Chapter 37

Chapter 37

The kids didn't want to say goodbye, but the journey home was long, and their families back home couldn't wait to see them. The two families couldn't stay in Xiaodun Brigade for long.

A group of people walked the two families out to the village entrance. The children trailed after the bicycles for quite a distance. The adults' hearts ached too. Afraid the children might fall, they didn't dare pedal too fast. Finally, Wang Guizhi caught up and stopped the kids.

"If you hold them up any longer, Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Wei will miss their bus. It's a long way home. You don't want them to have to sleep at the bus station because they missed the bus, do you?"

The children stopped in their tracks, hanging their heads dejectedly.

Wang Guizhi waved her hand. "Xiao Zhang, Xiao Quan, you'd better hurry. Have a safe trip!"

Xiao Zhang's father and Xiao Quan's father answered, steeled themselves, and pedaled hard. The bicycles quickly sped away. Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Wei, sitting on the crossbars at the front, turned to look back, both wailing loudly.

In the autumn breeze, under the warm sun, a group of children stood in place, watching their little friends gradually disappear into the distance. For the first time in their lives, they felt the sorrow of parting.

Wang Guizhi didn't rush them, letting them stand there until the distant figures slowly turned into tiny black dots, and then even those dots vanished. The children's cries gradually softened, eventually turning into intermittent, pitiful sobs.

"Alright now, didn't Xiao Yue buy you all fountain pens? When you go back, you can use them to write letters to Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Wei. Hurry up and think about what to write. After all, the total number of characters you know wouldn't even fill a plate."

Wang Guizhi bent down and wiped Xiao Dizi's face. "Oh, you little thing, what do you have to cry about?"

Xiao Dizi's little nose was red from crying, and she whimpered pitifully, "Brother... gone... long time!"

Wang Guizhi stroked her head. "Brother has gone home."

Zhao Xuehai roughly wiped his face with both hands, left and right, then suddenly asked, "Xiao Yue the Hero, you bought them all fountain pens. Don't I get one?"

Wang Guizhi couldn't help but chide him. "You're the older brother. How can you have the nerve to ask your little sister for things?"

Zhao Xuehai lifted his chin, speaking with righteous indignation. "Why can't an older brother ask his little sister for things? If I have candy, I'll share it with my sister. If my sister has candy, I'll ask her for some too. An older brother shouldn't always get the short end of the stick, right?"

For once, Wang Guizhi was left speechless by a child.

Well, wasn't that true? Who said the older one always has to give in and suffer losses for the younger ones?

Shen Wendong also wanted to ask if he had a fountain pen, but he was too embarrassed. He just stared at Shen Banyue with his tear-reddened eyes.

Shen Banyue sighed helplessly. "Yes, you all have one. I'll give them to you when we get back."

"Wow! I have a fountain pen! I have a fountain pen!" Zhao Xuehai immediately grinned from ear to ear, turned around, and started running back. "Come on, let's hurry back and see!"

Shen Wendong also smiled, his eyes crinkling, and followed with light steps.

Xiao Jie and Xiao Shitou gleefully chased after them, eager to show off that they already had their pens.

"Mine has my name engraved on it. You can tell it's mine at a glance!"

"Mine too, mine too! My pen has 'Xiao Shitou' engraved on it. Actually, I wanted 'Xiao Shitou the Great Hero,' but Sister Yue said she doesn't know how to write the word 'hero.'"

Zhao Xuehai laughed heartily. "I do! I know how to write the word 'hero'!"

Shen Wendong retorted, "But can you engrave them on a fountain pen?"

Zhao Xuehai was stumped. He really hadn't tried engraving before. Besides, his handwriting was like chicken scratch; it wouldn't look good engraved. He scratched his head, trying to save face. "Forget it, forget it. 'Great Hero' belongs to Xiao Yue. We shouldn't compete with her."

The four boys ran all the way to the village entrance in one breath. Looking back, they saw Shen Banyue still strolling leisurely behind. Zhao Xuehai waved his hand, urging her on. "Xiao Yue the Hero, walk faster! I can't wait to see my fountain pen!"

