1979: Literary Master, Starting from the Return of Educated Youth

Chapter 25: We were once sincere and reckless

Jia Jinhua felt guilty after hearing what Xu Yuexin said, and tried to confuse right and wrong: "You hit me with the thermos first, and then I threw the ink bottle!"

Xu Yuexin ignored Jia Jinhua, but Director Guan heard something from their conversation.

"Anyway, it was Fugui who first tried to hit someone with the thermos, and you were the first one to make things difficult for him, right?"

Director Guan pointed at the broken bottle on the ground and asked Jia Jinhua and her son.

Jia Jinhua lowered her head and avoided answering. Ma Fugui, who had just been helped up, showed his fear and muttered in a low voice: "Anyway, he was the one who hit me in the end..."

Ma Fugui was unable to answer Director Guan's question directly as he had just picked up the thermos in full view of everyone.

There is no need to mention Jia Jinhua. The workers in the textile factory have been troubled by her. No one present would believe that she did not make things difficult for Xu Yuexin today.

Seeing the performance of the mother and son, Director Guan confirmed one thing: at least on the cause of the conflict and who hit someone with the thermos first, Jia Jinhua and her son concealed the facts.

And lying in one place often means lying everywhere.

Considering the usual behavior of Jia Jinhua and her son, Director Guan already had a tendency.

The female workers who were watching were talking endlessly.

"If outsiders come to our factory to fight, we should report it to the police station!"

"You should speak with conscience. At least when Fugui was about to hit him with the thermos, everyone saw it..."

Some people spoke on the side of Jia Jinhua and her son, while others could not help but tell the truth.

"Go get to work, do you still want to complete this month's production task?"

Director Guan turned around and scolded the female workers.

The female workers quickly ran out of the archive room, and soon only Director Guan, Xu Yuexin, and Jia Jinhua and her son were left in the room.

"Jia Jinhua, you don't have to argue about who threw it first."

Director Guan looked at the mother and son with a sharp gaze and said, "I will go ask someone later to see whether they heard the ink bottle break first or heard you scream in pain first."

There are offices in front and behind this room. It is usually very quiet, but you can hear it if there is a lot of noise.

Jia Jinhua understood this and felt very troubled.

With no other options left, Jia Jinhua tried to use her qualifications to convince Director Guan.

"Director, the people next door may not have heard it clearly. I am old and have worked in the factory for many years. Would I lie to you?"

Jia Jinhua spread her hands, shaking the fat on her face, trying to portray herself as an innocent victim with tears in her eyes.

"You're so afraid of people going to the next door to ask, you must be hiding something."

Xu Yuexin went straight to the point and didn't give Jia Jinhua any chance to struggle.

"Okay, you two go to the health center to see a doctor first. I'll talk to this comrade."

Director Guan waved his hand and planned how to deal with this conflict.

It is obvious that Jia Jinhua and Ma Fugui, mother and son, were in the wrong.

Unfortunately, both of them are very difficult to deal with, and some employees hope that he can protect the people in the factory.

From this point of view, it would be best to ask Xu Yuexin to make some concessions to calm the situation.

"Okay, Director..."

"Leader, we are not here, so you have to do justice for us..."

Jia Jinhua and Ma Fugui nodded in agreement, but their feet seemed to be sealed in cement and they were unwilling to move even a step.

"Don't dawdle, the clinic is about to close for lunch."

"Close the door when you leave."

It was not until Director Guan glared at them impatiently and urged them to leave that the mother and son slowly walked away.

"Squeak..."

When the door of the archive room was closed, Director Guan withdrew his gaze from the two of them and looked at Xu Yuexin.

"Comrade, we have just made it clear that it was Jia Jinhua who made things difficult for you first, and then she and her son started the fight first."

"But, since you beat up the workers in our factory like this, don't you have to give an explanation?"

"Otherwise it won't be good for you if the situation gets out of hand."

Director Guan frowned and said that he understood why he felt Xu Yuexin looked familiar.

Just now he remembered that when he went to the street meeting before, he saw a young man getting out of a car.

