RYEY – Chapter 165 The Worker-Peasant-Soldier University Quota

Far away in the Hexi Corridor, Chen Liguo received a letter from Cheng Qiao. The letter was filled with endless longing and worry, along with photos of her and little Cheng Li. Of course, there was also a family portrait of the Li family.

Looking at little Cheng Li, who bore a striking resemblance to his late wife, Chen Liguo’s heart ached with a mix of sweetness and jealousy. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and he longed to hold this Cheng granddaughter—no, grandson.

Yuan Guangming was startled to see Chen Liguo crying. This Chen Liguo was a real man, unafraid of hardship and fatigue; even when injured, he would only rest for a day before returning to work.

Yet now, upon receiving a letter, he was shedding tears. Could it really be about his daughter…? Yuan Guangming dared not imagine, and hurried over to find out.

When he reached Chen Liguo’s side, his eyes immediately fell on a photo of a one-month-old baby and a young, beautiful woman holding the infant. The woman bore some resemblance to Chen Liguo—it had to be Cheng Qiao.

“Your daughter wrote to you. This is your grandson,” he said.

“It’s a grandson. The child’s surname is Cheng, his name is Cheng Li. My daughter says the name represents the dawn of the Cheng family,” Chen Liguo said proudly, wiping his eyes.

“Grandson… your daughter has taken a husband.”

“No. The Li family is kind-hearted and knew my daughter was an only child, so they agreed that the first child, regardless of gender, would carry the Cheng surname. Children born afterward would take the Li surname.”

“Hmm, your son-in-law isn’t bad. Your daughter is lucky. You’d better write back soon; don’t keep her waiting.”

“Ah, I’ll write immediately. But… can we even send the letter?”

“Yes, you can. But it has to be checked by the office first. If there are no issues, they’ll help you send it. You just need to do a little… smoothing things over.”

Chen Liguo understood. He was not short of money. Cheng Qiao sent him money and supplies every month. The amounts weren’t huge, but over time, along with his own savings, tickets, and various goods, it added up to quite a lot.

Even the military district officer who helped receive letters and supplies thought Chen Liguo lived far better than they did. He even suspected the old Ye had arranged for the shipments, which made him respect Chen Liguo even more.

Chen Liguo was adept at dealing with people. Every time the officer came to deliver letters and supplies, Chen Liguo would carefully pick out some items he didn’t need—tickets, cured meat, preserved foods—and give them to him.

The officer, who had a family of his own, initially refused. But he realized Chen Liguo gave sincerely, and he was very grateful. Even his wife said Chen Liguo was a good man.

Chen Liguo picked up the pen. After much thought, he began writing. He praised Cheng Qiao for achieving her happiness through her own efforts and thanked Li Huan for taking care of his daughter.

Meanwhile, unaware that he was being thanked by his father-in-law, Li Huan picked up the copper gong and struck it loudly. The villagers, curious since public grain had already been delivered and ration distribution was not yet due, wondered what was happening in the village.

But now everyone enjoyed hearing Li Huan strike the gong. When Chen Weidang, the party-appointed village head, sounded the gong before, it was either to mobilize everyone to work hard or announce that public grain was due—rarely good news.

Li Huan, however, was different. Every time he struck the gong, someone benefited. So the villagers, hoping the benefits would reach them, worked diligently without being prompted.

“Huanzai, what good news today?”

“Very, very, very good news!” Li Huan repeated “very” three times to emphasize the goodness of the news, making everyone impatient to hear more. But they knew he wouldn’t announce anything until everyone was present.

“Which bastard hasn’t arrived yet?”

“Besides Chen Weimin, who else?”

“Chen Weimin, that bastard, ruined his elder brother, still owes Chen Weidang a hundred yuan, and hasn’t paid back. How dare he hold us back?”

“Exactly, he’s nothing special.”

“Who did you say, you little brat? Say it again.”

Chen Weimin arrived late and immediately heard people cursing him. Anger flared in his chest. When he worked as an accountant, he had a salary and hidden income. Now, stripped of his accountant position, all income was gone. Life returned to the hardships of the old society, leaving him frustrated every day.

Today, hearing people cursing him behind his back, he could hardly endure it. The villagers were no fools. They had endured mistreatment quietly when he was the village head’s brother and an accountant. Now he was nothing, and their new village head’s rival—how could they hold back? A fight broke out.

One person blocked him, another tripped him, and when Chen Weimin retaliated, he was beaten down after several rounds.

Li Huan remained silent. When Chen Weimin lay on the ground with a bruised face, Li Huan theatrically ran over with a loudspeaker, scolding loudly.

No one knew exactly whom he was scolding, but it was clearly for those holding the village back. Everyone knew they hadn’t, so the one most embarrassed was Chen Weimin.

Chen Weimin looked at Chen Weidang. Chen Weidang had lost his position as village head and a hundred yuan for the sake of this brother—not just a hundred, but monthly wages and authority.

Cuihua glared coldly at Zhaodi, who wanted to scold but dared not. Since Chunhua had been eaten by peanuts, Zhaodi aged over twenty years overnight, losing her former spirit and vigor.

“Villagers, I now bring good news. Our Xiangyang Village, as an advanced collective, has received an extremely important quota…”

“Quota… what quota?”

“Could it be a job in the county, a formal position?”

“Shh, don’t speak, listen to Huanzai.”

“Our Xiangyang Village has received a Worker-Peasant-Soldier University quota.”

“Heavens! Going to university, and a Worker-Peasant-Soldier University at that!”

“Why are you excited? There’s only one quota. Surely the village head’s wife will take it herself.”

“That’s true. Cheng Qiao , the educated youth, graduated high school. Going to university is only fair.”

“Most of the educated youths in the settlement graduated high school; they deserve it too.”

“But are they the village head’s wife? You’re the foolish ones.”

“Right, Cheng Qiao is clever. You all say she’s naive, but I think the naive ones are you.”

Hearing the villagers chatter, Xu Laidi took a deep breath and stepped forward first, applying for the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University quota.

All the educated youths in the settlement stepped back two paces upon seeing Xu Laidi come forward. They were calculating; there was only one quota, so there was no way it would go to them.