Chapter 19 Arrangements at Home 2

  Xu Shaojie walked out of the bus station, a small county town's bus station, which had not changed much over the years. However, there were more rickshaws on the streets now. In Xilin City, there were only taxis and buses, but in this small county town, these things could not be seen. The appearance of rickshaws was always a good thing, as it could save a lot of physical strength. Outside the bus station, many rickshaws were parked, and as soon as Xu Shaojie came out, one of them pulled up in front of him.

  "Hey little brother, one yuan, where can I take you?"

  When Xu Shaojie heard the dialect of his hometown, he felt a sense of intimacy. After saying where to go, he got on a rickshaw. As the rickshaw started moving, there was a gentle breeze in his face, which was very comfortable in summer and had no smell of gasoline, completely different from the feeling of being in a car. Unfortunately, the county town is not big, and it didn't take long to arrive home.

  "Shao Jie, eat a bit more, this chicken was stewed especially."

  Han Qing'e put a chicken leg into Xu Shaojie's bowl, and Xu Shaojie habitually picked it up and gave it to Xu Lan.

  "Lanlan is in high school, eats a lot, and studies very hard."

  Xu Lan grew taller and slimmer, looking much more slender. She picked up the chicken leg and put it back into Xu Shaojie's bowl.

  "Brother, I'm going to eat less meat and more vegetables from now on. I've been eating too much meat lately."

  Xu Shaojie smiled, girls all love beauty, and his sister is no exception. She definitely doesn't want to grow up to be a big fatty. His 16-year-old sister must pay attention to these things. Thinking of this, Xu Shaojie devoured the chicken leg in big mouthfuls.

  "Lanlan, the questions you couldn't do, categorize them first. In these few days, I'll take a look. It's been many years and I'm not very familiar with them either, it needs a process. After I figure it out, I'll explain to you again."

  "Okay, we have to make up for the summer vacation, and the holiday is less than a month away. We'll only be off at the end of the month, just in time. I've already organized everything and put it in your room. The textbooks are all the same, and your high school textbooks are still there. My class needs to use them."

  "Uh, no problem, this period of time is enough, I'll definitely be able to figure it out. In school, I even took some time to review the math from freshman year, and I still remember it."

  At home, there was a 17-inch black and white TV. After dinner, Xu Lan rested for a while before going to evening self-study. Han Qing'e cleaned up afterwards and found Xu Shaojie's clothes, starting to hand wash them.

  "Mom, let's buy a washing machine, it's not expensive, and it will be more convenient for washing clothes."

  "Never mind, I'm used to it, washing hands is much cleaner."

  "Mom, let's buy a washing machine. You're getting older and it's okay in the summer but not in the winter."

  "What's wrong with that? So many years have passed, you're still studying, Yijie hasn't gotten married yet, Lanlan is in high school, all of these need money. Where would we get so much money to waste? Now save some more, and later on, you won't be anxious. After you graduate, you'll soon get married too. If I don't save some money for you, what will you use to marry a wife?"

  Xu Shaojie didn't know what to say, this was also thinking too far ahead.

  "Mom, big brother and Yan Jie are preparing to introduce a friend to my brother. She is Yan Jie's cousin, said to be very beautiful, 20 years old this year. After graduating from high school, she didn't get into college, but she is very virtuous, just from the countryside."

  "Is that so? Good things, good things. I've been muttering every day, worried about Yi Jie. Now it's all right, no need to worry so much."

  Han Qing'e forgot about the clothes in the basin, stood up, rubbed her hands together and walked to Xu Shaojie's front.

  "Shao Jie, you must remember to advise Yi Jie often, be a bit more gentle, don't be harsh on girls. They're high school students, what's wrong with being from the countryside? Country girls are great, they can endure hardship, manage the household, and are virtuous. As long as she looks up to our family's Yi Jie, it'll be blessed by Buddha. Yi Jie needs a girl to take care of him and look after him. Also, tell Yi Jie that during Chinese New Year, he must bring his girlfriend home so I can take a good look."

  "Mom, what's wrong with you? You haven't even seen his face yet."

  "You little stinker, what do you know? Mom's been worried sick every day, eating poorly and sleeping badly, all because of Yijie's personal problems. Now it's all settled, sigh... Shao Cai and Yu Huan are really good people, you must remember to repay them in the future, or I won't let you off."

  "Mom, I joined the party at school, it was at the beginning of the month."

