The conversation between Grandma Sixteen and Grandma Thirteen was still about the brigade’s sugar factory.
Originally, Grandma Sixteen had been full of confidence, thinking that her second boy would definitely be selected as a worker at the brigade’s sugar factory. Who would have thought that Grandma Twelve happened to come outside to dump some water and overheard their conversation? She immediately butted in.
“Sixteenth Sister-in-law, who told you that the brigade’s sugar factory is only choosing people from the brigade?”
Grandma Sixteen was stunned. “What? Aren’t they choosing people from our brigade?”
Grandma Twelve said unhappily, “Of course they’re choosing people from our brigade for the manual labor jobs. But the people in charge will be assigned by the commune. I heard they’re even sending some kind of junior college graduate to our brigade’s sugar factory as a technical instructor!”
Grandma Sixteen was dumbfounded. “Why are they sending people from the commune? Isn’t the sugar factory in our brigade ours?”
Grandma Twelve was helpless. “Wouldn’t the commune have to consider the profits? Even our brigade leader has to consider the profits, doesn’t he?”
“If the sugar factory doesn’t make money, would the commune let our brigade go through all this trouble?”
Of course not.
Both Grandma Sixteen and Grandma Thirteen knew that the purpose of setting up the sugar factory in the brigade was actually quite simple: to make money and increase the value of the work points for everyone in the brigade.
It was something that benefited everyone. Otherwise, the commune members wouldn’t have supported it so much.
But now Grandma Twelve’s meaning was that even the commune attached great importance to this matter and was planning to have a hand in it?
Grandma Sixteen immediately became depressed.
“Even if my second boy is only an elementary school graduate, he can still be a proper leader, can’t he? Can’t he at least be a small group leader or something?”
Grandma Twelve sneered. “Sixteenth Sister-in-law, can your second boy do arithmetic? Does he know how to use an abacus properly?”
When the brigade’s livestock farm and forestry farm had recruited people before, aside from the manual labor positions, all the other positions required examinations.
At the very least, you had to be able to calculate accounts correctly, know how to use an abacus, and have basically legible handwriting before they would hire you.
The forestry farm was deep in the mountains all year round. In the past, they had also cut down trees and such, but that was no longer allowed now. They could only plant trees. After all, this area wasn’t a proper forestry region. There were only some hills, and the forests weren’t particularly large. The state was afraid that they would cut them all down, so cutting trees had long since been prohibited. They could only clear some wasteland to grow crops.
Most importantly, they had to plant trees.
They needed to restore the forests.
The livestock farm was even more obvious. Raising all kinds of poultry and livestock was mostly physical labor.
But even so, they still had to take an examination.
Otherwise, choosing who to hire and who not to hire wouldn’t be fair. It was better to openly compete like this. Set out the requirements, hire whoever could meet them, and don’t hire those who couldn’t.
That way, everyone would be convinced, and it would also save the brigade trouble.
Grandma Twelve was saying this to remind Grandma Sixteen that even if her second boy had graduated from elementary school, he still needed to have some ability.
But as far as she knew, Grandma Sixteen’s second boy really wasn’t even at the level of someone who was merely mediocre.
He could barely be considered literate.
Have him take an examination?
That would be like trying to make a millstone donkey work after taking away its legs. Forget it!
How could Grandma Sixteen not hear the implication in Grandma Twelve’s words?
She became even more depressed, but she still refused to admit defeat and muttered, “Even if my second boy can’t get in, he can still work in the fields and support the family. Hmph.”
“I’m not talking anymore. I’m going home to cook.”
With that, Grandma Sixteen turned around and went home.
Lu Yuning and Lu Yuping, who had been sitting in the courtyard listening, looked at each other before covering their mouths and laughing.
Grandma Lu: “…”
This Sixteenth family really was becoming more and more ridiculous. Even the children in her own family were laughing at her.
Naturally, Grandma Sixteen wasn’t actually going to cook when she got home.
