Chapter 25: Did You Sell Them?

The factory and school were both off on Sundays, the neighborhood committee deliberately chose Sunday to talk to each family.

Hu Meili was washing clothes in the courtyard, she saw the older sister from the neighborhood committee coming over, she quickly invited her into the house and poured her water.

“Sister Xu, you’re such a busy person, I haven’t seen you in days.”

“I can’t help it, the organization has tasks, no matter how difficult it is, I have to complete them. I won’t drink the water, I’ll just say a few words and leave.” Sister Xu smiled and asked, “Where’s Xiaonan? She’s about to graduate from high school, what does she think? According to policy, children like Lin Xiangnan should go to the countryside.”

Hu Meili was a bit flustered, but she still said, “Xiaonan is a girl, she’s also gentle, I’m afraid she’ll be bullied alone in the countryside. I’m planning to send Little Xi to the countryside, and Xiaonan will stay with me.”

“They say raising a son is for old age, your thinking is quite open-minded. But if you do this, it’s against policy.” Sister Xu said with a headache, “You also have a younger son. In Xiaonan’s situation, the organization won’t be able to arrange a job for her. Are you just going to support her like this?”

“Little Xi will graduate from junior high next year. It’s okay to support her for another year.” Hu Meili said.

They all lived in the same alley, Sister Xu knew everyone on this street very well, she could also guess Hu Meili’s general plan.

But if every family wanted to exploit loopholes, how could their work be carried out?

“I know you’re a loving mother. You even got a divorce because of Xiaonan. But you can’t just love Xiaonan and ignore Xiaoxi.If you say this now, it will be difficult to ask the organization to arrange a job for Xiaoxi later.”

Hu Meili’s heart skipped a beat, but she still insisted, “Xiaoxi is going to the countryside, it’s okay.”

If there was any impact, she would just go all out and cry to the factory leaders.

She didn’t believe that a year later, anyone would use her words against her, anyway, she wouldn’t admit it then.

Hu Meili was known for being tough and difficult to deal with, it wasn’t time to sign up for going to the countryside yet, Sister Xu sighed helplessly, she didn’t persuade her anymore, she just said, “Just keep that in mind. I’ll report your family’s situation to the organization.”

“Then I’ll see you out.” Hu Meili couldn’t wait for her to leave.

“No need, I still need to talk to Liu Laohei.”

“Yes, their Honghe is also of age to go to the countryside. Their family has a heavy burden, they haven’t even paid back the debt they owed last year, it’s probably difficult to borrow money to buy a job for Honghe this year.” Hu Meili’s lips curled up slightly, she was a bit schadenfreude.

Her eldest son, Lin Xiangdong, had already gone to the countryside, so Lin Xiangnan could exploit the policy loophole, resist the pressure, and have a year to buffer.

But Liu Honghe was miserable, if he didn’t find a job before graduation, he had to go to the countryside, he didn’t even have a buffer time.

Graduation was only a week away, Liu Honghe still hadn’t found a job, he probably wouldn’t find one.

Thinking about the Liu family’s situation, Sister Xu couldn’t help but feel a headache.

Every family has its own problems, but their work was full of these trivial matters, no major problems, but constant minor troubles.

After leaving Hu Meili, Sister Xu turned and went to the Liu family.

As soon as she entered, she saw Liu Hongying crying, her footsteps stopped, “I’m not coming at a good time. Is there something wrong at home?”

She was about to leave, not wanting to get involved.

She could talk to the others in the courtyard first, then come to find Liu Laohei later.

The people from the neighborhood committee, although they needed to help resolve family disputes, they wouldn’t take the initiative to get involved if no one asked them, they would just stand by and watch.

Otherwise, if the family reconciled later, they would be in a difficult position.

“Sister Xu, you’re just in time, you have to stand up for me.” Liu Hongying wiped her tears and pulled her sleeve to keep her.

“Oh, what’s wrong? Why are you crying like this?” She said as if she had just seen Liu Hongying crying.

Liu Hongying said aggrievedly, “My dad wants to force me to get married. He’s selling his daughter.”

That was a serious accusation.

Sister Xu immediately looked at Liu Laohei and warned, “Don’t let feudal remnants remain. If you go against the will of the female comrade, even if you’re Hongying’s father, you won’t get away with it.”

“Hongying is talking nonsense. I was just casually asking her, if she doesn’t want to get married, how could I force her?” Liu Laohei smiled awkwardly and asked, “Is there something you need this time?”

“Nothing else, just about your Honghe going to the countryside. The registration deadline is approaching, your family should make a decision.”

Liu Laohei said calmly, “Okay, I understand, I know what I’m doing.”

Seeing the Liu family being so cooperative, Sister Xu breathed a sigh of relief, she didn’t even drink any water, she turned and went to another family.

The policy of educated youth going to the countryside has been in place for so many years, the families that should have argued have already finished arguing, most families have already decided on the members who will go to the countryside, there’s no need for Sister Xu to persuade them anymore.

Only a few families in their alley were stubborn.

Among them, the most difficult to deal with was Hu Meili. Because of her children, she even got a divorce, it was very difficult to persuade Lin Xiangnan to go to the countryside.

People like Lin Xiangnan, who had no job and were not married, were the most unwelcome.

As long as Lin Xiangnan’s matter wasn’t settled, the people from the neighborhood committee would come to talk to Hu Meili every now and then.

Hu Meili’s life was not easy, and Lin Xiangnan couldn’t expect to be comfortable either.

Lin Xiangnan had just come back from outside with a bag of peaches, Hu Meili questioned her, “Where have you been running around? I introduced a new candidate to you, didn’t you go see him?”

“I did. We talked for a while and then we broke up.”

“Then where did you get the peaches?” Hu Meili asked.

“I picked them in the countryside.” Lin Xiangnan said as she handed the peaches to Hu Meili, “Eat them. I had peaches for breakfast and I’m full.”

“You little rascal.” Hu Meili lowered her voice and scolded softly, “Are you going astray? Are you learning to resell things?”

Lin Xiangnan was silent, she didn’t deny it.

The city didn’t allow unemployed youth to stay, but there were always those who stayed, and some who couldn’t stand the hardship in the countryside and secretly returned to the city.

Some people didn’t have jobs, they didn’t have hukou or food rations, but they had to find a way to fill their stomachs, so they could only secretly do some small business.

Lin Xiangnan is now unemployed, but it’s impossible for her to have money in her pocket and suffer hardship, she had to find a way to make money.

“If you’re caught, you’re finished.” Hu Meili was furious, she reached out to twist Lin Xiangnan’s arm.

Lin Xiangnan threw the bag of peaches into Hu Meili’s arms and ran away.

“You little rascal, you dare to run, you better come back.” Hu Meili said with her hands on her hips, “You’re getting more and more disobedient.”