Chapter 377 Carp leaps over the dragon gate

Qin Huaihe's heart was filled with unspeakable envy and jealousy, his eyes seemed to be dyed red by this emotion, his rationality faded quietly under the temptation of interests, making him involuntarily pour out the words hidden deep in his heart.

Thinking about it carefully, his unbalanced mentality is understandable. In this era, being able to break free from the shackles, from the village where generations of farmers seem to have no end in sight, to step into the bustling and noisy city, to become a participant in urban life, and to get rid of the shackles of being a farmer, is undoubtedly the dream of countless people.

It is not just a change in living environment, but also a huge leap in identity, opportunity and even destiny. How can people not yearn for it? Even at this moment, the rational embankment of Qinhuai River was broken by the surging emotions.

Therefore, when Qinhuaihe's behavior seemed abnormal, others not only did not blame him, but responded with understanding and sympathy.

After all, this job opportunity is to replace his younger sister, and Qin Huaihe is the most qualified person.

Such a job opportunity is indeed precious. Being a formal employee of a large state-owned factory is like a carp leaping over the dragon gate for rural people. It is out of reach but fascinating.

Apart from those lucky ones who, through unremitting efforts and overcoming numerous obstacles, are finally able to pass the examination and leave the countryside, how many people can you find in the countryside who have such opportunities?
Such an opportunity will undoubtedly make everyone envious and jealous, because it not only represents a stable income and a decent status, but also a rare opportunity to change destiny and realize dreams.

These days, farmers face multiple obstacles in becoming city dwellers.

First, the strict household registration system restricts the free flow of labor, making it difficult for farmers to enter the formal labor market in cities.

Even if they enter the city, they can only engage in unskilled labor and are employed in non-state-owned economic sectors or some informal sectors in the city.

This employment discrimination results in differences in working conditions and income for farmers in cities. Even if they do exactly the same work, the wages farmers receive are often lower than those of urban residents.

In addition, there are significant differences between urban and rural areas in terms of social security and children's education.

Children of farmers in cities often find it difficult to enjoy the same educational resources as children of urban residents, which to some extent limits the opportunities for farmers' families to change their destiny through education.

Such differences in identity constraints and social security make it difficult for farmers to truly integrate into urban society and become a part of the city even if they have the opportunity to enter the city.

Therefore, farmers of this era face huge challenges and obstacles and relatively few opportunities to become city dwellers.

In this era, it is nonsense to say that workers and peasants are treated equally.

If you were born in a peasant family, you could forget about living like the city dwellers. Want to work in a factory? No way.

Being a cadre? What a joke. Is that something a rural person can even dream of?

The only way out is to join the army, but not everyone can cross that threshold. This is obviously unfair, and anyone who says it is not is talking nonsense!
Living in the countryside in the 1960s and 1970s, the most intuitive feeling was the word "poverty".

At that time, every household lived in adobe houses, and could only rely on kerosene lamps for lighting at night. The furniture in the house, such as the kang table and wooden chairs, were all made by themselves and were extremely crude.

At mealtime, the whole family sat around the kang, eating cornmeal porridge and occasionally some pickled vegetables. Some families didn't even have a decent wardrobe, so their clothes were just hung on the wall.

At this time, people's diet was mainly based on coarse grains, and the intake of meat and fat was seriously insufficient. If they could eat a meal with meat on weekdays, it would be like a festival.

Social security is even more of a distant concept. Due to backward medical conditions, many farmers have difficulty enjoying proper medical services throughout their lives.

An old man from Qin Mantun's nearby neighbor's house fell ill, and the whole village could not raise enough money for his medical treatment, so he could only wait to die at home.

In terms of education, although tuition fees are basically free at this time, in fact, educational resources in rural areas are extremely scarce, and many children are unable to complete compulsory education due to family poverty.

When it comes to educational resources, they are even more scarce. Qinjiazhuang has only one school, and several grades share one classroom, with only two or three teachers.

Textbooks and stationery are very precious. Many times, children use old books left by the previous class of students, and they also use writing paper sparingly.

Qin Jingru accidentally lost her book one time and couldn't find it after searching the entire village. During that period of time, she shared a book with her classmates and took turns reading it during class.

Work points are the only source of income for farmers. Every day at dawn, the team leader starts calling people to work. No matter what, work points will be deducted for being late or leaving early.

Young and middle-aged laborers were given 10 points a day, and food was distributed according to their work points at the end of the year. Those with more work points could get more, while those with fewer points could only look at other people's rice jars.

In the past few years, because it rained for more than ten days in a row, all the work in the fields was delayed. In order to rush to harvest and plant, the people of Qinjiazhuang went out before dawn and did not return until the stars were still high in the sky.

During that period, it was difficult for every family to even have a complete meal together, and the adults worked very hard to earn more work points.

In order to get more food for their families, old farmers these days dare not go anywhere, and they dare not even visit their neighbors during the busy farming season.

In this day and age, you not only have to face the difficulties of life, but you also have to be vigilant about your words and actions at all times, for fear of accidentally getting yourself into big trouble.

