Struggle Life in the 1970s

Chu Ye had always received letters from home before, but she didn't take it seriously. When she left home, she made it clear that she would never return to that home again in her life.

However, as time passed, her words seemed to be automatically diluted in the eyes of her parents.

How can a family hold a grudge overnight? No matter what, they are still blood relatives, how can they really say that they have not severed their ties?

As a result, Chu's father's letters became more frequent, and gradually, the words in the letters that were intended to coax his daughter to return home turned into threats.

Si Ya, your parents haven’t seen you for several years. You should come back to see them when you have time.

Xiaoye, you are the flesh and blood of your parents, how can you be so cruel as to not come back?

My daughter, even if your parents did something wrong in the past, you can't really be angry with them. What child would hold a grudge against their parents?

Chu Ye, if you don't come home, don't recognize your parents! We will just pretend that we never gave birth to such an unfilial daughter like you!

Rebellious daughter! Now that you have become powerful and independent, you are beginning to dislike your family, right? I wish I didn't have a daughter like you!
Don’t think that you are superior just because you are a teacher now. Don’t be afraid of others poking your spine if you don’t come back to see your parents!
Chu Ye's heart had long been numb from reading every word. It was also on this day that she received another letter from home. She wanted to just pile it there, but unexpectedly the handwriting on the envelope was different this time.

This time, it was written by Chu Guangyao.

Chu Ye hesitated for a moment, and finally opened the envelope and read through it quickly. Then, her heart sank again, and a hint of sarcasm flashed in her eyes.

I thought the words in my parents' letter were hurtful enough, but I didn't expect they could go so far.

Endless bitterness spread from the bottom of her heart, choking her tongue. She read the letter in her hand carefully again. Then, she took out all the letters from home that she had received before and read them one by one.

After a long time, she put down the paper in her hand. There was already a thick pile of papers on the table in front of her. Chu Ye raised her hand to touch her chest. Here, her feelings for her parents had been exhausted. She thought of what Chu Guangyao had written in the letter, and gradually she had an idea in her mind.

A few days later, the final exam results of the previous semester were announced. Since this was an evaluation of all the primary schools in the entire county, the school attached great importance to it.

Yesterday, several school leaders took a bus to the county early for a meeting. When they came back in the evening, they all had happy faces. The principal was holding a brown paper bag in his hand, but no one knew what was inside. No matter how hard the teachers stretched their necks to ask, they couldn't find out.

However, the good news did not make everyone wait too long. Just after breakfast today, the school radio announced that teachers and students were asked to gather at the flag-raising platform.

The head teachers of each class arranged the students in their class and lined them up neatly in front of the flag-raising platform. The leaders also stood under the flag early, and the teachers stood behind the class to maintain order.

At this time, if someone passes by the school gate, they can see such a solemn scene: the bright red flag flutters in the blue sky, and the playground in front of the building, which was empty in the past, is full of students. They stand there upright, like bunches of flowers blooming towards the sun, proud, sunny and full of vitality.

Seeing that all the students and teachers had arrived, the leader on the stage began to give a speech. As usual, he would first talk about the overall situation of the previous semester, and then roughly talk about the overall plan for the next semester.

Various school affairs were mixed in. After one leader finished speaking, another leader took over. More than ten minutes passed and there was continuous applause from the audience.

Finally, after the big leaders finished speaking, it was the turn of the dean of studies. He gave a summary of the learning situation in the previous semester. It was the same old routine. After the previous long speech, he finally talked about the key project of the day, which was the ranking of the final exam scores of the previous semester.

"Our school is getting better and better every year. In this county-wide evaluation, the average scores of all grades in our school are among the top few." The director said proudly.

However, this kind of thing is not uncommon. The overall condition of students in their school is relatively good, and the teachers are also very responsible, so their school has always had a good reputation, and the overall performance of students is also ahead of other schools.

Students and teachers were not interested. They were used to hearing such polite talk every semester.

The director cleared his throat and glanced down, catching sight of Chu Ye behind the third-grade students. He continued, "However, in this evaluation, our school has one result that is far ahead of other schools. Even in the city's elementary schools, it is not inferior to others."

Huh? This sentence is different from the usual saying. The curiosity of teachers and students was aroused, and some students began to whisper, wondering which achievement was so impressive?
Chu Ye stood together with other teachers in the third grade. The old teachers also looked at each other but couldn't see any difference.

Qiao Mingzhu came over stealthily. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Chu Ye, and put her head close to Chu Ye's ear. She lowered her voice and said, "Hey, Ye Zi, guess which achievement the director praised?"

Chu Ye turned his head and saw Mingzhu's eyes were filled with excitement. He asked uncertainly, "Is it art?"

"Bah! How can I be so shameless?" Mingzhu's voice was a little loud, causing the teachers beside her to look at her sideways. Mingzhu quickly smiled and looked back, pretending nothing had happened.

Chu Ye tried to hold back her laughter. Mingzhu saw her like this and came closer. She stretched out her hand and gently twisted her waist. "Don't tease me. I'm telling you, I'm usually pretty accurate in guessing things."

