Gong Ruini listened as both families, including her parents and older brother, focused on her with laughter, tears streaming down like a river.
How could they mock a child like this? If she had known, she wouldn't have spoken up.
After expressing her thoughts, Gong Ruini noticed the adults were looking at her with astonished eyes, and she realized something was wrong. She immediately spoke two sentences with a child's tone.
She initially wanted them to see that she wasn't that mature, but instead, it made them laugh at her, leaving Gong Ruini quite helpless.
"Stop laughing, stop laughing," Gong Ruini couldn't endure it anymore and kept banging on the table.
"Don't you think what I said makes sense?" Humph, a bunch of people without aspirations, "We must have aspirations. My goal is to eat well, drink well, and become a knowledgeable lady."
Gong Tao was initially amused by his daughter's small body trying to act like an adult, finding her very amusing, but he was stunned by her last sentence.
Even before his daughter was born, society became tumultuous, and the desire for learning wasn't strong. There was a sense of pride in being illiterate, yet his daughter wanted to study. Could it be because she saw the couple reading at home?
Zhao Gang and Zhan Jing also stopped laughing, they just quietly looked at Gong Ruini.
Cai Meina hugged her daughter tightly, feeling a squeeze in her heart; her daughter actually knew the importance of learning. But here, there was no school; they could only rely on a few people to teach her to read. Advanced things were beyond their means.
Maybe when her daughter is older, they could let her follow Zhan Jing to learn traditional Chinese medicine? It would at least be a craft, so that Ni Zi could make a living in the future.
The adults stopped laughing, and Zhao Xuran and the others were even less likely to laugh, especially Zhao Xuran, who kept staring at Gong Ruini.
In the afternoons and evenings here, Zhao Xuran and the others would follow Zhao Gang and Zhan Jing to learn whenever they had time. Zhao Xuran, being older, knew that studying was beneficial to him, but his younger brother was different.
His younger brother especially liked going up the mountain and swimming in the river with the village children, causing a ruckus whenever he had to study. Clearly, Gong Ruini was younger than his brother, yet she was more sensible. It puzzled Zhao Xuran.
Suddenly, Gong Ruini recalled a saying her father had used to describe her mother: "A woman is like a book. When you think you know her well, you realize you understand only a little." "Do you know the importance of learning?"
She wasn't foolish, of course she knew. "I know, learning helps me discern right from wrong and understand moral principles."
"Learning gives me the opportunity to leave this place." In fact, Gong Ruini was saying this for Gong Tao and his wife to hear. It was already the autumn of '73, getting closer to a groundbreaking day, and preparations were necessary.
Gong Ruini was genuinely worried that Gong Tao and his wife might slowly become like peasants, adhering to the routine of rising with the sun and resting with its setting.
Learning gave them a chance to leave here? Gong Tao and Zhao Gang received it simultaneously—it made sense. With their current status, the only way to leave the Northeast was through education.
"But there aren't many spots recommended for workers, peasants, and soldiers to attend university," Zhao Gang, having been there for a few years, heard there were only a few spots. "You need connections to get nominated."
Folks like them who were sent to the countryside had little chance, "But we can't give up studying. I think one day things will return to normal." Zhao Gang felt things outside were less chaotic, still unstable but showing signs of slowing down.
"Teachers used to be criticized non-stop, but now at least some schools are gradually reopening." Gong Tao too sensed it was improving, but many kids were so used to the wild they couldn't concentrate on studying.
The reason some kids still studied was due to the fear of being sent as educated youth if they didn't. "Now, not many wish to become educated youth."
Previously, there was a great fervor to move to the countryside to support the nation's development, but as many couldn't return after years in the countryside, this unrest was fading. If possible, no one wanted to become educated youth and face hardships.
"Even being educated youth depends on the place. Our place isn't bad, remember Old Wu?" Zhao Gang opened up, previously having only his family to talk to, but now with close friends around, he wanted to vent a bit.
Gong Tao had lost contact with many, only staying in touch with Zhao Gang. He hadn't realized many of his colleagues sent for reform had already passed away. "They, alas."
Some were highly skilled, once proud in their positions, now resting far from home. "At least we're still alive." After a long pause, Gong Tao sighed.
"Yes, we're still alive." Zhao Gang took a sip of wine, "At least I had been in the countryside before, or I wouldn't know what to do."
Zhao Gang found it amusing, reflecting on how their family had worked generations to escape farming, yet now he was a farmer again. Imagining what his ancestors would think, probably mixed emotions of laughter and tears.
Cai Meina noticed Zhan Jing yawning uncontrollably and glared at Gong Tao. A bit of alcohol and he forgot the time, not noticing Zhan Jing was tired. "Drink up and then go heat the kang."
Then she called Gong Ruini and Gong Ruwen to bed; neither child had napped and had been active all afternoon. If they didn't sleep, they might fall sick tomorrow.
Zhan Jing also pinched her husband's leg under the table—his lack of time sense when there's drinking and chatting had to stop. Help was coming early tomorrow to build the house, and they needed rest.
Zhao Gang pinched a piece of flesh from his wife's leg, it hurt, but he couldn't utter a sound, knowing he would face consequences otherwise. They would need a proper dining area for the house's construction the next day, or they couldn't enjoy drinking and chatting properly.
Gong Ruini lay in bed thinking they should indeed build a proper dining area; otherwise, disturbing others' rest would be a recurring issue. But that was adult business to consider.
What Gong Ruini considered was that she should work harder the next day, at least to build her stamina, otherwise just walking down the mountain left her exhausted.
Gong Ruwen was so tired after a full day of play that he fell asleep during dinner. Lying on the kang, he was asleep before Gong Ruini could even ask him a few questions, already snoring.
Hearing the deafening snores beside her, Gong Ruini really wanted to wake up Gong Ruwen and tell him to sleep slower, at least let her sleep first. Otherwise, with the snoring, how could she fall asleep?
Gong Ruini acted as a savage little sister, but to little effect. Gong Ruwen continued to sleep soundly, paying no mind to her attempts, frustrating Gong Ruini to the point of exasperation.
Fortunately, Gong Ruini was also tired from a busy day, and after some bedtime exercise, she drifted off to sleep in no time.