The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 230: Dividing the Houses, So Happy

The four adults from both families then began to talk about similar incidents that had occurred in the past two years.

a lot of!

It's heartbreaking!
Qian Jin poured wine for everyone, and even the older children got some orange soda.

“Brother, sister,” he raised his glass, “these are lessons, lessons that happened right before our eyes. We must remember them and never make similar mistakes.”

"Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things. We must remember that we are a family. Our parents passed away early, so we must support each other even more."

The glass reflected a dim yellow light under the lamp: "The policy has changed now, and things will only get better. I'll take care of your return to the city, and don't worry about the children's schooling."

Chen Shoujiang suddenly left his seat, walked to the canvas bag in the corner that was printed with "Outstanding Logger of the Forest Farm", and took out a cloth bag from it.

As he walked back, the cloth bag made a rustling sound.

“Four brothers,” the honest-looking man placed the cloth bundle on the table and opened it layer by layer.

"This is what we've saved up over the years. It's not much, just two hundred and thirty-seven yuan and eighty cents. We brought it back for no other reason than to ask you to take it and use it to make some connections..."

Qian Jin jumped up as if he'd been burned: "Brother-in-law! What are you doing!"

He grabbed the crumpled stack of banknotes and shoved it into Chen Shoujiang's arms, saying, "If I take your money, am I even human?"

Chen Shoujiang, with his neck stiff, said, "Fourth brother, listen to me. I know you're a good friend, you..."

"Stop with the 'you, you, you'! I have a way to arrange for you to return to the city. Those who meet the policy requirements can return without spending any money. What are you giving me money for?" Qian Jin frowned and slammed his hand on the table.

The leader's authority was evident.

Wei Qinghuan said slowly and deliberately, "Brother-in-law, my wife and I both know your character. You are generous and straightforward."

"But you must have had too much to drink and there's something you haven't thought through. Your brother-in-law wants you to return to the city through legal and compliant channels. In this situation, if you give him money, aren't you trying to make him make a mistake?"

Qian Cheng also pressed Chen Shoujiang down: "Brother-in-law, the most important thing is for the family to be well together from now on."

"Money is something that can hurt feelings when it comes to family members. Let's listen to what the fourth brother says, right? Fourth brother, don't be polite. Don't be polite unnecessarily. Just tell us if you need money. Just arrange it for us."

"I see now. Although I am the eldest brother and you are the second sister, at home you have to call me eldest brother and Qian Xi second sister. But outside and in serious matters, we can't be brothers and sisters. We have to listen to your arrangements!"

Qian Jin said, "Then put the money away immediately."

Without further ado, Chen Shoujiang handed the money and bag to Qian Xi.

Qian Xi rummaged through her bag and pulled out a few grain coupons and a black-and-white photograph.

The photo shows four siblings standing at a street corner, with the slogan "Long live the General Line" painted on the wall behind them.

She said, "These are photos taken back then. I look at them often, I always look at them, and then I worry, I worry that after so many years we won't see each other, and our brotherhood and sisterhood will have no feelings left."

"I only realized tonight that I was worrying for nothing. Our relationship is much stronger than it was when we were young."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but start crying again.

Qian Jin said, "Because I didn't understand things back then, but I do now."

"Alright, enough of this nonsense. Keep your money. When you go back to the city, get your children enrolled in school. You should buy them new schoolbags and stationery."

He turned to the children, “Would you like to go to school in the city? The city has the sea, cars and ships, cinemas, parks, and even a children’s palace…”

"Yes!" Chen Jianguo shouted impatiently, then lowered his head shyly. "I... I want to learn how to drive a big ship. I want to drive big ships for the country in the future."

Qian Jin patted his head and said, "Okay, from now on you'll start as a seaman and work your way up to captain to sail big ships."

"I'll take your parents to the sea, to Europe, to Africa, to the North and South Poles..."

Chen Jianguo hurriedly said, "We can't go to Africa, there are lions there that eat people. We also can't go to the North and South Poles, there are polar bears and such there that eat people."

Qian Jin laughed and said, "I didn't expect you to be so cautious."

Qian Xi was still reminiscing about the past.

She clutched the old photograph tightly, her fingernails turning white: "Before Mom passed away, she told us to look after each other, but all these years we haven't taken good care of you, and now you're the one taking care of you..."

"Nonsense!" Qian Jin realized he couldn't avoid the topic, so he had no choice but to go along with her.

“How could you not take care of me? When I was in school, you and my brother sent me five yuan every month; later when I went to the countryside, the three of you sent me even more money and tickets.”