However, she was very irritated. She sat in the main room and kept drinking water.
Just then, Lu Yuping’s eldest sister, Lu Yuhe, came home carrying a basket of pig grass. She was just about to put down her schoolbag and take the pig grass to the livestock farm to exchange for work points.
Grandma Sixteen immediately spotted her and called out, “Yuhe, wait a moment.”
Lu Yuhe was puzzled, but she still carried the pig grass over to Grandma Sixteen.
“Grandma, what is it?”
Grandma Sixteen looked her up and down.
She had delicate features and clear brows, big eyes, though her skin was somewhat dark. Her hair was also quite good—long and black, tied into two braids, making her look energetic.
And this girl was only eighteen. Mm, she hadn’t gotten into university, but she had properly completed high school and had even found a temporary job in town. No matter what, she would be able to marry into the city and become a city person in the future.
Only then did Grandma Sixteen feel somewhat better.
Looking at Lu Yuhe, she asked, “Didn’t your mother say earlier that she was asking around to see which family was looking for a daughter-in-law? How is it? Did she find a suitable one?”
Lu Yuhe’s heart tightened.
Although her own mother wasn’t particularly loving toward her daughter, compared with her grandmother, Lu Yuhe still felt that her mother was much more reliable.
Lu Yuhe lowered her head.
“Mom said she’s already asked around. Once things are settled in a few days, she’ll tell me. I don’t really know the details.”
In any case, she couldn’t let Grandma Sixteen think that no one wanted her yet. Otherwise, she didn’t know what Grandma Sixteen might do.
Thinking of the five older female cousins from the eldest branch who had married early, Lu Yuhe’s heart turned cold.
Compared with the three older female cousins from the second branch, the five girls from the eldest branch couldn’t even be considered to have married. It was practically the same as being sold!
Lu Yuhe didn’t have any great expectations. She only hoped that her mother could find someone relatively reliable, like Second Aunt from the second branch, so that she could live peacefully after marrying him.
She didn’t want to be like those older cousins from the eldest branch, who were beaten every day and had to do all the work both at home and in the fields, until they were completely worn down and looked like dried-up people.
She had heard that Third Cousin had already collapsed, and no one even knew whether she would survive this year…
Lu Yuhe’s thoughts were running wild, while Grandma Sixteen had already frowned.
“Your mother really is something. Why hasn’t it been settled yet? Don’t worry about it. I’ll ask your mother what she’s doing today.”
Lu Yuhe became even more anxious, but she didn’t dare show it directly. She lowered her head and responded before saying, “Then, Grandma, I’ll take the pig grass to the livestock farm first.”
Grandma Sixteen nodded. “Mm, go ahead.”
Lu Yuhe breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly turned around and ran off.
She actually had never given up on taking the examination to continue her studies. But just as her mother had said, Grandma Sixteen would never let her continue taking exams.
Back when she attended high school, Grandma Sixteen had already been furious enough. If she dared to take another exam now, Grandma Sixteen would definitely beat her to death.
However, Lu Yuhe had also asked Lu Yuqing about it and learned that if she performed well at her work unit, she could continue taking examinations and pursuing further education in the future.
That way, she could both get married and continue studying. Her heart immediately settled.
After all, she didn’t have any great expectations. If she could continue studying, that would be best. As for marriage, as long as the other person wasn’t some rotten man who beat his wife, she could live with him.
But the prerequisite was that Grandma Sixteen couldn’t interfere in her marriage.
So Lu Yuhe hurried all the way to the fields and found Lu Dahai and Aunt Dahai, who were preparing to finish work and head home.
“Dad, Mom.”
Lu Dahai frowned. “Why are you here? No work in town?”
Lu Yuhe smiled. “Mm, there wasn’t much to do today, so I got off work early and came back.”
Lu Dahai looked at the pig grass on her back and frowned.
“You even cut pig grass on the way here?”
