Her dad was a good man in all aspects, except when it ca to the team's affairs, where he was extrely strict. Being the team leader, he always set a personal example and never allowed his family to take any undue advantage.
Even the easier tasks assigned to her family for work points were only agreed upon after Mrs. Xu and her husband had an argunt about it.
Mr. Xu had always taken this to heart, and on later occasions when good opportunities arose, he kept them hidden from his family, fearing that Mrs. Xu would find out and argue with him again.
It was like the job assignnts; in her previous life, Second Brother Xu could have taken the examination, but his father kept it a secret, and in the end, soone from the village got the opportunity.
Now, this was about Second Brother Xu's lifelong marriage prospects, and she couldn't believe her father would forbid a family mber from participating.
Upon hearing his daughter's words, Mr. Xu's face instantly beca unhappy, "From now on, when we're talking, you are not allowed to eavesdrop."
Xu Ying stuck out her tongue and looked at Mrs. Xu.
Mrs. Xu imdiately beca angry, "What's this? You were the ones who insisted on talking where my daughter could hear, and now you bla her? That's shaless—sha, ptui!"
Mr. Xu stood there with a stiff face, feeling extrely embarrassed, "This woman is unreasonable."
"Dad, what about this teacher recruitnt thing? Can my Second Brother go?" Xu Ying asked curiously.
Seeing that the matter was already out in the open, Mr. Xu had no choice but to tell the whole truth, "The details of the teacher recruitnt haven't been confird yet, but it will require an examination. Those who have graduated from junior high and pass the exam can go."
Xu Ying was overjoyed; her Second Brother's primary school grades had been excellent. Although his performance suddenly declined during his final year of junior high, he had still managed to get into high school. If he could just brush up on his primary school knowledge during this period, he would surely do well.
Their Xujia Village was not large, with only about twenty or thirty households, and those who had finished junior high were few and far between. Besides her Second Brother Xu, there were only three or four others; the rest were educated youths from the team.
She had great confidence in Second Brother Xu and planned to supervise his studies closely.
"Then my Second Brother is also suitable. Mom, don't let Second Brother go to work during this ti. He should stay ho and study!" Xu Ying said excitedly.
Mrs. Xu hesitated a bit, "Daughter, teaching is a good job; it's easy and pays a salary. Why don't you give it a try?"
Xu Ying imdiately shook her head. She disliked dealing with children the most, and the idea of teaching was out of the question, "Mom, I won't go. I don't like teaching kids; it's too taxing and could drive nuts."
Mrs. Xu saw her daughter's reluctance and thought of the naughty kids in the village. If one of them were to upset her daughter, that would be unacceptable. So, she decided to let Second Brother Xu stay ho and study.
If Second Brother Xu really passed the exam, it would lighten the family's burdens.
Most importantly, if he beca a teacher, he could marry a girl from the supply and marketing cooperative, which would be a matter of great pride for her. Plus, shopping would beco a lot more convenient in the future.
Everyone knew that the supply and marketing cooperative sotis had defective goods, which were sold internally at low prices but were of almost no difference from the good ones.
Mrs. Xu made up her mind for Second Brother Xu to take a break from work and stay ho to study.
Neither Eldest Sister-in-law Xu nor Xu had any objections.
Eldest Sister-in-law Xu was very clear-headed. Her husband was too simple-minded to be a teacher.
Since they hadn't yet split the family, the money Second Brother Xu would earn would still go to her mother-in-law.
Her mother-in-law would use the money to help out the family, and to be honest, Eldest Sister-in-law Xu could benefit from this arrangent.
With only her and her husband working, and farming people not having work every day like those with jobs, they were only busy a few months out of the year.
During the rest of the days, even if they were anxious, they couldn't earn money, and earning enough work points to feed themselves for the year was always difficult.
She had two sons, and what she and her husband earned in work points wasn't nearly enough to support the four of them.
Therefore, she was wholeheartedly in favor of this plan.
Mrs. Xu watched as the Eldest Son's wife showed no reaction to hearing that Second Brother Xu was studying at ho, and she felt thoroughly pleased.
