Chapter 68
◎A Profusion of Flowers◎
Just as the villager had said, Capital University was the country’s highest institution of learning. In less than half a day, the news that Tangtang had been admitted to Capital University had spread throughout the entire commune. The college entrance examination admission results were a first-class lively event. Many people from Waguan Village had run to Yuhuai Village to watch the excitement, and this news naturally reached Su Yandi’s ears.
She was using a ladle to scoop muddy water and splash it on the vegetable patch. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes. “What, that little slut actually got into Capital University?!”
After getting rid of Tangtang, that money-losing good, the family’s burden had not been lightened. Instead, their life had become worse and worse. Her eldest son, Wang Guide, was in his thirties and still hadn’t gotten a wife. No girl in this ten-li radius was willing to marry into their family. He might have to be a bachelor for the rest of his life. Her second son, Wang Guiquan, was as thin as a rugged monkey and didn’t do any proper work all day. Her third son, Wang Guixi, hung out with a group of bad friends all day and was just an idle little hooligan, relying on his glib tongue to get by outside.
But that slut she had thrown out was not only living a prosperous life at the old Su family’s house—she had heard that Su Laosan and his wife doted on her as if she were their own daughter—but she had also gotten into Capital University and was about to go to a big place like the capital to study. How could this not make Su Yandi’s eyes red with jealousy?
Many of the villagers in Waguan Village looked down on Su Yandi’s family. “Tsk, tsk, who was it that called the child a jinx back then? But the daughter who was thrown out is not a jinx, but a golden phoenix from our mountain gully. Now that the golden phoenix has been driven out, isn’t it natural for her own family to be plagued by bad luck?!”
In those days, it was common for families to favor boys over girls, but it was rare for someone like Su Yandi to treat her own daughter as an enemy.
Just think, that five-year-old child, Tangtang, holding such a large basin of clothes, squatting by the frozen river to wash them for half a day. When she came back, she would be beaten by Su Yandi with a thorny rattan cane and chased around the courtyard. She had even threatened to throw the child to the wolves. If it weren’t for Su Laosan taking the child back, she would probably have been dead long ago.
“Pah, bullshit. That girl has been a jinx to her parents since she was born. If I hadn’t thrown her out, who knows how many more disasters our old Wang family would have suffered! Now that she can get into university, isn’t it because of the good fortune of my Wang family?” Su Yandi couldn’t help but spit. “Besides, a daughter is like spilled water. So what if she gets into university? Doesn’t she still have to marry into someone else’s family? My Guide, Guiquan, and Guixi are all boys. They can continue the family line for the old Wang family in the future.”
Su Yandi’s words made the others burst into laughter. “Continue the family line? Your son can’t even find a wife!”
One of the rascals said, “I saw Wang Guide staring at a new bride’s sedan chair at the village entrance yesterday. His eyes were about to fall out.”
“Blood is thicker than water. Even if that damn girl grew up in the old Su family, the blood of our Wang family still flows in her. I’m going to the old Su family to acknowledge our relationship right now. You bunch of gossips, if you have the guts, let your own daughter get into Capital University and see!” Su Yandi’s face flushed red.
Hearing her words, the group of villagers couldn’t help but laugh. “Acknowledge your relationship? Su Yandi, don’t make a fool of yourself again. When you drove the child out of the house back then, why didn’t you think about blood being thicker than water? Blood ties? She’s now the daughter of a commune cadre, and her life is wonderful. Why would she recognize you as her mother?”
“If you ask me, you’re not trying to acknowledge your relationship, but to climb the social ladder, right?” an old man at the base of the wall said, puffing on his pipe. “What? You want the daughter from Capital University to find a wife for your three bachelor sons? Or do you want her to take you to the capital to eat white flour buns?”
Su Yandi raised her voice. “You… stop talking nonsense. She’s my Wang family’s seed. Of course she should acknowledge me!”
Another burst of laughter. “If you have the guts, go to their door and see if they don’t beat you out with a carrying pole.”
“I’m definitely going to Yuhuai Village to acknowledge this daughter. If you don’t believe me, just watch.”
The villagers watched the excitement for a while and then dispersed. The more Su Yandi thought about it, the more she felt that she couldn’t let this opportunity go. “No, I have to go and see!”
Thinking of this, she quickly finished watering the vegetable patch, packed up, and walked towards Yuhuai Village.
…
The third branch of the Su family was bustling with activity. Yu Juanfang had taken out the sugar cakes, melon seeds, and tea that she was usually only willing to eat during the New Year to entertain the guests.
Even the grandfather and grandmother’s family from Wangxiang Village had come. There were not enough stools, so they had to borrow some from the neighbors on the left and right, mark them, and return them after use.
Su Huimin was busy, serving tea and pouring water. It was a cold day in January, but he was sweating from all the activity.
Su Huimin’s joy was no less than the day they had built their new house, even happier.
