Chapter 476 Honest Repayment

When Xiao Jiu returned to school and saw Yuan Yuan, she actually handed her ten yuan. Xiao Jiu laughed at her.

"I was just saying it casually, and you actually took it seriously. Besides, you don't need that many of those two books."

Yuan Yuan pried open Xiao Jiu's hand and solemnly placed the money into her hand.

“One thing at a time. I already owe you a lot, how could I possibly repay you with just ten dollars?”

If you don't give me any calculations, how can I possibly go out with you again?

"Take it, otherwise I'll get embarrassed."

Seeing her insistence, Xiao Jiu had no choice but to accept it, but in her heart she was thinking of Zhu Hongqi, who had sent her money not long ago.

I don't know how she managed to save twenty yuan from her own spending and send it to me.

I have no idea how she got her contact information; she didn't even write her a letter, only a money order.

Like Yuan Yuan, she was a classmate who had received her help. She didn't just keep taking from others; whenever she had a little extra food, she would think about giving it back.

She believed they didn't want to sever ties with her as soon as possible, but simply wanted to repay a debt of gratitude.

However, Zhu Hongqi's family situation really didn't seem like they could come up with twenty yuan. No one knew how she saved up that money.

"Xiao Jiu, you're back. There's a letter on the table; it was sent from your provincial capital."

Xiao Jiu picked it up and noticed the military postmark. After looking at the signature, she guessed that it was sent by Zhou Shengnan.

Upon opening the letter, it was indeed from her. She informed me that she had sent twenty yuan and that Hongqi had written to her to inquire about her address.

"She was a strong-willed woman who refused to marry no matter what. Even when her mother tried to force her by hanging herself, she failed and ended up dying of anger."

Haha, isn't it infuriating? When her eldest daughter died, she hid behind the red flag like a coward, not daring to stand up for her daughter.

She actually died of depression because her second son rebelled against her, refused to marry in exchange for a dowry, and couldn't afford a good life.

That petty woman doesn't deserve to be a mother; she's just like my mother.

She died suddenly, leaving Hongqi with the reputation of being disobedient to her own mother and bearing the stigma of being extremely unfilial.

The rumors circulating in the village spurred Hongqi to work himself to the bone every day, leaving early and returning late, and he hardly interacted with anyone.

If it weren't for the villagers who still had a conscience speaking up for her and feeling sorry for her family, they would have been in serious trouble losing their jobs.

Especially since her eldest sister was truly beautiful and kind-hearted during her lifetime, it's understandable that Hongqi blames her mother for her sister's death and hates her.

Who told her greedy mother to marry her sister off to such a family of wolves and tigers for money?

After her sister died, with no one left to use, they set their sights on Hongqi, wanting her to marry a widower.

Do you think Hongqi would agree? If they did, wouldn't they be following in their elder sister's footsteps?

So not only did she refuse, she also argued with her mother every day.

I never expected this old woman to be so useless. She was so frustrated that she vomited blood and died!

After she died, Hongqi not only had to pay off her mother's debts, but also support herself and her two younger sisters.

She is greater than me.

At least I managed to escape, but what about her?

Perhaps the only consolation was that her eldest sister's temporary job at the cotton mill was given to her third sister, which eased some of the burden on her family.

Hongqi also passed the exam for a township health center with her high school diploma and is currently an intern nurse.

The remaining younger sisters also worked in the production team. Compared to their mother, the two younger sisters were much more sensible, making her life much easier.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Jiu raised an eyebrow, realizing she had followed in her older sister's footsteps.

It must be said that Hongqi has good foresight; at least this path has the potential to be officially recognized.

Although I don't have an urban household registration, I don't receive a commodity grain certificate, and my salary isn't as high as in the city, at least I don't have to work in the fields.

Those who study medicine absolutely need real skills; without a certain level of education, it's impossible to succeed. Hongqi's selection is enough to demonstrate her diligence and excellence.

So this is how the money to pay her back was saved up?

It's Hongqi again, and it's Shengnan's sister again; they're all paying back her money.

Even though Yuan Yuan lives so close to her, she is planning to pay off her debts little by little.

This is enough to prove that she did not choose the wrong people to help; at least they were all grateful.

She didn't care about the timing at all, but they cared a lot and tried every means to pay it back as soon as possible.

In contrast, none of her male classmates who lent her a dollar or two in high school have ever mentioned returning the money.

That's why people are afraid of comparisons.

——

Military academies only have one week of annual leave, which is the same as those in administrative and public institutions.

We'll have a holiday on New Year's Eve and start work/school on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year.

I learned about the Northwestern Polytechnical University Research Institute and my fifth sister in Beijing in advance, both within a week.

Fifth Sister has taken too much leave this year and has already sent New Year's gifts to the family in advance; she doesn't plan to come back.

Xiao Jiu originally wanted to visit Zhou Yue in Hubei Province, but the time allotted for the round trip was too tight.

Ultimately, they chose to go home to spend the Lunar New Year with their grandparents and parents.

Zhou Xing, who had just been transferred to the Southern Military Region of Guangxi Province, found it difficult to even meet with Zhou Yue, let alone return to his hometown.

Zhou Yue is now a green recruit with no holidays, and he can only communicate with others through communications.

The happiest person is Tao Qing, who is now a high school teacher, as he has at least two weeks of vacation.

However, he had to be transferred to another position before the end of 1965, so every extra day he could stay was a day better than nothing!

She had already discussed this with her second and sixth sisters, and they would recommend him to take the exam once a suitable job opportunity came up.