What satisfied her the most about the Eldest Son's wife was that she was low-maintenance, unlike the other wives in the village, who constantly bickered with their mothers-in-law over trivial matters.
After breakfast, Mr. Xu took the workers to the fields as usual.
Xu Ying quickly ran to the Lu Family's house, as Lu Daya was a good student. When Grandma Lu was alive, she had always made Daya go to school.
However, before Sister Daya could finish junior high, Grandma Lu passed away.
Sister Daya's mother had long complained about the expense of her education and right after Grandma Lu's funeral, she had withdrawn Daya from school. If Sister Daya's second brother could pass the exams to beco a teacher, then Sister Daya would certainly have been able to pass them as well.
Sister Daya's grades had always ranked among the top three in her class.
At the ti of her withdrawal, her teacher had repeatedly visited their ho to persuade Mrs. Lu, but Mrs. Lu was adamant in her refusal and even viciously scolded the teacher.
"Sister Daya, Sister Daya, it's , Xu Ying."
Xu Ying stood outside the door of the Lu Family's house and shouted loudly. After a short while, Eldest Sister-in-law Lu ca running out with a child in her arms. Spotting Xu Ying, her eyes quickly darted around, "Yingying, what do you want with Daya? She's gone to work in the fields.
If there's sothing you need, just tell , and I'll pass it on to her when she gets back."
Upon hearing this, Xu Ying, with a smile, said, "Sister-in-law, then I'll go to the fields to find Sister Daya."
Eldest Sister-in-law Lu still had words to say, but Xu Ying had already turned her head and run off, infuriating her so much that she stamped her foot, "You little wretch!"
"You little wretch," Eldest Sister-in-law Lu's son mimicked.
Xu Ying ran at breakneck speed, and by the ti she got to the fields, she was so tired she was gasping for breath; her physical constitution was just too weak now, becoming winded so quickly.
In these past few days without Dong Wenzhong's aid, Chen Yanran looked considerably worn out, currently standing in the field working.
While taking a lazy mont, she spotted Xu Ying at a glance.
"Brother Wen Zhong, Brother Wen Zhong, look who's here, isn't that Xu Ying?" Chen Yanran quickly ran up to Dong Wenzhong and shouted.
Dong Wenzhong, excited, hurriedly lifted his head, "Where is she?"
Chen Yanran pointed toward Xu Ying walking their way, her face full of excitent, her heart nearly bursting with joy, "Brother Wen Zhong, I knew she wouldn't last long, and to think she's co so soon."
Dong Wenzhong was now too engrossed to pay Chen Yanran any mind; his gaze was fixed on Xu Ying, his eyes welling with tears.
These past few days, he had been doing the hardest work and eating the worst food, without Xu Ying's care. Now, the young intellectuals in the settlent had even started to bully him openly and behind his back.
He had had enough. Now, seeing Xu Ying walking toward him, Dong Wenzhong believed he had mustered his most handso smile.
The people working in the field, seeing this, looked up at Xu Ying as well, "Didn't that girl say she didn't like Dong Zhiqing anymore? How co she's running over there again?"
"Who knows, but if you talk about Dong Zhiqing, he must be sothing special, to have chard Xu Ying into being willing to do anything for him."
Listening to the comnts of those around him, Dong Wenzhong's mouth curled upward, his heart leaping with joy.
Who could bla him for being handso, or else how could Xu Ying be so spellbound by him?
When Xu Ying finally reached him, he stood up straight, not moving, just waiting for Xu Ying to speak first.
But a gust of wind blew, and Xu Ying brushed past Dong Wenzhong, "Sister Daya, I have sothing to tell you, let's go talk under that big tree to the side."
Lu Daya, confused, pointed at herself, "You're looking for ?"
"Yes," Xu Ying said as she pulled Lu Daya toward the tree.
Dong Wenzhong, left standing in the sa spot, was frozen as if turned to stone. He was breathing heavily, his face darkening, his fists clenched, and his eyes full of anger as he watched Xu Ying walk away.
Chen Yanran stood with her mouth agape, stunned, "Why did Xu Ying run off?"
Was she going to be hungry forever, never again enjoying chicken eggs and chicken legs?
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