Chapter 151

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"Back then, our family was truly poor."

Uncle had been stirred up by Second Sister buying a suitcase and had completely lost his sleepiness: "I remember Second Sister going down to the countryside for re-education; every time she came home, she carried a large bamboo basket full of sweet potatoes, saying she had saved them for a long time and couldn't bear to eat them, carrying them all back."

"That's right."

Chen Xiulan smiled bitterly: "There wasn't much to eat in the countryside, just lots of sweet potatoes. From the village where I was re-educated to the long-distance bus station in the county, it was six li. That basket was crushing on my shoulders, so heavy I wanted to throw it away, cursing and swearing I'd never carry it again."

"Forgot once back home."

Uncle joked with a smile: "You'd carry it again next time you came back."

"Ay ay."

Chen Xiulan laughed awkwardly: "It's just because our family was poor. I thought carrying back a little more was better than nothing, to ease Mom's burden."

"What year was that?"

Aunt found it interesting and asked again.

"'69."

Chen Xiulan remembered it vividly: "The year I went down to the countryside, I was only eighteen, about the same age as Xiyu. People from the street came to our house to mobilize, asking every family to send someone down to the countryside for re-education. I thought: Eldest Sister had already started working, my younger brother was still small, there was no one else at home, so I had to go. Back then I was truly foolish, understanding nothing; when they told me to go, I went, without thinking about what would happen there or whether I could ever come back."

"Fortunately, Second Sister didn't marry locally."

Uncle smiled luckily: "Otherwise she'd have stayed in the countryside and couldn't come back."

"That's our mom being wise."

Chen Xiulan admired her mother to the point of prostration: "Before going down to the countryside, our mom told me not to find a partner in the countryside, but to definitely find someone working in the city, marry someone close to home so they could take care of each other."

"I listened to Mom. Whoever introduced a partner, I wasn't willing. Several who went down to the countryside with me got married locally."

"At first life was quite comfortable, better than us single ones. Later a policy came out allowing educated youth to return to the city. Every household started making a fuss—some divorced, some couldn't leave because they had to drag their whole family. Anyone who stayed in the countryside regretted it."

——

"It's rare to hear Second Sister talk about these things; quite interesting."

Aunt was young and hadn't experienced going down to the countryside for re-education; she listened with great interest.

"Our three children..."

Chen Xiulan smiled bitterly: "I suffered the most and endured the most hardship."

"I think so too..."

Uncle nodded in agreement: "Eldest Sister got a job from Dad before he got sick and became muddleheaded, at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. She never went down to the countryside and was never persecuted. She's the luckiest of us three."

"Eldest Sister is blessed."

Chen Xiulan rubbed her forehead and sighed lightly: "She also found a partner easily. Brother-in-law's family lives at Qinglong Bridge, close by. If either family has something, they can look after and help each other."

"Not like me. I found a soldier. At first we lived apart in two places. After having a child, no one helped look after them, so I had to bring them to school, taking care of the child while attending class. Finally I hoped he'd be transferred back, but after enjoying only a few years of happiness, the person was gone..."

"That's fate."

Grandma couldn't bear to listen and patted her shoulder comfortingly: "If Yanluo Ye says you walk at the third watch, he won't keep you until the fifth. Think it through, and all worries are gone. If you can't, you can only suffer yourself."

"Second Sister has such a thoughtful and filial good daughter as Xiyu, and also a promising good son-in-law like Xiao Bin..."

Uncle's tongue was unusually nimble for once, speaking especially well: "In the future, she'll definitely be like our mom, getting better and better, enjoying her old-age blessings."

"I think so too..."

Aunt sincerely envied: "Xiyu, one daughter, tops my Eldest Brother's three sons. If I had such a daughter, I'd wake up laughing in my dreams."

"You already have one, don't you."

Chen Xiulan, hearing the couple sing in harmony, praising her daughter as a flower, was in a good mood and joked with them: "While the child is small, educate them well from a young age, and they'll surely become talented."

"Hope so. If this little one grows up to have half of Xiyu's promise, I'll be satisfied."

Aunt had raised the child for a few days and had already developed feelings. Hearing she could become talented, although she said politely with her mouth, she was sincerely happy for the little baby from the bottom of her heart.

"Time to eat."

While the women were chatting, Lin Xiyu had already prepared lunch and came out from the kitchen carrying the prepared tomato and egg soup.

A little white sugar was added to the soup. The tomatoes were sweet and sour and delicious, sesame oil was drizzled over the egg flowers, and the fresh fragrance wafted to the nose.

It looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful, making one full of appetite.

"So fragrant."

Uncle gave very strong support: "Xiyu's cooking has been getting better and better since she filmed the documentary."

