To please others? It's better to please yourself.

Xu Family

Since the eldest and fourth sons left home, the grandchildren were initially unaccustomed to it, crying and calling for their mother every day. After seven days, they mentioned it less often. After two or three months, the children rarely remembered it unless someone specifically reminded them.

Every afternoon after get off work, either Mr. or Mrs. Xu takes turns picking up their grandson. This gives them a feeling of returning to their younger days, except back then they picked up their own children, and now they pick up their grandson.

So many years have passed. Back when we were dating, we would secretly hold hands and stroll in the park. We couldn't say a word to each other and just walked along with our faces flushed.

Now the elderly couple has returned to their honeymoon phase. In the afternoon, Mr. Xu specially went to pick up Mrs. Xu from get off work, and then to pick up their grandchildren to go home.

The elderly couple lived a sweet and happy life.

……

Northwest

Duoduo has now learned to squint whenever there's a gust of wind in the desert. You can't not squint here, or sand will easily get in.

Xu Jianguo would occasionally spit out two "Pui! Pui!" sounds, and without a doubt, he had sand in his mouth again.

The sand felt like needles pricking his face. Duoduo touched the "highland red" on his face and his rough hands: "Jianguo, I miss my son. I can't sleep at night because of it. We can't stay here forever. We have to find a way to leave."

"Who wouldn't want to? I want to too," Xu Jianguo sighed. "This time our operation wasn't discreet enough, and I didn't expect Mom, the second brother, and the fourth brother to be so ruthless." He left home dejectedly, unwilling to accept defeat.

"This time we were outmatched, but who can say we can't turn things around?" Xu Duoduo said through gritted teeth.

"Duoduo, what are your thoughts?"

"We came here to support the construction of our motherland, not to be sent here for labor reform. We have personal freedom! Besides, who can say that ending up here isn't an opportunity for us?"

"Wife, please continue!" Xu Jianguo urged his wife eagerly.

"First: Back then, you were the only one earning money in the city, but now I can earn a salary too. We have nowhere to spend it, so we can save the money."

"Secondly: You were just an ordinary worker in the factory before, with only a junior high school education. Your family had no connections or influence, so it was extremely difficult for you to get promoted."

"But here, as long as we are willing to work hard, we will have no trouble finding opportunities to get ahead."

"Back then, we were covered in honors. Going back would have been a natural progression, wouldn't it? We dedicated our youth to the country, made contributions, and became model workers. How could the country treat us unfairly?"

"When the time comes, we'll return home laden with the money we've saved over the years. Who can say a bad word about us then?"

"Yes, yes, yes," Xu Jianguo exclaimed happily upon hearing his wife's words, "And it's just planting trees, what could be so difficult about it?"

Xu Duoduo gritted her teeth and said, "Let's harden our hearts and work hard for ten years. It's better than being stuck here for the rest of our lives."

Looking at Xu Duoduo, who was full of energy and spirit, Xu Jianguo felt as if he were seeing the girl who had attracted him before he got married.

"Wife, we can definitely fight our way out. And if we run into any of those exiled people here, we'll lend a hand if we can. I understand now, we can't underestimate anyone; who knows which cloud will bring rain?"

Duoduo also agreed with her husband: "Okay, as long as it doesn't involve us, it's always good to be kind to others!"

Ten years later, with sheer determination and perseverance, the two devoted tremendous energy and effort to planting vast forests. Adorned with large red flowers, Xu Duoduo and Xu Jianguo gave an interview and walked out of the desert with their certificates of honor.

……

Caozhuang

At noon, when there were few people around, Xu Jianshe had just reached the riverbank with his dirty clothes and hadn't even had a chance to wash them when he heard a "splash." Without saying a word, he grabbed his things and ran back, but the old woman in front of him blocked his way.

Xu Jianshe sighed helplessly, knowing in his heart that he probably couldn't be easily dismissed this time, after all, the other party had gone to great lengths.

"Xu Zhiqing, don't go! My granddaughter has accidentally fallen into the river. Please save her!" Grandma Sun, with her gray hair, urged anxiously.

"Auntie, I know saving lives is urgent. Don't worry, I can run fast, I'll get help for you right away!" Xu Jianshe was also sweating profusely with anxiety.

"Xu Zhiqing, you're right here, only three meters from the river. Why are you looking for someone else? Aren't you just wasting your time?" The old woman grabbed Xu Jianshe's wrist and pulled him towards the river.

