Struggle Life in the 1970s

Chu Ye stood there, watching his back as he walked away, until his figure disappeared in the wind and snow. She blinked, feeling the coolness coming from her eyelids, then turned around and lightly knocked on the gate.

Chu Guangyao just went home for vacation three days ago. Because it was cold outside, he was now sitting by the stove to keep warm.

When winter comes, their family will put a stove next to the dining table in the main hall, and then connect a long chimney to it to facilitate the exhaust of smoke from the house.

He had sharp ears and heard the noise before his parents. He stood up quickly and opened the door, then saw his sister standing a few steps away.

He exclaimed unconsciously, then trotted over to open the door and helped carry the luggage, all in one go.

When the two entered the house, Chu's father and mother were extremely happy. Mother Chu quickly added water to the pot to cook rice, and Father Chu also asked about Chu Ye's grades in general.

After she entered technical secondary school, Chu's parents became particularly friendly to her because they saw that she could go to school for free and could directly go to work after graduation. In addition, the flattery from neighbors and villagers made them feel proud.

After Chu Ye answered, he took out two things from his luggage and handed them over one by one.

What they gave to Chu's father was a pair of cotton shoes, and what they gave to Chu's mother was a blue headscarf. The old couple were surprised and happy. On the one hand, they complained that she was spending money recklessly, but on the other hand, they quickly put them on and praised the child for knowing how to care for his parents now that he had grown up.

Chu Ye smiled without saying a word. When her parents praised her, she casually said that she had bought it by saving money at school, and had spent all her money on this gift.

When Chu's mother heard this, she felt distressed again and subconsciously blamed her for spending money recklessly and not knowing how to live.

After hearing this, Chu Ye didn't take it seriously. He just smiled and said that he missed his parents and wanted to buy something for them to show his filial piety even if he spent all his money.

Of course this was false. She still had some money left and had not spent it all. She said those filial words only to comfort her parents and make them feel better so that they would not be unhappy about her going to school.

After all, she also used gifts to make her parents believe that studying was beneficial and would not cost the family money, and that her daughter was sensible and would think of them even if she went away to school and was away from home for half a year.

The old couple were naturally very happy, and the suspicion that they could not keep their daughter because she had grown up was gone.

On the other side, when she started to take out the things, Chu Guangyao's eyes lit up, hoping that he could also get a gift. However, he waited and waited, and even when his parents put the things on their bodies, he still didn't get anything. He couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

However, when he heard Chu Ye say that she had spent all the money, he felt sorry for his sister again. The original loss in his heart was swept away, and he pretended to be indifferent and continued to warm himself by the fire.

The changes in his mood were clearly written on his face, and it was hard for Chu Ye not to notice it. She curled the corners of her mouth slightly, and while Chu Guangyao lowered his head, she took out a brand new picture book from the cloth bag she was carrying on her back, then tapped his head with her finger and handed the book over.

Chu Guangyao only felt something strange in his head. He looked up in surprise, stunned for a moment, and then surprise burst out in his eyes. He couldn't help but jump up from the stool, took the picture book and kissed the cover hard.

Then he circled around Chu Ye like a butterfly, dancing with the book in his hands. He kept raising and putting his hands down, as if he wanted to give his sister a hug, but was too embarrassed. Finally, a big smile broke out on his face, and all he said was a loud thank you to his sister.

Chu Ye smiled. After dinner, Chu's mother boiled a pot of hot water, poured it into two glass bottles, covered them with stoppers, and gave the thermos to the two children.

The falling snow at night did not decrease. Chu Ye sat in the bed, the dim light shining on her face. The wind blew outside, sweeping the snowflakes against the glass windows.

Somehow, Mu Jiajun's every move always flashed through her mind, especially when she thought of the moment when he put the scarf on her today, her mind was filled with thoughts and she was at a loss.

She picked up the scarf beside the pillow and rubbed it unconsciously with her fingers. Although it was also made of wool, the thread was exceptionally fine, unlike the common coarse wool, and it felt extra soft to the touch.

Mu Jiajun said that this was a New Year's gift for her, but he had already helped her a lot, and now he was giving her something that looked expensive, which really made her not know how to repay him.

In particular, she thought about her own situation. Although she had escaped the predicament of getting married like her sisters, this was only temporary. She knew in her heart that her parents were not urging her to go on blind dates and get married now, just to wait until she graduated and got a job so that they would have the capital to negotiate for better conditions.

She also has to find a way to get rid of her parents' possible future arrangements. She doesn't want to get married now, or rather, she doesn't want to get married through this kind of blind date.

But there was no point in thinking more now, so she shook her head and put down the scarf in her hand. She was not sleepy at the moment, so she took "Stray Birds" from the small table beside the bed and began to read it carefully.

When I woke up the next morning, the thermos in the bed was still warm. I opened the door and looked outside. Everything was covered in white. The village, which used to be full of busyness and harvest, was now quiet.

The sky was still gloomy and the snowflakes had not disappeared, only a few flakes fell sparsely from the sky.