  "What? Shao Jie, you've joined the party."

  Han Qing'e looked at Xu Shaojie carefully, her tone somewhat serious.

  "Shaojie, your dad and I have talked about it before. He said you would definitely choose to enter politics. To be honest, I didn't understand it either. What's good about administrative units? Your dad spent his whole life in an administrative unit and didn't enjoy anything. He left so early. I know your temper, when you were young, you liked to observe and think about problems. Yijie and Lanlan can't compare with you in this aspect. However, you need to know that administrative units require background, backing, and relationships. Now, wherever you go, it's all about relatives promoting relatives, friends promoting friends. They say the countryside is surrounding the city, many leaders of units are from rural areas, taking care of each other. Ordinary people can't get in at all. You don't have any advantages, it's not easy to get ahead. Our family doesn't have money either, becoming an official isn't that simple."

  Xu Shaojie looked at his mother Han Qing'e and spoke up, also very seriously.

  "Mom, I know my own shortcomings. But as the saying goes, 'it's up to people to make things happen.' Dad's teachings are still fresh in my mind. I'll be careful with everything. Don't worry, I have a lot on my plate and I'll think carefully about every step of the way."

  The room fell silent for a moment, with the TV playing the news broadcast. The county could only receive a few channels, and there was nothing good to watch on TV.

  "Shao Jie, I know your temper. Once you've made up your mind, there's no persuading you back. Mom is worried about you. What's meant to be will happen, what's not won't. Among the three children at home, you're the most promising one. Lanlan is a girl and will definitely have to rely on her husband in the future. This is something I must insist on."

  "Mom, I'll tell Lanlan."

  Xu Shaojie hasn't mentioned the move yet, and his clothes aren't even washed. He wants to think it over carefully before bringing it up. If mom agrees, then they can temporarily not buy a washing machine, so as not to make things complicated when moving. Don't look, time flies quickly, two years will pass in the blink of an eye.

  The next day early in the morning, Xu Shaojie brought firecrackers to his father's grave. His mother had gone to work and his sister had gone to school.

  "Dad, I've joined the party and taken the first step. Don't worry, I'll take every step steadily. Yesterday, I talked to mom about it, and I've made up my mind to enter an administrative unit and follow a career in politics. You've spent your whole life working in administrative units and making contributions. Now that things are going smoothly for me and I have good luck, it must be because you're blessing me. There are still three years before I graduate, and I'll do my best to prepare."

  When Xujie returned home, Han Qing'e had already started making lunch. Xu Lan's time was very tight, and after eating, she would take a short nap before heading to school. Studying was tough, especially in high school, where there was hardly any time to rest. After entering the second year of high school, Xu Lan faced the challenge of choosing between liberal arts and science. From then on, there were almost no winter or summer breaks. Now, with the emphasis on college entrance exams, both teachers and students were under pressure. This summer vacation, Xujie would also help Xu Lan consider her options. Xujie would suggest that Xu Lan take the liberal arts path, as it was more advantageous for girls.

  Less than an hour later, Xu Lan went to school. Xu Shaojie got up late in the morning and didn't need a nap. Han Qing'e was not used to taking naps. Before, she had been busy all the time, but now she had some leisure time, and she had to pay attention to Xu Lan at all times.

  "Mom, there was something yesterday that I didn't tell you."

  "Shao Jie, what's going on? You didn't say anything yesterday."

  "Lan Lan will take the college entrance exam in two years, and after that, she'll leave the county town. Then you'll be left alone at home, which is quite lonely. We're worried about you being by yourself in the county town, so we plan to have you retire from your job and move to the provincial city. Brother won't come back to the county town; he's going to settle down in the provincial city. Eldest brother and Yan sister are also there, which will make it convenient for them to take care of you. Besides, after brother gets married, you can help take care of the kids too."

  Xu Shaojie had thought carefully before speaking, it was hard to leave his hometown. If he had casually mentioned moving to the provincial city, his mother would have definitely opposed it. However, by bringing up his brother Xu Yijie, his mother would certainly consider it, because both parents felt guilty towards his brother and always wanted to make it up to him. Before his father passed away, what he was most worried about was his brother Xu Yijie. Xu Shaojie believed that before his father's death, he must have specifically instructed his mother.

