Chapter 4: Going to Countryside

　　Hao Juxiang reached out her hand and gently stroked her daughter's dowry wardrobe. Her expression was kind but also a little sad. "It's all because of this old bone. It can't protect us and... "

　　Seeing the old lady's appearance, Jiang Youtao held her skinny and rough hands, opened and closed her mouth, unable to say anything to comfort her.

　　Although the Ying family was from Shanghai, most of the people in Pudong at that time were farmers, and the Ying family were members who relied on work points for their livelihood.

　　Her grandfather Ying Dexing was a tractor driver in the production team when he was young. He had no choice but to agree to the request of the then team leader to teach his son to drive a tractor. However, the man had no talent for it. During the operation, the tractor overturned and broke Ying Dexing's spine, causing paralysis of his lower body.

　　The other party still had some conscience and classified the car accident as an industrial injury. Not only did the production team pay compensation, but they also planned to give another sum of money privately to express their apology.

　　At this time, a gentle and old voice came from the room: "Is Tao here again?"

　　As soon as he finished speaking, a kind-looking old man appeared in the yard in a wooden wheelchair, following the sound of "rolling wheels". When he saw Jiang Youtao, he moved faster and struggled to turn the rubber-wrapped wooden wheels over.

　　"Hey, Grandpa, please slow down. I won't run." Jiang Youtao walked quickly forward and pushed Ying Dexing's wheelchair towards the room where Hao Juxiang was.

　　After Ying Dexing got into trouble, he refused all compensation and only asked that one of the team's future recruitment vacancies be reserved for his children.

　　In order to get a spot to work in the city, the family lived a tight life during those years.

　　Ying Dexing learned carpentry in his early years, and picked up this craft again after his lower body became paralyzed. People in the village felt sorry for his family and came to his house to ask him to do some carpentry work. The grain team took 80% of the wages, and the remaining 20% belonged to him.

　　It is with this income that he supports his family.

　　Jiang Youtao admired these people in her heart. Although they were weak, they provided support for their families. Just like the director of their orphanage, who was small but had provided shelter for dozens of homeless orphans for many years.

　　Seeing that the grandparents and grandchildren were chatting harmoniously, Hao Juxiang looked at the sky outside and said, "Youtao, talk to your grandpa. I'll go call your uncle and we'll have dinner in a while."

　　The old couple has one son and two daughters. Uncle Ying is ten years younger than Ying Yuexia and is 25 years old this year. He also has an older sister, Ying Caixia, who married into the local town.

　　After Jiang Youtao finished explaining in detail to the always calm old man about her plan to go to the countryside, a skinny young man carrying a piece of meat walked into the yard.

　　He walked very slowly, but one could vaguely see that his legs were of different lengths.

　　Jiang Youtao took the initiative to call out, "Uncle."

　　Ying Chaorong nodded, with a slight smile on his lips. He sent the meat into the kitchen, came to Jiang Youtao, took out a handful of White Rabbit cakes and stuffed them in her hands, then went back to his room.

　　Jiang Youtao stared at the candy in her hand. White Rabbit candy was a luxury item that ordinary people could not afford in that era. By the time Jiang Youtao was in that era, it was already a very common candy, but she had only eaten it a few times.

　　The orphanage would only give out one or two pieces of candy during festivals or when kindhearted people came to donate. When she was young, the candy she got was snatched away before it even got warm. Later, when she was older, she stuffed the candy into her mouth as soon as she got it.

　　After she started working, she could afford imported milk candies, but she no longer had the desire to eat candies.

　　To this day, her palms are filled with handfuls of White Rabbit milk candies, in an era when supplies are even scarcer than when she was a child.

　　Jiang Youtao held the candy tightly in her hand. She thought that the candy must be very sweet.

　　"Your uncle doesn't like to talk. He has been in town these days making cabinets for people. I'm afraid this is given to him. Youtao, take it and eat it on the way." Ying Dexing said to Jiang Youtao, "Push Grandpa to your uncle's room. I have something to talk to him."

　　Jiang Youtao came to her senses and pushed the wheelchair forward, but the resistance was surprisingly great. Even though Ying Dexing was skinny, it was very difficult to push it. Jiang Youtao couldn't help but look down at the old man's thin arms and frowned slightly.

