Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 49

Since the fourth son and eldest couple left the family, at first, the grandchildren, being so young, couldn’t adjust. They cried every day, calling for their mother. After seven days, they gradually mentioned it less. After two or three months, unless someone specifically reminded them, the children rarely brought it up.

Every afternoon after work, either Xu mother or Xul father would take turns picking up the grandchildren. This made the two of them feel as though they had returned to their younger days. However, back then, they were picking up their own children, and now they were picking up their grandchildren.

So many years had passed. Back when they were courting, they would secretly hold hands and walk through the park, barely able to say a word to each other, walking red-faced the whole time.

Now, the elderly couple has returned to the life they had during their newlywed days. In the afternoons, Xu father specifically goes to pick up Xu mother from work, and then they pick up the grandchildren to take them home.

The couple’s life is sweet and happy.

—

In the vast northwestern desert, Xu Duoduo has learned to squint when the wind blows. Here, you have to squint, or sand will blow into your eyes.

From time to time, Xu Jianguo spits twice, “Pah! Pah!” without thinking—he’s probably got sand in his mouth again.

The sand stings his face like needles, and Xu Duoduo touches her “highland red” face with her rough hands and says, “Jianguo, I miss our sons. I can’t sleep at night because I miss him. We can’t stay here forever. We must find a way to leave.”

“Who doesn’t miss them? I miss them too,” Xu Jianguo sighs. “This time, we were too open about our actions. And we didn’t expect Mom, the second, and the fourth to be so ruthless.” Leaving home like this, he feels unwilling.

“This time, we were outplayed, but who can say we won’t have our chance to turn things around?” Xu Duoduo grits her teeth and says.

“Duoduo, what are your thoughts? Tell me!”

“When we came here, we were here to support the country’s development, not to be sent here for labor reform. We have our personal freedom! And once we ended up here, who can say it wasn’t an opportunity for us?”

“Keep going, wife!” Xu Jianguo urges, looking at her eagerly.

“First: back in the city, you were the only one making money. Now I can earn a salary too. Since we don’t have many places to spend money, we can save it.”

“Second: back at the factory, you were just an ordinary worker with only a middle school education. Our family had no connections, so it was very hard to get promoted.”

“But here, as long as we’re willing to work hard, there’s no way we won’t find an opportunity to rise.”

“Then, when we’ve earned honors, returning home will be a natural step, right? We’ve contributed to the country, given our youth, and become model workers. The country won’t treat us unfairly, will it?”

“At that time, we’ll bring back the money we’ve saved over the years and return home triumphant. Who can say anything bad about us?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Xu Jianguo, overjoyed by his wife’s words, added, “And isn’t it just about planting trees? How hard can it be?”

Xu Duoduo gritted her teeth. “Let’s work hard for ten years. It’s better than being stuck here for a lifetime.”

Looking at Xu Duoduo, full of energy, Xu Jianguo felt like he was seeing the woman who had attracted him before they got married.

“Wife, we will definitely carve out a path for ourselves. And if we meet anyone who’s been sent here, we should help them if we can. I’ve realized this time: never underestimate anyone. Who knows which cloud will bring the rain?”

Xu Duoduo agreed with her husband. “Right, as long as it doesn’t involve us, it’s always good to be kind to others!”

Ten years later, through hard work and determination, they had planted a forest. Xu Duoduo and Xu Jianguo, wearing big red flowers, were interviewed by reporters and walked out of the vast desert with their honorary certificates.

—

In Cao village, during the quiet of midday, Xu Jianshe was heading to the riverbank with a basket of dirty laundry. He hadn’t had a chance to wash it yet when he heard a splash. Without hesitation, he grabbed his things and started to run back, but was stopped by the elderly woman in front of him.

Xu Jianshe sighed helplessly, realizing that this time, it wouldn’t be easy to brush off, especially since the woman had clearly invested a lot.

“Educated youth Xu, don’t leave! My granddaughter accidentally fell into the river. Please help save her!” The elderly woman with gray hair urged anxiously.

“Auntie, I know saving someone is urgent. Don’t worry, I’ll run quickly and get help!” Xu Jianshe was sweating from the stress.

“Educated youth Xu, you’re right here, only three meters from the river. Why go looking for someone else? Isn’t that just wasting time?” The elderly woman grabbed Xu Jianshe’s wrist and pulled him towards the river.

Despite her old age, the elderly woman’s strength was surprisingly great. Xu Jianshe’s arm was firmly held, and he couldn’t pull away.