That young man was none other than the one in front of us.

"Explain? I think they are the ones who should give the explanation."

"My father came to retrieve the files many times, but Jia Jinhua blocked his way every time."

"The state has introduced policies to restore benefits for scientific researchers, but she took the opportunity to extort money."

"Today is her retribution for being late!"

"As for making a big deal? Haha. Some things are not as heavy as a pound, and they can't be stopped even if they are weighed a thousand pounds."

“Guess what the higher-ups will think and do when they find out that someone is ignoring national policies and making things difficult for scientific researchers.”

Xu Yuexin spoke righteously and refused to give up an inch of ground.

Director Guan felt a huge headache after hearing this.

He was transferred here to be the factory director half a year ago. He heard people mention that there was a professor named Xu Qiang who was transferred to the factory.

And today, Director Guan saw Xu Yuexin getting out of the car with his own eyes.

People who can ride in a car definitely have a family background that is not just that of an intellectual. I'm afraid there is a big tree with lush branches and leaves behind it.

The worst thing is that he is right. What he said just now is really irrefutable.

"I can give you the file right now."

After some careful consideration, Director Guan said with a troubled look, "When Ma Jinhua and the others come back later, can you give them some medical expenses?"

"The health center won't charge a lot for seeing a doctor."

"No, it's not about the money."

Xu Yuexin insisted, “Every time justice gives way to injustice, it means that the embankment of social morality is eroded and is one step closer to collapse.”

……

Director Guan was completely speechless.

It seems that all we have to do is to appease Jia Jinhua, her mother and son, as well as some employees.

The gap in strength between the two sides is too great, and there is no possibility of compromise.

Moreover, Huiqun Textile Factory is not a place far away from the emperor. Once you anger the other party, revenge will follow.

"I'll get you the file, please leave quickly."

Director Guan said in a gloomy mood, "If anyone in the hospital asks you how you handled it, don't tell them."

……

After a while, Xu Yuexin took the file that Director Guan found for him, strode into the yard, and walked out of Huiqun Textile Factory under the employees' speculative gazes.

Take a taxi and go to Qinghua University to find my father.

When Xu Yuexin got off the taxi, it was lunchtime and the campus was full of college students in groups of three or four.

When passing by a lawn, Xu Yuexin saw many college students sitting there, studying hard with books on their knees.

After experiencing the lost years, everyone is working harder day and night to buy back time for themselves and the country and to move to the forefront of the world.

Some people are also very interested in major events in the country and society.

"There is a village called Xiaogang in Anhui that is dividing the land and cultivating it on its own, and has increased grain production. Have you heard of this?"

"I heard that the higher-ups haven't made any statement yet. Everyone is wondering if they will be in trouble later."

"The most important thing is to feed the masses!"

……

"We have won a great victory on the front line. It is said that the army plans to launch rotational battles in the border areas to deplete the enemy's strength."

"Just keep consuming them. We have a population of 10 billion, and they only have 5000 million. In the end, they will be the ones to be consumed to death."

“The enemies in the south are a bunch of ungrateful bastards!
"That's right. Didn't "The Wreath at the Foot of the Mountain" say that they received 20 billion in aid from us? 20 billion! Just to raise an enemy!"

The book business is angry, and he lashes out at Fang Qiu.

Xu Yuexin developed a yearning for this youthful and exciting atmosphere.

Is it time for me to start preparing for the college entrance examination?

Xu Yuexin passed by a group of young and energetic faces and found Xu Qiang in the faculty lounge of the Chemical Engineering Department.

The lounge was simply furnished with a cement floor, white walls, two simple wooden beds, and several stools.

When Xu Yuexin came over, Xu Qiang was napping on the bed.

Hearing the door open, Xu Qiang turned his head and saw that it was his son, then he got up from the bed. "Dad, look what this is."

Xu Yuexin presented the file bag to his father and said excitedly.

"Finally... got it back."

Xu Qiang couldn't believe his eyes.

He took the file bag tremblingly, tears filling his eyes.