　　Ying Chaorong, who was in the room, heard the noise and came out to take over from Jiang Youtao. He entered the room, sat on a chair beside the bed, and waited quietly for Ying Dexing to speak.

　　As Jiang Youtao entered the house, she was attracted by the various small ornaments with fine workmanship. She did not touch them, but just looked at them curiously.

　　"Go call your second sister over. Youtao is going to the countryside to join the production team. Let's have a farewell dinner together."

　　Hearing this, Ying Chaorong, who had been calm all this time, finally looked anxious. He opened his mouth, looked at Jiang Youtao, and then looked at Ying Dexing, "What's going on? Why is it Youtao who is gone?"

　　Ying Chaorong has been working outside doing carpentry work for others all year round. Families with many children must have one child go to the countryside to comply with current policies. He has discussed this with his parents. Their daughter, Youtao, is the only daughter of Jiang Anguo and Ying Yuexia. Although Jiang Jiabao is Jiang, she is not Jiang Anguo's child.

　　Although Jiang Anguo was a father who had a new wife and stepson, they always thought that he would not be so cruel when it came to major issues!

　　How long has it been since then, and yet they ask his daughter to go to the countryside?

　　Ying Dexing knew his son well. He knew that he was not good at speaking and could not say anything even if he was anxious. So he did not reply him. He just said, "I will talk to you when your second sister arrives. Go now."

　　Ying Chaorong nodded and went out. After a while, he hurried back and said to Jiang Youtao, "If you like it, take it and play with it. It's okay."

　　Jiang Youtao has no resistance to exquisite things, but Dean Liu has told them since they were young that they can only look at things that are not theirs but not touch them. Over the years, they have developed this good habit.

　　Now, with the owner's permission, Jiang Youtao picked up the small wooden carvings and played with them carefully.

　　Ying Caixia married in a town called Rongshan in Pudong, which is not far from her parents' home and can be reached in more than ten minutes on foot.

　　When Ying Chaorong came, Ying Caixia was cooking. Seeing her brother coming to visit her suddenly, her heart tightened. Regardless of the gloomy faces of her parents-in-law and husband, she pulled Ying Chaorong out.

　　She lowered her voice and said, "Little brother, why are you here? Has Dad finished taking his blood pressure medicine? Or is Mom having a headache? Wait a minute..."

　　Halfway through the conversation, he noticed his brother staring behind him. Ying Caixia knew her mother-in-law had followed her without her looking back. Ying Chaorong lowered his eyes and retracted his gaze, saying concisely: "Youtao is here. She is going to the countryside tonight. Dad wants you to go back and have a reunion dinner with him."

　　Ying Caixia's face suddenly changed, but her mother-in-law, who had been sullen, smiled: "Tsk, city people are not that good either. Your father-in-law spent so much effort to get your sister to eat commercial grain, but after all the twists and turns, your sister's child still has to go to the countryside to become a farmer... It would have been better to give you the recruitment quota in the first place. Now that you have commercial grain, Xiao Zong and Xiao Wen will be looked up to by others when they go out, right?"

　　The brother and sister looked extremely unhappy. Ying Caixia glared at her mother-in-law fiercely, but she didn't respond to her. She turned around and told Ying Chaorong, "I understand. You go back first. I'm too busy now. I'll go back to send Youtao in the evening."

　　Ying Chaorong glanced at Ying Caixia's mother-in-law, nodded at her and left.

　　After the eldest sister left, the second sister took over most of the responsibilities and sent gifts and money home from time to time. Because of this, the second sister did not have a good life in her husband's family.

　　As Ying Chaorong walked away, Ying Caixia's mother-in-law's face became even longer. She walked into the yard and said loudly, "You are eating from your own side, and you are afraid that you will not be able to make your in-laws poor!"

　　When Ying Chaorong heard this, he quickened his pace and left. The disadvantage of his long and short legs became more obvious at this time.

　　When Ying Chaorong returned home, the food was ready. Hao Juxiang kept looking behind him and was about to ask something when Ying Dexing calmly interrupted her: "Old lady, let's eat."

　　Hao Juxiang thought about the situation of her second daughter in her husband's family, sighed secretly, and sat down slowly.

　　The atmosphere was a bit dull, but the old man greeted Jiang Youtao with a smile: "Youtao, today your grandma made you your favorite braised pork."