“Auntie, holding me won’t help. I can’t swim,” Xu Jianshe explained, but the elderly woman didn’t want to listen.

Seeing the situation getting worse, Xu Jianshe threw down his laundry basket, turned around, and grabbed a nearby tree, shouting loudly, “Help! Help!” The elderly woman looked at Xu Jianshe shouting for help and secretly resented him for being too clever.

Every time the elderly woman pulled harder, Xu Jianshe shouted louder. The two of them held their positions for half an hour, and only when they heard voices faintly coming from afar did the elderly woman finally release her grip.

Xu Jianshe grabbed his things and ran without stopping for even a moment.

The girl had been struggling in the river for over half an hour, panting heavily, but still no help arrived. She had no choice but to swim back on her own, mainly because she had exhausted her energy. If something happened, there wouldn’t even be time to cry!

It was one thing to suffer a little for marrying into a good family, but risking her life was not worth it!

“Grandma, help is here, let’s go back!” The girl, drenched from head to toe, appeared not far behind the elderly woman. If the villagers saw this situation, rumors could start spreading, and her reputation could be damaged.

Many girls in the village had tried to marry Educated youth Xu, but none had succeeded. Some things could be done but not said; everyone understood that without needing to mention it.

Grandma Sun spat angrily, “Useless softie, can’t even swim!” There were few men in their village who couldn’t swim because they often bathed in the river when it got hot.

Xu Jianshe jogged all the way home and only slowed down when he reached his doorstep.

“Hey, Educated youth Xu, help me—Educated youth Xu!” Ignoring the woman’s calls behind him, he quickly walked into the house, turned, and swiftly locked the door.

His actions were so smooth that Xu Jianshe was impressed with himself. Who would have thought that the rare “girl chasing boy” scenario in the city would be so common in the countryside? It was like seeing a ghost!

He had no idea who leaked the news that he could return to the city. Since then, women had been throwing themselves at him, falling into his arms, offering to help clean his house, bringing him shoes and food, running into him randomly, wanting to talk about ideals, and even trying to partner with him to get involved in the black market. There were countless ways they tried to scheme, and it happened every few days!

These people, whether they’re scheming about his job, connections, or wanting to marry him to move to the city, are just trying to take advantage of him. Is Xu Jianshe the kind of person who sacrifices himself for others? He never had that mindset from the day he was born!

In these two years in the countryside, Xu Jianshe has gained a lot of insight. He couldn’t understand these women at all. If you really didn’t want to work on the land, why didn’t you do something earlier? Why wait until you’re out in the countryside to get married? Wasn’t it possible to do that in the city?

If you were of age and your background was fine, marrying into the city would at least give you a town household registration and food rations. Isn’t that better than living in the countryside? There are so many workers in the city that they don’t need, while in the village, there are only a few who stand out, and so many people are desperately trying to get close to them.

What really puzzled him was that some were even fighting to marry someone from the “black five categories” (politically persecuted families). One soldier’s wife, after falling into the water, suddenly fought with another girl from the same village, even though the two had never interacted before.

He also heard about some educated youth being bullied by locals, and some even had affairs with local cadres and members of the revolutionary committees, all for the sake of returning to the city or securing a spot in the workers’ and peasants’ university.

If Xu Jianshe were to say it, if you were really willing to take risks, wouldn’t the opportunities in the city be greater than in the countryside? At least you could secure a job there, right?

Last year, there was even a 16-year-old female educated youth who came with her 5-year-old brother. After arriving, she bought a house and furniture, spending money like water. She suppressed news about Xu Jianshe’s good conditions and took over the headlines in Cao village. Many male comrades were eager to act!

Xu Jianshe only exchanged brief greetings with the educated youth at their meetings and didn’t keep in contact with them otherwise. Whether male or female, he never let them into his house, and he always spoke to them outside if something came up. He was on high alert all the time!

Xu Jianshe’s biggest complaint about the female educated youths was that they had driven up the prices.

In the past, he could exchange one hard candy for three large bundles of firewood, but now he could only get one bundle. Even the wife of the village’s brigade leader had developed a big appetite, and she wouldn’t even look at a couple of ounces of brown sugar.

If it weren’t for the relationship with his third brother-in-law, he would have been replaced in the job of managing the tools in the warehouse.

Anyone who approached him was only trying to take advantage of him. Those who could benefit from him kept their distance.

Xu Jianshe understood this all too well!