The Fiery Era: Starting from Longxugou

"Your eldest son is back, everyone wash your hands and eat. Xiao Le is eating at Auntie's house today!"

Hearing the creaking sounds coming from the yard, Liu Guiying knew that her husband had returned with a cart, and immediately called the children to wash their hands and eat.

"Time to eat! Big brother, dinner's ready!"

Zhao Xiaoyue was happy to get off the kang (a heated brick bed) and put on her shoes, thinking that she would be able to eat candy tomorrow.

"Come on, let's wash our hands!"

As Zhao Shi'an spoke, he stuffed the letter into the envelope and put it away. He then folded the opened newspaper again, and finally wrapped the money, letter, and newspaper in old newspapers and put them back in their original places.

"Auntie, my mom has cooked dinner. I'm going home to eat."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaole shook his head vigorously, and before he could even put on his shoes properly, he was about to run outside.

"What's the rush? Put your shoes on first! Don't fall. What difference does it make where we eat?"

Liu Guiying quickly grabbed her little niece.

"No, I have to go home to eat! My mom says that when other people are eating, I have to run home."

Zhao Xiaole put on his shoes and kept shaking his head.

"You're quite clever! That's their house, this is your aunt's house, it's different. If your mother scolds you, just talk to your aunt. Xiaoyue, take Xiaole to wash his hands!"

Liu Guiying chuckled and pinched the little girl's cheek.

"Hey! Let's go, Xiao Le!"

Zhao Xiaoyue agreed and took her little cousin away.

Zhao Shi'an poured a lot of hot water into the basin, placed the two little girls' hands in the basin, and soaked them together.

The two little girls were restless and kept playing around with their hands in the water.

"If you keep complaining, there won't be any more candy?"

"Ah! Big brother, I won't make trouble anymore."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaoyue immediately calmed down.

"Big brother, I want some candy too!"

Zhao Xiaole raised her little face and said timidly.

"Wash your hands thoroughly, we'll buy it after lunch tomorrow!"

As he spoke, Zhao Shi'an picked up a towel from the wooden shelf and wiped his hands.

"Big brother, I'll definitely wash it properly!"

"Big brother, I'll wash properly too!"

The two little girls immediately became serious after hearing this.

"A good wash will do the trick!"

As Zhao Shi'an spoke, he went out the door and entered the courtyard, where he met his uncle and father. He then asked:

"Uncle, how have you been these past few days? Busy with work?"

"Not many! Qianmen is full of people who pick up passengers. Guang'anmen and Caishikou are places where you can find odd jobs. There are more people than jobs to pick up. You can wait all day for two or three small jobs!"

Shi'an, you'd better study hard, don't try to be like me!

Zhao Youliang complained a few times, but didn't forget to encourage his nephew to study hard.

"Uncle, I can do it!"

Zhao Shi'an nodded in agreement. He didn't mention finding an easy or suitable job. If it were that easy, he wouldn't have needed to bring it up.

Although the First Five-Year Plan was in full swing, the focus was not on the capital. Qianmen Railway Station was a passenger station, and the daily freight volume was not large. In addition, there were many people taking on jobs, so the competition was quite fierce.

"Okay then, brother, you can eat now! I'm going home."

As Zhao Youliang spoke, he waved to his elder brother and nephew.

"Second brother, let's eat first! After we eat, we'll go check out Yongdingmen tomorrow! There's plenty of work there, but the pay is a bit low!"

Zhao Youtian nodded and mentioned it briefly.

"Brother, let's take a look tomorrow first!"

"Tube!"

Zhao Youtian nodded and followed his son home. After dinner, the family went to bed early to rest.

The next day at noon, Zhao Shi'an returned from school and found his younger sister unusually excited.

My younger sister usually waits for me on the earthen slope in front of our house, but today I ran into her on the way. My younger cousin was also there.

"Big brother! You're finally back! Come home and have dinner!"

Zhao Xiaoyue and Zhao Xiaole were overjoyed to see their beloved older brother get out of school.

"Why did you come all this way to pick me up today?"

Zhao Shi'an asked the question knowing the answer already.

"Big brother, I was worried you'd be too tired to walk, so I came to help you! Hehe!"

Zhao Xiaoyue chuckled and began to explain.

"Sister Xiaoyue is right, brother. With our help, we can definitely pull you!"

Zhao Xiaole nodded earnestly.

"You two are such clever little devils! Let's go! Let's eat first, and then I'll go to the bookstore and buy you candy on the way!"

Zhao Shi'an found it amusing. They were clearly just craving something sweet, yet they made it sound so noble. He pinched the two little girls' cheeks and they went home together.