　　As he spoke, Ying Dexing placed a bowl of braised pork with more potatoes and less meat in front of her.

　　The atmosphere became relaxed. Jiang Youtao looked around, picked up a piece of braised pork with fat and lean strips, and passed it to the old lady, coaxing her with a smile: "It smells delicious, grandma, eat first."

　　Hao Juxiang's expression relaxed slightly. She opened her mouth to push it away, but her mouth was stuffed with meat. Now she couldn't say anything.

　　Jiang Youtao picked up a piece for Ying Dexing and Ying Chaorong one by one, and finally picked one for herself.

　　"Why are you giving it to us? You should eat more. Your uncle brings a lot of food home from work outside. Your grandpa and I are tired of eating meat." Hao Juxiang complained but she couldn't keep away the smile on her face.

　　The father and son beside them also nodded in agreement, and after eating the meat in Jiang Youtao's buns, they refused to eat any more. But people are short of oil and water these days, so who would get sick of eating meat?

　　Hao Juxiang even threatened: "I'll give you another peach to eat. I made it especially for you. You can't leave until you finish it!"

　　Faced with the old lady's "domineering" attitude, Jiang Youtao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Before she could say anything, another spoonful of steamed egg was added to the bowl, filling up the small bowl.

　　Even so, Hao Juxiang kept picking up food for her. Ying Dexing and his son Ying Chaorong kept eating, picking up vegetables, pickles and potato strips, and not touching the meat.

　　Jiang Youtao ate a full meal, and her heart became warm and soft...

　　After lunch, Jiang Youtao lay in the room where Ying Yuexia slept before she got married. With her eyes half closed and half open, she listened to the old lady mumbling outside, all about telling her what to do when she go to the countryside or something like that.

　　With these chatterings, Jiang Youtao fell into a deep sleep. When she opened her eyes again, the sun was setting. Before going out to eat, she put all the pension money she got from the Jiang family under her pillow.

　　Jiang Youtao doesn't know how to use this money. The subsidies for educated youth who went to the countryside are enough for her expenses.

　　She also put the rice, flour, grain and oil that she took out from the Jiang family's kitchen in the closet that she had moved into the house at some point. She just checked and found that the Ying family's grain jar was empty, and it was all coarse grains, not much refined grains.

　　Although these things in the Jiang family kitchen are not refined grains, they are much better than coarse grains.

　　The dinner was also rich, with a dish of twice-cooked pork and fried eggs with leeks. After this meal, Jiang Youtao was ready to leave.

　　Ying Dexing stayed at home because of his inconvenience in walking. Before leaving, he pushed Jiang Youtao to the door in a wheelchair, patted her hand gently and said to her: "Write home if you have anything. Go ahead."

　　Ying Dexing's hands were covered with calluses, but surprisingly warm. Jiang Youtao replied, "I understand. Grandpa, you can go back."

　　"Okay." Ying Dexing agreed, but did not leave.

　　Jiang Youtao walked forward with her grandmother and uncle, and turned her head inadvertently. Ying Dexing was still sitting there, watching quietly. When he saw her turn around, he waved at her.

　　For some reason, Jiang Youtao felt her heart swell and she felt a little uncomfortable.

　　On the way to the ferry, Hao Juxiang repeatedly reminded her and told her what to pay attention to after going to the countryside. Jiang Youtao was not annoyed, but listened patiently, nodded, and agreed obediently.

　　Ying Chaorong carried the large and small bags of things that his old mother had packed for his niece and followed them silently.

　　When they arrived at the ferry station, Hao Juxiang never let go of Jiang Youtao's hand.

　　"Mom, Youtao, here!"

　　As the three entered the station, a well-dressed and beautiful woman carrying a bag walked quickly up to them.

　　Without any unnecessary greetings, she directly handed the bag in her hand to Jiang Youtao and spoke quickly: "There are 50 kilograms of national food coupons in it, as well as soap, towels, toothbrushes, shampoo, vanishing cream, socks, and some small things for girls."

　　At this point, she stopped and leaned closer to Jiang Youtao, and said in a very low voice: "There is some money in the socks. After you get on the train, go to the toilet and take it out and hide it close to your body. Do you hear me?"