Despite her age, the old woman possessed astonishing strength. His arm was firmly gripped, and he couldn't pull his hand away.

"Auntie, grabbing me won't work, I can't swim," Xu Jianshe explained, but Aunt Sun didn't want to listen at all.

Seeing the danger, Xu Jianshe dropped the washbasin, turned around, and clung tightly to the large tree beside him, shouting, "Help! Help! Help!"

Looking at Xu Jianshe, who was loudly pleading for help, Aunt Sun secretly resented his shrewdness.

Every time the old woman pulled hard, Xu Jianshe would shout for help. The two remained locked in a stalemate for half an hour, until they heard faint voices coming from afar, at which point the old woman had no choice but to let go.

Xu Jianshe grabbed his things and ran off without stopping for a moment.

The girl struggled in the river for over half an hour, panting heavily, but no rescue came. She had no choice but to swim to safety herself, mainly because she was exhausted from the prolonged struggle. What if something really happened? She wouldn't even have time to cry!

Suffering a little to marry into a good family is nothing, but risking your life is not worth it!

"Grandma, someone's here, let's go back!" The girl, soaking wet, appeared not far behind the old woman. If the villagers saw her like this, gossip would spread and ruin her reputation.

Many women in the village tried to marry Xu, the educated youth, but none of them succeeded. Some things can be done but not said; everyone knew the truth.

Grandma Sun spat in frustration: "Useless coward, can't even swim!" There were few men in their village who couldn't swim, because they often bathed in the river when it got hot.

Xu Jianshe jogged all the way, only slowing down when he was almost at his doorstep.

"Hey, Xu Zhiqing, lend a hand—Xu Zhiqing—"

Ignoring the woman's calls behind him, he strode into his house, turned around, and quickly bolted the door shut in one smooth motion.

Xu Jianshe was even impressed with his own skill in the movements. Who would have thought that scenes of "women pursuing men," so uncommon in the city, were so prevalent in the countryside? It was unbelievable!

I don't know who leaked the news that he could return to the city. Good heavens, ever since then, there have been all sorts of people trying to trick him: some fell in front of him, some slept in his arms, some offered to help him clean his house, some brought him shoes and food, some bumped into him by chance, some wanted to talk to him about their ideals, and some even wanted to cooperate with him to break into the black market. Every few days, they would come up with all sorts of ways to trick him!

Whether these people are scheming to take advantage of his job, his connections, or want to marry him and move to the city, they all just want to leech off him. Is Xu Jianshe the kind of person who would sacrifice himself for others? He's never been born with that kind of mentality!

During his two years in the countryside, Xu Jianshe had broadened his horizons. He couldn't understand these women. If they really didn't want to do farm work, why didn't they do it sooner? Why did they have to come to the countryside to get married? Couldn't they have stayed in the city?

You're old enough, and your family background is fine. If you marry into the city, at least you'll have an urban household registration and receive government-supplied food. Isn't that better than being from the countryside? There are so many workers in the city who don't want them, but there are only a few outstanding women in the village. So many people are eyeing them and are practically fighting to get close to them.

To his bewilderment, some people were even vying to marry men from the "Five Black Categories." One military wife, who was left behind in the village, fell into the water and suddenly got into a fight with another girl from the same village. The key point was that the two had never crossed paths before.

I've also heard that some educated youth were bullied by local villagers, and some even had affairs with local cadres and revolutionary committees, all for the sake of returning to the city and getting a spot at the Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' University.

If you ask Xu Jianshe, "If you're really willing to take the plunge, aren't there more opportunities in the city than in the countryside? At least you'll be able to secure a job, right?"

Last year, a 16-year-old female educated youth even came with her 5-year-old brother. After arriving, she built a house and bought furniture, spending money like water, overshadowing the news of his better circumstances. She dominated the headlines in Caozhuang. Many men were eager to try their luck!

Xu Jianshe at most greeted the people at the educated youth settlement when they met, but they didn't keep in touch otherwise. He never let anyone in, regardless of gender; they had to go outside to discuss anything. He was now on edge!

The biggest complaint about female educated youth was that they drove up prices.

He used to be able to exchange a piece of hard candy for three large bundles of firewood, but now he can only get one bundle. The village chief's wife has developed a huge appetite; she can't even look at an ounce of brown sugar anymore.

If it weren't for his connection with his third brother-in-law, he would have been replaced in the warehouse management of farm tools.

Anyone who gets close to him is trying to take advantage of him. Anyone who can benefit from him stays far away.

Xu Jianshe understood perfectly well!