An auntie under the big camphor tree exclaimed, "Oh! Isn't this Yong Jun's kid? You must get good grades! Is your father willing to buy you a fountain pen?!"

"It's Xiao Yue! Xiao Yue the Hero bought them for us!" Zhao Xuehai waved his little hand dismissively. "What does buying a fountain pen have to do with school grades?"

The auntie: "..."

Understood. This kid's grades aren't good.

The auntie couldn't help but say to Wang Guizhi, who was walking over, "Fountain pens are so expensive. In our village, besides the Brigade Cadre, who else has such a thing? Kids are always getting ideas one day and losing interest the next. You can't let them spend money so recklessly."

Wang Guizhi smiled. "I'm just an old country woman. What money do I have for them to spend? That's the reward money from the commune. The child used her reward money to buy fountain pens for her friends. That's something I can't control."

The auntie pursed her lips, wanting to say that since the child is living in your house, not keeping the reward money in your own hands is foolish. But in the end, she didn't dare say it out loud. Wang Guizhi wasn't someone easy to deal with.

Back in the courtyard, Shen Banyue went into her room and took out the fountain pens for Zhao Xuehai and Shen Wendong from her "treasure bag." Both pens only had one character engraved on them. The character for "Hai" was relatively difficult, and she had deliberately engraved it a bit crookedly.

When Zhao Xuehai saw the character on his pen, he immediately made a face as if he had a toothache, feeling that this character wasn't much better looking than his own handwriting. But then he thought, if he had engraved it himself, it would be even uglier, so there was nothing to complain about. He quickly became happy again.

Shen Wendong, who usually loved studying, held his fountain pen, his eyes practically shining.

In those days, for a child to have a whole pencil was considered quite "wealthy." After all, most kids made do with pencil stubs left over from adults. Having a fountain pen during elementary school was something they hardly dared to dream of.

When Shen Banyue bought the fountain pens, she also bought a bottle of ink. Zhao Xuehai, eager to try something new, pulled Shen Wendong along to fill their pens with ink and start writing. The others joined in the fun.

Wang Guizhi simply took a stack of manuscript paper printed with the words "Jiangcheng Machinery Factory" from Shen Guoqiang's room and gave each child two sheets, telling them to use it to write letters to Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Wei.

Anyway, these kids weren't in the mood for school today. It was better to stay home writing letters and practicing characters.

Once all the children were seated, Wang Guizhi pulled Shen Banyue aside to ask about the work procedures from the previous day.

She hadn't had a chance to ask Shen Guoqing in the morning, and now he had accompanied the Zhang and Quan families to the commune. Anxious to know, Wang Guizhi could only ask Shen Banyue, who had gone with him.

Shen Banyue gave a concise account of what happened. After listening, Wang Guizhi's hanging heart finally settled back into place.

"The factory can arrange a dormitory?"

"Yes. The auntie who helped with the procedures said that since Auntie Gao had already been allocated housing before, and also because Uncle is new and his seniority is still low, there probably won't be a chance for housing allocation in the next few years. But the factory has dormitories with eight people to a room. Uncle can apply for a bunk to make do for now."

"That's not bad either. Eating in the canteen and living in the dormitory can save a lot of money." Wang Guizhi calculated in her mind. With low work expenses and a little support from home, the debt from buying the job could be paid off in two or three years.

Anyway, Guoqing was still young. It wouldn't be too late to start looking for a partner in a couple of years. By then, he should be a regular employee and might even find someone in the county town.

Wang Guizhi thought this way, not knowing that someone had actually already started seeing someone.

Zhao Xuehai was the type who couldn't even write a letter properly. After scribbling a few characters with his fountain pen, he started getting distracted, pricking up his ears to listen to Shen Banyue and Wang Guizhi talk.

At first, he didn't quite understand, but eventually, he figured it out and couldn't help but ask loudly, "What are you talking about? Is Brother Guoqing going to work in a factory? Which factory? The commune's towel factory?"

To this day, he still thought Shen Banyue had called them to "dig for treasure" to save up bride price money for Shen Guoqing... Although Shen Guoqing hadn't taken it in the end, Zhao Xuehai felt that Shen Guoqing, being an adult, was probably just too embarrassed to take their money.

