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

Chapter 34: Writer son-in-law? That’s great!

"Hello, comrade. Take a copy of People's Literature."

"Okay, ninety cents."

After paying the money, Chen Qiaoqiao returned to Zhou Zhifeng with the magazine.

The cover of the June issue is a vast pasture on a hillside, with horses galloping freely on it, as if they are about to run towards the distant sky.

"how much?"

Zhou Zhifeng asked anxiously when she saw how thick the magazine was.

"Ninety cents."

Chen Qiaoqiao's mind was completely on the book, so she answered casually.

"It's so expensive, it's enough to buy a pound of pork."

“Buy less next time.”

Zhou Zhifeng felt extremely distressed. She used to just see her husband and daughter buy a copy every month and never thought of asking the price.

When asked this question today, she felt so heartbroken that she almost fainted.

One book per person, that's 24 books per year, which adds up to more than 20 books, almost as much as her monthly salary.

"This is called literature. It brings spiritual enlightenment to people and cannot be simply measured by material comparison."

"Besides, I bought it with my school allowance, and I didn't ask you for money."

Chen Qiaoqiao was very patient and firm when explaining to her mother.

Speak nicely and stick to principles.

Want to deprive her of spiritual food? No way!
Zhou Zhifeng still felt very uncomfortable and muttered a lot on the way home.

Chen Qiaoqiao just ignored it. Her mind was filled with magazines and she just wanted to go home as soon as possible to read novels.

After returning home, Chen Qiaoqiao took the People's Literature into her bedroom and couldn't wait to open the first page.

"The Shepherd", written by Chunyu.

"This guy's pen name is really similar to Xin Ge's."

Chen Qiaoqiao muttered to herself and began to read on.

Intellectuals and remote pastures, personal destiny and the tide of the times, ordinary and happy families and prosperous life abroad...

Chen Qiaoqiao was quickly attracted by the ups and downs of the plot of "The Shepherd" and couldn't put the book down once she got it.

Xu Lingjun had a miserable beginning in life. He was completely hopeless when his reeducation through labor just ended, but he was moved by a horse and cried while hugging it. Then Xiuzhi was sent over, and the two formed a family, had children, and lived happily on the ranch...

Chen Qiaoqiao held the book and carefully read every paragraph in "The Shepherd".

When Chen Qiaoqiao saw Xu Lingjun finally refused his father's invitation to go abroad to inherit the family property and returned to the county town, she fell into deep thought.

How should one spend one's life?
Why did Xu Lingjun's father, who had a fortune, still fall into distress in his later years? Xu Lingjun himself was just a teacher in a remote area, so why did he find fulfillment and happiness?

Can it be understood that... Xu Lingjun chose to take root and be constantly nourished by the land, so he can become a full and positive person.

Chen Qiaoqiao was immersed in the enlightenment brought by "The Shepherd" for a long time.

She is a very serious girl. After reading a good book, she will try hard to comprehend the ideas in it, use it to enrich her mind and remind herself at all times.

Until dinner time, Chen Qiaoqiao was still thinking about the plot in "The Shepherd", wondering what kind of future Xu Lingjun would have in the book.

Until Zhou Zhifeng's words woke her up from her thoughts.

"It's been over a month. Has Xu Yuexin published any new works?"

Zhou Zhifeng asked indifferently while holding the bowl of rice.

"I don't know. Xin Ge's last writing fee was high, so it doesn't matter if he doesn't write for a while."

Chen Qiaoqiao didn't know the motive of her mother's question, so she replied calmly, "That's all I need."

"You are still young and ignorant. There are many expenses for marriage."

"Three turns and one ring, clothes and quilts... all of them cost money, 600 yuan is not enough."

Zhou Zhifeng rambled on, "Besides, his father hasn't regained his professional title yet, and Wu Yan's salary is barely enough to cover the expenses of the whole family." "That means he can only plan for the wedding on his own. If he doesn't save money quickly, he'll have to wait until the year of the monkey and the horse to get married."

"I'm afraid if time goes on for too long, you won't be able to wait any longer."

While speaking, Zhou Zhifeng kept observing her daughter's expression, trying to stimulate her anxiety.

"Who cares? Don't mention the three turns and one ring. I'll marry you even if there's no turn or ring."

Chen Qiaoqiao said nonchalantly, "As long as I can be with Brother Xin, that's fine."

"Next time I meet with Xin Ge, I will discuss with him when to meet my parents."

Zhou Zhifeng felt a little disappointed when she saw that this approach didn't work on her daughter.

"Anyway, if you marry badly, you will suffer."

Zhou Zhifeng said unhappily and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

This girl, why doesn't she listen to advice? Isn't it good to marry into a rich and powerful family...

Standing in front of the sink, Zhou Zhifeng became more and more unhappy the more he thought about it, and he almost made sparks from the dishes in his hands.

That night, Zhou Zhifeng tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep because she thought about what her daughter had said during the day.

Feeling upset, she pushed Chen Shi awake.

"Why... aren't you sleeping?"

Chen Shi complained sleepily, "I have to go to work tomorrow."

"My daughter wants Xu Yuexin to come to our house. Let's talk about her tomorrow."

In the darkness, Zhou Zhifeng's voice was filled with dissatisfaction, "He has an unstable income as a writer, and I don't want our daughter to live with him in a precarious life."

"You're just worrying about nothing."

Chen Shi muttered quietly, "Qiaoqiao was able to be admitted to Yanda University, and ranked 9th in the city. This shows that she has the ability to judge her own life."

"To be honest, maybe she sees things more clearly than we do on certain issues."

"Just because she has a high level of education, she won't recognize her mother? She still has to listen to our opinions on her lifelong affairs."

Zhou Zhifeng was extremely dissatisfied.

"Come on. You graduated from elementary school, and I graduated from high school. Our average education level is just junior high school. You still want to make decisions for college students."

Chen Shi said very confidently, "If this gets out, I'm not afraid of being laughed at."

His words successfully brought the conflict to himself.

"You think I'm uneducated, don't you? Why didn't you think so when you married me?"

Zhou Zhifeng flew into a rage and reached out his hand to pinch Chen Shi's waist.

"I really don't mean to dislike you."

"Let go of me..."

Chen Shi was attacked and screamed for mercy.

Chen Shi actually wanted Xu Yuexin to marry his daughter because he loved to write poetry when he had nothing to do.

It’s nice to have a writer as a son-in-law. I can often ask him for advice.

……

Zhou Zhifeng tried to get her husband to join her in opposing her daughter's marriage plan, but it ended in his tragic end.

The plan failed, and Zhou Zhifeng had no choice but to watch Chen Qiaoqiao holding a copy of People's Literature and going to Wudaokou to find Xu Yuexin.

On the weekend, Chen Qiaoqiao strolled under the lush trees on the roadside, enjoying the cool summer breeze and feeling happy about meeting Xu Yuexin soon.

She usually has classes, so she doesn't have much time to meet Xu Yuexin, and every time they meet, it's a joy.

Chen Qiaoqiao planned to first discuss "The Shepherd" written by Chun Yu with Xu Yuexin, and then talk to him about going to her home to meet her parents and ask him if he was willing.

(End of this chapter)