Chapter 295: Moving to the Countryside

Zhang Ping'an returned to the room and began teaching Li Aihua the first three forms of the Body Refining Technique hand-in-hand; women have flexible bodies and learn more easily, and it is the same for children.

The reason Zhang Ping'an let them start training after the age of ten was that children's sinews and bones are just beginning to set, and the Body Refining Technique is relatively gentle, placing little burden on the body while still strengthening the sinews and bones.

Of course, Zhang Ping'an was also trying his best to look after the children's developing bodies; in three years, they had only finished learning sixty-three forms of the Body Refining Technique, and in another year or so, they would be able to complete the entire Body Refining.

"Alright, go wash up simply and then come over to eat."

In these few days, Li Aihua had truly witnessed the food situation in Zhang Ping'an's home; there was meat almost every day, even better than the food at her maiden home, though she felt it was normal when she thought about how Zhang Ping'an often went hunting.

When they went to work in the morning, the brothers Shazhu and Damao both had dark circles under their eyes.

"You two... stayed up late?" Zhang Ping'an naturally knew it wasn't from staying up late, but was teasing them on purpose.

"Zhang Shu, this is all your fault."

"???" Zhang Ping'an was dumbfounded. You two don't know how to exercise restraint in paying the "public grain," so how does that involve me?

"The day you came to deliver the wedding candy, I subconsciously sighed, and then I was punished..."

"Me too..."

"So do you want Tiger Penis Wine or Tiger Bone Wine? But I suggest you call a truce for a few days; don't ruin your bodies, get more sleep to recover."

"Tiger Bone Wine is just fine."

The two of them were thirty-one and twenty-nine respectively; they had drunk quite a bit of Tiger Bone Wine over the years, and their bodies were still at their peak, but they couldn't withstand the exhaustion of three times every night.

"Fine, come over after work tonight to get some."

"Got it."

With the Tiger Bone Wine as a foundation, the two of them instantly felt no more pain in their waists or soreness in their legs, feeling like they could climb six flights of stairs in one breath.

Zhang Ping'an went to the Second Section of the Procurement Section and handed out candy to everyone, then went to give wedding candy to Li Huaide; they could also be considered half-matchmakers.

"Factory Director, please have some wedding candy."

"Hahaha, good. You and Li did a great job keeping it secret; I only knew who you were with after you got married."

"Hehe, I was just thinking about keeping a low profile; the wedding was just a meal between the two families to settle it."

"Hmm, keeping a low profile is good too. Your sister-in-law mentioned it at the time, and I even brought it up with Li once, but was rejected. How did Li's older brother loosen up this time?"

"Aihua went to complain to her grandfather."

"Hahaha, I see. So the old commander made a move. How is the old commander's health now?"

Li Huaide naturally knew Li Aihua's grandfather; he had been their commander back in the day, but his health had not been very good since he was injured, requiring long-term rest, and the family rarely disturbed him unless necessary.

"He's doing quite well." Since Li Baoguo hadn't told Li Huaide, Zhang Ping'an naturally couldn't say too much.

"That's good."

Li Huaide hesitated for a moment, but decided to talk about the Zhong Family.

"Ping'an, actually, regarding the Zhong Family..."

"Factory Director, I know everything. Sister-in-law was doing it for my own good at the time, I just didn't expect her to value me so much." Mentioning the Zhong Family, Zhang Ping'an also shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Cough, besides me and your sister-in-law's family, you are probably the one your sister-in-law values most."

"But this matter was ultimately brought up by your sister-in-law, and my father-in-law was a bit in the wrong, so it wasn't easy to intervene in the matters between you at the time."

"I understand everything, Factory Director."

"Hmm, now that you have a wife, go ahead and earn money to support your family."

Zhang Ping'an had been decadent for quite a while before, but now that he was married, there was indeed light in his eyes again.

"Yes."

Time flew like an arrow; in the blink of an eye, a year and a half had passed, and Li Aihua had given birth to a son, named Zhang Weian, which thrilled the elderly couple, Zhang Laohan and his wife.

