I estimate that it will be fine before the New Year."

"Then it can only be like this." Zhou Bingkun nodded, feeling a little lucky in his heart: "Thanks to the fact that I didn't give the poem Feng Huacheng wrote to Shao Jingwen before, otherwise I would have been in it this time, thank you, Brother."

"You're doing this to me again." Wang Yan gave him a kick, which he dodged with a silly laugh: "You have to thank yourself, I said what I said, but if you don't believe or listen, no one can save you."

"You are my brother, can I not believe you?" Zhou Bingkun said: "Then what about my mom? It's only April now, and there are still eight or nine months until the New Year. With such a long time, my sister has no movement, can she not think too much?"

"You write a letter yourself, she doesn't know how to read, just fool her and it will pass."

"Hmm, this works. Then later when Mom nags, I'll write

For this period, Wang Yan had dumped the child at the old Zhou house. There were many children there; not counting Zhou Jianhua and Feng Yue, there were other boys from the neighborhood. A bunch of little brats playing noisily, and Wang Jianye didn't even want to come back. After all, with his mother, it was basically reading and learning characters at home; with his father, it was still reading and learning characters. Not only was there little time to play, but there weren't many companions either. The old Zhou house was much livelier.

After chatting with Zhou Bingkun about the children for a while, lunch was over, and then everyone went about their own business. Life went on as usual, and there was no impact from the affairs of Zhou Rong and Feng Huacheng...

In early July, another important leader passed away, once again causing national grief. But before people could react, bad news followed one after another. In late July, the Tang City earthquake, which affected hundreds of thousands of people, erupted in the middle of a night when no one was prepared. Many people left in their sleep, and even more suffered in the underground, dying in pain. Countless people looked at their ruined homes in despair, unable to shed a single tear.

After confirming the situation, the government urgently launched earthquake relief efforts. As the number one Divine Physician in the Northeast and an outstanding Party member, Wang Yan volunteered to lead a team to the disaster area. His apprentices, including Zheng Guangming, all followed, along with other doctors, urgently assembling to head south.

After the earthquake occurred, it was extremely dangerous because there would still be aftershocks. This greatly increased the difficulty and danger of the relief work. In this process, the casualties among the relief fighters throughout were also in the tens of thousands. The saying goes that while disasters are heartless, people have hearts. Various moving stories, various sacrifices and dedications, the military and civilians as one—the great power of the people was once again revealed.

At such times, individual strength is actually limited. Even if Wang Yan led people to work around the clock, his contribution to the overall disaster situation was negligible. But at least he had given his all, and his heart felt somewhat settled.

At the end of August, Wang Yan returned to Jichun with a group of exhausted doctors.

In September, the great leader passed away, and the whole country mourned.

In October, the 'Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside' movement ended...

In November, Zhou Rong, who had been out of touch for a long time, finally made a move, saying she had been released and was going back to Qian Province with Feng Huacheng to handle some matters. The child would stay here for now, asking Li Suhua, Zhou Bingkun, Wang Yan, and others to take extra care. Of course, she didn't forget to notify Cai Xiaoguang. Cai Xiaoguang was a man of action; over the past six months, he would come by from time to time to stroll around and check on Li Suhua's situation, and they were quite close.

It was also this month that Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin, who had been imprisoned for six years for speculation and profiteering, were released. They quickly disposed of their house here, and after getting a sum of money, they didn't stay, heading directly south to the south. Their future was bright, and they became among the first to get rich after the reforms. Of course, that was their original fate; now, it remained to be seen.

During the 1977 Spring Festival, not a single relative of the Zhou family returned from away. Zhou Zhigang still sent a letter urging Li Suhua to take care of her health and urging Zhou Bingkun and Wang Yan to do their jobs well and educate the children well. Zhou Bingyi sent a letter explaining the situation, also saying that after the New Year, Hao Dongmei's father would resume work, most likely still at the Jiangliao Provincial Committee. Zhou Rong said they hadn't been back to Qian Province for half a year, had many things to do, and couldn't get away for the moment, again urging them to look after Feng Yue and take care of Li Suhua.

Li Suhua was very sad because her wish for the whole family to be reunited had not been fulfilled for eight years, and there was always separation. But she wasn't too sad, because the son, daughter-in-law, nephew, nephew's wife, and a house full of little brats around her were always lively and always gave people hope for a beautiful future.

