The next day, as soon as Su Wenshan arrived at the steel factory, he was publicly praised by the leadership in front of the entire workforce. He was also rewarded with twenty yuan, and the Security Department was credited with a first-class merit.
Xia Xingguo specifically came over to congratulate him. "Old Su, you're really something! A real hidden talent. You're usually so quiet, but when you act, you shake the whole factory!"
"You have no idea—right now the Security Department is in the spotlight. Wherever they go, people are giving them gifts. Especially Section Chief Wei. When I came over just now, I even saw someone presenting him with an honorary banner!"
Su Wenshan chuckled. "It's all thanks to the Security Department and the Public Security officers. I just cooperated a bit, yet I still got a twenty-yuan reward. I'm honestly a bit ashamed."
"Don't be modest. The factory rewarded you with twenty yuan—doesn't that prove your contribution? Alright, no more talk. You're treating us tonight. We'll have a drink together."
At the mention of drinks, Su Wenshan didn't refuse. "Alright, come over to my place tonight. Bring your wife and the kids—Yingzi and Huzi. We'll make it lively. It's settled!"
However, before Su Wenshan could even warm up to the twenty yuan he received, Chen Xiue confiscated it the moment he got home.
Watching her tuck the money into the cabinet, Su Wenshan looked longingly at it and said dejectedly, "Xiue, Old Xia and his family are coming over tonight. Why don't you cook the meat hanging from the beam?"
Chen Xiue rolled her eyes. "Do you think I need you to tell me that? And don't think that just because Old Xia is coming, you can drink as much as you want. I'm telling you—half a cup, that's it! You've already drunk three times this month. Next month, unless there's a special occasion, you're not allowed to drink at all. Got it?"
Su Wenshan replied weakly, "Got it."
Seeing his father act like a timid quail, Su Baoguo burst out laughing. "Dad, your face is so droopy you could hatch eggs with it! Hahaha…"
Without a word, Su Wenshan grabbed a feather duster from the kang and chased after him.
Just as Su Baoguo was yelping, Xia Xingguo arrived with his family.
As soon as they entered, Xia Ying's mother went straight to the kitchen to help Chen Xiue prepare the meal. The two women chatted warmly as they worked.
"Aunt Xia said, "Yun's mom, your Old Su really made a name for himself this time! Not only was he praised across the whole factory, but I heard there'll be a meeting next week to commend him again. They're even planning to set him up as a model worker for the steel factory!"
Chen Xiue's face lit up with joy. "Really? Why didn't he tell me? I thought the factory just gave him twenty yuan. I didn't expect something like this!"
In those days, being publicly praised and set as a model worker was an incredible honor—something the whole family could be proud of.
Aunt Xia smiled. "He probably doesn't even know yet. Men like them are so carefree!"
"Exactly!" Chen Xiue agreed wholeheartedly.
At that moment, Su Baoguo and Xia Hu ran into the kitchen. The two little boys looked around, spotted the meat cooking in the pot and the rice steaming on the stove, and immediately cheered:
"Yay! We're having meat tonight!"
Chen Xiue grabbed a handful of green beans and threw them at Su Baoguo. "You brat! Take Huzi outside and play. Go find Tian Ci and Jin Suo. Stop wandering around the kitchen!"
There was fire in the kitchen, and she was afraid the children might get hurt.
Aunt Xia shared the same concern and called out to her son, "Huzi, go play with Xiao Wu. Be careful not to fall."
After they left, Aunt Xia turned back to Chen Xiue. "Yun's mom, when will your eldest children be able to return to the city?"
At the mention of this, Chen Xiue's face clouded with worry. "Who knows? Those educated youths were sent to the countryside for years. I already have seven or eight grandchildren, and I haven't even met them. Especially my Xiao Ling—she's about to give birth, and I don't even know how she's doing…"
"Fortunately, Yun was lucky. Just when she was about to be sent down, she found a job and got to stay by my side. Otherwise, with only Xiao Wu left at home, I'd be even more worried."
Aunt Xia sighed. "Tell me about it. My Yingzi is the same. If her uncle hadn't found her a job as a sales clerk at the mall, she'd have been sent to the countryside too! Her older brother has been in the northeast for five years now. He's already twenty-four and still unmarried. It's really worrying—I don't know when he'll be able to come back."
When it came to their children, both mothers had endless worries.
---
In Su Yun's side room, Xia Ying was stunned as soon as she walked in. Seeing the desk covered with books and test papers, she exclaimed, "Su Yun, we've already graduated from high school, and you're still studying? I really admire you!"
Seizing the opportunity, Su Yun lowered her voice mysteriously. "Yingzi, I have something to tell you."
Xia Ying immediately became curious. "What is it?"
"I have a friend who has connections. A few days ago, he told me that our country will likely restore the college entrance examination very soon—within three months at most. There will definitely be news. When that happens, we'll have a chance to go to university!"
Hearing this, Xia Ying froze.
After a long moment, she finally came back to her senses, her face filled with shock. "Is that true? Is your friend reliable?"
Su Yun nodded. "Absolutely reliable. Look at all the materials I've gathered—how could it be fake?"
She herself hadn't studied for over twenty years, yet she had managed to pick it up again. For someone like Xia Ying, who had just graduated not long ago, it would be even easier.
Xia Ying's grades had always been similar to Su Yun's—both of them ranked near the top of their class. Getting into university wasn't impossible for them.
Xia Ying became visibly excited. "If this is true, then I can go to university too! I don't want to spend my whole life selling watches at the mall. I want to study. I want to chase the life I've always dreamed of. I can do it, right, Su Yun?"
Su Yun smiled encouragingly. "Of course! We can definitely do it. As long as we strengthen our knowledge, getting into university won't be a problem!"
The reason Su Yun was so confident was largely because of Gu Hai.
Gu Hai was among the first batch of university students after the restoration—and a postgraduate at the prestigious Jing University. With him tutoring her, if she still couldn't get into university, it would be downright embarrassing!
After hearing the news, Xia Ying was so excited that she immediately borrowed several study materials from Su Yun, determined to go home and review.
"Su Yun, we just graduated not long ago—that's our advantage. Starting today, let's study hard together and strive to both get into university and change our destinies!"
Xia Ying encouraged her.
Su Yun didn't hide anything and briefly told her about Gu Hai tutoring her. She even invited Xia Ying to join the lessons.
Upon hearing this, Xia Ying's eyes sparkled with gossip, and she said teasingly, "I knew something was going on between you two! Otherwise, why would Comrade Gu Hai be so kind—helping you all the time and even tutoring you? My instincts tell me he definitely has feelings for you!"
Su Yun shook her head quickly. "No, no, you've misunderstood him. Comrade Gu Hai is just kind-hearted. Besides, I'm not getting lessons for free—I'm paying him. Fifty cents a day!"