For farmers, the focus of life was the fields. They worked from sunrise to sunset and rested from sunset to sunrise, which was the portrayal of farmers' life at that time.

Due to the shortage of supplies in rural areas, almost every household was short of this and that at that time. Not to mention other things, even the most basic daily necessities, such as cloth, soap, and even salt, were rationed, and each family could only get a little bit every month.

Qin Manyin's family did not have enough cloth coupons, so the whole family wore tattered clothes, patched on top of patched, for the entire winter last year, and they looked shabby no matter how they looked from the outside.

As for food, it is even more difficult to describe. At this time, there were very few things available on the market, and meat was a luxury.

The family is already very satisfied if they can have a meal with meat during the Chinese New Year.

In terms of food supply, residents with non-agricultural household registration could use food coupons to collect various types of food, including rare white flour and rice, at ration supply stations.

According to the standards at that time, each person with urban household registration could receive about 15 kilograms of food per month, and the price was relatively low.

In contrast, although rural areas grow their own grain, they do not actually get much because they have to hand it over to the state and the collective for retention.

Take Lao Qin for example. He works hard all year round, but after deducting the portion that must be handed over, the average amount of food each person can get per month is only about 10-12 kilograms, and most of it is corn and sweet potatoes. White flour and rice are almost luxuries.

During the three-year drought, the grain harvest was poor. The whole village was anxious, and every household began to save food. The Qin family reduced the amount of food they usually ate for two meals to one and a half meals. What about the city?

Although they were also affected, at least they still had a few dozen kilograms of food coupons every month and would not starve.

That's not all. In rural areas, food distribution is based on work points. If you work more throughout the year, you get more; if you work less, you get less. The elderly and children, because they can't work, get even less.

At that time, in order to get more food, the common people went out to work almost before dawn and did not return until the stars were long in the sky. Thinking about those days makes me sad.

These are the true portrayals of the peasants of this era. Supplies were scarce, living conditions were difficult, and many things could only be obtained through backdoor channels.

The difference between agricultural and non-agricultural household registration is like two completely different worlds.

At this time, recruitment advertisements for urban factories almost all clearly state "non-agricultural household registration is preferred" or simply "non-agricultural household registration only".

Some large factories in the city, such as steel mills and machinery factories, have extremely limited recruitment vacancies each year and the competition is fierce.

Young people with agricultural household registration have little chance even if they have excellent academic performance.

A relative of Lao Qin took part in a factory recruitment exam this year and ranked second in the exam. However, he ultimately lost this valuable job opportunity because of his agricultural household registration.

That factory only recruited less than 100 people this year, but there were thousands of people taking the exam. You can imagine how fierce the competition was.

Children in rural areas seem to be born with a label: "agricultural household registration", which means that many roads are blocked for them.

Want to be a worker in a factory in the city?
Forget it, that was an opportunity for people with non-agricultural household registration. Want to climb up and become a cadre? That was even more out of reach. The only way out for farmers at this time might be to join the army and become an officer. Moreover, if you were lucky enough to be promoted to an officer, it would truly mean a change of status and could bring about earth-shaking changes to your family.

Ordinary people can only wander around on that small piece of land.

So, facing this great opportunity, how could Qinhuai River not be jealous? Anyone would be jealous of this matter, and it is possible that brothers would become enemies and friends would break off their friendship.

…………

"Yes, Teacher Yan, my Huairu still has a brother. How can her cousin take over?"

"May I ask you, whose idea was this?"

Qin Mantun's face was also gloomy. He thought to himself, what a good opportunity this is. If I give it to my niece, how can it be better to give it to my own son? After all, it is better to keep the fat water in the fields of outsiders. The meat of your own family is the sweetest when it rots in your own bowl.

He was unwilling in every way, knowing the cruelty and helplessness of reality. Family affection was particularly fragile in the face of interests.

Yan Bugui had already fully anticipated the current situation in his heart. He knew very well that things would not be peaceful on the Qin family's side and there would be many twists and turns.

Facing Qin Manjiang's aggressive questioning, he was not at all flustered, but seemed unusually calm. He first leisurely picked up the boiled water at hand and took a sip, then slowly said: "This is actually what the sister-in-law of the Jia family meant."

"As for why she chose Qin Jingru as her successor instead of Qin Huairu's brother Qin Huairuhe, there are actually deep considerations behind this.

It is not an easy matter to determine who will take over. It requires the successor to not only have the corresponding abilities, but also to sincerely shoulder the burden of supporting the entire Jia family.

Why Qin Jingru? Because she is in her youth, not yet eighteen years old, and is not in a hurry to get married and start a family.

Choosing her means that while taking good care of the Jia family, she will not delay her future life. For her, a few years is just a short experience in the long journey of life and will never become a shackle that binds her.

On the other hand, the situation is quite different for Qinhuai Ruhe. As a man, he has a family and a career, and he has his own family responsibilities to bear.

Just imagine, if he were to take over this responsibility, not only would he find it difficult to take care of both his own family and the Jia family due to the chores, but he would also likely be unable to take care of the meticulous family life due to differences in gender and identity.