"When will the documentary be edited and the whole episode broadcast?"

Chen Xiulan felt very proud: "If we had a VCR at home, we could record it."

"How much does a VCR cost?"

Aunt asked, following her train of thought.

"Two or three thousand, maybe."

Chen Xiulan wasn't actually clear either; she had just estimated a price.

"Too expensive, can't afford it."

Uncle was shocked upon hearing it and kept shaking his head.

"No need to buy it. It's not worth it for one film."

Lin Xiyu smiled indifferently, first placed Grandma's soup bowl on the table, then turned back to the kitchen.

"Don't just keep talking."

Grandma ordered her children to work: "Hurry and go help serve the rice."

"I'll go."

Chen Xiulan was used to listening to her mother and rushed toward the kitchen first.

—

September in Jinan is traditionally said to have an "autumn tiger"; early mornings and evenings are cool and comfortable, but with the sun out during the day, it remains stiflingly hot.

The maternal aunt looked after the children at night and didn't rest well, urgently needing a nap at noon to replenish her strength.

After lunch, Lin Xiyu sat in the small house built in the backyard, watching the public phone for her maternal aunt while also reading magazines she liked.

Her maternal aunt was experienced in running the telephone booth, knew how to pick magazines to follow trends, and understood the preferences of young people today.

A magazine called Fashion that she ordered sold the best, selling out every issue.

Lin Xiyu also loved fashion magazines, especially liking the exotic-style fashion models on the picture pages.

Whether blue eyes and white skin or black eyes and black skin, as long as it was a devilish figure with golden proportions, it could make her especially fascinated.

"Tsk tsk, look at how long her legs are, so thin and straight, not a bit of excess flesh."

She stared at the model on the picture page, watching without blinking, and didn't notice anyone approaching.

"What are you muttering about?"

A clear laugh rang out from above her head, startling her so much her heart gave a thump.

"Why did you scare me?"

Seeing who it was, she patted her frightened little heart, her eyes full of resentment.

"When did I scare you?"

Guben flicked her forehead, speechless at someone's turning the tables: "You were just too absorbed in looking yourself, your eyes almost stuck to it, you didn't even know someone was coming over."

"How did you come? Is something the matter?"

Lin Xiyu closed the book, her expression a bit unnatural.

Guben retorted: "Can't I come if there's nothing wrong?"

"There's a custom that says..."

Lin Xiyu gave an awkward smile: "It's unlucky to meet before the engagement, so meeting isn't appropriate."

"You're quite superstitious..."

Guben laughed in anger: "How come I've never heard of this custom?"

"It's on TV..."

Lin Xiyu spouted nonsense with a straight face: "Forgot which TV series it was, anyway that's what they say."

"Watch fewer TV series from now on."

Guben patted her head, smiling and teasing: "You're almost watching yourself stupid, even believing made-up plots."

"Plots come from life."

Lin Xiyu swatted his hand away and retorted unhappily: "I just like watching TV series, especially Hong Kong series, The Legend of the Condor Heroes, The Return of the Condor Heroes, never tire of them, love them super much."

"You bought the sticker picture just for that?"

Guben produced a Weng Meiling sticker picture from his pocket like a magic trick and waved it in front of her eyes.

"Ah, my Weng Meiling, why is it with you? Did you steal it? I was wondering why I couldn't find it..."

Lin Xiyu widened her eyes in surprise, reached her hand out the window, wanting to snatch it back.

"You didn't keep it safe yourself, it fell on the ground, and you're blaming me?"

Guben reacted quickly, dodged to the side, and made her lunge at empty air.

"Give it back to me."

Lin Xiyu, unwilling to give up, opened the door and ran out of the small house.

"Won't give it back..."

Guben deliberately teased her, raised his arm, and turned to dodge.

Lin Xiyu was short and couldn't reach his hand, stamping her feet in anger. The two chased and laughed on the street, attracting the attention of many people.

"That girl looks a bit familiar, as if I've seen her somewhere..."

"Hey, isn't she the girl filming the Quan Shui Family Documentary?"

"I think so too. Does she live here? I've never seen her before."

"Seems like they just moved here; that public phone is run by her family..."

"Come on, let's go take a look; I happen to want to make a phone call..."

"You just want to see the beauty, right?"

"So what if I do? A beauty rarely comes to our Qinglong Back Street; we must give the beauty some support."

"That's true; I also want to make a phone call."

"Tsk~~, your little thoughts, I won't expose you."

The beauty's charm was invincible; before long, Lin Xiyu's small house was swamped by onlookers, and people queuing for the public phone stretched from the alley entrance to the alley's end.

"Hoo."

