Chapter 31
"Branch Secretary, let me." Song Wei Ping raised his hand and led Xu Xiao Jiao forward.
This person was the first one. So everyone was naturally happy to watch or at least follow along to see how the land was divided.
The branch secretary nodded, "Two boxes, one is fertile land and the other is inferior land. Which one do you grab first?"
He made it clear that every family must draw fertile land and sandy river land. Roughly equal amount of each. It was impossible for one family to draw all the golden soil land. Everyone agreed with this rule. After all, no one could guarantee that they will be able to draw all the good ones.
Xu Xiao Jiao stepped forward, "Draw the fertile land first."
Two lottery boxes stood side by side on it. Xu Xiao Jiao stretched out her hand into the box of good land under the signal of the village branch secretary.
She took out a red paper and handed it to the branch secretary.
"Song Wei Ping, east ridge soil land, one and a half mu."
After the village branch secretary finished reading, he laughed, "Xiao Jiao, you're lucky."
This was more than good. Everyone in the village knew that east ridge was the best land, which covered a total of three mu of land. Xu Xiao Jiao drawn half of it in one go. Who wouldn’t be envious after hearing this?
"Oh, Xiao Jiao is certainly lucky? Look, so much fertile land had been drawn in one go. It's convenient for plowing or planting. The grain output is also high."
"That’s right. Your one and a half mu is worth two mu of other areas. Quite amazing."
"I wish I can be as lucky in a while."
Xu Xiao Jiao gave Song Wei Ping an expression of ‘aren’t I great!’. Song Wei Ping gave her a thumbs up.
Xu Xiao Jiao turned around and drew from the other box of sandy river land.
"Song Wei Ping, one mu of land in east river’s sandy river land."
The village secretary was surprised this time.
"Oh, you’re truly… This sandy land is usually little. I remember this one mu is quite a bit. The mu you drew out is more convenient to tidy up later."
When the branch secretary said this, everyone was even more jealous.
Just like that, Xu Xiao Jiao drew large pieces of soil lands right under everyone's noses.
With her taking the lead, everyone knew what to do. So when the branch secretary asked again, everyone rushed to draw.
Zhao Yan Yan thickened her cheeks. She insisted on being the second to draw.
She thought it out. Xu Xiao Jiao's draws were this good. This indicated that the good lands were grouped together. Recently, Han Guang Hui and Li You Hai can’t stand her. She’ll make a great contribution if she draws some good lands.
"Educated youth households, east mountain’s soil land, three parts."
"Educated youth households, south mountain’s soil land, two shares."
"Educated youth households, east ditch’s fork land three parts."
"Educated youth households, south mountain foot’s open wasteland one part."
Zhao Yan Yan drew ten or so rounds, but she hadn't drawn any share of the land that the three of them wanted.
Han Guang Hui's face was darker than the ashes of the bottom of the pot, "Zhao Yan Yan, stop!"
Everyone laughed.
"Hey, Zhao Yan Yan, quickly listen to Han Guang Hui. Stop. If you keep drawing, I'm afraid you will exhaust your group to death."
"It's not me saying, your luck is too bad. If you are half as lucky as Xiao Jiao, you can grab a five part land. Although south mountain is three part soil land, it is surrounded by sandy land. It’s like a short drawing out a general. Not much better."
"That's right. I thought that all the good areas are grouped together. After Xiao Jiao draw out, the next one must be good. Aiya, luckily I didn't beat Zhao Yan Yan."
Zhao Yan Yan was in slight disbelief, "If you let me draw one more time, the next one will definitely be a good one."
Han Guang Hui frowned and pushed her aside, "Go away."
He was so angry. If they were able to enter the college, who would draw for the land. But there were only three of them left under the educated youth household. If they don’t draw and they can’t get admitted to college next year, they’ll starve. That’s why they participated in the meeting.
But Zhao Yan Yan was embarrassing herself. Truly a calamity star.
He reached out and grabbed a note from the lottery box and handed it to the branch secretary. Then he turned his head and berated Zhao Yan Yan in a low voice, "I shouldn't have let you draw."
Holding the note, branch secretary looked at the words on it. He appeared a little speechless.
"Educated youth households, south ditch’s sandy land, one part."
...
"Ha ha ha ha."
"Aiyo, aiyo, my stomach hurts, hahahahaha."
"Comrade Han Guang Hui, you criticize Zhao Yan Yan."
"You educated youths. It seems that you guys aren’t suitable for drawing lots."
"That's right. Why don't you ask Xiao Jiao for help? Although you offend her a lot, maybe she will agree if you ask."