He had originally planned to buy past college entrance exam papers over the weekend, and the candy he had casually promised was unexpectedly taken to heart by the little girl.

Seeing how enthusiastic the two girls were, I knew they would be very disappointed if we went on the weekend.

Thinking about all this, I think it's best to go during lunch break.

"Big brother, you're the best!"

Hearing their older brother's words, the two little girls were overjoyed!

Tempted by the sweets, Zhao Xiaoyue and Zhao Xiaole were very eager to get home. Their short legs moved swiftly, and they arrived home in no time.

After lunch, Liu Guiying asked:

"Boss, do you have enough money to buy the books?"

"That's enough! I still have over ten thousand yuan saved up, enough to buy books!"

Zhao Shi'an quickly refused. This money was all saved up by the original owner. The school would give him a monthly stipend of 95,000 yuan. He only kept 10,000 yuan to buy paper and pens, and gave the rest to his family.

This has been the case ever since he started receiving scholarships.

The scholarship system was implemented very early, just a few months after the army entered the city.

The nation has always attached great importance to education. As early as May 1949, Beijing took the lead in issuing the "Provisional Regulations on Student Financial Aid," and in September of the same year, it announced the provisional measures for financial aid.

The scholarships are designed for impoverished students and are divided into three levels: A, B, and C. The amount is calculated in millet: 70 jin of millet per month for level A, 50 jin for level B, and 35 jin for level C.

His family were farmers, and they received the highest-level scholarship, which consisted of 70 jin of millet per month. The scholarship was paid in cash based on the selling price of millet that day.

At that time, the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China had not even started yet! This shows the importance attached to education.

With the help of the scholarship, he successfully completed primary school and was admitted to junior high school. Not long after, the scholarship system was reformed.

In 52, each junior high school student could receive 8.5 yuan in scholarships per month, covering 20% ​​of junior high school students in the school, while each senior high school student could receive 9.5 yuan per month, increasing the coverage rate to 30%.

The people living near Jinyuchi and Longxugou were among the poorest in the entire capital.

Impoverished students are everywhere.

The No. 11 Middle School was originally established for the working people, and this situation was taken into account from the very beginning of its construction.

For students attending No. 11 Middle School, financial aid has basically achieved full coverage.

The monthly scholarships distributed by the school not only cover the students' tuition fees but also leave a considerable amount of money behind, which not only alleviates their worries about school expenses but also helps improve their families' lives to some extent.

"If you need more, just tell me, and I'll get you some!"

"That's enough, Mother, you should rest!"

As Zhao Shi'an spoke, under Zhao Xiaoyue's expectant gaze, he walked to the west end of the kang (a heated brick bed) and took out the little treasury he had put back yesterday.

After taking all the money, he put the letter and newspaper back.

After taking the money, Zhao Shi'an said goodbye to his family and was about to leave.

"Big brother, I want to go too! I want to read comic books!"

Zhao Xiaoyue hugged her older brother's leg and acted coquettishly.

"Big brother, I want to go too!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shijie's eyes lit up, and he immediately clamored to go as well.

"Where are you going? Your brother's going to buy books, you two stop causing trouble!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Guiying's face hardened.

"Mom, I wasn't causing trouble, I was just going to read a book!"

Zhao Xiaoyue offered her explanation.

"You can't even read, what are you trying to read?"

Liu Guiying laughed as soon as she heard that.

"I can't read, I look at pictures!"

"Mother, I can read!"

Zhao Shijie whispered.

"Alright, alright, Mom, just let them go! There aren't as many people around at noon as on Sundays, so they can read for a while."

Zhao Shi'an said a few words in support.

"Go on, go on! Once you're out, listen to your older brother and don't run around, understand?"

Liu Guiying then began to give instructions.

"knew!"

Zhao Shijie nodded seriously.

"Mom, I've been very good!"

Zhao Xiaoyue quickly expressed her opinion.

"Alright, let's go! Mother, we're leaving."

As Zhao Shi'an spoke, he led his younger brother and sister out the door. Zhao Xiaole sat at the door, watching longingly. When he saw his older brother come out, he quickly ran over.

When Zhao Shi'an saw that three of his four younger siblings had arrived, he figured there was no need to worry about having one more, so he immediately had his younger brother call over his cousin, Zhao Shixiong.

Upon learning that his elder brother was going to the bookstore, Zhao Shixiong was very enthusiastic. A group of people gathered together to discuss what comic books they wanted to read at the bookstore, chattering away and making a lively scene!