RYEY -Chapter 286 Chen Damao Regretted It

Li Huan shook his head. Their original plan had been for Cheng Qiao to take the whole family to Beijing. They had a house there, and Mother Li and Xuhui’s grandmother could help with household chores.

But if Lele didn’t pass the exam, Mother Li certainly wouldn’t feel at ease leaving her with Li Le in Chuncheng. They would have to stay behind—but with all three children following Cheng Qiao, there was no way she could handle it alone.

“Let Little Cheng Li study in Chuncheng. Mom and Grandma can stay at your grocery store. We can even open a small grocery shop here and let Shouhou supply it for us.”

That very night, Shouhou came to Xiangyang Village and stayed at Li Huan’s home. In fact, they had already discussed months ago that Shouhou would eventually open a wholesale market at the right time.

Initially, Shouhou was reluctant—after all, this was Brother Huan’s project. How could he snatch the business away? But Li Huan told him that once he graduated from the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University, he would move to Hexi, so the business here would have to be entrusted to him.

Shouhou was moved to tears. This was the result of following a good leader: when the leader rose, he would surely bring his people along.

“I’ll also open a grocery shop in Chuncheng later. When you have goods, just send them there. And don’t forget Qin Guoqing’s place—this work can last a few more years.”

Shouhou nodded and left at dawn. He planned to buy the surrounding houses near his home and turn them into a wholesale market. After the reforms and opening up, he would be among the first to go into business.

Xiangyang Village’s exam scores were known the fastest. Cheng Qiao found out because Zhao Guoliang and the others had secretly opened a small back channel, sending their scores via registered letters.

Cheng Qiao scored over 300 points, already above the admission cutoff for Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine—secure. Qian Longkun and his sister, and Zhao Xiaobao and his sister, also scored over 300.

But that pervert Qian Longkun—398 points—should already be the provincial top scorer. Whatever school he chose, he would always claim the best resources.

Han Chunmei and Zhang Yuefang scored over 200, applying to Textile University in the far northwest—a school they had deliberately chosen.

Lele looked at her own score and the admission cutoff for Chuncheng Normal University. It was just right, and she was so happy she didn’t know what to do, wandering around the dining table in circles.

“Mom, what’s wrong with Auntie? Why is she crying? I didn’t bully her.”

Li Xiaonuan said, feeling a little aggrieved. She usually teased her aunt a little, but these days, when her aunt was in a bad mood, she had been comforting her instead.

“Auntie is happy. She got into university. She’s going to be an honorable teacher.”

“Oh, Auntie is going to be a teacher! Mom, what will you do?”

“Mom will be a doctor. If you get sick because you don’t practice hygiene, I’ll give you medicine and injections.”

“Mom, I’ll be obedient! I’ll practice hygiene: no drinking untreated water, wash hands before and after meals.”

Xiaonuan remembered Cheng Qiao’s words carefully. Cheng Qiao hugged her tightly. This only daughter was smart and thoughtful. She adored her.

“Mom, you’re biased! You like my sister and not me.”

Ye Jing was upset. He had only come out a few minutes earlier than his sister. Why couldn’t he get all of Mom’s love? Li Huan got angry and gave him a hard flick on the head.

“A grown boy jealous of a little girl—aren’t you ashamed?”

“Mom, Dad hit me! I’m telling Grandpa to spank him, no—flick him!”

Cheng Qiao laughed and nodded in agreement. Li Huan had a bad habit of flicking people on the head too often. The kids might get dumber from it.

Mother Li looked at everyone in the house, smiling until her cheeks ached. She patted Xuhui’s head. The little guy was now almost as tall as Li Huan—he’d be ready for university in a couple of years.

“Xuhui, you can’t study high school as a guest student. You’ll have to go to the county town, but there’s a house there for you to stay. Grandma and I will go with Cheng Qiao; Chuncheng isn’t far anyway.”

Xuhui nodded. He was old enough to take care of himself. But Grandma was elderly and had suffered a stroke. As a grandson, he felt somewhat guilty for being unable to take care of her.

“Thank you, Grandma Li. When I’m capable, I’ll take good care of you too.”

“That’s enough, you don’t need to be so formal with Grandma Li.”

To distinguish between the two grandmothers, Cheng Qiao suggested that Xuhui call Mother Li “Grandma Li,” so he wouldn’t confuse them.

“Mom, we’ll go to Beijing for the Spring Festival. Li Huan even arranged for a wheelchair for Grandma to sit in.”

Hearing that they would spend the New Year in Beijing, Mother Li was delighted. She knew Cheng Qiao had her family’s courtyard house there, so there was no worry about where to stay.

Even if there wasn’t space, Ye Jun’s courtyard could accommodate all of them. She had lived in her current house for most of her life and felt a little reluctant to leave.

“Qiao, Huanzi, once the New Year is over, no one will live here, right? We’ll have to move to Chuncheng.”

“Yes, Mom. School starts in March. We don’t have much time left.”

“What about you, Village Chief?”

“I’ve already mentioned it to the higher-ups. Wang Xiangyang is very suitable to be our Xiangyang Village chief. Once he graduates from Worker-Peasant-Soldier University, it will be time to replace the village chief.”

Mother Li nodded. Then she remembered something: the Qin family had said that once Lele got into university, they would come to marry her. What would they do about that?

Li Lele smiled. University would last four years, so Qin Guoqing promised her that even if they married, they wouldn’t have children until she graduated.

This had only been a note in their correspondence—they couldn’t let her mother know, or she would be embarrassed.

Qin Guoqing visited once a month, and this time he would surely come to discuss marriage. Cheng Qiao thought quickly and smiled.

“Mom, if Lele gets married, we’ll prepare a bridal room at the grocery shop. After she graduates, she can decide what to do.”

Mother Li smiled and nodded. That was perfect. Her daughter wouldn’t have to live too far away, could come home for a couple of days each month, and if she had a child, she could be there to help her during confinement.

Han Chunmei and Zhang Yuefang hurried in. Seeing Li Huan, they immediately complained:

“Village Chief, why did you let Chen Damao come back? He’s now pestering Zhang Yuefang!”

Li Huan didn’t understand. Hadn’t Chen Damao already married Gao Xiaohui? Her belly was already showing, and she would give birth in a few months.

“What happened?”

“Village Chief, Chen Damao stopped me today, saying he regretted it and wants to divorce Gao Xiaohui to remarry me. I ignored him, but I was worried something might happen, so I came to tell you.”