Chapter 110 - 110

Chapter 110 Return to City QuotaThat year, Yun Ting and Yun Xu chose to stay for the Lunar New Year.As time passed, the year 1977 quietly arrived.Yun Ting couldn't stand seeing her younger brother spend all his time playing around except for work, so she grabbed him and started reading books together."Second sister, why do you always make me read books? I don't need them now."At this point, Yun Ting thought for a moment and decided to reveal some information to her silly younger brother."Haven't you noticed anything different lately? Try reading the newspaper.""Sis, could it be...?""Shh... I'm not sure either, but it's only a matter of time. Opportunities are for those who are prepared.""Sister, I understand."Yun Ting's reason for telling Yang Qingqing was the same ridiculous one: he said he gleaned something from reading the newspaper. Yang Qingqing secretly marveled at Yun Ting's keen insight! He could even see things in advance from reading the newspaper. Little did she know that Yun Ting, like her, had also experienced the future.That day, right after work, Caiyun secretly pulled her to a secluded spot, acting furtively."Caiyun, what are you doing?"" Sister Yun, let me tell you, some quotas for educated youth to return to the city have been opened up. I heard from my dad that our brigade has two more quotas than other brigades because it was rated as an advanced brigade."Upon hearing this, Yun Ting immediately understood that the Brigade Leader must have deliberately leaked the information to Caiyun so that she would come and tell her. Her heart warmed; she knew all about the care the Brigade Leader's family had given her over the years, and she was very grateful."Caiyun, I understand, but I don't want to go back to the city right now.""What? You don't want to..." Before she could finish saying the words "return to the city," Yun Ting covered her mouth."Keep your voice down..."Caiyun nodded, and Yun Ting then released her."Think about it! If I go back now, I won't have a job, so I might as well stay here and be a teacher! What do you think?"After thinking about it, Caiyun realized that it made sense."And what about your brother?""He's only been here for a year, how can he get a spot? We can't put the captain in a difficult position.""Hey... there's nothing difficult about it. Let my dad see how it goes. If it's possible, he can handle it. I can also send my younger brother back.""Caiyun, thank you all, but I'll go find Captain Uncle if I need anything."Yun Ting wanted to repay the Brigade Leader's family for their care, so she subtly reminded Caiyun to read. The girl was clever and understood immediately without making a fuss.Yun Ting was very pleased, as she liked associating with intelligent people.Lu Jiayan wrote a letter to Yang Qingqing. The letter didn't mention anything else, but simply reminded them to pick up their textbooks and read more books.Yang Qingqing also showed the letter to Yun Ting. Yun Ting raised an eyebrow, looked atYang Qingqing, and smiled wickedly, " Beauty Yang, how about it? Aren't you touched? She's still thinking about you even after she went back!"Yang Qingqing glared at her, annoyed. "You're just a mouth that's been given too much trouble.""Hey! Without my mouth, how boring would you be?"They knew that the college entrance examination would be reinstated, so they didn't care much about the quota for returning to the city.Yun Ting also asked Yun Xu if he wanted to go back first. If he wanted to go back, she would shamelessly try to get him a spot.But this kid didn't even consider it, he rejected it outright, showing his determination: wherever his sister is, he'll be there too."What if I pass the exam but you don't?""How could that be? Sis, don't worry! I know what I'm doing and I won't slack off. I'm just studying late into the night now."Aunt Meihua even made a special trip to see Yun Ting about returning to the city."Girl, tell Auntie the truth, do you really not want to go back to the city?"" Auntie, don't you know my personality? If I really wanted to go back, I wouldn't need you to look for me; I would have gone to find Uncle Team Leader long ago. Actually, I miss home quite a bit, but if I went back, I wouldn't have a job, and just staying home eating and drinking would be pretty tough. It's much more comfortable being a teacher here! Besides, I've been in this village for so many years; I've grown attached to it, haha…""You clever girl, what about Xiao Xu?"" Auntie, I want to go with my sister too," Yun Xu, who had overheard this, replied immediately."Wow! The siblings have a really good relationship!"The spots for returning to the city were definitely not available to those who had already settled down and started families here. In the end, the spots were filled by Li Hongxia, Zhao Xiulan,Qian Hui, Li Zhaodi, and Li Qiuyue. Originally, Yang Qingqing and Yun Ting were also eligible, but they both voluntarily gave up their spots." Brigade Leader, I don't want to go back to the city. Please give my spot to someone else!"Upon hearing Li Hongxia's words, the Brigade Leader's expression froze. What was going on? They used to look forward to returning to the city, but now one or two of them didn't want to leave."Have you thought it through? It'll be too late to regret it later."He couldn't understand it at all. Li Hongxia was one of the first batch of educated youth sent to the countryside. She had been there for ten years. Logically, she should be overjoyed to be able to return to the city. Shouldn't she be crying tears of joy?"I've thought it through."In truth, Li Hongxia longed to return to the city. However, when she thought of that suffocating home, she preferred to stay here. If she went back, her parents might marry her off to someone else for dowry money, and the whole family would leech off her.Wang Lijuan wasn't originally on the list, but because Li Hongxia and the others gave up, she got the spot instead. She was overjoyed and changed her attitude from before, sincerely thanking Li Hongxia.When Zhang Wei left, his teaching position became vacant, and several teachers took turns teaching the classes.The Brigade Leader mentioned to the principal that they had secured an opportunity for Li Hongxia to take the exam, and if successful, she could fill the vacancy as a teacher.Li Hongxia was still very touched. An elder who was not related to her at all could show her kindness, so why did her blood relatives treat her like that?Li Hongxia is also quite good. She didn't do well on the exam before, but she studied a lot afterward and got a good score this time, making her a well-deserved teacher.Li Zhaodi hesitated, unsure whether she should return to the city. Yin Jiao hadn't come back since her father fell seriously ill and she went back; someone had simply handled the paperwork for her.Li Zhaodi learned from her mother's letter thatYin Jiao's father had passed away, and her two older brothers and their wives, for the sake of power, had arranged for her to marry someone. Her mother was unable to stop it, and Yin Jiaowas married off just like that.Li Zhaodi's father used to work for Yin Jiao'sfather, but now that Yin Jiao is gone, her father is still working as a driver for the Yin family, but it seems they don't plan to use him anymore.She didn't want to go back. Now that she had a limp, it would be difficult for her to find a job. Her mother was unemployed, and her father was about to lose his job as well. Thinking about it, she was so resistant to going back to the city. Her parents hadn't been very good to her at home anyway.Those who genuinely wanted to return to the city happily took the documents and approval slips given to them by the Brigade Leader and left in high spirits.After hesitating for a few days, Li Zhaodi told the Brigade Leader that she had decided not to go back for the time being.This time, the Brigade Leader was truly at a loss. What... what... what should he say?Is it because Xiangyang Brigade is such a blessed place that everyone who comes here doesn't want to leave?If they don't want to reply, then they don't have to! Anyway, they're all capable workers, able to support themselves, and not a burden.Now, only Li Hongxia, Zhao Weidong, Zhang Xuejun, Liu Hongling, the Yun Ting siblings,Yang Qingqing, and Li Zhaodi remain inEducated Youth.Chen Huifang and Wang Xiangdong both married people from the village.And Lin Xue He Junjun and his partner.