On the afternoon of February 3, 1969, Daling Primary School had its winter vacation!

Xiaoda and I passed the final exam with full honors, we both won the first and second place in the whole grade, Yanfang and Cai Jinghua's results were the third and fourth, we were both rated as excellent students this semester, and we won a lot of awards and prizes.

I took the certificate and prizes home, and my mother and Wei Ma were very happy to see it!

Sister Wen Juan also won a lot of awards and prizes, and she showed her report card to adults.

The mother said, "Alas! You're all reading material! However, the family conditions required to study in the next place are getting higher and higher! If there is no formal recommendation from the relevant departments, it is difficult to go on to higher education based on grades alone! ”

Wei's mother said, "Alas! In the past, I studied to seek a public office and become an official! Now, it is more difficult for a scholar to be an official than to ascend to the sky! In the future, you should practice more business skills and find your own job! Eating on your own is better than anything else! ”

The mother said, "Yes! Now, Jingtian, Wenchang, and Lifen are also adults! According to our family's background, it is impossible for them to continue their education! In the future, everyone will have to think about how to earn money to support themselves! ”

After my mother and Wei's mother saw our award certificate and report card, Sister Wen Juan and I put it on the wall so that everyone could see it.

So, Sister Wenjuan and I took Jingdi and Lilan to a wall in the living room to paste the award certificate and transcript.

At this time, Sister Wenjuan is more than 11 years old, I am almost 7 years old, Jingdi is 5 years old, and Lilan is almost 3 years old.

Lilan smiled and said, "Sister, brother! What are you posting? ”

Wen Juan smiled and said, "Lilan! In the post certificate! ”

Lilan smiled and said, "Understood! You're gluing the wall! Sister, there's a slit on your right hand! There are often cockroaches there! There you are! ”

Everyone laughed!

After we posted the certificates and report cards, Jing Di took Lilan to the backyard to feed the chickens, ducks and horses.

Sister Wenjuan and I were chatting in the living room.

Sister Wen Juan said: "Ah Cai! I'm going to graduate from elementary school in one semester! My family is so poor, I don't want to study anymore! But, tell me, what can I do to help my family earn money?! ”

I said, "Yes! I don't want to read anymore! Reading really doesn't really work! But what can we do? We are a small town with only a few thousand inhabitants! I realized that this is a business of all the people! In fact, their business is not easy to make money! It would be nice if our family was still in the provincial capital, Wei Ma said, there are many people in the provincial capital, there must be many opportunities to do business and make money! I feel that it is easier to make money by opening a rice noodle shop or a photo studio! Of course, you can also make money selling mountain goods! ”

Sister Wen Juan said: "Alas! Our family is really unlucky to come here from the provincial capital! But now, we can't go to the provincial capital! Our enemies are all in the provincial capital, if they know that we are doing business in the provincial capital! Definitely kill us! ”

I said, "Alas! Sister Wen Juan! Let's figure it out slowly! When Brother Jingtian, Brother Wenchang and Sister Lifen come back from studying in the county seat, maybe they have a better way to make money! When the time comes, we'll talk to them again! ”

.....

On the morning of February 4, I rode to Cen's house to send Xiaoda back to Guigu Gorge.

Xiaoda wants to ride his horse and bring some New Year's goods and gifts from Teacher Cen to his family.

Xiaoda and I put those New Year's goods and gifts in the bags of Xiaoda's horses.

After loading the goods, Xiaoda and I said goodbye to Mr. Cen and Mrs. Mao

We rode away from Cen and set off towards Guigu Gorge.

On the way, we talked as we walked.

Xiaoda said: "Ah Cai! Last night, I heard Teacher Cen and Mrs. Mao say that it will be difficult for you children in the city to study and go to school in the future, if you can't go to school, you have to go to the countryside to do farm work! ”

I said, "Yes! Lately, adults have been saying that! Next, let's figure out how to do a photo studio in town! If you have a business to do, earn money to eat, it doesn't matter if you study or not! ”

Xiaoda said, "Yes! If you want to learn knowledge, you can learn it at home! In the future, let's learn on our own! Teacher Cen, Teacher Tao, brothers and sisters can guide us! ”

......

Before we knew it, we walked to the mouth of Daling Gorge, and Xiaoda never let me continue to send him off.

