Chapter 72: Returning to the Village (2)

“Your chopsticks are dirty. Grandma will get you a new pair,” Grandma Miao said, seeing her grandson drop his chopsticks on the floor. She immediately ran to the kitchen and returned with a fresh pair.

“Grandpa, while I was in the county these past few days, I heard some news.”

In just a few heartbeats, Jiang Yiliu ran through numerous possible solutions in his mind. But judging by the looks of his family, they were clearly very satisfied with Xiang Qianjin, and ordinary methods wouldn’t be enough to extinguish their desire to match Dani with him.

Indeed, in these times, a worker’s job was a prized position. What’s more, according to Grandma’s inquiry, Xiang Qianjin’s parents were easygoing, kind people. Dani wouldn’t suffer if she married into that family; there was truly no better match than Xiang Qianjin.

If Jiang Yiliu hadn’t found that note in Fan Xiaojun’s clothes beforehand, he might very well have been among the satisfied ones now.

He couldn’t understand why a person with a good reputation would, without ever meeting Dani, team up with Fan Xiaojun to trap her using such malicious and despicable means. But he didn’t need to. He only needed to know that if Dani married Xiang Qianjin, she would face such a cruel mother-in-law. That alone was enough to ignite his determination to break them apart.

Marriage involves two families. Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law issues have always been complex. Now, before the couple is even together, Yin Hong already harbors such malice toward Dani. After marriage, she would have even more opportunities and justifications to torment her repeating the tragedy of the previous life.

“Grandpa, I heard that after the new year, junior high classes in the county will resume. Dani only has an elementary school education. No matter how hard she works, she can only be an apprentice at the textile factory. But she’s so talented; if she can attend junior high, getting into high school or vocational school would be no problem. Then, once she graduates, she can be officially assigned a job. As long as Auntie makes a few connections when the factory is hiring, Dani can become a formal worker.”

Their family didn’t have a city household registration. To get an assigned job, one had to have a vocational school degree or higher. City kids only needed junior high graduation to get a job. In the 1960s, the large-scale “educated youth” programs helped relieve unemployment pressures. In recent years, due to well-known political issues, county factories had rarely hired new workers. With manpower now tight, Jiang Yiliu had heard from his aunt that the textile factory would likely start hiring within two years.

“Junior high classes will resume?” Grandpa Jiang Cheng, who had been silent at the head of the table, put down his bowl, focusing on the first part of his grandson’s words.

“Yes, it’s spreading around the city now. The official notice will be announced right after the first month of the year,” Jiang Yiliu said confidently. The topic had come up several times at the Meng family table. Meng Dachang had some connection with the principal of Yuchuan Elementary and probably got the news from him.

Those present reacted differently. Some were pleased; others dissatisfied. Of course, the younger girls, like Sanni and Sini, didn’t even realize the significance; elementary school graduation was still far off for them.

“Dani is already seventeen. Junior high plus vocational school is five or six years she’d be over twenty when she finishes. A waste of money. Even if she becomes a worker, it just benefits outsiders.”

Grandma Miao dismissed Jiang Yiliu’s suggestion. But then she glanced at the eldest grandson quietly eating nearby. His eyes lit up. “Aige’s age is just right for this. Send him to the city for junior high, and he’ll become a capable worker.”

Jiang Aiguo’s eyes flickered. He knew that junior high meant opportunities for high school and vocational school. During the years junior high was suspended, all vocational and university quotas were recommended by the county. The first requirement was a “proper” background. With one of the brothers’ father in labor reform, both would be filtered out immediately.

Aiguo clenched his chopsticks, unwilling to give up such a rare opportunity, despite the disapproval in his aunt’s eyes.

Jiang Erni, of the same age but unmentioned by Grandma, was somewhat displeased. She had finished elementary school too why wasn’t she included?

“Grandpa, I want to go to school in the county too.”

Since being formally accepted as Bai Fangqiu’s disciple, Erni had earned higher regard from the grandfather. Now, as the first among the granddaughters, and with her naturally strong-willed temperament, she became even more outspoken. Sometimes, if she offended Grandma, Grandpa Jiang Cheng would smooth things over.

“You little girl, learning a few characters is enough. You’re learning plants and flowers with Grandpa Bai anyway. Junior high is just a waste of time.”

Grandma Miao dismissed the idea without a second thought. No matter how good a job a granddaughter got, once married, everything belonged to the husband’s family. They spent money raising her, only to have her work for another family? Ridiculous. She snorted, this matter was off the table.

“Grandma, temporary workers only earn fifteen yuan a month. Once formal, their wages double. With rank increases, salaries grow further. Dani said if she becomes a formal worker, she’ll send half her wages home each month. Even after marriage, she’ll keep doing it.”

Jiang Yiliu blinked. “Half her salary? That’s a lot! Then I can get plenty of treats and toys. I saw things at my cousin’s house I’ve never seen before I want them too.”

He knew that for Grandma Miao, the granddaughters’ future wasn’t important. Money and her grandsons were her treasures. The traditional preference for sons had been ingrained in her for over sixty years. Jiang Yiliu realized that leveraging her weakness was the best strategy.

“Really?” Grandma Miao doubted that a granddaughter would actually give up half her wages. Even if she did, would her future husband agree? Still, half the salary was tempting.

She did the math in her head: junior high tuition, two yuan a year, same as elementary. Dani currently sent ten yuan a month home. If she attended school, she couldn’t work at the factory. That’s a loss of 122 yuan per year, or roughly 700 yuan over six years. But with half the wages sent home, the money would return in three to four years.

After repeated calculations, Grandma Miao found the plan roughly profitable. Sending the granddaughters to school wasn’t impossible to accept.

