Siheyuan: Starting from 1958

After saying this, Aunt Zhang pushed open the door.

The room was indeed very simple. Apart from a bed, there were two stools and a desk, and not even a cabinet.

But there is one advantage: the area is very large, almost twice the size of the annex, and it looks empty.

Zhang Linbao fell in love with this place at first sight.

A larger house means greater maneuverability.

He had been to the home of the third uncle Liang Lazhi in the central courtyard. The size of the house was similar to the wing room he had seen. Not only could it be easily separated into two bedrooms, but it could also have two attics above the head, so four or five people could live in it without feeling crowded.

I was very envious at that time and thought it would be great if I could have such a house in the future.

I didn't expect that Aunt Zhang had quietly prepared such a big surprise for me.

Such a big house must cost a lot of money. Aunt Zhang in front of me only has more than 20 yuan a month. She must need to save money for many years to save enough money to buy a house.

When Zhang Linbao thought about how Aunt Zhang was reluctant to eat this or that in order to buy a house for him, his eyes couldn't help but turn red.

Looking at Aunt Zhang, he said with gratitude: "Mom... Thank you, I like this house very much..."

"I'll find someone to start the renovation tomorrow, and you can move in then. The wing is dark and damp, not suitable for living. We can turn it into a kitchen, toilet, and dining area, and we can live in the wing together."

Zhang Linbao invited me to live in the side room with him, which showed that the child really treated me as a family member and did not look down on me just because I was not his biological mother.

Aunt Zhang was very excited, but she still refused: "Lin Bao..."

"I'm very happy that you can say this."

"I bought this wing room for you to use when you get married. You can just move in and I will continue to live in the side room."

"When you finish renovating the wing room, you can live in it and I'll live in the cubicle you used to live in. Then you can turn the cubicle I used to live in into a toilet."

Zhang Linbao answered firmly: "No..."

"Mom, you have to move in, otherwise I won't live in the wing room either."

"I've thought it through. Let's renovate it the same way as the third uncle's house in the middle courtyard and divide the house into two floors."

"There's a main room and two bedrooms downstairs, two bedrooms on the second floor, and a kitchen, toilet, and dining room in the annex...it'll be enough for me to use even if I get married in the future."

"You are my mother, so you must live with your son."

After that, he opened the two packages he brought back, took out the contents and introduced them: "Mom..."

“I brought these things back from the countryside.”

"These are Chinese medicines. I know a Chinese medicine doctor in the village. I asked him to help me get them. They are useful for your old cold legs."

"These are some cured fish. My son learned how to make them from the locals in the countryside."

"There are also two cured rabbits and a cured chicken. I learned how to make them from the local villagers. I caught the rabbit and pheasant myself in the mountains and kept them for you to eat when I get home."

Seeing these good things, Aunt Zhang's smile became even brighter. While putting these good things away, she sighed: "Lin Bao..."

"I didn't expect that you would still think of mom even when you were suffering in the countryside... I'm so happy..."

"You must have been traveling for several days and it must have been very tiring..."

"Take a rest first, I'll go cook for you now."

"I asked Director Wang to help me get an old hen. I will make you braised pork and old hen soup tonight to nourish your body."

Although Aunt Zhang has always been working as a kitchen helper, since the kitchen leaders are not shy about cooking, anyone who wants to learn can just watch, and as a result, Aunt Zhang's cooking skills have improved a lot.

Although there were only three dishes on the table, they were delicious: braised pork, chicken soup, and stir-fried cabbage.

As soon as Zhang Linbao sat down, Aunt Zhang tore a big chicken leg from the old hen and put it in his bowl.

After they had almost finished eating, Aunt Zhang expressed her thoughts: "Lin Bao..."

"Mom thought about it..."

"I am old now, and although the work in the kitchen is not tiring, it is still a bit strenuous to do."

"When you finish renovating the house, you can take over my job at the steel mill."

"I asked Director Wang from the front yard: You have received education, and Director Wang is now in charge of the entire logistics department of the steel mill. As long as you take over the shift, he can transfer you out of the kitchen and into other departments."

"what do you think?"

"Now more and more educated youth are returning to the city, and it's hard to find a good job."

"A few days ago, the steel mill released some apprentice jobs, and guess what happened... almost 30 returned educated youths competed for one job. The scene was really scary."

Seeing that Zhang Dabao didn't respond for a long time, but frowned in deep thought, Aunt Zhang knew that he had already had some ideas in his mind, so she asked directly: "Do you have any other ideas? If so, just say it, Mom will definitely support you..."

"I want to go to college?" Zhang Linbao said surprisingly.

"Go to college?" Aunt Zhang asked with wide eyes.

"Can I take the college entrance exam now... Isn't it said that college admission is only possible through recommendation?"

Zhang Linbao answered in a low voice: "Mom..."

"This was told to me by Sanmao from the Intermediate Court. She said Uncle Zhuzi heard about it from Director Wang. Starting this year, everyone can take the college entrance examination and no recommendations will be made."

"My academic performance is good, so I want to give it a try."

"If I can get into college, I can become a cadre after graduation, which is more promising than working as a worker in a steel mill."

"Sanmao has already started reviewing at home, and I plan to review with him."

If Zhang Linbao could really get into university, it would definitely be a better future than working as a worker in a steel mill.

If the news about taking the college entrance exam really came from Wang Dong, then Aunt Zhang's understanding of Wang Dong must be pretty accurate.

Thinking of this, Aunt Zhang nodded without hesitation and said, "Mom supports you..."

"I can still work now, so I'll work in the kitchen of the steel mill first..."

"If you can really get into college, then we'll go to college..."

"If I fail the exam, I'll go to the steel mill and take over my mom's job."

"I will also go to Director Wang tomorrow to ask if this college entrance exam is true."

After that, he took out the thirty big unity notes that he had prepared in advance from his pocket and said, "This is the money that mom prepared for the renovation."

"Three hundred dollars in total. If it's not enough, ask mom for more. I still have a lot of money."

"You need to review, so if you find a book you want to buy, feel free to buy it. Don't be afraid to spend money."

"Mom has been working in the steel mill for nearly ten years. Although she is still an ordinary regular worker and cannot get a raise, her years of service have increased a lot. Now her monthly salary is more than 27 yuan. Even if you get into college in the future, this salary will be enough to support the two of us."

"So just do whatever you want to do, don't worry about anything." (End of this chapter)