　　The Ying family is a rural household registration. Although Ying Caixia married a person with a city household registration, she is not the head of the family. Each of these things requires a ticket and money. Jiang Youtao can imagine how difficult it is to prepare these. She wanted to return them, but Ying Caixia glared at her and pushed her back: "Take it! I am your aunt and I don't need these!"

　　"I heard it's quite cold in the countryside where you live. I'll make you a quilt and clothes and send them to you after I save up some cotton and cloth coupons."

　　In the original owner's memory, this aunt was very kind to her.

　　The original owner started to develop at the age of ten, and Li Xiuqin never cared whether she wore small clothes or had her period. Instead, Ying Caixia made two sets of small clothes for her to change every year. When she reached a certain age, in addition to these two small clothes, she also had two menstrual belts.

　　Ying Caixia is like her biological mother in the original owner's heart.

　　Jiang Youtao, who had never felt this kind of emotion before, was at a loss for a moment.

　　Obviously this woman was very fierce, but Jiang Youtao, who used to be very aggressive with everyone, couldn't get angry at all. She felt helpless and hot inside, and it seemed like she couldn't even speak.

　　Beads of sweat were still on Ying Caixia's forehead. Jiang Youtao couldn't imagine how she had managed to gather all these supplies in just this afternoon.

　　"Thank you, aunt." Jiang Youtao hesitated for a long time and stammered out these four words.

　　Ying Caixia rolled her eyes at her, but she gently brushed the hair on her niece's cheeks behind her ears, and her tone was still fierce: "When you get to the place where you join the queue, remember to write a letter to your aunt."

　　"Okay." Jiang Youtao responded obediently, and was pulled on each side by Ying Caixia and Hao Juxiang to board the ferry that was about to depart.

　　The river breeze is exceptionally gentle, and the gorgeous colorful clouds are reflected in the center of the water, then dispersed bit by bit by the ferry.

　　It was already late when they reached the other side of the river. The tram had stopped running, and the four of them walked towards the train station. As they were about to part, the few people who had been chattering became even more silent.

　　There were a lot of people around them, most of them were educated youth who were going to the countryside tonight and their parents who were escorting them.

　　Everyone was walking in a hurry and no one wanted to greet anyone else.

　　After buying a few platform tickets at the train station, the group followed the crowd to the platform. A green train with a red banner was already waiting quietly on the tracks, and someone was handing out big red flowers to the educated youth who had gone to the countryside.

　　Hao Juxiang carefully pinned the big red flower on Jiang Youtao's chest.

　　She finally couldn't hold back her tears, Ying Caixia's eyes also turned red. Ying Chaorong remained silent, only his hands tightly holding the luggage bag indicated his inner unrest.

　　More educated youth who had gone to the countryside gathered in front of the train. The train began to blow its whistle, and the conductor opened the doors. The parents and educated youth who were seeing them off and who were leaving burst into tears, and the sound of sobbing could be heard everywhere.

　　Perhaps it was because the sadness of parting was too strong, or perhaps she was infected by them, Jiang Youtao's eyes also turned red.

　　The conductor urged them to get on the bus. Ying Chaorong followed Jiang Youtao on the bus carrying the luggage. After putting the luggage away, he took out a very small bag from his trouser pocket and stuffed it into Jiang Youtao's hand, and then touched Jiang Youtao's hair.

　　"Take care of yourself." After saying that, he hurriedly got out of the car without waiting for Jiang Youtao to react.

　　There was a knock on the window next to her seat. Jiang Youtao turned around and saw Hao Juxiang and Ying Caixia standing outside. Jiang Youtao opened the window and said to the tearful mother and daughter, "Grandma, Auntie, you have to take good care of yourselves!"

　　"Be careful." It was already late at night and the ferry at the pier had stopped operating. Hao Juxiang and her friends planned to spend the night at the train station and catch the earliest ferry tomorrow morning.

　　The mother and daughter nodded with tears in their eyes.

　　"Grandma, when you go back, open my mother's dowry closet and take a look. I have put my things in there."

　　As the train slowly started to move forward, she don't know if her grandmother heard what she said, but she leaned out and waved vigorously.

　　Looking at her granddaughter leaving, Hao Juxiang could no longer hold back her tears and fell into her daughter's arms.

　　The three figures gradually faded away as the scenery flew backwards...