Before the New Year, Zheng's mother fell ill. After Wang Yan cured her, Zheng's mother couldn't hold on; her body collapsed and went from bad to worse. Wang Yan told Zheng Juan very firmly that this was Zheng's mother's last New Year. So for this New Year, Zheng's mother and Zheng Guangming came together, not waiting to gather later.

On the third day of the New Year, at the gathering of Zhou Bingkun and his good friends, although Xiao Guoqing's wife, Wu Qian, was still as nagging as ever, chattering endlessly about trivial family matters, being picky about this and that, generally speaking, they were still doing quite well, better than most people of the same period.

Cao Debao, Lv Chuan, and Tang Xiangyang were still doing slag removal work at the soy sauce factory. Although they still had some complaints about Qu Xiuzhen transferring Zhou Bingkun to the sales department in '73, where his salary was higher than theirs, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible. After all, Zhou Bingkun had indeed done them a favor, and at that time, his good brother Wang Yan had already been transferred to the city hospital and was already somewhat famous, which was something they couldn't compare to.

Besides, Wang Yan hadn't relied on anyone else's help; he had seen patients one by one, even though those patients all had some status. But in the end, he relied on his own skills. They were also convinced by someone of similar age achieving such great success in such a short time. And most importantly, they had also benefited quite a bit over the years. Not to mention medical treatment, even during the New Year, the things Zhou Bingkun gave them were all good things that were hard to buy and not cheap. They naturally knew that all of that was brought back by Wang Yan.

Xiao Guoqing and Sun Ganchao were also still working at the lumber mill. Their wives, Wu Qian and Yu Hong, were still working at the state-run restaurant and sugar refinery. They were all quite stable, all state-run employees, holding so-called 'iron rice bowls'. There was some life pressure—after all, except for Zhou Bingkun, no family had it easy—but it wasn't too much, just the normal trivialities.

They wouldn't have thought that this gathering was their most relaxed one. Great changes in the country were coming, and for everyone living on this land, it was a severe challenge. Most people were knocked down, and they were no exception.

People all think they are the center of the world, the heaven-ordained protagonist, but only when they reach a certain point do they know they are just ordinary people among the masses. Wang Yan knew this when he graduated from a crappy university and was just selling things for a living. It's just that later, he really did become the heaven-ordained protagonist.

In April, Zheng's mother, who had lived a few more years, finally collapsed. On the warm kang in those two rooms in Taiping Alley, Zheng's mother held the hands of Zheng Juan and Zheng Guangming, chattering about their childhood. She no longer hid the fact that she had picked up the sister and brother, Zheng Juan and Zheng Guangming, one after another. She told Zheng Juan about what happened back then, told her about the interesting story of Zheng Juan asking where her father was when she was a child; she told it with a smile, and she left with a smile...

Seventeen-year-old Zheng Guangming was a good child, but also a stubborn one. He didn't want to cause trouble for Zheng Juan and insisted on living at home by himself. It was only after Wang Yan used himself as an example to persuade him that he moved to the old Zhou house to live with them. Li Suhua was naturally welcoming; it wasn't like there was no room at home, and Zheng Guangming was very likable. Zheng Guangming took over the work of carrying water and taking out the trash. He wasn't as sturdy as Zhou Bingkun, but he was just as diligent; if once wasn't enough, he'd do it twice, and trip by trip, he could get things done. Li Suhua said he was exactly the same as Wang Yan when he was little.

At the end of August, rumors spread that there was some controversy in the upper levels about whether to resume the college entrance examination. And the subsequent suspension of the recommendation for college admission confirmed this. Countless men and women in the fields and factories saw hope, and they picked up their books again.

In October, the national leadership unified their opinions and announced the resumption of the college entrance examination. In the middle of the month, radio stations and other media published the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination as a headline, and this exciting news quickly spread across the country.

All workers, farmers, 'up to the mountains and down to the countryside' and returning educated youth, demobilized soldiers, cadres, and fresh high school graduates who met the enrollment conditions could voluntarily sign up. The time for the college entrance examination was decided by each province according to its own situation, and the questions were also set by each province independently.

The college entrance examination halls, which had been closed for eleven years, opened their doors again, and more than 5.7 million candidates with different backgrounds, ages, and identities flooded into the examination halls. It started in mid-November and ended in late December. Wang Yan knew that among them, fewer than 300,000 people would be able to step into the gates of higher education.