Before things were settled, the adults always spoke vaguely about the work matter. Apart from Shen Banyue, the other children basically knew nothing about it. Hearing Zhao Xuehai's question, they all looked over curiously.

Despite their young age, they knew being a worker was good—it meant earning money.

Wang Guizhi answered Zhao Xuehai with a smile. "That's right. Your Brother Guoqing is going to become a worker. Not the commune's towel factory, but the county's machinery factory." Now that the procedures were done and there was no fear of anything going wrong, Wang Guizhi no longer kept it a secret.

Zhao Xuehai gasped, his eyes wide. "A county factory?! Brother Guoqing is so amazing!!!"

The commune's towel factory was already impressive, but Brother Guoqing was going to a county factory!!!

Zhao Xuehai couldn't help but feel regretful. "Ah, my mom is so slow. She wanted to introduce my aunt to Brother Guoqing, but she kept saying she was busy and didn't have time to go back to her parents' home, that she'd do it later. Well, now Brother Guoqing already has a partner and a job... My aunt is so unlucky!"

He already had an uncle-by-marriage working in the county seat.

Shen Banyue: “…”

Does your aunt know you’re this invested in her behalf?

Wang Guizhi frowned: “What on earth are you talking about? Since when does Guoqing have a girlfriend?”

Xiao Jie, clearly distracted as well, immediately chimed in: “I know! I know! Little Uncle is dating Sister Zhou from the clinic! She even gave us candy and biscuits!”

Little Stone added: “Yeah, that milk candy was delicious! And those biscuits were amazing—I’d never tasted anything like them before!”

Since the cat was out of the bag, Shen Banyue openly spilled the beans: “Little Uncle and Nurse Zhou are meeting at the commune tomorrow. She’s off duty then.”

Wang Guizhi: “…”

So all the kids were in the loop—and she was the last to find out?

That unreliable Shen Guoqing!

Good heavens—she’d better start figuring out *fast* where the money for the bride price and wedding banquet would come from.

Wang Guizhi was delighted her son had found such a fine match—but also overwhelmed. They’d just paid for his job placement, and the family was completely broke.

—

Around noon, Shen Wendong and Zhao Xuehai left the Shen household.

Zhao Xuehai swung a fountain pen in one hand and a sheet of manuscript paper in the other, holding both high in the air. A passing commune member spotted him and couldn’t help remarking, “Oh my! You’re Yongjun’s boy, right? Your dad must be something else—letting you play with something as expensive as a fountain pen!”

Zhao Xuehai puffed out his little chest and declared loudly: “It’s *mine*! A gift from Hero Xiao Yue!” He pointed to the character engraved on the pen: “See? ‘Hai’—that’s the character for ‘sea.’ It’s *mine*!”

The commune member replied awkwardly: “Oh—you got such a valuable thing as a fountain pen as a gift? Let me take a look… So that’s how ‘Hai’ is written. Looks like it’s got quite a few strokes, huh?”

Zhao Xuehai, turning the tables, began lecturing the adult: “Uncle, didn’t you pay attention in literacy class? You don’t even recognize ‘Hai’? Let me tell you—studying is *crucial*. Take my Brother Guoqing, for example. He graduated from junior middle school—that’s why he’s going to work in a factory in the county seat now. It’s because he studied hard and has higher education that the county factory wanted him.”

This was actually something Shen Banyue had planted in his head. Though Zhao Xuehai himself struggled academically, he remained highly motivated by it—after all, being a worker meant earning good money, and good money meant eating plenty of meat. For him, that was an irresistible lure.

The boy was now applying what he’d just learned to “educate” others.

The commune member stood stunned: “Wait—did you get it wrong? Isn’t it *Guoqiang* who’s the worker? Guoqiang’s in Jiangcheng—not the county seat.”

Zhao Xuehai shook his head vigorously: “No, no! Brother Guoqiang works at the Jiangcheng Machinery Factory. Brother Guoqing is going to work at the *County* Machinery Factory. They’re *different* factories.” He’d asked very clearly.