“Uh, I remember once I said my blanket had been stolen, and my sister gave me a satin quilt cover from her dowry.”

He turned to Qian Xi: "Is that right?"

These are all things I wrote down in my diary.

It’s right.

A warm smile finally appeared on Qian Xi's face.

The fact that their younger brother was able to accept their older siblings' kindness was their greatest comfort.

Wei Qinghuan urged them to continue drinking: "Why are you grown men only drinking so little? Come on, keep drinking!"

Qian Jin opened a beer bottle and handed it to the two of them: "Yeah, why do you two still have beer in your glasses? Trying to raise fish?"

Keep drinking.

The atmosphere gradually became lively.

Qian Cheng, having drunk too much, vividly recounted embarrassing stories from Qian Jin's childhood:

“When this kid was seven years old, the planned economy in the city wasn’t so strict yet. There were still vegetable vendors back then, and he knew how to bargain.”

"The cabbage was supposed to cost five cents a pound, but he insisted that 'socialist cabbage can't be this expensive,' and in the end, he managed to bargain it down to four pounds and twenty-two cents..."

Upon hearing this, Wei Qinghuan burst into laughter, almost falling over.

She patted Qian Jin on the shoulder and said with a smile, "So Chief Qian was this clever when he was a kid!"

The night gradually deepened.

Moonlight streamed through the windows into the restaurant, casting a silvery glow on the leftover food.

Crab shells, fish bones, and empty soda bottles were piled up on the table, forming a small mountain, but no one was willing to leave their seat.

The children were burping from their full stomachs, their bellies round and bulging as if they had balls stuffed under their clothes.

Qian Jin was worried that they would overeat and get sick, so he asked Wei Qinghuan to take them downstairs for a walk.

Wei Qinghuan reminded him, "There are no buses running this late. You'll have to walk to the Workers' New Village, so don't drink too much."

Chen Shoujiang said nonchalantly, "It's just beer, it doesn't have much alcohol, I can drink as much as I want and I won't get drunk!"

"Get lost, you can't drink anymore, or you'll start acting crazy." Qian Xi snatched the bottle from his hand.

Qian Jin changed the tea: "That's about enough for tonight, we'll have to keep drinking tomorrow night."

"Also, my brother-in-law will be having dinner with us tomorrow night. He's a heavy drinker, so you'd better save some room for him tomorrow night."

Chen Shoujiang wanted to argue further.

Qian Cheng slapped the table: "Listen to the boss. This is the boss's house. Brother-in-law, we mustn't drink too much and make a fool of ourselves."

As he spoke, he nodded at Wei Qinghuan's retreating figure:
If someone gives us face, we have to accept it; we can't be ungrateful.

Qian Xi snatched the bottle away, leaving Chen Shoujiang with no choice but to laugh awkwardly.

When Wei Qinghuan returned, Wei Xiongtu also returned, and Xiao Tangyuan was already asleep on her father's back.

After a brief handshake, Qian Jin invited the two families' relatives to come over and say, "Let's go and take a look at your own houses."

These words stirred the blood of both families.

Late at night, there were few people on the road, only the streetlights shone dimly, and the sycamore trees rustled in the autumn wind.

As I strolled into the workers' new village, there were no more streetlights.

Qian Jin walked in the dark at the front, the bunch of keys in his hand jingling.

Behind them, the two families, brother and sister, dragged luggage of all sizes, but their steps were so light that they seemed to be flying.

Qian Jin's words were so inspiring:

Go and see your own houses!

We also have a house in the city!
"We're here, this is the building." Qian Jin stopped in front of his building and pointed to the top floor. "Remember our building number, we live in the top-floor east-facing unit."

"The house must be a bit messy; I used it to store some supplies before."

Qian Cheng tilted his head back, the veins on his neck clearly visible in the moonlight.

This man, who had spent over a decade basking in the sun on the Loess Plateau, now looked like a naive young man visiting the city for the first time: "I'm living in an apartment building again!"

Qian Jin stepped onto the concrete stairs, his footsteps echoing clearly in the quiet corridor.

Immediately behind them came the sound of hurried footsteps—five children scrambling to run uphill.

Qian Xi scolded them: "The neighbors are all asleep, don't make a sound. Anyone who makes a sound, stand outside!"

The key makes a crisp "click" sound when it is inserted into the lock.

Qian Jin pushed open the door; the air in the room was somewhat stuffy.

Since moving into the duplex, he hasn't brought Wei Qinghuan back to live here. The place has become a warehouse, and he's afraid thieves will sneak in, so he locks the doors and windows every day.