Xiaoda smiled and said, "Ah Cai! Let's break up here! I only brought one for lunch! You rush home for lunch! ”

I said, "Okay! Take care all the way! We should meet again soon! Come to the house to say hello to Uncle Lan, Aunt Lan, Brother Lan Feng, Sister Caixia, and Uncle Dahu's family on my behalf! ”

After Xiao Da nodded to me, he spurred his horse and galloped away in the direction of Guigu Gorge!

I turned the horse's head around and hurried back home!

......

On the afternoon of February 5, I took Jing Di and Lilan to drive the carriage to the side of the road near our house.

Today, Brother Jingtian, Brother Wenchang and Sister Lifen will come back from the county seat by shuttle bus during the holidays, and we will wait for them here, and then take them home.

When we arrived at the temporary stop of the shuttle bus on the side of the highway, we saw Cai Jinghua also waiting there for his sister Cai Meixin.

Cai Jinghua said: "Ah Cai! I've heard that! In the future, those with bad ingredients at home will not be given reading! Everyone has to go to the countryside to do farm work! ”

I said, "Yes! If you have food, you can do anything! What about your sister? ”

Cai Jinghua said: "My father said that my sister has no strength and will definitely not be able to do farm work, so I can only let my sister stay at home!" My father also said that your brothers and sisters can't go to farm work, you used to be officials! You can't lose your identity! ”

I said, "Yes! Next, everyone has to use their brains to think of more ways! Hopefully, we will be able to find a way to make ends meet soon! Otherwise, this society will be chaotic again! ”

We were chatting, and Lilan, who was sitting in the carriage, happily patted me on the shoulder.

Lilan shouted, "Brother! The car is coming! I see my brothers and sisters! ”

We looked to the side of the road and there was indeed a bus parked on the side of the road.

Soon, we saw several middle school students such as Brother Jingtian, Brother Wenchang, and Sister Lifen getting off the car with big bags and small bags!

So, Jing Di and I led the carriage and walked towards them!

When we got to their neighborhood, Jing Di and I helped my brothers and sisters carry their luggage to the car.

The brothers and sisters were very happy to see us, and Sister Lifen immediately ran over and picked up the little sister Lilan from the car!

Lilan smiled and said, "Big brother! Big sister! Hurry up and go home and stick the wall! Sister Wen Juan and Brother Ah Cai have already been confused! ”

Everyone laughed!

Brother Jing Tian asked Cai Jinghua to carry his sister Cai Meixin's luggage to our carriage as well.

Jingtian told me, wait a minute, let me send the two of them back to Cai's house.

Cai Jinghua pulled her sister in front of me.

Cai Jinghua said: "Ah Cai! This is my sister! ”

I said, "Sister Meixin! Hello! I am Qin Jingtian's younger brother! ”

Sister Meixin smiled and said, "Got it! Your brother reveres heaven and often mentions you in front of me! He said, "You are very smart and sensible!" , in the future, you can help Cai Jinghua more! ”

Cai Jinghua smiled and said, "Sister! It's absolutely! Ah Cai is the first in everything in school! If the school's honor roll doesn't have Acai's name! It must be a mistake in the honor roll! ”

Everyone laughed!

Brother Jingtian told me that Brother Zu Xing and Sister Li'an stayed at Uncle Tianxing's house for a day or two before coming back.

After everyone put their luggage in the car, I drove the carriage, and a large group of other people followed behind the carriage, and everyone went home with a smile and a smile!

I have recalled many times in my dreams that this kind of township folk's feeling, this kind of memory is really happy!

We went home.

Mother, Wei's mother, and Sister Wen Juan were waiting for us in the yard.

As soon as her mother saw Sister Meixin, she hugged her and said, "Oops! Miss Meixin has grown tall and beautiful! We've cooked the meal! You and Jinghua have dinner at our house, let's go home! ”

Meixin smiled and said, "Aunt Bai! Jinghua said, our family has also made dinner! Let's go back to see the elders and family first! In the future, I will play at your house again! ”

So, Brother Jingtian, Brother Wenchang and Sister Lifen moved their own luggage down, let Sister Meixin and Jinghua get in the car and sit, and I drove them home!

Cai's family is also in the south of the city, not very far from our home.

