1986: Old Stories in Northeast China

"Zhidong, what happened? Tell me slowly."

Chen Tiezhu hurriedly pulled Zhang Zhidong to the hospital.

He probably guessed what happened, and he had to save some face for the child.

"Brother Tiezhu, do you think I really can't go to high school?" Zhang Zhidong wiped away the tears that welled up and said.

"Ah..., this matter is actually my fault." Chen Tiezhu sighed and pulled Zhang Zhidong to sit on the small stool.

"Your family or your original idea was to take the technical secondary school entrance exam and then find a job quickly. I went to your house and talked to you in a show-off way, which made your thoughts come to life."

"Zhidong, don't blame your parents. They have such ideas not because they are unreasonable. Which parent doesn't want their children to succeed in the future?"

"But we are not living in a bubble. We can't live without firewood, rice, oil and salt. They just consider being more practical and realistic."

"Brother Tiezhu, am I just an unrealistic fantasy?"

Listening to his words, Zhang Zhidong's eyes were full of loneliness and disappointment.

"Silly boy, if your unrealistic fantasy is so, why did I go to your house to talk so much?" Chen Tiezhu flicked his head.

"Brother Tiezhu, can I continue to take the high school entrance exam and continue to study?" Zhang Zhidong's eyes lit up with hope again.

"Tell me a little, what is the problem with your family now?" Chen Tiezhu said.

"My family is poor. My elder and second elder brothers don't have wives yet." Zhang Zhidong said.

"The money we earn from farming every year is just enough for our family to live. My sister and I have to borrow some money from outside for tuition and miscellaneous fees. In fact, I also know that if I can get into a technical secondary school, I can reduce the burden on my family."

"My second elder brother used to be a good student. Like my elder brother, he didn't even finish junior high school and worked at home. But I just couldn't give up. I just wanted to go to high school and then college."

"Have you ever thought about what you will study in college in the future?" Chen Tiezhu asked.

"What to study? I will study whatever the university teaches." Zhang Zhidong said.

"Silly boy, the knowledge in college is all-encompassing, and you still want to learn it all?" Chen Tiezhu laughed.

"There are many subjects in university. Generally speaking, they are divided into liberal arts and science, and there are many detailed divisions in these two categories."

"For example, mechanics, electrical engineering, medicine, economics, and some special ones, such as military academies and public security schools. Anyway, there are really too many of them."

"Brother Tiezhu, you are really amazing. You know everything." Zhang Zhidong said enviously.

"What's the use of knowing? I just heard it from others. Didn't you go to school today? Didn't you eat?" Chen Tiezhu laughed.

Zhang Zhidong nodded embarrassedly, "I don't even want to miss it."

"Silly, whether you take the technical secondary school entrance exam directly or the university entrance exam in the future, it is your chance to change your life." Chen Tiezhu glared at him.

"My family just finished eating. If you say your problem is a problem, it's a big one. If you say it's not a problem, it's nothing. Eat a bite at my house first, and I'll think about how to tell your dad about this."

"You can't say that his consideration is wrong, so we have to find a compromise. People will have many ups and downs in their lives. Such a small obstacle makes you so difficult that you are going to give up?"

"I'm not. I'm not afraid of hardship or fatigue. I just want to go to college." Zhang Zhidong said hurriedly.

"Okay, eat a bite first. Put your heart at ease. If there is a problem, we can solve it. We have to go to school tomorrow." Chen Tiezhu said.

"Brother Tiezhu, I... I'm not hungry yet. I just feel aggrieved." Zhang Zhidong said.

"You're not hungry, but I am. Eat something for me, okay? Come into the house with me." Chen Tiezhu said, and picked him up.

Chen Tiezhu was able to handle the job easily, as his family conditions were not very good and he was not very old.

"Don't think about it, just leave it to him, he is the young leader. If he can't do it, don't we still have the old leader, Erye? Have a good meal." Han Xiuying smiled and comforted him, and glared at Chen Tiezhu.

He didn't lead Zhang Zhidong into the house, but just put the food next to the stove, considering the self-esteem of the young man.

"Did you get into trouble?"

When Chen Tiezhu walked into the house, Li Yinglin joked.

"You obviously have a problem with your thinking, comrade." Chen Tiezhu said seriously.

But after he finished speaking, his face fell, "Ah..., it was me who pretended to be a big wolf and caused the trouble. This matter still needs to be handled properly."

"It's not easy for anyone's family. You should think more carefully and don't leave any more tails." Erye said.

"In fact, Zhang YuanThe villagers have done a good job. Just look at our village. How many children can finish their studies safely? "

"Yes, his family is actually very burdened. It is not easy to achieve this." He Jianguo took over the conversation.

As the village chief, he knows the situation of each family in the village best.

What is the use of studying?

Going home early to help farm is the norm in people's minds.

Chen Tiezhu nodded, "Don't worry, I started this matter, and I will definitely get it done. Uncle Shulin, I was planning to go to watch you forging iron in the afternoon. Let's see how long it takes."

"I don't have anything to do. The furnace is warm. I will beat it whenever you go. The embryos are all beaten, and the only thing left is to wrap the steel." Qiao Shulin said with a smile.

"Uncle Jianguo, give me a few of those mustard greens, whether they are raw or cooked. "Chen Tiezhu spoke again.

"Oh, why are you thinking about eating?" Han Xiuying slapped him in anger.

Why don't you have a sense of urgency? She was also anxious.

"Xiuying, look at him like this, he must have thought of a way." Li Yinglin said with a smile.

"Yeah, Teacher Chen is very powerful."

Comrade Fang Zhiyong, a blind believer, also expressed his opinion.

Han Xiuying didn't say anything, but stared at Chen Tiezhu fiercely, and even Zhang Zhidong, who was eating outside, listened with his ears erect.

"If there is a problem, we will solve it." Chen Tiezhu shrugged his shoulders.

"I just believe in one sentence, there will be a way when the car reaches the mountain, and the boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridge. I can get through the most difficult days, so his matter is nothing."

"But if you want to say that this matter is also Comrade Lao Li's fault, it was all his initiator. And then he is now intervening to watch the fun, Yingzi, you have to take care of this matter. "

Han Xiuying curled her lips, it seems that she didn't say anything useful.

But she felt more relieved in her heart. After all, this guy started to joke, so he must have some plans in mind.

"Tiezhu, are you home?"

At this time, Zhang Yuanmin's shouting came from outside the door.