"Okay, okay, but I'm not kidding. I really think you taught very well." Chu Ye chuckled and continued with Mingzhu's words.

"Humph, of course I teach well, regardless of who it is." Mingzhu first took over Chu Ye's words, then frowned, "Don't change the subject, I think the director is talking about you nine times out of ten."

Chu Ye curled her lips when she heard that, and was glad that Mingzhu was only whispering to her and the teachers around didn't hear it.

Otherwise, saying this would get them beaten. If other teachers knew about this, they would probably laugh at them.

Mingzhu wanted to say something, but the director on the stage saw that the atmosphere was already tense and cleared his throat. "Everyone, be quiet. Although our school's overall performance is good, it is still very rare for a single subject to perform exceptionally well. Yesterday, because of this incident, the county leaders praised our school in front of all the other schools and said they would try to organize other teachers to come to our school for observation this semester."

The director has aroused everyone's curiosity, and the other leaders are also delighted, looking very happy. "Okay, I won't keep you in suspense. The English scores of our third-grade classes one and two are ranked first and second in the county respectively!"

"Wow--" After the silence, a sea of ​​applause broke out, especially from the students in Class 1 and Class 2 of Grade 3. They danced excitedly on the spot, with smiles on their faces warmer than the sun.

The leaders also smiled happily, and the teachers standing in the back row applauded and looked at Chu Ye.

Chu Ye is the head teacher of Class 1, Grade 3, and also the English teacher of Class 1 and Class 2, Grade 3.

Although he is young, his strength should not be underestimated.

Mingzhu had an expression of "as expected". She nudged the person next to her with her shoulder and raised her eyebrows. Although she didn't say anything, her meaning was clear.

See, I was right.

The applause lasted for a long time, and the director had to calm them down manually. When it quieted down again, the director continued, "This time, the English scores of the third graders are leading in the whole county. Not only that, there are several high-scoring students in each grade. Our school was praised by the county leaders, and the county also specially awarded certificates to these students who performed well."

The director said as he pulled out a brown paper bag and took out a small stack.

Then, the director read out the names on the certificates one by one. From first grade to fifth grade, the students whose names were called walked out of the class lines with joy on their faces. Soon, a whole row of students of different heights stood under the flag-raising platform.

After they received their certificates, they returned to the team amid applause from the audience. The director then took out a few thin certificates from a cowhide bag and continued, "Next, please ask the teacher whose name is heard to come up to the stage to receive the award."

"Meng Xiangru, Feng Fuchun, He Feng, Chu Ye."

This time, there were only four people. Except Chu Ye, the remaining three were respected old teachers. Chu Ye stood out among them.

When the director presented the certificate to Chu Ye, he patted her on the shoulder, his eyes full of expectations for the younger generation.

After the four people walked off the stage with their certificates, the director said a few more words, hoping that all teachers and students would continue to work hard in the new semester, guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and create new glories.

Afterwards, the director of logistics also gave a few instructions, and today's meeting was almost over. Finally, the director directed the head teachers of each class to lead the students to evacuate back to the classroom one by one.

The students listened to the teacher's arrangements, and some first-grade and fifth-grade students had already returned to the teaching building from the left and right sides respectively.

Just at this moment, a fierce rebuke pierced the sky through the fence at the school gate.

"Chu Ye! Come here!"

Although some students inevitably took the opportunity to talk when retreating, it was generally quiet and orderly.

The sudden sound was too strange, and people's eyes unconsciously shifted over. After all, Teacher Chu was a famous person who had just gone on stage to receive an award, and this inexplicable roar seemed like a sign of trouble.

Then everyone saw a middle-aged couple and a young man standing at the school gate.

Their security guard was staring at the three people with a wary look on his face.

Chu Ye was originally standing at the back of the class line, very close to the door. She did not move after hearing the voice. The other teachers' eyes stayed outside the school for a few seconds, and then turned to Chu Ye.

Mingzhu stood beside Chu Ye with a frown on her face. Seeing her calm expression, she asked carefully, "Who is this?"

Chu Ye's heart, which had been weighing on his heart since he received Chu Guangyao's letter, finally settled down at this moment.

What is coming will eventually come. Instead of being on guard in fear, it is better to just end it.

The director handed over the task of evacuating the students to another leader and planned to come and check the situation.

Mr. Chu was already furious. He couldn't tolerate the fact that he had called Chu Ye's name but she didn't come over immediately.

In front of everyone, she doesn't even take her own father seriously!
"Rebellious girl! How many times do you want me to call you that?" Father Chu roared again. The sound was so loud that the students who had not yet retreated could hear it clearly.

"Hey, how can you talk like that! What did she do wrong for you to call her a rebellious daughter? I think you are the one who is rebellious to your father!" Mingzhu rolled up her sleeves and cursed back through the fence without caring about anything.

She doesn’t care whose father this man is, even if he is Chu Ye’s father.

Chu Ye was her roommate, so she was under her protection and could not let anyone bully her. Besides, how could a father talk to his daughter like that?

(End of this chapter)