Chapter 227: Bad News

The grandfather and grandson talked for a long time in the room, and Zhang Lan and the others didn’t interrupt. After being apart for so long, there were many things to catch up on.

By noon, Old Chen brought his eldest grandson over to formally greet everyone. Wang Zhenhe and his family learned that Chen Xu had come to the production team as part of the “Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Movement,” having exchanged places with someone else to join Wang Zhenhe’s production team.

Upon hearing this news, Wang Zhenhe was delighted and enthusiastically applauded. “Well done, young man! Although our area is somewhat remote, it’s good that you can be with your grandfather. You’ll stay with us for meals and accommodation. Don’t go to the collective farm; I reckon the food there isn’t as good, and food distribution is quite tight.”

Old Chen was pleased with this arrangement. Having his grandson stay with the Wang family would lessen his suffering. The living conditions in the collective farm’s courtyard were not ideal, an experience he had personally endured.

However, Chen Xu was a bit conflicted. They had come together, and it seemed they needed to follow the organization’s arrangements. “Uncle, is this okay? Shouldn’t we follow the team’s instructions?”

Chen Xu was new to these matters, but Wang Zhenhe was clear-minded. “Don’t worry. Just stay here peacefully. Spend your days with your classmates, have meals and rest at our house, and leave the rest to me.”

When educated youth came to stay, they needed to register their residence. Wang Zhenhe informed the team leader, Liu Changlin, about Chen Xu. Upon learning that Chen Xu was Old Chen’s grandson, Liu Changlin turned a blind eye to any potential issues.

When Chen Xu arrived, it happened to be the day for pig slaughtering at the Wangs’. Several families in the village were also slaughtering pigs for the New Year, creating a festive atmosphere with the sounds of pig slaughtering echoing throughout the village.

The Wang family’s annual pig was still the fattest in the village. With an ample food supply of bran, soybean dregs, and more, Zhang Lan had dedicated effort to ensure their pigs were well-fed. It would be strange if they weren’t fat.

During the pig slaughtering, Wang Zhenhai’s family and Chen Xu’s friends came to help, as per Wang Qian’s suggestion. She wanted Chen Xu to bring some good friends to improve the atmosphere. Living far from home was challenging, and having good relationships with classmates would be beneficial for when Chen Xu eventually returned home. These educated youth had gained valuable skills during their challenging experiences in the countryside.

Wang Juan and Zhang Lan were busy shaving the pig’s head and removing the hair from its trotters. They tended to the fire, with both cauldrons bubbling away, creating a lively scene.

“Sister, let Mingshan take the pigskin to the cooperative to sell. They are buying pigskin this year. We sold ours for less than twenty yuan. Yours will likely fetch over twenty. Look at how fat this pig is,” Zhang Lan suggested to her sister.

The sisters enjoyed their work, while Wang Zhenhai, along with his son and Mingcheng, cleaned the intestines outside, emptying them out and washing them.

Watching from the side, Wang Yu covered her nose, exclaiming, “Dad, it’s really stinky. How can you stand the smell?”

Wang Zhenhai glanced at his daughter and said, “Sweetheart, don’t mind the smell now. When you eat blood sausage later, it will smell delicious. Some people love the strong odor. Haven’t you noticed that restaurants in the city have special fried intestines dishes, which are quite expensive?”

Mingcheng, assisting with rinsing, added, “Sister, once we stuff the intestines, it will smell great when we cook and eat them.”

The Wang family didn’t have a pig to slaughter that day. Their obligation to feed the pigs meant their food supply wasn’t as abundant, especially with their children grown and requiring more food. There wasn’t extra food to spare for feeding pigs.

Wang Zhenhe and his wife decided to set aside ten pounds of meat to be sent back to his elder brother’s house by Wang Minglin, leaving Wang Juan feeling very uneasy about the arrangement.

“Sister, I feel bad that we’re always eating your food,” Wang Juan expressed her concern.

Zhang Lan responded with a smile, “Sister-in-law, why be so formal? We’re family; there’s no need for such etiquette. If you take an extra bite while I take one less, what’s the fuss? As the children grow up, our days will only get better.”

The two sisters quickly prepared the pig’s head and trotters, then proceeded to make the most important dish for the day. Wang Juan, accompanied by her daughter, helped with stuffing the intestines, while Zhang Lan busied herself with preparing the rest of the meal.

The lunch featuring the pig dishes left the educated youth almost stuffed. They couldn’t recall having such delicious food, especially with such rich flavors.

After the meal, Zhang Lan cut a piece of pork for Wang Zhenhe to take to Wang Deshan. “Zhenhe, please take this meat to Dad. Regardless of the circumstances, he hasn’t done anything to us. This meat is a token of our appreciation.”

With a heavy heart, Wang Zhenhe left with the meat.

Today, it wasn’t possible to invite all the educated youth who had come to participate in the pig slaughtering for a meal. However, Zhang Lan prepared a pot of the pig dishes for them to take back with them. It wasn’t about having an abundance of food at their home, but rather showing respect to Chen Xu and the group who had come together. Despite not having developed strong personal bonds on the journey, there was a sense of camaraderie among them. It wouldn’t be right for Chen Xu to be welcomed in their home and then face rejection elsewhere.

