Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 13 One Year Later

"Xiaowei, have you eaten yet? Are you going home to eat or eating at the cafeteria?" Wang Bing brushed the dust off his pants with his gloves as he walked over.

Xiao Wei sat on his helmet, a cigarette in his hand, leaning against the wall in the sun. Hearing Wang Bing speak, he turned his head and glanced at him, saying, "If you don't want to move, just eat in the cafeteria."

Wang Bing walked over to Xiao Wei and sat down next to him. He asked Xiao Wei for a cigarette, lit it, and said, "Why do you love eating in the cafeteria so much? The food is like pig slop; you can never find a piece of meat in it."

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "We just need to eat, what more do you want? Before we farmed back home, we ate even worse. Back then, we only ate two meals a day, and when we were hungry, we would just eat a steamed bun. We didn't even have pickled vegetables, but we still lived pretty well. Besides, if I go back home, I'll have to trouble my aunt to cook lunch for me. If I don't go back, she can manage on her own."

Wang Bing turned to Xiao Wei, winked, and said, "Feeling sorry for your mother-in-law? You're quite the filial son-in-law. By the way, is your girlfriend really going to go to university? Then she'll be a city dweller, right? Xiao Wei, then... right? You'd better think it over."

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "She definitely has to take the exam. Even if she doesn't want to, I'll make her take it. Why stay in the county if she can pass and become a city dweller? I've already told her that I'll support her through university, so her uncle and aunt can relax. What you're saying is impossible. I used to farm at home while she was studying in the county. My uncle is even a cadre, and he still treats me well and doesn't look down on me. Xiao Hong isn't that kind of person. Besides, even if that's the case, I'll accept it. Being able to go out is better than staying here."

Wang Bing flicked his cigarette butt away, stood up while supporting himself on his knees, picked up his helmet, and said, "Fine, you decide for yourself. I'm going home now; I can't eat the food in the cafeteria. I'm off." He turned and went downstairs.

Xiao Wei is now a senior worker, earning seven yuan a day, one yuan more than his master Lao Liu, and he even gets to buy cigarettes.

In the past two years, he has worked his way up from mortar to bricklaying, then to mixing lime, soaking lime and twisting hemp fibers. He has finally made it through the entire construction site job and become a senior worker. Although he owes a lot to Chen's help, it is mainly due to his own hard work.

The tenacity of a country boy instilled in him an indomitable spirit. Why could others do it well but he couldn't? He observed carefully, worked hard, and with his mentor Lao Liu's willingness to share his knowledge, he finally made it through the tough times.

Now he's taking on an apprentice, Wang Bing, who's two years older than Xiao Wei. Wang Bing comes from a well-off family; his father works in the county. Xiao Wei dropped out of school after junior high and just drifted along. His father sent him to Lao Xia's construction site to train him and learn a trade. In those days, being a skilled construction worker was highly sought after—it was a lucrative and prestigious job.

As the sun sets, its afterglow paints the small county town in a rosy hue.

The construction site bell rang, signaling the end of the workday. The machines stopped roaring, tools were put away, and the workers walked out leisurely, chatting as they went. Xiao Wei, carrying his safety helmet, walked with the crowd, while Wang Bing, a cigarette dangling from his lips, walked beside him.

"How much bricks did you build today?" Old Liu asked, catching up from behind.

Xiao Wei smiled and said, "Master, it's not much, just over three meters. Please hurry, Master."

Old Liu shook his head and said, "You've only been working for a few days. Sigh, it's good to be young. I'm willing but unable to keep up physically. Work hard, you'll definitely be better than me."

After signing the papers at the workers' shed, the crowd surged out of the construction site gate.

Xiao Wei rode his bicycle, humming some tune he couldn't understand, towards Station Master Wang's house.

I locked the car downstairs, took off my shirt and held it in my hand before going upstairs.

Once inside, I took off my dirty clothes and folded them neatly at the doorway. Wearing a sweater and long johns, I went to the kitchen to wash up and started helping Aunt Wang, who was busy cooking.

When Wang Xiaohong, who was the last to return, entered the house, the food was already laid out on the table, the wine cups were already filled, and Station Chief Wang was already drinking with a smile.

Wang Xiaohong is about to take the college entrance examination, but her studies are not as intense anymore. She gets out of school earlier and doesn't have to stay up late or get up early anymore, which makes the whole family much more relaxed.

Xiao Wei served Xiao Hong a bowl of rice and placed it in front of her, saying, "Why are you so happy today?"

Xiaohong picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of food, and said, "I got third in the class on today's test, which surprised the old witch. Haha, I'm so happy!"

The "old witch" she mentioned was her homeroom teacher, a rather strict female teacher whose surname was Wu (巫). Strict teachers are often seen as representatives of evil forces in the minds of students, so it's normal for them to have a nickname. However, as students grow up, the teachers who leave the deepest impression and are most missed are often those like her.

Station Master Wang glared at Xiao Hong and said, "You're so unprofessional. Is giving teachers nicknames your job? You're not acting like a girl at all. Showing off."

Xiao Hongchong Wang Xiaochang rolled his eyes and lowered his head to eat.

Aunt Wang put a piece of food on Xiaowei's plate and asked Xiaohong, "Hong? Are you really going to take the exam to get into a better school?"

Wang Xiaohong glanced at her mother, nodded, and said, "I'll definitely take the exam if I can. Once I get into university, I'll have an urban household registration, and maybe I'll even be assigned to the city. When they come down to inspect or something, my dad will have to report to me. How interesting would that be? Hahaha, Comrade Wang, you have to do your best!"

Station Master Wang sighed and said to Aunt Wang, "Were we sure we didn't switch her at the hospital? How can this girl be so heartless? How is she like me?"

Wang Xiaohong stopped eating, thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "That's possible. I also think I don't look like you. Look, Dad, you're so ugly, and I'm so beautiful. How are we alike? Oh dear." Station Master Wang tapped Wang Xiaohong on the head with his chopsticks.

Wang Xiaohong pouted and said, "If one day I'm taken back by some rich man or high-ranking official, I'll definitely come back to get revenge on you."

Aunt Wang glared at Xiao Hong and asked, "Have you decided where you want to study? That means you'll have to go away to study, and that'll be for several years. Are you really sure?"

Wang Xiaohong stuffed a mouthful of food into her mouth, chewed, and nodded as she said, "I've thought it through. I'll study in the provincial capital. It's not that far away. It only takes a day to travel back and forth by bus. It's not like I'm going that far. I have to work hard for my future. I can't rely on you for everything."

Station Master Wang thought for a moment and said, "Going to the provincial capital? Okay, that's good too. There are several pretty good schools in our province, and it's not far. Just think it over. Which school are you planning to apply to?"

Wang Xiaohong, biting the end of her chopsticks, said, "I want to go to Northeast Institute of Technology, that would be best, but I'm afraid I won't get in. Fengtian University? Northeast Agricultural University? Chemical Engineering University? University of Technology? Ugh, why think so much? I'll just take whatever I get into. Let's eat."

Station Master Wang said, half-laughing and half-crying, "Silly kid, do you think you can just do whatever you want? You have to choose your own university. You have to say which school you want to apply to. If you don't apply to this school, even if you get the score, you won't get in. There are so many people who want to go to university, how many can they admit each year?"

In the 1980s, university entrance exams involved applying to universities before the actual exam, unlike later years when students estimated their scores and then applied. This difference was like night and day. Moreover, universities hadn't expanded their enrollment or become the money-making institutions they are today, so the competition for university admission was significantly greater than it is now.