1979: My fiancée is a goddess

Chapter 9 Auntie Visits

Chapter 9 Auntie Visits
"This is Xiaoli's aunt, Aunt Jiang Ting, who is currently a professor in the Department of Literature at Beijing Normal University."

Xu Yuxiu introduced.

Xiaoli? Fiancée Liu Xiaoli? Is this woman a professor at Beijing Normal University?
Hasn't there been any news for a long time? Why is there someone here all of a sudden?
Cheng Kaiyan's thoughts flashed through her mind, but she still greeted him warmly: "Hello, Aunt Jiang, I'm Cheng Kaiyan."

But the beautiful woman in front of him just nodded and hummed in a nasal tone as a response.

It's a bit cold.

In terms of relationship, I am her nephew's husband, but this woman's attitude seems a bit difficult to get along with.

However, she was kind and respectful to her mother Xu Yuxiu, calling her Sister Yuxiu all the time.

"Kaiyan, go and boil some water to make tea."

Xu Yuxiu ordered.

Cheng Kaiyan was also happy about this, he was too lazy to try his best to please someone who didn't like him.

He turned and left, scooped a pot of water from the kitchen vat, and brought the kitchen stove into the house and placed it between the two of them.

The red-hot coal balls continuously emitted heat radiation. Xu Yuxiu and Jiang Ting both subconsciously stretched out their hands to warm themselves.

There are only two ways for old Beijingers to keep warm in winter: the kang and the stove.

Every household has a stove, which is used for heating, boiling water, and even cooking.

"Guru Guru~"

A circle of black kettles below were vibrating with steam on the coal stove, proving that they were being heated.

Cheng Kaiyan immediately sat down and thought about what to write in the next long article.

Educated youth?

Today is an era of profound transformation, and the same is true for literature. The literature of this period first appeared in the form of "scar literature", which ruthlessly exposed trauma, emphasized the humanitarian spirit, and attempted to restore human care in literature.

At the same time, a literary craze that lasted for more than 20 years was set off. When a new poem was written, the whole nation would recite it; when a new article was published, the whole country would compete to read it.

The literary fever comes in waves, one after another. Suddenly, you can break through the "big self" and become the "small self", and suddenly there are flowers everywhere, too late to pick them.

This led to an extremely high status for writers, poets, and scholars.

This year, Liu Xinwu's "Class Teacher" and Lu Xinhua's "Scars" sparked a nationwide discussion and aroused social resonance...

In this year, Chen Gongmin published "Instrumentalism or Reflection Theory - On the Relationship between Literature and Politics" in "Drama Art", questioning the view that "literature and art are subordinate to politics", which marked the deepening of ideological liberation in the literary and art circles.

This year, Liu Zaifu's purely literary speeches on "Literary Subjectivity" and "Duality of Personality" attracted tens of thousands of listeners and the halls were packed.

This is the best era for literature!

……

"It's been so long since we last met. Are your sister and brother-in-law doing well in Harbin?"

"She is still the same as before, working in a magazine. My brother-in-law was transferred to a nuclear test base after graduating from Harbin Institute of Technology, and thus escaped the disaster. Otherwise, he would have been sent to an exile farm."

Jiang Ting nodded, her face calm.

"It's okay."

Xu Yuxiu forced a smile. They both graduated from Harbin Institute of Technology, but their opportunities were completely different because one taught at the university and engaged in theoretical research, while the other went to work on the front line at a nuclear test base.

"By the way, this guy has returned from military service. Where is he working now?"

Jiang Ting rubbed her slightly warm palms, her eyes fell on Cheng Kaiyan who was standing with her back to her in a daze, and asked suddenly.

Hearing this, Xu Yuxiu could only say, "He is still injured and is recovering at home. He is planning to take the college entrance examination and is reviewing while recovering at home."

"That's it~"

Jiang Ting glanced coldly at Cheng Kaiyan who was sitting there in a daze.

She was not surprised as there were many young people unemployed nowadays.

I came to the Cheng family not to chat and reminisce, but to shoulder the arduous task entrusted by my niece.

break off an engagement.

That’s right, Jiang Ting came here to cancel the engagement on behalf of Liu Xiaoli. What they are doing now is using courtesy before force, and it is also the calm before the storm.

"How about I introduce him to a job?"

"Forget it, he has his own ideas."

Xu Yuxiu was a little tempted, but after thinking about it, she shook her head and refused. She didn't think it was a big deal to prepare for the exam at home, but Cheng Kaiyan was reviewing at home, and there were too many people gossiping around him, so she was worried that he would be annoyed.

