Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 36

With a towel on her head, sipping chicken soup, Xu Jing’an suddenly heard a commotion outside.

“Mom, what’s going on? Why is it so noisy outside?” Xu Jing’an asked.

“What else could it be? Every household is up in arms over this ‘sent-down youth’ business!” Shen mother replied, feeling bad for her grandson who had been startled but unable to express any complaint.

Xu Jing’an understood immediately. The time had quietly moved forward to December 1968.

At the end of this month, the call went out for “educated youth to go to the countryside and receive re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants,” triggering a nationwide movement for young people to be sent to rural areas.

For Xu Jing’an, with a stable job, a marriage, and now a child, this directive didn’t affect her.

She lay back down to continue her postpartum recovery. With only 40 days of maternity leave, she needed to make the most of it to regain her strength.

By January 10th, Xu Jing’an’s figure was only slightly fuller than before her pregnancy. The cold winter weather meant that with a cotton-padded coat and her work uniform, she didn’t stand out. And by toning down her rosy, well-nourished complexion with dark-toned foundation, she blended right back in as an ordinary working-class woman.

Shen He had watched her make the foundation himself, puzzled at first as to what it was for. Now he saw how, with just a bit of makeup, his wife looked completely different.

Before makeup, it was obvious that she’d been well-cared for during her confinement, with plenty of eggs, meat, and other nutritious foods. After makeup, she looked like someone living off a simple diet of coarse grains and vegetables, with no need for questions.

Shen He was amazed each time he saw the transformation. It was the same person, yet she could go from looking like an unforgettable beauty to an ordinary working woman no one would remember, all depending on her mood and intentions.

Each time afterward, he would take her hands and examine them closely, fascinated.

When Xu Jing’an returned to work, the coworkers she encountered said nothing about her appearance. Times were tough for everyone, and most women had a similarly worn look.

Many of the envious glances from her pregnancy had now faded. Most people had made peace with it, thinking, “Her in-laws treated her well because of the baby she was carrying. See, after birth, she’s just like the rest of us.”

Xu Jing’an made time to pump milk, which she’d take home after work each evening. Shen mother would warm it for the baby while Xu Jing’an was at work.

After the baby was born, Shen mother decided to retire. When she mentioned it to her manager, they agreed immediately, and within days it was done. After all, freeing up a position was a welcome decision for them.

With Shen mother at home, Xu Jing’an could focus on her job without worry.

“Sweep Away Old Customs, No Holiday for Spring Festival” and “Raise the Great Banner and Forge Ahead”—these slogans were everywhere from home to the factory.

It was already the twelfth lunar month, yet there would be no holiday at the factory, and even family visit leave had been canceled.

Traditional festivities like lion dances and firecrackers were out of the question; all that remained was putting up Spring Festival couplets with slogans like “No Ceasefire on New Year’s Eve, Keep Working on New Year’s Day.”

On the morning of New Year’s Day, the first thing the Shen family did, even before dawn, was to pay homage to the leader with wishes for his eternal life.

During breakfast, the sounds of neighbors reciting quotations and singing could still be heard.

After feeding the baby and handing him to Shen mother, Xu Jing’an hurried out the door. By the time she reached the factory, the sky was still dim.

The workshop was brightly lit, with factory leaders visiting every team, supervising on-site. To meet production targets, workers often labored until midnight, with two shifts running non-stop.

Those finishing at midnight earned a 2-cent bonus and could pick up a night meal at the canteen; working through the night included both a night meal and breakfast, with a 3-cent bonus.

Now, there were two typical activities for New Year’s Day.

The first was eating the “Bitterness and Sweetness Remembrance Meal.”

All morning, the factory director and supervisors gave motivational talks to everyone. At noon, all employees gathered to eat this “Bitterness and Sweetness Remembrance Meal.”

So, what was the “Bitterness and Sweetness Remembrance Meal”? There were two options: one was a porridge made of wilted vegetables, wild herbs, rice bran, and dried sweet potato (or spoiled sweet potatoes); the other was a steamed bun made from wild herbs, bran, and leaves (since there were no leaves in winter, bark was used instead). The main feature of both was that they were almost impossible to swallow.

Xu Jing’an glanced around secretly, seeing everyone with their heads lowered, silently eating. Some were grimacing, some had their brows tightly furrowed, and others kept pounding their chests and sipping water to get it down.

Xu Jing’an didn’t make things hard for herself—she held the food in her mouth for a moment, then discreetly tucked it away into her own space.

There were even some highly enthusiastic people who went for a second serving, and Xu Jing’an couldn’t help but admire their determination!

The second activity involved a dance. Holding a red silk scarf high in the right hand, the left arm bent at the chest, and standing upright on both feet—or sometimes with the left leg in a half-squat, head lifted to gaze up at the raised red scarf. As soon as the music’s intro ended, they would sing along and start the dance.

The dance moves were simple, easy to learn, and full of energy. Every move, every step, conveyed fervent admiration.

From cafeteria staff to factory leaders, everyone was divided by workshop or department into small groups to participate in the dance.