Chapter 4

The Mo family’s big move not only alarmed the neighbors, but also the meat processing plant committee and trade union.

It is rare to find an only daughter who can actively respond to the call of the country these days, and she is also the most unlikely kind of spoiled girl they think. As soon as they received the news, the factory committee and the trade union organized their secretaries to come with gifts to commend and reward her.

At least we have to set an example for the meat processing factory to let those hooligans who only care about their height but not their brains see that a delicate little girl can endure hardships, so why are these grown men like them so delicate and fragile?

“Director Mo, this is a bonus from the factory committee and the labor union for Yutong. You can’t refuse it.” Seeing Mo Yi waving his hand away, the labor union chairman, Li Jianguo, quickly grasped his wrist and placed a large stack of solidarity notes in his palm. “Director Mo, Yutong has actively responded to the country’s call and taken the initiative to devote himself to the great cause of rural development, contributing his strength to the development of the motherland. His ideological awareness and character are an example for all our factory employees and their families to learn from. He must be rewarded.”

Mo Yutong, who was hiding in the room, listened to Li Jianguo’s impassioned speech, and the corners of her mouth could not help twitching. She was not that great, she was just poisoned by love, and only Yan Mingli could cure it.

“I’ll accept the factory’s kindness on behalf of Yutong. Everyone should hurry back to work. The construction of our motherland still requires everyone’s joint efforts.” After all, Mo Yi is the factory director. Who would dare to stay in his yard after he gave the order?

After a round of flattery, praise, and warm applause, everyone left the Mo family yard under the leadership of Li Jianguo.

But before leaving, he couldn’t help but glance at the things in the yard that had not been moved yet.

Looking at the words “Beijing Department Store” printed prominently on those brown paper packages, everyone couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, look at what kind of life other people live. They have to rely on cars to buy things in the department store, and they have to search and look twice before buying a measure of cloth.

But those people also knew that the Mo family lived a good life, relying not only on the salaries of Mo Yi, the director of the Meat Processing Plant, and Tang Qiu, the deputy director of the Xiang City Food Company, but also on Director Mo’s three brothers who were active in the military, politics and education circles, as well as their respective children.

Tang Qiuxiang is really lucky. When she was young, Mo Yi liked her like crazy and went to the family compound every day. Now that she is middle-aged, even though she only has a daughter who was raised in pampering, she is still cherished by him.

If it were my own family, if I didn’t have three or five children, and didn’t have a son with a penis, I wouldn’t be able to lift my head or breathe.

These people seemed to have forgotten that even though Mo Yutong was indeed just a delicate and weak girl, she was still a high school graduate, and a top student who brought home awards every year. She was far from being comparable to their sons who were just living a life of idleness and waiting for death and were at the bottom of the class.

The group finally left the Mo family yard. Mo Yi and Tang Qiuxiang continued to pack their things. Mo Yutong ran out of the room and helped to the best of her ability. She couldn’t carry the big things, but she could still carry light things like clothes, shoes and socks.

After everything was almost tidied, Mo Yi took out a tin box from the cabinet in the room. It was printed with beautiful foreign cursive words, and it was obviously a foreign product bought from the Overseas Chinese Remittance Store.

“Baby, there are two thousand yuan and some tickets in here. Take them with you.” Mo Yi handed the biscuit box to Mo Yutong with red eyes.

His baby has never left him for a single day, and suddenly he has to go to such a faraway place as Sichuan Province. Even just thinking about it makes his heart ache.

“Dad, I’m seventeen years old and can take care of myself.” Mo Yutong’s words were not convincing at all. How could a little girl like her, who could not even lift anything, take care of herself? Could she rely on her ability to cut her hands while cutting vegetables and hit her feet while moving a stool?

“Yu’er, I heard that some production teams in Ming County can use cash to offset personal current accounts. When you go to the countryside, don’t force yourself. Remember to use cash to offset work points.” Tang Qiuxiang held her hand, his voice choked with sobs.

There’s this thing? It seems she needs to go to the Youth League Office tomorrow to learn more about the relevant policies. She can’t go to Tongzi Commune and get fooled.

“Baby, your mother is right. You must never let yourself down. You are the only girl in our Mo family’s generation!” His three brothers have many children, but they are all troublesome brats, unlike him who has a sweet, sticky and fragrant baby.

“If you don’t have enough money, just write back anytime and Mom will ask Dad to send it to you.” Tang Qiuxiang was about to cry. Mo Yutong quickly hugged her and patted her back gently. “Mom, don’t worry, I will never let myself down. I will be back in two or three years.”

It was now 1975. When the college entrance examination was resumed in 1977, she brought her husband Yan back to Beijing and told her parents, “Look, this is the son-in-law I found for you. His name is Yan Mingli.”

“Yu’er, you said you must come back to Beijing in two or three years, at most three years.” When Tang Qiuxiang heard this, she stopped crying, wiped her tears with the back of her finger, and said while staring into her eyes.

Mo Yi, who was standing aside, was also very happy. In three years, her baby would only be twenty years old, and there would be plenty of young talents in Beijing waiting for her to choose.

“Okay, Mom, I promise you, I will return to Beijing in three years at most.” Mo Yutong nodded vigorously.

Her words made Mo Yi and Tang Qiuxiang feel relieved at the same time. Although sadness was inevitable, they felt much better than when they first heard the news. At least they had an idea and knew when to go back to the city.

“Baby, you have to take the train early the day after tomorrow. Do you want to go back to grandpa’s house with dad tomorrow?” He had to go home and inform his eldest brother, asking him to give a greeting to Sichuan Province. It would be best if the commune knew that his daughter had someone backing her up so that certain people would not dare to act recklessly.

“Dad, I want to go to the Youth League Office tomorrow to learn about the policy.” It’s not that Mo Yutong doesn’t want to go to Grandpa’s house, but she’s afraid of the bombardment from her three uncles and cousins. So she decided to go to the Youth League Office and visit the department store.

“Okay, you go to the Youth League Office tomorrow, and I’ll go to Grandpa’s house. I’ll have Mom pack your things for you at home.” Mo Yi quickly arranged everyone’s work for tomorrow, and then said to Tang Qiuxiang, “I won’t cook today. Let’s take our baby to the state-owned restaurant for dinner.”

“Why go to a state-owned restaurant? Let’s go to Quanjude.” Tang Qiuxiang gave the order, and Mo Yi and Mo Yutong had no choice but to obey.

The three of them got into the Hongqi car, with Mo Yi acting as the driver, Mo Yutong and Tang Qiuxiang sitting in the back seat, chatting and laughing all the way to Quanjude.