As he pulled the cord on the wall, with a "snap," the 45-watt light bulb lit up, and the dim yellow light instantly filled the entire living room.

Chen Shoujiang immediately exclaimed, "This light bulb has a high wattage; it's really bright!"

Qian Jin shoved the key into Qian Cheng's hand: "Brother, sister, I won't be living here anymore. This will be your home from now on."

These words were like a red-hot iron, making Qian Cheng shudder.

The key slipped from his hand and fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Chen Shoujiang reacted the fastest, bending down to pick it up and wiping it on his clothes: "This, this key will be ours from now on?"

"Of course." Qian Jin smiled and turned on all the lights in the rooms. "This three-bedroom apartment that Dad left behind was originally intended for the four of us."

"It's pretty good. You see, I'm currently living in an apartment allocated by my work unit, so this one will be yours. Each family will have their own bedroom, and the kids can either sleep in the living room or sleep on the floor in their bedroom. It's perfect."

The five children were already scurrying around the rooms like little mice, their excited screams echoing everywhere.

Qian Xi had no choice but to reprimand them again.

Ma Hongxia went from room to room and couldn't help but say, "No wonder, to put it bluntly, no wonder those educated youth brothers and sisters didn't let them go back to the city to get houses. The houses in the city are really good."

She looked at Qian Jin with admiration: "Fourth brother, you have such a kind heart!"

Qian Tu, being quite sensible, asked with surprise, "Mom, is this our future home? We have electricity now?"

Qian Jin said, "Yes, the electricity is on, and we even have our own kitchen. I'll have your mom make us some ramen later."

Qian Tu said happily, "My mom makes noodles of all thicknesses, but they're all delicious. Uncle, you can eat them without worry."

Qian Jin chuckled.

That sounds a bit awkward.

The three rooms are different sizes.

Qian Jin asked, "Big brother, second sister, how are you going to do it? Are you going to draw lots to divide the bedrooms?"

Qian Xi decisively said, "Why draw lots? This south-facing bedroom is the biggest. Brother and sister-in-law, you can live here. You have many children, three of them."

"Let's keep the smaller one next door for the third son and his wife, and the one on the north side is for us."

"The houses to the north are cold and damp; we're used to the cold weather in the forest..."

“We can’t do it like that.” Qian Cheng habitually took a puff of his cigarette. “Since the third brother didn’t come back this time, and the fourth brother doesn’t participate in the housing allocation, then as the eldest brother, I will decide to give them the big south-facing house.”

“We need to let them know that whether they are older siblings or younger brothers, they all cherish the feelings of being a family.”

"Then you two will live in the south side, and your sister-in-law and I will live in the north side. It's because you two suffered from the cold before, and you can't suffer from the cold again now that you're in Haibin City!"

Qian Xi argued, "You don't have enough room."

“This is what I think,” Qian Cheng waved his hand. “The children won’t be living in their bedrooms. Since we are three families, we should treat all the children equally.” “All the children will live in the living room. This living room is great! Brother-in-law, you’re a carpenter, why don’t you build a few bunk beds for them to live in until they’re all grown up!”

He said to his wife, "Hongxia, I'm the eldest son, and the eldest son has to suffer losses, okay?"

"You're the head of the household." Ma Hongxia had already impatiently pushed open the door to the north bedroom.

To have a home of one's own in the city.

This was something she never dared to imagine in her entire life.

But Qian Xi and Chen Shoujiang were very stubborn and forcefully pushed their sister-in-law into the south-facing secondary bedroom.

Chen Shoujiang took off his shoes and lay down on the bed in the north bedroom: "I'm going to sleep now, my wife and I will sleep in this room!"

Ma Hongxia had nothing to say and stopped paying attention to other things, focusing only on the situation in the bedroom.

Moonlight streamed through the newly cleaned glass windows and spilled onto the cement floor, creating a patch of silvery light.

She carefully touched the green-painted window frame, then touched the wall: "It's so smooth, it's not an adobe wall."

“It’s a brick-concrete structure,” Qian Jin explained. “This is a new building, and there should be an insulation layer inside the walls, so it won’t be too cold in winter.”

Qian Cheng walked to the window and said, "I remember this place. This is Nanzhuang. Before I went to the countryside, I often came here with my classmates and friends to catch grasshoppers and roast them to eat."

"When I left, this was still a wasteland, but now it has been transformed into a new workers' village. Time really flies!"

His forehead pressed against the cold glass, and his breath left a watermark on the glass.

Chen Jianguo suddenly shouted, "Dad, Dad, come here quickly..."

Chen Shoujiang thought something had happened, so he ran barefoot to the kitchen.