He had three sons and one daughter. His eldest son had joined the army. A while ago, the county’s armed forces department had even sent a report of Juesheng’s meritorious service on the front line with gongs and drums. His second son had been recruited to work in the coal mine, and his job was stable. His third son, Su Juesheng, had gotten into Capital University of Transportation, studying railway transportation engineering. Su Huimin had only taken a train a few times in his life. His youngest daughter, Tangtang, was even more promising. She had actually gotten into Capital University.
That Capital University was a century-old school that had been established in the last century. It had a profound foundation and produced many talented people. Now that Tangtang had gotten into Capital University, her future was predictably bright.
Father Yu held an enamel mug and drank water, sitting in the courtyard with a sense of pride, listening to everyone’s congratulations.
Mother Yu held Yu Juanfang’s hand, truly happy for her daughter. All the children were promising and good children.
“Tangtang, when do Juesheng and the others start school?”
“They start school in February. Capital University and Capital University of Transportation start at around the same time, so the brother and sister can report together. Wani’s medical school starts a week earlier than them, so she has to set off alone first.” Yu Juanfang’s eyes crinkled with a smile.
She used to feel that life was just a matter of enduring. The only comfort in this life was her children. But now it was different. She lived in a spacious brick and tile house, could eat her fill, dress warmly, and sleep soundly. Her husband, Su Huimin, now also knew how to be considerate of her. Her several children were all promising. Every day was as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
“Then time is tight. You have to prepare all sorts of things in advance.”
“Yes.” Yu Juanfang also thought so. With two children going to school, there were many things to prepare, such as grain coupons, cloth coupons, vanishing cream, thermoses, bedding, shoes and socks, soap, enamel mugs…
She also had to find time to make two new sets of clothes for the two children. After all, they were going to school in the capital, so they had to be a little more presentable.
Father Yu’s eyes widened. “I heard that when you go to university, not only is there no tuition, but you can also be assigned to be a cadre in a work unit after graduation?”
“That’s right. The school is tuition-free, and they also give students a certain living allowance. After graduation, they are assigned a job. In the future, they will be workers or cadres. They won’t have to live a life of toiling in the fields like us anymore.” Yu Juanfang explained to her father.
“I heard that if you get into university, you can directly transfer from a farmer’s household registration to a commercial grain household registration?” someone asked, cracking melon seeds.
“That’s right.”
Auntie Zhang exclaimed, “My goodness, then your Tangtang and Juesheng have really jumped through the dragon’s gate.”
You should know that a commercial grain household registration was very precious. With a commercial grain household registration, you could go to the grain station every month to get a fixed amount of white flour and rice. There were also coupons for oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. You would be given priority in job allocation. It was not like toiling in the fields and depending on the weather for food, where at the end of the year, you would only get a little bit of coarse grain that was not even enough to fill the gaps between your teeth. How many people had tried their best but couldn’t get a commercial grain household registration? Now, the third branch of the Su family had five commercial grain household registrations.
Wasn’t it for that commercial grain household registration that Zhang Guixiang’s niece, Zhang Chunni, had married a man who was much older than her, plain-looking, and had a limp?
Hearing this, Father Yu said, “My goodness, it’s so good to go to university. Originally, the younger children in the family were not planning to continue their studies. Now it seems that they still have to continue their studies. In the future, they will also be like Tangtang and Juesheng, go to high school, take the college entrance examination, and become cadres and eat commercial grain in the future!”
Hearing this, the others also felt that it made sense.
They secretly remembered that they would let their children continue their studies when they went back. Maybe one day, one person would achieve success, and the whole family would benefit.
As everyone was chatting, an unexpected guest suddenly burst into the Su family’s courtyard.
Su Yandi was wearing a bright red silk coat, which was very eye-catching. This was what she had worn when she got married. Because it was old, it was very, very old. Her hair was combed until it was shiny, probably with a wooden comb dipped in her own saliva. After entering the door, she quickly found Tangtang’s figure in the crowd, took her hand, her eyes red and teary.
“Sanya, I heard from the people outside that you got into university. I rushed over as soon as I could. Mom is so happy.”
“Our old Wang family’s ancestral grave must be emitting green smoke. To think that a golden phoenix like you could fly out of that broken thatched cottage. You’ve been smart and clever since you were little, just like your dad. I knew you would definitely get in!”
“The grace of giving birth is greater than heaven. You can’t be an ungrateful wretch. The blood of our old Wang family flows in your bones. That Su Laosan and Yu Juanfang, they are just your uncle and aunt. Your dad and I, we are your biological parents, related by blood. You should come home with me now, and our family can live a happy and reunited life.”
Remembering something, Su Yandi took out a handful of sticky fruit candies from her cotton coat pocket. “Mom remembers you loved to eat candy when you were little. Here, take it. See, Mom still remembers…”
“Your three older brothers are not married yet. You have to help out at home in the future.”
Tangtang’s hand was held by Su Yandi. Su Yandi’s tears came as soon as she said them, falling onto the back of her hand with a plop.
Su Yandi’s arrival made the faces of everyone present instantly turn cold.
[Author’s Note]
I’ve finally finished revising the plots of stealing books and escaping marriage… I’m slowly vomiting out a mouthful of old blood.