Guben helplessly rubbed his forehead, watching his girlfriend surrounded by people with impure intentions, his handsome face turning as dark as the bottom of a pot.

—

That evening, Chen Xiulan's goal was achieved, giving her daughter a big surprise.

Lin Xiyu saw the valuable suitcase, excitedly covered her mouth with her hand, and after a long while came to her senses, hugging her with red eyes.

"Xiyu..."

Chen Xiulan patted her daughter's back, feeling a bit reluctant: "You're leaving the day after tomorrow; Mom can't see you off. You must take this three hundred yuan for living expenses. If you don't take it, Mom won't be able to explain it to Grandma."

"I have money, really, I don't need it."

Lin Xiyu didn't want her to worry, took the pocket money she had saved from the closet: "Mom, look, there's over three thousand yuan here; deducting tuition and boarding fees, plus the hundred you give me every month, it's enough for a year."

"Keep your own money."

Chen Xiulan, the eldest daughter, comforted her: "Prices are high in Shanghai, expenses are big; once you go there, don't wrong yourself, eat more nutritious things, don't be stingy with money."

"Mom, don't worry."

Lin Xiyu rubbed against her shoulder affectionately like a little cat: "I'm already eighteen years old, I can take care of myself; besides, the school has a canteen, the food will definitely be cheaper than outside, I won't go without a bite to eat......"

"As long as you know what you're doing......"

Chen Xiulan smiled with relief, then said: "By the way, Mom bought you some envelopes and stamps; long-distance phone calls are too expensive, no need to waste that money; when you have time, write a letter home, so Grandma won't worry."

"Mm."

Lin Xiyu readily agreed: "I'll write every week."

"Mom will have your younger brother write back to you."

Chen Xiulan, as expected of a teacher, let no opportunity for her son to practice writing slip by.

"Xiao Yi should be crying......"

Lin Xiyu saw through her mother's real intention and silently lit a candle for her younger brother.

"He's your own younger brother."

Chen Xiulan said righteously: "Isn't it only right to write back to your elder sister?"

"Right, so right......"

Lin Xiyu stifled a smile and echoed with a serious face.

"Is your luggage packed? Is there anything else you need to bring?"

Chen Xiulan, satisfied, turned her gaze to the newly bought suitcase.

"Almost done."

Lin Xiyu had read the admission notice and already had a plan in mind: "Bed sheets, pillows, quilts, mosquito nets—none need to be brought, the school will provide them; Shanghai's winter isn't as cold as the North, no need for thick cotton clothes either, just bring a few long-sleeved shirts and jackets."

"Bring sweaters too; the sweater Mom knitted for you is thick and warmer than those bought outside; even though Shanghai is in the South, the winter is damp and cold, you can't go without a sweater."

Chen Xiulan was like all mothers in the world, afraid her daughter would freeze, always feeling her daughter's clothes were never enough, always missing one piece.

"Fine, then I'll bring it."

Lin Xiyu couldn't bear to refuse her kindness, didn't say it outright; the sweater knitted last year was already too small for her, wearing it was too tight, making it hard to breathe.

"You keep packing; I'll go check your younger brother's homework, see if he's finished......"

Chen Xiulan apparently forgot that adolescent girls develop quickly, didn't notice the flash of embarrassment on her daughter's face; seeing her agree, she nodded with satisfaction and stood up from the chair.

"Tomorrow is the weekend; no need to rush so much, is there?"

Lin Xiyu shed a tear of sympathy for her younger brother: "There are still two days to write."

"He's not like you; if you don't watch him closely, he won't study properly."

Chen Xiulan kept a tight watch on her son, not relaxing for a moment.

Lin Xiyu knew more talk was useless; watching her mother go into the next room, before long, she indeed heard Xu Yi let out a howl, a beast-like dissatisfied roar.

Protest was useless; the tug-of-war between mother and son continued.

She smiled helplessly, returned to her own room, took out several cotton swabs from the drawer, pulled off the cotton, and stuffed her ears.

—

On the first auspicious day of September, the Engagement Banquet was held as scheduled.

Relatives and friends who came upon hearing the news came in an endless stream; the banquet hall on the second floor of Dongfang Building was packed.

Guben's great-great-grandfather personally attended, speaking on stage as a representative of the groom's relatives and friends, offering blessings to the two lovers.

Worth mentioning is that Qu Peng also returned; the four childhood friends reunited, naturally with endless things to say, the atmosphere unprecedentedly—harmonious.

"Qu Peng, you kid, you're finally willing to come back."

Wang Fan grabbed Qu Peng's neck as soon as he came up and gave him a heavy blow: "I thought you'd been dazzled by the prosperity of Jingcheng, disliked us locals, and were unwilling to deal with us small-town people anymore."