“Grandma, I’ll also send half my wages home. I want to go to school too.” Erni naturally didn’t see her little brother as harming them. She knew if she didn’t get past Grandma, she’d lose this life-changing opportunity.

Junior high opened up infinite possibilities. Staying in the countryside offered none. And six years from now, who knew how things would turn out? She trusted her brother, knowing he wouldn’t jeopardize them. If he helped Dani with this little lie, he certainly had a plan.

Erni didn’t fear Dani being spoiled, only that she might endure in silence. In the previous life, Dani had suffered alone. Only near death, worried about her infant daughter, did she send for her younger sisters. Until then, the sisters only knew she had an ordinary life, not the hardships she faced.

Gu Dongmei didn’t expect Erni to be the first to oppose her. The frustration she felt couldn’t be voiced. This foolish girl, she was thinking for them, why couldn’t she understand?

She looked to her husband for support, hoping he’d disapprove of this absurd plan. To her disappointment, Jiang Dahai looked at Erni with approval.

“If Dani can enter vocational school, she’s guaranteed a worker position. Then she can find a better husband than Xiang Qianjin. With junior high graduation, she’d be in her early twenties. There are plenty of city girls her age still unmarried. Dani is hardworking and attractive; she can find any husband she wants.”

Jiang Yiliu subtly planted the idea: once Dani becomes a formal worker, she can find a better match.

Erni noticed something strange. Her brother, initially satisfied with Xiang Qianjin, now opposed Dani marrying him after hearing about his family. Why? Was there something wrong with Xiang Qianjin’s family?

She suppressed her doubts, trusting her brother. He wouldn’t harm Dani; he must have a reason.

“Dani’s future depends on fate. After the new year, we’ll send Dani, Erni, and Aiguo to the city for school. We’ll need a favor from the relatives to handle the formalities,” Grandpa Jiang Cheng concluded, ending the discussion. “The food’s getting cold; everyone start eating.”

With the major decision settled, Jiang Yiliu felt lighter. Even the slightly chilly, pungent fish tasted delicious.

The next morning, before dawn, Jiang Yiliu rose early to face Uncle Da Wu’s test. During the city stay, he hadn’t neglected his leg training. Thick cotton pants concealed two-pound sandbags strapped to each leg, removed only when going to bed. Every morning before taking his sister to work, he ran half an hour around the dorm and practiced horse stance, never relaxing despite leaving Qingshan Village.

Last year, Jiang Yiliu had become an apprentice of Huo Wu. Guangpiao and Tiezhu had passed his tests as well and were also taken in.

After the apprenticeship ceremony and tea ritual, Huo Wu revealed his skills were not all learned in the military. After being adopted by the Ruan family, he trained under their martial instructor.

Their lineage belonged to Yixiangquan, one of the eight major Chinese martial arts, alongside Wudang, Taiji, and Bagua considered the four major internal martial arts.

Traditional martial arts weren’t like TV dramas; practice didn’t grant the ability to leap across rooftops. Even Huo Wu, after thirty years of practice, could barely sense qi and move faster than ordinary people. Yet Xingyiquan’s rapid, powerful strikes could allow one to hold off ten opponents once skilled.

However, after thirty years, Huo Wu himself had only reached a minor proficiency. At the time, the Ruan family invested heavily, providing rare resources to build a strong foundation from childhood.

The grandmaster of their lineage had reached full proficiency, but twenty years ago, he had gone to the U.S. with the Ruan family’s main branch, and the uncles escorted another branch to Port City. Huo Wu’s disciples hadn’t formally bowed to the grandmaster, so they couldn’t be taught the highest secret techniques.

Huo Wu spent almost two years strengthening their base, focusing on leg training. They had yet to learn any fist techniques.

“Use more force!”

From a hay-stacked shed, shouted commands rang out.

Jiang Yiliu’s legs felt like lead. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he mechanically kicked the suspended sack of bran.

“Rest,” Huo Wu said, letting him step aside while Tiezhu took his turn.

Jiang Yiliu didn’t immediately sit, massaging his aching legs and panting.

“Bang bang bang!” Tiezhu’s leg strength far exceeded Jiang Yiliu’s, each kick sending the heavy sack into the air.

Curiously, among the three, the most suitable for martial arts wasn’t the resilient Jiang Yiliu or agile Guangpiao, but plump Tiezhu, who had the best natural physique.

Even Huo Wu admitted he misjudged him. This little chubby boy might be the “one in ten thousand” martial prodigy his master spoke of, born to practice martial arts. That’s why Huo Wu supervised him so strictly.

Although hope was slim, he still dreamed of showing this disciple to his master one day, hoping to hear a word of praise.

After two years of training, the little chubby’s face slimmed, transforming from three double chins and three rolls of fat to only two. A small victory.

Jiang Yiliu felt frustrated. Compared to predecessors in novels, his path was far harder. They reborn and everything went smoothly. He wanted to study medicine, but Erni was more suited; he wanted martial arts, but Tiezhu had more talent.

Fortunately, he had some experience and could adjust his mindset. Diligence could make up for lack of talent. He resolved to work harder than others and believed everyone had their strengths. If he wasn’t suited for medicine or martial arts, he would patiently discover what he excelled at.

“Uncle Ruan, Uncle Ruan!”

During practice, they heard Mo Dashuan outside. Huo Wu stopped Tiezhu and went out.

“Uncle Ruan went to find Uncle Cheng. Captain, do you need anything?”

It was a quiet farming period; everyone was preparing for the New Year. Mo Dashuan’s timing was unusual.

“Good news, great news!” Mo Dashuan said cheerfully. “A letter came from Haicheng it’s from the government.”