Chronicle of the 70s
Chapter 49 - 049 The Qin Family’s Past 2: The Azure Blood Phoenix and the He Shi Bi Additional -

Chapter 49: 049 The Qin Family’s Past 2: The Azure Blood Phoenix and the He Shi Bi Additional Chapter

As their children, they were sent down to be reeducated through labor. Because my eldest brother was divorced, my sister-in-law, with her two children, was not sent down. Instead, she was regarded with favor for severing ties with a bad element and got a decent job.

The daughter of my eldest brother had become an educated youth in the village next door a year ago.

And the elder brother was assigned to a rural area in Zebei Province, which was said to have good conditions. There, double-cropping rice yielded not-bad harvests, and the annual grain allocation was also plentiful.

However, none of this was of much concern to me. Why? Because Qin Shouren and the elder brother did not share the same mother.

Such circumstances were actually quite common in that era.

Qin Shouren was ten years younger than his elder brother Qin Shouhan. The elder brother was born to the father’s first wife in an arranged marriage. Later on, after the father’s return from studying abroad, everyone began divorcing, seeking a new era woman with whom they could communicate. Thus came Qin Shouren’s mother, Wang Shulan, a woman of the new era who had also studied abroad.

Although the couple got along, the mother was in poor health and passed away when Qin Shouren was ten years old.

At that time, the elder brother’s mother also passed away, so the father brought the elder brother back from the countryside.

The ten-year-old Qin Shouren, grieving from the loss of his mother, was thrilled to have an elder brother and could not help but seek him out to play. However, nine out of ten attempts were met with cold rejection. The only time the elder brother would agree was when the father was present, needing to play the role of a good brother.

A child of ten already had some understanding and gradually realized why. Not of the same womb, how could somebody else treat you well? Such a fool I was.

What followed was an even colder relationship between the two, which persisted until the appearance of the Red Guards. I was repeatedly betrayed and reported by that so-called elder brother.

Originally, I was to be sent down for reeducation not far from the capital in Jin Province. But because of the ridiculous report from the elder brother that I was hiding counter-revolutionary books, my crime was escalated, and I was forcefully relocated three to four thousand miles away to the Northwest.

Actually, being in the Northwest was not the problem, but the most unforgivable part was that my wife contracted typhoid fever because she did not rest well along the way. Although it was a common illness that could have been alleviated with just a few pills, our family of four had been searched, and without a ten cents on us, not to mention buying medicine, we couldn’t even afford to buy hot water on the train. My wife, hungry and suffering from a severe cold, died shortly after our arrival at Li Family Village.

Thinking of my wife, buried alone on the west hill of Li Family Village, makes Qin Shouren’s teeth itch with hatred. He is a man of straightforward character, hardly ever making enemies. Even after being reported several times by his elder brother, he endured. But he couldn’t let go of his wife’s death, vividly remembering how both of his sons were crying as if their hearts would break.

It was on the train when he heard the Red Guards’ conversation about the search. Originally, searches were not to be conducted, as orders from above advised not to go too far. However, someone offered money to make sure they searched us, hoping to take every penny we had. And the person mentioned who paid was none other than the elder brother, who shared the same blood as me.

Now, hearing from my son about the quota to return to the city, Qin Shouren felt that he must go back!

Even if not for himself, he must consider his two sons’ futures.

Based on the newspapers received over the past year, he believed this period was coming to an end, likely not much longer.

With a quota returning to the city, his elder son was only eighteen this year, and the younger just fifteen. What could two of them do if they went back? Only if he himself went back and settled down first, could he pave the way for his sons to return to the city as quickly as possible.

Thinking of this, Qin Shouren’s eyes suddenly sparkled. Seeing his father like this made Qin Xi’s lips curl into a smile. This is more like it.

The father and son discussed for a long time and decided to write a letter first, then find ways to coax information from those around Grandfather.

And those around Grandfather, Qin Xi’s eyes lit up—Mr. Li from next door was a highly capable person. Had he not made a mistake, he wouldn’t have been forced to retire, leaving even a retirement accommodation unallocated. However, the connections of Mr. Li remained extensive.

If Mr. Li was willing to lend a hand, then persuading Grandfather in the capital would be no issue.

Thinking this, Qin Xi couldn’t help but think of Li Xianglu, the granddaughter Mr. Li had just recognized.

This girl was quite interesting. What she said today made him realize that now was the time to act.

My cousin is no pushover, and if I’m not guessing wrong, the man who appeared for the second time must be that person, the one who played a key role in grandfather’s decision to have eldest uncle return to the city.

But I didn’t expect my cousin to get involved with that person so early on. Heh, quite impressive! Only sixteen years old!

However, Li Xianglu turned out to be surprisingly clever, knowing that she had aroused attention and not daring to make her own decisions. Instead, she discussed the matter with me to cover for her. Seems like she’s confident I would help her, isn’t she?

Why is she so sure of that? Could it be that she’s certain I definitely will help her?

Qin Xi’s lips curled into a rascally smile; she is quite an interesting little girl.

After the second day, Li Xianglu became very cautious and absolutely would not go out alone to do anything. After all, they had no land here, and Mr. Li’s household registration wasn’t at this place, while the food relations were placed in the county town.

Due to Mr. Li’s social status, the commune after approval specially allocated a piece of land, three fen in size, for vegetable gardening. However, once they leave this piece of land, it will be taken back by the production team.

Mr. Li had already prepared seeds early, planning to plant vegetables, as well as mung beans and corn.

Li Xianglu, after using the Storage Ring multiple times, discovered a magical phenomenon: her Storage Ring could actually enhance the seeds that were put inside.

For example, shriveled goji berries that were rather small would become glossy, plump, and slightly larger in size after four or five days inside the ring, and the color would become particularly beautiful. Strangely enough, this was limited to seeds and some regrowing plants and vines—other dead things wouldn’t be affected. Moreover, freshly cooked hot food would stay warm and fresh, just like the numerous roast ducks she put in from her previous life which remained hot, and they tasted crispy and delicious when eaten.

Therefore, Li Xianglu took the seeds and said she would select the best and fullest seeds, when in fact, she was storing them in her Storage Ring. In this way, the seeds would be enhanced, and their chance of successful growth would probably increase.

In early April, planting began in the Central Shaanxi region; the busy agricultural season started, and Li Family Village Production Team commenced their vigorous spring farming.

Li Xianglu, taking her time each day together with Mr. Li, plowed the land, and then planted the direct-sown corn and mung beans. For those that required seedling cultivation, she used the small garden in the courtyard to raise the seedlings.

Mr. Li’s courtyard had a twenty square meter area for a small vegetable garden, completely bare and containing nothing, specifically prepared by bringing black earth and livestock manure mixed together and letting it sit over the winter to be ready for raising seedlings now.

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