After breakfast, the family had nothing to do, so Chu's father went to the yard to chop the stored wood into small pieces, while Chu's mother was crocheting a sweater by the stove, apparently for Chu Guangyao.

Chu Ye said goodbye to her family and turned to walk towards her neighbor's house. Brother Jianwen happened to be feeding chickens in the yard. When he saw her, he quickly welcomed her into the house. "When did you come back? Why didn't you let me pick you up?" Jianwen asked as he led the way.

"Brother, I just got home last night. I was worried that you had a lot of things to do at the end of the year, so I didn't want to trouble you." Chu Ye told the truth.

"What's the trouble? It snowed so heavily yesterday. How could you not ask someone to pick you up?" Jianwen was honest and spoke with a complaining tone.

Inside the room, Nianci was sitting on the edge of the bed. She had just put down her bowl and chopsticks. Before she could ask who Jianwen was talking to, she saw the person coming up to her.

When she looked up, she saw Chu Ye's little face, and then joy burst into her eyes. She quickly stood up to greet him. Aunt Wang, who was in the next room, heard the noise and came out. She was also very happy to see the visitor.

"Oh, it's the fourth girl who's back from vacation." Aunt Wang came closer, looked around, and said with some dissatisfaction, "You have to eat more at school. I heard from Nianci that your school gives you money every month. Don't be frugal. Eat more. You look so thin."

Aunt Wang's eyes were filled with heartache, and she was about to go to the pot to serve her some rice. Chu Ye quickly said that she had already eaten, and stopped her from doing so.

Seeing that they were chatting enthusiastically, Jianwen stood for a while and then continued to feed the chickens. Nianci pulled her to the bed, pulled aside a corner of the quilt, revealing a round little face underneath.

The face was not even as big as Chu Ye's palm. He was breathing softly, his nostrils trembling slightly, and one of his little hands was placed up to his ear. He was snoring in his sleep.

This was exactly the child who had died in the womb in the previous life. In this life, because of Chu Ye’s various suggestions, when Nian Ci was about to give birth, her family decisively chose to take her to the hospital in town, and she was finally born successfully.

"We gave her a nickname, An An."

Perhaps because it was only a few months after giving birth, Sister Nianci looked a little fatter than before, but her complexion was rosy, and her eyes and brows had the tenderness of a new mother, making her look even prettier than before.

"An An." Chu Ye recited it aloud. He didn't know if the sleeping baby heard it, but the baby smacked his lips and shook his hands gently.

Chu Ye felt soft in his heart as he looked at the child. He stretched out his finger and gently touched the child's face. With his other hand, he reached into his pocket and took out a red bracelet with a silver ball covered with patterns on it. There was also a small walnut hanging next to the ball.

She gently put the bracelet on the child's exposed wrist.

Nianci saw it and stretched out her hand to stop him, "Why are you still buying this kind of thing? What a waste of money."

"It's not that expensive. I saw it in town yesterday and negotiated the price with the store owner. I bought it because I thought it was suitable." Chu Ye said to comfort her. Nian Ci did not stop her and gently put the bracelet on the child's wrist.

Seeing Nianci's face full of disbelief, she continued to explain, "Really. I'm not a fool, I won't be cheated of money for nothing. Besides, you and Brother Jianwen have helped me a lot, so it's okay for me to give An'an a gift."

"You are such a sincere child. Do you think I don't know the good things you said to your mother-in-law before?" Although Nianci was nagging, she felt somewhat relieved in her heart.

After all, Chu Ye had been married before. When the man surnamed Zhao waved his hands, she was the one who took care of the household affairs. Naturally, she had a good understanding of human relationships.

What's more, Aunt Wang's family treated her very kindly, so it was only natural for her to bring some gifts when she came to visit the children.

Looking at An An's chubby face, she couldn't help but think of the child she gave birth to in her previous life.

The child was also the result of her ten months of hard work. Every day at that time, she was looking forward to the birth of the child.

Although Zhao Xuesong had already revealed his bad habit of drinking and beating people at that time, she gritted her teeth and endured it for the sake of the child in her belly, thinking that everything would be hopeful after giving birth to the child.

However, the child whom she had high hopes for did not stay with her for many years before he was taken away by his parents-in-law. When they met again, the child had become extremely spoiled.

She wanted to correct herself, but it was too late. She finally came to her senses when the child's actions completely chilled her heart.

She also loved that child, but she didn't have the ability to bring the child to her side and raise him, which is why his temper became so unbearable.

She was filled with emotion. In this life, she had gotten rid of Zhao Xuesong and had no fate with that child either. However, she did not regret her change. It was a gift from God that she could be reborn once. If she repeated the same mistakes, she would not be able to help but slap herself.

Seeing that she was in a daze, Nian Ci patted her shoulder gently. Seeing that Chu Ye had come back to her senses, she continued to ask Chu Ye about her situation at school. The morning passed quickly.

(End of this chapter)