"Sister Yuxiu, don't rush to refuse. I have just been transferred to the Department of Literature and I am still short of an assistant. I am not familiar with the others and I am not used to using them. This guy is one of my own and I feel at ease using him.

Secondly, the work of teaching assistants is easy and the salary is not low. According to the national salary standard for teaching staff in colleges and universities, the salary for teaching assistants at the sixth grade and thirteenth level is 56 yuan per month after becoming a regular employee. "Jiang Ting was not surprised, but continued to explain.

56 yuan?
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuxiu was shocked. This was almost as much as the salary of an old teacher like her who had been teaching for more than 20 years!

"This is after becoming a regular employee. Before becoming a regular employee, it was thirty per month."

Jiang Ting observed the expressions of the mother and son and continued.

"What do you think, Kaiyan?"

Xu Yuxiu looked at Cheng Kaiyan with a questioning look.

"Isn't that going to bother you?"

Cheng Kaiyan couldn't figure out what this woman's attitude was for a moment. Sometimes she was cold, and sometimes she called him affectionately.

Jiang Ting comforted him, "There's no rush to make a decision now. It won't be too late once I've dealt with the affairs here. I haven't officially scheduled classes yet."

"Thank you very much for your help." Xu Yuxiu said politely.

"Given the relationship between our two families, this isn't a big deal. Sister Yuxiu and my sister have been good friends for many years. We are not real sisters, but we are better than real sisters."

"By the way, how is Xiaoli doing in Jiangcheng? Last time I heard that she has graduated and is performing on stage?" Xu Yuxiu nodded and then asked.

"Xiaoli's talent and charm have made her stand out in the theater and become a recognized star dancer. She is now the "leading young actress" of Jiangcheng Song and Dance Theater.

The last letter said that he had been converted to a full-time employee. His classmates at the same time as him were all second-level arts assistants, earning 29.5 yuan a month. That kid was assigned as a first-level arts assistant dancer, earning 37 yuan a month.

My sister and I went to Jiangcheng to watch the performance during the National Day this year. The audience praised her highly, saying that she had "swift dancing skills and outstanding temperament."

Jiang Ting also felt proud when she mentioned her niece.

"That's really great, I must go and see it if I have the chance."

Xu Yuxiu smiled and nodded, feeling happy for Liu Xiaoli's excellence.

However, when she heard that she would be promoted to the first-level arts assistant position later, it made her think of Cheng Kaiyan's work.

The classification of literary and artistic workers has existed for a long time.

In the wage grading that affected the whole country in 1956, the famous drama artist Mr. Mei Lanfang was classified as the first level of literature and art, with a monthly salary of 336 yuan.

The first-level salary for arts and literature is 336, the second-level is 280, and the third-level is 233. In terms of nature and level, the first-level salary for arts and literature is equivalent to the eighth-level administrative level.

The first level of literary and artistic assistance has two more words: assistance.

Below the literary and artistic level, it is equivalent to an apprentice.

If you make further progress, you will become a dancer, and your salary will be more than 30 yuan, at least over 100 yuan.

"Guru Guru~"

The boiling water on the stove interrupted the three people's thoughts. Cheng Kaiyan took it off calmly, and the wooden handle in his hand was a little hot.

Three cups were placed on the chairs, with a pinch of tea leaves poured into each. The kettle was filled with clear, transparent hot water, and the light green jasmine flowers swirled in the cups. Soon, a faint floral fragrance spread.

This is not the high-quality tea sold in Cheng Kaiyan's house. This is the authentic fine tea for entertaining guests, the kind that costs five yuan per pound.

Old Beijingers like to drink tea, and many families, even if they are not wealthy, will buy some good tea to entertain guests.

Of course, don’t expect to drink it so well normally, just drink Gao Sui.

"Thank you."

Jiang Ting took the cup with both hands and a polite smile on her face.

Just from this one action, Cheng Kaiyan knew that this was a well-educated woman.

I don’t even know what the fiancée looks like?

If she is beautiful, gentle, generous, good-tempered, rich, and talented...

It's not impossible for him to obey...

Cheng Kaiyan looked at Jiang Ting carefully again. This...

My niece must be not much worse.

Jiang Ting noticed Cheng Kaiyan's gaze on her and frowned slightly.

She lowered her head, took a sip of tea, and praised: "Good tea..."