Sunday 25 October 2020

BTTS 165




Chapter 165. Aim for the advantages and avoid the disadvantages


English textbooks were hard to get in this era.

They were all classified as more sensitive topics. In the first year of the recontinuation of the college entrance examination, English wasn't required to be tested. It seems that from the second year, an English exam was added.

Lin Qing He remembered it like this, but the details were not clear.

But at the moment her self-study course had reached the first year of high school. Since she was idle, it wasn't a bad idea to try and get her hands on some English textbooks to memorize words.

Lin Qing He had some connections in the black market.

As long as she can give the right price, it will be quickly obtained for her, even if it was such a sensitive product.

There were a good few English textbooks. The people, who were searching for them, didn't understand them, so two of them were in Russian. Lin Qing He didn't need them and she didn't understand Russian either.

She did understand English but had forgotten a lot after so many years. She needed to pick it up again.

The basic English textbook cost Lin Qing He ten yuan.

This was almost a sky-high price.

But the person who came here was right. They took a lot of risks to get it for her, so the price wasn't that unacceptable.

Lin Qing He put the English textbooks directly into the space.

Such things can't be shown to the boys. Otherwise, if the little person walked out and said something wrong, it was easy for things to happen.

After solving the English textbooks matter, Lin Qing He came to find a retired female worker to sell pork.

"Big lass, your pork is good." The retired female worker smiled in satisfaction.

"I especially gave you such care, ma'am. All the good stuff I got were left for you." Lin Qing He said.

The retired ma'am laughed and whispered after the transaction finished: "This transaction is the last time. Don't come next time yet. Don't go to the black market starting tomorrow. There are some problems outside."

She was willing to sell Lin Qing He this favor. After all, it was thanks to Lin Qing He that her meat and food increased and her family can eat more.

For example, last winter, Lin Qing He brought her dozens of jins of wheat and more than fifty jins of sweet potatoes. This was extremely hard to come by.

And it had always been fair trade, so the retired ma'am hoped to continue.

"Thank you for reminding me." Lin Qing He nodded.

Then she collected the money and left.

Without having anything else to sell, Lin Qing He rode her bicycle home.

On the way, she stopped by the community and took a look. She bought a half basket of eggs. Then she took it home.

Only when she got home did she retrieve some more from the space.

The ones she brought over were all used up. These eggs were all stocked from the black market in the county city. There was still a basket left in the space. That meant, she will be shrinking and dieting for a while. When spring begins, she can stow a supply of eggs.

Because at that time, the hens continued to lay eggs.

Lin Qing He cracked an egg, divided it into two portions, steamed it into egg custard, and then went to the door to shout.

Soon San Wa came back.

"Mother, you are back. You have worked hard on this trip." San Wa, the little flatterer said with a fawning smile.

Since Lin Qing He complained about him only remembering food and didn't know to care about her last time, he made amends. When she came back, the first thing he did was to express his appreciation.

"It was quite a work." Lin Qing He nodded in response.

San Wa smiled and said, "Mother, why did you call me?"

"Got no candies, but I did steam an egg custard for you. Want to eat it?" Lin Qing He asked.

"Want." San Wa just happened to be a little hungry after playing outside.

"Go and get your grandmother to bring little Cheng Cheng over. Mother made a portion for him too." Lin Qing He ordered.

"No need. My little brother had eaten sweet potato soup made by Eldest Aunt. He won't be able to eat it anymore," San Wa responded.

"When did he eat it?" Lin Qing He checked.

"About the same time as me," San Wa replied.

Lin Qing He estimated that it was around the time she headed out and said: "It's been so long. It should be fine, but you can ask your grandmother if he can eat."

San Wa went to ask. When he returned, he brought back Mother Zhou and little Su Cheng.

Little Su Cheng was ready to snack. Lin Qing He had let Mother Zhou feed him.

"There aren't many eggs at home." Mother Zhou pointed out.

"It's okay. I came back with a basket again." Lin Qing He casually responded.

Then Lin Qing He started making the dough. It was getting late. Should be time for lunch preparation.

They were having noodles for lunch.

A soy paste with egg can be mixed with it.

"Qing He, Da Wa is only nine years old and he's attending fifth grade. Isn't this too fast?" Mother Zhou had finished feeing little Su Cheng and got him to play with San Wa. She came to the kitchen to help out and mentioned.

"It's next semester. It's not really fast." This semester was already in the second semester of fourth grade.

It was already '73. Not counting this year, there were still four years. Counting this year, it was still five years away from the college entrance examination.

There were also two years of junior high schools, two years of high schools, and one year of fifth grade.

Adding it up, it was just in time for the first batch.

Lin Qing He paid close attention to Da Wa's study. Since there wasn't much to do during the winter break, his study had never fallen back even though they did sometimes go out to play.


Lin Qing He also planned to get Da Wa to skip a grade again. But on the thought that he was still young, she didn't have it in her to push him too much. She didn't interfere too much, since it'll be fine at the time. Most importantly, in the first year of the college entrance examination recontinuation, the policy was really loose.

Just don’t know if she and Da Wa can get into the same college then.

Even if it was another four or five years, Da Wa will be only 13 or 14 years old by then. With Da Wa's personality, he will not suffer a loss if he goes outside. But as a mother, how could she be willing to let such a young kid to go to college so far on his own?

The sons of the first batch of examinees may be about his age.

"I think those who are in fifth grade are all fifteen or sixteen years old." Mother Zhou Mu said.

This was the truth. At this time, little attention was paid to education. There were many people who began to go to school at ten years old, like Eldest Sister-in-law's girls.

But now, they didn't attend anymore. Studying for more than a year, they gained the basic knowledge. It was enough to recognize the characters. After all, with so many people in the family, the burden was quite big. Even with the heart to, they didn't have the condition to let them study.

"With Da Wa's personality, you don't have to worry, Mother. He won't suffer a loss anywhere he goes." No matter how worried Lin Qing He was herself, she had to comfort the elderly.

When Mother Zhou heard these words, a smile bloomed on her face: “I’m just worried about him going such a long way to the county's high school by himself.”

"What is there to worry about? A boy got to exercise. I heard Qing Bai said that when he that old, he dared to make steel like adults." Lin Qing He had a grin on her face when mentioning her man.

On the surface, it seems like she was muddling through matters. He was different from her. He had that sense of team spirit and group honor. Unlike her, who was heartless. Only accept the good and dodging the bad. A natural-born at aiming for the advantages and avoiding the disadvantages.

6 comments:

  1. Ah San Wa this cheeky boy

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  2. It will be nice seeing this mother and son as schoolmates XD

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  3. "A natural-born at aiming for the advantages and avoiding the disadvantages."

    Best way to live baby, always take easy path.

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  4. It’s too bad she can’t trust her sons to keep their mouths shut. I feel like part of that training is MC’s responsibility.

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