Lu Yuhe smiled. “Mm-hmm. There happened to be some on the way. I thought it would be a waste, so I carried the bamboo basket and cut it along the way.”
Lu Dahai said unhappily, “You say that every time. Don’t you know how to come up with a different excuse? You’re far too honest, girl. Alright, give it to me. I’ll take it to the livestock farm for you. The work points will still be recorded under your name.”
“Ah, then thank you, Dad.”
“Thank me for what? Alright, go talk to your mother.”
Lu Yuhe answered and handed the pig grass to Lu Dahai to carry.
Only then did Aunt Dahai look at her and ask, “What is it? Did something happen?”
Lu Yuhe frowned.
“Mom, Grandma just asked me whether you had settled my marriage yet.”
Aunt Dahai frowned too.
“What? Is your grandma planning to interfere?”
“Mom, you can’t let Grandma interfere. I’m just afraid that she’ll look at whichever family offers the most betrothal gifts and then…”
Aunt Dahai waved her hand.
“Alright, I understand. Don’t worry. You’re my daughter, and you graduated from high school. You even found a temporary job in town by yourself. Once you become a permanent worker in the future, you’ll be a proper city person. How could I let an old woman interfere however she wants?”
“But with Eldest Aunt there, do you think Grandma will be willing to let it go?”
Aunt Dahai sneered.
“Your Eldest Aunt? She’s only capable of fooling your grandma. No, that’s not right. She can’t even fool your grandma. Alright, don’t worry about it. As long as I’m here, I won’t let your grandma sell you off.”
Lu Yuhe’s heart warmed.
“Thank you, Mom.”
Aunt Dahai rolled her eyes.
“Alright. Although your mother does favor your younger brother more, you’re still the daughter I gave birth to. No matter what, I could never let you suffer.”
Lu Yuhe’s eyes reddened.
“Mm, I understand, Mom. I believe you.”
“Mm. Then when you get your salary this month, remember to bring it home. Don’t worry, I’ll save half of it for you. It’ll be your own private savings, and I’ll give it to you as part of your dowry when you get married. As for the other half, consider it the money you’re saving for your two younger brothers as their older sister. When your brothers make something of themselves in the future, I’ll make sure they repay you.”
“No need, Mom. Let that half be for you and Dad. Spend it however you want.”
But Aunt Dahai glared at her.
“Am I someone without sons? Do I need you to support me? Alright, listen to me. Don’t overthink things. Just work hard.”
“Mm, okay…”
Grandma Sixteen had no idea that merely asking one extra question had already made her granddaughter think of her as a wicked grandmother who wanted to sell her off.
In reality, Grandma Sixteen was thinking that since Lu Yuhe had already graduated from high school, if she married someone from the city in the future, there was a high chance she would give birth to a child who could get into university.
For Grandma Sixteen, that would be something that could finally make her proud!
As for why Grandma Sixteen didn’t place her hopes on Lu Yuping’s two older brothers?
Wasn’t it because those two grandsons were just like the two older cousins above them? Neither of them was suited for studying.
At present, in Grandma Sixteen’s family, the only one who could be considered to have some talent for studying was Lu Yuhe.
The others weren’t even within Grandma Sixteen’s consideration. That was why she had asked about Lu Yuhe’s marriage.
As for Lu Yuping, she hadn’t even officially started school yet. How could Grandma Sixteen know whether she had any talent for studying?
In Grandma Sixteen’s heart, this youngest granddaughter had always been a silly, slow-witted child, so honest that even when she was beaten, she didn’t know how to cry loudly.
Relying on her would be less practical than relying on Lu Yuhe.
In short, after being angered by Grandma Twelve’s words just now, Grandma Sixteen genuinely felt that studying was very useful.
If their family could produce a university student in the future, that would absolutely be a glorious and wonderful thing for the family!
—At that time, it would be her family’s children who would become leaders and technical instructors for others!
Hmph!
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river!
Just wait and see!
One day, her family’s children would win back this honor for her!