It was now July of 1968, and this day, Director Wang from the Street Office came to the Siheyuan to begin the mobilization notice for moving to the countryside.

"All those who have reached the age, have multiple children in the family, and do not have steady jobs are within the scope of moving to the countryside."

"Those who come to the Street Office to sign up voluntarily within one week will receive subsidies as well as various rewards; those who refuse to move to the countryside may affect their families and their personal files."

"Lao Yan, here is a notice; read it to everyone in a moment."

"Very well, Director Wang."

Director Wang left, but the courtyard was in an uproar; in this day and age, which family didn't have multiple children? Basically, every household had children who had to go to the countryside.

Lao Jia and Yi Zhonghai exchanged glances, both seeing the anxiety in each other's eyes; Liu Haizhong was calm and composed, while Yan Bugui was also somewhat anxious, as his family had two children who met the age requirement.

"Everyone, be quiet for a moment and let Lao Yan read the document notice so we can listen."

Yi Zhonghai's words made the crowd quiet down; they all hoped there would be a different interpretation in the notice.

As Yan Bugui read aloud, everyone deflated, looking like frost-bitten eggplants.

"Alright, since everyone already knows the content of the document, everyone should hurry and prepare." Yi Zhonghai's expression was dim; his two children both belonged to the "Old Three Classes," so moving to the countryside was almost a certainty.

The atmosphere in Yi Zhonghai's home was heavy; they didn't want their son and daughter to go to the countryside and suffer.

"Lao Yi..."

"I'll go ask Director Wang later."

In the evening, Yan Bugui and Yi Zhonghai left the Siheyuan almost at the same time; the two looked at each other, both knowing what the other was thinking.

"Director Wang, is there no middle ground? There are too many children in our courtyard, and the parents really can't bear it."

"Then hurry up and find jobs for the children."

Director Wang didn't expose their little schemes; besides, their Siheyuan had been a civilized Siheyuan for years, so a little hint didn't hurt.

Yi Zhonghai's expression eased slightly; at the very least, he could let Jia Beidong take over Tan Cuicui's job; but Yan Bugui's expression remained unpleasant.

"Lao Yi, then let Jiabei take over for me; she's interested in sewing anyway."

"Jiabao, you take over for me."

"Dad, you are a Level 8 Worker, a pillar of the country; if I go, I'll just be an apprentice, and no matter how you think about it, it's not appropriate."

"Besides, it's just moving to the countryside; it's all contributing to the construction of the country, I can do it."

"You child..."

At this time in the Jia Family, Donglai, Dongzi, and Bang Geng were all in the ranks of those going down to the countryside.

"Lao Yi just told me that if we can find a job for the child, then they won't have to go down to the countryside."

"Right now Dongzi is taking over Xiaohua's job, but both of you might still have to go down to the countryside."

"Dad, there's nothing wrong with going down to the countryside; on the contrary, it can temper us. Let's sign up as soon as possible; we might even be able to choose where to go."

In Zhang Ping'an's home, because Dong Dani never transferred her household registration, the younger brother still has a rural household registration; since he is already in the countryside, he doesn't need to go down to the countryside.

Yi Zhonghai also informed the people in the courtyard about the method he obtained, but nowadays, finding a job is undoubtedly harder than ascending to heaven.

"Let's give my job to Donglai or Bang Geng," Zhang Laohan said.

"Hmm... that's fine too. You are already seventy-three; it really is time to retire."

So Zhang Laohan and his son went to the Jia Family and explained the matter.

"Dad, this..."

"Alright, I'm tired too. It's just right to stroll around at home and look after the grandchildren. You all discuss who to give it to."

"Thank you, Grandfather, but as an uncle, I am older than Bang Geng, and I also want to support rural construction. Grandfather, just give this job quota to Bang Geng."

"Second Uncle, I also want to support..."

"No, you don't."

"..."