With this file, we can finally prove his innocence!
The high spirits during the First Five-Year Plan, the time when I wrote the article that changed my life, the years of working on the farm...

Ten years, how many decades are there in a lifetime?

Countless moments in life were pieced together, and all the ups and downs came to his mind. Xu Qiang, who was always emotionally stable, actually shed tears as big as beans, which dripped onto the file bag.

It was not until he realized that his son was right in front of him that Xu Qiang quickly raised his hand to wipe away his tears and showed a caring expression: "Son, good job."

"Did they give you any trouble? Did you run into any trouble during the process?"

"It went very smoothly. Nothing happened."

Xu Yuexin didn't want to make his father worry, so he told a white lie, "Dad, you can cry, it's okay, there's no one else here."

"No, no, I shouldn't cry."

Xu Qiang continued to wipe his tears and tried to smile, "I should be happy to have such a good son like you who can solve my problems."

"We will go to the Party Committee Office right away and hand over the files to them."

After saying that, he and Xu Yuexin walked out of the Chemical Engineering Department as quickly as possible and rushed to the Party Committee Office.

When the two arrived at the Party Committee Office, the staff were having lunch and resting.

The Party Committee Office is very spacious, with desks and chairs for daily office use. The furnishings are slightly more exquisite than those in the teachers' lounge, and there are several pots of green plants.

At the workstation closest to the back, a middle-aged man saw Xu Yuexin and Xu Qiang coming over, raised his head and greeted them: "Old Xu, is this your son? He's taller than you."

"Hello, uncle."

"Hey, hello, hello."

Xu Yuexin greeted the middle-aged man.

“He was taller than me in high school.”

Xu Qiang walked up and placed the file bag in front of the middle-aged man, patting the surface of the bag with his hand: "Old Gu, these are the files you wanted."

"My son brought it back to me!"

After saying that, Xu Qiang patted Xu Yuexin's shoulder happily, with an indescribable pride on his face.

"Young man, you are doing a great job."

"I solved your father's biggest worry."

Gu Binglin knew the difficulties Xu Qiang encountered when he first retrieved the file, and he praised Xu Yuexin's ability to handle things, saying, "Old Xu, wait here. I'll go find someone to handle the return procedures for you right away."

……

That night, Xu Yuexin carried a heavy schoolbag and returned to his home in the staff building with his father.

In the schoolbag was Xu Qiang's back pay according to the standard for a second-level professor.

"Old Wu, the school has restored my professional title and benefits."

As soon as he entered the house, Xu Qiang couldn't wait to shout towards the kitchen.

Xu Yuexin put his schoolbag on the dining table and opened the zipper to reveal the big unity inside.

Wu Yan was cooking in the kitchen. When she heard the news, she was immediately delighted. She threw down the spatula, ran out wearing an apron, and quickly hurried to the table.

"Really? Yue Xin got the file?"

Wu Yan said excitedly that she couldn't believe this day had really come.

"How can it be false?"

Xu Qiang grabbed the schoolbag and pointed the mouth at Wu Yan, "Look, this is the back pay."

Wu Yan saw the schoolbag full of money and raised her eyebrows happily: "Great, that's great. From now on, our family will be able to live a more comfortable life."

When Xu Qiang first resumed his lecturer title, he received an arrears salary, but the amount was far less than what he has today. Later, most of the money was used to support his parents and siblings in his rural hometown, resulting in very little savings in the hands of the two.

Because both husband and wife came from rural areas, the whole family had to pool their resources to support one person's education, and they wanted to repay their family after they became successful.

Amidst the laughter and joy, Wu Yan picked up her schoolbag, took out a stack of banknotes from it, and placed it on the table in front of Xu Yuexin: "Since we are dating, we need to have some money in our hands."

Xu Qiang was overjoyed when he heard this: "My son has a girlfriend? That's great. He's grown up."

"Ah, Mom, you know everything?"

Xu Yuexin was a little confused because he clearly had not mentioned Chen Qiaoqiao to his mother.

"Once, Qiaoqiao was waiting for you at the door of her house, and the security guard saw her. He later told me about it."