Chen Jing, who had been preparing for two years, naturally also participated in the college entrance examination, and she applied to Beijing University. The questions for this session were simple, and with Wang Yan's occasional guidance, there was naturally no problem. As for the previous communications, Zhou Bingyi, Hao Dongmei, and Zhou Rong also mentioned the news of participating in the college entrance examination and urged Zhou Bingkun to sign up and take it too. Zhou Zhigang also sent a letter about this matter, meaning that whether he could do it or not, he should compare himself and then decide.

Zhou Bingkun had heard his good brother say this two years ago, and he had already figured it out and was mentally prepared, so he didn't even sign up, too lazy to compare himself.

During the 1978 Spring Festival, it was another year where no one from the Zhou family returned home.

Before the New Year, the group from the Zhou family started communicating with each other, discussing returning home for the New Year. After writing letters and making phone calls back and forth, they finally made it clear. Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Rong, the brother and sister, were confident that passing the college entrance examination wouldn't be a big problem because they had never given up on learning over the years and had been self-studying the courses, and this time the questions were simple, so they were very confident.

So they decided not to go home for the New Year this year; it was so far away, why bother? They would wait until after school started and come back during the summer vacation. Zhou Zhigang hadn't intended to come back this year, but seeing that there was going to be a grand reunion, he happily agreed, and would also take leave to go home for the reunion when the time came.

"Oh my, in another five or six months, everyone will be back, how wonderful."

On the night of the 30th, Li Suhua, Zhou Bingkun, Zheng Juan, Wang Yan, and Chen Jing, the five of them sat on the warm kang, drinking tea, eating melon seeds, and listening to Li Suhua's nagging. As for the bunch of little brats, Zheng Guangming was taking them outside to set off small firecrackers.

Zhou Bingkun said: "Mom, I know you're looking forward to it; you've been nagging about this since the 'Little New Year' until now, I'm already tired of hearing it."

"What's wrong, your mom nags for just a few days and you're not happy to listen?" Li Suhua gave her second son a slap without a good temper: "I'm tired of seeing you every day too. Go, stay away from me."

"Mom, let's not lower ourselves to his level; you have something to look forward to, you're happy."

"Right, it still has to be Juan'er. For Bingkun to be able to marry someone like you, he must have burned high incense."

Zhou Bingkun laughed: "Then it couldn't be that I attracted you?"

Li Suhua curled her lips and ignored her youngest son.

After the laughter and noise, Zhou Bingkun sighed: "Brother, after this year I'll be twenty-seven; in a blink of an eye, it'll be thirty. Didn't you say before that I could earn several 'ten-thousand-yuan households'? I haven't reached the time to get rich yet?"

"What's going on? Several 'ten-thousand-yuan households'?"

Not only was Li Suhua surprised, but Zheng Juan and Chen Jing on the side were also full of questions.

Zhou Bingkun laughed: "Mom, back in '73, when Cao Debao snuck into Chunyan's bed, remember? My brother said he read my fortune and said I could get rich before thirty. The year before last, when I and my brother sent off my eldest brother, my brother said your youngest son could earn several 'ten-thousand-yuan households'."

"Don't listen to your brother fooling you; several 'ten-thousand-yuan households', earning one would be good enough." Li Suhua said: "To earn money, you need education. Your dad asked you to sign up and try, but you wouldn't go. That thing doesn't cost much money, what if you passed? Oh my, I get angry just talking about this. You say your eldest brother, your second sister, and Dongmei and Jing'er, they all took it. What would happen if you tried?"

"Auntie, you've misunderstood Bingkun on this." Wang Yan explained with a smile on the side: "The year before last, I asked him, and he said he knew his own limits, that he wasn't cut out for school, and also said he had to earn money to support the family, had to take care of you, and Zheng Juan and them, and that the family couldn't be without someone."

"Hmm, not cut out for school is true. As for taking care of me, do I need you to take care of me? Your dad is the one who earns money; he's an eighth-grade worker, isn't supporting us easy?"

Speaking of Zhou Zhigang being an eighth-grade worker, Li Suhua was very proud; after all, her own man could earn money. In the whole Guangzipian, there weren't many eighth-grade workers, and they were much worse off than their family. Of course, she was also very moved by her youngest son's painstaking efforts. For so many years, hadn't it been her youngest son managing everything?

