It was quite a surprise to learn that Grandpa Song was actually a classmate of father's in his youth.
However, life is inherently marvelous; the capital is neither too big nor too small, yet after all the twists and turns, everyone turns out to be an old acquaintance.
Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan exchanged glances, then tacitly went out for a while together, returning not long after.
“Uncle Song, has Xiao Luo’s destination for going to the countryside been decided yet?!”
The first thing Qiao Jiuru asked Grandpa Song, without preamble, upon entering the room was this.
“No, it hasn't, because the final registration deadline hasn't arrived yet.”
Grandpa Song answered without hesitation; he felt that Qiao Jiuru wouldn't ask about this without a reason.
There must be a reason.
“Uncle Song, Xiao Luo is definitely going to the countryside. My suggestion to you is, don't go south. Although there's plenty to eat there, precisely because farming can be done all year round, it means people can't rest all year. Working like that every day, without eating well, the body can't take it.”
Qiao Jiuru had never lived in the South, but she had heard many things about it; working in the fields every day, wasn't that just like an old ox?! The key was, an old ox only had to do heavy, hard labor; at other times, it could rest.
Grandpa Song and his wife were dumbfounded after hearing this; they really hadn't considered this issue, only thinking that in the South, there was no snow and food could be found everywhere, but they hadn't thought that people could still farm in winter.
“Niece Qiao, Uncle Song will take the liberty of calling you that, so where do you think Xiao Luo should go to the countryside?!”
Perhaps due to several years of food shortages, Grandpa Song had only thought about survival before, not much else. Now, hearing Qiao Jiuru's words, he also felt that the South seemed too arduous.
“My daughter is going to the countryside in Ji Province. Uncle Song, if Xiao Luo wants to go, she can go with her.”
“Over there, our Qiao family often went in the past, and there are probably a few people we still know.”
Qiao Jiuru had just gone out with Su Huaiyuan to discuss whether Song Luoyun should also go to the countryside in Ji Province, perhaps so she and her younger daughter could look out for each other.
Of course, it wasn't that Song Luoyun wanted her to help her daughter with work, but rather that she wanted to ask him to frequently monitor her daughter's movements, so that if anything unexpected happened, Song Luoyun could notify them in time.
Moreover, Qiao Jiuru wasn't wrong; Ji Province is indeed very cold, but one can 'cat winter' and recuperate. As long as one is diligent when the heavy snow seals off the mountains, one can certainly support oneself.
“Niece Qiao, that's wonderful! Our Xiao Luo will also go to Ji Province. It's perfect, they can look out for each other.”
Grandpa Song truly decided without hesitation to let his eldest grandson go to the countryside in Ji Province; he trusted the Qiao family.
“Although Ji Province is very cold, there are also many mountain specialties, and if you're diligent, you might even be able to send some back.”
Qiao Jiuru thought that life in the Northeast was quite good, with no problems except for the cold.
Grandpa Song nodded incessantly. Just as he excitedly wanted to say something, he heard a childish voice suddenly interject.
“Grandpa, I want to go to the countryside with elder brother, so the family can save rations, and then we can send food back to Grandpa, Grandma, and our younger siblings.”
Song Luonian's childish little face was full of seriousness, as he spoke with wide eyes, like a little adult to his family.
Although he was young, he had been sensible early on. These past few years, not having enough to eat or warm clothes, he had always tried very hard to help his family.
“Xiao Nian…”
His second grandson's sensible and mature words finally brought tears to Grandpa Song's eyes. He choked up, unable to speak, as he stroked his sensible grandson's head.
“Grandpa, I also want to go to the countryside, let me go with eldest brother. I'm a bit older than Xiao Nian, I can do more work and earn more work points. We'll earn rations and send them back to the family.”
After hearing her cousin's words, Song Luoshu was also inspired and her eyes lit up. She also wanted to go to the countryside, save rations for the family, and if she was diligent, she could even send things back home.
This way, Grandpa and Grandma wouldn't have to work so hard, and she could also help support her younger siblings.
“Xiao Shu, Xiao Nian, Grandpa doesn't agree. Going to the countryside is very hard, it's not what you imagine.”
He disagreed, he disagreed.
Grandpa Song waved his hands repeatedly, feeling useless while also being comforted by his children's sensibility and filial piety.
Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan were stunned by the Song family children's words. This family was already so difficult that the children wanted to go to the countryside to save rations and earn food for their family, which made the couple feel incredibly heartbroken.
Difficult, too difficult, everyone was struggling.
“Uncle Song, I suddenly have an idea, would you like to hear it?!”
Qiao Jiuru really couldn't bear it anymore, and an idea formed in her mind. Since she encountered it, she might as well lend a hand.
“Niece, speak.”
“Why not let Xiao Luo and Xiao Shu go to the countryside together? Although Xiao Shu won't earn many work points, if she can earn four or five work points a day, plus eating wild vegetables, she can still get seven or eight tenths full. This way, the rations Xiao Shu would have in the city can be left for the family. When Xiao Shu goes there, we will find someone and use our connections to arrange an easy job for her, and she can stay in the same room as my daughter.”
“Grandpa, Auntie Qiao is right. I'm not small anymore; I'm almost fourteen, and in two or three years, I'll have to go to the countryside too. Now that Big Brother and Sister Qiao are there, not only will I not be afraid, I'll definitely be able to live well.”
“Uncle Song, listen to me about why I suggest letting Xiao Shu go to the countryside. If these two older children leave, those remaining will be the old, weak, and sick. If something happens, a boy, late at night, is always better and much safer than a girl, whether for travel or strength.”
“Yes, Grandpa, Aunt is right.”
“Aru, Uncle Song, I think it would be better to just let Xiao Shu register to go to the countryside directly. Xiao Shu is almost fourteen now, and in two or three years she'll be old enough to go to the countryside, and then Xiao Nian will also be old enough to go, so the Song family will still have to send someone to the countryside.”
“That's true, but if Xiao Shu goes to the countryside now, the Educated Youth office only gives 200 yuan in resettlement fees. If she still has an urban household registration, her rations can be left for the family.”
“That's also true, 200 yuan certainly can't compare to two or three years' worth of rations.”
“Exactly, so why not have Xiao Shu handle the procedures for going to the countryside two or three years later?”
“Niece is right, these 200 yuan in resettlement fees can at most buy four or five hundred jin of grain, which won't even last two years.”
“Uncle Song, if Xiao Shu goes to the countryside, she'll sleep with my daughter. You don't need to specially prepare quilts or anything for her; I've already arranged for two sets in advance.”
…