1979: Reopening Wenhao Road from the Village

No one knows a son better than his mother. Chen's mother stared at Chen Weidong for a moment, and she just couldn't believe this reason.

Are you kidding your grandparents again?

Chen Weidong noticed the disbelief in his mother's eyes, so he took out the reply from the editorial department again and handed it to her.

He couldn't help but marvel at his own reputation.

His reply proves that he hadn't used it much along the way, but had taken it out twice since returning home.

Fortunately, he married Su Man in Yangjiatun. Otherwise, given his reputation in Mao'er Hutong, it would have been impossible for him to get married so early.

Chen's mother glanced at it and handed it to Chen's sister-in-law behind her. She was illiterate, so it was pointless for her to look at it.

Although Sister-in-law Chen did not graduate from primary school, she had attended school for two years and knew some characters.

"Mother, it really is a letter from the editorial department of 'October' magazine!"

Sister-in-law Chen looked at Chen Weidong in shock. If it weren't for the written agreement, she really wouldn't believe that her brother-in-law could do such a thing.

Is exercising in the countryside really that effective?

"When will your article be published? Where can I find the October newspaper?"

"I've finished revising it these past few days, and it should be published in the newspaper soon. You can find it at Xinhua Bookstore then."

Chen's mother carefully examined the letter again, her heart filled with admiration. It seemed that her decision to send Chen Weidong down to train was the right one; it was such a good way to toughen him up.

"Where are your wife and children?"

"Su Man just gave birth and can't come back for the time being."

After Chen Weidong finished speaking, he saw his two nephews hiding behind his sister-in-law, watching him, their eyes occasionally glancing at the candy on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Which one of you is Xiaoteng? Which one is Xiaoting?"

Unlike Chen Weidong and his two siblings, the fourth generation of the Chen family all adopted the character "Xiao" in their names, and all their names were chosen according to this generational naming convention.

When Chen Weidong went to the countryside, Chen Xiaoteng was only two years old. He only learned about Chen Xiaoting later through letters.

"This is your second uncle, quickly greet him."

Sister-in-law Chen said to the two children behind her.

"Second Uncle, I am Chen Xiaoteng."

The tall boy took a step forward and said.

"I am Chen Xiaoting."

The short boy spoke quite loudly.

It's clear from now on that Chen Xiaoteng, like his older brother Chen, is quite honest. He later followed in his father's footsteps and worked as a factory worker for his entire life.

However, Chen Xiaoteng showed great respect for his second uncle, Chen Weidong, visiting him frequently in his later years and bringing him gifts during holidays.

Chen Xiaoting, on the other hand, has always been bold, somewhat like Chen Weidong. She dropped out of high school and went to the south to make her way in the world.

He made a lot of money in his early years, driving a Mercedes worth 400,000 to 500,000 yuan at the beginning of the century, and even started his own company. When he came back, he didn't even come to see him. All the love and affection he showed him when he was a child was for nothing.

Unfortunately, Chen Xiaoting's company went bankrupt due to mismanagement. It was said that he was too promiscuous and was framed. In the end, his wife ran away with someone else and disappeared without a trace. He never saw Chen Xiaoting again before his death.

"Eat."

Chen Weidong picked up the peach shortbread from the kang (a heated brick bed), gave one to each of them, and also grabbed a handful of candy and peanuts, stuffing them into the pockets of Chen Xiaoteng and Chen Xiaoting's shirts.

"Thank you, Second Uncle."

Chen Xiaoteng and Chen Xiaoting immediately thanked them happily, and then couldn't wait to take a bite of the peach shortbread.

Grandma Chen felt a pang of heartache. She had already given money to Chen Xiaoteng and Chen Xiaoting for the New Year, and this was money she had saved up for Chen Weidong.

"When will you be able to return to the city? Have you heard anything from your end?"

Chen's mother sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and asked Chen Weidong.

"The application process has recently begun, but the team is currently holding a meeting to discuss it, and we expect to get the results soon."

"So, what are your and your wife's chances?"

"It should be about the same."

Chen Weidong wasn't sure either, because compared to He Yan and the others, he and Su Man were bound by the condition of marriage and having children, which made things more difficult for them.

"If all else fails, let your dad retire and you take over his job."

Although Chen's mother didn't like Chen Weidong, she still felt sorry for him. After all, of her three children, only Chen Weidong had been sent to the countryside. He had suffered so much over the years, and she felt bad for him.

"No need, Mother. Let's wait until things are settled in the village. Father is still young; he can work for at least another few decades."

"You kid, your dad will be busy until he's seventy or eighty. If your family comes back, I can help you take care of the kids. I imagine it must be very hard for Su Man to take care of two kids by herself."

Knowing his own children best, given Chen Weidong's personality, he wouldn't even bother to pick up a fallen soy sauce bottle, so Su Man would definitely be raising both children on her own.

Chen Weidong could only chuckle awkwardly; it seemed unlikely that he could change his reputation anytime soon.

"Have you eaten? I'll go heat up some food for you."

"No need, Mother, I've already eaten at the magazine office."

"Does the magazine even provide meals?"

"That's great, I wish you could work for a magazine."

Chen's mother muttered something, got off the kang (a heated brick bed), and said, "I'll go tidy up your quilt. You can squeeze in with us for now. We'll clean up the back room when you come back."

Now, the Chen family consists of two households: Old Man Chen and Old Woman Chen live in the main house, which has good lighting and is warm in winter and cool in summer; Father Chen and Mother Chen's family live in the east wing; and Brother Chen's family lives in the west wing.

Back when Chen Weidong got married, his family had sent him a letter saying that when his family returned, his parents would move to the back room, and the east wing would be reserved for Chen Weidong's family of four.

"No need, Mom, I can live with Grandpa and Grandma."

"Xiulan, you don't need to pack. I have bedding here. Weidong can stay in the main room."

Grandma Chen was the first to agree. Chen Weidong had slept with them more than with his parents since he was a child, so she was genuinely happy to hear her grandson say that.

"That works too. What would you like to eat tonight? I'll make it for you."

"Just add some noodles."

"Okay, eldest daughter-in-law, give me some cloth."

"Are you getting ready to sew clothes?"

Chen Weidong asked curiously, having just seen the cloth in Chen's sister-in-law's hand.

"Yes, my mother and I sew buttonholes and hem trousers for the tailor shop."

As Sister-in-law Chen handed two pieces of cloth to Mother Chen, she replied.

Chen Weidong then remembered that in his previous life, his mother and sister-in-law had done this job part-time, earning 3 to 5 cents per task.

Besides sewing buttonholes and hemming trousers, Chen's mother and sister-in-law sometimes also made matchboxes, cardboard boxes, patched flowers, crocheted tablecloths, made silk flowers, velvet flowers, and did embroidery. Depending on the job, their wages ranged from a few cents to a few dimes.

This way, women in the alley could both take care of their children and earn some money for household expenses, which was the most popular thing for them to do.

Anyone who isn't working a regular job will take on odd jobs; even some elderly women will take on jobs pasting matchboxes and cardboard boxes.

Like Grandma Yu at the door, she still takes on jobs from time to time, but because of her poor eyesight, she mostly takes on simple jobs such as pasting matchboxes and cardboard boxes.