“Mom, don’t forget to take some for Grandma later. After all, our family has received many favors from her,” Wang Qian reminded Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan nodded with a smile, “I won’t forget. I’ll have your brother take it over later.”

Just before the New Year, Zhang Lan took her children to deliver New Year goods to Zhang Wanyou’s elderly couple. However, their invitation for the elderly couple to spend the New Year at their place was declined by Geng Lianhua.

During the Lunar New Year, in a certain institution in the capital city, Hao Lianchun opened a package he had just received. Seeing the contents, his face lit up with joy. “Old Zuo, look at what Lan and the others sent us. There’s honey, and even the eldest son’s prawns. Oh, there’s also a letter inside.”

Hao Lianchun curiously opened the envelope, while Zuo Zhanshan, who had been bored, perked up upon hearing about the letter, rising from his chair to take a look at what was written.

The letter contained a story about an old scholar who achieved the top academic position at the age of over 60.

Zuo Zhanshan and Hao Lianchun looked at each other in confusion. “Hey old man, am I seeing this right? Why would someone send such a story from afar? What does this mean? Are they worried we might get lonely?”

The old lady was momentarily puzzled, but Zuo Zhanshan, focusing on the handwriting, remembered something from their time at the Wangs’. His furrowed brow gradually relaxed. “My dear, look at these words. Isn’t this Qianqian’s handwriting? If it’s her, then it makes sense.”

The old man, looking understandingly at Hao Lianchun, affirmed, “Of course, it’s Qianqian’s handwriting. I can recognize it. It’s definitely written by that little girl.” Hao Lianchun confidently provided the answer.

“Old man, are you saying…”

The old man nodded, “I’ll talk to Old Wu later. At this moment, we shouldn’t do or say much. Let’s just stay at home and wait for opportunities.”

Excited, Zuo Zhanshan quickly left the room, saying he would call Old Wu next door.

After understanding what was happening, Hao Lianchun cheerfully tidied up the items sent by the Wang family and went to the kitchen to prepare honey water for the elderly gentleman.

In the blink of an eye, 1976 had arrived. Old Chen, when free at home, diligently supervised the studies of several children. With the arrival of his grandson, even though Chen Xu had graduated from high school, Old Chen  continued to engage him in learning, under the adage of “learning never ends.”

On January 8, 1976, at noon, a small broadcast on the wall delivered a heartbreaking message: the beloved Premier Zhou had passed away. This news plunged the entire nation into sorrow.

The community members instinctively began making small white flowers to wear on their chests and wrapping black gauze around their arms. All those working set aside their tools and gathered around the radio, shedding tears as they listened to the news. The depth of the adults’ emotions towards the Premier was indescribable, regardless of gender. Although the children cried along with the adults, they did not fully understand the reason behind the tears, only following suit when the adults wept.

Feeling a heavy heart, Wang Qian instructed Zhang Lan to have them all wear white flowers and black gauze. Seeing her mother in tears, Wang Qian couldn’t help but feel heartbroken.

Having been reborn, she felt fortunate to have such a happy family. However, faced once again with the passing of the respected Premier Zhou, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of sorrow and contemplation. Some things were beyond her control, and the wheels of history continued to move forward on their predetermined path.

At this moment, she recalled a piece written by Ke Yan titled “Premier Zhou, Where Are You?” This article vividly depicted people’s yearning for Premier Zhou, and even reading it in the future brought tears to her eyes. Now, immersed in the atmosphere of grief, the community members gathered daily beneath the loudspeaker at the production team, listening to the latest updates about the Premier, shedding tears, enveloped in a melancholic sadness.

As the broadcast relayed the scene of the ten-mile long street bidding farewell to the Premier through live coverage, the production team’s courtyard echoed with cries. Some of the elderly individuals were so overwhelmed with emotion that they fainted. The departure of the beloved Premier from their lives, from this world, left people heartbroken.

Due to the Premier’s passing just before the New Year, there was no festive atmosphere in any household during the Lunar New Year. People simply had a hasty meal, with the elderly shedding tears and reminiscing about every detail of the Premier. Their deepest gratitude stemmed from the fact that these individuals had liberated them, transforming them from slaves into masters.

During the New Year, a group of young educated youth also visited the Wang family to pay their respects. Unable to return home due to the distance, these individuals had nowhere else to go, so they gathered at Wang Zhenhe’s home. The young couples warmly welcomed them, treating them to a hearty meal. It was the first time the youth, who were used to meager meals, had experienced such a lavish spread with abundant oil. Even after they returned to the city, they fondly remembered the meals they had at the Wangs’ and cherished the good times spent together with the couple at the Wang family.

The news of the Premier’s passing lingered in people’s hearts for a long time, difficult to dissipate. With the arrival of spring and the beginning of the planting season, the community members gradually emerged from their sorrow and immersed themselves in a new round of labor and production.