It didn't take long for me to get them there.

The Cai family is also a big mansion, but it is smaller than the Cen family and larger than ours.

When we arrived at the gate of the Cai family's house, Cai Jiaxing's father and other brothers and sisters of the Cai family greeted us outside the door, they moved their luggage, and after the Cai family was polite to me, I drove the carriage home.

After I made friends with Cai Jinghua, I often went to play with the Cai family, so I was already very familiar with their family.

I went back to the house, unloaded the wagon in the backyard, led the horse to the stable, and gave the horse water and fodder.

Then, washing my hands and going back to the house, my mother, Wei Ma, Jing Tiange, Wen Chang, Sister Lifen, Sister Wen Juan, Jing Di and Lilan, they were talking lively in the living room, and I also joined in.

The mother smiled and said, "Alas! You've moved everything back to school! You really don't want to read anymore?! If you don't read it, you won't read it! As long as we are together as a family, we can live in peace! Questions about your employment! In the future, we will slowly figure out a way! ”

Brother Jing Tian said: "Mom! A few of us discussed it! We want to go through Uncle Li Shaochang and become a soldier! ”

The mother said, "Alas! Uncle Li is far away from us, how can we find him? In the next few days, write a letter to him! Tell him what is going on at home and what you think! He should be able to help with that! ”

Brother Wen Chang said: "Mom! Do you have any mailing addresses for my dad and mom? Wenjuan and I also want to contact them! Now that we're older, we want to go back to our parents! In this way, you can also reduce the burden on your family! ”

The mother said, "Alas! Wenchang! Before, your parents gave us the address, but now it's no longer available! If you want to write a letter, send it to the consulate in North Vietnam! Let's see if they can help you transfer it to your parents! You guys try! ”

Wei's mother said, "Alas! Don't talk about these unhappy things! Let's eat first! After eating, you are writing slowly! ”

So, everyone went to the restaurant to eat together.

After dinner, it was already dark!

I feel like it's so dark and cold this winter night!

My brother and sister are writing letters with kerosene lamps lit in the study room at home!

After Wei's mother bathed her little sister Lilan, the two of them went to bed first.

My mother called me and Jingdi to her office at home and talked to the two of us.

Mother said, "Respect for talent, respect for Di! Both of you have grown up and are sensible! Jing Cai is seven years old this year! Jing Di is also five or six years old this year! Don't worry about your brothers and sisters, and don't think about it! You still have to study hard! There is no knowledge and ability, in this world, it is impossible to live better than others! In September this year, Jing Di is going to go to the first grade of primary school! In the future, Jingcai should educate Jingdi more and teach Jingdi everything you have learned! You know? ”

I said, "Mom! I know! Jing Di is a smart and sensible person! What I taught him, he learned! ”

Jing Di smiled and said, "Mom! Brother Acai has taught me a lot! I have no problem reading and reading now! I can read all the books at home! I'm also good at arithmetic, and now Wei's mother's accounts are all calculated by me! In the past year, I have learned to do housework, raise chickens and ducks, and grow vegetables! I will learn to follow a schedule and arrange my own study and training! I learned grappling, grappling and machine fighting, I can run, swim, climb mountains, climb trees, climb walls, use and maintain firearms! I'll do the radio too! Now, I'm learning photography techniques, as well as mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology from Brother Acai! By this time next year, I must be as capable as Brother Acai! ”

The mother smiled and said, "Very good! In the future, you will help Lilan together! Let her be as sensible and capable as you are! You know? ”

Jing Di said: "Mom! You can rest assured of this! Now I've taught Lilan how to read, write, and do arithmetic! She is now able to read and is good at arithmetic! In English and French, Lilan is able to communicate, spell and understand what is on the radio! ”

The mother said, "All right! So I'm relieved! After the two of you have washed up, rest early! It's too cold at night in winter! Don't stay up late! ”

After Jingdi and I washed up, we went to bed.

I couldn't sleep in bed, and I felt like we were going through another difficult time in our family!

At this time, our family began to enter the confusion and helplessness again!

I feel that life is so hard!

I don't want to mess around like this anymore, I want to do something that can make money!

At this time, earning money is the only meaningful thing for me!

Because with money, we have the ability to choose life and life!

......