However, after Li Suhua finished speaking, she smiled and gently patted her youngest son: "But I can't say you aren't cut out for reading; it's just that you were mischievous and naughty since you were little, and didn't put your mind to learning, so whether you're cut out for it or not, it's really hard to tell."

Zhou Bingkun had a good attitude; he shook his head and said: "Mom, stop comforting me. All these years, whenever I couldn't sleep, I'd read to fall asleep; what else is there to learn. Brother, stop changing the subject, hurry up and talk about me getting rich."

"This depends on timing and courage. Now your fortune is already showing, earning a small sum is no problem, but it's still a bit too early, wait and see. I estimate that after our grand reunion, it will be fine. When the time comes, think about finding me, and I'll give you some advice."

Before Zhou Bingkun could speak, Li Suhua said: "What kind of thing needs courage? Xiao Yan, Bingkun doesn't have your ability, don't let him do anything reckless. If something happens to him, Auntie will be anxious with you."

"No, Mom, can't you wish me something good? Nothing has even happened yet, and you're talking about something happening? Besides, could my brother harm me?"

"I'm just afraid."

Glancing at Zheng Juan, who was also a bit worried on the side, Wang Yan smiled: "Auntie, don't worry, I guarantee Bingkun will be safe and healthy. It's just that if you want to earn money, you have to pay a price, right? Sometimes you can't be hesitant, right? Being indecisive will definitely ruin things."

"That's true." Li Suhua sighed: "Speaking of doing things, you really can't be hesitant. You don't know, when I was giving birth to Zhou Rong, it was a difficult labor, and the doctor asked whether to save the mother or the child, and I didn't even think about it and said save the mother. At that time, your eldest brother was only that big; if I were gone, your eldest brother would have had a hard time. Later, his dad even praised me for being decisive. Zhou Rong doesn't know about this, you mustn't tell her. Otherwise, she'd think I'm some kind of mother, let's just leave it at that."

The four of them agreed to keep it a secret, praising Li Suhua's decisiveness, which made the old lady very happy.

Wang Yan said: "Auntie, Bingkun, speaking of the second sister, I have something to say."

"Look at you, child, just say it if you have something."

"Since they've all been admitted to Beijing University, when school starts after the New Year, I plan to take Jianye to send Jing'er to school. By the way, I'll go to the capital to take a look; I haven't been there all these years. I was thinking, should we ask the second sister if Yueyue should be sent over while we're at it?" Wang Yan waved his hand: "Auntie, Bingkun, I don't mean anything else, I'm not looking down on Yueyue or anything. It's just that the child came here at three, and now she's five, she understands things. She's gotten used to staying here, and in the future, she won't be close to the second sister and brother-in-law. When the time comes to take her away, it'll be difficult. This is a big matter, we can't be negligent."

"Such a small child, what can she understand?" Li Suhua shook her head: "It'll be fine after a long time, she'll get along with her parents. Besides, I've been taking care of this child for two years, and sending her away suddenly makes me feel quite uncomfortable."

"Auntie, I understand what you mean. But we can't take it lightly just because the child is small. If she doesn't understand anything else, doesn't she know who she's close to? She might not remember things before three, but now she remembers. To be honest, Auntie, if you didn't take out photos every day for her to recognize people, she wouldn't even know what the second sister and brother-in-law look like. If this continues to develop, Auntie, it really won't be as simple as just spending more time together.

Not to mention Yueyue, take Bingkun, when he was small, he had seen my uncle, but my uncle went out to work and would be gone for a year or two. Bingkun, when you were little, were you a bit distant when you saw your father?"

Zhou Bingkun smiled foolishly in embarrassment, touching the back of his head: "That wasn't being distant, I was scared. My dad would come back once and kick me once; I'd just get used to him after a few days, and then my dad would kick me and leave, wouldn't that be distant?"

"Fine, then we won't worry about her, it looks like it will be after the New Year." Zhou Zhigang groaned: "Alright Little Yan, that's enough, don't say, it still has to be your professional one. Just these two moves, it's more comfortable than Bingyi hammering me for half a day."

"Fine, then I'll ask, and just tell her what my brother said."

"This child, are you stupid? Don't say it's Xiao Yan, just say it's what you think, make it clear, it's not that you don't want to take care of Yueyue, it's that you're worried about their relationship."

"Auntie, it doesn't matter who says it, I don't care that much." Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "Alright, time is almost up, let's wrap dumplings."

"Wrap dumplings, wrap dumplings."

"Oh my, another year..."