Everyone chattered as they watched the fun.
Xu Xiao Jiao was the one who laughed the loudest in the crowd. She rolled her eyes when she heard the last sentence. She would not agree even if they begged her.
Of course, Han Guang Hui didn't dare to ask. Song Wei Ping gave him a death threat. After such a long time, he still shuddered when he thought about it.
Zhao Yan Yan would definitely not beg. She didn't want to bow down to Xu Xiao Jiao.
Li You Hai looked at this person and then at that person. He mentally remarked that it was eight lifetime’s bad luck for him to meet them two.
Out of the original educated youth team, Xu Xiao Jiao became a member of the registered permanent resident, Wang Gui Yue married, and Zhou Ping Xiang was going to attend the college. So naturally they were no longer in the educated youth household. He happened to be so unlucky. This educated youth household, he might as well be the only one left. It had been two years, Han Guang Hui didn't want to share his household registration with Zhao Yan Yan.
He stepped forward resignedly, "Let me draw."
Thankfully, he drew a decent land.
With the educated youth’s example as the bottom line, the people behind hadn’t drawn badly. Initially, it was expected to be a noisy lottery. Unforeseen, it ended in merriment and laughter.
The village branch secretary nodded in relief. Unexpectedly, the educated youths were useful.
With them as the worst example, the other ones who drew a little bit worse would feel their heart balance when comparing with the educated youths.
After the land was distributed, Xu Xiao Jiao's life became more comfortable. This time, she wasn’t forced to work. She didn't have to work as an accountant anymore. She could lie down at home.
Wang Gui Yue came to talk to her. Her words were a little sour.
"Xiao Jiao, you don't go to the field at all."
Xu Xiao Jiao nodded, "En, I stay at home to watch the house and take care of Grandmother."
Wang Gui Yue mentally refuted ‘what nonsense’. It was more like Grandmother Song taking care of her. She can't cook or even boil water. Even if she was at home, she was idle all the time.
She sighed, "Oh, it's still you who enjoy the blessings. If I don't work, Er Bao scolds me."
Xu Xiao Jiao looked at her, "Aren't you going to prepare for the college entrance examination? And he still makes you work?"
Wang Gui Yue's face showed a little embarrassment. Although she talked about the college entrance examination and didn't go to work, she was lazy at home and didn't have much energy in her studies. Later, her family found out and gave her a hard time.
"Sigh, studying is too difficult, Xiao Jiao. I don't think I'll be able to pass the college entrance examination in my life. As for the test paper you gave me last year, I haven't figured it out."
Speaking of this, Wang Gui Yue felt a little knotted. When she got this paper before the college entrance examination last year, she thought that Xu Xiao Jiao deliberately made difficult questions and deliberately punished her.
And the result? More than 60% of the knowledge points in that paper were tested in the college entrance examination.
Coming out of the examination room, she was filled with regret.
Later on, she studied for so long and still couldn't do a few questions on the paper.
She felt that she had to farm the land for the rest of her life. But she wasn't like Xu Xiao Jiao, who didn't even need to plant the land. Even when laying around at home every day, no one would tell her off. They were both married. Why was her life not as good as Xu Xiao Jiao's?
"Say, are we going to be farmers for the rest of our lives? When I think about facing the soil with my back to the sky in this life, I can't get energy."
Xu Xiao Jiao told her in her mind that the educated youth would be able to return to the city by the end of this year or early next year at the latest. When that time comes, she doesn't know how Wang Gui Yue would choose.
"Didn't Ping Xiang send us some materials? She found them in the city and said they are very useful. Look at that."
Zhou Ping Xiang had already returned to the city to start college life. Still, she hadn’t forgotten her good friend.
In fact, she sent materials mainly because of Xu Xiao Jiao. She knew about Wang Gui Yue's situation. She had basically never studied high school knowledge.
While, she was certain of Xu Xiao Jiao's ability. She knew that even if she didn't send these materials, as long as Xu Xiao Jiao wanted to take the exam, she would definitely pass the exam. But she can't resist it. She was looking forward to meeting Xu Xiao Jiao in college.
Wang Gui Yue shook her head. Simply giving up on herself, "I don't have any hope."
Xu Xiao Jiao sighed. It seemed that these textbooks were no longer needed. It was a waste of Ping Xiang's painstaking efforts.
At this time, she never thought that these textbooks would soon be used.
While the two were talking, Xu Xiao Gang hurried back, "Elder Sister, Elder Sister, our mom's stomach hurts badly. Elder Brother-in-law carried her back on his back."
