novelraw Chapter 91 Waiting for the storm to calm before setting sail
Chapter 91 Waiting for the storm to calm before setting sail
"Tell me about their family's circumstances. Why are you so insecure?" Tong Yuheng asked with a smile. Her best friends had many outstanding prospects, so why was she always so lacking in confidence?
"His father is a cadre in the factory, and his mother also works in an office. He only has one older sister, who is already married. I heard that his grandfather was also a cadre. Isn't it a bit of a stretch for an ordinary working-class family like ours to marry above our station?"
Most importantly, many girls in the factory like him, and I'm not that outstanding..." Chen Liying seemed to have feelings for Xu He, but rather felt that they were not a good match.
"Oh, so he's from a cadre family! He seems like a pretty honest guy. It's normal for girls to like him, as long as he's discerning. I think you two could get to know each other better. If his personality and character are fine, and his family isn't too demanding or meddlesome, then things can develop!"
"Hehehe, I'm not in a hurry. I'm only eighteen. What about you? Are you having trouble meeting someone suitable over there?" Chen Liying was very worried about her friend. They didn't know how long they would stay in the countryside.
When Tong Yuheng was asked about this, Li Chengsong's image flashed through his mind. He shook his head and smiled, "Yes, it's hard to find the right one, so if I do, I'll seize the opportunity!"
The two ate their meal while quietly discussing recent events, and soon it was time for Chen Liying to go to work in the afternoon.
She was going to ask for leave to go shopping with her, but Tong Yuheng said he wanted to visit Teacher Zhong and told her to go to work. There was no need to see her off at the train station; there was a passing train around 4 PM that she planned to take back!
When I was chatting with Chen Liying just now, she heard that Teacher Zhong is not doing well. A student reported her for engaging in reactionary academic research, and she was criticized and denounced twice. Even Uncle Wei was implicated and suspended from his job at home to reflect on his actions. I wonder if he will be sent to a farm in the future.
Tong Yuheng thought that the Cultural Revolution would last for another six or seven years, and he was worried that their lives would be difficult. Now that this matter had begun, it was hard to avoid, so he had to remind them to make arrangements as soon as possible.
Teacher Zhong and her husband were at home. They were terrified when the door was knocked on, fearing that it was a Red Guard coming to demand answers.
"Tong Yuheng? You...you weren't sent to the countryside?" Teacher Zhong was surprised by this visitor. Uncle Wei also came out of the house and was also puzzled to see her.
The house was a bit messy, and some of the carved parts of the chests and cabinets had knife marks, evidence of the Red Guards' destruction of the "Four Olds." They were a little embarrassed and quickly pulled her in, glancing cautiously outside, afraid someone might discover them.
"Teacher Zhong, Uncle Wei, I'm here on a business trip and just wanted to drop by and see you both." She took out some Northeastern specialties, dried fish, and dried shrimp from her backpack, wondering if they would still receive the ones she had mailed to her.
"It's best if you don't stay at my house right now, it's not good for you to get involved!" Teacher Zhong was a little worried, thinking about the situation at home and the Red Guards who might come and vandalize the place at any time.
"What am I afraid of being implicated? My maternal grandfather and uncle's family were both sent down to the countryside!" Tong Yuheng said. At this moment, Teacher Zhong recalled the situation of her maternal grandfather's family.
"Yuheng, what's life like in the countryside?" she asked, thinking that they might have similar experiences in the future.
"Professor Zhong, this is what I wanted to talk to you about," Tong Yuheng continued, "The countryside is indeed very tough. The people sent down there didn't have good food or lodging, and the work was very tiring. The current situation is becoming increasingly unfriendly to intellectuals..."
Tong Yuheng recounted the ordeal her uncle and aunt endured after being sent to the countryside, how they nearly lost their lives when targeted. If they could find a place where they could be cared for by acquaintances and teach, perhaps they could have survived these past few years safely.
"Since you haven't been arrested and interrogated as reactionaries yet, there should still be room for maneuver. If you volunteer to teach in rural areas, you might be able to keep your jobs, just subject to supervision and inspection, and life won't be too difficult. If you have connections, arrange it as soon as possible!"
If they can move around freely, it would be best if they could retain their teaching status so that they won't be ruined by farm work in the countryside. The supervisors and inspectors only need to write monthly reports on their thoughts; they won't be criticized or even beaten.
However, working in the countryside is not as good as working in the city. But the premise is that you can stay in the city. If you are sent to a bad place to live in a cowshed, or even worse, sent to a farm for labor reform, it is uncertain whether you will come back alive!
That was the end of the conversation; whether or not they wanted to leave as soon as possible was their own choice. Tong Yuheng left his address, wishing them all the best and inviting them to write to him when they had time.
Before she left, Teacher Zhong told her mysteriously that she and her husband had rented a dilapidated house in the countryside, which contained a lot of experimental instruments, materials and equipment. They dared not continue their experiments there now, and she could take anything she needed.
Tong Yuheng got the address and hurriedly took out his bicycle from his spatial storage and rushed over to pick up the package! He never expected such a surprise when he visited Teacher Zhong's house.
That dilapidated building, which could be described as a research lab, actually contained quite a lot of stuff. If it were discovered, it wouldn't be unfair to label them as conducting reactionary academic research.
In fact, what they researched were small machines for everyday use, such as electric wheelchairs, to make it easier for paralyzed people to move around; and rice cookers, which have been around for a long time abroad, to make life easier for ordinary people, what's wrong with that? What they researched had absolutely nothing to do with reaction!
But what can they do? This is the way things are these days. Small people like them can only try their best to protect themselves from being smashed to pieces in this storm, and wait for the storm to pass before setting sail again!
Fan Yaqing's head was broken, so she had to skip school and go to the hospital to take care of her father. Adding to the trouble, Wu Zhigang's death, coupled with Tong Yuheng's provocation by throwing notes at them, led to Wu's parents coming to their doorstep twice a day to hurl insults!
Her reputation is now even worse than Widow Zhou's! No matter how seductive Widow Zhou was, she wouldn't have caused someone's death!
Fan Eryong: I object! She's the one who caused my death!
The Fan family has been plagued by misfortune, and everyone whispers that they've been punished for their many despicable acts. Especially Fan Yaqing, who has close relationships with several young men—she's a ruthless vixen who eats people alive!
Now, all the unmarried young men who know about her family's troubles avoid her like the plague; they're all desperate for her life!
Fan Eryong's death was discussed for a few days and then it was over. Who would really care about the life or death of a middle-aged hoodlum who had nothing to do with them and whose character was not very good?