As a result, the five children were turning on the tap: "We have running water at home now!"

Qian Tu anxiously urged his younger brother, "Turn it off, turn it off quickly! Water is too precious, don't waste it!"

“What’s so precious about water? Our forest farm…” The second son, Chen Aiguo, was about to argue when he was slapped by his father.

"Why don't you go back to the forest farm?" Chen Shoujiang yelled at him.

He chased the children out of the kitchen.

Qian Tu was overjoyed: "Mom, we'll have running water in our house from now on! We won't have to fetch water from the well anymore!"

The little girl, Qian Hong, secretly told her mother, "Mom, it's sweet, not alkaline water..."

Qian Xi hugged her daughter and said, "In my hometown, even the water is sweet."

"Is the water in the ocean sweet too?" the little girl asked curiously.

Qian Jin laughed: "I'll have your mom take you to try it tomorrow."

Wei Qinghuan prepared a net bag for him, containing several new towels and soap:
"Make do with these for now. I'll take you to the department store tomorrow to buy some daily necessities."

Ma Hongxia held up her handbag: "No need, four brothers, we brought towels and other things with us."

Qian Jin said, "Then let's keep them. It's always good to have more."

"It's getting late. You guys should hurry up and pack up. We should all go to sleep. I have to go back too."

The children had already learned from the adults' words that they were destined to sleep on the floor.

They didn't care and each chose the territory they liked.

The two Chen brothers fought over the window seat in the bedroom and argued about who was closer to the window.

Qian Tu, on the other hand, was drawn to the passageway after entering, saying it "looks like a small alley, which is fun."

“You’ll be sleeping on the floor from now on, so you don’t need to tonight. There’s an empty room for you to stay in tonight, with a bed, but you’ll have to squeeze in,” Qian Jin said, leading them to the master bedroom.

The five children immediately climbed onto the bed and started rolling around on it.

Qian went in and greeted Qian Cheng and Qian Xi: "You'll have to buy your own breakfast tomorrow. Do you still have food coupons? There's a state-run breakfast stall right at the entrance of this workers' new village. I've eaten there; the steamed buns are delicious..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qian Xi suddenly grabbed her hand: "Fourth brother, pinch me."

"what?"

"I must be dreaming." Qian Xi's voice was light and weightless. "Is this really our home? You said our current home is even more spacious than our old one!"

Qian Jin squeezed his sister's rough hand tightly: "It's true. You're back, and you'll never leave again."

"And what's so special about this? Don't you know? Our Qian family's ancestral home is a villa!"

Ma Hongxia asked, "What is a villa?"

Qian Jin told his brother and sister about the Yintan Park Guesthouse where he had stayed.

Chen Shoujiang and Ma Hongxia listened in the same way as Qian Xi.

incredible!

Like a dream!

Qian Cheng, being the eldest, was aware of the matter but didn't care at all: "That's all stuff from the older generation. If it weren't for those things, none of us brothers would have to go to the countryside, and I certainly wouldn't have to go early on!"

He was somewhat resentful when he talked about it.

But then he looked at the house and laughed again: "Anyway, everything is fine."

He pointed to the south-facing windowsill: "Hongxia, this balcony lets in sunlight, it's perfect for growing vegetables! I'll go buy seeds tomorrow, we'll get some boxes and containers, fill them with soil, and plant some scallions and garlic..."

Qian Jin was taken aback: "Is it really necessary?"

Qian Cheng rubbed his hands together: "I'm used to farming. I feel at ease when I have soil in front of me."

Even when settling down in the city, the first thing they think about is farming.

It was past midnight when I finished making the bed.

The five children quickly fell asleep, like five little animals huddled together for warmth.

They were very tired.

Although I slept for a while during the day, I am still severely sleep-deprived.

Qian Jin felt that Qian Cheng and his wife were even more sleep-deprived, so he wanted to leave.

As a result, Qian Cheng became very excited, grabbed him and wouldn't let him leave, and asked Chen Shoujiang, "Brother-in-law, do you have some wine there?"

Chen Shoujiang pulled out a military water bottle with peeling green paint from his canvas bag and gave an awkward smile: "Fourth brother, it's not that your brother-in-law is unwilling to give you this wine as a gift, it's just that it's not presentable."

"This is sorghum liquor brewed by our forest farm. It's cheap and doesn't taste very good. I brought it with me to relieve fatigue and refresh myself on the road."

Qian Cheng said, "Stop talking nonsense, come on, let's get each of us a drink and chat for a bit."

There were cups in the room. Qian Jin took a sip of wine, and it burned his throat.