Xu Xiao Jiao was startled, "What's happened?"
She stood up and followed Xu Xiao Gang toward the door.
Xu Xiao Gang was a little scared, "Originally there was only a little work left in the field. Elder Brother-in-law and I could do it, but our mom insisted on helping. And the result was that as she worked, she almost fell to the ground. Only when we asked did we know her stomach hurts badly."
At the side, Wang Gui Yue waved her hands. There were many people in the village with a stomach ache. "It's alright. Maybe it's because the food isn't right."
This kind of sudden stomach ache wasn’t a good thing. Xu Xiao Jiao frowned and notified Wang Gui Yue, "Gui Yue, I'll go and see my mom first. I'll chat with you next time."
Wang Gui Yue felt that she was making a fuss. Who hadn't experienced stomach pains a few times. She didn't say anything though and went home first.
Xu Xiao Jiao ran into Song Wei Ping who was returning with Wu Chun Hua on his back on the way.
"Mom, what's the matter?"
Wu Chun Hua's stomach hurted badly. Her face was pale, but she kept her spirits up. "It's alright. Go back and drink some hot water."
With tears in Xu Xiao Gang's eyes, he shouted, "How is it alright? Elder Sister, our mom had been in pain a good few times. She won't let me tell you."
Xu Xiao Jiao's complexion changed. She patted Xu Xiao Gang, "Are you stupid? If we don't let you talk about it, you won't talk about it? And Mom, you too! Why didn't you tell me if you feel unwell?"
Seeing Xu Xiao Jiao's anxious face, Song Wei Ping comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll take Mom to town to see."
Xu Xiao Jiao hurriedly nodded to him, "Hurry up and take our mom there by bicycle, Xiao Gang and I will walk there."
Wu Chun Hua didn't think there was any need to go to such trouble, "It's okay, it's okay! I'm okay. I don't feel much pain now. Why spend that money."
Xu Xiao Jiao supported Wu Chun Hua's arm, "Mom, stop talking and listen to me and Song Wei Ping."
What Wu Chun Hua thought was the same as Wang Gui Yue's. Wasn’t it just a stomach ache? What could happen? People in the village have stomach aches and drink some hot water and lie down. It wasn’t worth going to the town hospital for an examination.
But the result made her in disbelief.
"Doctor, is this true?" Wu Chun Hua panicked.
The doctor showed the film to the group, "It's here, on the kidney, there is a lump. We suggest that you go to the county to check again. If it is true, it is best to operate as soon as possible."
Xu Xiao Jiao's legs went limp for a moment. A lump was a tumor in future generations. If it was a malignant tumor, it was...
No, it shouldn't be. In this day and age, it was rare to hear of cancer. It was probably not.
"Song Wei Ping." She turned around and looked at Song Wei Ping with a terrified expression.
"It's okay. Let's go to the county hospital now. Xiao Gang, go back by yourself on the bicycle first. Tell Grandmother not to worry." Song Wei Ping immediately made a decision.
Wu Chun Hua had passed the pain and was no different from normal. She still didn't believe it.
The group walked out of the hospital. She took Xu Xiao Jiao's hand, "Daughter, let's not go to the county hospital. The hospital cheats money. When you aren’t sick, they will tell you that you have a serious illness. Mom is fine now."
She felt that re-examination would be a waste of money.
Xu Xiao Jiao had calmed down at this time, "Mom, I can understand that film. There is indeed a shadow on your kidney. But the doctor also said that their equipment is too old. To be sure, we’d better go to a big hospital for another examination. Let's listen to the doctor. If it's all right, can't we feel reassured?"
Even though she said that, Xu Xiao Jiao was basically sure that the results of the hospital's examination were correct.
Sure enough, the county hospital gave the same statement.
"It can be confirmed that there is a tumor on the left kidney. It is recommended to perform surgery first and cut it out. You may not understand this. There are benign and malignant tumors. I will tell you about those after the test. Right now your family members should confirm first whether to cut it off or not."
Upon hearing this, Wu Chun Hua immediately asked, "Doctor, if you don't remove it, it’ll be fine, right?"
In this day and age, no one had a lot of money. In order to save money, doctors saw a lot of people who were sick and endured it. “If it's benign, it won't be a big problem if it's not removed for a short time. But if it's malignant, it's hard to tell.”
Just as Wu Chun Hua wanted to express that the surgery would not be performed, Xu Xiao Jiao held her hand, "Doctor, how much do you think we need to prepare for the operation?"
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