The news that Li Wanqing had taken her daughter back to the Educated Youth Station spread quickly.
Some people said the Cheng family was being unreasonable, but most said that Li Wanqing was too unruly.
What kind of daughter-in-law would snatch money from her mother-in-law?
In the old days, a disobedient daughter-in-law like this would have been divorced.
Of course, no one dared to say that openly.
After Li Wanqing had settled in, the educated youths at the station all came over to see her.
He Mei told them what had happened with the Cheng family. Most of them supported Li Wanqing, though there were always a few sour remarks mixed in. Li Wanqing simply pretended she hadn’t heard them.
“Nuo Nuo’s health is too weak. I’m planning to go to the county town tomorrow to buy some malted milk powder, along with some other things we need,” Li Wanqing said as she tidied up.
He Mei, who was teasing the child, immediately brightened.
“Great! I’m going into town tomorrow too. I’ll introduce you to Lu Wei while we’re there.”
Li Wanqing paused for a moment, then smiled.
“Sure!”
“Wanqing, what are you planning to do from now on?” He Mei asked worriedly.
The Cheng family was awful, and Cheng Baichuan had been away for so long.
It wasn’t like Li Wanqing could stay at the Educated Youth Station forever.
“I’m thinking that once Nuo Nuo’s health improves a little, I’ll take her to the army base to look for him.”
Li Wanqing didn’t hide her plans. She simply didn’t mention that if Cheng Baichuan turned out to be no good, she intended to divorce him.
He Mei nodded.
“That works. Once you and Nuo Nuo leave the Cheng family, things will definitely get better for you.”
Li Wanqing smiled without arguing.
……
When Li Wanqing left the Cheng family, she hadn’t brought any rice, flour, or other food with her.
That evening’s meal was put together by the people at the Educated Youth Station. One person contributed a little rice, another contributed some vegetables, and together they managed to make her a meal.
Fortunately, they had just received their grain rations, so they could spare a little.
Li Wanqing didn’t refuse their kindness. Once she bought some supplies tomorrow, she could simply return twice as much to everyone.
After dinner, everyone habitually gathered in the courtyard to enjoy the cool evening air.
A group of young people sat together chatting, talking about the changes in the country and their hopes and disappointments about returning to the cities.
“When I came here, I was only eighteen. Now I’m already twenty-five. Who knows when I’ll ever be able to return to the city?”
The speaker was Zhou Weifeng, the educated youth who had been in the countryside the longest at the station. He was also one of the more influential people among them.
His words made everyone sigh quietly.
Most of the educated youths at Renxing Brigade had once been passionate young people who had come to the countryside filled with lofty ideals.
But reality had given them a harsh wake-up call!
When faced with disappointment and an uncertain future, even the greatest passion could eventually be worn away.
“I’ve almost forgotten what it was like to be in school.”
A female educated youth with her hair tied into two braids sighed, opening the floodgates.
Soon, many others joined in, reminiscing about their school days.
Back then, they hadn’t known how precious their education was. They had always believed that with their own hands, they could build a magnificent country.
But after actually coming here and working alongside the earth, they realized that there was only so much a pair of hands could accomplish.
With the harsh living conditions on top of that, more and more educated youths began longing to return to the cities as soon as possible.
But returning to the city wasn’t something they could do simply because they wanted to.
For various reasons, only a very small number of educated youths were able to return.
As time passed, many gave up and chose to settle down where they had been sent.
For example, Brigade Accountant Zhao Kai and Liu Fang, the daughter-in-law of Women’s Director Gao Chunmei…
At present, the only single female educated youths at the station were the two young women who had just been sent down this year.
Even He Mei had already found herself a boyfriend!
The male educated youths had it somewhat better, but if things continued like this, they might not be able to endure it either.
“If one day the college entrance examination is restored, wouldn’t that mean we could return to the cities?”
Li Wanqing casually asked while playing with her daughter, as if the thought had simply occurred to her.
However, her words didn’t attract much attention.
After all, the college entrance examination had been suspended for ten years. Hoping for it to be restored seemed far less realistic than trying to obtain a recommendation to attend a Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers university.
“Anything is possible. Being prepared is always better than being unprepared.”
After saying that, Li Wanqing didn’t say anything else.
She had given them the warning she could. Now it was up to them whether they believed her and were willing to take a chance.
Zhou Weifeng frowned, thoughtfully considering Li Wanqing’s words.
“I think Wanqing has a point. Opportunities only come to those who are prepared. Whether or not the college entrance examination is restored, we can’t afford to abandon our knowledge.”
“Even if it’s only to compete for a recommendation to a Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers university, we should start picking up the knowledge we’ve forgotten.”
Zhou Weifeng’s words plunged everyone into silence…
It was easy to say, but difficult to actually do.
After working all day, everyone was so exhausted that they wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed. Where would they find the energy to study?
The conversation ended there, but it had opened a small crack in everyone’s heart.
As long as there was even the slightest ray of sunlight, it could shine through.
On her first night after arriving in this era, Li Wanqing didn’t sleep well.
One moment, she dreamed about arguing with the scumbag from her previous life. The next, she was experiencing the suffering of the original owner in this life…
Everything was a chaotic mess, leaving her with a pounding headache.
The moment she felt an itchy sensation on her face, Li Wanqing immediately woke up.
When she saw her daughter’s innocent little face, a smile spread across her face.
She gently pinched the little girl’s nose.
“Good morning, Nuo Nuo!”
The little girl giggled and rubbed herself against her.
【Mommy smells so good~~~】
Li Wanqing’s expression softened. She planted a big kiss on her daughter’s cheek.
“My Nuo Nuo smells the best.”
Li Wanqing had just finished getting her daughter ready when He Mei arrived.
The moment she saw Cheng Nuo’s hair tied into two adorable little buns, she showered the child with kisses again.
“Wanqing, Nuo Nuo is just too cute! I want to make her my goddaughter!”
Li Wanqing smiled.
“Sure! But then, as her godmother, you’ll have to spend some money today.”
He Mei slapped her chest confidently.
“Of course!”
She happened to be going to the post office that day to collect a remittance, and she was determined to buy her goddaughter a beautiful outfit.
Li Wanqing smiled meaningfully.
If that Lu Wei really was a scumbag, this might have an unexpected effect.
Two newly arrived female educated youths were also going into town with them. One was named Hao Zhenzhen, and the other was Yang Xiulan.
Along the way, thanks to the adorable Nuo Nuo, the two girls quickly became familiar with Li Wanqing.
“Sister Wanqing, do you really think there’s a chance the college entrance examination will be restored?” Hao Zhenzhen asked quietly.
At the beginning of the year, something had happened to her family, and it had taken an enormous amount of effort to arrange for her to be sent down to Renxing Brigade.
But if the college entrance examination could really be restored, wouldn’t that mean she could return to the city openly and legitimately?
She wondered how her father and mother were doing now.
Li Wanqing glanced at her before speaking calmly.
“I’m not sure either. I just think, as Educated Youth Zhou said, opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared.”
Hearing this, Hao Zhenzhen furrowed her brows and fell silent.
Li Wanqing didn’t say anything more.
She had already given the warning she could.
As for anything beyond that, there was nothing more she could say.
After all, you could never truly know what was in another person’s heart.
She could trust He Mei, but that didn’t mean everyone was worthy of her trust.