This wine really doesn't taste good.

Chen Shoujiang asked Qian Xi, "Wife, can I drink to my heart's content now?"

Qian Xi laughed: "I'm home now, do whatever you want, just don't throw up at home."

“What a beautiful house,” she said, stroking the snow-white walls. “We must take good care of it, and no one can damage it.”

Qian Cheng didn't speak, but just lowered his head and sipped his baijiu.

Qian Jin greeted him, and when he looked up, his eyes were filled with tears: "For so many years, more than ten years, I have dreamed of going back to my home by the sea to sleep."

"I'm back tonight, I'm really back!"

Qian Xi went over and hugged her brother's shoulder, tears streaming down her face again.

Qian Jin couldn't understand their feelings for their hometown.

They also couldn't understand the obsession of the educated youth who went to the countryside with being able to return to the city and have a house there.

Qian Xi choked up and said, "Me too. When I dream, I always think of my childhood, when the country had only been founded for a few years."

“You carried me to go beachcombing, let’s go to Nuokou to go beachcombing, there are lots of seashells there, and you always let me play with the biggest seashell.”

She touched Qian Cheng's forehead.

The brother who used to struggle to carry his younger sister on his back when they were little now has deep wrinkles on his forehead and his hands are as rough as sandpaper.

"Brother." She had barely opened her mouth when Qian Cheng hugged her tightly.

Qian Cheng finally burst into tears.

Qian Jin also rubbed his eyes vigorously.

He even secretly wiped saliva from the corner of his eye.

This scene actually moved him quite a bit.

Two siblings, nearing middle age, embraced and wept bitterly in the dead of night, as if they were crying out all the suffering they had endured over the past ten years.

It's one thing to feel something, but it's quite another to truly empathize.

He really couldn't cry.

Qian Jin had no choice but to quietly retreat to the kitchen, giving them some space.

Then he saw Ma Hongxia using a new towel dipped in tap water to wipe the stove, her movements as gentle as if she were stroking a baby's face.

"Sister-in-law, let's clean it up tomorrow," Qian Jin said with a wry smile.

Ma Hongxia shook her head and said, "I can't sleep either. I'll tidy up the house. Four brothers, how do you use this stove? I... I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me, but farmers have never seen one before."

Qian Jin taught her how to use the gas stove: "This is really quite dangerous. I'll teach you how to use it, but you're not allowed to let anyone else use it, and you absolutely mustn't let the children touch it."

"If this gas cylinder explodes, the whole building will be affected."

"Then forget it, we don't need it." Ma Hongxia shook her head repeatedly in fright.

Qian Jin chuckled and said, "It's not that serious. I was exaggerating a bit. Besides, this is a new gas cylinder and a new gas stove. As long as you use it according to the standards, nothing will happen."

He taught Ma Hongxia how to open the gas cylinder, how to light the fire, and how to turn off the gas cylinder.

Finally, he handed over the ration book he had brought: "You can use the ration book and the food ration coupons for now."

"If you walk 200 meters to the right after leaving the community, you'll find the supply and marketing cooperative, where you can buy oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. Turn left and you'll find the state-run vegetable store, which opens at seven in the morning."

Ma Hongxia said gratefully, "Your elder brother must have accumulated good karma in his past life to have such a good brother like you in this life."

"But four brothers, do you think this house... is it really just going to be given to us like this? Won't someone come and take it away?"

"No," Qian Jin said firmly. "Sister-in-law, don't worry. The property certificate is in my name, and I'll transfer it to you later. The policy has changed; private property is protected!"

These words were like a reassuring pill, and Ma Hongxia smiled with relief.

"Your own house, tell me, how soundly you can sleep? You'll have sweet dreams!"

Seeing that his older brother and sister were still hugging and crying, Qian Jin decided to leave first.

Ma Hongxia hurriedly called to the two women, who wiped away their tears and came to see him off.

Qian Jin patted his brother on the shoulder: "Big brother, go to sleep. We can talk about it tomorrow. You guys can come to my house again tomorrow. We'll have something to talk about, and you'll have something to cry about."

"Stop crying, why are you still crying?" Qian Xi wiped away her tears and started to laugh. "I won't cry anymore. Oh, Mom and Dad, Mom and Dad must be very happy in heaven tonight."

"I'll write to the third brother tomorrow. Once he arrives, our family, separated for ten years, will be completely reunited!"

Qian Cheng waved his hand and said, "Why bother writing a letter? Send a telegram! We'll send him a telegram tomorrow!"

Qian Jin waved and walked down the steps with ease.

Good.

Everything is fine.

(End of this chapter)