Chronicle of the 70s
Chapter 64 - 063 Leaving at the Third Watch (3000 words)

Chapter 64: 063 Leaving at the Third Watch (3000 words)

Qin Shouren, the man who had been sent down, was returning to the city, which astonished the entire village. It turned out that those sent down for reformation could return to the city. It was said that Mr. Qin was an official; could it be that Qin Shouren would also become an official upon his return?

The Qin Family was surrounded and observed for several days.

Finally, when no one was around, Qin Shouren found Mr. Li and expressed his gratitude. Li Xianglu was puzzled and opened her eyes wide, wondering what was going on and how it involved Grandpa.

During the conversation, Li Xianglu came to understand that Mr. Qin had only one spot to return to the city, acquired through Mr. Li’s special contributions. Yet, Mr. Qin had two sons sent down, and only one could return.

What Mr. Li did here was write to his former comrades asking them to speak to Mr. Qin about his younger son’s living conditions here and some past events.

Additionally, considering Mr. Li’s comrades held significant positions, Mr. Qin weighed which son would be more useful back in the city. The younger son, having connections with such influential people advocating for him, was certainly worth considering.

Thus, Mr. Qin did not hesitate any longer and arranged for his younger son to return, resuming his old profession with a not insignificant position as the chief surgeon at a hospital in the capital.

Qin Shouren, overwhelmed with emotion, drank an entire half bottle of Moutai, finishing all the liquor Grandpa Li had obtained from Mr. Lan last time. If not for Qin Shouren’s complex feelings leading him to drink excessively, Grandpa Li would have definitely been furious. He usually wouldn’t even indulge in this little amount of liquor himself; this rascal had drunk it all in one go.

Qin Xi, helplessly supporting his father, went back, while Li Xianglu curiously asked her grandfather, "Grandpa, why can’t Qin Xi and his siblings go back?"

Grandpa Li reluctantly shook the liquor bottle and explained, "Qin Xi has just turned eighteen this year, and Qin Zhen is just over fifteen. What can they do back there? Even if they return, their household registration won’t be transferred back, they won’t have food rations. It’s better to wait for an opportunity here."

Li Xianglu was stunned, so adults can go back, but not the children?

The management of household registration at that time was not like in later generations; one couldn’t simply change their registration whenever they wanted. It needed to be related to employment or study, and considering the ages of Qin Xi and Qin Zhen, they were prime candidates for being sent down to the countryside upon their return. It would be better to wait for an opportunity to arise where they were.

The next morning, Li Xianglu got up, washed her face, and spent a long time combing her relatively long hair. Seeing it was still unruly, she gave up, tied an apron around herself, boiled a pot of water, and then went to water the potatoes in the small courtyard before starting to prepare breakfast.

However, from next door came the wailing cries of a young girl, sounding utterly heart-wrenching, as if someone had beaten her.

Hearing the commotion, Mr. Li stopped his exercise and walked outside. Li Xianglu threw a handful of Xiao Mi into the pot and followed after him.

By then, the Qin Family’s courtyard had already gathered a crowd of seven or eight people, and in the center, a young girl knelt, crying bitterly, "Uncle, please, give the spot to my dad; he’s sick, and there are no good medical facilities in Beize Province. Uncle, please, I don’t want to lose my dad."

Li Xianglu watched Qin Miao, her back straight, her brow slightly furrowed. Her father was sick and needed good medical care, so she hoped her uncle would give up his spot to return to the city? How coincidental was this?

Qin Xi stared coldly at the kneeling girl and did not utter a word, while Qin Zhen beside him was bewildered by the unfolding events, alternately looking at the person on the ground, and then at his father and brother.

The crowd started murmuring among themselves, with some sympathetic voices ringing out, "Oh, Doctor Qin, look at this situation. This young girl is your very own niece; there’s no need to regard each other as strangers. Since your own brother is ill, perhaps you should just give up the spot." As these words were spoken, many agreed.

Rural folks value familial bonds, especially the eldest son who is deemed very important, as the division of the family’s property usually involves living with the eldest son, so allowing the younger son to relinquish the spot seemed perfectly reasonable to them.

Amidst the buzzing discussion, Qin Xi lightly smiled and addressed the kneeling Qin Miao, "Cousin, what illness has Uncle contracted? Is it so severe that treatment requires going to the capital? Our production team would not mistreat any member; if someone is ill, not only is a certificate issued, but we also lend money for medical treatment. How come this isn’t an option for Uncle?"