Wu Yan revealed the answer and pushed the money under Xu Yuexin's nose, "Take it quickly. Your father's return is due to your contribution."

"Okay, I'll be welcome then."

Seeing that his mother insisted, Xu Yuexin had no choice but to agree and took the thick stack of banknotes in his hand.

"I don't know if Lao Xu will be able to get his job title reinstated today, so I didn't buy any good food. I'll just have a simple meal tonight. Tomorrow I'll call Xiao Li and his wife over to have a good meal together."

After saying that, Wu Yan walked into the kitchen, and soon the sound of cooking could be heard again.

……

After dinner, the family sat around the table and talked excitedly.

At this time, Wu Yan took out two letters from her pocket and handed them to Xu Yuexin: "I went home tonight and saw your letter in front of the mailbox, so I took it back."

"I was so happy just now that I forgot to tell you."

Xu Yuexin picked up the letters and saw that one was sent by Wang Chaoyin, and the other was signed by "Lost Educated Youth" with a signed note by Wang Chaoyin attached.

"Yue Xin, this is a letter from a reader of Gao Shan. He is an educated youth who took advantage of his family leave to rush to BJ and gave me the letter, asking me to deliver it to you."

I made a special trip to the capital just to ensure that the letter was delivered to me.

Xu Yuexin felt the reader's sincerity and felt somewhat moved.

"Dad, Mom, I'm going back to the house first."

After saying this, Xu Yuexin took the letter and the money given by his mother back to the house. He first counted the money and put it in the drawer, and then opened Wang Chaoyin's letter.

Lines of thin and bold handwriting jumped into Xu Yuexin's eyes.

The general meaning of the letter was that the publication of "The Wreath under the Mountain" was in progress and was expected to be published and put on sale within a month.

At the end of the letter, Wang Chaoyin also tactfully asked Xu Yuexin if he had any creative inspiration at the moment and when he was free to chat together.

It turned out to be a commissioned article.

Xu Yuexin knew that the last content was the key point. He smiled, put down Wang Chaoyin's letter, and opened the second letter.

When Xu Yuexin saw the name used by the sender, he realized that the content might be negative.

When I opened it, I found the words inside were truly moving.

The writer of the letter was an educated youth who came from an intellectual family and whose parents died early.

After being sent to the countryside to work, he responded to the policy call and took the initiative to move his household registration to the countryside. He worked actively day and night and tried his best to build up the countryside.

Once when a flood occurred, he jumped into the turbulent river without hesitation to save collective property.

The commune therefore established him as a role model for actively participating in rural construction and accepting re-education from poor and lower-middle peasants, and commended him many times.

Unexpectedly, later other people passed the college entrance examination and returned to the city, enjoying better living conditions and having better development opportunities.

Instead, he became a fool in everyone's eyes. Some people began to laugh at him behind his back, including the villagers he had once helped.

Not only that, when his father was seriously ill during his time in the countryside, he was unable to go home to see his father for the last time due to heavy snow blocking the mountain.

When his mother passed away, this educated youth was unable to see her off for the last time because he failed to deliver the message in time.

Under severe blows, he lost his passion for life, began to doubt whether his life was a joke, and even attempted suicide several times.

He wrote this letter to Xu Yuexin in the hope of getting answers to his questions. He firmly believed that someone who could write a novel like "High Mountain" must have profound thoughts and be able to enlighten him.

"He is also a poor man."

After reading the last word of the letter, Xu Yuexin couldn't help but mutter to himself.

In this era, people like the educated youth in the letter, who were once full of sincerity and selfless, but later experienced disillusionment...

There are many.

They are noble when they are young, but become confused when they grow up, and some even go on the path of self-abandonment and self-destruction.

Of course, I could save him by replying to the educated youth who wrote to me, but there were thousands of people like him. Could I write letters to persuade them one by one?
It would be better to use works to water their dry souls.

Xu Yuexin put down the letter and made a decision.

He opened the drawer, took out the Parker gold pen given by Chen Yixiu, took out a stack of manuscript paper, and began to write on it.

(End of this chapter)