The commune member gaped, jaw slack. “What?! Guoqing became a worker too?!” His voice cracked at the end.

Other passing commune members instantly stopped in their tracks: “What? What? A *worker*? Guoqing became a worker too?”

The first man replied dazedly: “They say he’s going to work at the County Machinery Factory.”

Zhao Xuehai announced proudly: “That’s right! My Brother Guoqing is going to work at the County Machinery Factory! He’s even found a nurse from the clinic as his girlfriend! He’s incredible—he hasn’t let down the men of our Xiaodun Brigade *at all*!”

“…”

Shen Wendong, who’d remained silent all along, finally understood: his little friend was still fixated on that “not letting down the brigade’s men” line!

And so, the Xiaodun Brigade members—who’d only just been discussing how quickly two of the Shen family’s foster children had been matched—were soon hit by another wave of shock.

On village paths, beside wells, at dining tables, in private plots—nearly every household buzzed with the astonishing news: Shen Dechang’s youngest son was heading to work in the county seat—and had even landed a nurse as his girlfriend.

Zhao Xuehai’s mother, Jin Qiaohe, nearly slapped her thigh raw upon hearing it.

She *had* thought Shen Guoqing was a solid catch—good-looking and promising. She’d considered introducing him to her younger sister, who was about the right age. But she couldn’t decide for her sister—she’d need to go home and consult both her sister and their mother.

She’d also assumed that, since Shen Guoqing had recently been rejected by that girl from Yangliu Brigade and seemed rather down, he wouldn’t be seeking a match anytime soon—so she hadn’t rushed things. After all, her mother’s birthday was next month, and she’d definitely go home then.

Who could’ve imagined *this*?

It wasn’t about social climbing—it was simply that, before, Guoqing had no job, so expectations for his prospective matches were relatively high. Her younger sister had been perfectly within reach. Had they connected earlier, the Shens certainly weren’t the type to abandon someone once their own circumstances improved. Then wouldn’t her sister have legitimately secured a *worker* as her boyfriend?

Jin Qiaohe sighed repeatedly. Zhao Yongjun couldn’t help but remark: “With your sister’s round, full face, Guoqing might not have taken to her anyway—even if they’d met, they might not have clicked.”

Jin Qiaohe: “…”

This man knew *exactly* how to pour salt on the wound.

She yanked off her sleeve protectors: “My sister has a round face—so do *I*? Zhao Yongjun, have you been secretly looking down on me all along? Fine—you’re *so great*, so great you can cook for yourself! This old lady isn’t serving you anymore!”

Zhao Yongjun: “Your sister is your sister; you are *you*. Two entirely different people! Am I lying? Your sister’s face is… alright, alright—I won’t say another word. Son, let me see that fountain pen of yours. You’ve really made it, kid. Your old man’s still using a worn-out seven-mao pen—the nib’s bent. And you’re already wielding a Hero!”

Zhao Xuehai spun around and bolted: “You trying to *steal* my pen? An adult stealing from a child—shame on you!”

Zhao Yongjun: “Hey, you little rascal!”

At the brigade leader’s house:

“Guoqing’s truly made something of himself, too.”

At the dinner table, Shen Zhenxing sighed. Glancing at his youngest son, Shen Wenyi, he shook his head—and sighed again.

This was truly a case of “comparing goods makes you want to toss them away; comparing people makes you want to die of anger.”

Shen Wenyi nearly choked on his rice. He couldn’t help blurting out: “Dad, Guoqing’s job was *bought*. If you could buy *me* a job, I guarantee I’d go work diligently too!”

Shen Zhenxing: “…”

This kid’s mouth was the most infuriating thing alive.

The eldest son, Shen Wencheng, interjected: “Isn’t the rumor going around that the County Machinery Factory hired Guoqing because of his high education and strong academic performance?”

Shen Wenyi stared at his elder brother speechlessly: “No way. Outsiders might not know—but *big brother*, don’t *you* remember? When was Shen Guoqing *ever* good at studying? He did about as well as *I* did—we were *always* at the bottom of the class in every exam. Besides, sure, there may be few junior middle school graduates in our brigade—but how many are there in the *county*? The county even has *high schools*.”