Furthermore, the frequent travel between the two families would undoubtedly add a lot of inconvenience and trouble to a family man like him.

Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, we decided to let Miss Qin Jingru take over. This is not only a recognition of Qin Jingru, but also a consideration for the long-term interests of the entire Jia family. "

Hearing this, the faces of Qin Mantun and his family suddenly turned gloomy, as if covered by dark clouds, unable to conceal their inner frustration and dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, Qin Manyin's family was laughing and smiling, with a smile on their faces, and everyone's eyes were shining with irrepressible joy.

Especially Qin Jingru, her joy was beyond words and she was so happy that she almost danced with joy.

She secretly sighed in her heart that this was truly a great fortune. She had not made any effort at all, but such blessing fell from heaven.

…………

Qin Mantun was so angry that he didn't even want to prepare a meal for Yan Bugui. However, Qin Manyin's family was the exact opposite. They warmly took Yan Bugui's arm and invited him to their home.

Entering Qin Manyin's home, one can see the poverty at a glance. Faced with the dilemma of having no food to entertain guests, Qin Manyin, despite his wife's dissuasion, resolutely slaughtered the only laying hen in the house to show his sincerity.

Afterwards, he assigned his second son Qin Huaibei to ride Yan Bugui's bicycle to the commune supply and marketing cooperative in a hurry to buy two kilograms of mellow Laobai Gan. Only then could they barely put together a decent banquet to entertain Yan Bugui.

After eating and drinking, Yan Bugui saw that it was still light outside, so he suggested leaving.

He got on the bicycle drunkenly, and Qin Jingru couldn't wait to sit on the back seat steadily with a small bag on her back.

The two waved goodbye to Qin Manyin's family, whose faces were filled with various emotions, and then set out on the journey back to the city.

On the way back, Qin Jingru whispered to Yan Bugui: "Uncle, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely repay you in the future."

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui smiled and responded cheerfully, "Haha, I don't deserve this credit. If you really want to thank someone, then thank your Aunt Jia. It was she who agreed to let you take over your sister's position."

"Jingru, you should have heard about the situation of your sister's family. Jia Zhang's personality is indeed a little unpredictable, you don't need to worry too much.

After all, you will have to live together under the same roof for many years to come. With a little tolerance, life will go smoothly.

If she really did something wrong and you were wronged, just ask the three of us in charge to judge the matter. We will definitely support you and let you know the truth. "

"Hey, Third Uncle, I understand. I will definitely listen to you, without any ambiguity." Qin Jingru raised the corners of her mouth slightly, and a gentle smile appeared on her face, like a flower blooming in spring.

Hey, don't underestimate this girl, Qin Jingru knew it clearly in her heart! She knew very well that in this world of Siheyuan, the one she could really rely on was not Jia Zhang, but the prestigious Third Master in front of her.

She calculated every step for the future shrewdly and had a plan in mind.

I have to say that the Qin family has a long history of family learning, and the Qin sisters are of the same lineage.

It was just getting dark.

Yan Bugui pedaled his bicycle breathlessly, with Qin Jingru on the back seat, and finally returned to the courtyard in Nanluoguxiang.

This trip to Qinjiazhuang made Yan Bugui very tired. How could he not be tired carrying a person on his back on the rugged and broken mountain road?

After arriving at the front yard, Yan Bugui briefly exchanged a few words with his family, then hurriedly led Qin Jingru straight to the Jia family.

He knew in his heart that although the person had been brought there, many matters still needed to be clarified by Jia Qin and the others in person to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings in the future.

"Oh! Isn't this sister Jingru! Time flies so fast, you have grown into a beautiful young lady? Do you still remember your brother Damao?" The yard was crowded with people, and Xu Damao was among them.

As soon as Xu Damao caught a glimpse of Qin Jingru, his eyes lit up instantly, as if he had traveled through the long river of time and regained his memories of the past.

Qin Jingru naturally didn't forget him. She smiled sweetly, "Brother Damao, how could I not remember you? The jujube flower cake you gave me was so sweet!"

Xu Damao was delighted when he heard this, and quickly replied with a bit of urgency and expectation in his tone: "Do you still want to eat? I'll take you there in person some other day..."

Yan Bugui glanced at him and said, "Xu Damao, this is none of your business. Go to the backyard and invite your uncle Liu over. We have something to discuss."

Hearing this, Xu Damao's eyes quickly turned several times, as if he understood something instantly, and then he responded readily: "Okay, I'll go right away!"

Qin Jingru walked into the house with a gentle smile on her face, and whispered to Jia Zhang: "Aunt, I'm here."

Jia Zhang, who was sitting on the edge of the kang mending clothes, slowly looked up when she heard the voice.

At that moment, her eyes seemed to travel through the long river of time.

In a trance, the person in front of me overlapped with the youthful and pretty Qin Huairu in my memory from more than ten years ago.

"Is Jingru here? Please sit down. Are you tired from the journey?" After coming to her senses, Jia Zhang became polite for once.

(End of this chapter)