  As expected, Han Qing'e's face changed when she heard the previous words, but after Xu Shaojie finished speaking, Han Qing'e didn't say anything. Xu Yijie was alone in the provincial city, and Han Qing'e was originally worried about him. If it weren't for Xu Lan's intense studies, she would have gone to the provincial city to check on things a long time ago. Now that Xu Shaojie had said such words, Han Qing'e thought they made sense. Xu Yijie had suffered so much and lacked family care for a long time, so he must be resentful. Moreover, after Xu Yijie got married and had children, the two young people wouldn't know how to take care of them, making Han Qing'e even more worried. Two years later, when Xu Lan was admitted to university and left the county town, Han Qing'e thought it would be a good opportunity for her to take care of her grandchild or granddaughter while she still had the energy. As for the county town, Han Qing'e felt that there were too many sad things, and the relationships between relatives were dull and unenthusiastic. She rarely went out, and there wasn't much worth remembering, except for the old man who was still here, which made her feel a little reluctant to leave.

  "Mom, I'll come back every year to see Dad, brother and Lanlan. If you're in good health, you can also come back every year. Eldest brother has a car, it's still very convenient."

  Xu Shaojie's supplement prompted Han Qing'e to make up her mind.

  "Alright, I'll take care of the procedures for my medical retirement. It's been possible to do it long ago. Lanlan is under a lot of pressure with her studies, and if I retire, I can take care of her at home. My unit has already been thinking about me retiring, and the vacant position can be taken by the bureau chief's daughter-in-law, but it would be too much trouble for Shao Cai and Yu Huan."

  "There's nothing much to say, my elder brother's mother passed away very early, and his father also passed away a few years ago. My elder brother has been struggling alone outside for many years, it's been tough for him. He knew the thoughts of my brother and me, and insisted that you move to the provincial city."

  "Alas, it's also a pity for me, but it's good that I'm going to the provincial city, so I can take care of you all. It's a good thing, and that's settled then. Two years is enough time, and everything at home can be arranged properly."

  Xu Shaojie's heart fell, he had been unable to persuade his mother to go to the provincial city, so Xu Shaojie considered many reasons and finally thought that taking care of his brother Xu Yijie was the most sufficient reason. Xu Shaojie constantly reminded himself that when doing anything, he must consider all aspects of the reasons and justifications, starting from now on, training himself, in order to better adapt to society and officialdom in the future. Up until now, basically there has been no problem.

  Next, Xu Shaojie began to tutor Xu Lan's homework. Xu Shaojie required Xu Lan to at least take the exam to study in the provincial city, and it would be best to go to Beijing, so she must work hard. Xu Shaojie suggested that Xu Lan read liberal arts, as girls have an advantage in choosing liberal arts. Xu Shaojie himself also studied liberal arts, of course, his reasons were different. Xu Shaojie suggested that Xu Lan focus on the teaching profession when choosing a career, as it is still a good job for girls to teach. In addition, being a journalist is also worth considering. Girls should not enter administrative units. While explaining the benefits of these careers, Xu Shaojie respected Xu Lan's opinions. Xu Lan was unwilling to teach and considered studying medicine. Xu Shaojie strongly supported her decision, saying that studying medicine would be great. During their conversation, Xu Shaojie understood Xu Lan's choices were related to their father's early passing.

  Xu Lan studied very hard, although she didn't have a high IQ, but her diligence made up for it. With Xu Shaojie's full support and guidance, the gloom on Xu Lan's face dissipated a lot. High school studies were extremely tense, if there was anything that wasn't passed, the more it would be troublesome later on, problems would accumulate, and grades would slowly decline. This time, Xu Shaojie was determined to help her, in just a few short days, with almost no rest, he systematically organized the questions Xu Lan didn't understand, combining his own study experiences, thoroughly explaining them to Xu Lan, repeating it multiple times until she completely understood. At the same time, Xu Shaojie used past review questions to find related problems for Xu Lan to practice, only when she completed them was she considered to have truly passed.

  During the summer vacation, Xu Shaojie was exhausted, but these things he had to do. When Xu Lan was in her third year of junior high school, due to her father's death, her studies were affected to some extent. Although her middle school entrance examination results were good, there were still some hidden problems that she hadn't passed, so Xu Shaojie had to make sure Xu Lan passed them. Only then did Xu Lan truly understand and feel relaxed when studying.

  As summer vacation is about to end, Xu Shaojie has hardly gone out and hasn't visited his high school classmates. He doesn't want to visit them either. There have been several opportunities for gatherings, but Xu Shaojie didn't attend any of them.