The second son, Shen Wenhong, nodded: “I remember Guoqing’s grades were average. Every time Dad was about to beat you, you’d drag Guoqing into it. Then Aunt Wang would chuckle and say, ‘Getting into junior middle school is good enough,’ and neither of you got beaten.”

Shen Wenyi gave his second brother a thumbs-up: “We were cut from the same cloth.”

How could one *not* feel sour? Both were poor students—but one was headed for a factory job, while the other still labored in the fields for work points.

Shen Wencheng laughed: “Not long ago, everyone was saying Guoqing got turned down at a matchmaking meeting. Who’d have thought? In such a short time, he’s off to the city to become a worker. I bet not only will that girl from Yangliu Brigade regret it—but plenty in *our* brigade will, too.”

Indeed, many in the brigade were secretly consumed by regret.

It was like an ordinary white radish in the field suddenly transforming into a precious ginseng root. Those who hadn’t bought it at “radish price” inevitably felt a pang of loss—as though they’d missed out on a fortune.

Especially those who’d previously mocked Shen Guoqing for his rejection now felt their faces burning—bracing for a stinging slap.

They all regretted why they’d merely gossiped and watched from the sidelines before—why they hadn’t stepped forward as matchmakers and introduced girls from their own extended families.

But for some, it was more than mere regret.

Near the big tree by the educated youth settlement, Hu Caidie scowled, her face a mask of anger. Though she kept her voice low, her agitation was unmistakable: "That dirt-poor peasant, that good-for-nothing bumpkin—what kind of luck does he have? He's actually going to get a factory job in the county town! Why wouldn't he go for me? Why, why, why!"

The young man standing opposite her also wore a gloomy expression. Initially, he had targeted Shen Guoqing because his family seemed well-off, and his older brother and sister-in-law lived in Jiangcheng—perhaps there was something to gain from him.

But what exactly could be gained? He wasn’t sure himself. After testing the waters twice without any response, he hadn’t pushed Hu Caidie to continue and had even started considering other targets.

Who would have thought Shen Guoqing would land a job assignment?

Even if it was just a job in a small county town, once you had a job assignment, the possibilities opened up.

"It’s not too late yet," the young man suddenly said.

Hu Caidie was taken aback and hesitated before replying, "But isn’t it said that he’s already seeing a nurse?"

The young man lifted his eyelids slightly. "That’s the rumor, but who knows if it’s true? Besides, his matchmaking was just a while ago. Even if he really is seeing someone, it’s only been a few days."

He gave her a knowing look. "Besides, do you actually want to be with him? The point is what we can get out of him."

Hu Caidie clearly didn’t understand. "How can we get anything if we’re not in a relationship?"

The young man suddenly smiled. "We just need to get some leverage on him, and then we can make him transfer the job to you." As for after the job was transferred to Hu Caidie, he naturally had a hundred ways to make this idiot hand it over to him.

Hu Caidie still didn’t get it. "Leverage?"

What leverage could Shen Guoqing possibly have that would make him give up his job? And even if he did have some, how would they know about it?

A flicker of impatience crossed the young man’s eyes, but he still explained gently, "If he doesn’t have any leverage, we can always make some for him. Then we can make him compensate with his job, and you’ll have every right to become a factory worker."

Then, lowering his voice even further, he leaned close to Hu Caidie’s ear and whispered a few sentences. Hu Caidie’s eyes widened in shock, and she immediately covered her mouth with her hand.

A few minutes later, the two of them slunk back to the educated youth settlement, one after the other.

A short while later, a tall, slender figure emerged from the weeds not far from the big tree. Grumbling under his breath as he walked toward the village entrance, he complained, "These two don’t even pick a hidden spot to plot their mischief. I'm forced to overhear their schemes every time."

When he reached a fork in the road, he glanced back in the direction of the Shen family’s courtyard and sighed softly.

"With storms raging and life hanging by a thread, who has time to meddle in other people’s business?"

But despite his words, he still turned and headed down a secluded path leading to the western end of the village.